Photographing Children....

When you do something for long enough, you start to see trends.  

I've found this in photographing children.  

And the other day, when photographing my own child, he demonstrated the typical flow of a children's photo shoot.  

Allow Noah to walk you through it...

1. Kids start off shy.  If you're a hired photographer, they probably don't know you very well.  But even if you're their own MOTHER (the case here), they may still play the shy card...

2. But don't be discouraged!  Shy kids are cute too!  Shoot them shy, even if you don't use the pictures in the end, it gives the kids time to get used to you and the picture taking process.

 3.  Keep encouraging them.  Change locations and poses, so they don't get bored or think they're doing a bad job.  Tell them, "Good job!  Now let's try this spot over here!"
"I'd love to see your smile!  Show me your teeth!"

4.  And when all else fails, offer a bribe!  I had a pack of gummies in my pocket which became the prize Noah would win if he smiled pretty for me.

 5. Your subject may have a fake smile that he pulls out when he sees the camera.  Do something (I suggest tickling) to get a genuine smile going, and then ask for their "tickle-smile" as your take your shot.  After lots of praise, joking around, and the thought of gummies...Noah loosened up and we had some fun.

 6.  And I am thankful for the range of expressions that came from our shoot.  Precious and shy, goofy and smiley.

 P.S.  One more trick to have up your sleeve... allow them to be themselves (not your ideal suggested poses).  Noah loves to make toot sounds with his tongue, so I joked around with him about tooting, and he loved it!

Lomo Technique . Sarasota Wedding Photographer

Today I wanted to share with you:

the "Lomo" technique

In order to get this look I did the following:

Layer - New Adjustment Layer - Curves.

In the curves window, RGB drop down, click on Red

create an S curve.

In the curves window, RGB drop down, click on Green

create an S curve.

In the curves window, RGB drop down, click on Blue

create an opposite S curve.

Lower opacity if the colors are too intense.

I also added a Totally Rad dirty filter, "Cherry Amore".

Wedding Tip / Sarasota Wedding Photographer

A tip for the Bride-To-Be....

As a photographer, and former bride, I suggest doing a run through on your hair and makeup before the Big Day. Make the effort, spend the time, and the money to make sure you have the perfect look for your special day. The last thing you want is a hair-do you're not happy with or a lip color that's totally wrong for your complexion. As the bride you will be the focus of everyone's attention. Thousand's of photo will be taken of you by your own photographer and those guests who want a picture with the happy couple. You want to look your best because, hopefully, those photos will be around forever!

Tips on Engagement Photos...

When should we book the photo shoot?

The engagement photo shoot should be booked 2 to 3 months before the wedding. Of course, you can always do it sooner or later if your schedule requires.

Do I have to hire a professional photographer? A friend or family member has offered to shoot our engagement pictures for free.

Stop right there! A wedding is a once in a life time event and that means your engagement pictures symbolize this part of your relationship together. Establishing a relationship with your wedding photographer long before your wedding will make a difference in the outcome of your wedding images. As a couple you’ve probably never been photographed professionally before so your engagement session is a good time for the photographer to see your individual personalities and how you interact with each other. This will help the photographer to capture images on the wedding day that are unique to that couple.

When should we send out wedding invitations with our engagement photo?

When you invite people from out of town you should send their invitation at least 8 weeks in advance. For local guests 4 weeks before the wedding is ideal.

Where should we do the photo shoot?

Have your engagement pictures taken at a location that is important or that has some meaning to the two of you. This could be the place you got engaged, first date, the college where you met, a favorite restaurant, or your home town. Your photographer will also have a list of great locations for your photo shoot if you want something different. An open meadow, an abandoned house, a local carnival, or a bowling alley are all examples of non-traditional locations you could also try.

What time of day is best for pictures?

The early morning or the late evening is best for photos right when the sun is rising or setting. If you are planning on having your hair and makeup done for your engagement session you will have an easier time scheduling your photo shoot in the late afternoon. Always schedule your shoot at least two hours before sunset so you will have plenty of time for pictures.

What should we wear?

If you schedule a two hour engagement session you probably have time to do a formal and casual outfit for each hour. Keep your clothing classic and colorful. I always suggest wearing what you know you look great in.  And for engagement sessions specifically, I prefer the girl wear something slightly more feminine than she may be used to in casual day to day wear.  Since a lot of the shots will be a romantic interaction between the two of you, I like to have my girls looking flirty, and my guys, gentlemen.  Make sure your clothing is not coordinated to the point where it looks too matchy. Of course wear your engagement ring.

How should I do my makeup/hair?

If you don’t normally wear makeup I highly suggest you wear some for your photo shoot. I would recommend having your hair and makeup done professionally so you can start to experiment with different looks for your wedding day. False eye lashes are always a nice touch for any photo shoot. Don’t bother with a fancy up-do since these photos are casual and relaxed. It’s best to keep your hair down in loose curls or completely strait. Make sure you bring some lip gloss with you to the photo shoot so you can reapply after kisses.

What should we do with the engagement photos?

The most popular use for engagement photos is to include a loose print with your wedding invitations. Another great idea is to have custom wedding invitations made with your favorite engagement pictures. This means you save money on not having to do a print on photo paper and you can include more then one photo on the invites. Another great idea is to have your photographer create a guest sign in book using your engagement photos and white space for your guests to write their well wishes. This ends up being a great keepsake after the wedding.

What should we bring with us to our engagement session?

If you're doing your engagement pictures in the summer bring some bottled water. If your doing your engagement session in the winter make sure you bring enough clothes to keep warm between shots. Get creative with props. You can bring: bikes, balloons, a picnic, a vintage car, a bouquet of flowers, a piece of furniture, an umbrella, a suit case, a skateboard, hats, and books.