This past weekend we had a fabulous time in NYC. We were there for what was mostly a personal visit with my niece but took the opportunity to get in a few shoots while we were there. Several clients signed up for our popular AfroArt sessions and were able to experience the fun first hand. This time we fused two different themes (pop art and colorful tribal) into one fun day of creative goodness. See some of our favorites below. These CreativeSoul kids are seriously stying and profiling! Love them!
Last week we were able to work on one of the most special projects we’ve ever done. We were contacted by an amazing organization called Wish of a Lifetime which grants special wishes for seniors and helps them achieve a long-held or deeply meaningful dream. We were asked to help grant a special wish for 95-year-old Irene, who is bed-bound and on hospice. Her heroes on a scary day this past April were firemen Julius Holinek and Andy Poteet – who swooped in during a tornado warning to make sure Irene was comfortable and safe. Since then, it’s been Irene’s Wish for the two men who carried her to safety to come visit her once more so she could thank them again for their kindness.
With the help of the Alpharetta Department of Public Safety, @wishofalifetime was able to track down the two men from Alpharetta Fire Station 81 and make Irene’s dream come true.
After Irene got her hair and makeup done by local hair and makeup artist, Maraz, she was ready to sweep the two firemen off their feet this time around.
She even had a special lunch catered by Tazikis restaurant and received some love from the delivery guy.
But Irene’s big highlight came when the two firemen stepped in with two huge bouquet of flowers from The Best Little Flower Shop
“[The highlight was] just them being here, and they all gave me kisses. And brought me flowers and gave me kisses before they left.” (Irene)
Irene even showed off her beautiful pheasant hats she used to make by hand after the guys would go hunting.
Irene was surrounded by family and friends who were there to witness her big day.
We feel honored to have met Irene and are so glad we were able to capture these sweet memories for her family. She’s given to others selflessly all of her life so it was great to see the community put a smile on her face that day. Check out the video recap below to experience Irene’s big day. 🙂
While in NYC a few weeks ago we spent a little time hanging out in Coney Island. This was our first time ever visiting this place and we felt like big kids all over again. We wanted to capture a fun story about two girls spending a day at the Carnival (all while being fashionable of course, ha!). Take a look at this adorable story with Madi and Zuri below. We had a blast with these girls but I think they might have had even more fun than we did that day. 🙂
Oh and this shot of Reg at the end pretty much sums him up perfectlyyy.. “so you’re just going to dance while I’m getting my shot huh?” LOL!
Whenever I want my dose of baby fever I always head over to check out Nailah Star’s page on instagram – she is seriously one of the cutest babies I’ve seen (and that fro is everything!). We were so excited to finally meet their family in person and capture some sweet family photos for them. Unfortunately it rained on our parade so we started out with a few studio photos and some bubble fun, but luckily were able to head outdoors during a brief break in the rain. Check out some of our favs from this beautiful family’s photo session below.
With 10 nieces and nephews, birthdays are a big deal in my family. My niece Peyton turned 5 this year and was SOOOO excited to have her unicorn themed photo shoot. Like many this year, she is obsessed with all things unicorn so it was only fitting that we incorporate it into her shoot. Her pics are super sweet and so fitting for her personality.
If you’ve been following us for a while you have probably seen this family’s yearly photos. We’ve been capturing this family since 2011 and have so many unique photos of them to document their history. This year we visited the Angel Oak Tree in Johns Island, SC which was one of the places they used to visit while dating. The Angel Oak Tree is over 400 years old and considered to be one of the oldest living trees in the country. This tree is massive and beautiful and a must see when visiting the Charleston area.
Afterwards we took a short trip over to the Magnolia Planation and Gardens to capture a little more of that southern Charleston charm.
We are already looking forward to next year’s shoot with the Ferebees – who knows where it will be … perhaps the moon! 🙂
If you’ve called in or submitted the contact form through our website you’ve probably heard from our friendly client management rep, Inger. Inger is a super important part of our business so we were thrilled to be able to capture her adorable family when we visited New York. We decided on Coney Island as our shoot location to go along with their fun/playful personalities. The shoot turned out amazing and we think it captured their family perfectly. Check out a few of our favorite photos below. 🙂
The most important part of having good photos is dressing in a way that feels comfortable to you. If you don’t feel comfortable you’re going to look uncomfortable in your photos. If you’re not comfortable wearing a dress and heels then find something that is comfortable for you. If you’re going to be tugging and pulling at your outfit because it doesn’t sit right change it!
None of that matchy matchy stuff
Wearing matching clothes with the rest of the crew in your photos is for Sears or other quick portrait studios. We aren’t going to line all of you up in front of a boring backdrop in matching white shirts and jeans. You’re paying for custom photography so don’t worry about matching everyone else or having a certain look. Just relax. The emotion in your photos is more important than everyone looking just right.
