Makeover // Part 2

I decided to take a break from my usual Friday Second Shooter posting today to share a little bit more about the makeover that will be happening soon! Particularly, some logo and design options that didn't get used, but absolutely inspired the direction for the final product. All of these were inspired by the mood board that I shared a few weeks (months? I can't keep track of time right now) ago.

Usually, when I first take in an idea visually, I either love it or hate it and I rely heavily on my gut reactions to determine the next step.

It wasn't quite so easy when it came to this, but I think that turned out to be a good thing. Because, instead, I looked at each option that Breanna (who is, of course, incredible and I dearly loved working with her) created and really gave it some thought as to what I liked or didn't like about it. And that turned into a collaboration that pulled elements from several different concepts into one that turned out amazing.

So below are some of the pieces that I liked various parts of, and ultimately they each inspired something really freaking cool...to be coming very soon.

Happy Friday! Have a fabulous weekend my friends!

All designs by Breanna Rose

Snapshot: May

// What I did //

It feels like May went by so fast, I blinked and it was gone. Aside from crossing run a 5k of my list of goals to complete by my next birthday, we made time to visit with our families, which is always a good thing. I spent a lot of time with this girl during this past month, and loved every minute of it.

// Goals accomplished //

Finally, I pulled some resources together and have officially added off camera flash to my equipment bag for receptions! Woo hoo! It was never an issue of being afraid to learn something new, but rather trying to prioritize equipment purchases, that held me back until now. And while I love the added dimensionality it gives to awesome dancing pictures, I'm still trying to adapt it to my style of shooting. This month, I learned that I really love to add motion to my dance floor photos, and combining that with off-camera flash is a work in progress. For now, I'm mixing my use of off-camera flash with my old ways of shooting, and might do a little posty-post later on just dance floor images, just for fun.

// What I read // 

With all my shows being off for the summer, reading is my new evening pastime (when I can take a break from wediting, that is). I think I made it through three books in May: Where'd You Go Bernadette?, and the latest young adult craze, Divergent and sequel, Insurgent. All three are relatively quick, fun, entertaining reads that would be perfect for days on the beach if you're looking for something to pick up and purely enjoy. 

// What I loved //

This tutorial on making double exposures with a digital camera. I played around with it a little, but am still working on the technique. Definitely planning to use it for some fun things though! 

// What I'm working on //

I wish there were a more interesting answer to this, but weddings, weddings, weddings. And loving every second of it.

// What I watched //

Everybody watched it, and I did too: the inspiring story of Zach Sobiach, the teenage song writer who recently passed away after fighting cancer. Yes there were tears. And then the celebrity tribute version of his song made me smile.

// Who I added //

I mentioned here that I'm trying out a semi-vegan way of life, so I went on the hunt for some yummy vegan things to make, and found The Simple Veganista. Oh my yumminess. It made me excited for trying new things and being creative in the kitchen while still eating really healthy!

// Favorite cat photo of the month // 

I guess we can't have guests over for dinner anymore, now that I've shared this photo. 

Makeover // Part 1

I've been talking about it for months, and now I can finally share the first little piece.

My online home is getting a makeover. I've been working with Breanna Rose for the past month, and she designed a super fun, colorful, and cheerful logo (which I will share with you soon). Next up, Blair from Leap will be helping me work it into a website and new blog.

But first, the inspiration. A moodboard for your viewing pleasure, put together by Breanna with help from this Pinterest board.

I love the colors - they feel so cheerful, which is perfectly suited to my purpose and how I want my brand to feel in it's visual form.

In a few weeks, I'll share with you the logo Breanna designed!

Also, a side note: The styled series is taking a break for a month that is filled to the brim with weddings. Personal project posting will continue *hopefully* in mid-July. But until then, enjoy all of the summer wedding goodness to come, starting with one of my favorites tomorrow.

Adding to the family

NO, this is not a post about babies. At least not the human kind.

I might consider my cameras my babies...they get treated with special care and I know them the way I assume I might someday know my children. I've heard it said that children feel like an extension of your person, and I must agree that my cameras feel much the same way when I hold them. I love them about as much as you possibly can love an inanimate object.

Last weekend, I decided to rent a camera for the three events taking place between Friday and Sunday. Instead of picking up more of what I already know I love, I decided to try something new and completely totally different from the norm. There has been a lot of buzz in the photography world about the rangefinder-style cameras that Fuji makes, and after reading this review from Zack Arias about how much he loved the X-Pro1, I decided to give it a try.

And once I tried, I knew there was no giving it up. Sorry, LensProToGo, you can't have your camera back.

I placed an order for one of my own before I even returned the rented one. That's how much I loved this camera. Too bad human children don't work the same way, with try-before-you-buy and when you find a model you like you just place an order. Who wants to get on that? Until it happens, I'm sticking to cameras.

One of the things that I really and truly love about this camera is that it is so simple. There aren't a thousand programmable buttons or fancy mechanics. It has exactly the controls you need to make a good picture, no extra complications. And it does take great pictures. Whatever special sauce they put in this thing is certainly a winner. It does amazing things in low light, for sure, on top of being much less heavy to carry and relatively unobtrusive compared to a DSLR. I'm using it with an 18mm F/2 lens, making it a perfect wide-angle, photojournalistic camera to contrast the portrait lenses I use on my D700. And, I think it goes with out saying, but the thing is so darn cute and retro, I can barely stand it (because I totally am the person who will buy something for form over function, but thankfully, this has both).

And since we're on the subject of children, it would be against my nature not to include a photo of my furry babies. Sometimes I think they just lay on the floor and have silent conversations...probably about the stupid things their parents told them they couldn't do.

The Experience: Wedding Day Timelines

If there's one thing you should know in advance about your wedding, it's that what everyone says is true. It flies by and after it's over, you'll wonder where it went and what exactly you did.

