Senior Portraits -What to Wear {Columbus, Ohio Photographer}

Posted on January 30, 2012 by stacy

I have a new collection for Senior Portraits What to Wear on Pinterest! Graduation is just around the corner for high school seniors this year. It is a VERY exciting and BUSY time of year for you, but if you haven’t made the time yet for your senior portraits, it’s not too late! This is such an important time in your life your senior portraits is an important way to document your personality. In my Pinterest collection “Seniors-What to Wear”, I’m featuring some ideas for the high school seniors. For senior sessions I always recommend outfit changes with layers and tons of accessories to change up the look in your portraits. Always bring clothing that is in your color palette. If you don’t know what your color palette is, Skin Perfect is a great place in Columbus to go get an analysis. Skin Perfect describes it as “An analysis and identification of a person’s natural skin tone and determination of the best colors that are in perfect harmony with their tone. This includes clothing and hair recommendations. A customized makeup lesson and take home swatch booklet is included. Knowing this information ensures that money is never again wasted on the wrong makeup color and your face color seamlessly integrates with your neck color.” I have had it done and it is life changing! It has saved me tons of money on clothing and makeup that I used buy that is NOT my color and I end up not wearing it and wasn’t sure why? Also, be sure to bring MORE than you will need for your portrait session so we can go through and chose what will photograph best. Feel free to contact me before your session to talk more about wardrobe…for seniors, children, family or any type of session.

{source}

What to Wear for Family Portraits via Pinterest {Columbus, Ohio Photographer}

Posted on January 25, 2012 by stacy

I have to admit, I have a new love in my life….PINTEREST! If you are not familiar with Pinterest, you REALLY need to check it out. If you don’t have an account yet request an invite from pinterest.com or a friend like me (contact me with your email address and I’ll send you an invite).

A person can have multiple boards, each with multiple pins. Each pin is a saved image that links to the original webpage showing the image, and a description set by the person who pinned it. Pins are organized by boards – a simple way to connect pins together under a single topic or theme. If you are like me, I’ll see something I love and then FORGET where I saw it and search for hours to find it again. Pinterest SOLVES that problem. I use interest for inspiration, bookmarking, sharing and organization…as well as some web marketing for my business.

Anywho, I have created a board that I think might be helpful to my clients. Its the number one question I get asked before a photoshoot….WHAT DO WE WEAR?? Well now you can go to my board and gets some ideas and inspiration. You can find it here http://pinterest.com/spiritphotog/what-to-wear/ . If you find other ideas, feel free to pin to this board. I have included a “pin” from the board below. I hope you guys find this helpful for future portrait sessions. Happy Hump Day!

Mini Portrait Session Specials for 2012

Posted on January 18, 2012 by stacy

As promised, here it is!!! The Mini Portrait Session Specials for 2012. I am so excited for these. They will be tons of fun and will prove to produce some of your favorite portraits from 2012! Some of my absolute favs are Ties & Tutus, Moms Night Out (I CAN’T wait for the one), Vintage Fields, Dance Recital Costumes and Christmas in September (get your holiday cards done)! Also, a portion of the proceeds from the Dog Days of Summer will go to the CHA Animal Shelter in Columbus. Oh yeah and the Halloween Special too. A portion of the proceeds from this event will go to Safe Kids of Central Ohio – OK…so basically ALL OF THEM!

I know its hard for a lot of you to have your portraits taken as often as you may like and this gives you an opportunity to do that! It’s also a way for me to see you guys more often….cuz I miss you and love seeing you and your family! These sessions only take 30 minutes and there is a special price package for these mini’s. Email or call Brandi or myself and we will get the price list to you.

Photographer’s Tricks – {Columbus Ohio Photographer}

Posted on January 16, 2012 by stacy

I am going to show you one of the tricks photographers use to get the most unbelievable shots. It’s photoshop magic! Many of todays most popular portrait poses look almost too good to be true! Most of the time they are!! I am going to show you step by step how to get amazing portraits with photoshop. This is the final image.

I don’t have images of the first few steps in this process, but I will tell you that my assistant went into the woods and drug this LIMB into the studio! We cleaned it up and let it dry for a few days. In the meantime we went to Hobby Lobby and picked out some silk flower bunches that we liked. When we got back to the studio, Brandi (my creative studio manager) proceeded to patiently plucked off the silk flowers and glue gunned them to this branch hanging out in our camera room! After that we were ready to shoot!!

So now for the fun stuff! We started by taking a photo of the limb – camera on tripod to keep the same distance and height, etc. The image below is what we used as the base image.

Next we moved in a giant bean bag and the baby! you can see what we got in the next photograph. Again, camera in same location, same lighting, same white balance, etc.

