Good morning everyone! Wow, this autumn has really flown by for me; please thank your photographers, we've all had about a million photoshoots this month and we're tired! Today I wanted to touch more on a topic I've already talked about before, because I feel it's an ongoing topic that's always relevant to clients seeking out a beautiful shoot – How do you get your session to turn out as great as the rest of your photographer's work, and is there any way you can influence the results?

The short answer is – abso-freaking-lutely! Generally speaking, when you hire a photographer you should be hiring them for the right reasons to begin with; it shouldn't be simply because they were cheap or convenient, but one would hope that you actually like their style as well.

Because before I can even delve into what you can do to help ensure you better photoshoot results, that really is the first integral step: Hiring a photographer who's portfolio you love! This fundamental tip is often overlooked by many, when it's actually one of the key players in how happy you'll be with the results. I know I sound like a broken record online when I say this, but photographers are never one-size-fits-all. This doesn't mean sending just any photographer a bunch of photos you found and asking them to edit like that – it means finding a photographer whose work already looks the way you want it to.

It may seem like we all use the same medium for our art, but we all produce widely different results in style. Some of us aim for the light and airy approach, some of us edit with more dark and moody tones, some really like to play with flash for more dramatic effects while others prefer strictly dreamy, natural sunset lighting, and all of us see through our lenses very differently! That's why, if a certain style of photography resonates with you a bit more, remember that the first step to achieving your ultimate photoshoot actually occurs before your session even begins; by choosing a photographer that's a good fit for you.

Now that you've found your dream photographer, does this mean that you can kick back and relax and your photographer will make the magic happen? Well, to a certain extent. But what if there was more you could do to turn your photoshoot up a notch?

From the title of this blog, you probably get where I'm going with this. When it comes to the customer and professional relationship in any industry, it really does take two to tango! Now, if you're hiring a photographer whose work is consistent and whose portfolio you love, the likelihood is that no matter what, you're going to get good results. But think of it this way – photographers usually get too many clients to ever be able to post all of them online, so of course this means they'll always choose to showcase their absolute favorite shots on their website and social media – the envy-worthy shots. So the question is, how can you help influence your photoshoot to be that level of gorgeous – so good that your results end up being some of your photographer's new prized works of art?

First and foremost, what you wear and the level of thought you put into it is going to have one of the biggest impacts on the success of your final photos. I can't emphasize this enough – casually sporting a college sweatshirt and sneakers is not going to yield the results you see in your photographer's work. We want to see you dressed like you're going to a special occasion – because you are!
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Think of your photography session like an investment, because it definitely is. Often the prices we pay for a good photographer could buy us one, two, or even three ultra fancy dinners at a pricey restaurant. And if you went to a really high-class restaurant or dinner party, you'd definitely be mindful about what you wore! Some clients even buy outfits specifically for the photoshoot, which I generally encourage. While I'm not saying you need to go and spend a fortune, I do know that investing a little time and thoughtfulness into your outfits is always what takes these photoshoots to the next level and makes them stand out – making the investment you spent on the photoshoot itself even more worth it!

So let's touch on the specifics of how to decide what to wear. Depending on who you are and your personalities, there's definitely a variety of different looks you could aim for. When it comes to couples and engagement shoots, you could either go for the super dramatic and get a bold show-stopping dress, or maybe boho with a lacy sundress and indie jewelry, or you could go for casual but still ultra-fashionable with ripped jeans and boots or even a hat. For families, you may want to color-coordinate a little with accents of a specific color, or even just stick to a particular theme, like picnic-vibes with floral dresses and corduroy.

However, one thing to be careful of is to risk going from trendy to tacky. Dramatic isn't always better, and my general rule of thumb is, could you wear this to a banquet, restaurant, or party in the future and not feel a bit silly in it? Yes, I am talking about the weird trend of fluorescent spandex maternity dresses and yes, I will be brutally honest that I kind of hate them. While I love a bold dress, I want it to be authentically dramatic, without looking like a cheap costume that you could never wear again. For maternity, I would generally recommend maybe veering away from the frilly-neon-purple-spandex gowns and instead opting for something a little more wearable, like a flowy mustard yellow sundress or long-sleeved velvet sweater dress. 

My biggest recommendation, always, is to do some research before your photoshoot. The absolute best way to find outfit inspiration is to look through your photographer's pre-existing portfolio style, google image searches, and apps like Pinterest or Instagram, and even Etsy! When you type in terms like "engagement photo outfits" or "styled family photoshoot", you're going to get a lot of results with trendy clothing ideas to help you find inspiration, some of which will be more casual and some that are more formal. But at the end of the day, putting some time and thought in your outfits is really going to help build that bridge with your photographer and help them achieve the results that you both want, the photographer included!

So now that we've seen how fashion can make a big difference in the results of our photos, is that all there is to it? Actually, when it comes to client coordination there's three things I find have the biggest impact on successful photos: Hiring a photographer you love, being thoughtful about your outfit planning, and finally, being willing to jump in and release all inhibitions. 

