Monday, June 30, 2014
Neichel + David | Engagement Photos | Salt Lake City
Engagement sessions are quickly becoming my FAVORITE type of session. These photos are from an awesome session a few weeks ago. When two people are as in love as these two, it makes my job SUPER easy. The lighting was gorgeous. We chose a unique location that would help highlight their individuality. They brought their awesome personalities and... voila! Those were the simple ingredients for a great time and a great session. Love these two and love their photos. Hope you enjoy! If you know someone who is engaged or getting engaged, be sure to send them my way. Congrats again, Neichel and David! Neichel's hair and makeup was done by the fabulous Rachel LeNeve Turner of Rachel LeNeve Artistry. Check her out here.
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
What To Expect at Your Family Photo Session
Lets talk about what you can expect when you book a photo shoot with Mae Bolton Photography. You would think this would be pretty straight forward, but it really depends on the type of shoot we are talking about. It goes without saying that a wedding is WAY different than a newborn session. But, a senior session has a similar setup to a family session (aside from the number of people involved). In the interest of making things simple, we're going to focus on one type of session. More specifically, this post is going to walk you through a family session.
After you've selected your date, completed your electronic contract and paid your deposit via Paypal, we then work on narrowing down the perfect location for your family shoot. When it comes to family sessions, I use natural light. That means, we need to find a nice outdoor location for your family photos. Sometimes clients already have a location or even type of location in mind. Sometimes clients have no idea where they want to have their session. I have been doing this for a while now so I have LOTS of great suggestions for you. We can start by narrowing it down to a category. Would you prefer a nice landscaped park with lots of flowers and greenery? What about an urban feel with a cityscape for a backdrop? Maybe you are more country folk and would prefer an open field with rolling hills? How about a gorgeous mountain spot full of wildflowers and panoramic views? If you still can't decide, maybe other factors such as convenience and distance can make the choice for you. You may think that mountain views might be the ideal spot, but remember that mountain drives are at least 20+ minutes from the Salt Lake Valley. We need to make sure we select a location that fits into your schedule. Also keep in mind that if you've selected a location that's more than 30 minutes outside of the Greater Salt Lake Area, additional charges may apply. I will gladly work with you to come up with the perfect location that meets your family's needs.
Okay. It's the day of your session. The remaining balance was paid last week via Paypal. You've just made it to your previously determined meeting place with 15 minutes to spare. You know your kids can't make it 5 minutes without spilling, wiping, or spitting something on themselves, so you wait to put on that nice clean, white shirt that you bought for this occasion until the last minute. You also have that backup outfit for those "just in case" moments. You look up to see me smiling, waiving and walking toward you. Let's do this!
We then chit chat, walk around and laugh a bunch while I do my thing. I'll take care of getting you guys arranged, smiling and posed just right. Rhett, also known as my trusty sidekick, takes care of the lighting and comic relief. Sometimes it's the un-posed candid shots that are the best shots of the entire session. Those true and raw emotions are what makes the photo come to life. If you feel something when looking at an image, I'm doing my job.
Phew. You've made it through the session. We can't believe it, but the kids even seemed to be enjoying themselves (must have been the candy bribes). Before heading our separate ways, I remind you that as soon as I have them ready, all the best images from the session will be available to you in your very own online gallery, where you can download/share/print how you please. This means that your session also includes the print release. My typical turnaround time is 2-3 weeks (this can vary during busier seasons). By using online galleries instead of discs, your images get to you much faster and are much easier for you to share with family and friends. Once your gallery is ready, I will send you a message with the link. Your images are all set for printing, framing and hanging. I would definitely recommend going through me to get professional prints made. You might think it's a better investment to print cheaply, but in the long run, it just isn't. Professional prints will last longer and have colors that are much truer to what you are seeing on your screen. You've already invested large amounts of both time and money into this endeavor, let's not cheapen it now. I'll send you a list of my current print pricing with your gallery link.
We'll, that's it. Not too painful, right? With just a few emails/phone calls and a couple of hours (including driving time) you've created art. You've created family history. You've locked a day in time that will last forever. I helped a little, but that's what I do. Now let's see that art up on your wall.
