5 Tips for Summer Engagement Sessions | New Jersey Photographer
We live in New Jersey, so why not use the beach for a scenic backdrop?!
As the temperature begins to rise and your wedding date quickly approaches, you may be a little leery of your engagement session happening in the heat of the summer but here’s the good news… Your Friendly Neighborhood Photographer is here to help! So here are 5 tips to stay cool during your hot engagement session!
Get Out Early
…and beat the heat. If you start your session early in the morning (around 7 a.m.) not only will you beat the heat, but you will have beautiful lighting. The best times to shoot your engagement session is 1-2 hours after sunrise and 1-2 hours before sunset, but the benefit of doing your session in the morning is that there won’t be an excessive amount of people around when shooting (if you choose to have your session in a public location). Sleep is nice, but nothing compares to that early morning sunlight!
Dress Smart
Style is important, but you feeling comfortable during your session is even more important! Please keep this in mind when choosing your outfit(s) for your session. Make sure that your clothes are not too hot (cotton and linen are great options), that your undergarments are not too tight and that you have comfortable shoes. Ladies, you can still bring those stillettos to shoot in, but also have some back-ups to wear when traveling to different locations, walking to and from the car, ect…. Feel free to even wear your favorite summer outfit, even something like a flirty skirt and a cute blouse; for the guys, 3/4 button up shirts always look good. Also keep in mind that you want to wear colors that not only compliment your skin tone but each other!
Hydrate!
Drink plenty of water the week leading up to your session! If you drink at least 2 liters of water every day, your skin will be well hydrated, and you may even feel a little bit perkier throughout your session.
Be Adventurous
It’s summer, which means there are so many exciting and interesting activities to do around the city and along the shore! Take advantage of that! Whether it be at a food festival, a carnival, or a pop-up exhibit. Keep your eyes open for fun outings and let us know about it! If you apply the previous 3 tips to this one, we can have one amazing engagement session unlike any other!
Take It in the House
For something a little more lowkey, I absolutely love the idea of having an in-home session, especially for couples who are in the process of buying a new home together or those who just moved in together. These kind of photos feel so authentic and personal. These are the perfect engagement session idea for couples who want an alternative style for their images. Also, these are great to frame for your home!
5 Benefits Of Drone Photography At Your Wedding | New Jersey Photographer
Drones are as popular in travel photography…
as they are often used to take captivating 360-degree shots of beaches, hilltops, and more. However, drones are fast becoming a staple in commemorating modern celebrations too. Picture drone footage of the entire wedding venue while guests start pouring in, or the bride making her way down the aisle. Stunning, right? It certainly elevates traditional wedding photography and makes your special day that much more memorable.
If you’ve been considering drone photography at your wedding, here are some more benefits to keep in mind.
Drones showcase the wedding venue
The venue is a major consideration when planning a wedding, so it would be a shame not to capture its entire splendor. Luckily, you don’t have to worry about that if you hire a drone photographer. Whether it’s a beach wedding or a garden wedding, drones can capture breathtaking visuals to clearly showcase the grandeur of your wedding’s location. These shots also work quite well for the videography, as they show an overview of the day’s proceedings.
Drones complement traditional photography
There are shots that can only be taken via drone and vice-versa. Drones are ideal for wide aerial shots — especially since most of them are equipped with GPS-controlled accuracy for precision and stability in the air. However, traditional cameras are more useful for capturing close-ups and intimate moments — which are incredibly important in a wedding shoot. So, if you want to cover all your bases, it’s wise to have both a traditional camera setup and a drone camera for your wedding. That way, you get the best of both worlds.
Drones capture stunning and creative angles
One advantage of drones is that they can shoot from angles that are unreachable through normal camera setups. This allows photographers to be more creative and playful with their shots. For those looking to take gorgeous slow-motion clips and breathtaking panoramas, the high-end DJI Mavic 3 featured on Amazon can offer just that. Thanks to its SmartPhoto feature and advanced panorama mode, it can capture vivid colors in dynamic high definition. On the other hand, some drones like the Yuneec Typhoon H Plus are built to withstand strong winds. Its 3-axis gimbal-mounted camera offers excellent stability, all while shooting high-quality photos of your wedding day. With these advanced features, drones are well-equipped to cover your wedding day.
Drones give your wedding some flair
Hiring a drone photographer shows guests that you’re going all out on your big day. Aside from that, drones can also serve as a form of entertainment because of their novelty; it’s not every day you get to see a high-end drone covering a big event. Of course, drones should be interesting, but not enough to be a distraction from your big day. Thankfully, drones are constantly undergoing redesigns to make them quieter and more unobtrusive, like the DJI Mini 3 Pro.
Drones are excellent for group shots
It’s sometimes frustrating to find the perfect angle for a group shot. This is especially true if you have a large crowd — such as wedding guests — posing for the photo. However, the solution can be as simple as using a drone to take an overhead shot. This removes the need to crouch down or stand on tiptoe just to get everyone in the frame. As you can see, there are many advantages to getting a drone for your wedding.
Marissa's Maternity Session | Long Island New York
I’m so excited to share this maternity session with you today! It was such an honor to have Marissa invite me out to Wading River, NY (along the North Shore of Long Island) for this beach themed photoshoot. Fun fact - my wife and I had our wedding portraits done at this same beach!
Krick Smith Photography
I ventured out to Wading River Beach on Long Island with a beautiful couple - Marissa and Rob - for their maternity photoshoot this weekend. The weather was so gorgeous this day. They were so much fun, and we wanted to incorporate the rocks and beach because they were pregnant with their first baby boy.
Marissa is seriously so beautiful with her perfect round belly! She was so easygoing. I loved this shot of her holding her belly with the rocks and beach surrounding her.
Everytime I go to this beach, I have to have clients climb on the giant rocks jutting out from the water. I just feel like it’s so magical and almost like a scene from a book here! This shot is more candid and lifestyle like. They are beautiful here.
This is one of my favorite shots from this session because I feel like it looks so whimsical and fairytale-like - look at that dress flow! Marissa looks stunning all posed with her belly!
After leaving the beach, we made a stop at East Wind Long Island and found this fantastic carousel that perfectly captures the fun loving nature of Marissa’s personality.
Wasn’t this outdoor maternity session gorgeous?! I travel within 60 minutes of Princeton, NJ if you like outdoor shoots (farther for a travel fee)! If you’re ready to start planning your maternity photoshoot, you can find our information here! We can’t wait to help you plan your dream session!