Often a frustration for me as a photographer is receiving a client who has high expectations for their session, but is unwilling to fully engage. The grass is gross, the bugs are scary, the water is too wet. Often much of the breathtaking photography we covet involves being open-minded – laying down in a rolling field, standing on a windy cliffside, or even a romantic make-out session in the ocean. But to achieve those photos, those clients needed to be fearless for them. I am always one hundred percent ready to jump into nature for any of my sessions and I will voluntarily walk up to my knees in mud to capture a photo if I need to, but for a truly astounding session I need you to be willing to take that leap with me too!

What it comes down to is this – even the most talented and high-demand photographer isn't a complete magician. At the end of the day, a key player in the result of our most successful photos is our clients' cooperation, coordination, and willingness to take that extra leap with us. Let's dive right in and get the photos of (both) our dreams!

That is quite possibly the worst blog title I have ever come up with, but it's also who I am as a person.
Today I want to talk a little bit more in-depth about different types of outdoor lighting, what makes them important, and how they can all influence the tone of your photo album.

For the sake of consistency, I'm not going to use any other photo examples from past client albums, instead I'm only going to use my tall, dark, and handsome boyfriend as my constant variable in this little "experiment". I have dragged him outside of the house three times for this on various days. (Thank you, honey.)
So first and foremost, let's talk about my, and many photographers', least favorite lighting scenario – harsh midday sunlight. I want to make a disclaimer that not all photographers are the same, and that there are certainly ways to make harsh sunlight work in beautiful ways. With that being said, many photographers might typically pray for clouds during a 12pm wedding ceremony rather than sun. So, why is this?

I've gone ahead and posted all four of these types of lighting side by side above, so that we can compare the ambience directly. For me, the image with the harsh direct sunlight in Figure A is the one I find the least flattering. The reason for this is because midday sun acts almost like a giant flashlight that is being held directly over the client's head, which causes cutting shadow edges and also washed out, flattened highlights. Not to mention, lots of squinting! 
Now as I said, there are ways that a photographer can combat harsh sunlight. Typically, we might try to lead our client to a more shaded area, or rotate them away from the sunlight, if at all possible. However, a wedding ceremony is a bit trickier – interrupting and telling the whole wedding party "Hey guys, this is all very touching, but how about we just scoot on over to those trees and pick up where we left off!" is obviously not going to go over well.

Now, what can we do with this information? I think there are definitely uses for direct midday sun, depending on the photoshoot and the purpose its serving. In fact, I think there's opportunity for very creative uses for it (so if you're a photographer reading this, please don't kill the messenger!) I'm strictly speaking from the standpoint of wanting to inform and educate my clients on how to achieve the type of ambience they're looking for, especially during an event as important as their wedding.
I'm going to be the last person to tell you what to do with your wedding day, but I think lighting is something to take into consideration, and it really depends on where photography lies on your hierarchy of priorities. If photography is lower on your list and you simply want your day to be documented, then by all means, have your wedding whenever and however you want it. If that happens to be smack in the middle of a meadow or a sunny beach at 12pm, do it. You get to interpret what your dream wedding means to you.
However, let's say that photography is actually really high in your priorities; you really want to capture a romantic ambience or cinematic vibes. In that case, I think it would really benefit you to weigh your options when it comes to the time of day. This is where I would recommend, first and foremost, to have at least part of your wedding day in the late afternoon or evening. If you needed some of your wedding to take place during midday, you might consider where you could have it without being interrupted by too much direct sunlight. Maybe that's under a forested canopy in the woods. Maybe that's with the aid of an outdoor pavilion, or a barn that has inlets for natural light. Or maybe you might even consider a very moody, overcast part of the world. Ireland or Iceland would be beautiful destinations for gloomy cinematic photos, or even somewhere like Seattle!

What it comes down to is this – I don't think anyone should tell you what you should do with your wedding. God knows I am going to be the most particular bride when it comes to my own! But as a photographer, my job is to get you the best photos I possibly can for the price that you're paying. I'm writing about this topic because I think you deserve all the tools and knowledge you can get in order to weigh your options properly, so then you get to make the most educated decisions about what defines your wedding day. Because depending on your vision for the photos, lighting will have an impact! And I want you to have your ultimate wedding, in its finest and most complete version that it can be, photography and all. ​

Hello and welcome to What Should I Wear Wednesday! Though I've already made a blog several months ago giving general advice on how to pick your outfit (which you can read first here), I wanted to go a little bit further in depth about how color plays a big role in creating stylish photos. So, I'm going to take you back to my days in a fine arts academy and talk about color theory!

The best way to understand color is to start with the basics – the primary colors are red, blue, and yellow. These are colors that cannot be mixed or created by any other colors, but you can use them to create new colors. The three secondary colors are orange, green, and purple. These are the immediate colors that can easily be created using combinations of the three primaries; red and yellow make orange, yellow and blue make green, and red and blue will make purple.
We want to think of color as a circle – red flows into orange, to yellow, to green, blue, purple – and then back into red. Infinitely and seamlessly. Now, you can pick any point in this circle; the color directly opposite of it is known as its complimentary color. Directly across from red is green (blue+yellow), yellow is across from purple (red+blue), and blue is across from orange (red+yellow). This would also apply to tertiary colors – reddish-orange versus greenish-blue – and so on, but you get the idea.
So, how can all of this help us choose an outfit color if we want something to make our Instagram pop? Below, I'm going to list all of my personal favorite colors that I'm always excited to see my clients wearing.

