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Custom Photography: It’s All About YOU!

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Custom Photography: It’s All About You!

Gone are the days of having your family gather at a portrait studio  for a couple of posed shots followed by a few 8x10s and wallets to pass out to family and friends.  That was the generic 80’s and 90’s you grew up with and have come to know and expect.  But things in the photography industry have changed…for the better!  Custom photography is where it’s at and for you, the client, that’s a very good thing.

A custom photographer, like myself, tailors each session around each individual client.  I mean, who wants a cookie cutter experience?  It’s an investment of time and money on both my part as well as yours, but it’s worth every bit.  Planning and careful thought go into preparing for each session so that you get a tailor-made experience from beginning to end.  We will discuss location settings that best fit your needs, wardrobe and prop options and much more prior to your session even taking place.

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but it can also be annoying.  Who wants to walk into someone else’s home and see an almost exact replica of their own family photos displayed on the walls?  When choosing a custom photographer for your portrait session that’s never a concern you have to have.  The session is all about you and your personality!  It’s a luxury experience from beginning to end and is something you’ll have to showcase for years to come.  Contact me today if you’re ready to create wonderful, lasting memories!

Why I Chose Entrepreneurship…

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Why I Chose Entrepreneurship

Working for yourself can seem like a dream job.  No set hours, taking off whenever you want to, not having to answer to anyone.  All definite perks of the job.  But what a lot of people don’t realize is that the success (or failure for that matter) of your business is solely reliant upon you, the owner.   And that’s a scary concept.

As I’ve shared before I have years of experience being an entrepreneur since my full time job is a family owned insurance agency in Lancaster, SC.  It was something I got into by accident. I was a recent college grad in 2002 and unable to find a job that suited what I wanted to do in the fashion industry.  I had finally received a job offer co-managing a fashion boutique in an upscale mall in North Carolina when my father, who had started the insurance agency the year before, asked me to come on board with him.  I had no desire to work at a boutique so I took him up on his offer and my entrepreneurial journey began.

Having this background definitely helped me when I decided to step forward with my budding photography career.  I knew what to expect as far as starting and maintaining your own business goes as well as some of the obstacles I may face (slumps, funds not being readily available for equipment and marketing, etc).  Even though I consider DBP to still be in it’s budding phase, I’m so pleased with the results thus far!  When I first started shooting the only clients I had were friends, family and friends of friends.  Getting that first email or call from a total stranger was overwhelming!  Someone wanted to actually hire me based on just my work alone…who would’ve known?!  But that’s the thing with entrepreneurship, it’s the most rewarding career you can have.  All of the setbacks and possible disappointments are miniscule compared to the joy your receive when your business flourishes.  Seeing my clients happy with the work I’ve produced is a feeling next to none.  I’m excited that I get to do this for a living!  I’m blessed.  I’m thankful.  And above all, I’m happy. Which in the end, isn’t that what life is all about?

Feel Good Blogging!

feel good blogging

This week I embarked on a blogging challenge.  Even though I enjoy blogging and try to do it pretty regularly, I can get into a slump sometimes.  So I came across the 7 Day Feel Good Blogging Challenge and decided to go for it.  After all, what do I have to lose?

Blogging is so popular these days with everything from food to clothing to maintaining a healthy lifestyle; you can find it all!  I wanted to carve out a small niche for myself and my business on the interweb and I hope that by doing so you can learn a little about me and the things I enjoy as well as finding some of yourself in me.

In order for me to know who I’m reaching (and essentially talking to) through my blog I have to tell you a couple of things about myself.  I’m a creative.  There’s a reason Hobby Lobby is one of my favorite stores and Pinterest takes up WAY too much of my free time.  I love playing around with makeup, trying new craft projects for my home or learning to cook new recipes.  I’ll try almost anything once.  I hate to be bored and find myself trying out new things pretty often.

I love looking at beautiful things.  I know that’s a pretty broad statement, but it’s true.  I enjoy beautiful couture clothing, art, a beautifully written book, interesting images, etc.  I’m a visual person by nature and anything that stimulates me visually makes me happy.  I love to share my latest work on my blog and I hope these images are as pleasing to the eye to you as they are to me.

So even though my blog is centered around my love of photography, it’s so much more than that.  I want to open myself up to you as my readers.  To give you a glimpse into my dreams, my likes, my goals.  For my business, but more importantly my life.  I hope to share things that make me feel good and bring a smile to my face, whether it’s a wonderful recipe I’ve tried, a trip I’ve taken or any number of other categories.  And I hope those things bring a smile to your face as well.

So if you’re someone that enjoys trying new things, being creative, having lots of fun, and looking at beautiful images (or even want to have some beautiful images taken yourself!) please join me on this  journey.  I promise it’ll be worth your while!

The Moses Family – Rock Hill, SC Photography

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The Moses Family Portrait Session – Rock Hill, SC Photography

Last weekend was a scorcher here in good old South Carolina!  This time of year is always tricky for shooting outdoor portraits and anyone that books with me between the months of June-August I consider a real trooper!  The Moses family are all considered troopers in my book.  Not only were they excited about their session, but they weathered the heat and never complained once!  And trust me when you’re working with kids, especially younger ones, that’s no easy feat!

