10 Graduation Photo Ideas

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Graduation season is upon us and it’s one of my favorite seasons. I love taking photos of new graduates who have worked hard to make this moment possible. If you need some ideas for how you should have your photoshoot styled, I’ve got you covered with 10 graduation photo ideas.

Traditional Cap and Gown Studio Portraits

This style is for our more traditional audience. It requires a graduate to be in a studio with props that show the year they graduated, or a prop that says Senior in the background. In these types of photoshoots the graduate will usually just wear their cap and gown with a nice dress or suit underneath. These shots can include the graduate sitting, showing off their diploma, throwing their cap in the air, or showing off their cap topper. If you want to make this traditional shoot more unique, ask your photographer about different colored backdrops or some cool props you can bring with you.

Celebratory Candid Moments

This type of photoshoot can be taken both inside a studio or outdoors in a park or at your school. This requires that the graduate have props that help them look like they’re celebrating their graduation at the moment, so they’re staged but look candid. Examples of this could be popping a bottle of champagne–21 and up only, of course, throwing glitter or confetti in the air and or blowing it toward the camera. This photo shoot is usually popular, especially among college students.

Career / College Major Themed 

This photoshoot can also be done in a studio or outdoors–I personally prefer this type to be in the studio because you can control the background more depending on what your career or college major will be. In this type of photo shoot, the graduate will bring some props or even an outfit that shows what they want to do after high school or college. For example, if you’re going to medical school, you might want to have a stethoscope, if you are going to culinary school, you might want to have some food or a chef hat and apron.

Hobbies / Clubs / Organizations Themed

In this photoshoot, the graduate brings props or outfits that help highlight their hobbies. An example of this could be a person who was in the band bringing their instrument and posing with it. Another example of this could be wearing an outfit from your fraternity or sorority organization. These types of photos are popular because they show a part of who the graduate is and what they are interested in or involved with.

Achievement Portraits

This is another great photoshoot to help brag about how awesome the graduate is. In this type of photo shoot, the graduate brings awards, trophies, medals, and anything else that helps to celebrate what they achieved while they were in school.For example, if a graduate got several plaques for their educational endeavors, they could bring these plaques with them and pose holding them all up. They could also sit down and have the plaques surrounding them.

Editorial Style

This is a great shoot for the graduate who wants to show off their creative side. In this type of photoshoot the graduate can wear their favorite outfits–maybe even a prom dress that they want to get extra use out of–get their hair and make-up done in extravagant ways to appear like they’re in an editorial magazine. This type of photoshoot might require bold poses and dramatic lighting.

Generational Grad Photos

This is a unique yet heartwarming idea for a photo shoot and can be done in a couple of different ways. The first way works best if one or both parents or guardians along with the child all attended the same high school or college. The family would pose in their gear together to show a generation of family members who went to this school together. Another way of doing this type of photo would require that multiple family members are graduating during the same period. For example, maybe you are getting your bachelor’s degree and your child has just graduated from kindergarten, this would be a great opportunity for you both to take a picture in your cap and gown together. Another example is maybeyou have two siblings who are both graduating at the same time. This would be a moment for them to pose together.

Sports Themed

If you’re an athlete you’ll love this idea. This would require that the graduate pose with a prop for their sport of choice. If you’re a basketball player you’ll pose with a basketball or if you’re a soccer player you’ll pose with a soccer ball. This allows the graduate to show off a big part of their life. It also can be an opportunity for them to show off any awards they got for the sport they played.

Fantasy Shot

This shoot is for the more creative and unique graduates. Also, another good excuse to use those prom dresses again. In this photoshoot, the graduate will wear an outfit that they would normally wear in a fairytale and have a backdrop of a castle or be in a field outdoors to pull this type of shoot off. This is a fun one that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Retro Inspired

This last shoot is for people who want a more retro graduation shoot. This might require the graduate to wear a letterman jacket or an outfit from another time period. This also could require the photographer to use a filter to make the photos look like they are older. This type of photo gives a nostalgic vibe to the graduate and can be a fun creative shoot for them to partake in.