First and foremost, I'm going to start right off the bat by saying I've never been upset to see my clients wearing red. It's my favorite color! Whether it's a bright, bold red or a dark, wine red, you can never go wrong with it. Red makes a statement; it's striking, and stands out in essentially any environment. Why is this? Because red doesn't occur in nature very often, save for flowers, so in comparison to greens, browns, and grays that we easily find in nature, red is going to call attention to the subject.
Whether it's a salmon red in a field, a bold red dress on the beach, or a festive red sweater during the holiday season, it always shows up beautifully through the lens. Red is just so bold and romantic, and I'll love you if you wear it!

Now here's a color that I absolutely love in the colder seasons – bold blue. Here in Connecticut, our winters on the shoreline are often on the damp side; needless to say we don't often see white Christmases, but quite a few chilly brown ones. While some may feel dead February foliage isn't very appealing, I feel quite the opposite. I have a soft spot for bare branches and sleeping grass, and that's mainly because I love the muted, golden backgrounds it provides. So when this family rolled up all decked out in royal blue, I couldn't have been more ecstatic. Remember, the opposite of blue is orange, so this brown scenery with a bit of golden sunset light filtering through the trees was the perfect match. Oh, and not to mention blue looks stunning on darker skin tones for the same exact reason!

Now here's a color I think can be a little underrated – a golden, sunflower yellow. Normally I would consider red to be the most romantic color, but during the boudoir shoot in this mansion above, my client proved me wrong. Yellow can absolutely be a statement color in the right setting! In this situation, the yellow was harmonizing with the wood, and also complimenting the blue trim.
​According to the color wheel, the opposite of yellow is technically purple. While we may have a hard time finding much purple naturally occurring in nature, blue and grey are a close second. An ideal photoshoot I've always wanted to do would be a moody, grey day on a rocky shoreline (which Connecticut has no shortage of) with a yellow dress or skirt; even someone with bright blonde hair alone would be stunning. I hope someone takes me up on it one day!

When it comes to timeless-looking black and white photos, my color preferences are simple – wear black or white! Even though you can obviously wear color for black and white photography as well, there's something extra compelling about actually wearing stark black or white. The couple above was one of my very first photoshoots and to this day, these are some of the most striking photos I've taken. 
As for the family on the right, I loved the way the white linens contrasted with their skin tone! White and denim is always a classic look for the summer and very hard to mess up; not to mention, who doesn't own something white or denim?

Now that we've gone over all of the primaries, let's touch on some more interesting colors! Other shades that I LOVE for photography are burnt orange, dusty rose, teal, fawn brown, olive green, mustard yellow, and other rich earthy tones. I think shades like these are beautiful for more artistic, indie photography. I also feel that because they're muted tones, they're pretty flexible for most seasons and look stunning around both golden sunset lighting or cool misty days – think rocky shorelines, dune grass, rugged mountain tops, overgrown meadows, or even the desert.
In the photo above, I'm loving how that burn orange looks against the green ferns! And in the photo below, wow; who knew black, white, and fawn brown could look so fashionable. Such simple outfit coordination for adorable results!

And finally, I wanted to leave off with colors that are my least favorite. Take this with a grain of salt of course, because all of this is based on my personal taste and style of photography; my absolute least favorite colors are generally anything flamboyant, particularly pinks and purples and aquas. I'm also not always a fan of pastels besides denim or nudes (though you might be able to prove me wrong on this!). While I think bright colors can sometimes look good in summer weather, tropical locations, or in urban street photography, most of the time they just don't fit in with the style of photography I do.
I don't know what it is about flamingo pink or fuchsia purple in particular, but they are my least favorite colors on the planet and I try to avoid them like the plague in my work. My goal is always to deliver my clients the best representation of my style, and I just find these shades a bit too loud and abrasive. 

So there you have it! These are all of my favorite (and least favorite) colors to work with in photography – primaries, rich indie tones, and black and white are all colors I feel I could give you the most success with. Another thing worth mentioning is that style and presentation matters too – this means that overly casual clothing may not get you the results you're looking for, even if they're the right colors. For example, I don't advise anything with logos, writing, graphics, leggings with crazy designs, hoodies, windbreaker jackets, or most sneakers.
For stylish portraits, you generally want to be dressing presentably for a job interview or a fancy restaurant. Nice sweaters, classy shoes, and if it's cold, a more formal coat. If you're going for more indie and rugged portraits, ripped jeans, flannels, and boots look great when dressed up with accessories. Always aim for dressy casual at minimum – we want to look like we're going to a photoshoot, not your nephew's little league game!
And as I mentioned in my previous clothing post, you always want to match or coordinate outfits for portraits of multiple people. This could mean a family of ten all wearing flannels and denim, or maternity portraits with the mother dressed in red and the father dressed in neutrals with a red accent. My favorite trend of weddings has been seeing bridesmaids all wearing different shades of the same color – sage green, forest green, olive green, teal green – coordinated, yet artsy!
Again, my biggest recommendation has been and will always be, take this new knowledge about colors and do some quick searches on sites like Pinterest. Try terms like "engagement photography", "autumn family portraits", "indie maternity photography", and take note of their clothing, accessories, and setting. When you find ideas you like, you can find similar tones in your wardrobe and seek out areas near you where you might be able to replicate the foliage and background. 
Now just find a photographer whose editing style is close to what you're looking for, and then wow them when you show up dressed like a pro! ​

In the age of Instagram and Pinterest, sometimes it's easy to get lost in the sea of lifestyle bloggers documenting their picture-perfect life online. But if you don't have long tan legs, freshly balayaged hair, or the makeup skills of Nikkie Tutorials, does that mean that you aren't photogenic?