I wish that I could tell you that there was another way. I'd love to say that I was able to savor all of the moments that I'd dreamed of my whole life on  our wedding day, that I'll always remember our first kiss as husband and wife, what words were spoken during our ceremony, the moment I first saw my husband in all of his wedding day handsomeness. So many of those wonderful things have faded from my memories of our wedding, the way they actually happened. But there are two things that I remember clearly and hope to never forget: our first dance, and our first look.

In the months of planning that took place before the big day, there were a lot of compromises that we made, some for better, some for worse (although it all turned out okay in the end). But the two things I refused to let go of were the two things that, at the end of the day, I smiled every time I thought about them. When it comes to your wedding day timeline, don't let your caterer, your photographer, your deejay, your event planner, or anyone else stop you from making the time to savor the pieces of your day that are the most important to you and arrange your day accordingly. They are on your team and should be able to make adjustments to make sure that your day is perfect for you.

Keeping that in mind, here are a few suggestions for making your timeline:

Decide what's important. Talk to your fiancee about what you are most looking forward to on your wedding day. The items you list should give you an idea of what matters to you. For me, it was the pictures and our first dance. In light of that, I made sure that we planned our day around the natural light (since our photographer relied on that to do her job), including having our ceremony at sunset and leaving a full hour for pictures of just the two of us. We also decided to choreograph our first dance, and put it at a place in the timeline where we could make sure that we had everyone's full attention. To someone else, rocking it out at the reception might be the most exciting part of their day, so leaving plenty of hours for dancing and putting together an amazing wedding playlist would be top priority. 

Communicate your vision. Once you determine what makes you excited about your wedding, communicate this to your vendors. This helps them tailor their services to your perfect day. They should be able to give you ideas of how quickly they can get something done if there's a need, and should help to ensure that your timeline goes as planned on the day of. Additionally, they can help you put together the logistics of your vision, which will take a lot of the pressure off of you to figure everything out. Having a wedding coordinator for this can be a godsend, because they can do a lot of this communication for you - delegating equals less stress for you!

Put together a plan. Two weeks before your wedding is a good time to put together a tentative timeline with all participants and vendors included. That's enough time to send it to everyone and request feedback to make sure that all parties are aware of their roles and make sure they can perform their duties in the time allotted. Let them know that you will send out a final timeline within the week before the wedding (just not the day before!). When you're making the timeline, it can be easier to split the day in half by starting at the time of the ceremony and working backwards to the beginning of the day, and then from the end of the reception back to the ceremony. It's always better to start your day earlier than get to the end and realize you have to push the entire day back.

Sample. Here is a sample wedding timeline. It is not one size fits all, just a place to get started. If pictures are super important to you, do not leave any less than the suggested amounts of time for each group (and you can always allot more time if you want!). 

First. Start here and work backwards.

6:00p Ceremony starts

5:30p Wedding party is tucked away from guests, ready for ceremony

5:00p Family portraits start (30 minutes)

4:30p Bridal party portraits start (30 minutes)

3:45p Bride and Groom first look (45 minutes)

3:30p Bride and Groom leave (separately) in limo for ceremony site

3:00p Girls get dressed, Bride puts on dress

2:00p Guys arrive to get ready with groom

1:00p Girls arrive for pampering (hair and makeup) with Bride

Second. Do the other half, working backwards from the end of the reception.

10:30p Reception ends

10:00p Cake cutting, bouquet and garter toss

8:30p All dancing

8:15p First dance (and father-daughter, mother-son dances if included)

7:45p Toasts

7:00p Dinner served

6:30p Cocktails

Once you have the general outline in place, add in the start and end times for your vendors, so that they know exactly what to expect. 

For great photos, here are a few things to consider. This is the part where I tell you why it's important to consider your pictures when planning your timeline. If that's not your thing, then we can't be friends you can skip it (just kidding about the first part :0).

• Sunset (or sunrise) provides the BEST light for outdoor portraits. If you are having an outdoor ceremony and want to do portraits before, plan the ceremony for a half hour before sunset and photos just before that. If you are having an outdoor ceremony and want to do portraits after, plan the ceremony for an hour and a half before sunset, so that there is enough light for photos afterwards.
• Include travel time in the timeline when locations change. If this gets left out, the thing that gets cut is the time for your pictures.
• Make sure you have enough hours of photography coverage to capture everything that is important to you. The standard number of hours on the wedding day for most photographers is eight. Keep this in mind when setting your timeline, and if the entire wedding celebration cannot fit into eight hours, ask if they would be willing to extend your coverage. If that's not an option, it's okay to have them start a half hour to an hour later than "getting ready" begins, or leave the reception a little early, but know which photos are more important to you.

It all comes down to knowing what you want and then letting everything fall into place around that. Your wedding is one of the few times that is really, truly all about you, and that's the way it should be. Happy planning!

Photo taken while assisting Love Life Images.

Snapshot: March

// What I did //

The first half of the month was full of travel - my favorite thing! And then I celebrated a birthday. Those two things combined make this the best month so far!

// Goals accomplished //

You know how sometimes you know you need to do something, but there's something holding you back from just saying yes? That's how I was about business coaching. I was afraid to spend the money (after seeing how much we owe in taxes, I don't know that I want any more huge expenses for awhile!), and it's kind of scary to put yourself and your business out there to ask for change. I love change and I want to give myself every chance I can to succeed, so I'm hoping this will be a worthwhile investment. The truth is, we all need a coach, someone outside our little life boxes who can see things that we can't, a mentor who can guide us to the best decisions. So I've jumped, and I'm excited/terrified for what I've signed up for.