I hope this gives you some good ideas for your graduation shoot!

Behind the scenes photo of a cast wearing green ropes in a foggy old building.

Winterfilm Behind The Scenes

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This past February, I had the incredible opportunity to participate in a film festival called Winterfilm, a high-energy competition where teams race against the clock to write, shoot, and edit a short film—all within a month. Initially, I was only supposed to be part of one team, but as things tend to happen in the indie film world, I quickly found myself roped into directing two projects instead of one. While it was a challenge to juggle both productions, it ended up being one of the most fun, intense, and rewarding filmmaking experiences I’ve had.

Behind the Scenes of “The Knowledge Keepers”

The first film I directed, “The Knowledge Keepers,” was a dystopian fantasy about a group of rebels fighting to protect banned books from an oppressive government. Filming took place during the second weekend of February at The William Frances Theatre. We had a large cast and crew, which made for some epic behind-the-scenes moments. We hit a few snags—like running late on our first shoot day—but through solid teamwork and determination, we managed to wrap by the following Thursday.

What made this project truly special for me was the opportunity to step into the fantasy genre. I’ve always wanted to create a film with magical elements and choreographed superpowers, and this story let me do just that. Seeing our actors bring these supernatural abilities to life on screen was a dream come true, and it’s a film that I hope to expand into a feature-length project one day.

The Snowstorm That Almost Stopped Our Second Film

The second film—a lighthearted romantic comedy—was scheduled to be shot on the third Sunday of the month. But in true winterfilm fashion, nature had other plans. A massive snowstorm hit, forcing us to postpone the entire shoot to the final Sunday of the month. The delay put us under serious time pressure, leaving us with only a few days to edit and polish the final cut before the deadline. Despite the last-minute scramble, we pulled it off, and the final product turned out amazing.

This film followed the story of a guy who keeps awkwardly messing up his attempts to ask out a girl. It was a blast to direct because I rarely get the chance to work on comedies, and stepping into a genre outside of my usual projects pushed me creatively in all the best ways. The cast nailed the comedic timing, and every take was filled with laughter—both on and off-camera.

Reflections on an Unforgettable Experience

Directing two films for Winterfilm was an intense but thrilling challenge. From late-night script revisions to unexpected snowstorms and behind-the-scenes problem-solving, every moment was an adventure. This festival reminded me why I love filmmaking—the ability to bring stories to life under pressure, collaborate with amazing creatives, and push my artistic limits.

Would I do it all over again? Absolutely. If you’d like to see some behind the scenes clip you can check it out by clicking here.

Choosing The Best Social Media

Every Post, Social Media

Are you considering starting a social media page or revamping the one that you have for your brand or business? When it comes to choosing the best social media for your brand or business, you may need to consider a couple of things such as what platform your audience is on, how the social media platform will showcase your work, and more.

Know Your Audience and Where They’re At

To determine the social media website that you need for your business you will need to do a little bit of research. First, you need to know where your audience is at. As of 2025, Baby Boomers most popular social media platforms are Facebook and YouTube. As of 2025, Gen X’s most popular social media platforms are also Facebook and YouTube. As of 2025, Millennials’ most popular social media platforms are Instagram, TikTok (until it was recently banned), YouTube, and Facebook. As of 2025, Gen-Z’s most popular social media platforms are Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. This is important to know because if you are trying to market yourself to Baby Boomers then you shouldn’t do that on Instagram because not as many baby boomers are on that platform. Instead, you should utilize Facebook or YouTube. If you are trying to target young millennials and Gen-Z then Instagram might be your best bet for finding both of those audiences. 