This weekend I had the pleasure of photographing a very sweet and shy couple (who, I might add, have given me some of my favorite photos to date) and one of the first things they admitted to me was that this engagement session wasn't entirely their idea. Their friends had talked them into it, though they expressed to me that they may not have thought to do so otherwise, as they didn't feel they were very photogenic.
Each time I meet a new couple, I'm never hunting for a certain level of physical appearance; I rarely even know what my clients look like until the day of our shoot. What I'm searching for is to capture the emotions they feel for each other, and why they've gotten engaged to begin with. 
Occasionally, this is easier said than done, as some clients are more quick to open up in front of a stranger than others. But I don't get discouraged because even for the more reserved couples, I know that this love and excitement is in there, even if it means I need to shovel through their shyness. No one becomes engaged and pays a pretty penny for a full photoshoot unless they have something worth capturing, so I dig deeper until I find it. 

Even as a photographer, I'm all too aware of how awkward it can feel to be in front of a camera, especially when it's not myself taking a selfie with my own phone. We perceive ourselves entirely differently when looking through candid images, and we all know how it feels to be tagged in an unflattering Facebook photo. 
But unlike those images you're secretly untagging yourself from, there's a few things to keep in mind about getting a photography session done that might be of comfort. You are, of course, getting your photos taken by a professional, who likely has a high-quality camera and is skilled with retouching and color-correcting software – unlike Debbie, who took an unexpected photo of you at the office party, with your mouth half open using her grainy cell phone. 
As well, your photographer can guide you through poses and angles that will universally work well on anyone, and is also knowledgable about where to position you so the lighting will look the most flattering. (If you're interested in learning about lighting, read here!)

Another thing I always encourage and welcome, is to spend a moment on sites like Pinterest to gain a little inspiration (more on this topic here!) We like you to feel like the shoot isn't just something that's happening to you, but that you can participate in creating if you want. Something that might make a client feel more comfortable is if she sees a few engagement photos online she really liked and wanted to try to recreate a similar pose. 
But, it's also okay if this isn't your style. My even bigger piece of advice is very simple – to just be yourselves! At the end of the day, there's really no pose I can give you that will replace the candidness you express with each other. A lot of the time, that involves pretending I'm not there. I want you to simply be you – be silly, be cuddly, be downright disgustingly mushy if you want; as a photographer, I'm utterly incapable of getting uncomfortable. These are the moments I live to capture! I don't need you to be photogenic according to the rules that society's laid out, I just need you to be unapologetically you ​as a couple.

When you look up the word photogenic, you get two definitions. The first one is more or less what we'd expect it to be – "looking attractive in photographs or film". Then there's the second definition, which is a biology term referring to an organism that is "producing or emitting light" – this is the definition I'd like you to focus on. When you look at each other, do you remember all of the reasons that led up to this moment? Are you excited for all of the adventures to come? Are you emitting light? Then, my dear, you are already as photogenic as any photographer could possibly ask you to be. 

Yes, I did just use Smeagol in a photography reference. This is my website and I'll do as I please.
Today I want to briefly touch on RAW camera files, and why it's not typically something you'll find included in your price package with your photographer, but also why you may not want them anyway!

So far during my time as a working photographer, I think one of the most uncomfortable questions I've had to answer is "We love them! Hey, can we also get our RAW unedited files too? We want all of them!" It isn't a question I get asked often, and just to note, this isn't to hate on this client at all. I'm happy they asked, because there's a first for everything and it's helped me formulate a more clear and concise answer for future clients, if I ever get this question again.

First, I want to start off by clarifying that in general, you'll find that giving away RAW/unedited files is not a common practice among most portrait and lifestyle photographers. An exception might be if a company is hiring a photographer for commercial purposes, but they have their own in-house design team. In this case as a photographer, you might sell them the complete buy-out rights to the files, so they can edit and use them as they need. 
But when it comes to your average family and wedding photographer, these files aren't usually going to be part of the package deal. You might be wondering, why not; isn't this what I paid them for?

Before we talk about the "whys", let's talk about the "whats".
What is a RAW file, and what is the difference between a RAW file and an unedited jpeg? A RAW file (.raw) is a type of file format that you'll find almost all pro photographers have their cameras set to shoot with. These files are extremely large, as they contain unprocessed and uncompressed data, and also require special programs to be able to edit and even just to view them. Understandably, even if the photographer did give access to these files, most average clients would not have the software to even be able to open them anyway.
From there, photographers retouch and edit these RAW files using this special software. This means cleanup, adjusting the lighting, coloration, balance, as well as designing the images into one cohesive style and tone for the final album. The selected files are then processed and saved into the user-friendly jpeg files that are delivered to you.
Now, the new question that may pop into your head is wait, "selected files"? But shouldn't I be getting all of the pictures that were taken?