WOW! Lots of stuff to clone!! NO NO, its much easier than that! In the next photo you will see how I used the lasso tool to circle the baby and a bit of the surrounding area. Then switch to the selection too and drag the part you have circled with the lasso onto the base image. as in the following photo.

As you can see the baby is too large for the background image. Simply hit the shortcut “ctl/cmd T” on your keyboard and resize the layer to fit nicely into your background photo. Then just use your erase tool on soft edges to take away the excess around the baby until it all blends nicely. Flatten your image and VOILA! Baby hanging in a tree!! I save my limb/background image in case I want to use again- I won’t have to repeat that step. Feel free to email me if you have any questions! Happy Photoshop-ing!

What to wear for family photo shoot

Posted on September 23, 2011 by stacy

As a photographer, the number one question I get is on the topic of what to wear to their photo shoot. When booking a portrait session I think it is almost always a given that the client is going to ask for suggestions on what to wear. I struggled with this question when I was first starting out. My clients would come dressed in matching outfits or in the same color head to toe. These clothing choices do not make for the most visually appealing image.

I knew that I had to change my clients way of thinking when it came to choosing outfits for their portraits. I personally believe that is part of my job to help style a session. This gives my clients another reason to hiring me over going to a chain portrait studio. I always tell them to choose items with good color, texture (ie, knits, ruffles, denim) and accessories. I tell them to think coordinating not matching. I even go as far as offering to come to their homes and dig through their closet with them or tell them to bring a trunk full of options and we can put together outfits on location.

I am guilty of dressing my family in white shirts and khaki pants. I now realize how visually unappealing that is, so I really stress to my families to think coordinating outfits not matching. I tell them to browse their favorite stores websites for new collections and a lot times you will see outfit ideas that coordinate really well together. I honestly think that when you let your clients know that it is OKAY not to have matching outfits it lifts a weight off their shoulders. Now they can look for outfits that fit each family member individual style but tie all the looks together by picking a few select colors to coordinate. Trying to find one color and style that works for every family member is hard! I use to dread picking out family outfits for pictures now it is one of my favorite parts!

what to wear V2Issue9 2011 What to wear for family photo shoot

Special Kids Photography Charity (Columbus Special Needs Photographer)

Posted on September 20, 2011 by stacy

Special Kids Photography Charity: After being involved with Now I Lay me Down to Sleep Organization for a few years, I found that this charity was wearing me down! I decided to take a break for a while and possibly get my photography skills involved with a different, more upbeat charity. I happened upon Special Kids Photography of America (SPKA) and it CLICKED! I ADORE kids! Any and all kids! I feel like I have a special gift for patience and the ability to communicated with them on a different level. This helps them to feel comfortable with me and their surroundings. Therefore; it seemed like this charity was a perfect fit for me and my photography studio. Thankfully, SKPA requires an accreditation process for any of its photographers. I love that the organization doesn’t just take your money and let any photographer “have at it” so to speak. SKPA requires the photographer to take a workshop, two exams, get written letters form parents with a Special Needs child AND submit images for review and approval BEFORE they will list you as an approved photographer. As of now, there is only one photographer accredited in all of Ohio and they are WAY north!

LONG story short….. I will be looking for several Special Needs Children as models to photograph (with or without their families). If you are reading this and have or know of anyone with a child (any age) that would fit this criteria, please send this info on to them and ask them to call or email me! I have included som info below on the foundation. Stay tuned for SKPA images in the future. Thanks so much for your support!

Special Kids Photography of America (SKPA) began operation in 2000. The concept of training photographers to obtain beautiful images of children with special needs was conceived by Heidi Lewis, who experienced resistance and frustration when attempting to obtain a studio portrait of her one-year-old son, Taylor, born with a severe connective tissue disorder. Although she was eventually successful in convincing the photographer to take the picture, “studio stories” from other mothers with similar children made her acutely aware of the need for education and training of professional photographers from a parent’s point of view.

Through generous sponsorship of Pacific Life Foundation and hosting by Epson America, Inc, the first pilot “Discovery Workshop” was debuted the next year at Epson headquarters in Long Beach, CA. Professional photographers, as well as care providers of special children were invited to attend and offer input in order to establish further goals and direction for the organization.
At the same time, the book, Photographing Children with Special Needs, researched and written by SKPA’s co-founder, Karen Dórame, was published by Amherst Media. This valuable resource is used to educate photographers in achieving heart-warming images of children with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and a number of other well-known conditions.

In addition to workshops for photographers, much of SKPA’s attention is directed toward policy change in areas where special children might achieve increased visibility and positive acceptance in society. SKPA theorizes that if people can get used to beholding lovely images of children who have disabilities, they will not be so inclined to turn away when they see these beautiful children in person.