Saturday, March 1, 2014
Getting Your Images on Your Wall
Pick a Wall: where do you want to display the photos? Maybe there's more than one wall where you'd like to place the photos. Maybe there are many, MANY walls where you'd like to place the photos. Let's make this easy by doing one wall at a time. Pick 1.
Choose an Arrangement: how many photos should you put on your wall? A common mistake made by many is printing too small. Larger arrangements tend to look MUCH better and fill a space much more completely than smaller arrangements. Trust me, I know it's hard choosing how to arrange the photos on your wall. I've been there, done that. I've got two little tidbits here that will help solve all your troubles.
First, I've got an awesome way to show you how your photos will look on your own wall. That's right, your own wall. All that's needed is a photo of the wall you are wanting to fill. I will give you a bunch of options and a clear visual of how great your photos will look all finished. Awesome, right? Just let me know that this is something you want to do, and I will work with you. Secondly, if you are a do-it-yourselfer, I've started to put together a pinterest board of some favorite wall arrangements. Check it out: here. After you've chosen an arrangement for your wall, jot down the size of prints needed.
Print Professionally: where should you print? I cannot stress enough how large a difference printing through a professional printing company makes. As a service-based photographer, I let you decide how you want to print your photos by including print releases (with the best of the photos from your session) with my photo packages. This puts all the power in your hands. Sure, you may be attracted to the pricing when printing at Sam's Club or Walgreen's, but when compared to a high quality, professional print, there really is no comparison in value. You've already invested in a quality product from your photographer, why devalue it by printing cheaply? I can provide you with top quality prints, framed prints, canvases and other specialty products. My suggestion? Come to me for all your printing needs in order to ensure that you have long-lasting, heirloom pieces. After all, this is your family history in the making.
10 EASY STEPS FOR HANGING YOUR PHOTO ARRANGEMENT ON THE WALL
Hanging Prints: you've got your photos in hand, now what? I've developed a straight-forward method for getting complicated arrangements onto your wall. Here are a few tools you will need:
2. Lay the frames/canvases out on the floor in the desired arrangement. I like to measure the distance between the frames, so that they are all evenly spaced.
3. After you've got them arranged, flip them over so that they are face down, making sure to keep the arrangement exactly how it was when they were face-up (may require re-measuring).
4. Using your painter's tape, tape a strip of the tape from the mounting bracket on one frame to the mounting bracket on the next frame in the arrangement. We are, in essence, cutting the tape so that it creates the exact measurement from the bracket on one frame to the bracket on the next.
5. Continue this step until all the frame's brackets are connected.
6. Add reference lines by linking the tape lines at 90 degree angles as shown in the image below. Mark the tape with a pencil so that you know exactly where these reference pieces go. This helps ensure that your arrangement won't get skewed when transferring the tape from the frames to the wall (this will make more sense as you move forward).
7. Move the tape from the back of the frames to the wall, connecting the tape in the same arrangement as it was on the frames. It is important to be quite accurate while doing this. You may want to use the level to ensure that your lines are straight. You will also want to make sure that your arrangement is centered or placed on the wall exactly where you want it. Because of the color of this particular wall and the similar color of the tape, it was hard to see the tape, so I've outlined it for you in the second photo below. Note that the two vertical pieces are my "reference" lines, protecting my arrangement from getting skewed.
8. Hammer a nail into place everywhere that one piece of tape intersects with another (aside from your reference lines).
9. Ready for the easiest step? Remove the tape. (Sorry, no pic of this one, haha).
10. Hang your frames on the nails and... VOILA! We are done! If you look closely, I have left the tape up for this shot, so that you can see how the tape lines matched the final product.
At the beginning of this post, I talked about showing you what your photos would look like on your wall ahead of time. My awesome sister-in-law sent me a cell phone photo of the wall that she wanted to work on, which is where this example project began. We built a digital arrangement using photos from our last photo session together and then completed the arrangement in real life. Check out how the digital version (photo below) compares with the final product, the actual arrangement on the wall (photo above).