// What I read // 

Thankfully, traveling afforded some much needed down time, and I got a chance to read one of the books that's been sitting on my Kindle for months now - The Art of Fielding. It started really slow, but once I got into it, I started to really root for the characters. I kind of love how the pace of the book resembles that of a baseball game - because the story, after all, revolves around baseball, but isn't really about it. At it's heart, it's about how you deal when your world falls apart. There are a lot of really great themes that the author/characters explore, like dealing with failure, dedication to a craft, and of course, the various appropriate and culturally inappropriate versions of love. Absolutely a worthwhile read, even if I wasn't sure of it when I started.

// What I loved //

Nashville. Even though it's all about country, I love a town that knows it's soul. And now I'm dying to go back. Also, I'm addicted to my new record player (thanks Ben!) and my SodaStream (thanks Mom!) and finally listening to more music and drinking enough water. And speaking of birthday presents, these just came in the mail yesterday, and I absolutely wore them to a meeting with one of my brides today.

// What I'm working on //

I've got some great ideas for styled shoots that I would love to see come to light in April (which means I'm looking for a hair/makeup artist and at least two couples who are interested in being a part of this. If you think you're up for a free photo shoot in Annapolis, let me know)! I also found out that I was selected as a finalist in the LensProToGo dinosaur contest, so this weekend, I'm taking my dinosaur visitor out and about to get some photos of him with the Lensbaby he came with (which explains the photo at the top of the page...which is probably not the one that I'll submit, even though I like it). Winners will be announced in May. Super fun! 

// What I watched //

One of my friends and favorite artists, Alejandra, posted this video on Facebook the other day. After spending hours in a darkroom in college and taking a class in alternative photography methods, this story speaks to me on so many levels. If you want to see true dedication to a craft, when things to right and things go wrong, check out the video below. If you're a fan of Breaking Bad, you might also appreciate some of the editing…have to admit, for the first few seconds, I totally thought I was watching a video about a meth lab!

SILVER & LIGHT from Ian Ruhter : Alchemist on Vimeo.

// Who I added //

First off, can we just say that finding out that Google Reader is not going to be around for much longer made me feel the same sadness and despair that I felt the day I learned that my favorite magazine in the world would no longer be printed? Because I think those are two of the saddest days of my life. In making sure that I had all of my favorite blogs in one place so that I can import them to another reader, I finally added one by a photographer that I've followed for awhile now…Andria Lindquist. Go check her out, because she is the definition of amazeballs.

// Best cat photo of the month // 

Aslan is on a mission to free the balloons.

Happy weekend! Hope you get to feel some springtime!

Customer Service // 01

Truth: I hated customer service when I worked in retail.

Which makes me feel like a hypocrite to write about it and talk about it in a way that makes it seem like I'm an advocate. But my issue is really with the connotation, not the action. I actually can't even stand the term "customer service" - it feels so corporate and cold and jargon-y. It's a term we throw around when we feel slighted by a company or want to impress people by making them think we offer a superior experience.

I want to rename it, to make it cool again. Like Justin Timberlake brought Sexy Back. Anytime I want to come up with a different moniker for a commonly used word or phrase, I turn to my good friend thesaurus.com to find some synonyms. Here's what I found:

Customer: 

Definition: buyer of goods, services

Synonyms: client, clientele, consumer, habitué, patron, prospect, purchaser, regular shopper

Most of those synonyms also felt too corporate, so I went to client:

Client:

Definition: customer

Synonyms: applicant, believer, buyer, chump, consumer, dependent, disciple, follower, front, habitue, head, mark, patient, patron, protege, purchaser, shopper, walk-in, ward

Service: 

Definition: aid, help

Synonyms: account, advantage, applicability, appropriateness, assistance, avail, benefit, business, check, courtesy, dispensation, duty, employ, employment, favor, fitness, indulgence, kindness, labor, maintenance, ministration, office, overhaul, relevance, serviceability, servicing, supply, use, usefulness, utility, value, work

What if, instead of Customer Service, we changed it to Follower Kindness or Believer Benefits or Patron Help? Because isn't that what we're really doing - or should be doing? It's so easy to look at customer service the way I looked at it when I was in retail - a necessary evil of breaking rules to keep customers. But if we look at it that way, we're missing the point. 

They say that a brand is a multitude of experiences and that the way you feel after an experience will either turn you away or keep you coming back for more. Experiences are powerful things…and, in business, often directly related to how we service our clients. Service is the act of serving, something I think that, all too often, we forget is at the heart of what we do.

And when we look at it that way, customer service isn't just a tool we should pull out when a miscommunication happens or a client gets upset. It should be a standard we set for ourselves in every interaction, looking for ways we can SERVE the people who support us. Aren't our followers, our believers, really the ones who are doing us the favor?

I'll leave you with an example of great service that I experienced last week. Most companies have "cannot be combined with any other offer" in the fine print of their coupons/rewards/incentives, and it's something we've come to expect when shopping…and work around. I went to order something last week from Shootsac and had an old gift certificate and a birthday discount. There was only one discount code box, and nowhere to enter my gift certificate number. When I emailed the support address for help, I totally expected them to say the gift certificate had expired or that I couldn't combine the offers…and I had my panties in a ruffle ready to challenge it. But to my surprise, the person on the other side of the computer was so kind and offered to combine the two into one discount code that I could use for my purchase…and to top it off, he rounded up $5. I emailed back in such excitement telling him that he was pretty much the best person in the whole world and that I would be a Shootsac customer for life.

The best part about that experience was that it literally made my day. Throughout the rest of that afternoon and evening, I approached the rest of my activities with gratefulness, which in turn made me feel happier and friendlier, all because someone had shown me a kindness that I may or may not have deserved, and really without a reason. It's a small step that made a difference in my life - one that I plan to remember and pay forward.

