During the summer time the Grand Pacific Junction in Olmsted Falls hosts a really fun event called First Fridays. On the first friday of every month all the shops here stay open late, we have live bands, shopping, and food. The next upcoming date is August 5th. Do you like ice cream? We have that. Like wine? We have that too! So bring your family, you can even bring your dog. We look forward to seeing you here!
We are just about in the middle of the summer. Who’s thinking about senior pictures? I know I am! Senior pictures are really fun. Its all about the milestones, and graduating high school is big. So once again, here I go with my helpful hints on choosing a photographer.
Senior pictures should reflect your style. They should showcase your personality. I love shooting on location, and Cleveland is full of scenery that makes the perfect backdrop for that trendy look we all love so much. Most parents feel a little like a fish out of water when it comes to choosing options for senior pictures. And there are many options! Lets start with location. Not all great photos are taken in the studio, and it is my specialty to shoot on location. Let your imagination work a little bit. If you can think of a place you think you would like to shoot, I say lets go for it! The next thing to think about is time of day. The lighting conditions drastically change with the position of the sun. Early morning light is very soft. (plus its summer time, and it isn’t as hot!) Sunset time is what we photographers call “The Golden Hour”, its that time of day when the sun is low in the sky and we see beautiful oranges, and pinks. With the correct usage of a fill flash during that time of day, the pictures are to die for. Even rainy days offer possibilities with lighting and changing backdrop conditions. Clothing is another option to consider. I highly encourage my subjects to be themselves. Also, accessorize! Bring your bracelets, and sunglasses, and hair things! Don’t be shy, go nuts, have fun with your senior pictures. I can also have a hair and make up artist available for the shoot if requested.
Do you still have more questions? That’s cool, call me, I will be happy to answer them.
I wanted to share a few pictures from a recent trip through the country roads of western Kentucky. I was lost like I’ve never been lost in my life.
Engagement sessions are so much fun in the summer time. I like to give away engagement sessions with all of my wedding packages. I think its a great way for the couple to get to know me and my style of photography before the wedding. Most couples like to have their engagement photos taken at a location that has some significance to them. Cleveland is full of great photo spots! These photos were taken at Huntington Beach, Enjoy!
Hi everyone!
If you’re taking the time to read my blog, I think it’s a safe bet you’re looking at choosing a photographer for your wedding. I think that’s great, and I’m glad to share my helpful hints with you.
In my humble opinion choosing a photographer might be the most important decision you make while planning your wedding. Think about it this way: when your cake is eaten, your flowers have turned brown, and have dried out, and you’ve put your dress away in the closet forever, suddenly this day you spent countless hours planning has passed! All you have now is the memories. Photographs are the absolute best link to preserving our past. They give us the ability to remember even the smallest of details.
There are many MANY photographers that shoot weddings in the Cleveland area. But just because there are so many to choose from does not mean they are all created equal! I ask all of my brides to consider the importance of this day, and to please choose carefully the photographer they will entrust the huge responsibility of capturing the priceless memories. You need a photographer who is very educated in what they do, one who is vigilant with file handling, one who is charismatic, and has the ability to make your wedding party laugh during pictures.
If you can tell, this is a responsibility I take very seriously. My images are beautiful because of the care and love I put into creating them. I know how confusing it can be to try to pick the right photographer. -Believe me- I’ve been to that crazy Today’s Bride show at the IX center too! You have photos coming at you in all directions, seemingly talented photographers on every corner, all with their own niche. So I’m writing this post to hopefully help clear out some confusion, and to give my readers a good list that can help you wade through the riff raff to find the photographer thats right for you.
Questions to ask your photographer during a meeting:
1. Where did you study photography?…..(Its a safe bet that a photographer with a degree truly knows how to take a picture.)
2. How many weddings have you shot?…….(Don’t be a guinea pig, you want a photographer that has at least 30-50 weddings under her belt. In this line of work experience is a must)
3. What is the turn around time to get the wedding photos?…..(We have hall heard the horror stories of couples waiting for their wedding photos for a year or more, get a guarantee up front that your photographer is going to deliver!)
The next thing is to look at the quality of the images. There are a few things that can catch your eye right away that should serve as red flags. Look at the background of the images. If the sky in the photos is pure white, its very possible it is over exposed. It takes great skill to correctly expose an image during a wedding while the subjects are all moving around, and the light levels are changing. For this same reason, if the photos are very dark, or if they are not sharp with crisp edges, these are all major issues.
You may look at the price tag on the wedding package with some skepticism as well. But I encourage you to think of your wedding photography as an investment in preserving your lifelong long memories.
I hope some of that was helpful. Just a few tips from a pro!