Now that wasn't too tricky, was it? Granted, this method works best if your arrangement allows for your photos to be placed in straight lines. If yours doesn't, you might need to get a little creative with your taping. That 7th grade geometry that you thought you would never use (obtuse angles, and such) might just come in handy after all. As always, if you need my help, I'm just an email/phone call/text away. If needed, I've even been known to make house calls for my awesome clients. Keep me posted on how your photo arrangements are coming to life. I'd love to hear from you! Shoot me an email at: info@maeboltonphoto.com
- A photo/diagram of your arrangement (optional)
- A measuring tape
- A level
- A pencil
- Painter's tape
- A hammer
- Brad nails
2. Lay the frames/canvases out on the floor in the desired arrangement. I like to measure the distance between the frames, so that they are all evenly spaced.
3. After you've got them arranged, flip them over so that they are face down, making sure to keep the arrangement exactly how it was when they were face-up (may require re-measuring).
4. Using your painter's tape, tape a strip of the tape from the mounting bracket on one frame to the mounting bracket on the next frame in the arrangement. We are, in essence, cutting the tape so that it creates the exact measurement from the bracket on one frame to the bracket on the next.
5. Continue this step until all the frame's brackets are connected.
6. Add reference lines by linking the tape lines at 90 degree angles as shown in the image below. Mark the tape with a pencil so that you know exactly where these reference pieces go. This helps ensure that your arrangement won't get skewed when transferring the tape from the frames to the wall (this will make more sense as you move forward).
7. Move the tape from the back of the frames to the wall, connecting the tape in the same arrangement as it was on the frames. It is important to be quite accurate while doing this. You may want to use the level to ensure that your lines are straight. You will also want to make sure that your arrangement is centered or placed on the wall exactly where you want it. Because of the color of this particular wall and the similar color of the tape, it was hard to see the tape, so I've outlined it for you in the second photo below. Note that the two vertical pieces are my "reference" lines, protecting my arrangement from getting skewed.
8. Hammer a nail into place everywhere that one piece of tape intersects with another (aside from your reference lines).
9. Ready for the easiest step? Remove the tape. (Sorry, no pic of this one, haha).
10. Hang your frames on the nails and... VOILA! We are done! If you look closely, I have left the tape up for this shot, so that you can see how the tape lines matched the final product.
At the beginning of this post, I talked about showing you what your photos would look like on your wall ahead of time. My awesome sister-in-law sent me a cell phone photo of the wall that she wanted to work on, which is where this example project began. We built a digital arrangement using photos from our last photo session together and then completed the arrangement in real life. Check out how the digital version (photo below) compares with the final product, the actual arrangement on the wall (photo above).
Now that wasn't too tricky, was it? Granted, this method works best if your arrangement allows for your photos to be placed in straight lines. If yours doesn't, you might need to get a little creative with your taping. That 7th grade geometry that you thought you would never use (obtuse angles, and such) might just come in handy after all. As always, if you need my help, I'm just an email/phone call/text away. If needed, I've even been known to make house calls for my awesome clients. Keep me posted on how your photo arrangements are coming to life. I'd love to hear from you! Shoot me an email at: info@maeboltonphoto.com
Tuesday, February 4, 2014
Selecting the Best Images From Your Photo Session
Here is another comment that I get all the time from clients: "How am I going to choose from all of these photos?" I used to see this as a complement, because that meant that I took so many great photos that they couldn't choose. But I've since learned from this. For some, it's really easy to say: That one. That one is my favorite. But, for others, having to sort through a lot of images can be stressful and difficult. When I first started out, I would provide huge online galleries to my clients with nearly all of the photos from their session. My reasoning was that it's their gallery. What if they absolutely loved an image that I didn't? I didn't want to force my clients to have only my favorite images. But along my photographer's journey, I have learned two important things pertaining to this topic. Lesson one, only provide clients with my very best work. Lesson two, reduce a lot of client anxiety by grooming (i.e. thinning-out) their online galleries.
