We all use Instagram filters, right?

​WRONG.

I could sit here and write a long post about all the time photographers spend to create images. And how those images shouldn't be further altered because they already look pretty darn good.

But this will be a short post, because I really only have one point: be very clear with your photographer on the type of images you want. Are they light and airy? Dark and dramatic? Editorial? Creative? Do you have sample images? What is the purpose of the images?

Your photographer will create images based on the direction given to them - without you having to touch it up afterward. Plus, should you further alter your images, they will no longer look consistent among the other images they created for you. As a former marketing professional, I can tell you that consistency is key!

Now go hire a photographer who can give you EXACTLY what you need without resorting to gross Instagram filters.

Happy Friday!
​Autumn

P.S. Yes, everything creative is subjective. At the end of the day, you do what's best for you! :)

One of those most frequent questions I get asked is "What do I wear for the photoshoot?!" What if I told you it was easy as 1-2-3? Would you believe me?

I'll definitely write about tips for men on another blog post, but for now, let's consider the three Cs for women: 1. Comfort, 2. Color, and 3. Communication.

1. Comfort
Want to look really bad in your photos? Wear something that's uncomfortable - I promise it will work! (Ok ok so that's a joke, but this tip is very real!) Many women make the mistake of going shopping for a new outfit prior to a photoshoot. There's nothing wrong with this, but just be sure that you're NOT purchasing something that makes you uncomfortable. Is it too tight? Is it too trendy and you feel like you don't have enough confidence? Is it too loose? Do you feel like it makes you look frumpy? Do you feel like it makes you look too young or too old?

While comfort certainly does apply to clothing, it also applies to makeup, hair, shoes, and accessories. Consider your look when you're most comfortable, and then start from there when planning your photoshoot outfit. For example, I love to wear black and white, flat shoes, minimal makeup, and I think I look best with my hair down. Those are all easy rules to follow (while still having lots of styling options) while preparing for a photoshoot.

2. Color
When people make color mistakes, it's usually one of two things: lack of contrast or being too matchy-matchy.

Contrast means being different from something else, so in the case of  a photoshoot, you wouldn't want to wear a bright green dress if most of your photos will be taken in a park with green grass and green trees. you're looking for contrast. Consider your backgrounds at your photoshoot location as you plan your outfit.

Once upon a time in the late '90s, the cutest thing a family could wear to a photoshoot was white shirts and khaki pants. All of them. Every single person in the family. This may have been cute for a few years, but if you don't want your coworkers laughing behind your back when they see your family photos, let's make sure you're not going to be too matchy-matchy. While you shouldn't match exactly, making sure that there is some coordination is key. Look at the families above to see how they did a great job at sticking to 2-4 colors for the whole family.

3. Communication
Always be sure to chat with your photographer about any final questions, concerns, or preferences. Did you just twist your ankle and don't want your Ace bandage to show in the photos? It will be avoided! Do you really love the earrings you're wearing today and want to show them off? Consider them featured! Do you hate a birthmark on the side of your arm that you don't really like? It can be removed! Don't sit in silence and hope the photographer will avoid certain parts of your body or flaunt others - we talk about these things all the time, and are comfortable hearing what you need!

Happy posing! :)
Autumn

What are the questions you think to ask when hiring a photographer? Some of the most common questions might be:

• Are you free on this day?
• What do you charge?
• When will I receive the photos?

​Those are definitely important! But there are additional questions that will help you help them get the best photos possible - and deliver them efficiently, and to your specifications. Here are some to consider:

1. If there are specific photos you want: "Can I give you a list of photos to take?"
   Most photographers will answer "yes yes yes!" to this. What you're asking about is called a "shot list," which is usually due prior to the start of the shoot. Sometimes it's a loosely-defined list of photos to take; for example, at an event, a shot list might include decor, presenters, people chatting during cocktail hour, award winners with event host. Other times, the shot list is very specific; for example, at a wedding, a shot list could include parents of groom, parents of bride, siblings of bride, siblings of groom, cousins of bride and groom, etc. No matter what your needs are (specific or broad), a photographer will be happy to accommodate by following your shot list.
   