So during your photoshoot, it's understandable that when you hear your photographer's shutter click 500 times, you expect at least 498 photos. But let me explain why you aren't getting cheated out of your money's worth!
Before a photographer even gets to the retouching, our first job is to go through the culling process. It may sound a little counterintuitive, but that is actually part of what we are being paid to do – get rid of a lot of your photos. Now before you get freaked out, I want you to understand that the files we're getting rid of are not files that you want. Here's a couple of reasons why some files may qualify for getting culled:

1. Files that are very overexposed, to the point that no editing can make them useable 
2. Out of focus shots or blurriness due to movement
3. Blinking, mouth hanging open, or other unflattering shots
4. Duplicates. This is the biggest one – we have our cameras set to burst mode meaning we may take multiple photos of the same exact thing.

You'd be surprised that the bulk majority of those 500 shutter clicks actually fall into those categories. Part of what we're being paid to do (and it's really time consuming and boring!) is to go through your images one by one to select the best few from each pose, and to get rid of the extra noise. My promise to you is that they are not images you're going to miss, or want. I do not delete the irreplaceable shots of your great-uncle Gus, or silly bloopers of your family laughing. I love candids! But I do like to get rid of the accidental shots of someone's shoe, or the 50 duplicates I took of the same wedding party, where I remove all the ones where several people were blinking or mid-sneeze. In short – we only get rid of the shots that we have to.

Now, the last note I want to touch on is, if we don't give out RAW files, and we don't provide the culled photos, why won't we give you unedited jpegs? 
This is where it comes down to a bit more code of conduct than anything else. When you hire a photographer, it's safe to assume that you liked their style and that it's a big part of why you've chosen them. When you hire a creator or freelancer of any sort, you're giving them your trust to use their professionalism and expertise to deliver you something that is reflective of their current portfolio.
An analogy I've seen used several times while researching RAW files, is to imagine you've just booked a reservation at a high-class restaurant with a renowned chef. Except when you go to order the chef's special, you ask if you could instead just get all the separate ingredients brought to your table.
This would obviously be a bit unorthodox and upsetting to the chef, for several reasons. Do you not trust him to cook it properly? You'd be paying a lot of money for all of these separate raw ingredients, most of which you could probably purchase at the store yourself. But when you go to a fancy restaurant, you aren't just paying for the ingredients – you're paying for the skilled and experienced way in which they're going to be prepared for you by a professional. 
In a way, this is a little similar to asking a photographer for completely untouched files. These files are rough drafts, and poor examples of what their work truly looks like; they were never meant to be viewed this way. It's good to keep in mind that most photographers view their work like an artist or musician would, and don't want to associate their name with it until it's completed, and much less want them to be edited by someone else.

In the end, what we want you to know is that we aren't keeping mysterious files hostage with any miserly intents. Now, if you have any reason to believe your photographer is actually withholding something that was meant to be a part of your written agreement that you paid for, discuss with them to find out if there was a problem.  Otherwise, our only goal for you is to make sure that we gather up as many moments as we can from your shoot, and edit them together into a harmonious collection that you'll want to cherish for years to come!

Just a short post (I think?) about a couple tips and things to keep in mind to help you achieve a great newborn shoot with your photographer!

While I've only done a couple of newborn sessions so far, I'm already picking up on what sort of things can be really helpful and really hindering to making a great infant photoshoot. I want to touch on a few of these here, to help you prepare for your session and have it go as smoothly as possible!
First and foremost, I've found the number one goal should be to annoy Baby as little as we can. This may seem obvious, but it's easy to overlook if you have too many ideas and goals in mind for the photoshoot. While I love Pinterest and all the adorable little setups and costumes you'll find there, with newborn shoots it's important to not get too caught up in all of them – Less is more, especially when it comes to Baby's patience!
When we see all of these numerous ideas, something to keep in mind is that each photographer probably really only utilized about one setup and theme per shoot. Meaning, they likely didn't dress Baby like an elephant in a circus, and then change them into a fairy in the flower bed, and then place them in a hollowed out pumpkin in a barn scene. These are all individual photographers with separate photoshoots, and they're only really doing one at a time – Baby would be too stressed for all of those!
My main point here is that you may have to narrow down your options by quite a lot if you're looking to have complex outfit changes or staged sets. Remember, as cute as costumes are, that's not really what a newborn shoot is about. We don't want to jostle her around too much, and try to force too many ideas on her – Baby just got here, and mostly wants a nap and some peace and quiet!

Now, let's talk about what sort of props will be more agreeable to Baby. As cute as costumes are, they demand a lot of Baby's energy and patience. But that doesn't mean we're stuck to only one idea! A couple of things that are easy to utilize that don't require so much from our little guy are props. In the photo above, I'm so in love with this blanket Mom purchased ahead of time to lay him on. Blankets and spreads like this are so easy to utilize without interfering too much with Baby, and we can even do multiple. The name tag is such a simple touch too, and he doesn't even know it's there! Other easy props to use are fairy lights, mini pumpkins, faux flowers, and anything else that can be posed around Baby without disturbance. 
Another easy thing to change are hats – usually, baby may not notice this too much as long as the transition is smooth. The same can go for swaddle wraps, but it's good to consider that you may not want to be committed to too many colors and patterns, as after a few changes Baby may notice that the temperature keeps switching from warm to cold, and may get sick of it!

