2023 Cherry Blossoms
2023 Cherry Blossoms
Did you know that cherry blossoms are edible or that in Washington DC it’s illegal to break off a blossom? More importantly cherry blossoms have a very short lifespan which is usually 1-2 weeks. MOST importantly cherry blossoms are not only in Japan or DC, there are 2 locations in Northern New Jersey and they photograph beautifully.
More cherry blossom facts: Cherry blossoms are a sign of friendship between Japan and the U.S. The cherry blossom capitol of the world isn’t Japan. It actually is in Georgia. U.S. locations where you can see cherry blossoms include Dallas, Portland, San Francisco, LA, Brooklyn, Washington DC, Philidelphia, Boston, and TWO LOCATIONS IN NORTH JERSEY… and they photograph beautifully.
Verona Park Cherry Blossoms
Branch Brook Park Cherry Blossoms
Valentine's Minis for Singles
Four Must Have Images
If you are single and surfing dating apps for a Valentine, Insider Magazine states these are 4 must have images for your profile.
The classic headshot. This image is from your chest up and you look directly into the camera. Smile and show that confidence. If someone likes what they see then they will swipe through your pictures to the next image which will be…
The full body shot. This is your time to flaunt your favorite parts of your body. Show off those long legs or toned arms. Don’t assume your body type isn’t desired. Show off that confidence.
A lifestyle image. Show off your hobby. What is your favorite thing to do? Books, brunches, or bungee jumping; show it.
Make magic. The article stated that 4 is just the magic number for the amount of images to have so have fun with it. Take another headshot but laughing or another full body in that sexy dress you love.
If you want to make a great first impression on any of those dating apps you are on lets book a session. 14% off for a Valentine’s Day mini (15min) or regular (30min) session.
I Want to Quit My Job!
Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching but photographing an entire office’s headshots was a dream come true. If I can photograph two businesses a week and one newborn a week, I would be in heaven. If you know a business in need of headshots, please send them my way.
These are just a few of the professionals I had the honor of photographing at Capital One. There are always a few camera shy people who decline having their images shared.
Teaching Moment to Photographer Friends
I like to be efficient. I’m always kind and professional. I give clear directions so there is no need to touch my subject. Most importantly, make them laugh. Lets start with why you should make them laugh. Not everyone is comfortable in front of a lens. I personally HATE it. Making them laugh relaxes them. Pair that with being kind and professional and you’ll leave a great mark. I treat it like an assembly line so the day is organized and everyone in the office has the same type of images. My process was a few variations standing, a few variations sitting on a tall stool, a few sitting in a regular chair, and one creative one. This session was in NYC so buildings in the background was a must. One extra thing I like to do is get everyone’s name in the order I shot them. Renaming your files will make you look amazing because you’re making distribution much easier. This is easy in Lightroom (for example: capital_one_ bob_1).
Click on the gallery below to see the images close up.
Always available
What is Branding?
What is Branding?
Branding is the process of creating a distinct identity for a business in the mind of your target audience and consumers. At the the most basic level, branding is made up of a company's logo, visual design, mission, and tone of voice. The end of the year is a perfect time to rebrand your busniess. Luckly with GR Design & Photography all the things I listed for rebranding can be done with me.
The Madelyn is a restaurant in NYC I worked with. They needed an identity. A logo fit for a high end fusion restaurant. This went on their website, menus, marketing, and vinyl lettering for their glass storefront. Photography for the website was also needed and they appreciated that they were able to get all these services from one vendor. How did I do?
J’adore Fashion is a clothing brand. I was asked to make the logo fun and classy. We used 3 models to photograph their inventory which also was fun and classy. What does this brand, as a whole, say to you?
Extended Sessions
Is an extended session right for you?
While a regular session “gets the job done” those who want to take a deep dive into an amazing photo session might want to look into extended sessions. Here’s why:
More time means no rushing. We can take our time without looking at the clock.
Different locations to photograph at. If you’re looking for variety in your final images, photographing in different locations is a great way to achieve that goal.
Different clothing to wear. This, in combination with different locations, will give you a session you will never forget.