Their session took place at beautiful Glencairn Garden in Rock Hill, SC late on a Sunday evening.  The upside to shooting on a day like this is that you don’t run into many other park visitors which meant we had most of the park to ourselves which is always nice.  Over the course of our time together I got to know the family and what their interests are.  I got to capture the boys playing a bit of football with their dad in the open field as well as some mom and daughter bonding time on one of the many swings throughout the park.  Daughter, Alissa and I even found out we had fashion merchandising in common!  She’s looking to major in it this upcoming school year and so I had to give a few words of advice since that was my major as well.  It was such a pleasure meeting the Moses family and getting the opportunity to work with them as well as capturing memories that I hope will last them for many, many years to come.

If you are looking to book a family portrait session or have questions regarding booking and pricing information please do not hesitate to contact me  I look forward to hearing from and working with you!

10 Ways To Prepare For Your Portrait Session

10 ways to prep for your portrait session

 

10 Ways To Prepare For Your Portrait Session

 

Having worked in the photography industry for a couple of years now I get clients that show up to their sessions frazzled + unprepared. So I figured why not give you the tools you need right here in a handy blog post? I do give all of my clients a welcome packet that allows them to prepare for their upcoming session, but sometimes the packet is emailed out weeks in advance so by the time the session arrives they’ve forgotten exactly what they need to do to be as prepared as possible. So here a few things you can do to make sure you’re on your A game!

1. Get Enough Sleep – I know this is easier said than done, especially if you have little ones running around, but it’s essential to looking your best during your shoot. If you’re tired during your shoot from lack of sleep it will most definitely show on your face in the form of undereye circles or red eyes. So make sure to get 6-8 hours of sleep the night before (10-12 hours for small children).

2. Lay Out Your Clothing The Night Before – Nothing is more stressful than not being able to find an article of clothing you purchased specifically for your session. To relieve stress the day of your shoot lay out everything from your shoes to your accessories that way when it’s time to prep for your shoot you won’t have to go digging for potential missing items.

3. Drink Plenty Of Water – We all know that water hydrates you and gives your skin a glow, along with helping to clear up blemishes. So 1-2 weeks prior to your session guzzle water like your life depends on it!

4. Hire A Professional Makeup Artist/Hairstylist – These treats shouldn’t just be reserved for special occasions like prom or your wedding. Seek out a professional you trust (or contact your photographer since they probably have a few professionals they work with regularly + and can recommend) + have them bring out your natural beauty + make you polished. And it’s one less headache that you have to worry about handling the day of your session.  Fellas, don’t think I’ve forgotten about you!  Get that haircut + even hit up the nail salon for a fresh manicure.  P.S. When hiring a professional the day of your session make sure that your service is finished at least 30-60 minutes prior to leaving for your session location so that you’re not in a rush + stressing to make it to your session on time.

5. Arrive Early – I cannot stress this one enough! All too often people underestimate the time it will take to reach their session location + they are busy running around taking care of last minute errands. If you are paying for a full portrait session (which with most photographers is 1 hour) you want to make sure your time is fully utilized. Why pay for 1 hour, arrive 20 minutes late + only receive 40 minutes of time in front of the camera? I urge all of my clients to show up 5-10 minutes early if possible. It will give you + I some time to get to know one another (if we haven’t already met in person) + you will be relaxed instead of stressed prior to your session beginning.

6. Bring Along ‘Happy’ Items – So what are ‘happy’ items? Anything that will make you + your family happy or more comfortable during the shoot. So bring along a pair of flats if you’re planning to wear heels in case you do some walking during your session. Water to keep cool + hydrated, snacks (clean snacks though – no Cheetos!) for the kids, tissues, etc. Anything you think will make the day easier for all involved. I also encourage packing up these items the day before your session so you don’t leave anything out.

7. Read Your Contract – I know this seems like a given, but so many people sign on the dotted line without fully reading their photography contracts. Most contracts should be fairly easy to understand + what you don’t understand can be answered by your photographer. Reading this information will ensure you know the protocol if your session is canceled due to unforeseen circumstances, what forms of payment your photographer accepts, etc.

8. Don’t Become Frustrated – In life things don’t always go as planned. There will typically be a glitch in the plan + this can happen on your session date as well. Plan for something to go wrong. If it doesn’t, great! But if it does you know it’s not the end of the world. Screaming kid? I’ve dealt with it + we can work around it by shooting mom + dad for a while + giving the kiddo a break. Stain on your shirt? 9 out 10 times I can edit it out in the post process. As long as the issue isn’t major, we can work it out so try not to get frustrated when things don’t go 100% according to plan.

9. Communicate With Your Photographer – Have questions about the session? Nervous about poses? Talk to your hired photographer! We’re here to listen to your concerns + to help alleviate them. No question is a dumb question. So if there’s something you need to know, ask!

10. Relax + Have Fun! – I know this is easier said than done, especially if you’re not someone that isn’t used to being in front of the camera. But the best advice I can give you is to relax and enjoy it. I know it can be scary to be front + center, but I want my clients to feel relaxed during their session. A relaxed client comes across as confident + self-assured on camera. You’re making lasting memories so have fun with it!

I hope these tips will help your next session to go much more smoothly!  And if you’re looking for a photographer in SC + NC area contact me.  I’d love to work with you!

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