Photo Safari

Sometime around the same point in my childhood that I announced to my family that I would not be wearing dresses every day (which was precisely the same time that my best friend decided that she was no longer going to wear dresses anymore), I also fell out of love with pink. I should probably add that my best friend at the time (and forever) was a trendsetter, and I idolized her coolness for rebelling against all things girly. My feelings towards pink stayed lukewarm until last summer, when a certain nail polish revived my love for vibrant versions of the hue. And now it keeps showing up in my photographs. I blame it on neon coming back into style (which I want to not be obsessed with and yet can't help myself).

To save my dignity, let's just call it coral, and then I'll be okay with it.

As I'm working on redoing my website, which most people don't realize is actually an exercise in finding yourself, I'm using my surroundings as inspiration by taking pictures of things I like - colors, fonts, shapes, ideas. In case it's not obvious, neon coral and gold are invading my life right now, so maybe I should stop fighting and heed the message. I suppose it's time to embrace girliness and femininity, because truthfully, those are two things that should never go out of style.

The Experience: Weddings

A year ago at this time, I was a bride-to-be. A much less stressed bride-to-be than I would be four months later, when all of our wedding plans fell to pieces, but still immensely excited about the promise of being married to my best friend and basking in the thrill of planning the day I'd looked forward to for my whole entire life. Around this time last year, Ben and I were venue hunting, budget stretching, guest-list bargaining, and secretly dreaming of eloping. Keeping the glorious end in mind - imagining how fabulous it would feel to finally be married (and do nothing but relax on a beach for our honeymoon) - was the only way we made it through the process without losing our sanity.

Brides-and-grooms-to-be, I felt the struggle of wedding planning, and I want to hug you to let you know that you are doing it right and it is going to be so beautiful in the end. I could write a whole post on the timeline of planning your wedding, what ends up being a good return on your investment, and how to not go crazy when you're wedding planning (date nights are a life saver!). Maybe I will write that post someday. But not today. Today, isn't about me, it's about you. I'm continuing on with The Experience, to help you know what it is like to have me shoot your wedding.

Before the Wedding

Choosing vendors is one of the most stressful parts of wedding planning. It can be time consuming to schedule meetings and overwhelming to sort through all of the information to find the people who are the right fit for your vision. And as much as I'd like to tell you that it doesn't matter, from my own experience I learned that picking "your team" - the right people to carry out the different components of your dream day - can make or break the way you remember it. But the thing is, when you know, you know. You will be so grateful on your wedding day to be surrounded by people you love and trust.

One of my biggest priorities is taking the time to meet with every couple who contacts me about their wedding. I want to get to know you and your dreams, hear about all of the details you can't wait to see in person, and what you're most excited about for your big day. We'll talk about what you are looking for in your photographs and what you want to take home after the day is over. And at some point during that meeting you will know if we are the right match. I always hope that we are.

After we meet, we'll work together to pick your coverage and finalize the details. If you've picked a package that includes a complimentary engagement session, we'll make that happen. I'll check in every now and then to see how your plans are coming along, and send you an online questionnaire so that we are on the same page as the details of the day begin to take shape. Once we get to be a few weeks away from the big day, I'll give you a phone call to chat about the final timeline and make sure that you have enough time allotted to get the pictures that mean the most to you.

And if at any point during that time, you need a shoulder to lean on, an extra set of hands to help make the 1,000 paper flowers that will decorate the reception, or someone to take you out for a cocktail because you just need a wedding planning break, I'm here for you. Just give me a call.

THE Wedding Day

On the day of your wedding, all of my energy goes into making images that truly capture it as the best day ever. I'll arrive early to scope out spots with great light for portraits and them meet you while you're being pampered, getting pictures of you with the girls and him with the guys - those precious, last unguarded moments of singleness, filled with the excitement of anticipation. We'll do a few naturally posed pictures and can arrange a first look, if you want, before the ceremony, so that you and your hubby/wifey-to-be have a moment or two alone before everything gets really crazy. Aside from the time set aside for portraits (it's always good to have about an hour for bride and groom portraits and 30-45 minutes for all other requested pictures, the ones you get to choose), I'll be practically invisible, capturing your day and the special details candidly as they unfold.

After the Wedding

Once your day is over, you get to relive the fabulousness when you see the photos. You'll be on your much-needed honeymoon for awhile and then shortly after, I'll email you a link to your own personal website where you can view the gallery of photos and place orders for prints. I use an amazing system called PASS to deliver your photos, and I LOVE it because you can 1// View your gallery on almost any device using the web or downloadable apps, 2// Share your favorites directly to Facebook without having to wait for them all to upload, and 3// Download the photos directly from the gallery - no waiting for a DVD to arrive in the mail (if you opted to include the digital files in your coverage). I'm a huge fan of instant gratification, so I try to incorporate that in my deliverables as much as possible ;0). I also like to put a little sneak peek up here on the blog so that the wait seems even shorter.

Usually, I recommend that most people wait until after the wedding to purchase an album. It's hard to visualize what will work best for your lifestyle and look best with your photos until you can actually see them. An album is an amazing keepsake that is professionally designed and printed with archival materials so that it will last for generations. We'll work together to go over samples and pick the one that you will want to share for years to come.

Creating art and making photographs gives me enormous energy and passion that I bring to every wedding I capture. I absolutely love seeing how every couple uses personal details to express to the world how much love they share and being part of something that is so worth celebrating. But my job isn't just to show up and make things look as good or better than they actually were on the day of the wedding - my job is to take care of you and make sure that I'm seeing the day through your eyes so that when you look back through the photos, they feel like YOUR memories of the best day of your life.

Playing Make-Believe

Ever since I was eight and saw the Sound of Music for the first of many times in my life, I have been in love with Julie Andrews. I idolized her during my developing years as a singer, from elementary school through college. Everything she did was magic. So when she was announced as the featured guest on the Colbert Report the other night, I almost peed my pants with excitement.

