photoshoot

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. 

5 Reasons You Need Photos Of You Getting Ready On Your Wedding Day

Photog Blog

If you’re planning your wedding day soon you might be overwhelmed with figuring out what all you need for your special day. That’s why I’m here to help you figure out the photography aspect of your day. Wedding photographers can be very helpful to capture your wedding ceremony and your reception, but have you thought about having your photographer capture you and your spouse getting ready for the ceremony as well? In today’s blog, I’ll give you 5 reasons you need photos of you getting ready on your wedding day.

The Photos Will Show A Transformation- If you get photos of yourself and your significant other getting ready you’ll be able to see your transformation of getting make-up put on, getting your hair down, and getting changed into your clothes and accessories. It’ll be fun to be able to see before and after photos well. 

The Photos Will Be More Memories To Look Back On- Capturing these small moments can be beneficial when you want to look back and remember the full day and not just the ceremony and reception. You’ll be able to look through a photo album and remember the feeling of getting changed into your outfit and having fun with your wedding party and family as you got dressed. These photos will also be a good idea when your family members or possible future children want to look back and see photos of the day especially if they couldn’t be there. 

You’ll Get To See What Your Spouse Was Up To- Usually, the two people getting ready for the wedding do so separately. If you capture pictures of both of the parties getting ready you’ll be able to look back and see what your significant other was up to. You’ll see intimate moments of them getting ready and spending time with their friends and family members, moments that you normally wouldn’t get to see. 

You’ll Capture Intimate Moments With Family and Friends- During the wedding ceremony and a lot of the reception, the photographer may be focused more so on the couple getting married and not always on their interaction with other people since the couple is more likely to be together for most of the ceremony and reception. Photos, where you are getting ready with your bridesmaids or groomsmen and your family members, can be your chance to get intimate photos with those people on your special day. Whether you’re sipping wine in the room with your bridesmaid to calm down your nerves or telling funny stories with your groomsmen to remember all that you’ve been through together. These moments are worth being captured. 

Capture First Look With Family- If you don’t know what a first look is, then I’ll explain it here. A first look is when either family members or your partner that you are getting married get their first look at you all dressed up before the wedding ceremony. Some people choose to do first looks with their partners and others opt out of it. Whether or not you decide to do one with your partner is up to you but that doesn’t mean you can’t do one with your family during your getting-ready photos. This will be a good chance for your parents or grandparents to see you before the wedding. you’ll be able to get their authentic reactions as well up close. 

I hope this list is helpful with you planning at least one aspect of your future wedding. Let me know in the comments if you had a photographer capture you and your wedding party getting ready for your wedding ceremony. 

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 Tips For Beautiful Photos With Your Dog

Photog Blog

If you’re anything like me, your dog is a part of your family and that means you sometimes will want to take pictures with them or of just them alone. However, dogs can be tricky to get good photos of. They can be squeamish, clingy, or just not interested in looking forward at the camera. That’s why today’s blog will give you 5 Tips For Beautiful Photos With Your Dog.

Call Their Name and/or Bribe Them- When taking a photo of your pet they can sometimes look off in a direction that isn’t where your camera is located. Be sure to call their name or have someone hold a treat next to the camera. This can sometimes get your dog’s attention and get them to look toward the camera for a great picture. If you’re trying to take a selfie with your pet, or you have a camera set up with a timer, you may want to have someone else sit behind the camera or you’re phone holding a treat so that once again it looks like your pet is looking at the camera.

Try Some Candid Shots- Sometimes pets just aren’t in the mood for pictures. This is when you may want to get some candid shots of them. Try to take close-up pictures of their paws, some pics of them chewing their bone or playing with their newest toy. These types of pictures can be very cute as well. 

Take Them For A Walk- You may be wondering what taking your dog for a walk has to do with getting a good picture of them. Well, if you take your doggo on a walk you’ll be able to use up all their energy walking them so that when you get home they’ll want to lay down or sit and rest. This is the perfect time to snap a few pictures of them while they aren’t all rowdy. You may even get some cute pictures of them taking a nap. 

Be Patient- Patience is going to be your best friend. Sometimes you have to wait for your pet to settle down or to sit the right way so that you can get the money shot. If you’re not patient then you’ll just frustrate yourself. 

Book A Photographer That’s Good With Pets- Your last option is my favorite and also helpful if you want professional photos taken of you and your pet or just of your pet alone. There are many photographers who are good at getting dogs to settle down and take pictures. Some may even have treats or toys for your dog to help them look at the camera.

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!

4 Awesome Wedding Venues in Cincinnati

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Cincinnati has a lot of amazing wedding venues. If you’re new to the area or never looked at wedding venues then this post is for you. For today’s post, I’ll be highlighting 4 awesome wedding venues that I’ve shot at.

Ault Park- This is a beautiful and huge park where a lot of Cincinnatians host their wedding during the Spring, Summer, and Fall. I recommend hosting your wedding here in the Spring if it’s warm enough so you can see all the beautiful flowers blooming and maybe even the cherry blossom trees! In the gallery below you’ll find some pictures I took at the park. 

Abby’s Farm- This is a beautiful venue that gives you both a farm feel and a river view. There’s an indoor venue where you can host the reception or your wedding, a huge outdoor area where you could also have your wedding and reception, and a gazebo which is fantastic for photos. Find pictures of the farm in the gallery below.

Gorman Heritage Farm- If you love nature or farms then this may be the venue for you. This farm has a sunflower field in the summer that is truly a spectacular sight. This venue can be good for engagement photos as well. It’s a stunning sight that will truly wow your guest. You can find pictures of the farm and the sunflowers below. 

Sugar Event Loft- This is an indoor venue that I have shot a couple of weddings at and it is always decorated beautifully. The lighting is well and once you leave the indoor venue you can go outside to the Liberty Center to take some outside pictures with your bridal party. 

I hope this has inspired you to take a look at a couple of Cincinnati Wedding venues. Let me know your favorite venue in the comments section.