Decide Which Platform Fits Your Needs

Once you figure out who your audience is and where they are at, it’s time to pick between the social platforms. For example, if you were trying to target Millenials and Gen-Z you have multiple platforms to choose from including, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, but now you have to see which platform is best suited to spread your message. If you are a photographer like myself, you might want to choose Instagram because they are better able to show your photography skills than YouTube or TikTok which are more video-heavy. If you are a vlogger aimed toward Gen-Z and Millennials you can choose to be on all three platforms or just one that has the most users from both demographics since they all allow video.

Test Out The Social Media Site

Not that you’ve discovered what social media platforms your audience is on and have to decide which platform(s) you’re going to pursue, but it’s time to test out that social media site. Create an account, find the best times to post, and start to build your profile and content. Make sure to post consistently each week, relate the content to your business, and have a call to action for your audience so they will want to become a client of yours. After a month, take a look at your analytics on your social media platform. Discover if you’re finding your audience, what social media posts are doing good, and which ones are doing poorly. Continue to repeat this process for about a year and see if your social media starts to grow either in followers, views, subscribers, or other types of engagement. If one platform isn’t working you can always try another platform and compare them after a few months. If one platform has better results than the other, you can try to switch platforms and continue to build your social media presence on the other platform. If neither platform is gaining traction, you may need to go to a professional social media consultant to see what the problem is and how you can improve your social media presence. 

I hope this post has been helpful to you! Feel free to ask any comments regarding picking a social media platform in the comment section below. See you all soon!

A family posing for a photo

Preparing For A Family Photo Session

Every Post, Photog Blog

Preparing for a family photo session can be a challenge, especially when juggling the needs of everyone involved. To make the process easier, I’ve put together a handy checklist filled with tips to ensure you’re fully prepared. Whether it’s your first photoshoot or your tenth, this guide will help you stay organized and stress-free, so you can focus on creating beautiful memories.

Clothes

The first step in preparing for a family photo shoot is choosing outfits for everyone. You might need to shop for new matching outfits, or you may already have something in mind—just be sure everything is clean and ironed well in advance. While some families enjoy coordinating in matching outfits, it’s not a requirement unless it suits your style. Even sticking to a shared color palette can create a cohesive look, or you can simply focus on wearing polished, flattering outfits. I recommend avoiding loud patterns and itchy fabrics, as they can be distracting or uncomfortable during the session.

Grooming Appointments

Next, it’s important to schedule any grooming appointments well in advance. If anyone needs a haircut or hairstyling, be sure to take care of this before the day of the photoshoot. Don’t forget the smaller details, like trimming nails and grooming facial hair, to ensure everyone looks their best. If you plan to book a makeup appointment for the day of the shoot, schedule it early enough to allow for any delays. That way, you’ll have plenty of time to arrive at the photoshoot on schedule and stress-free.

Entertaining The Kids

If you have younger kids, this section is for you. You’re going to want to bring snacks and some water for the kiddos in case they get peckish or thirsty during the photo shoot, especially if it takes place outside in the heat and requires some walking. Make sure the snacks aren’t messy so the kids don’t mess up their clothes. Some good ideas include: gummy snacks, animal crackers, and or trail mix. Because kids can sometimes make a mess out of anything, we also suggest bringing some baby wipes for their faces. Kids will also appreciate it if you bring something to comfort or entertain them when it’s not their turn to take pictures. This might mean bringing a tablet, doll baby, book, or other small toy for them. 

Extra Tips

Since we’ve covered a lot of the main things let’s cover some extra tips that could be helpful for you and your family before or during the photoshoot.

