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.
What To Consider When Booking A Mini Session | New Jersey Photographer
Minis are super popular in the summer. But, are they right for you? Here’s a quick pros and cons list to help you decide!
With the weather warming up and interest in mini’s growing, I wanted to sit down and give a simple list of some of the pros and cons to these sessions so that everyone can know what to expect and whether it is a perfect fit for them. Hopefully this list will help you decide if mini sessions are the best option for you.
Pros
They are short! Generally a mini session will run 30 minutes depending on the type of shoot. Whether it's the fact that you don't want to invest the time in a full session or it's simply just easier on your busy schedule, mini sessions make it a quick and easy option for you when it comes to time.
Price! Due to the short length, limited amount of photos, and streamlined process we are able to bring down the cost. Add in the fact most mini sessions have intricate themes and props to create amazing and unique images, only adds to the value even more.
It's a great and affordable way to keep your family photos up to date throughout the year.
They are a great way to give a photographer you've been considering a "tryout". They give you a hands on approach to a photographers style and just how he/she interacts with and works with your family.
Cons
They're short! Sometimes something that is a pro can also be a con and this is the case here. Some children can have a hard time warming up to the camera and can take a little longer than others, the shortness of mini sessions can prove to be a challenge in these situations. There is also the fact that due to the short time you just don't quite get the full personalization and creative planning that full length sessions can give you.
You don't get as many images. Typically our mini sessions range from 20-40 useable images that you get from the session and a full session can easily double those amounts.
The location is at a set place and time which doesn't give you the opportunity to choose a location that may have a special meaning or a place you just simply love.
They sell out quickly! Most of the time one day of mini sessions leaves only 8 open spots for that day and they tend to go extremely fast.
Session sizes can be limited for the amount of people you can have involved. Unfortunately, time is a big restraint and large party sizes can't be accommodated for mini session.
With that being said we ultimately love shooting and delivering these amazing images to our clients. From the colorful fall sessions to the bright and warm summer ones, we offer options and choices that you can love throughout the year by giving everyone the opportunity to get professional photos at a great price. We love hearing from each of our clients after our shoots on just how much joy these sessions bring to them and their family each time. We hope to see many more new and old faces in the years to come! Keep a watch for more mini sessions coming in the future and make sure to get a spot before they sell out!
5 Tips For Couples Who Hate Taking Photos | New Jersey Photographer
We're not all models or even comfortable being in front of someone else's lens. So, I wanted to list out a few tips for couples (and wedding photographers) to help you get those lovingly natural shots that couples love to see in their gallery!
I’ve met with couples before who let me know right of the bat that they weren’t crazy about taking photos but wanted beautiful photos to represent their big day. I told them that's totally natural and that it's something that I hear all the time from my clients. So much in fact, that I have started to specialize in making couples feel comfortable with their photographer so that they can shine through as their true selves. We're not all models or even comfortable being in front of someone else's lens. So, I wanted to list out a few tips for couples (and wedding photographers) to help you get those lovingly natural shots that couples love to see in their gallery!
HAVE AN ENGAGEMENT SESSION
I always say this, but I always, always recommend that couples have an engagement session to get to work with your photographer before your big day. This will give you some practical one on one time with them and will help you get comfortable in front of their lens.
DON'T LOOK AT THE CAMERA
Sometimes it feels awkward staring directly into a lens. Don’t be afraid to not make eye contact with the lens 100% of the time. Hey, if it feels better to look to your side or even straight pass the camera then do that. You look better when you feel better and after a little while your photographer will pick up on what makes you look (and feel better).
ROLE PLAY
HAVE SOME FUN. Nothing gets your mind off an uneasy task more than playing with your significant other. I give my couples “exercises” to keep them busy being connected - “whisper seductively into her ear what you had for breakfast.” These turn out to be some of our favorite images.
BE HONEST WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
It's ok to tell them your insecurities. If you're a photographer, instead of asking them what are they insecure about, ask them what they love about themselves and accentuate that. You can also ask their significant other what they love most about the other and play off of that. When client's see more of what they love, the more they will trust you in the future.
