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!

Pinterest Vs. The Wedding Photographer {A battle or a partnership?}

Oh the woes when an excited bride produces 50 million images of all the things she would like to see come out of her wedding day photography.  We (photographers) sit there watching an ecstatic reaction and gleeful smiles as every swipe left produces a perfectly captured and insanely beautiful wedding image from Pinterest.

We smile.
Our insides tie up a little.
We breathe.

We sit there toying with talking about reality and worrying about destroying such high hopes!

I have met several photographers who despise and are even insulted when Pinterest ideas are put on the table.  Don't be mad,  but a realistic approach to your wedding day photography will produce a happier you when you get your images back.

DON'T Be HATIN'
I don't hate Pinterest.  I find it's partnership interesting to say the least. This is where it's helpful.
1. Clear ideas of what YOU, the bride finds appealing
2. Colors you seem to gravitate to
3. Emotions You find endearing
4. Moments that  YOU find important
5. Your sense of humor
6. Your detail savvy
7. Other interests you may have (horses, wine, jobs, travel)

Education is MY responsibility.

We all laugh at the blog of Pinterest fails right? Check one out here and enjoy :FAIL

A LITTLE EDUCATION:

1. I'll explain what goes into setting up your favorite shot (A little education can go a long way!)  Sometimes the time commitment can be unrealistic for the pace of your wedding day.
2. Choose your absolute top 5
3. Now choose your top 2
4. Understand, your photographer will do all they can to capture every special moment.  Giving them too much direction may actually derail how talented they really are and produce a lesser quality of awesome.


INSPIRE:
As a couple you are unique and THAT is most important.  Use Pinterest for inspiration, not as a weapon fighting reality.   Your professional photographer will probably do you better than Pinterest :)

Your Bridal Make Up Questions Answered! - Thanks Jo Boring!

Make up artists and fabulous person Jo Boring recently helped me answer some questions I had received from a bride in regard to her wedding day make up.  I loved her response and used it to fill the post to the brim with awesome!
If you have any other questions feel free to post them and I will make sure we find those answers!!


Should wedding makeup be thicker and darker than everyday?

This is a fine line. You want to feel like yourself but it is true that wearing a bit more in the right places helps give you the coveted "flawless" look and helps define your features in pictures. Most people use a full-coverage foundation on their wedding day and a setting powder. That might be a lot more than you are used to but applied the right way it does not have to feel cakey or heavy....but it is heavy duty coverage that will help eliminate redness, blemishes etc. and make your skin look perfect:) In terms of darker, this doesn't mean wear darker colors. It means use makeup to help define features you want to pop in pictures and in person. Eyeliner, mascara (even fake lashes) can help define your eyes. You can use eye shadow to contour and shadow strategically to make your eyes look big. Lipliner can help give  lipstick or lipgloss a defined look and a base to stick to. These are just a few examples of things that every woman might not wear every day - but are often used in bridal makeup even to achieve a "natural" look. It's good to amp it up a bit as long as you still feel like you:)

Can a bride wear foundation with SPF:

In general I am careful about using SPF foundations for special events with photography because of the whitening effect they can have. However I have found exceptions to the rule as well. Try out your foundation beforehand and take some pics. A drugstore brand that is full coverage and fine in photos in my opinion is Revlon Colorstay. Of course, there are a million foundations ranging in price - you have to find one you like.

What if I sweat?

Be sure to use a powder to set your foundation. After you are all done you can also use a setting spray such as "Model in a Bottle" to lock it all in place. I use this setting spray on ALL my brides not to mention at dance performances....my makeup never moves!

Anyone can feel free to contact me via my facebook page "Saving Face" with any makeup questions! Happy wedding!

Professional Make Up? It's Time To Pamper Yourself...

Whether it be senior portraits, a boudoir session or your wedding day, it is serious time to consider a professional make up artist.
It's one of the few times in life where you can glam it up and take that extra step into amazing!!!
Jo Boring is especially talented in the art of make up.  She sees the natural beauty every face has to offer and knows just how to enhance it.  I mean, check out that picture! Need I say more?
She can be contacted at savingface09@gmail.com and you can be on the look out for her facebook page soon.

 Jo's talent is a gift you can give yourself or splurge for your friend/sister/daughter/wife..whomever!   Contact her for pricing, I think you will find she is one of the diamonds in the rough in this amazing business!!! By the way, if you do meet up with her, you must ask her  to show you a picture of her son, because he seriously has one of the most adorable faces you will ever lay eyes on. :)
Be Inspired!!!
Photograph Credit: Destiny Rogowski of Sweetheart Pinup studio in Buffalo.