  1. If you’re doing an outdoor photoshoot be sure to bring sunscreen and or bug spray.
  2. Bring a comb or a brush in case you need to fix anyone’s hair. 
  3. Discuss how the photoshoot will work with family members before the session. Explain how long it will take and encourage cooperation, especially from younger children or teens who might be less enthusiastic.
  4. Test your outfits ahead of time to make sure they meet your standards. 
  5. Arrive early so can give yourself extra time to park, get ready, and settle in before the session starts.
  6. If you have kids, when scheduling, choose a time of day when kids are well-rested and fed to avoid moodiness. 
  7. If the session is long, allow kids time to run around, explore, or take a quick snack break. This helps them recharge and stay cooperative.
  8. If kids are silly, playful, or a little shy, don’t force them into poses. Let their personalities shine, and the photos will feel more genuine.
  9. Keep the mood light and fun; kids pick up on stress or frustration.
  10. Be patient and accept that not every moment will be picture-perfect, and that’s okay.

I hope this article helps you to prepare for your family photoshoot!

BlueSky: The New Social Media In Town

Every Post, Social Media

BlueSky is the new social media app in town and it looks like it’s gaining traction with a whole lot of people. So should you make an account for personal use or business use? Let’s talk about it!

BlueSky has a similar structure to X formerly known as Twitter. It allows you to send out posts that the users have playfully named “Skeets” and it allows you to also repost posts that you like on your profile which users have playfully named “ReSkeets”. They have recently added a feature that allows users to post videos that are horizontal and lets you swipe up to see more videos kind of similar to TikTok. Users can use hashtags to make posts about a subject, television show, or movie. Users can also list, another feature that is similar to Twitter. These lists allow you to make a collection of user accounts about various things. This might be a list of users who like anime or are into a certain television show.

One unique aspect of Bluesky is the ability to create and pin feeds. Feeds are a channel that people can post on that is about a certain subject. For example, I’m in an anime feed. This feed allows users to chat about their favorite anime, recommendations for anime, and more. Users can create feeds themselves or save feeds to their timeline in addition to the Discover page and following page.

Another unique aspect about Bluesky is the ability to create starter packs. Starter packs are a collection of users that a person recommends new users to follow. If you get on someone’s list be prepared to have some new followers.

Now that you have some background on how Bluesky is structured, it’s time to understand if you should make an account and if so should it be for business or personal use. Personally, I think that it’s great if you are an X user who doesn’t like the way the algorithm has changed and wants to recapture the old Twitter days. It’s also good if you haven’t tried a platform structured like this before and you love to type up your thoughts and post them for others to interact with.

While I have not seen a lot of Business accounts on Bluesky yet, it’s only a matter of time. Businesses hoping to ditch Twitter and find a better and similar platform should hop over to Bluesky to stay ahead of the trend if they think that they’ll be able to post consistently to help build their audience again. A brand should take a look at the age demographics that are currently using Bluesky before deciding if it’s a good platform for them. Right now, the largest age demographic for Bluesky is 25-34 year olds. If this is your target demographic it may be worth a try. If your target demographic is 40 and up though, this may not be something you want to try just yet.

Bluesky has a lot of potential but there are a couple of things that it could work on to become an even better app. For starters, Twitter users asked for an edit button for tweets for years, this is something that Bluesky could add to appease its users. Users have also been asking for a way to bookmark posts so that they can come back and view those posts at a later time. The website could also use a feature that would allow users to directly message other users to like a message.
Thanks for reading my blog and stay tuned for another post about social media, filmmaking, and photography!

Thanks for reading my blog and stayed tuned for another post about social media, filmmaking and photography!

A sample of a content calendar

Creating A Content Calendar

Every Post, Social Media

A Content Calendar is a calendar for your business or brand that shows you what you have planned to post or share for the entire month. It’s extremely important to have a content calendar so you can strategize, organize, and plan what you want to share with your audience. It’s also good to have a content calendar to help you build consistency on your social media account. In today’s blog, we’ll go over how to create a content calendar! If you’re a visual learner like me you can also watch a video on how I create a content calendar here.

