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Done In The Dark Season 2

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So…….this post is super late but better late than never. I aired the second season of my web series on YouTube last fall and wanted to come here and share it with you all. It’s the final season of Done In The Dark but still just as messy and drama-filled as the first season. My actors, cinematographers, and production assistant put a lot of work into creating this masterpiece and I would love for you to watch it by clicking this link. 

And just because this is the last season of my web series doesn’t mean I’m done with video production. I’m currently working on a horror-themed web series, with each episode being about something different with different characters. I hope you’ll tune in this October to see four new films created by me and my wonderful team!

Done In The Dark Behind The Scenes and Bloopers

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I am proud to announce that my web series Done In The Dark has been selected in my first-ever Film Festival! In celebration, I wanted to finally write a blog post on the behind-the-scenes and blooper video for the Done In The Dark web series that I released a little while ago.

Done In The Dark was such a fun series to shoot. I met so many incredible actors and actresses who I would love to work with again. I also was able to see a script that I had written many years ago finally come to life in a better way than I ever pictured. Done In The Dark was a special project for me because it was the first ever web series that I wrote, the first web series that I ever directed, and the first web series that I produced. To be able to do all of that in three short weekends and be selected for this film festival means the world to me.

If you haven’t checked out the web series yet you can check it out by clicking this link. If you’re ready to watch the behind the scenes and bloopers for the web series you can check it out here.

Photographer and Model Meet Up #2

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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

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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

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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. 

In Studio or At Home Newborn Photoshoot

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So you just had a newborn baby and you want to get pictures of them taken. The only problem is you just had a baby, you’re a new parent and you’re exhausted. This also could be your first child or your first time getting newborn pictures and you have no idea how to go about finding the right photo shoot location or theme. So what do you do? That’s where I come in. I’m going to explain if an in-studio or at-home newborn photoshoot is the best option for you. 

I want to start by saying that there is no right or wrong answer when deciding if you want a studio or home session. It’s honestly a matter of preference. For example, if you want to show off that new nursery that you decorated for your baby then you might prefer the at-home option. But, if your house isn’t photoshoot ready because you’re busy adjusting to the new parent lifestyle that’s okay too and you might prefer the in-studio option. Both options will look beautiful no matter what. 

In Studio- these types of photoshoots will allow your photographer to have a more controlled environment for the photoshoot. They will have all the props and equipment they need right in their studio. The photos taken in this type of environment will usually look more staged or posed. If you have a smaller home or apartment you may want to consider this option. If you have a specific theme or multiple styled themes you want to capture then this might be your ideal location as well. That way the photographer can change the backdrops and have all the props they will need handy. 

At Home- these types of photoshoots will allow your family to have a more relaxed photo shoot. It’ll be more candid instead of posed and styled. The photographer will come to your house with the equipment that they need to capture lifestyle newborn photos for you. This is n especially good option if you aren’t comfortable bringing your baby out in public yet, or if it’s the cold winter season. If you have other kids on the younger side who you want to be involved in the photo shoot, you may want to once again take the pictures at home so that they are in a more familiar and comfortable environment. It’s also easier to dismiss them and let them play in their room afterward instead of having to keep them entertained in a studio. 

I hope this article was helpful to you in deciding if you wanted an in-studio or at-home newborn photoshoot! If you’ve done a newborn photoshoot before let me know in the comments which option you decided to go with. I’ll see you all next week! 

5 Signs It’s Time For New Headshots

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You may be wondering how often you should get your headshots taken or if it’s even necessary. That’s why this week we are discussing 5 signs it’s time for new headshots. Hopefully, this list will give you a better idea of when to update your headshots or to get them taken for the first time. 

You Don’t Have A Headshot- If you don’t already have a headshot, it’s time to get one. Headshots can be useful in many different situations. The first use can be for your professional social media accounts such as LinkedIn. If an employer wants to learn your work background they may take a look at your LinkedIn account. You don’t want a selfie as the picture your possible future employer may see. Depending on the type of job industry you’re in, you may need headshots when you submit your resume, this could include actors, models, or even book authors. 

You Have A New Job- If you’re switching your career focus or starting a new job position then it’s time to take some more headshots! Just like starting a new job or career path is a fresh new start, your headshots should also be a fresh new start. They should mirror what your new job or career path is going to be. This might mean if you’re switching your job from the corporate world to something more creative, you might want to do the same with your headshot. 

You’ve Started A New Business- If you’re a new entrepreneur or just starting another business, then it’s time to take some branding headshots. Branding headshots will allow you to show off your new business and set the tone of the company. These images can be used on your website, portfolio, and social media pages. 

