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2017-05-22_0031

A fun Coney Island family photo shoot

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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. 🙂

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A blooming maternity story – Nakia & Tega

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One of the things we love most about being photographers is the ability to be there to watch our families and kids grow.  We started photographing Nakia & Tega when they were a newly engaged couple in love, then captured their anniversary photos a few years ago.  Now we are so excited to be able to document their growing family with the announcement of their new baby girl coming this summer!  We decided to use florals to showcase this blooming maternity story. So thrilled with how these turned out.  Nakia is absolutely glowing in her mommyhood.  Check out a few favs below.

 

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One year older, one year wiser – Kahran’s Birthday weekend

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Wow, I can’t believe i’m 3 years away from the big 4-0!  Where did the time go?!  I had a fabulous birthday weekend spent in one of my all time favorite getaway spots – Destin, Florida.  I am always on the constant search for my ultimate “remote island” getaway.  I can do without the crowds and big city life when we go on vacation.  I much prefer those quieter places where we can find beaches with only a handful of people, get seated in a restaurant immediately and not have the usual interruptions of a normal hotel.  Destin is one of those places for me (we never go on holidays so that may play a part in our fab experiences there).

Any time I’m celebrating my birthday with the hubby Reg you know I’m having a good time.  Thirteen years later and he’s never let me have a bad birthday.  This year, he surprised me with a few of my favorites – a room full of balloons (love) and a cake bar complete with a red velvet cake from my favorite spot Nothing Bundt Cakes.  I told him if he ever wants a side gig he can use these table decorating skills because he did MUCH better than I could have done, lol!

I can never get enough balloons so I enjoyed kicking around in my room full of balloons like a big kid. Thanks Reg. 🙂

Finally, a trip to Destin would not be complete without a trip to the gorgeous white sand, blue water beaches.  One of the cleanest beaches I’ve ever been to.

Next month will make one year since I’ve officially transitioned into entrepreneur life.  As I get older (and wiser) I’ve started to value material things much less and instead focus on creating great experiences in my life.   I am finding that those things bring me the most joy and allow me to live my life to the fullest.  I am looking forward to my journey towards a more minimalist lifestyle – starting with my fab new haircut and color from the lovely Emma at HiTexture Hair Salon.  Who knows what this new journey and the next year will bring but we are looking forward to it!

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What to Wear to a Family Photo Shoot

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Be comfortable
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.
 
Looking for more family photo ideas?  Check out our Pinterest board here.
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Pastel Fun

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Spring has us feeling giddy with all the bright colors, sunny days and blooming flowers returning into our lives. We wanted to celebrate this Easter holiday with a fun little shoot using some adorable fashion from some of our favorite boutiques. Our models Dior and Zoe were the perfect little subjects for this shoot. Check out some of our favorites images below.

[tg_masonry_gallery gallery_id=”14537″ layout=”contain” columns=”3″]

Clothing:

Models: 

  • Zoe & Dior
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What to Wear to a Portfolio Session

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Usually right after booking, the first question we receive is “What should I wear?”.  We wanted to provide a few styling tips and ideas to give you some inspiration for the what to wear and bring during your child’s portfolio session.
It is very important to let the photographers know in advance if you will be submitting these photos to an agency.  If you are submitting to a specific agency you should inquire with them about any photography guidelines for submission. Some agencies have very strict guidelines for their model’s portfolio so we want to make sure we deliver photos that are in line with their standards.
The happy kid next door look
Typically we recommend bright colors and fun/simple J. Crew/Gap model type looks for a portfolio session. Clothes should be eye catching enough to make your child stand out but not too overpowering that it takes the focus off of your child.  If you’ve purchased a session with several looks we recommend showing different styles to add some variety to your portfolio (girl next door look, edgy, commercial, etc.).  Here are some ideas of final looks that we love for a portfolio session.  Bright colors, playful patterns and fun shoes are always a plus in our studio.  We recommend staying away from clothing with noticeable logos and characters on it.
 Bring Options
We love when parents bring options to their shoot.  We recommend bringing a variety of pieces that we can mix and match during your shoot.  That will give us some styling flexibility and allow us to pull together the pieces that we think would work best for your shoot.  Here are a few examples of the types of things to bring if you are wanting some styling help.
 