Finding And Organizing The Calendar

First, you’ll want to start by finding a calendar template or creating your own. Google templates usually have some good ones that you can use for free. You can also use an app or some templates from other websites to create your own calendar template. Once you have a template, make sure to reorder the dates so they correspond with what year it is. For example, if you got a 2024 calendar the first day of January falls on a Monday. If you want to use that calendar for 2025 though, you’ll need to reorder the dates since January 1, 2025, started on a Wednesday.

Building A Content List

Now, before you actually start scheduling the content, you’ll need to create a list of content that you can use on the calendar. I usually make a Word document and create a list of different video and photo ideas. For example, if you own a bakery you might have a list of videos such as “Bake a Cake With Me” or “A Day In The Life Of A Baker”. You might also plan to share pictures of some dessert orders that you know are coming up that would be cool for your audience to see such as a Star Wars themed Cake or a beautiful three-tiered wedding cake. Be sure to have a huge list of ideas and to continue to add to it as you use those ideas in your content calendar. I also like to have a series that can be used on multiple days during the month so I don’t always have to have new content ideas. For example, I have a series on my Instagram called Director’s Cut. It’s reoccurring and we just focus on different films I create instead of having different concepts each time I post.

Scheduling The Content

Now it’s time to schedule the content. Think about how much time per week you have to make the content and post it consistently. For me, I post three times a week however if you don’t have as much time you might only want to post once or twice per week. Next, take a look at your content ideas and start planning which days you’ll be posting. Remember to be consistent and list out the name of the content idea, the time you’ll be posting it, and the social platforms you’ll be posting on in the calendar. You can see an example of this by looking at my content calendar sample on the featured image of this post. If you plan to collaborate with another organization or share their posts you can mark that in your content calendar as well. For a post like this, I would write something like “Share MCB Cinema’s latest post” or “Share MCB Cinema’s post on photography styles”.

That’s it for this blog post! Thank you for reading this post and stay tuned for more blogs about social media strategies, filmmaking, and photography in the future!

6 More Birthday Photoshoot Ideas For Guys

Every Post, Photog Blog

Earlier this month, we took a look at 6 more birthday photoshoots for the ladies and now it’s time to give 6 more birthday photoshoots for guys! Whether you’re looking for something classy, adventurous, or just plain fun, these birthday photoshoot ideas will help you capture the perfect shots to celebrate another year of life.

Champagne Celebration- What better way to toast to another year than with a champagne-themed photoshoot? For this shoot, you’ll need a bottle of champagne, your favorite outfit, and a celebratory attitude. There are plenty of creative shots you can try—popping the bottle, spraying champagne in the air, pouring it into a glass, or even taking it straight to the head. This theme works well both outdoors and in a studio setting. To enhance the birthday vibe, consider adding number balloons in the background, a stylish birthday cake, or some party décor. Of course, make sure you’re of legal drinking age before popping bottles!

Me and My Whip- If you love your car or motorcycle, why not make it the co-star of your birthday shoot? This type of photoshoot is all about showcasing your ride in a location that complements its aesthetic—whether it’s a scenic mountain road, a city street at night, or an open field. You can pose casually leaning on your car, sitting in the driver’s seat with the door open, or even capturing motion shots if you have a photographer skilled in action photography. This shoot is simple yet stylish and works great for car and bike enthusiasts.

Cake and Cigars- For a more refined and sophisticated vibe, try a cake and cigars theme. Picture yourself dressed in a sharp outfit, holding a cigar in one hand and a glass of whiskey or champagne in the other, with a birthday cake nearby as the centerpiece. This photoshoot is perfect for someone who wants a cool, high-end aesthetic. No worries if you don’tactually smoke—your photographer can edit the cigar effect in post-production. The combination of soft lighting, rich colors, and confident poses will make this shoot look effortlessly smooth.