Lesson One: Only Provide the Best Photos
One of the advantages of only providing my best photos is that I am allowing my work to do my advertising for me. Others will see the photos both online and in my client's homes, which will then help me generate more business and keep this train chugging. Additionally, when I would provided lower quality images, it always seemed like that one slightly-out-of-focus image would be the one my client wanted printed HUGE. I would spend a lot of time working to do what I could to make that image better. But, really, what can you do to improve a slightly out of focus photo? Not much, that's what. Ironically, it often seemed that the very next frame from the slightly blurry one would be a perfectly clean, crisp image with the exact same or at least an extremely similar pose. I would sometimes offer the crisp, clean option to my client and ask if they didn't like this one just as much. Every time, they would come back to me and say "Oh yeah, let's go with the non-blurry one." Got it, Universe. Lesson learned. By removing blurry images, I'm helping my clients. Moving on.
Note: the client shown above didn't choose blurry photos, she's just gorgeous and I wanted to use her pretty face on something :)
Lesson Two: Thinning Galleries Helps You
Lesson number two includes improving the lives of my clients. By removing identical or similar shots, my clients will be able to see and compare the variety of shots from their session. Going through 30 or so images is so much easier than going through 300. It will save my clients time. It will save me time. It will allow me to complete sessions faster and move on to other sessions. This means more happy clients and more time for me.
Here is an actual letter from a client. Maybe you've even felt the same way. One of my good friends and clients emailed me this after the session, but before she saw her photos:
Choosing Your Images
Okay, on to the nitty gritty. So now you've had your session and received your online gallery of, say, 30 - 50 images (a screenshot from a gallery can be seen below). Now what? How do you choose which photos to put on your wall? If you are like me, I'm always trying to make things harder than they need to be. A quick tip? There are probably multiple images from the session that will fit your vision. You just need to find one (or a few). My galleries make it simple to choose and even mark your favorites. If you are having trouble with this, just let me know and I can walk you through it.
While going through your images, ask yourself these questions:
1. ) Does everyone look good in this photo?
2. ) Does this photo make me smile when I look at it?
3. ) If I have to crop this photo to print it in a certain dimension or size, will important areas be cropped out of the photo? (Note: Your photos come in ratios of 4x6)
4. ) Will a vertical or horizontal photo look better in the space reserved on my wall for this photo?
5. ) Instead of one horizontal photo, would two side-by-side vertical photos work better (or vice-versa)?
6. ) How large am I printing this? Rule of thumb: printing/framing/canvasing in large sizes, rather than small sizes, will always look better on a wall.
I've Got an App for That
Here's something I'm actually really excited about. I can now show you exactly what your images are going to look like on your wall! I'm going to tell you all about it in its very own blog post. For this special post, I need you to send me an image of your walls. Do you have a wall that you want to get photos on, but your not quite sure where to start? Start here! Send an email to info@maeboltonphoto.com for instructions!
That's all I've got on selecting photos. I wish you all the luck in your photo selecting endeavors. Don't forget to send me your wall images! If you ever need my help, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks for reading! Do you have other tips for selecting your photos? I'd love to hear from you! Comment on this post or shoot me an email at info@maeboltonphoto.com
Lesson One: Only Provide the Best Photos
One of the advantages of only providing my best photos is that I am allowing my work to do my advertising for me. Others will see the photos both online and in my client's homes, which will then help me generate more business and keep this train chugging. Additionally, when I would provided lower quality images, it always seemed like that one slightly-out-of-focus image would be the one my client wanted printed HUGE. I would spend a lot of time working to do what I could to make that image better. But, really, what can you do to improve a slightly out of focus photo? Not much, that's what. Ironically, it often seemed that the very next frame from the slightly blurry one would be a perfectly clean, crisp image with the exact same or at least an extremely similar pose. I would sometimes offer the crisp, clean option to my client and ask if they didn't like this one just as much. Every time, they would come back to me and say "Oh yeah, let's go with the non-blurry one." Got it, Universe. Lesson learned. By removing blurry images, I'm helping my clients. Moving on.
Note: the client shown above didn't choose blurry photos, she's just gorgeous and I wanted to use her pretty face on something :)
Lesson Two: Thinning Galleries Helps You
Lesson number two includes improving the lives of my clients. By removing identical or similar shots, my clients will be able to see and compare the variety of shots from their session. Going through 30 or so images is so much easier than going through 300. It will save my clients time. It will save me time. It will allow me to complete sessions faster and move on to other sessions. This means more happy clients and more time for me.
