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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. 

5 Tips For Taking Great Vacation Photos

Photog Blog

If you’re going on vacation soon then you might want to check out this blog. We’re talking about how to take great photos on vacation to capture those memories forever. So, here are 5 tips for taking great vacation photos. 

1. Lighting is Everything- Make sure whenever you’re taking a photo, you have good lighting. You don’t want the sun on your subject’s faces because then they’ll be all squinty, and you don’t want the sun directly behind them because then they might look too dark and you won’t be able to see the subject’s face. You want to angle them so that the sun isn’t in their face but also isn’t behind them. This will create a great photo. I also suggest shooting during sunset or sunrise. You can get some great shots of the sky behind your subject during this time. Or if you like to take pictures of the landscape you can get some great pictures at sunrise or sunset.

2. Get Some Action Shots– When shooting pictures on vacation you might want to get some action shots. An action shot is when you capture your subject doing something while moving. So instead of it being posed, it’s more of a candid shot. Examples of this are maybe taking a picture of your kids playing with their toys together, or some of your spouse reading on a balcony. If you shoot landscape photos you still can get action shots of a subject. For example, you may be on a beach and see a big wave coming your way, this would be an action shot you may want to get. Or you may see a waterfall, this would be another action shot that you’ll want to capture. 

3. Always Have Your Camera– Be sure to always have your camera on you while you’re on vacation. Even if you don’t want to bring a real camera or a real camera isn’t allowed in your travel location, you always have your phone to help you capture those special moments. 

4. The Rule Of Thirds– This is an important photography rule even for professionals. The rule of thirds goes like this: if you were to put a tic tac toe board on your image, the subject of your image should be on that far left or far right third. This can help you capture amazing photos and this tactic is used by professionals everywhere. 

5. Overshoot– My last tip to you is to overshoot when you’re on vacation. Take the extra couple of photos to make sure you get that money shot. I’d always rather have too many great photos than not have enough good ones at all. 

I hope this helps! Be sure to comment on what places you want to visit on your next vacation in the comment section below. 

 

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.

Cincy Street Meet Photos

Photog Blog

Each year in Cincinnati there’s an event for photographers, models, stylists, make-up artists, and more called The Cincy Street Meet. Last year was my first Cincy Street Meet and it was amazing. I got a lot of awesome photos and videos and got to meet a lot of great people. I went again this year and it was another great year of networking and snapping photos. I wanted to share with you all some of my favorite Cincy Street Meet photos and outfits!

7 Photos All Parents Need of Their Kids

Photog Blog

I’ve always believed that parents should get professional pictures taken of their kids to keep in a photo album so that when they grow up they could have memories to look back on and share with their future family. That’s why I’ve made this list of 7 photos all parents need of their kids. 

Newborn- These photos will be great to look back on once your kids are all grown up. It’ll remind you of the days when they were small enough to carry in your arms. Newborn photos are important not just for the parent’s nostalgia but also so that the kids can see what they looked like as a child and share them with their friends or spouse in the future. These photos can be taken within the first two weeks of the child’s birth or if you need a little more epitome to adjust to parenthood, they can be taken a few months after you welcome them to the world. 

First Birthday- It’s a huge milestone when a baby makes it to the age of one. So huge that it should be celebrated and remembered! What better way to celebrate and remember your kid’s first birthday than with a photoshoot? This will once again be good for you and your child to look back on through the years. I recommend a cake smash as part of your photo shoot for babies at this age. 

Kindergarten Graduation- This is another important milestone for your child. Their first graduation! Grab a small cap and gown for your child and prepare to get them some pictures of this moment. This will also be a good throwback picture for them in the future. 

Sweet Sixteen- While Birthday pictures at any age are highly encouraged, sweet sixteen pictures are one of the most popular. Go ahead and celebrate them with a photoshoot that they can share with their friends and family or even use on their birthday invitations for a birthday party. This type of photoshoot can be very fun for the teen because they can pick the type of theme they want and express their style. 

Prom- Every high school student who wants to go to prom should have prom pictures whether they’re taken by a professional or on your cell phone. This is a moment your child will probably want to remember and it might be one of the few times you’ll get to see them all dressed up. If you do go with a professional photographer, which I obviously recommend, be sure to have them capture your child and their friend group or date at a nice park. Some photographers offer this as part of their senior pictures package deal so be sure to ask if that’s an option for your child. 

Senior Photos- Senior pictures are another big part of your child’s senior year besides prom. They should definitely get senior pictures done to celebrate their achievement of graduating high school, to use as invitations for their high school graduation cards, and or just for memories of what their high school days were like. 

College Graduation- Just like when you’re child graduated high school, if they’ve decided to further their education at college, you should definitely have senior pictures of them taken celebrating their success at completing college. These photos once again can be used as pictures for graduation invitations, and to help them remember their college days. 

That’s my list of 7 photos all parents need of their kids. Can you think of any I’ve left out? Comment below and let me know. I’ll see everyone next week!

4 Reasons You Should Have A Double Maternity Shoot

Photog Blog

Double maternity Shoots. They’re super fun to do and I had the pleasure of doing one for two sisters this past month. Both were pregnant and expecting baby boys. They wanted to do a maternity photoshoot together and with their spouses as well. It came out beautifully and made me want to do more photoshoots like this one. So, I’m here to give you 4 reasons you should have a double maternity shoot!