The Musician- Are you a singer or another type of musician? This is your time to shine. If music is your passion, let it shine through in your birthday photoshoot! Whether you’re a singer, guitarist, DJ, or drummer, this theme allows you toshowcase your love for music while creating dynamic, performance-style images. A studio setting works great for dramatic lighting, neon effects, or even smoke machines to add flair. Alternatively, you could shoot outdoors—maybe with a street performer vibe or on a rooftop overlooking the city. Bring your instrument or microphone, and let the music guide your poses.

The Lumberjack- For those who love the great outdoors, a rugged, lumberjack-inspired shoot is a fantastic choice. Dress in your favorite flannel, jeans, and boots, and take your photos in a wooded area, by a log cabin, or next to a roaring bonfire. Props like an axe, a stack of firewood, or a camping lantern can add extra character to the shoot. This is an ideal option for guys who love hiking, camping, or simply want a strong, outdoorsy aesthetic. 

Beach Bash- Whether you’re actually at the beach or your photographer is skilled enough to create the look in a studio, this shoot is all about carefree, summer vibes. Pose with sunglasses and a tropical drink, build a sandcastle, bury yourself in the sand for a fun shot, or just lounge by the water, soaking up the sun. If you’re into watersports, consider action shots with a surfboard or jet ski. 

Thanks for reading this week’s blog about 6 more birthday photoshoot ideas for guys. Let me know if you have any more ideas or if you’ve done one of these themes for your photoshoot before. See you next time!

6 More Birthday Photoshoot Ideas For Ladies

Every Post, Photog Blog

Planning a birthday photoshoot with a theme in mind can be tricky. A couple of years ago, I shared some birthday photoshoot ideas for the ladies. Since then, I’ve come across even more creative and unique themes that might inspire you for your next birthday shoot! Whether you’re looking for something soft and dreamy, bold and fun, or stylish and sophisticated, here are 6 more birthday photoshoot ideas for ladies!

One With Mother Earth- For nature lovers, this dreamy outdoor photoshoot embraces the beauty of Mother Earth. Ideally set in a park, garden, or flower field, the key to this shoot is incorporating natural elements into your outfit—think floral dresses, flower crowns, or botanical prints. Bonus points if you have a color theme in mind when doing this type of photoshoot. For example, if you love the color pink, you may want to wear pink and go to a garden or park that has a patch of pink flowers or Cherry blossom trees. This will make your photography shoot pop even more.

Pajama Party- A pajama party theme brings all the fun to the comfort of your home or a cozy photography studio setup. Dress in your favorite cute PJs, bring fun props like stuffed animals, snacks, and cozy blankets, and set up a fun slumber party vibe. Bonus points if you invite some friends to be in this photoshoot with you so it looks like a fun slumber party with candid shots. Especially if it’s color-coded or involves matching PJs!

Pool Party- If you’re looking for a bold and unique shoot, a poolside or water-themed session is a great choice! Whether taken at an actual pool (depending on venue rules) or recreated in a studio with editing magic, the goal is to create a fun, carefree summer vibe. Picture yourself floating in a circular pool float, sipping a glass of lemonade (or champagne, if you’re of age), while the photographer captures an overhead shot of you relaxing effortlessly in the water. This would require the subject to wear a bathing suit and maybe have some sunglasses to shade yourself from the sun.

Pickup Truck Vibes- For a rustic and laid-back feel, a pickup truck or SUV setup makes for a cozy and adventurous birthday photoshoot. Whether in a studio with a well-lit setup or outdoors in a scenic field, this theme gives off road-trip, stargazing, or bonfire night vibes. Decorate your truck bed with LED string lights, blankets, pillows, or flowers to create a warm, inviting aesthetic. This photo shoot is good both for the daytime and the nighttime.

That 70s Disco Photoshoot- Channel your inner disco queen with a funky, retro-inspired birthday shoot! A studio setting works best for this one, where you can play with dramatic lighting, vibrant backdrops, and, of course, disco balls to complete the aesthetic. The client should dress in sparkly, metallic, or sequined outfits, and don’t be afraid to go bold with accessories like statement earrings or big hair. Bonus points if you wear roller skates and incorporate dynamic poses to add a fun and playful element to your shoot!