HIRE A PHOTOGRAPHER YOU FEEL A CONNECTION WITH
I’ll be honest with you here… find a photographer who you can identify with. Of course, you want an artist whose photographs you enjoy but also a person who you feel you can be yourself around. When you hire a photographer who you feel connected with, not only will you your images come out more authentic, but you will have the ability to trust them and their process just a little more and that’s ideal for clients and photographers alike.
I hope that these tips help you out and if you would like to learn more tips, feel free to check out more of the blog under the category “Photography”!
Helpful Tips For The Perfect Photoshoot With Your Kid | New Jersey Photographer
I wanted to share a few tips to help prepare you and your family for your upcoming photo shoot and also wanted to be the reassurance you need!
It is so much fun to photograph and work with these little ones and we have some beautiful photos to share with their parents and family! I try to capture an array of emotions with each shoot; from laughs, smiles, and giggles to tears, screaming, and being shy. Or all of them in one shoot! One theme became apparent, and it hit me that I needed to blog about this. Many parents had tons of anxiety about this and even felt that one small meltdown ruined their entire shoot, absolutely not! I wanted to share a few tips to help prepare you and your family and wanted to be the reassurance you need!
Dress for the weather. It seems simple, but extra layers on a warm day or too little clothing mixed with a cool breeze can be the first problem of a shoot that can lead it down a rough path.
Reel in your expectations. We totally understand you booked your session and have a fantastic idea in mind or a pose you so desperately want. We love to do our best to make that happen! But, the more expectation, pressure, and direction we start giving to young ones can easily frustrate them. Especially when in a different environment and having a camera clicking away at you. Give us ideas of things you have seen and would love, we can create situations and place you in positions to be ready to capture those special moments!
Don’t freak out if they begin to cry or become fussy. We know you don’t want teary eyed photos, but trust us when we say you definitely don’t want photos of you looking upset or frustrated either. Many times, mom or dad can be consoling their little one and those make some of the best shots. It’s genuine and real, but most importantly it is your life and those little moments are something to certainly treasure years from now.
Plan a day and time that works for your schedule. We try to be as flexible as we can, but if you know nap time is always between 1-3 please don’t schedule an early afternoon session. Even if you feel you can lay them down earlier or later, it almost never works out. Also, keep it relaxed that day. If they had school or events going on, maybe schedule your session for another day when there is less going on. And another big tip – give them a little snack to avoid that hangriness feeling we all get! As my wife can attest, sometimes even I need a Snickers!
Rewards do help. This is totally up to you, but it has worked many times for us. We will never say “if you’re good, mommy and daddy will...”. But, if there is a reward you know they will like that could get some cooperation for 10 minutes, we can bounce off that and it helps!
We will do our best to make your child smile, but we can’t guarantee it. As we photograph, we try our best to direct attention to the camera and get those smiling photos for you. We ask for assistance a lot from mom and dad right behind the camera, because who knows what makes your baby laugh more than you do? Even though we have been known to be quite goofy behind the camera ourselves! But unfortunately, sometimes babies and kids know this just isn’t right and they aren’t having it. I was one of those kids! So, there is no reason to be flustered because they won’t. Again, it goes hand in hand with reeling in your expectations. Therefore, we like to do a combination between portraits and lifestyle. With lifestyle, it is much easier to get those genuine reactions and smiles when we can stand on the side lines and capture those special moments! Not to mention, they feel the most real and exactly how your life is.
Talk to your kids. Let them know they are getting photos done by us. You can show them the About Me page on the website so they can see my face, you can show them our logo, or even show them some other photos we took of other kids and their families! Now is also a good time to mention rewards if you choose to do so. We have allowed kids to help us shoot, they love it. Tell them they can help us out for the day. It is amazing to see the little artists at work!
Most of all, come to have fun. We have been fortunate enough to photograph many families with children. And like I mentioned earlier, sometimes there is combinations of emotions from hysterical laughs to hysterical crying. Nothing is by the book and cookie cutter; it is simply going with the flow when having young ones. Trust in our ability to make the best out of the situation and create the images you will love and cherish for many years.