Of course, she was not there to sing, but to promote the latest work in her children's book series, The Very Fairy Princess, that she writes with her daughter. When she was asked why she wrote another children's book about princesses when there has been such a backlash against the princess-as-a-role-model storyline, Julie replied:

"Well, you see this is a little girl who feels, despite a lot of evidence to the contrary, that she has a certain sparkle inside that makes her convinced she is a fairy princess."

I promise this has relevance, but let's pause there for a second.

Lately, I've been spending a lot of time thinking about why I love to make photographs. As I embark on this as my career, I've done a lot of soul searching because I believe the answer holds the key to my success and ability to persevere during the times when this will be hard and I will want to quit. Right now, I love everything about photography and having my own business, but, just like any worthwhile pursuit, there will be times where things don't go the way you plan and it seems easier to throw in the towel than to trudge forward. So I want to know why this matters to me and why taking pictures has become my life mission.

And, because-I-love-pictures is not enough. There's usually a deeper reason we are propelled to make art.

First of all, I know that I am driven by a need to create. It's like an energy force within me, that's the best way I can describe it. This is why I also love DIY. But I've found lots of ways to create in my life, through music, theater, painting, writing, design...and eventually quit almost every single one. Because I did them because other people told me I was "good" at it, but the flame of passion for each of those things was not inside me. Because I erroneously thought that the goal was to be perfect, when really it was to create.

In my heart, I know that my need for photography comes down to the way I view the world. I am a believer in making my own destiny and reality, designing the life I want to live. Despite evidence to the contrary, I want to believe that the world is full of kindness and joy and positive energy, so I will find a way to make it really that way. And I rely heavily on my visual sense to inform my understanding of "reality." Pictures are a way of remembering the world I experience and giving extra significance to particular moments that were filled with meaning or made me feel something. I preserve what I see beautiful because I think beauty changes people, makes us happier and better. But we have trouble finding beauty in ourselves, and are constantly searching for validation from others. This is what I think I can offer to others, showing them how they are beautiful, how the places we inhabit can be beautiful, and I am forever inspired by the ways that we each turn our world into our own happy place.

Which brings me back to The Very Fairy Princess. Sometimes playing make-believe is just the inspiration you need for making your life the way you want it to be.

The Experience: Portraits

Portraits...I loooove them. Family portraits, headshots, just because sessions, boudoir, I adore it all.

Granted, those are all very different types of photo sessions, I know. But at their hearts, they are all the same. They are all about telling your story. And finding the love and beauty in every person in everyday stories.

Mood:

Every portrait session is going to be different, depending on the purpose and style of the shoot. I love anything and everything DIY, so I am always up for working on this with you, whether it be through props, styling, location, or all of the above. No matter what, the shoot should be a reflection of you, and your story will be the center of attention at all points of the planning and execution. And on the day of the photo session, it is ALL about having fun. You just be yourself and I'll make sure everything falls into place.

Before the session:

Most people let me know that they are interested in a session by email. It's always great if you include in your initial inquiry what the session is for/about. We'll chat about a few details, and I'll send a questionnaire to get you thinking about the specifics. (It's okay if you don't know a lot of the answers at the beginning. We'll chat and it will come. I'm here to help!) If we decide that props should be part of the session (totally optional!) you'll want to grab them before we meet. It's also good to pick out your clothing ahead of time, and make any appointments for hair and makeup in advance (highly recommended for headshots and boudoir...and if you want to splurge for any type of session, it is always wonderful to be pampered!).

During the session:

Again, each session will be unique, but in some ways they are all similar. Most sessions take place outdoors, about an hour or so before sunset. All sessions involve a mix of posed and candid photo opportunities. Some lean more heavily toward posed (headshots, boudoir) and others are much more candid (family, just because). It takes most people a little while to loosen up for candid photos (I remember my engagement session, at first it feels like you're being followed by the paparazzi), so we usually start by posing until everyone gets comfortable with the camera and individual personalities shine through. When children are involved in the session, I let them lead and simply follow however they want to engage. It makes them feel important and keeps them happy and adorable. Regardless of whether a photo is candid or posed, I like to keep people in motion throughout the shoot so that the photos ultimately look natural and free, never stiff or awkward. Most sessions last an hour to an hour and a half.

After the session:

After we say goodbye, I'll add special sauce/fairy dust to the pictures to make them extra awesome, and, within 1-2 weeks, put them in an online gallery for you to share on facebook // send to friends and family // and order prints. You also have the option to download the images directly onto your computer - no more waiting for a DVD to arrive in the mail. Yay!

The thing about a portrait session is that it is actually an intimate experience. Regardless of the type. We get to know each other in a very personal way and many times without much talking. And I love this...and I love you. I sincerely heart the people who are willing to make themselves vulnerable in front of my lens and share themselves completely for a priceless image. I treasure the time we spend imagining the outcome and capturing that most authentic and beautiful version of yourself and the ones you love.

Tilt Shifting

So lately I've been thinking about experimentation. That's the beautiful thing about having an "off-season" so-to-speak (which really it is not, because there are all kinds of things to do behind the scenes that there isn't time for during the on-season)...things are quiet enough that you can actually think and dream and come up with new things to get into. So I've been thinking about the new things I want to explore and I think I've finally settled on two (from a list of, like, a million...having such a huge list makes me so indecisive!). Polaroid and video.

I have a weakness for all forms of analog photography...especially the kind of photography you make with cameras that are not meant to create perfect, tack-sharp pictures. There's something I love about not knowing exactly how the picture is going to turn out and the surprise of looking at the finished product. A lot of times there are some very happy accidents that are a once-in-a-lifetime creation...like a limited edition. I'm debating which model of vintage polaroid to buy (SX-70 or a model that takes the kind of instant film that Fuji still makes), but I can't wait to have one to play with. And maybe, if the experiments go well, I'll incorporate it into portrait sessions later this year. How fun would that be?