Be yourself
I know sometimes you’re surfing the internet and you see a great photo where the subject is wearing the best outfit and you want to achieve that same look. Remember to be yourself. Wear your own style! If you try too hard to look like someone else in your photos you’ll stop looking like you. These photos aren’t about what you look like, they’re about creating a memory of an important milestone in your life. The joy on your face, the fun you have, the laughs and the deep serious stares into your partner’s eyes are far more important. If your outfit is, ‘you’ your pictures will feel like you too!
Accessorize
Small unique details paired with a simple outfit can give your photo shoot that stylized touch! Bracelets, fun earrings, and a great pair of shoes can give your photographer interesting details and colors to work with during your photo shoot and will make you shine. If you’re doing a session outdoors don’t be afraid to accessorize with a sweater you can have on or off, or a guy can bring a blazer he may wear in some photos and not others. Accessories that you can take on or off can provide a great variety of images as well.
This is probably the #1 most asked question we receive on a daily basis. We certainly don’t claim to be experts in the modeling industry but we can give our 2 cents on some basic info on becoming a child model. First thing to know is that there is no standard pathway into child modeling. There are many different ways that children become models. I’m going to discuss a few ways below, but be aware that everyone will have their own individual journey.
The Agency Route:
The first thing you should do is think about what your ultimate goal will be. Are you looking to eventually book the bigger gigs like Gap, Old Navy, J. Crew or are you okay with your child modeling for smaller boutiques and gigs? If your ultimate goal is to have your child model for some of the larger companies, then the agency route is the way to go.
I know that several companies are starting to do their own casting calls and contests, but agencies are still the leading way to get your child opportunities with the larger companies. These companies work with talent agencies to pull the best talent based on their criteria. Oftentimes these shoots are larger productions with large investments so they want to know that they are getting kids that have been agency tested and recommended so that the shoot can go as smoothly as possible. Also, please keep in mind that your location will also dictate which gigs your child is able to book. Some of the larger companies only work with agencies in the bigger markets like NY, LA and Miami.
So how do you get into an agency?
Again, there’s no one route, but simply visiting an agency’s website will generally give you the agency’s guidelines for model submission. Most of them request a few clear photos (headshot/full body) as well as some basic information about your child. If they are interested they will typically contact you and ask for an in person interview with you and your child. We’ve heard several horror stories of parents getting caught up in agency schemes so we always recommend doing your research and only submitting to the well known/reputable agencies.
You should never have to pay to join an agency. If accepted, most agencies will ask that you get professional headshots/portfolio shots. Some of the larger agencies may have preferred photographers that they recommend, while some others may provide a recommended list but leave it up to you to decide who you use. Most agencies will tell you that professional photos are not required for model submission, but I’m a firm believer that a good headshot can always make a difference over a cell phone snap.
The DIY Route:
Let’s say you’re not pressed to book the larger gigs and are totally okay with booking smaller gigs and boutiques. Several moms are now going the DIY route when it comes to child modeling. What exactly does that mean? Well, it means that they are bypassing the agency route and are essentially serving as their own “agency” for their child. They reach out to boutiques, small businesses and photographers, submit to casting calls, contests, etc. with the hopes of being chosen for a particular gig. This method can certainly have its pitfalls, but it is becoming more and more common.
There are several advantages to this route as it sometimes allows your child to get some experience that will prepare them for larger gigs should they eventually work with an agency. It also gives kids an opportunity who may not have the traditional look that agencies look for.
On the downside, these gigs are typically lower budget productions, so they may only offer photos for your child’s portfolio, products or clothing in exchange for a model’s time. This method also requires a lot of time and effort from the parent to get their child noticed.
When getting started with DIY route, a social media presence will be extremely helpful. There are several photographers, boutiques, stylists, and designers that post their own casting calls on their social media accounts. You should always have your child’s photos (headshot/full body), measurements, sizes, digital comp card ready to go for casting calls. Castings can sometimes be quick and it’s best that your child stand out amongst the other submissions. I always prefer to see great photos along with any experience the child may have. Also, I like seeing some variety in the photos to get an idea for the child’s personality. Always submit at least one photo with the child’s natural hair and no/light makeup.
After your child has started to build their portfolio, you may want to set up your child’s own social media account or website so that you have an easy way to showcase their portfolio online. If you decide to go this route, I encourage you to read submission guidelines very carefully and try not to annoy the company you’re submitting your photos to. Your child will sell themselves so there’s no need to continuously reach out to the same companies over and over again.
There’s so much more that I could write about on this topic, but I will save those for future posts. For now, I will leave you with a few agencies that we recommend in various states. If you are interested in working with us, click here to learn more about scheduling a session with us.