The Corporate Baddie- For those stepping into a new chapter with confidence and ambition, the corporate baddie theme is perfect! Whether taken in a professional studio or against a city backdrop, this shoot embodies power, sophistication, and success. Dress in sleek business attire—a fitted blazer, chic heels, and minimalistic jewelry—and pose like you’re the CEO of your own life.

Thanks for reading my blog about 6 more birthday photoshoot ideas for ladies. Let me know if you have any more ideas or if you have done any of these themes in the comment section. Stay tuned as we discuss 6 more birthday photoshoot ideas for men next time!

An Introduction to Social Media

Every Post, Social Media

Are you new to social media and want to learn about the most popular social media platforms and what type of content you can find or post on said platforms? Well, look no further than my introduction to social media blog post. In this post, we’ll discuss the most popular platforms, the type of posts you can have on each platform, what generations are on these platforms, and more. 

Why is Social Media Important?

Social media from a personal standpoint can provide a way to keep in touch with old friends, make new friends, and even stay in touch with family. There’s also funny content, informational content, and even networking opportunities dependingon the social media site you are on. From a business standpoint, social media is important because it can help you reach your audience, listen to the wants and needs of your consumers, and it can help you raise awareness about your products and services. Social media is a fantastic way to advertise in this day and age. 

The Most Popular Social Media Sites. 

The most popular social media sites at the time of this writing in November 2024 are Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly known as Twitter). Each website is unique and has a specific generation that likes to use it. Read below to find out more about each platform. 

Facebook

Facebook is currently the most popular social media platform. Facebook is capable of having long-form videos, short-form videos called reels, picture posts, and story posts (posts that only last for 24 hours). You can connect with people by “friending” them, and follow people like celebrities and public figures. You can also like Facebook business pages, write recommendations or negative reviews for these pages, and tag those pages in posts. Finally, Facebook has built-in games and a separate messaging app for talking to people. This social media platform is popular among baby boomers, Generation X, and Millennials. 

YouTube

YouTube is our next social media site. It is known as a video-based social media website. Long-form videos can be posted along with shorter-form videos called “shorts”. People subscribe to different channels that are of interest to them. Creators who are uploading the videos can also upload picture posts, polls, and more for their subscribers to see. YouTube is most popular with Gen Z and Millennials. 

Instagram

Instagram is another popular social media platform, particularly with our younger audiences. In fact, it’s one of the top platforms for Gen Z and Millennials. On this platform which is now owned and connected to Facebook, you can post short videos called reels, photos, and story posts (which once again last 24 hours). This platform allows you to follow friends, celebrities, and more. It also allows people to follow you and tag you in photos and videos. You can also collaborate with other people on reels. Instagram allows companies to have business profiles which gives the companiesaccess to their analytics (a report showing how well their content is doing).

TikTok

TikTok is the new social media platform on the block and while it’s very popular it may not last long with its potential ban in the United States. The app allows short-form video content, long-form video content, and even picture posts. It allowsyou to follow creators and other creators to follow your account. This platform is most popular with Gen Z and Millennials. TikTok also allows companies to have business profiles which gives the companies access to their analytics (a report showing how well their content is doing).

X (Formerly Known As Twitter)

X is a social media platform that is mostly about posting how the user is feeling in real-time. There are photo and video posts allowed but this platform is more social and allows people to comment more, or put their opinion on certain posts than other platforms. Users can retweet or repost a tweet also known as a post that they find engaging or they can quote the tweet and give their opinion about whether or not they agree or disagree with the person they are quoting. This platform is most popular with Millennials followed by Gen Z. 

Conclusion

Now that you have a basic understanding of social media, try to get on some of the platforms and see which one you like the best. If you need help deciding on which platform is the best for your brand or business…message me for a free consultation and we can see what makes sense for you.