2. If you expect changes: "What happens if I need to change the date or time of the shoot?"
   You should absolutely ask photographers this prior to signing a contract. (Or perhaps read the details of the contract, because this information is often included there.) Photographers work in different ways, so be sure to know how this type of change is handled prior to agreeing to work together.
   
3. To confirm cost: "Are there any additional costs outside of what was proposed?"
   Personally, I include 100% of charges in my proposals, so clients are never shocked by any additions later on. Just be sure to ask if everything is included, especially things like parking charges, shoot venue charges, meals, and hotels/transportation for overnight expenses (if applicable).
4. If you think your project might go long: "What happens if there is scope creep?"
   "Scope creep" is a project management term that means a project is growing larger than originally anticipated. For an example, lets assume a photographer is charging a client based on time. Both client and photographer agreed that the shoot would likely take 3 hours, but instead it took 5. To avoid awkward conversations, there should be a plan in place, outlining cost of overtime, when overtime takes place, and if there's an updated timeline that affects when the client should expect to receive photos.
   
5. What about prints? "Are prints included in my proposal?"
   Photographers handle prints in so many different ways. Some photographers only provide digital images (where clients can download them and order their own prints from anywhere they like), other photographers don't give clients printing rights and expect them to buy prints directly from their website. Just be sure to ask lots of questions about how your photographer handles prints so that there aren't any surprises after the shoot.
   

What other questions have you asked photographers that really helped both of you? I'd love for you to share in the comments below!

Happy Friday!
Autumn

​Well maybe not EXAAAAACTLY. But there are an insane amount of similarities. Doubt me? Keep reading.

I started my business in the summer of 2012, which means I'm about to celebrate my "baby's" 5th business birthday! Ever since, I've taken lots of mental notes (and talked to lots of other business owners) about the strange reasons we can justifiably call our businesses our "babies."

​Businesses = babies because...

1. Businesses/babies take a LOT of work - especially in the middle of the night. Sometimes we're up in the middle of the night because that's when a great idea strikes. Lots of creatives experience jolts of genius right around midnight, meaning we'll be on our computers for hours into the night. Because we're so excited about our new idea (like parents are excited about their real babies!), we don't mind staying up to take care of it. And in the morning? We feel exhausted, like we'll never recover from lack of sleep. But somehow we do it night after night, dreaming of the day when our baby will be so big that someone else will take care of it.
2. Others LOOOOOVE to tell us what to do with our business/baby. "You should totally take photos of _____!" "I heard that you'll absolutely fail if you don't do _____." "Businesses will only become successful if you _____." "Your life would be so much easier if you just _____." "My friend told me that if you just _____, you'll be a better business owner." Those all sound familiar? Yeah, it's because people have a friend who has done something "right" and they just have to tell us that we're doing it wrong. I've heard this from countless new parents from older generations of parents. We all respond the same way: grit teeth, smile, say "thank you," and walk away as fast as possible.
3. We sometimes see less of our friends - priorities, man. This is a really difficult thing to go through. We all want to see our friends more, but priorities can shift at certain points in life. Just like a new parent needs to spend more time with their baby, business owners definitely have to spend more time with their businesses as they grow. I'm so grateful that in 2016, the year I saw my friends the least, they were so understanding of all the work I was doing to prepare to go full-time with my business. I'm so happy to report that 2017, my first year of being self-employed, is a year I'm enjoying LOTS more time with my friends.
4. We have to learn lots of new things we didn't have to know before. New parents have to learn about feeding, changing, safety, bathing, and caring for the health of their baby. Business owners (especially at small startups) have to learn how to be the web developer, designer, writer, accountant, marketer, and director of sales. There's so much we're thrown into that we have to learn on the fly. It's difficult, but at the end of the day, we realize we're glad we know all this stuff so that we can grow our business (or babies!) like pros.
5. We want to wring people's necks when they say it must be so "easy." I've heard it countless times - "Oh, you take photos for a living? It must be so easy." (*pause to calm down and not scream expletives*) Similarly, I've heard parents - especially stay-at-home parents - say that they're often on the receiving end of similar comments. Let's just all agree that the only response that would make us feel better would be, "f*ck you, bye."

Whether you're raising a business or a baby, you're doing a great job and I promise all your hard work will bring you lots of joy.

Happy Friday!
Autumn