And after watching this video about beautiful things several times on repeat, I have a newfound love of the medium. I'm digging the swirl of the colors, the sway of the motion. And I'm terrified of it. I have no clue how it works (it can't be just as simple as pointing a camera at something that moves, can it? What about things that don't move? How do you know where to move the camera?), I'm pretty sure I'll be awful at it, and for that reason alone, I'm jumping in. Do one thing a day that scares you, right?

So today I made my first little video about my tilt shift lens...another experiment that has gone oh-so-right. I'm obsessed. Truly. If I only had one lens to take with me everywhere, my Lensbaby Spark would be it. The lens is plastic, and it focuses manually when you push on it and tilt it. Like really manually...you are literally using your hands to put your subject in focus. It was a gift from my mom, and it creates the most wonderful blur, similar to the kind you get when you use a really wide aperture (big opening) in a normal lens, but there's an extra kick of awesomesauce mixed in. Things just look more dreamy and surreal, but not completely obscure, and I LOVE it (you can see a bunch of photos that I took with it in this post).

But the video...have you heard of Vine? It's like instagram for videos. Five different people that I know and love mentioned it on Facebook within 24 hours, so it was never a question of if I'd be joining, but when. If you don't know what it is yet, it's basically a social media service that allows you to post 6 second videos (and when you view them in Vine, they loop...which can be awesome or annoying depending on how you look at it). Which means loads of videos of my cats. And, of course, Aslan makes a special appearance in this one.

So here's my first little video attempt:

If you're on Vine...let's be friends! I'm @Anna Reynal. And I'd love to know...what are you experimenting with that scares you?

The Experience

Between the ages of 7-12, I was the proud owner of several velvet Christmas dresses. It was the 90s. Velvet was hot. And it was really hot when worn in the summer.

No sane person would wear a long sleeved velvet dress in the summer – unless they were my mother’s child and they were getting their not-quite-annual portrait taken. Trust me when I tell you that every single one of those pictures belongs on the awkward family photo website. I repeat, we were wearing velvet. Christmas. dresses.

And yet, in spite of the cringe-worthy awkward poses and contrived smiles that hid our dislike of wearing velvet in the summer, those photos are still proudly on display at my mom’s house. They are the pictures of our childhood, and they showcase the dresses my mom always, very lovingly, made a size too big so that we could wear them for several years before outgrowing them at which point she’d have to make new ones and it would be time for another formal portrait. However, aside from the handmade velvet dresses, they don’t say volumes about who we were in those days. They are mostly snapshots that catalog how we looked and grew from year to year.

And that is what I love about what I do…it’s not about getting just a pretty picture, it’s about who you are, letting your personality shine through. It’s about showing how you love. And remembering how it felt.

I put the photos that I love from weddings and portrait sessions up here, but I haven’t said much about what goes on behind the scenes to make them happen. So I’m changing that. Every Monday, from now until I run out of things to say, I want to tell you what to expect. I want you to know what you’re going to get out of a portrait session or from your wedding photography. Because this might not be what you’re used to. But there are a few things you should know up front, before I tell you anything else:

1. I strive to create images that are imaginative, authentic, and/or cheerful. In order to do that, I need you to be you. That’s all. I'll make sure the rest falls into place.
2. I will be your guide. You’re not in this alone. I will talk you through every step of the process and make sure you are comfortable. 
3. At the end of the day, I want the act of making the pictures to be as memorable for you as the images you get. It’s about playing a family game of tag, kissing in the rain, spending beautiful moments with the people you love the most. 

And along the way, there might be a few (happy) surprises. 

I want to show you how this will be different from your local department store portrait studio. Because I am so not a fan of wearing velvet in the summer.

Benannamoon: The Album

When I was seven, our neighbors gave my sister and me a disposable camera and a photo album for Christmas. The album was high class for the time - ALBUM was embossed in gold across the faux leather cover and it had the peel and stick pages that never stick once you peel the plastic back five years later.

I documented my seven-year-old adventures (which all took place at the neighbors' house with their dogs), and then arranged them lovingly in that album. Along with a paper snowflake because I made it around the same time and the logical place to put it was in a photo album. Obviously.

Let's just say that photo albums have come a long way from the peel and stick days.

I love getting pictures off my computer and on to a printed page that I can view without having to dig through a folder and wait for all the little thumbnails to load. I love being able to touch them, run my fingers over the smooth surface of the page and hug the memories close to my heart. When friends come over, it is so much more fabulous to have them pass around a book that tells the story of a day or trip than to have everyone huddle around my tiny laptop screen to watch the digital versions whiz past and fade back into my harddrive's black hole.

For our honeymoon photos, I decided to try out Artifact Uprising. They are a new, eco-friendly, accessible-to-all photo book company based out of Colorado. Their books on the website had a modern film vibe, so I opted to check it out for our honeymoon story book. It turned out BEAUTIFUL.

I love magazines, so I decided to try a softcover book. That the photos looked so vibrant on a matte recycled paper was the most pleasant surprise. I love, love, love having photos of paradise sitting on my coffee table to reminisce over every day...especially now that the weather here is so cold and dreary.

In an album, I love a generous use of white space. It makes everything look more luxurious. The online design software gave a lot of options and definitely made good use of white space on each page. The pages crease to the center of the spine like a well-loved book, which lends the album a timeless elegance.

It warms my heart to have printed copies of our first trip as husband and wife to hold in my hands. Putting my photos in a book was the perfect way to tell and share our adventure and I couldn't be more pleased with the way it turned out.