Holiday Card Special – Columbus Ohio Family Photographer

Posted on September 16, 2011 by stacy

For a limited time…until October 5th…I am running a Holiday special! (aren’t all specials for a limited time?)

It is so great to have this part of the Holiday “rush to-do list” done and ready to mail….and you get a savings to boot!

Anyway, heres the deal; book and complete your session before October 5th and receive;

1 hour outdoor session for up to 6 people

50- 4×8 custom holidays cards & envelopes

1 – 8×10 Portait

1 – 5×7 Portrait

$150 ($49 savings)

WOW – what a deal!

PS – Found a great website for EVERYTHING Christmas! Check it out! www.santasearch.org

2011 Ohio Sate Fair! – Columbus Ohio Photographer

Posted on July 30, 2011 by jlee

Come visits the 2011 Ohio State Fair! SO much to see and do! Who knows, I just might snap a pic of you and surprise you and post it here!

Ohio.State .Fair .1 2011 Ohio Sate Fair! Columbus Ohio Photographer

Family Pictures- Take Better Vacation Photos

Posted on July 12, 2011 by stacy

I have compiled a few tips on how to take better family photos on your next special event or vacation. Being a professional photographer, I used to be a SLAVE to my camera over vacation…I felt like it was my duty. Thankfully I have learned that quality is way better than quantity. I spend more time interacting with my family and less time behind the lens (and they are thankful and less aggravated as well!)

1. Capture the Moments: Most of us have gotten into the habit, at one time or another, of ONLY getting posed shots by the Christmas tree, in front of Cinderella’s castle at Disney or beside the Washington Monument. While there IS certainly a place for those in your photographic history, those images generally do not evoke the emotion nor do they conjure up the memories from that particular trip or event. The images that capture our imaginations, the ones that will stick you as a warm embrace are never – yep, never the ones of everyone lined up and posed. They’re moments – individual, natural moments. They are also the ones that your family doesn’t grunt and groan over having to “line up AGAIN!” Looks for the moments that will tell the story of your trip…the things that you will look back on and say “Awwwe, remember when you….”

201633 10150158976608418 833078417 6449617 6312225 o 1024x685 Family Pictures Take Better Vacation Photos

n1374205510 30290035 5049 Family Pictures Take Better Vacation Photos

2. Walking Away: Yes, you read that right. An image I love is the one of someone walking away. This moment will come back to you time and again. The example I am using here is one of my nieces at the beach in the fall. Notice the relationship of the older niece teaching her younger sister and their contrasting sizes. This image is priceless to me.

3. Use Props to tell your story: In this image, my son was taking his first surfing lesson. He was 8 years old. I had the instructor hide behind the surf board to hold it up for us so I could show the size comparison. He is sporting the “hang loose” sign that is popular with surfers.

4. Full Sun Lighting: The toughest situation for taking family vacation photos must certainly be on the beach in bright sun! Obviously the best beach pictures are taken early in the morning or later in the day around sunset or in the shade. Although we all know that 90% of our time at the beach is spent in the bright midday sun. When you aren’t in optimal lighting, the best way to remedy this situation is to keep the subjects back to the sun (no squinting) and pop up your flash. Most consumer cameras will automatically adjust for having the flash on during the day and the extra light will prevent the harsh shadows on your subjects face.

5. Change Your Perspective: Get down on your 2 year olds level, shoot a pic of all their tiny sandy feet after they write their names in the sand in front of them, tilt the angle of your camera, the possibilities are endless. With todays digital cameras, you CAN’T make a mistake and you wont waste film…just delete and try again! Just make sure to invest in a large memory card!

n1374205510 30290037 5701 Family Pictures Take Better Vacation Photos

6. Refer to #1: Tip number 1 on this post is worth repeating. If you capture the moments rather than a posed portrait, you will be forever thrilled with the memories you have captured! Good luck and have a GREAT VACATION!!

n1374205510 30290040 6646 Family Pictures Take Better Vacation Photos

2012 Senior Session Special ~ Columbus Ohio Photographer

Posted on May 13, 2011 by stacy

Wow, we have been really busy with our 2012 Senior Spirit Models this past month! If you don’t know one of the models personally, check their pics out on Facebook; message them and I am sure they would LOVE to get one of their discount cards to you! If not, I have worked up a session discount schedule for any 2012 high school senior. These early sessions book up quickly, so give us a call to discuss your dream senior portrait session. 2012 is your year! Make sure to get the pictures YOU want ~ Come visit our studio for a consultation and how we can make you be a model for day and get the best portraits and products. Consultations are free so make an appointment – 614.332.7915 or contact@spiritphotographers.com