And finally, let's talk about my favorite type of newborn scene – the one that doesn't require any staging at all.
As much as I love all the cute themes and outfits we see on Instagram, I don't think they capture what having a brand new baby is really about. I don't have anything against these costumes and stages, I'm sure I may even do more of them myself someday, but I feel that these intimate moments behind the scenes are what you're really going to want to hold onto. 
This could be candid photos taken in Baby's nursery, or yes, even at the hospital the day after he's born! In short, the most memorable moments aren't going to be the aggravating minutes he spent struggling to free himself from an itchy monkey costume – but the first moments he spent interacting with you!

Final thoughts – comfy outfits, easy-to-use-props, a couple simple themes/colors, and most of all, lots of beautiful, intimate candids. Also, it doesn't hurt to have a full belly, and I recommend a week or less old for true newborn shots. The sleepier, the better! With that being said though, all babies are different; if you know your baby isn't much of a crier and has a high threshold for nonsense and shenanigans, then we may be able to be more flexible with outfit changes. What it comes down to is this: Keeping Baby comfortable for as long as possible, to get as many successful photos as possible, and especially capturing those special moments you'll want to cherish forever.

As November quickly approaches, I thought this was the perfect time to make small talk about the weather. No, really! A widespread misconception about booking a photoshoot is that you need a perfect, sunny day for them to look amazing – so what if the day of your session arrives and it's overcast, and you feel disappointed. Believe it or not, what you see as ugly gray clouds is actually your photographer's silver lining!

So let's talk about lighting – is sunlight really the ultimate key for a great photo session? You're probably assuming I'm going to say no; the truth is, I'm only going to say half no. 
In reality, it depends on the degree of brightness of the sunlight which determines whether or not it's going to be helpful, or hindering. The most common time I try to book most of my photoshoots is during what we call "Golden Hour", which is roughly the hour or so before sundown. This is when the sun is lowest in the sky, and will give us a soft, flattering glow at any time of year. I'm assuming this technique would also work well around sunrise – but there's no amount of money that could make me want to do a photoshoot that early, so I couldn't tell you.
Now, what about a sunny day, in the middle of the day? The honest truth is, your photographer may cry a little inside when asked to do a shoot at this time, and will likely be hunting for some shade, or praying to the rain gods for some clouds. You're probably thinking, clouds? Why on earth would my photographer want a perfectly good sunny day to be ruined by clouds?

The reality is that, for one, direct and harsh sunlight is actually a huge pain in the rear to us! It can really mess with our exposure, meaning anything that reflects or bounces light is going to be ten times brighter than usual – which in turn, means that the shadows may be darker than usual as well. We do have ways to combat this extreme overhead lighting in our camera and editing, but generally we try to avoid it when we can, whether that means finding a shaded area to photograph in or possibly even finding a better date or time for our clients.
In the photo above, I shuddered when I heard the wedding was going to be at one in the afternoon, especially on a beach; reflective sand on a sunny midday is a photographer's worst nightmare. You can imagine my relief when, yes – it turned out to be overcast and almost a little drizzly, making the lighting in this photo far more soft and creamy than it would've normally been at 1 pm.

So really, what it comes down to for the photographer isn't really about the weather, but about the strength of the lighting. Midday sunlight is almost like having a giant flashlight being blasted down onto our clients' faces, creating washed out highlights and harsh shadows. What the clouds do for us is act as a giant flash diffuser – they take all of that strong light and act as a buffer, letting it gently filter through for a soft glow. 
​Let's take a look at the examples above! Now coincidentally, both of these photos were taken around the same time in the morning, and both of them were taken on the beach. The main factor here is simple – one is from a very gray day, and one was in bright sunlight. You can see what a difference this makes! The photo on the left remains to this day as one of my favorite photos I've taken. They were both wearing black, and against the gray sea with a gray sky, the black and white filter looks stunning. Their skin looks so soft!
The photo on the right took place right after he proposed to her. The main issue I was having at that point in the day was how aggressively the sun was beating down on us; you can see how much the light is glaring off of their shirts and skin, and then how it's cutting dark shadows over their facial features. I did eventually have to move them to a more shaded location to take some photos with softer lighting, which is what you can see in the third photo. Much less harsh lights and darks!

In the end, what I'm trying to get at here is that sun doesn't mean "better" at all, it just means different. Sunny days (around sunset) can yield very beautiful photos – but so can cloudy, and even damp days! And not to mention, overcast days can make the timing of the photo session more flexible, as it doesn't matter if we book midday. Whereas for sunny days, you're going to be a little more limited to booking when the sun is low, or scouting out a good shaded area in the forest.
​This is especially for those of us who live in New England, particularly around this time of year; sometimes we have to get engaged in the rain, or have family photos of jumping in mud puddles. Personally, I'm a big fan of dark and moody photography, so while a client's impulse might be to turn and run when they see a storm coming, I'm actually running towards it and hoping someone might come and join me!

