Preparing for your portrait session

How to prepare

Seniors

Senior pictures are a lasting memento for your parents and you. It's a glimpse of who you are at the beginning of adulthood. It's not about the pose. It's not about the lighting. It's not about the clothes. It's not about the location. It's about YOU.


Whether you feel really confident about what you want and are ready to go, or feel shy and don't know what to do, we'll work to make your portrait be what you want it to be.

Your best preparation is to think about how you see yourself, who you are you at 18, and what you want to say about yourself in a portrait.

Senior pictures should reveal your individual style. We'll work on-site, we'll try things and we'll try some more things. Your pictures won't be like anybody else's pictures because these are yours and they are about you.

Engagements / Weddings

Your engagement / wedding is about you, not about your photographer. I want to photograph your engagement, bridal portraits, and wedding so that if someone wasn't there, they can look at your album and feel as if they spent the day with you. They'll know how you looked... and even better, they'll know how you felt...

The details of photographing a wedding are customized to you. Your wedding photography will reflect your individual plans and your individual style. We'll talk about it at length before the day and make detailed plans about your wishes. My main task will be to take that discussion and create your story so that anyone can read it... especially you, 50, 75, or 100 years from now.

I also highly recommend pre-wedding pictures. No matter what photographer you choose, please have engagement and bridal pictures taken. Pre-wedding portraits provide a study of how you will look on your wedding day, your hairstyle, the details of your dress, hair, and make-up. Although you are photographed on your wedding day, the relaxed atmosphere of the pre-wedding sessions allows for capturing the fine details of you on your special day. This allows the wedding day to become about capturing your expressions, your relationship with your fiancé, and your relationship with your friends, and family.

You need to find a photographer that you feel comfortable with so you won't look fake or stressed in your pictures. You need to be able to make your photographer really understand what you want. We specialize in listening first and photographing you with your desires in mind. We'll do our best to make your wedding portraits match your vision and your needs.

 

Children

Your goal for your professional portraiture session for your child may be to show your child's individual personality, a reserved study, the relationship between you and your child or between siblings, or, simply, capturing an intangible quality of that child's age and interests. Dressing up as a princess or a cowboy, playing with Mommy's jewelry, engaging others through a particular expression or activity, capturing your child painting (the painting and portrait look amazing side by side) and much more are all fleeting moments that we can help you capture forever.

We treat children as capable individuals, with respect, and honor their requests and wishes. In our experience, we find children do better when their parents are relaxed. Our technique is to interact with children and, with their feedback, decide how to best photograph each child. We wait for the unguarded moment and until they are relaxed, then take the picture.

It is a joy to photograph children because they are innocent, wonder-filled and, because they haven't become self-conscious, it is possible to capture their individuality. This means that their entire sitting becomes a true reflection of your child's spirit and personality.

Families

We understand that getting a family together, large or small, is difficult. Some family members never want their pictures taken. Some insist they need to lose weight, to postpone a session because there are more important things to attend to, or that it isn't really important.  However, it's important to remember that family photographs are some of the most treasured pictures you'll ever own, and if you wait too long it may never happen.

Families change all the time. Relationships between grandparents and grandchildren, brothers and sisters, parents and children, and new additions to the family need to be recognized. Families are extraordinarily dynamic and it's essential to capture moments in time that will never be repeated.

Think about scheduling a themed session such as inviting your family for a BBQ, picnic, or a sports match up. Or schedule us to come and capture your family reunion so you can enjoy the day while we capture the memories. These events will create some awesome memories and you will have great portraits to remind you of the fun day.

Our advice is to allow us to help you organize and expedite your family portraits in a low-key, relaxed, and enjoyable setting so that your family's moments will never be lost. Your whole family will be glad you did.

I have scheduled a photo shoot... Now what do I need to know?