When the Camera Really Does Matter

A long time ago, so long ago that I can’t remember when or where it was, I read a blog post about gear. How having an expensive camera doesn’t matter…until it does. This post is about when I realized that it did. And even if you're not a photographer, there are still some good take aways from my story. So please...grab a cup of coffee (or tea) and read on.

The first thing you need if you want to start a photography business is a camera. Duh. Even if you just want to start taking better pictures of your travel or your kids or, in my case, your cats…you need a camera (um, pictures don't actually come out of thin air - so if you want to make pictures just accept that a camera is part of the deal). So then the natural question is What type of camera should I get? When really what we mean is How much camera do I really need to make awesome pictures?
I don’t know a single person who loves pictures who doesn’t want to take the best pictures they possibly can. And it is entirely true that you CAN take good pictures with any camera that’s available, because of course, it is the photographer who makes the photo, not the camera. There's a reason that Holgas, cheap, plastic, imperfect, toy cameras are still used by pros - they make beautiful, if also unexpected, images. But, the caveat to any camera can make a great image is that not all cameras take great pictures in every situation.

When I was searching for my first camera, knowing that I wanted to explore the idea of becoming a professional photographer, I thought long and hard about what to buy. I already knew how to operate an SLR, and definitely felt limited by the do-it-all-for-you settings on point and shoots, so a DSLR made the most sense. I needed something that could operate under a lot of conditions and would help me grow into the photographer that I wanted to be. And…most importantly…didn’t cost a lot of money.

Like any type of electronic, you get what you pay for. After doing a decent amount of research, I settled on a consumer entry-level Nikon DSLR because it seemed to offer a lot of bang for the buck…even though I had a feeling that it wouldn’t be long before I outgrew it. It cost about 1/5 of the price of the professional level cameras at the time, which were way past the outfield of my entry-level salary. It was, I thought, the best decision. That first camera was the most difficult to buy because there are two schools of thought that are oft repeated in discussions on buying your first DSLR: first, buy the best you camera you can possibly afford and second, save money on the camera body to invest in lenses (lenses are far more expensive and the technology changes far less quickly than that of camera bodies). The latter option sounded the best to my cash-strapped ears.

Fast forward almost two years after buying my original DSLR…I’m shooting a wedding in a super dark church and my consumer entry-level camera just isn’t performing in the far less than ideal lighting conditions. And most churches (this one included) don’t allow flash. Thankfully, I was second shooting, but that is no excuse because the primary photographer expected to get usable photos from me. Looking at them on a large iMac screen after the fact just proved what I knew even though I couldn’t see it on the back of my camera – this camera was just not made for shooting in really dark spaces, which is unavoidable in the wedding world. The pictures were so grainy from all of the digital noise – and it wasn’t the pretty kind of film noise we’re talking here. This was ugly distortion. There was no getting around it, no matter how much I wasn’t ready to spend the money to upgrade, it was what I had to do to continue operating in a professional capacity.

All of that is to make these points (in tl;dr form, as my husband so kindly informed me…I didn’t know what it meant, it’s some tech/internet jargon that he’s well versed in and supposedly stands for too long; didn’t read and I’m pretty sure what follows still falls squarely in the TL category):

• As a professional, my gear allows me to do my job and do it well. I don’t just buy good stuff because I like to spend money on techy stuff; I actually need to in order to provide acceptable images. It does make a difference in the quality of my work. Think of it this way: if you hired a designer to develop a newsletter or brochure, you would know if they used publisher and you’d probably be mad because you could have done just as good a job yourself. 
• A camera is not the be-all, end-all (does anyone still say that, or is it just me and my mom? Love ya Mom!), lenses really do make a difference, so buying the best you can afford applies here too. Those advocates of saving money on a camera body for lenses do have a point. The great thing about lenses is that they are very affordable to rent if you can’t afford the $1-2 thousand dollars that most good glass goes for outright. Truthfully, I’m not at a place financially where I have all of the lenses I need for every wedding – I have the basics that cover all the bases – and I still rent to make sure I have what I need for every event I shoot. It’s a cost of doing business. No excuses. 
• Just because professional gear is [relatively] affordable today doesn’t mean that everybody should buy it or that everyone wants to learn how to use it. And it is perfectly okay if you don’t want to learn, it takes work and practice to get it down! There is absolutely a place for a consumer camera market and you can absolutely make good pictures without a professional level camera (see below…one of my fav photos ever I took with my first DSLR). But if you are constantly pushing the limits of low light and unusual situations, having the proper equipment will allow you to adapt as needed. So DON’T SKIMP in the name of saving money if you absolutely cannot live without professional features. TRUST ME.

And if you ultimately decide that having professional features is an absolute necessity for the types of photos you want to capture (like if you someday want to be a professional photographer), there are affordable options. After a few years, prices do go down because new models come out (except with lenses – some of them actually appreciate in value), and most new models have kinks and quirks for the few months they’re available, so buying a few-years-old model is a viable option. I am always cautious about it, but I did buy several of my most-used pieces used/refurbished and so far have not had any problems. Knock on wood.

I know this post is already really long and you’re ready for me to just shut up/get off my soapbox already, so if you are interested, I’ve listed my current gear below. I’ve made it my mission to add to it as I can, so it’s constantly evolving as I can afford it, and until then, I'm happy to rent. I’ve learned my lesson the hard way about trying to skimp on my work tools and am committed to having gear that can provide quality images in any condition.

What's in my bag:

Cameras:
Nikon D700
Nikon D5000

Lenses:
Nikkor 50mm 1.4
Nikkor 70-200 2.8 VRII
Nikkor 18-105 3.5-5.6 DX
Lensbaby Spark

Speedlights:
SB-900
SB-910

For weddings, I typically rent a wide-angle prime (like a 35mm) and a portrait lens (like an 85mm) to round out what I already own. This coming year, I'm looking to add off-camera flash equipment and upgrade my second camera body.