February 2020 Update: After you give this a read, head on over to read my more in-depth What to Wear 2.0 – Color Theory!
When you hire a photographer, you might think that getting that Instagrammable aesthetic is all about the location and your photographer's skill. But, as with most relationships, it takes two to tango! Here's some tips on what you can bring to the table to help your photographer get you those Pinterest-perfect photos.

While location can somewhat play a role in the aesthetic of your photos (and I have a whole post about locations here!), what can really make or break a photoset is often out of the photographer's control – what you choose to wear. In the photos above, there's two factors that really stand out to me from this wedding. Can you guess what they are?
The colors of the bright scarlet flowers pop out so beautifully against the white sky, white sand, and her white dress. I got lucky, because this bride is a florist herself, and designed all of her amazingly stylish floral arrangements. They also chose to bring those adorable, clear umbrellas – not to mention the little flower girl's rose gold shoes!
But as photographers, we don't always get so lucky. Typically, when we receive bookings, we only know who we're photographing, and somewhat where. What we don't know, is how you're planning to dress for your session, or what props or decorations you might bring; those variables are, to an extent, out of our hands.

"I'm not very artistic, I don't have the eye for this sort of thing!"
Now taking into consideration that I've never met you, and I also don't know your style or what's in your wardrobe, I will almost always propose the idea of coordinating outfits. Whether it be a couple's shoot or a family photo, you can't go wrong with matching colors! Let's say for a fall family portrait shoot, there's a mother, father, son, and daughter – a sweet idea might be to have dad and daughter wear mustard yellow, and mom and son to wear black with yellow accents. Just with these small outfit tweaks, we're already halfway to Pinterest fame! Now just add in a beautiful sunset glow filtering through some autumn leaves, and we're golden.

Now picture, on the other hand, if we didn't put any thought into outfits. Mom shows up wearing Uggs and Lululemon leggings, son is sporting a Giants jersey, daughter is dressed in unicorn attire from head to toe, and Dad has got on his trusty blue flannel. While there's nothing "wrong" with this, our fear as photographers is that you'll pay for a session and be left scratching your head as to why your photoset just isn't singing that tune you thought it would – did the photographer mess something up?

If you're looking for inspiration for an upcoming photoshoot, my biggest piece of advice is to check the ultimate source of Pinterest aesthetic – Pinterest itself!
It's probably where I, as a photographer, spend quite a lot of my time searching for ideas. Whether you're getting maternity, family, or even wedding photos done, it's a great idea to spend just a couple extra minutes online to see if you can find any examples that catch your eye. Once you've saved a few of your favorites, I want you to spend a moment asking yourself what it is that grabbed your attention about those photos. Study what they're wearing; do you like their clothes? Do you like the decorations? And even yes, take note of location. What I've noticed quite a lot of the time, is that a big part of what's grabbing our attention is color, contrast, and coordination.

Remember that wedding photoset up there with the colorful flowers? These spots of bright red really catch our eye, especially because the rest of the coloring is very flat and white. Something to consider is adding a pop of color to your photoshoot, so that it stands out and contrasts with your surroundings. Also consider that sometimes the eye also likes a little bit of repetition and coordination. Maybe everyone wears white, or everyone wears flannels and boots! Remember, if a family of four dresses with two people wearing one color, and two people wearing another, our brains enjoy seeing the pattern – yellow, black, yellow black.

And yes, it is always worth thinking about where you're planning to do your photoshoot! Let's say you're planning on shooting on a cool, moody, gray day near the shore – what if you wore a flowy, golden yellow skirt to contrast that? When starting the wedding planning process, pay close attention to the color schemes of the inspo photos you save – what are the color tones in the bouquets that catch your attention the most? If you see an engagement photoset that really speaks to you on Pinterest, and the woman is wearing a bold red dress in an evergreen forest – it's likely that you're subconsciously enjoying her red dress contrasting with the dark pines. Which means, all you would need to do is wear your favorite piece of red clothing, and find yourself some pine trees – your photographer can do the rest! ​

And that concludes my tips on achieving your Insta-famous dreams! If you're looking for any proposal, engagement, maternity, or family portrait photography, contact me today. I service New Haven, Fairfield, Hartford, Middlesex, Litchfield, and plenty of other regions around Connecticut! 
Don't forget to head over to my new in-depth blog about the Best Colors to Wear!

I need YOU! Photography season often slows down a bit for us in the winter months, and I find this so sad; who says the cold and snow means a less beautiful photoshoot?

I'm going to be very candid about this — I don't actually have much to show for winter photography in my portfolio. There's no particular secret reason for this, other than I simply haven't gotten any gigs for it! But I'd truly like for that to change this winter.
When we think of portrait photography, we think of matching flannels for an autumn portrait of a family of four. We think of a beautiful sunset wedding on the beach in June, or a sweet maternity session below a canopy of cherry blossoms.
What we tragically overlook is the sheer beauty of winter. It's a blank canvas; ethereal white light, naked tree branches, and maybe the opportunity to add a pop of red, in a dress or some shoes. 

"Location, location, location" - the mantra of realtors, the golden rule of what determines a property's value. This may be the case when listing a home for sale, but is location really so imperative when it comes to getting Pinterest-perfect family photos? I'd like to talk about the pros and cons of scenic venues, and how there could even be "prime real estate" for photographers right outside your door!