Preparing for your photo shoot

What to know for when getting ready for your individual session

Photography is this wonderful thing that allows people to express themselves.   There are people out there who love to get their picture taken and others who shy away from the camera but everyone can look good on film.  What's important is to relax, have fun, and come prepared.

A few days before your session 

1. Get a good night's sleep and stay healthy. If you're tired, it will reflect on your face, your overall appearance and your attitude. Try not to stress your body and mind a few days before the shoot. No alcohol, sweets, physical stress, or heavy eating either! Continue with your daily exercising on a regular basis. Drink fluids sparingly.
2. Shave or wax your legs and armpits a few days before a session. If you're modeling lingerie or open swimwear, take care of the bikini line. If you shave right before the shoot, the skin irritation will negatively impact the outcome, especially with digital photography.
3. Your hair. If you need some trimming, a couple of days before the shoot is the right time. Any coloring should be done at least 5 days before your shoot.
4. If you don't hire a make up artist, put a base makeup before coming to a shoot and don't forget your own make up kit. Don't use any gels or special hair treatments to keep it healthy during the shoot.
5. Get your outfits and props ready. Avoid bright whites, stripes or any other patterns unless specifically requested. Solid colors are the best choice. Careful with choosing V-necks. Be prepared a day before to avoid last minute runs. Bring the props that match your outfits in color, texture or by theme.       

    
Here are several things that are important to consider when preparing for a photo shoot.

1. GUYS - For the more traditional portraits, a suit or sport coat with a tie is good. Medium to dark sweaters photograph well. For the casual and outdoor photos, comfort is the rule - jeans, khakis and shorts look great.
2. GIRLS - Bring the colors and outfits you feel best in. Dresses and sweaters are good for a more traditional look. Bright colors, skirts, jeans, or shorts look good for your casual portraits. If there will be outfit changes, bring at least one dark and one bright color outfit. Avoid busy prints and patterns as they distract from the most important part of the portrait - you!
3. SHOES - Shoes may show, so they should compliment your clothing.
4. HAIR - Your portrait session is not the time to experiment with new hair styles or colors. If you do cut your hair, please do so at least a couple of weeks before the session so you are used to styling it.
5. MAKEUP - Makeup for photographs should be slightly heavier than normal. However, too much makeup tends to give you a painted look and too little might not show off your features. A translucent powder is helpful to eliminate shine, especially for oily skin. Since most portraits concentrate on the eyes, great care should be taken to make them look their best.
6. NAILS - Please do not forget the importance of your hands in your portraits. Whether you choose to do your nails yourself or have them manicured, keep them clean and use coordinating colors. Photographs often show your feet as well.
7. FACIAL HAIR - Make sure that you are clean-shaven before your session. Retouching can hide blemishes, but not razor stubble.
8. GLASSES - If you wear glasses most of the time, you will want to wear them in your portraits. To eliminate glare or reflections, bring empty frames or remove the lenses from your glasses.
9. PROPS - You can use items (including pets, vehicles, sports equipment, favorite books, and musical instruments) that show what you enjoy doing at this time in your life. If you have something special in mind, just let us know.
10. SUNTANS - Do not overdo the sun for a portrait. It looks great, but in moderation. Sunburn can be an expensive problem. It causes facial shine, red noses and cheeks, strap marks, hat lines and peeling, which are fixable but at an additional cost.

How to prepare for a Glamour Shoot     

MODEL / FASHION / GLAMOUR PHOTO SHOOT

Before you even schedule your photo session there are some things that will make you look amazing on film.

1. Practice! Get in front of the mirror and search for expressions and poses. This is not a one minute run just for fun. You have to study your body. Learn how your facial expressions actually feel when you laugh, smile, frown or relax. Try to feel each muscle. You should develop your own methods of controlling yourself to produce a desired expression "on demand". Practice when you are alone, have time to concentrate and calm enough to listen to yourself. Can you feel a perfect smile without seeing yourself in the mirror?
2. Search for body poses in front of a mirror without any clothing on. Why? Because without wearing anything to cover your body with, you will suddenly find that it is a challenge to find an attractive and natural position using only what was given to you by mother nature. With clothing on, you have pockets, textures and colors that distract you from the main object - your body. Once you master that, you will feel much more confident about virtually any modeling assignment!
3. Look at modeling shots from the fashion and glamour magazines and pay a close attention to poses, arms and legs placements and facial expressions. Analyze those separately and as a complete composition. Bring the shots you like with you.