Dos and Donts for your next portrait session
Dos and Don’ts for Your Portrait Sessions
First off, your photographer should be telling you this because you are hiring an experienced professional… right? Well if they don’t, here are a few things you need to know for your next portrait session:
Don’t get hammered the night before! We all like to party and theres nothing wrong with that. Just remember what you look like the morning after. Not all photographers can photoshop bags under your eyes.
Stay away from huge logos and overly busy patterns. Styles change and you don’t want a FUBU shirt in your mounted family portrait.
Don’t overdue the makeup. Less is more. Your best bet is to hire a makeup artist. They know how to style you for flash photography.
Iron and coordinate your with others that are in the shoot. I love matching fathers and sons wearing linen and a white button down on the beach or matching mothers and daughts wearing matching sweaters in the fall.
Last and most importaintly, PRINT IT OUT. Get it hung on your wall to look at and love every day. There’s no point in leaving it on you usb and losing that or keeping it on your computer and it crashing.
3 Head Shot Tips for Killer Images
3 Tips for Killer Head Shots
First is your catch light. This is when the light from your main (key) light hits your subject’s eyes. This brings dept and life to your image.
Second is your key light. This is your main light and you will get a different feeling in your image depending where you place your light. I like to place my strobe at 45 degrees (10 or 2 o’clock) and a few feet over the subject’s head with my softbox angled down.
Last is the back light. Also know as rim, shoulder, or hair light; it lights the back of your subject. This illuminates the back edge of your subject and separates them from the background.
With this lighting and enough practicing with posing and you should be able to go after those corporate head shot gigs in no time.
Fun Fact: 99% of people getting head shots are not models. They won’t be comfortable in front of a camera. Hell, I”M not comfortable in front of a camera. Be relaxed, be charismatic, and make it fun. The picture will show what they feel. Laughing and relaxed will show. Nervous and uncofortable will also show.
INVEST IN YOURSELF
Graffiti Session
Whenever I’m photographing an older child, 12-17, I offer different locations for different moods. Clients usually chose something woodsy or something on the Hudson River. I’ve always mentioned urban or graffiti but clients usually had shorter sessions and opted with the “prettier” settings. I finally found a client who chose an extended session and wanted one of the settings be a graffiti backdrop.
Anyone who knew me during college knows my thesis was a book on graffiti so I obviously had a ball. Do you want to be my next subject to photograph underneath the Holand Tunnel entry bridge?
What to look for when hiring a maternity &/or newborn photographer.
Experience
You will be pregnant with this child only once. You might be spending a lot of money on one or both of these sessions. Make sure your photographer can consistently produce what they are showing on their site or social media. An experienced photographer should be answering most of your questions before you even ask them.
Vibe
You should be vibing with your photographer. If you aren’t comfortable with your photographer, there is a good chance that will come through in your photos. Photographers who know what they are doing are comfortable with their sessions and their confidence 9/10 will be passed onto you.
Can They Bundle?
Maternity photographers might not be newborn photographers but newborn photographers are almost always maternity photographers as well. See if they have bundle packaging. My “The Glow” package is a maternity session and newborn session and images from both sessions end up in your album and, at times, the birth announcement cards.
Ps: you should be printing this beautiful journey out. Don’t just post it on your social media, print it out and hang images in your nursery. Make an album and put it on your coffee table for all to see.
Winter Wonderland
Tips for your next winter session
If you are brave enough to take pictures in the dead of winter, here are some tips you should know.
Wear Layers
The session below was 17 degrees when we started photographing. The best thing to do is wear layers. Thermals for your legs, thick socks or 2 pair, snow boots, and long sleeves with a thick sweater looks great and you might not even need a coat.
Extras
Bring extras. Extra hats and extra gloves will give your session different looks. It will also keep you warm if you take pictures playing with the snow. Sneak some hand warmers in there too.
Move
Shivering is your body’s way of keeping you warm. The more you move , the warmer you will be. This can serve two purposes: keep you warm and make your images more fun. Running, jumping, and dancing puts a smile on anyone’s face.
