THE PHOTOS:
Are there any shots, or sessions, that you’ve seen of ours that really stand out to you? Do you have a special location you’d like us to check out? Are there any specific ways you’d like to display your photos? (albums, digital files, canvases, etc.) Which areas of your home are you hoping to decorate with your images? Is there anything else we should know? Is there someone we can than
k for referring you? How to prepare
Seniors, Weddings, Children, Families
Senior pictures are a lasting memento for your parents and you. It's a glimpse of who you are at the beginning of adulthood. It's not about the lighting. It's not about the clothes. It's not about the location. It's about you. Whether you feel really confident about what you want and are ready to go, or feel shy and don't know what to do, we'll work to make your portrait be what you want it to be. Your best preparation is to think about how you see yourself, who you are you at 18, and what you want to say about yourself in a portrait. Senior pictures should reveal your individual style. We'll work on-site, we'll try things and we'll try some more things. Your pictures won't be like anybody else's pictures because these are yours and they are about you. Your wedding is about you, not about your photographer. I want to photograph your wedding so that if someone wasn't there, they can look at your album and feel as if they spent the day with you. They'll know how you looked... and even better, they'll know how you felt...
The details of photographing a wedding will be customized. Your wedding photography will reflect your individual plans and your individual style. We'll talk about it at length before the day and make detailed plans about your wishes. My main task will be to take that discussion and create your story so that anyone can read it... especially you, 50 or 75 years from now. I also highly recommend pre-bridal pictures. No matter what photographer you choose, please have pre-bridal pictures taken. Pre-bridal portraits provide a study of how you will look on your wedding day, your hairstyle, the details of your dress, hair and make-up. Although you are photographed on your wedding day, the relaxed atmosphere of the pre-bridal session allows for capturing the fine details of you on your special day. This allows the wedding day to become about capturing your expressions, your relationship with your fiance, and your relationship with your friends, and family. You need to find a photographer that you feel comfortable with so you won't look fake or stressed in your pictures. You need to be able to make your photographer really understand what you want. We specialize in listening first and photographing you with your desires in mind. We'll do our best to make your wedding portraits match your vision and your needs. Your goal for your professional portraiture session for your child may be to show your child's individual personality, a reserved study, the relationship between you and your child or between siblings, or, simply, capturing an intangible quality of that child's age and interests. Dressing up as a princess or a cowboy, playing with Mommy's jewelry, engaging others through a particular expression or activity--are all fleeting moments that we can help you capture forever. We treat children as capable, with respect, and honor their requests and wishes. In our experience, we find children do better when their parents are relaxed. Our technique is to interact with children and, with their feedback, decide how to best photograph each child. We wait for the unguarded moment and until they are relaxed, then take the picture. It is a joy to photograph children because they are innocent, wonder-filled and, because they haven't become self-conscious, it is possible to capture their individuality. This means that their entire sitting becomes a true reflection of your child's spirit and personality. We understand that getting a family together, large or small, is difficult. Some family members never want their pictures taken. Some insist they need to lose weight, to postpone a session because there are more important things to attend to, or that it isn't really important .. However, it's important to remember that family photographs are some of the most treasured pictures you'll ever own, and if you wait too long it may never happen. Families change all the time. Relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, brothers and sisters, parents and children, and new additions to the family need to be recognized. Families are extraordinarily dynamic and it's essential to capture moments in time that will never be repeated. Our advice is to allow us to help you organize and expedite your family portraits in a low-key, relaxed, and enjoyable setting so that your family's moments will never be lost. Your whole family will be glad you did. Preparing for your photo shoot
What to know for when getting ready for your individual session