Professional Photographer Series

Hiring a Photographer



Whenever we make a purchase, we consider the “value” we receive. It’s no different when hiring a professional photographer. Unfortunately, not many people readily understand the value of hiring a professional photographer. As the number of digital photographers continues to increase, it seems there are a lot of misunderstandings as to what a photographer does for you.

Ultimately for many, the choice of whether or not to hire a photographer comes to down price. If they do choose to hire one, they must evaluate the great photos in the photographers online portfolios and decide who they can afford.  Since this is the type of thing that is rarely stated, I feel it is time to set the record straight.

A popular reason for many calls and emails received by photographers is to inquire about basic head shots, event photographers, model portfolio photo shoots, weddings, and their respective prices. The truth is that the range of photography prices is highly variable and depends on many factors such as location (in studio versus traveling to a location) and length of time needed for a particular session.


Pricing can be as low as $50 up to $600 or more for a portrait session alone. In my opinion, any photographer selling their sessions for $50 probably isn’t much of a professional, although that’s not to say that they are not a good photographer. Still, many people are absolutely amazed at the fees associated with photography so let me explain what is involved in the process.

A professional photographer is not your friend grabbing a point-and-click camera on the fly. They are an experienced professional who knows how to capture impressive images by choosing the correct settings on their camera - not just pushing a button. In addition, the difference between a professional image and an image from a friend is in the details. For example, the whites of the eyes should be white.


A professional photographer will spend time getting to know their subject(s). Their preferences, needs and special requests. The professional photographer brings the knowledge, experience and capability to capture and craft images in the manner and style you prefer. Whether traditional or photojournalistic, a professional photographer works with your desires in mind. A professional photographer helps you establish his or her “assignment” so you can focus on making the memories.

Professional photographers are artists. A professional photographer brings an artistic eye to the equation. One focused not only on the subject but also the background, the lighting, the composition, the depth of field and a host of other elements that not every one can “see” when crafting an image. Artistic vision and the ability to “see” the image helps a photographer craft memorable images versus snapshots.

A professional photographer will utilize high end post processing software that allows him or her to effectively correct color, adjust exposure, manipulate hue, saturation, lens distortion and edit images for a professional look.

In addition, I assure you that professional photography equipment costs a lot more than your best friend’s camera. A high quality camera, specialized lenses, memory cards, digital software, tripods, umbrellas and lighting are professional-grade and are quite expensive. A professional photographer uses the latest digital SLR equipment and most importantly, knows how to use it. Today’s professional equipment has multiple and complex functions that allow a photographer to manipulate focal length, shutter speed, aperture, and depth of field to compliment almost any subject. It also allows the capture of crisp and sharp photographs in low light, with little to no image degradation.

 

A professional photographer understands and knows how to capture natural looking images in any kind of light. Whether in the studio, outdoors or low light situations, a professional photographer knows how to add the right amount of direct, bounce or supplemental lighting to fill the scene, compliment the subject and maintain a natural looking image. A professional photographer won’t fall prey to “red eye”, blurred or severely under or over exposed images.

Also consider that a photographer’s time and experience are valuable.  You’re not simply going to someone’s place of business and asking him/her to “just take a few pictures.” It does not work that way. Even if you only need one shot, it will take time to find the best angle, prepare the lighting, and possibly choose the correct outfit for that one memorable photo. A photographer will give you advice on what to wear, make-up, and so on. They have done this before and guide you as needed. That’s why professional photos look professional.