  • Cardigans/Blazers/Sweaters (winter/fall)
  • Basic layering shirts/tanks
  • Colorful Skinny Jeans
  • Basic Jeans
  • Skirts (not too short/tight)
  • Ballet Slippers and/or Combat Boots
  • Accessories like Belts & Scarves
  • Fun or Colorful Tights

Size Down

One common mistake we see often is parents bringing clothing that is too big (typically buying clothing that kids can grow into).  This often does not look flattering on camera.  We typically recommend bringing fitted clothing (or one size down) because it will display MUCH better in front of the camera.  Nothing worse than kids being swallowed by their clothing.

 

We hope this helps to give you an idea of what to wear for your child’s portfolio session.  Remember the most important thing is to find clothing that reflects your chi ld’s style.  Don’t be afraid to have fun with colors and patterns and feel free to add in a few unique or designer pieces for variety.
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Child Modeling: Top 5 Tips for Beginners

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We are often asked about things to watch out for when trying to get into the child modeling industry. We see a lot of parents waste a lot of time and money trying to get their child into the industry only to find out it wasn’t the right fit for them.  We’ve listed our top 5 tips when considering getting your child into the industry.

    1. Make sure your child is really interested in being in the industry.  There’s nothing worse than a parent forcing a child into the industry who does not want to do it.  Test the waters before making a commitment to make sure your child is really interested in doing this.
    2. Please do your research when it comes to agencies and other jobs that you are getting your child involved in.  We’ve seen so many newbies starting out that end up going with agencies that are not good for their child’s career (never pay for an agency), classes that are not helpful or fashion shows and shoots that are not beneficial for their career.
    3. We know that it is definitely possible to get into an agency from a standard snapshot but if you are having trouble getting noticed sometimes a great new headshot can make them take a second look.  We’re firm believers that a great photographer can highlight the best features in your child, so it can sometimes be the little push they need to get started.
    4. One thing that we like to tell parents is to try not to get in the way of your child’s career.  We’ve seen so many situations where everyone loves the kid, but they don’t get booked because of parents that are difficult to work with.
    5. Make sure you are committed and available before getting into the industry.  There’s a lot of work involved between castings, bookings, fittings, etc. so please make sure you are willing to put in the time or have a great support system to help you and your child along your journey.

 

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Child Models: How can I get my child into modeling?

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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.

Recommended Agencies:

Child Modeling Agencies in Atlanta:

Child Modeling Agencies in New York:

Child Modeling Agencies in Miami:

Child Talent Agencies in Los Angeles:

2017-02-22_0033

World Tour – Cuba

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Ever since President Obama eased the restrictions on US travel to Cuba we knew that we wanted to one day visit a country that many US travels have never experienced.  We wanted to experience the Cuban culture and see first hand what it was like.  When we got the opportunity to go with a fellow photographer we knew we had to go.  I will say that out of all of the countries we had been to we were most nervous about this one.  There’s so much information about what you can and can’t do so we were not sure what to expect.  For anyone planning to visit Cuba – here’s some handy info and things we learned along the way:

  • Cash is definitely king.  Since your US based credit cards don’t work in Cuba you will need to be prepared to bring enough money for your entire trip.  We recommend figuring out how much money you will need each day and double that amount.  Exchange half then save the other to exchange in case you run out of cash.  We ended up needing much more than originally planned so having the backup stash came in handy.
  • Figure out which area you will spend most of your time in and be sure to stay somewhere very close (within 5-10 miles).  We spent way more than we should have on taxi fees because we were a little too far from Old Havana which is where we spent a lot of our time (we were about 30 minutes away).
  • Be prepared to break out your Spanish skills!  I’d say about 70% of the people we met did not speak English, so our Google translate app was VERY handy.  We were able to use it to help communicate by downloading the Spanish language offline and using it to help communicate with the locals when we needed to.
  • Consider staying in casa particulares (private homes). There are a few hotels if you want to live a little more luxurious or have any chance of being near wifi but if you’re a little more adventurous we’d recommend staying in casa particulares – private homes for rent like AirBnB.  The hosts are often very welcoming and helpful if it is your first visit to Cuba.  They can assist with connecting you with drivers, tour guides, etc. and are a good way to save money and get a more authentic view to Cuban life.
  • Be prepared to have an internet break.  I went through a bit of internet withdrawal on the first couple of days but then realized that life without internet was kinda great for a few days, lol!  There are some hotels and restaurants with wifi but you will need to purchase a wifi card which can be a little difficult to find.
  • Pack light! The Havana airport is somewhat manual so it can sometimes take a long time to retrieve your checked baggage.  We heard stories of some folks waiting for up to 4-5 hours on busy days to retrieve their baggage so taking everything in a carry on is highly recommended.