You Don’t Like Your Current Headshot- If your current headshot isn’t what you expected or it’s not the most satisfying photo of yourself then it’s time for a new headshot. If you have to post the photo or show it to future potential employers you might as well like the photos. 

Your Style, Appearance, or Fashion Trends Have Changed- If you’ve changed your style, gotten a new hairdo, or the fashion style has changed over the years, then it’s once again time to update your headshot. You want to make sure that you’re still recognizable in your headshots. You also want to make sure that the fashion style you have in your photos holds up so people can’t tell how old they are. People might judge if you have on colorful skinny jeans or silly bands in your last headshot. 

I hope this list helps you decide if it’s time to update your headshot. I’ll see you all next week!

Life Events That Require A Photographer

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There are a lot of events in life that can be fun or exciting time. During these times you may want to consider inviting a photographer to capture the moment for you. Some events you may not even think of, which is why I made a list of life events that require a photographer. 

Engagements- Getting engaged is an exciting time in one’s life. It’s also one that should be professionally documented with photos. Whether you want to hire a photographer to take pictures of your spouse as you surprise them and propose or you’ve already proposed and just want to stage some photos for invitations and memories, a photographer can help you get the perfect pictures to remember this special occasion. 

Weddings- This is another big event in your life that you’re gonna want to document and look back at over the years. A professional photographer can capture both planned and candid moments of your day. They can make sure they get pictures of not just you and your spouse but your family members and the decorations as well!

Maternity- Having a baby, especially your first one can be an exciting and new experience for both you and your partner. This is another occasion that should be documented not just for you and your spouse but for your future child as well to look back on. A photographer can help you come up with themes and locations for this type of shoot. This will also be a good time to help the pregnant person feel special and pampered. 

Baby Showers- This event is another one that you’re going to want to capture once again not just for you and your partner but for your future child as well. This is a great time to capture family members as well who you maybe don’t get to see as often as you would like. 

Newborn Babies- New additions to families are another great time to get pictures taken. Newborn photos will be the first professional images you get of your bundle of joy and can share with the whole family. These pictures are especially important if you want to start a photo album for your child or family or use some of the images in their baby books. 

Significant Birthdays- These photoshoots are super fun for everyone to look back on over the years to see how you or your child have grown over the years. It’s also a great way to celebrate another year of life. Some birthdays people like to highlight include one year, ten years, sixteen years, eighteen years, twenty-one years, twenty-five years, thirty years, forty years, and fifty years. 

Senior Portraits/Graduation- These are important pictures to highlight yourself or your child when you graduate from high school or college. These pictures are a great way to celebrate graduating and starting the next chapter in your life. These pictures can also be useful for graduation invitations.

Prom- When your child goes to prom they are going to want some photos to remember the day and to show off to their friends and family members. These pictures can be great memories for them to look back on especially since some of their friends who they may take pictures with that day may be moving away for college soon. 

New Holiday Portraits- During the winter holidays, it’s a great time to take some family photos. These can be used for holiday greeting cards or just as a way to update your current family portrait. 

New Family Portraits- Family portraits are important so that you can have photos in your home and photos of everyone together at one time. It only gets harder to get family photos with everyone together s everyone gets older with busier schedules. If you welcome a new addition to the family or it’s been a while since your last family photo that means it’s time for a new family portrait. 

New Business Ventures- If you’re entering the workforce, starting a business, or haven’t updated your headshot in a while that means it’s time to get some new headshots. Headshots are essential when reaching certain work milestones. They can help give your client or job a good first impression of your personality. 

I hope this list was helpful to you and I’ll see you all next week!

5 Tips For Preparing For Photoshoots

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This week I’ll be sharing with you five tips on how to prepare for a general photoshoot. These tips come from seeing some clients get a little flustered when things don’t always go to plan which causes their sessions to sometimes become stressful and we want our photoshoots to be fun. So here are 5 tips for preparing for photoshoots. 

Beauty Appointments- If possible try to book your hair and make-up appointments way earlier in the day than your actual photoshoot. I’ve unfortunately seen too many people run into this situation where their hair stylist or make-up artist is running behind which puts the client behind for their photoshoot. For example, if you make your hair appointment at 1 pm but the photo shoot is at 3 pm and the hairstylist is running an hour behind you might become late for your photoshoot. Instead, try to make that hair appointment at 11 am so that even if they were to run a little behind you still have time for your session. 