Few realize the time it takes to produce your one headshot is more than the actual sitting session. It involves setting up the equipment in advance, blocking off time for the photo shoot itself, uploading the photos and going through them after the shoot, digital touch-ups and editing the photos chosen for printing, burning the photos onto CDs, getting them to the photo lab, retrieving them from the photo lab and then waiting for you to pick up your prints or mailing / delivering them to you. You may have lots of time on your hands but you should always be aware that photographers are busy running a business.

I think most would agree that that is a lot of work for a small fee, hence the great value you get from working with professional photographers. Moreover, I assure you that one of the biggest pet peeves of all photographers is people who do not show up for the photos and are too inconsiderate to call and let the photographer know that they cannot make it. Photographers don’t get paid in those circumstances (unless a small booking deposit was requested) but still took time to set up the shoot and possibly turned someone else down during that period of time because it was pre-booked.

A professional photographer focuses on capturing high quality images and the objective thereafter is to preserve these images high quality printing. Professional photographers will bypass the low cost volume “snapshot” printing providers and work with a custom lab that will help assure the delivery of only the finest images.

Finally, a professional photographer does this for a living. If it were that simple, many photographers would not count on photo shoots to be their livelihood. Again, this is not your friend lending you his camera to take a few photos. Photographers take pictures for a living.

You wouldn't expect a plumber, carpenter, hairdresser, doctor, dentist, optician, electrician, chef, mechanic, dressmaker, or shop owner to work for free would you?

Professional photographers bring value in other ways too. These are just a few examples. While it does cost more to hire a professional photographer versus a friend or relative with a digital camera, professional photographers bring far greater value and quality to the end product. As the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for” and paying for a professional photographer will bring you custom crafted images you’ll be proud to display and share for years to come.

Beauty

Beauty 

beautiful beau'ti·ful adj.
beautifully beau'ti·ful·ly adv.
beautifulness beau'ti·ful·ness n.

Beautiful is a woman who has a distinctive personality, one who can laugh at anything, including themselves, who is especially kind and caring to others. She is a woman who above all else knows the value of having fun, and not taking life too seriously. She is a woman that you can trust and count on to brighten your day. She is a woman who can inexplicably make you feel really good just by being around her, and yet brings such great sadness when she is gone. 

SYNONYMS   beautiful, lovely, pretty, handsome, comely, fair. All these adjectives apply to what excites aesthetic admiration. Beautiful is most comprehensive: a beautiful child; a beautiful painting, a beautiful flower...

Anyone can be beautiful. It's not about the clothing, the hair, the make-up. It's about the way your smile radiates warmth, or dancing when you're excited, no matter who's watching. How to be beautiful? There are no guidelines, and anyone who tells you otherwise is telling you how to be pretty. Pretty and beautiful are not synonyms. Pretty is a but an adjective, whereas beautiful is so much more. Beautiful is a sunset, or the rain, or being in love. Beautiful is singing in the shower, running at night, and laughing out-loud. Beautiful is the way a flower smells, or the feel of their skin. Being beautiful comes from within.

Patriotic Mini Sessions

4th of July Mini Sessions

When: June 29, 2013
Where: Elgin B. Robertson Park, Rowlett, TX
http://www.lake-ray-hubbard.com/elgin-b-robertson-park/
Session Length: 20-30 minutes
Times Available: 7 am, 10 am, 2:30 pm, 3 pm, 4 pm, 5:30 pm
Deposit: $50 (due when scheduling, applies to your portrait order)



214-789-7090
www.facebook.com/DMCpic
www.dawnmichellecreations.net

Picnic Anyone?

International Picnic Day

May 18th is International Picnic Day.

Anyone interested in a Picnic Mini Session?