Oh, and I believe the instagrammed caption on the first image in this post on the day that I got my "big girl" camera was actually Omgomgomgomgomgomgomg...OMG!!! Just for the record.

Presents

I've realized my lifelong dream of making every morning Christmas morning.

The secret? Hold your panties...I'm getting there.

Here it is...ONLINE SHOPPING. Your credit card might not thank you, but your inner child will!

If we're facebook friends (and if we're not...go fix that! I'll wait until you get back) you may have seen that I recently added a new child into my photo family. I have a lot of weddings coming up over the next few months (including MY OWN...how did we get here??? I think there might be a post on that in the works, since I haven't talked much about it over here), and after getting Ben's logical opinion (I always need someone logical - I'm way too emotional and think that everything is a need!), decided that now was the time to bring in the big guns. So I did it...I bought the most expensive piece of equipment I might ever buy...the highly critically acclaimed, most trusted of all lenses, the f/2.8 70-200mm. For you non-photogs out there (which I think is everyone since the only people who I know are reading this are my mom and my sister...if you're not either of those two, can I get a woohoo! so I know you're out there?), this is THE lens for wedding photographers. It's like dessert after every meal (which I'm trying not to indulge in these days...got to fit into that special white dress!). I usually rent it, but after being called to second shoot in an emergency without the time to place an order, decided that it is absolutely essential to my collection.

I have to say, the service at Adorama is stellar...I placed my order around 5:00 yesterday, and it was delivered today, even though I chose the free, 7-10 day, shipping option. That makes them winners in my book!

Oh, and speaking of Christmas morning, someone is getting a special gift in the mail! I've upgraded my packaging to reflect my love of glitter! I have to say, I'm pretty pleased with it - I would be THRILLED to get this in the mail...just sayin. The glitter wrapping paper and the ribbon bow make a plain old disc a little more lovely.

Happy Wednesday!

Post Process

Since buying my photo editing software, I'm afraid I've been having a little too much fun.

And that's probably the biggest rookie photographer mistake. I have been trying SO. HARD. to avoid all the rookie photographer mistakes. Because I am a perfectionist and need to do it perfect the first time. Even though this is at odds with my resolution to enjoy the exploration. (And yes, I fight with myself ALL. THE. TIME. just like that).

Here is my latest example, in a series of three images.

This is the image SOOC (straight out of camera).

Here it is, still natural looking, just more contrasty.

Really, that would have been perfect. I like it this way. It feels timeless, classic, nice.

And then I had to go and play. So this is what I decided to put on my blog (and, subsequently, took it off...keep reading and I'll explain).

The thing is, there really isn't anything wrong with it. But is it my style? I'm not sure. It has a fun, funky vibe to it...kind of vintage/experimental.

Branding myself is one of the things I'm attempting to figure out. It's my next goal for this photography adventure I'm taking. These are the questions I'm asking myself - what I like, what I don't, who am I in this role? They are not easy questions to answer. And sometimes I discover more through these mistakes than I do by not making them.

But that is part of the exploration, I suppose. I'm doing lots of it, because that is the only way to determine what works...and who I want to be as a photographer.

Things I've Learned

Learning new things is fun. And yes, I am aware that admitting that might qualify me for the nerd-of-the-year award.

I feel like the last month has taught me SO MUCH. Just so I don't forget, I'm sharing it here.

1. Picnik is good. Lightroom is better. I downloaded my free trial of Photoshop Lightroom to help me edit the pictures of the wedding, and fell completely in love. So. much. more. control. And I think the pictures come out looking much more true-to-life. Having a basic knowledge of Photoshop helped me learn it pretty quickly and I really fell in love the day I found all of the presets! Oh funness. Lesson learned: you get more if you pay for it, and sometimes the cost is worth it.

2. Flash is not the new F-word. It's not even a bad word. Remember when I went to the Flashbus tour and I wasn't really sure how I would ever use what they taught me because I'm a natural light photographer? I've been eating those words ever since. I still love me some Mr. Golden Sun, but flash is my new best friend when Mr. Sun has to fulfill his other duties. And, I'm so, so glad I splurged and got the SB-900, because it was worth every penny. Even when there is some natural light in my house, the flash adds enough extra light so that I don't have to slow down my shutter speed and my pictures stay nice and sharp. Also, it doesn't look harsh or fake like I expected it to; instead, I'm using the light sculpting techniques I learned from Flashbus to improve my pictures. It's not for every situation, but for the ones I need it for, I am so grateful to have it and know how to use it. Lesson learned: make friends with the things you think are your enemies. Don't judge it till you try it.

Here's a picture taken with natural light and flash:

Of course it's of Aslan. What were you expecting? (Side note: we call this his suitcase mode because it looks like you could just attach a handle to him and pick him up and he's all compact and ready to roll.)

3. Keep your shutter speed above 1/125 (if lighting is low, you are hand-holding, and your flash is attached to your camera). Having a speedlight on camera increases the weight, which in turn increases camera shake and makes pictures blurry. Anything below 1/125 is not fast enough to overcome the shake of your camera in a low-light situation if you're not going to be able to increase the light. I made this mistake at the wedding I shot in April, and all of the portraits I took below this shutter speed came out way too soft. Lesson learned: Pay closer attention to shutter speed.

4. Backlighting is awesome. See below.

5. Creative blocks happen. And then you move on. And it's better than it was before you hit the slump. Acknowledging it helps and embracing it may allow you to rest or propel you into finding new things to try. Follow your intuition, it will lead you in the right direction. Lesson learned: get up and do something and I promise you will feel better and you might even find something that inspires you.

I'm pretty sure that I learned more than this, but I think for now that's enough. And because there's one picture of Aslan in this post already, here's another. He's living up to his name (which, in case you forgot, is Turkish for lion):