Photographer and Model Meet Up #2

Every Post, Photog Blog

We’re back again this week to discuss the second photographer and model meet-up. This meet-up was super fun because it was very intimate and let me tap into my creative side some more. It had been a while since I got to do a creative photoshoot and not just one that required me to bring my client’s vision to life that they already had planned. So this was super exciting.

The theme for this photoshoot meet-up was Green and mythical. We had great props to use from a thrift store such as bubble blowers, mirror props, books, and more. The models were so awesome to work with as well. They were super creative with their looks and their poses. This photoshoot took place in a park that happened to have a waterfall that was shallow and easy for the models to walk in, so it was super fun to get to take photos over there as well. Take a look at the photos from the shoot below.

Photographer and Model Meet Up #1

Every Post, Photog Blog

This week we’re going to discuss a photographer meet-up I went to recently. If you’re a new or inspiring photographer or model then a model/photographer meet-up can be a very good idea to gain more experience. the beauty of a photographer/model meet-up is that you can practice and make mistakes without the added pressure of having to be perfect. this is for fun and experience!

This particular meet-up was in the Columbus area and was super fun. I met so many awesome models and fellow photographers that I got to network with. One of the photographers and I even got to do another meet-up with some of the same models a couple of weeks later! I’ll show you all that photoshoot next week!

3 Reasons You Need A Branding Photography Session

Every Post, Photog Blog

Branding photography can be very important if you’re starting a new business or want to refresh your brand for a current business. If you’re not well-versed in the importance of this then you’ve come to the right place. This week I’ll be giving you 3 reasons you need a branding photography session. 

Let’s start by talking about what exactly branding photography is. Branding photography is done to showcase the identity and personality of your brand. This photograph should show a little bit of the behind-the-scenes of your business and who you are as a person. It should also help showcase what your business does. Does your business specialize in baking? Carpentry? Photography? Your branding photos should show that. 

So when do you need to do branding photography sessions? I’m glad you asked. You need branding photography if you’re launching a business or website, you’re rebranding your business or website, you’re refreshing your current brand or website, or you’ve never done any branding for your business to begin with. With all of this new knowledge in mind let’s get to some more reasons why you need branding photography. 

First Impressions Are Everything- When a potential client comes to your website or social media page what will they see? Pictures taken from a phone with low resolution, or high-quality photos taken by a professional photographer. Will they see a basic photo taken in your office space, or carefully crafted posed images with a beautiful background? The choice is yours but think about how the clients will respond. The first option may not look professional to them on first impressions while the second may make them feel more at ease. Remember with clients, first impressions are everything. This is why you’ll want branding photos to showcase who you are on both your website and social media pages. 

Personality Can Connect You With Clients- Depending on your business, you can show some personality with the branding photos that will give your potential customers an idea of your values and personality. If you’re a baker and you think you’re a sweet person, you might want branding photos where you’re smiling with cookies in your hand and a soft backdrop. People who like sweets and are looking for a nice, non-intimidating baker to speak to about their dessert needs will naturally connect with the photos that they see and want to use your business. This is another reason why branding is important. You want people to connect with your personality through the branding photos that they see of you. 

Content Can Be Repurposed- You may think that it sucks you only get to use the photos for your website, but I’m here to tell you that branding photos can be repurposed for a lot of different useful content. You can use them on social media to talk about your brand or yourself, you can use them on your LinkedIn page so that you have a professional headshot or header picture for your business or brand, you can use them on other websites as well that require a headshot or background. if you’re a content creator including Youtube, TikTok, and Instagram you can use those photos on your profiles as well. The number of ways you can use branding photos is infinite and just shows you another reason why they are important. 

I hope this article was helpful and convinced you to have some branding photography done for your business or brand. Trust me, it’s worth the investment. let me know in the comments if you’ve ever done a branding photography session for your brand or business. I’ll see you all next week.