Okay so back to our trip.  When we arrived at our AirBnB spot we were greeted by our hosts who lived next door to our home.  The home was a nice colonial style home with most of the basics you’d expect.  Neither of our hosts spoke English so our Google translate app definitely came in handy. 🙂

Our taxi driver took us to his favorite restaurant in the ChinaTown area of Old Havana and we had to try the local favorite, Ropa Vieja which was really good.   The prices at this particular location were amazing ($3-$5 for a full meal) but we found that prices can vary greatly between different restaurants so don’t expect this everywhere you go.  Also in general, Cuba is not known for it’s delicious food but we were able to find decent food even for me as a picky eater.

One of the things I loved most about Cuban culture was the sense of community.  If you’re old enough to remember a time before internet this is what it feels like – families spending time together, kids actually outside PLAYING and not in front of a tablet or phone.  So cool to see!

Now that there are so many new tourists visiting Cuba the tourism industry is booming and there are lots of tours available that will give you a great overview of Cuba. We preferred to do a one day Havana tour on our first full day to get an overview of various areas in Havana and to figure out which locations we wanted to explore a little more.  Our driver picked us up in a classic American car – which is the norm in Cuba.  Kinda surreal to see all of these old cars still in use today.

One of our first stops on the tour was Plaza de Revolución which is notable for it’s many political rallies held by Castro and others to address Cubans.  It is one of the popular tourist destinations for most of the year.

The parking lot at Plaza de Revolución looked like a car show with all of the classic cars bringing in tourists.  So cool!

We visited several places in Havana and Old Havana and were able to snap a few pics of this gorgeous view.  

I knew we would fall in love with the architecture but didn’t realize how much.  Each corner was a photo opportunity so it was hard to put the camera down. 🙂 

It is common to buy fruits and veggies from street vendors in Cuba.

We found that most of the people we met were really friendly and allowed us to photograph them with no problems. It is common to give a small tip in exchange for photos, but it is worth it for the great photos.

One of the favorite places we visited was San Jose warehouse which featured arts and crafts from local vendors.  We met some extremely talented vendors here and ended up visiting several times during our visit.  Since we were not able to find models before our trip to Cuba, we also met a few vendors who were instrumental in helping us to find our little models!  Cuba also has many ah-mazing beaches there with beautiful clear blue water.  We visited Santa Maria del Mar which was a beautiful beach close to Havana.  The beach was quiet, clean and a great way to relax and get away from city life for a while.  

We were also lucky to have our friend Rhonisha of R. Dione Photography there to assist during our shoots.  Rhonisha captured this lovely photo below of this amazing moment when we randomly stopped a group of school kids walking down the street and positioned our model in front like a boss, LOL!

We wanted to incorporate a bit of Cuban culture and lifestyle into our shoots so we positioned our model with locations, backgrounds and props symbolic of Cuban lifestyle.

The next day our vendor/new friend bought us these ADORABLE twins to model these beautiful dresses from Ydamys Simo and we nearly passed out.  We were so excited to photograph these little beauties!

    

We were almost done with our shoot and noticed a guy in a wheelchair sitting at the edge of his house door.  I happened to look inside and noticed what looked like a REALLY cool home with records displayed on the wall, a few motorcycles propped nearby and a wall full of Cuban presidents.  We asked if he would allow us to photograph the girls in his home and he welcomed us in. We left a nice tip on the way out and walked back with smiles from ear to ear.  #WINNING! 

Cuba is definitely on our list of MUST GO BACK places. If you are planning to visit we highly recommend exploring on your own so that you can meet and talk to the locals and get a real look at Cuban life.

Photography: CreativeSoul Photography
Clothing: Beritslilla and  Ydamys Simo (twins)

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