Here is an actual letter from a client. Maybe you've even felt the same way. One of my good friends and clients emailed me this after the session, but before she saw her photos:
"We look forward to seeing the photos. My [family] wants to see all of them but I can't handle trying to choose from a million pictures. The only other time I have actually paid a professional photographer for a photo shoot with [my family] and I, ended with me not ever ordering any photos because she literally posted 450 pictures. We spent about three weeks trying to go through them and come to some agreements but it just became overwhelming. I then asked her to select a smaller amount for me to choose from but she ended up getting divorced and closing up shop soon after and I haven't taken the time to track her down."Have you ever been in this boat? This is the exact situation I want to prevent. My goal is to have happy, returning customers. For this family, I narrowed their gallery down to 50 or so images. I even told them which photos were my favorites. They ended up being very pleased with the photos and the selection size. Mission accomplished. I hope to see them in front of my lens again soon (and you, too!).
Choosing Your Images
Okay, on to the nitty gritty. So now you've had your session and received your online gallery of, say, 30 - 50 images (a screenshot from a gallery can be seen below). Now what? How do you choose which photos to put on your wall? If you are like me, I'm always trying to make things harder than they need to be. A quick tip? There are probably multiple images from the session that will fit your vision. You just need to find one (or a few). My galleries make it simple to choose and even mark your favorites. If you are having trouble with this, just let me know and I can walk you through it.
While going through your images, ask yourself these questions:
1. ) Does everyone look good in this photo?
2. ) Does this photo make me smile when I look at it?
3. ) If I have to crop this photo to print it in a certain dimension or size, will important areas be cropped out of the photo? (Note: Your photos come in ratios of 4x6)
4. ) Will a vertical or horizontal photo look better in the space reserved on my wall for this photo?
5. ) Instead of one horizontal photo, would two side-by-side vertical photos work better (or vice-versa)?
6. ) How large am I printing this? Rule of thumb: printing/framing/canvasing in large sizes, rather than small sizes, will always look better on a wall.
I've Got an App for That
Here's something I'm actually really excited about. I can now show you exactly what your images are going to look like on your wall! I'm going to tell you all about it in its very own blog post. For this special post, I need you to send me an image of your walls. Do you have a wall that you want to get photos on, but your not quite sure where to start? Start here! Send an email to info@maeboltonphoto.com for instructions!
That's all I've got on selecting photos. I wish you all the luck in your photo selecting endeavors. Don't forget to send me your wall images! If you ever need my help, please don't hesitate to ask. Thanks for reading! Do you have other tips for selecting your photos? I'd love to hear from you! Comment on this post or shoot me an email at info@maeboltonphoto.com
Monday, January 13, 2014
Preparing for Your Photo Shoot
People always ask me what they can do to prepare for their upcoming photo shoot. Well, this post is for you (and you, and you... and you, too). There are two key prepping steps. Sounds pretty simple, right? First, figure out what you are going to wear. Second, plan on having a great time. That first step can be the hardest step, but that second step is probably more important. Looking your best is only one ingredient to a successful photo shoot. The other ingredient is letting your personality shine through in your photos. Both are SUPER important in getting those great photos.
Step 1: What to Wear
So, let's get this started. How in the world do you figure out what you are going to wear? What you wear can really impact the feel of your photos. For example, do you want photos that portray your glamorous and exquisite side? That could mean a dress, sparkly jewelry, a pedicure, heels and a fancy up-do. Or, maybe you prefer photos that are more editorial and interesting. This could include your favorite hole-in-the-knee jeans, t-shirt, bare feet and your guitar. The key here: ACCESSORIES. It's my job to make you look your best, but it's your job to select clothing items that highlight your best features and show off what makes you unique. My goal is to not only create a photo that documents what you looked like in this time of your life, but to also document your personality at this time in your life. If you are stuck, a great place to go for inspiration is Pinterest. I've created a "What to Wear" board to get you started. If you like, you can follow it HERE. I'll continually add some of my favorite looks (sorry gentlemen, this just has lady looks in it for now). If you have some other favorite inspirational boards or sites, please post them below.