GUYS - For the more traditional portraits, a suit or sport coat with a tie is good. Medium to dark sweaters photograph well. For the casual and outdoor photos, comfort is the rule - jeans, khakis and shorts look great. GIRLS - Bring the colors and outfits you feel best in. Dresses and sweaters are good for a more traditional look. Bright colors, skirts, jeans, or shorts look good for your casual portraits. If there will be outfit changes, bring one dark color outfit with long sleeves. Avoid busy prints and patterns as they distract from the most important part of the portrait - you! SHOES - Shoes may show, so they should compliment your clothing. HAIR - Your senior portrait session is not the time to experiment with new hair styles or colors. If you do cut your hair, please do so at least a couple of weeks before the session so you are used to styling it. MAKEUP - Makeup for photographs should be slightly heavier than normal. However, too much makeup tends to give you a painted look and too little might not show off your features. A translucent powder is helpful to eliminate shine, especially for oily skin. Since most portraits concentrate on the eyes, great care should be taken to make them look their best. NAILS - Please do not forget the importance of your hands in your portraits. Whether you choose to do your nails yourself or have them manicured, keep them clean and use coordinating colors. Photographs often show your feet as well. FACIAL HAIR - Make sure that you are clean-shaven before your session. Retouching can hide blemishes, but not razor stubble. GLASSES - If you wear glasses most of the time, you will want to wear them in your portraits. To eliminate glare or reflections, bring empty frames or remove the lenses from your glasses. PROPS - You can use items (including pets, vehicles, sports equipment and musical instruments) that show what you enjoy doing at this time in your life. If you have something special in mind, just let us know. SUNTANS - Do not overdo the sun for a portrait. It looks great, but in moderation. Sunburn can be an expensive problem. It causes facial shine, red noses and cheeks, strap marks, hat lines and peeling, which are fixable but at an additional cost. How to prepare for a Glamour Shoot
MODEL / FASHION / GLAMOUR PHOTO SHOOT
Before you even schedule your photo session there are some things that will make you look amazing on film. Practice! Get in front of the mirror and search for expressions and poses. This is not a one minute run just for fun. You have to study your body. Learn how your facial expressions actually feel when you laugh, smile, frown or relax. Try to feel each muscle. You should develop your own methods of controlling yourself to produce a desired expression "on demand". Practice when you are alone, have time to concentrate and calm enough to listen to yourself. Can you feel a perfect smile without seeing yourself in the mirror? Search for body poses in front of a mirror without any clothing on. Because without wearing anything to cover your body with, you will suddenly find that it is a challenge to find an attractive and natural position using only what was given to you by mother nature. With clothing on, you have pockets, textures and colors that distract you from the main object - your body. Once you master that, you will feel much more confident about virtually any modeling assignment! Look at modeling shots from the fashion and glamour magazines and pay a close attention to poses, arms and legs placements and facial expressions. Analyze those separately and as a complete composition. Bring the shots you like with you. A few days before your session
Here are several things that are important when preparing for a photo shoot. Get a good night's sleep and stay healthy. If you're tired, it will reflect on your face, your overall appearance and your attitude. Try not to stress your body and mind a few days before the shoot. No alcohol, sweets, physical stress or heavy eating either! Continue with your daily exercising on a regular basis. Drink fluids sparingly. Shave or wax your legs and armpits a few days before a session. If you're modeling lingerie or open swimwear, take care of the bikini line. If you shave right before the shoot, the skin irritation will negatively impact the outcome, especially with digital photography. Your hair. If you need some trimming, a couple of days before the shoot is the right time. Any coloring should be done ahead of time. If you don't hire a make up artist, put a base makeup before coming to a shoot and don't forget your own make up kit. Don't use any gels or special hair treatments to keep it healthy for the shoot. Get your outfits and props ready. Avoid bright whites, stripes or any other patterns unless specifically requested. Solid colors are the best choice. Careful with choosing V-necks. Be prepared a day before to avoid last minute runs. Bring the props that match your outfits in color, texture or by theme. The Questionnaire, Pre Session Questions :
What are your names? Tell us about why you decided to have your portraits taken:
When was the last time you had your portraits taken? What do you love most about your partner? What do you want to remember about you two, right now? Decribe your perfect Saturday together:
Tell us about yourselves. What are your hobbies? What is one fun fact about each person? What do you like to do together? Places you like to go? If you could pick one word that describes you as a couple, what would it be? Send us your favourite photo of you two! We love to put faces to names right away.