~ Romantic couples picnic or family picnic ~



When: June 15, 2013
Where: Bob Woodruff Park 2601 San Gabriel Drive, Plano, TX 75074
https://parks.planotx.org/econnect/Facilities/FacilitiesDetail.asp?FacilityId=442Session Length: 20-30 minutes
Times Available: 7 am, 7:30 am, 9:30 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 3:30 pm
Deposit: $75 (due when scheduling, $50 applies to your portrait order, $25 applies to your food and drink)

214-789-7090
www.facebook.com/DMCpic
www.dawnmichellecreations.net

Remembering our Heroes

Happy Memorial Day!!

We are offering all American heroes a FREE session scheduled anytime in 2013!!



This includes all military, police, and firefighters.



You must have valid identification at the time of scheduling. Just mention the Memorial Day Deal to receive the session free.

214-789-7090
www.facebook.com/DMCpic
www.dawnmichellecreations.net

National Bike Month

Anyone want some pictures while riding their bike?

Or even this kind of bike ...



I have a special deal for you!! Call today!

214-789-7090
www.facebook.com/DMCpic
www.dawnmichellecreations.net

Spring Mini Session update

~ Update ~

ONLY 4 SPOTS remaining!!

Call now to book your slot for our Spring Mini Session!!!

When: April 20, 2013
Where: River Legacy Parks, 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, TX  76006 http://naturallyfun.org/river-legacy-parks
Session Length: 20-30 minutes
Times Available: 7 am, 10 am,    1 pm, 5:30 pm
Deposit: $50 (due when scheduling, applies to your portrait order)


214-789-7090
www.facebook.com/DMCpic
www.dawnmichellecreations.net

Spring Mini Sessions

Spring is here!!

Call now to book your slot for our Spring Mini Session!!!

When: April 20, 2013
Where: River Legacy Parks, 701 NW Green Oaks Blvd., Arlington, TX  76006 http://naturallyfun.org/river-legacy-parks
Session Length: 20-30 minutes
Times Available: 7 am, 7:30 am, 8:30 am, 10 am, 1 pm, 2:30 pm, 4 pm, 5:30 pm
Deposit: $50 (due when scheduling, applies to your portrait order)



214-789-7090
www.facebook.com/DMCpic
www.dawnmichellecreations.net

April 1st Specials

 Happy April Fool's Day!!

 

Call today, schedule your session in April, and get 1 FREE 8x10!!!!

APRIL FOOL'S

Nope, I have an even better deal for today!!!

Call today, schedule your session in 2013, and get 2 FREE sheets of your choice!!!!

AWESOME, right?

Happy birthday to me!

This is my third birthday celebration since I beat CANCER!!



Call this week (March 17th - March 23rd), schedule your session for anytime now until the end of April, and get 20% off!!!

Rocking L Guest Ranch

The Rocking L Guest Ranch provides an Authentic Western Town Atmosphere on 75 Private Acres for Company Events, Receptions, Family Reunions, Private Parties or Personal Getaways. The Ranch is Located approximately 50 Miles East of Dallas.

Inner Beauty

“Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart”

Kahlil Gibran (Lebanese born American philosophical Essayist, Novelist and Poet. 1883-1931)

You don't need a full makeover to shine. Let me help showcase your inner beauty in a portrait. Call me to schedule your session.  214-789-7090

Engagement special ~ Receive a Mini Session (up to 1 hour in 1 location) and 1 Introductory Package for just $99 (limited spots available)

Stay Young

“Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.”  ― Franz Kafka



Call me to schedule your session.  214-789-7090

Engagement special ~ Receive a Mini Session (up to 1 hour in 1 location) and 1 Introductory Package for just $99 (limited spots available)



Helping Hands

“For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
 For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
 For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
 For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.
 For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.
 People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.
 As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others.”   ― Sam Levenson

Let me help to make your engagement special. Call me to schedule your session.  214-789-7090

Engagement special ~ Receive a Mini Session (up to 1 hour in 1 location) and 1 Introductory Package for just $99 (limited spots available)

Just as you ARE

“Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are.”
― Markus Zusak, I am the Messenger

Call me to schedule your session.  214-789-7090

Engagement special ~ Receive a Mini Session (up to 1 hour in 1 location) and 1 Introductory Package for just $99 (limited spots available)

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! May your day be filled with beauty and love!