Packing Ahead- Try to pick your outfit(s) for the shoot ahead of time, preferably a week before. This can help you to have everything ready the week of the shoot. Also during the time between when you organized the clothes and the shoot, you may realize you forgot something and then you’ll be able to add it in before the shoot takes place. 

Packing Extra- If you have multiple outfits try to pack one to two more extra outfits in case you should have a wardrobe malfunction or spill something on one of the outfits that you planned to wear originally. This is especially true if you have kids that are getting their pictures taken because let’s face it, kids can be messy sometimes. 

Arriving Early- Please make sure to arrive at your photoshoot early. When you arrive early you may be able to get into the make-up room to change into your clothes or touch up your make-up ahead of time which could get you more shooting time. When you leave early for the photo shoot it can help you with any traffic you may encounter but didn’t anticipate as well. 

Speaking With Your Photographer- My final tip is to speak with your photographer about your vision for the photoshoot. This way the photographer can give you more tips and tricks to make your vision come to life, especially if you have a more complicated shoot or don’t know how exactly to make your vision come to life by yourself. 

I hope this list helps you out for your next photoshoot. I’ll talk with you all again next week. 

5 Halloween Photoshoot Ideas

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Halloween is right around the corner and in case you want to get a Halloween-themed photoshoot soon or you have one coming up, I want to give you 5 Halloween Photoshoot Ideas.

Kids In Their Costumes- If you have kids then you’ll probably want to get some pictures of them in their costumes, especially if it’s one of their first Halloweens. Picture this, you tell your photographer that you want a Halloween-themed photoshoot for your kid(s). You inform them of your child or children’s costume. They create a backdrop or scene setup that brings your kid(s) costume to life. For example, maybe your daughter wants to be a princess. So your photographer uses a backdrop with a castle for them to pose in front of. Or maybe your three boys want to go as Freddy, Michael Myers, and Jason, so your photographer created a backdrop in a creepy dark forest. The possibilities are endless.

Cosplay-Themed Shoots- If you’re into Anime then this will be the Halloween-themed shoot for you. Imagine dressing up as your favorite anime character with a backdrop of their hometown behind you. This especially works well if you have a partner or a group of people to portray several characters from one anime. Maybe you and your friends dress up s the crew from One Piece. Or if you have a lot of sisters you dress up as the ladies from Sailor Moon. 

Halloween Movie-Themed Shoots- If you’re big into Horror Movies like I am, then this might be your best bet. You dress up as a character from your favorite Halloween movie and reenact a scene. This is especially fun for couples or groups to do once again. Imagine reenacting a scene from Halloween with your best friend dressed as Michael or a scene from Chucky by yourself with a good guy doll. And if you have kids, maybe you dress up as Pennywise and pose your kids to be running from you. 

Family Halloween Portraits- If you and your family have been wanting a family portrait done and your favorite holiday happens to be Halloween then you may want to do this nontraditional option. A family portrait in costumes. Maybe you all dress up as the Adams Family or The Incredibles. This could be a very fun option for both adults and kids. 

Pets In Their Costumes- If you want some portraits taken of your pet in costume this is a great idea as well. You can also jump in the picture with them if you bring a costume of your own as well. Maybe you and your dog dress up as Scooby Doo and Shaggy or maybe you just show off your dog’s latest ghost costume in this photoshoot. There are a lot of fun options to do here. 

I hope this list gave you some spooky good ideas! I’ll see you all next week for another blog.

5 Reasons You Need a Mommy and Me Photoshoot

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Imagine this. You’re dressed up in a corresponding outfit with your child taking pictures in a studio or out at the park. What could be a more fun and bonding experience for you and your child? Today, I’ll be giving you 5 reasons you need a mommy and me photoshoot.

Bonding Time- the first reason that a mommy and me photoshoot is a good idea is that this will be a great opportunity for you and your child to bond with each other. Picture this, you could wear matching or corresponding outfits, take some photos and then even go out to eat afterward. It’ll be a great way to spend time with each other especially if your child’s getting older and ready to leave the nest soon. This could also be something fun to do with the little ones as well. 

Memories- I am a big believer in taking photos with your family so that you can have memories for when everyone gets older. Especially for your kids who will have kids of their own one day and want to share pictures of their childhood with their new families. Doing a photoshoot like this one will allow you to create those memories with your child. 

Mother’s Day Gift- The next reason you should do a mommy and me photoshoot is that it could make the perfect mother’s day gift. If you’re the father and want to plan something nice for your wife or the mother of your child, it would be a great gift to have the mother get all dressed up, take them out for brunch, and then to this photoshoot. They would have a great day and get to have some pictures of them with their child as a gift. Another option is if you’re the mother in this situation and want to get your mother (the grandmother of your child) a gift you could plan this photoshoot and get the pictures delivered to them as a Mother’s Day gift. 