Coordinating clothes for a group or even a couple of people can be tricky. Remember that colors don't need to be exactly "matchy." Meaning, if you think purple would be a good color to coordinate with different members of your party, different shades of purple will work together just as well or even better than trying to match the exact shade. A deep purple tie here, a light purple skirt there, etc. Colors don't even have to match to coordinate well. The key is selecting colors and patterns that don't clash. My suggestion? Don't over do it with lots of patterns. Solid, dark colors are often the most flattering. Try to avoid loose or baggy clothing, as it can make you look larger than you are. A layered look is usually always a winner. Try to avoid colors that wash you out or are similar to your skin tone. Also in the avoidance category: super low-cut tops or short shorts. If you can't decide between outfits, maybe you don't need to. Sometimes, people bring a few different looks to their photo shoot. And that's totally fine!
For you ladies, getting your makeup and hair done by a professional can really add to the look of your photos. In addition, it can also alleviate the stress of having to do it yourself. Getting your hair and makeup done by a professional isn't just for bridal shoots. If you'd like me to coordinate this for you, just let me know. I have access to some pretty awesome Hair & Makeup Artists.
Remember to accessorize and keep in mind that props always add that little bit of sparkle to a photo. Are you shooting in the snow? Grandpa's old Radio Flyer sled would look so cute with the three kids on it during our family shoot. Or, how about some confetti to throw for that pretty lady's graduation session. Maybe dad's dog tags for that perfect newborn shot? The possibilities are endless. The more unique and personal to YOU, the better.
Here are a couple of examples of what I'm talking about:
While you are trying to select your clothing items, remember that rules are meant to be broken. If you think something will totally work but goes against nearly every tip I've given here, throw my rules out the window. This is your shoot and these photos are meant to be about YOU.
Step 2: Relax and Have a Great Time
A key tip that I tell everyone at my sessions is that if you feel awkward, there's a very good chance that you probably look awkward. If you are one of those people that have mini panic attacks while trying to determine what to do with your hands as the lens is blaring and the shutter is clicking away, never fear. Helping you pose and making sure you are comfortable is my thing. Everyone has poses and angles that will be the most flattering for their body style. Remember, this isn't my first rodeo (literally, I've done rodeos). I can help you work those angles. So, you ask, if it's my job as the photographer to make you feel comfortable and to help you know what to do with your hands, then what's your job?? It's rather simple, really. Your job is to bring the ENERGY. Be willing to try new things, make jokes, laugh (a lot) and make a connection with the Mae Bolton Photography team. If you are having a great time, it will show in your photos. Some of my favorite sessions (and ones with the best photos, ever) are the ones where we laughed so hard that I was nearly in tears. For some people, this means bringing their best friends to the shoot. For others, this means going somewhere where not a soul (aside from my lens) will be watching. If this means something else for you, just let me know. I'm willing to do just about anything (within reason). Whatever it takes for you, let's make it happen.
So, let's recap. The first thing you can do to prepare for your photo shoot is to determine the type of feel and direction you envision for your shoot. From this vision, you can determine what you need to wear. After that hard bit is done, the next most important thing you can do is to make sure you bring your A-Game to the session. If you've done these two steps, you are going to rock your session and we are going to have a blast! Can't wait to get started. Well, that's all I've got about prepping for your photo shoot. If you've got any more tips, please leave them in the comments below, or shoot me an email at: info@maeboltonphoto.com. I'd love to hear from you!
Step 1: What to Wear
So, let's get this started. How in the world do you figure out what you are going to wear? What you wear can really impact the feel of your photos. For example, do you want photos that portray your glamorous and exquisite side? That could mean a dress, sparkly jewelry, a pedicure, heels and a fancy up-do. Or, maybe you prefer photos that are more editorial and interesting. This could include your favorite hole-in-the-knee jeans, t-shirt, bare feet and your guitar. The key here: ACCESSORIES. It's my job to make you look your best, but it's your job to select clothing items that highlight your best features and show off what makes you unique. My goal is to not only create a photo that documents what you looked like in this time of your life, but to also document your personality at this time in your life. If you are stuck, a great place to go for inspiration is Pinterest. I've created a "What to Wear" board to get you started. If you like, you can follow it HERE. I'll continually add some of my favorite looks (sorry gentlemen, this just has lady looks in it for now). If you have some other favorite inspirational boards or sites, please post them below.
