Behind the Scenes with Brooke and Gabbi

We had a blast doing a styled shoot with these amazing girls! The final blog post is here: on our children portraiture site.  However, I'm a sucker for behind the scenes stuff.  Forgive my weird faces, I don't know why I do that!

Thanks to Amy McCan from 560 Salon and Spa in Cobleskill for making this look perfect!

PS: child fantasy portraits are available by inquiry at amberj518@gmail.com.  Email us and ask for information! We even include a super cute goodie bag for all our amazing clients! Wanna chat? Thats fine too! 518-657-9218!

Amy makes magic happen~

I just liked this sign...so that's why it's here :)

this is how I get people to work with me apparently...the choke hold!

I have no idea what I am doing, but Brooke is having a good time with her frame.

fly away hair and wind do not go well together.  There is no hair spray strong enough to withhold such powers.

they survived!

Upstate NY Photographer: Shen and Shaker Students On My Heart

This post is probably more personal than professional, but as a photographer, I think it's seriously difficult to separate the two.  One makes the other.  A few days ago, students from two nearby high schools were killed in an auto accident, two others severely injured. 

Personally: Today is my son's 10th birthday. Ironic as I watch the news this morning and wonder "what did their children look like at 10?" They would have never guessed they had less than 7 more years together with them.  So, today I will be taking things more slowly, embracing the messy toys, the toothpaste all over the sink, the half eaten breakfast and yes, even the angry birds that were placed on top of my Christmas Village scene.  I will love those aspects of today with gratitude and thank God for my children.


Professionally: With the invention of the iphone and all things instagram, you hardly have to encourage parents to take photos of their children. Today, my challenge to you, is to photograph your child..if you can or perhaps just anyone in your life.  Photograph them today in a moment of nothing. What does that mean? Just find them in their very own time and place, something they do on any ordinary day.  These kind if photographs are the ones I cherish most.  You never know when those moments, will be gone. Here are a few...caught in the moments :) Next challenge...actually print it.

Time To Choose, Specializing In Wedding/Child Photography

Here it goes. It was a hard decision to make, but I had a wonderful, fantastic, super fabulous photographer friend...(I won't mention any names Crystal George). Who has talked me through a few business lumps and bumps. However, she did stress one thing to me...and that was to specialize.
At first, I had no idea how to do that or what it truly meant.  Now that I have been on my own for nearly a year, I get it.
No photographer can do it all. A photographer can be good in a lot of avenues such as newborn work, seniors, children, brides, pets, sports, weddings..you name it, there is a genre for it. However, I don't believe a photographer can be  THE BEST at all of these things. So, in the past few months as I have looked through the year I asked what work to I absolutely LOVE the most.





I categorized by:
Do I feel passionately about it?
Where do I enjoy investing most of my energy?
During a session..which one do I feel most alive in?
What's working?
What is the most fulfilling?
Where and I am working really hard to be better?

It came down to two areas: children and everything to do with weddings :)

Children
I was surprised by this actually. Choosing children over some other categories, but I can see why now.  After a year of shooting various events and sessions, photographing children has brought me a sense of accomplishment.  My style and my personality definitely cater to making a professional child shoot work. I know what parents are looking for and I know what a child will love and hate. All this to say..having two children of my own to practice..never hurts! This also includes families. I feel they go hand in hand. While some people love to have their children photographed exclusively, some may also want to figure in a total family shoot. Of course!

Weddings:
From engagement shoots, client meetings to the big day..I truly love every aspect of it.  There is a challenge to produce high quality work in a fast paced environment and I truly enjoy it!
Furthermore, I adore the relationships it fosters. The brides are friends,  the families become a part of me and I don't say that because it sounds nice,  I say it because it's absolutely true.

Relationships are a lot about who I am and I find relating to children is very easy and fostering solid friendships with my brides and their families is making my life richer.

It's not to say that I don't enjoy other aspects of photography, but at this stage of my career, it's full throttle with children and "I do"...and it will be my passion to be great at both of these :)

Thinking of Child/Family Portraits? It Doesn't Have To Be Stressful

Many times parents put off getting family portraits done or even having their children photographed because they feel their children won't behave or are too shy. They also have a hard time FINDING time...I hear ya on that one.

I have a few varying opinions on this.  First of all, I know heading into a family setting with young children, that their attention span is limited and posing is NOT fun.

Family and children photography sessions don't have to be stressful. Think of it more like inviting a photographer along for a family outing.  Have a family day scheduled, invite a photographer along for part of it.  I actually have never really posed a child, they pose themselves and I love shooting on location.
So if you are thinking of family photos or child portraits these are a few ideas :
1. Let's go where they can play. Play with your children, you find the most beautiful moments aren't planned.
2. Dress them comfortably. They can be cute and comfy at the same time!!
3. Allow for time. I take the time to talk and play with the child before the camera comes out. Once they are comfortable, the smiles will come
4. Laugh with your children.
5. Patience. After having two boys of my own, I know children work on their own time schedule and any good photographer will have the patience and kindness to garner amazing shots of your child.
6. Don't stress. Photographers know what they are getting into photographing children, haha and we love it :)
7. Plan the day around it. Go on a family picnic, go fishing, go for a hike, play at the park...there will be a million moments to photograph just by simply being a family,.
8. All in all, photo session in the morning or after a good nap are always great. Well fed and well rested kiddos are happy ones!!! ( I mean, aren't we all that way!?!)

:)

 I picked out the outfits, I told them to go play...and then I asked them to quickly look at me...and hello cutie pies!!

 I let this handsome guy pick up apples off the ground. This series was to die for! Just followed him around!!

I loved this shot. We were actually almost done with the shoot and she went and stood by the door. She wanted to go in and get her little bike, but she paused for a moment by the door...and something about this shot is very nostalgic to me!
If you are thinking of scheduling a shoot...go for it.