  1. You can get Both Pictures By Yourself and With Your Double Maternity Partner! How many times have you taken professional pictures with your sibling or best friend during adulthood? Probably not many because life happens. Or if you have it might be a family or group portrait instead of just the two of you. If you both happen to be pregnant at the same time, this could be not only a great opportunity to get pictures taken together but also a great time to share an experience of your pregnancy journey with each other. It’s not quite often that you see both siblings or two best friends pregnant at the same time, especially if you’re twins! Now I know what you might be thinking. “I still want to be able to take pictures by myself. I don’t only want pictures with just another person.” Well, no need to worry about that. Another benefit is that even though you’ll be taking some pictures together, you can still take pictures separately and have your moment to shine. 

2. You Won’t Feel Awkward. If you normally feel a little awkward taking pictures by yourself then a double maternity shoot could benefit you. This would allow you to take pictures with your sibling or best friend, who can help you to relax a bit more or even come up with some pose ideas. This is especially true if your sibling or best friend may be more outgoing. They’ll be able to get you out of your comfort zone and into the photoshoot mood. Even if both of you are shy, you’ll both feel more comfortable trying poses together instead of apart.

3. You Might Could Save Money! This, of course, depends on the photographer but usually, it’ll be cheaper for the both of you to do a double maternity shoot together than to schedule two separate photoshoots apart. With me for example, I was able to shoot both of the mothers-to-be within an hour. So they were only charged for an hour instead of them both being charged for an hour separately. Keep in mind that every photographer is different and they may have different ways or prices for doing a double maternity shoot. 

4. You and Your Future Kids Will Get To Spend Time together. Perhaps one of the best benefits is that you and your sister or best friend will get to spend some quality time together. This could be a great time to catch up and bond with each other especially if you two haven’t seen each other lately. Another benefit to this is that by having a double maternity shoot together, the two babies to be will get to be together in pictures for the first time, even if they are still in your bellies! This will hopefully set them up to be very close friends once they are born into the world. 

Thanks for reading my blog and I hope I have convinced you to try a double maternity shoot with a sibling or best friend. Be sure to share this with someone you would do a double maternity shoot with! I’ll see you all next week. 

4 Steps to Planning a Baby Photoshoot

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Planning a baby photoshoot is just as important as actually taking the pictures. It can also be just as tricky. You want a photo shoot that showcases the baby’s personality while also capturing their adorableness. In this blog, I’ll show you exactly how I do it.

Step 1: Conversing With Parents. Most of the time that a photographer takes pictures of a baby, they don’t know the baby. This is why it’s always good to talk to the parents to get an idea of what the baby likes and what the parents would like to see the baby doing in the photos. For example, the baby might really like a TV show or movie. By talking to the parents you can learn this and plan a theme around that television show or movie. The parents might also say the baby has trouble sitting up on its own, this will help you prepare to prop the baby up so it can look s though it’s sitting up on its own.

Step 2: Finding The Dress Code. A lot of times parents will have an outfit or two in mind that they want the photographer to take pictures of their babies in. The photographer should ask the following questions in regards to what the baby is going to wear on the day of the shoot: What color will the outfit be? Is it a dress? Skirt? Pants? Jumper? Or nothing at all. (Sometimes parents might want babies to be naked but swaddled in a blanket for a picture or they might want the baby to look like they’re taking a bath in a picture. This could require the baby to not be clothed.) Will there be any accessories such as bows, headbands, ties, etc? By finding out this information you can start to plan how the scene behind the baby will look in the photos. For example, in the photo above you’ll notice the baby matches the green decor. That’s because I asked the mother what color the baby would be wearing and she described a green and white dress. So I decided I wanted green and white to be the theme in the background. I also learned that the baby could sit up on her own so I didn’t have to bring a special baby pillow to make her sit up in the fake bathtub.

Step 3: Finding The Right Props. Now that you have talked to the parents to learn bout what the baby will wear and a little about the baby’s personality, it’s time to find the right props for the photoshoot. If the theme revolves around Christmas you might want to pick out green and red props to give it that Christmasy feel. If the theme is around the 4th of July you’ll probably want colors like red, white, and blue to give it that holiday feel. If the theme is around a TV show or movie, you might want to order a backdrop, plush props, or balloons that show off that movie or TV show. You’ll also probably want to make sure any additional props match the color of those TV or movie props. For example, I did a photo shoot for a baby that loved Cocomelon. I ordered some Cocomelon plush toys and some colorful balloons that matched the color of the plush toys to make the scene come together. For the picture above, Since I knew we were doing a green and white theme, I ordered some green and white flowers and vines to add so that the colors of the baby’s outfits would pop.

Step 4: Set Up The Scene. This is our final step before taking the actual pictures. You’ll want to set up the scene early so you can make any adjustments you need before the baby arrives at your studio. For example, if you set it up and it doesn’t look up to your standards, you’ll be able to run to your local store or find other props in your studio to fix the scene to your liking. I usually try to set up 30 minutes to an hour beforehand.

That is all my advice on planning a baby photoshoot. I hope this was helpful and be sure to check out my other baby photoshoot tips!