Coordinating clothes for a group or even a couple of people can be tricky. Remember that colors don't need to be exactly "matchy." Meaning, if you think purple would be a good color to coordinate with different members of your party, different shades of purple will work together just as well or even better than trying to match the exact shade. A deep purple tie here, a light purple skirt there, etc. Colors don't even have to match to coordinate well. The key is selecting colors and patterns that don't clash. My suggestion? Don't over do it with lots of patterns. Solid, dark colors are often the most flattering. Try to avoid loose or baggy clothing, as it can make you look larger than you are. A layered look is usually always a winner. Try to avoid colors that wash you out or are similar to your skin tone. Also in the avoidance category: super low-cut tops or short shorts. If you can't decide between outfits, maybe you don't need to. Sometimes, people bring a few different looks to their photo shoot. And that's totally fine!
For you ladies, getting your makeup and hair done by a professional can really add to the look of your photos. In addition, it can also alleviate the stress of having to do it yourself. Getting your hair and makeup done by a professional isn't just for bridal shoots. If you'd like me to coordinate this for you, just let me know. I have access to some pretty awesome Hair & Makeup Artists.
Remember to accessorize and keep in mind that props always add that little bit of sparkle to a photo. Are you shooting in the snow? Grandpa's old Radio Flyer sled would look so cute with the three kids on it during our family shoot. Or, how about some confetti to throw for that pretty lady's graduation session. Maybe dad's dog tags for that perfect newborn shot? The possibilities are endless. The more unique and personal to YOU, the better.
Here are a couple of examples of what I'm talking about:
Step 2: Relax and Have a Great Time
A key tip that I tell everyone at my sessions is that if you feel awkward, there's a very good chance that you probably look awkward. If you are one of those people that have mini panic attacks while trying to determine what to do with your hands as the lens is blaring and the shutter is clicking away, never fear. Helping you pose and making sure you are comfortable is my thing. Everyone has poses and angles that will be the most flattering for their body style. Remember, this isn't my first rodeo (literally, I've done rodeos). I can help you work those angles. So, you ask, if it's my job as the photographer to make you feel comfortable and to help you know what to do with your hands, then what's your job?? It's rather simple, really. Your job is to bring the ENERGY. Be willing to try new things, make jokes, laugh (a lot) and make a connection with the Mae Bolton Photography team. If you are having a great time, it will show in your photos. Some of my favorite sessions (and ones with the best photos, ever) are the ones where we laughed so hard that I was nearly in tears. For some people, this means bringing their best friends to the shoot. For others, this means going somewhere where not a soul (aside from my lens) will be watching. If this means something else for you, just let me know. I'm willing to do just about anything (within reason). Whatever it takes for you, let's make it happen.
So, let's recap. The first thing you can do to prepare for your photo shoot is to determine the type of feel and direction you envision for your shoot. From this vision, you can determine what you need to wear. After that hard bit is done, the next most important thing you can do is to make sure you bring your A-Game to the session. If you've done these two steps, you are going to rock your session and we are going to have a blast! Can't wait to get started. Well, that's all I've got about prepping for your photo shoot. If you've got any more tips, please leave them in the comments below, or shoot me an email at: info@maeboltonphoto.com. I'd love to hear from you!
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
New Year, New Blog Ambition. Oh, and a GIVEAWAY!
Hi Guys! Here I go again. I am so not good at this. Blogging, I mean. While I love talking to people, this whole writing a message to the internet universe thing seems so one-sided to me. I mean, how do you have a conversation with the internet universe? But here I go. I'm vowing to start again and stick to a schedule this time. I'm going to need you to hold me accountable. That's you. Yep, you. All... 5 of you that read this blog (hi mom!). If you are reading this, give me a shout-out in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you. Did you have a session with me that you loved this past year? What was the best part? Still planning on booking? Still shopping around? What's important to you in a photographer? How about a contest you would like to see? Maybe you have some suggestions for blog posts? I need your help!