 

 

Don't forget to call me to schedule your engagement photos!!

Life

LIFE

1. the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally. 
2. the sum of the distinguishing phenomena of organisms, especially metabolism, growth, reproduction, and adaptation to environment. 
3. the animate existence or period of animate existence of an individual: to risk one's life; a short life and a merry one. 
4. a corresponding state, existence, or principle of existence conceived of as belonging to the soul: eternal life. 
5. the general or universal condition of human existence: Too bad, but life is like that.

We all want a happy life, and we all know that having a positive attitude feels better than a negative one. But for some reason, we are all attracted to and can be easily drawn to the negative side. How do we go about to establish a more positive attitude as a daily habit?

Even for someone like me, a naturally positive person, having a positive attitude is not always easy.

I still sometimes see the world through a negative perspective, focusing on the bad and ignoring the good — especially when things aren’t going the way I had hoped. As I’ve been struggling with this lately, I’ve been reminding myself that it really is possible to change my perspective.

About a year ago, I decided I was going to make a change in my life. I was going to start looking for the good, seeking the positive, and striving to make every day a joyful experience.

This was something I would have never imagined myself doing, but it’s something that has impacted my life every single day since then. I’ve had to do a lot to get to where I am right now, and I still believe I have a long way to go.

I’m not searching for any particular end point, however. All I want is to be happy, to live a life that focuses more on the good than the bad (though I do believe you need both to have a happy life).

On this road — this twisting, turning road to happiness — there have been many ups and downs. There have been challenges — cancer, my daughter's thyroidism, my husband's diabetes, etc. There have been inspirations — beauty around us, music, art, my daughters, good friends, etc. There have been many amazing experiences that I never would have had if I had not made the choice to live a positive and happy life.

Recently, as I struggle to be positive about certain challenging situations in my life, I’ve been giving some serious thought to how I transformed my outlook from negative-focused to a more positive-focused one. (Note: I don’t always see the good. Like everyone, I have good days and bad days, but, for the most part, there has been a BIG shift in my attitude over the past year or so).

Though I have to admit that there are many, many factors involved in my personal development — such as my business, the countless books and blogs I read, creating my blogs, and surrounding myself with happy, supportive people — I can say that, at the most basic level, choosing to be positive has helped me the most in terms of becoming the person I want to be.

When I think back on my transformation now, I recognize that there are certain steps that lead to the best ways to begin stumbling down that path to happiness by establishing a habit of positive attitude.

Over the next few days, I will expand on my journey and talk about those steps — and the impact on my photography and craft business. Join me on my journey.

Summer Special Offer

School is finally over and the sun is finally out! I recently went swimming for the first time in a very long time and I feel energized. With all of this new-found energy, I thought it would be a great time to announce our summer photography specials!!

Fun in the Sun ~ This Collection is perfect to get some new family pictures, some of the kiddos only or a baby/kid milestone. Sessions will be booked Monday through Saturday early morning (between 7-10 am), before the heat of the summer day. Location choices include area parks, lakes, play grounds, your back yard with play equipment, and much more.

Water Fun ~ This Collection is created to meet all your Water Fun needs. I’ll come to your back yard or splash park and shoot you and your kiddos having fun.. sprinklers, swimming pool, water balloons, you name it, I’m there. The only condition is that it has to be fun and wet.. ;) .. Sessions will be booked a few hours before sunset Monday through Saturday.

*** BOOK NOW and receive your FREE 8x5½ Soft Cover Press Photo Book (brag book). ***

Tax and shipping NOT included. Offer Valid for June, July and August. Other session types can also utilize this offer. Great for SENIORS too!

Ok so who is in??… Let’s make this summer memorable.. ;)