I think one of the most common questions I get is "I don't think there's anywhere nice near me to take photos. Should we travel to Kent Falls?" Ah, yes, Kent Falls State Park, Connecticut. It really is beautiful! I have no problem shooting there (I've shot a whole proposal there, read the story here!), but the trouble is that when I name the final quote for me to travel to it (at 60 miles away!), more often than not my clients shy away from the extra distance fees. Not to mention, they come to realize what a journey they would have to make to get there themselves. 
"My town isn't very scenic though. Do you have any recommendations?"
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The key word I want us to focus on here is the word "scenic". I think quite often, we interpret scenic to mean majestic mountains, golden beaches, the tulip fields of Holland, and so on. Obviously these are beautiful, but not very practical for a family of four with toddlers! So what can we do when limited to the ecosystems of central Connecticut; is Kent Falls really the only place worth taking photos? 

I'd like to take a little detour to talk about these business headshots for a moment taken in front of warm, bourbon-toned bricks.
Would you believe that these photos were taken on the edge of a dirt driveway, the brick wall is the side of a crumbling garage, and to both the left and right of him are city garbage bins? I'd be willing to bet that wasn't your first thought. The reason the viewer can't see any of this information is because it's not provided in the photo.
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As a photographer, my job is to only include in the frame what I want the audience to know. If you're a newly engaged couple walking around on the beach, I don't want the audience to know there were other people there with us. If you're a model posing in a bush of wildflowers, I don't want the audience to know that we were actually on the side of a busy highway. And if you're a businessman, trying to look sharp and professional in a suit and tie, I don't want the audience to know you were surrounded by garbage bins.

Enjoying this post? You might also like my topic on Retainer Fees and why they're important!
Again, this is another fantastic example of photo versus reality. In the photo above, we can easily imagine my maternity client is sitting on the side of a grassy hill in an open meadow. Amazingly, not ten feet behind her there is a boardwalk of a hundred people riding their bikes, walking their dogs, and pushing strollers. In fact, this patch of grass is no more than just that - a patch. In reality, we are on the Savin Rock Beach in West Haven and this cluster of grass really stretches no further beyond what you see here. But you don't know any of that, because I didn't want you to.
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So what does this have to do with Kent Falls State Park? Again, I have absolutely no problem photographing there. It's a gorgeous location, and if you're okay with some mild travel fees we could get fantastic photos. But the point I'm trying to make here is, just because you don't live near Kent Falls, and neither do I, that doesn't have to mean that all is lost!

The point that I'd like you to focus on more than anything as a client, is that I'm coming to take pictures of you! Both figuratively and from a technical standpoint. 
On one hand, the subject of my portraits is not going to be the location, but the people in them. As well, portrait lenses are built to focus on intimate poses. They will capture some of the ambience and backdrop of the setting, but overall the viewer's eye is going to be drawn to the figures. 

That's why, at the end of the day I like to say that "trees are trees". Whether I take your photos in the forests of Kent Falls, or the forest of a more local New England park, you likely won't be able to see a difference. The same can be said for the coast; we can pay $25 to enter Lighthouse Point Park in East Haven, or we can go to Savin Rock in West Haven for free – your photos will come out the same! This is because for our purposes, most Connecticut beaches are all very similar to one another. So when debating about where you'd like your photos taken, you don't have to feel like the more expensive, famous locations are going to be better.

​The best question to ask yourself is, what sort of ambiance do I want my photos to communicate? Take a little hike around Pinterest and see what scenery catches your eye. Do you like meadows of wildflowers? Golden hay fields? Evergreen forests? Cool grey rocky coastlines? Once you pinpoint the type of setting you want, then you can ask around and take a peek around your neighborhoods. You might be surprised – the ordinary wheat field you pass by every day on your morning commute could actually be prime real estate to your photographer! (Another thing that can really impact your photos is what you choose to wear!)

In the end, my takeaway for you is this: If you have the money and time to travel to an extremely epic location, do it! Any photographer would obviously love to take iconic photos in the Salt Flats of Utah or the turquoise waters of Puerto Rico. And yes, I would love to take your photos at somewhere grand like Lover's Leap State Park to get some more wide angle shots if you're okay with the fees!
But understandably, not everyone can afford that, or maybe it's not convenient for you with a young child. Which is why what I want you to see, my dear New Englanders, is that you're not restricted to the infamous Kent Falls park as your only worthy venue. Sometimes the locations around our own neighborhoods that we deem as "ordinary" can be turned into the extraordinary with our photographer. 
All of the photos in my albums can attest to this. I've photographed in locations like Edgerton Park, East Rock State Park, Lake Wintergreen, and College Woods in New Haven, as well as Elizabeth Park Conservancy and Wickham Park in Hartford. As far as beaches, I've worked with clients at Lighthouse Point Park in East Haven, Savin Rock in West Haven, Silver Sands Beach in Milford, and even shot a small wedding at Walnut Beach, also in Milford. 
And my biggest venue of them all? Backyards! Would you believe that a large percentage of my galleries takes place on my clients' own properties? I love photographing on top of grand mountains overlooking dramatic valleys when my clients are up for it. ​But in the end, sometimes all you really need to get those Pinterest-ready photos is your neighbor's field, some matching sweaters, and a nice crisp sunset!