It's been a great year for us over at the Bolton residence. I actually just completed an M.B.A. (hence the time to write a blog post). In addition to working my day job, I've had the pleasure of capturing so many beautiful portraits while making tons of new friends this year. Some of them are in the image above. I'm sorry that I couldn't add a photo from every session this year (next year's goal?!). I've also been blessed to have had some work published in a few awesome print and online publications this year. I am so looking forward to meeting more of you and spending time with my new and current clients/friends.
Also, if you hadn't noticed on facebook, we're currently taking entries for a family session giveaway. Yep, you heard right: a GIVEAWAY. For free. All you have to do is enter your name, city and email address HERE. Please enter while you can. The contest ends this coming Friday. A winner will be randomly selected and the prize is a free family session for 5 people (additional people can be added). It includes an online gallery of the best photos with a print release (a $200 value).
Saturday, September 7, 2013
High School Senior Rep Program 2014
In a last-ditch effort to get on top of my blog-game, I hereby decree that Saturday morning is blogg-urday. Each Saturday, I'm going to sit down and tell you something. Whether it's about my photo shoots or about the other (many) aspects of my life, I'm going to do it. Whether or not you read it, well, that's up to you!
This last week we kicked off our Senior Rep program. I've had such an incredible response from you all and it seriously makes my
Stay tuned for more posts about my awesome senior reps for 2014. They are a bunch of cuties. If you are looking to get hooked up on a deal for senior photos, make sure you contact them for info on an awesome discount. Don't know one? Let me know and I can put you in touch with one in your area.
Thanks!
Melissa
Monday, August 12, 2013
Rustic Mountain Bride in Salt Lake
Ok, I know I get like this every year. Busy wedding season hits and my blog and other social media get rudely pushed aside. Will it help if I say that I'll try to do better? I'll say it if you think it will help. Well, luckily, I really think it was worth the wait this time. Thanks for being patient! Here is a gorgeous bridal photo shoot that could wait no longer to be posted. Seriously. I've heard it saying "Post me! Post me!" since before it was even transferred from the memory cards. This was my biggest to date (and quite possibly most favorite) collaboration. It was also done in the pouring rain. That's right. Cats and dogs, people. Cats and dogs. It included top-of-the-line wedding professionals who are worth their weight in gold. If you are even thinking about getting engaged or plan to some day, write these ladies' information down. Or better yet, just come here for your wedding one-stop-shop. I couldn't believe the amount of detail they poured into each aspect of this collaboration. Come rain or shine, this is your team. Anyway, I could go on and on forever about how amazing they are, but I'll just let you take a look at the photos and decide for yourself. And please, for the love, someone let us do your entire wedding next year. One word would describe your wedding: BRILLIANT. These gals are going to be all over the wedding scene soon, folks. Get 'em while you can.
WEDDING PLANNER: Mayra Lugo, contact her at lugofm@gmail.com
WEDDING FLORIST: Elisha Cook of E-flowers
WEDDING CAKES: Krystle Molyneaux, contact her at krystle.molyneaux@gmail.com
HAIR/MAKEUP ARTIST: Adrienne Whitney, check out her blog: hairbyadrienne.blogspot.com
WEDDING PHOTOS: Mae Bolton Photography, contact me at info@maeboltonphoto.com
Special thanks to our beautiful model, Demarie, for putting up with our crazy ideas and just going with the flow. Special thanks also goes to my bff, Camille and awesome hubby, Rhett for being the best photo assistants a girl could ask for. And a final special thanks goes to my good friend Emily for helping me scout awesome photo locations, because sometimes there's not enough time in a day.
WEDDING PLANNER: Mayra Lugo, contact her at lugofm@gmail.com
WEDDING FLORIST: Elisha Cook of E-flowers
WEDDING CAKES: Krystle Molyneaux, contact her at krystle.molyneaux@gmail.com
HAIR/MAKEUP ARTIST: Adrienne Whitney, check out her blog: hairbyadrienne.blogspot.com
WEDDING PHOTOS: Mae Bolton Photography, contact me at info@maeboltonphoto.com
Special thanks to our beautiful model, Demarie, for putting up with our crazy ideas and just going with the flow. Special thanks also goes to my bff, Camille and awesome hubby, Rhett for being the best photo assistants a girl could ask for. And a final special thanks goes to my good friend Emily for helping me scout awesome photo locations, because sometimes there's not enough time in a day.
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