Redo Photoshoot-This next reason that you should do a mommy and me photoshoot will probably pull at your heartstrings. in the picture for this post the mother wanted to redo a picture pose she did with her son when he was a baby of them laying down and holding hands. the reason I told you this is to give you another idea of what could happen for your mommy and me photoshoot. You would be able to recreate certain pictures you took when your child was younger or if they are already young or you don’t have any pictures of you together you’ll be able to make one and years later recreate it. 

Birthday Gift- the last reason you should do a mommy and me photoshoot is that just like using the photo shoot as a Mother’s Day present or surprise you could do the same for the mother’s birthday. This would be a great idea for a mother who maybe hasn’t gotten a lot of time to spend with her kids in a little while. You could start the day with the mother getting her hair, make-up, and nails done. Then you would drop off her and the child or children at the photoshoot locations. After taking pictures with the kid(s) the family could go out to dinner together as a family. What could be a better way to spend your birthday with your family? And you would get pictures from the occasion as well to keep for years to come. 

I hope this article has inspired you to do a Mommy and Me Photoshoot session. Tell me the last time you did a photoshoot like this in the comment section. I’ll see you all next week. 

10 Maternity Shoot Ideas

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Maternity shoots are one of my favorite things to photograph. It captures the beauty of pregnancy and a parent with their child before it’s born. Since it can be hard to pick a theme, I’ve made a list of 10 maternity shoot ideas for you to choose from. 

A Walk In The Park- This can be a gorgeous option for a maternity shoot. There are so many different options you do depend on the type of park that you choose. For example, if your park has a sunflower field you can take pictures walking through it. If your park has a bridge you can walk across it while showing off your bump. And if your park has trees that are in bloom it can be fun to take pictures near blooming flowers or near trees. 

Mommy and Me-This is an option for a mother who already has at least one kid. For this idea, you would take pictures with your son or daughter doing different poses. Some common poses include your son or daughter kissing your belly or holding up signs that say something witty like ‘bun in the oven’ or ‘big brother’. Some mothers like to have their kids match them in their clothing for this type of shoot. 

The Happy Couple-The perfect option for a couple that wants some pictures together. In this idea, the couple will be doing poses together instead of just the pregnant person alone. The couple might want to go to the park together for the pictures, they might want to be in a studio together, there are many different options. Typically these poses consist of one person kissing the pregnant person’s belly, the couple holding hands and walking, or holding up a sonogram picture.

The Milk Bath-Many mothers love this next idea. It’s become pretty trendy over the last couple of years. In this idea, the mother will get into a bathtub in a studio. The bathtub is filled with milk and flowers. The mother may want to be nude, wearing only undergarments, or wearing a dress that they are okay with getting wet. They will then pose while the photographer snaps the images. 

A Day At The Beach- For the lucky couple that lives near a beach, this next idea is for you. The beach can offer you some beautiful photos. The couple can walk down the beach, pose in the shallow end of the water, or even set up a pallet on the sand with an umbrella for a more staged photoshoot. 

Classic Glamorous Studio- The next idea requires a studio or to be inside a fancy room. The couple or just the pregnant person would dress in their fanciest attire. The couple can pose together standing, dancing, or sitting together on a couch. If the pregnant person is alone at the shoot then it’ll be their time to shine. They’ll be able to pose in many different ways and have the camera all to themselves. 

The Big Happy Family- This is for the family that would like some portraits together in addition to a maternity shoot. This type of shoot could be executed in a couple of different ways. You could have a family picnic at a park together while your photographer clicks away. Or you could walk on a beach or in a park together. The main focus is on your family and the new addition to the family. 

Two is Better Than One- If you and your sibling or you and your best friend both happen to be pregnant at the same time, this is the perfect shoot for you. The two of you could pretend to be hanging your future kid’s clothes on hanging pins together or you could both just wear matching outfits in your pictures. There are many different options you can do. 

Boudoir Beauty- Some new mothers like to do boudoir maternity shoots. In these types of shoots, the mother might only wear a special fabric as their clothing or undergarments. They’ll usually pose either on a couch, bed or on a seamless backdrop in a photographer’s studio. Sometimes with these sessions, the mothers like to have silhouettes of themselves taken as well. 

The Nursery- This type of session is unique because it is done at the couple’s home in the nursery. This photoshoot lets you show off your new nursery and all of the baby nicknacks that you have. 

I hope this list has been helpful and that you have a successful maternity shoot!