Because I was doing this so quick, I pulled out my handy dandy DIY chalkboard for the backdrop!  If you haven’t read my post on how I did this, you can check it out here.  I must admit, I discovered something about this…you don’t have to actually draw everything on the actual chalkboard!  Yes, I admit, I totally thought all these cute photos I have seen on pinterest and other blogs were drawn, by hand on the chalkboard.  So I have been practicing my drawing and creating pictures of igloos for the winter chalkboard photo and hearts for today’s chalkboard photos.  But, I sat down at my computer tonight and started googling and discovered that there is a whole world of overlays and elements to help make your chalkboard backdrop for you!!  No more drawing, erasing and redrawing.  Just take the photo and add the drawings later.  Who knew?

I have to tell you I feel a little bit like, “duh, why didn’t I think of that?”  But I guess that is all part of learning!  Anyone else out there drawing everything by hand to create these chalkboard backdrops?

I thought I would share a few links to some sites that have awesome overlays, etc to help in your chalkboard perfection quest!  Trust me, after today, I will be using these and not drawing it all out by hand!

Jen’s Fabulous Stuff

Posh Prints and Design

In the meantime, I created these two backdrops with the help of my little artists!  Check it out!

I also waited until the last minute to come up with this year’s teacher valentine’s!  And because of that, I ended up recycling a photo from last year’s Valentine’s session!  Shhh!  Don’t tell!  Anyway, this is what I came up with!

Conceptual shooting is another word that is used in this industry.  Coming up with a concept for a photo shoot is fun.  It is a time when you, as the photographer, can do something out of the box, out of the norm.  You shoot for yourself and do things you wouldn’t normally do for a regular photo shoot.  It is a time when you can try new things, practice new techniques or improve on something.

Over the holiday break, my friend and fellow photographer Lisa Carpenter and I talked about doing a fun, styled shoot just for us.  I thought of a concept and ran it by Lisa and we started brainstorming from there!

Since it was around New Year’s, we decided on a Glitter and Gold Party Theme!  Once the theme was set, I went shopping!  I love to play stylist so this was right up my alley!  I ordered some awesome clothes from Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 and everything looked awesome on the models.  Accessories and jewelry were key to these looks and I loved playing with different colored tights and sparkle everything!

We decided on a location for the shoot, which was this awesome spot that Lisa got for us!  The exposed brick on the walls and the concrete floors gave the shoot the look we were after.

I called my good friend Katie Cotton to do the makeup and hair and we just all had fun being girls!!

Thanks to my great friend, Brantley, we found some awesome girls to model for us!  Lauren, Haley, Bailey and Allie were all beautiful and they had a ball in front of the camera.  It really just ended up being a party!

Below are the images from this shoot!  I learned a lot about artificial light which is not something I typically use.  So it was fun to try something new!  If you are a photographer, I encourage you to do a shoot just for you!  And if you ever want to collaborate on a conceptual shoot, give me a call!  I am always up for it!!

Holli and I talked about the fact that I wanted my website to showcase all the different things I am involved in such as Seniorologie, Twitter, Facebook, etc.  So we came up with the concept of having different shapes that would be links to the different ways to find me and what I do.  Of course, I had to incorporate some pattern and some fun colors so we filled the shapes with turquoise, yellow and chevron!  I updated some of the photos and even included a section of things I love so you can get to know me and what I am about.

I absolutely love how it looks and hope that you will too!  Check it out!

I saw this super cute heart sweater and new it was a must for a love photo session!  Pairing it with green jeans and some fun heels, keeps this look fresh and young!  For the guy, a vest, jeans and a red checked shirt pairs perfectly with the girls wardrobe.

I envision a fun, themed photo shoot with heart cupcakes, big heart balloons or a giant wooden heart as props!  There are so many fun things you can do with this theme!

I hope to inspire you to book a shoot today!!

Girl – Sweater: Spool72.com; Jeans: shopbop.com; Shoes: jcrew.com

Guy – All clothing items from jcrew.com

Every now and then, the tables are turned and someone actually asks me for an interview!  I always find it odd to be on the opposite side, as the interviewee instead of the interviewer.  I definitely know what others go through when I send them my big, long list of questions!

Stacy Larsen is a wonderful photographer in Tampa, Florida and she has a workshop called Launch.  With the workshop, she has a blog in which she interviews other photographers on their businesses and experiences.  When she asked if I would participate in an interview, of course, I said yes.  But, as with any interview where I actually have to answer the questions instead of ask them, I get nervous!

The interview is on her blog today and I hope that you will check it out!  If you are a photographer looking to learn, Launch is a great workshop to attend!!  Thanks Stacy!!

http://launch-workshop.com/meet-and-greet-seniorologie/

I am currently working on my Valentine’s Mini Sessions and will announce it very soon!  I am brainstorming prop ideas and set ideas.  I got some super cute things in my head and I can’t wait to share them with you!  So check back here next week to see when, where and how you can sign up for Valentine’s Mini Session!

In the meantime, check out this inspiration on what to wear for this type of session!  Below is a brother and sister wardrobe using pink as my inspiration!  According to my boys, “real men wear pink!” So don’t be afraid to put that color on girls or boys!

Through the preschool, I got to know Macie’s mom, Katie.  I was absolutely thrilled when she called to see if I could capture the photos of her expecting their second child!  As soon as she told me she didn’t know the sex of the baby and that she wanted Macie in the photos, my wheels started turning!  I knew there were a few cute ideas I could incorporate into this shoot to tell the story of the family waiting this new bundle of joy.

After a few reschedules due to the finicky weather of South Carolina, we were finally able to meet one beautiful morning and have a fun photo shoot!  I used some cute chalkboard bubbles, a pink and blue balloon and fun pink and blue glitter to show that this was a baby they couldn’t wait to meet!

Enjoy these photos from this session!!  I can’t wait to meet Baby B!

So when Marsha first asked me to do an interview about me, I was a little unsure what to say!  I am the one that typically asks the questions, not the other way around!  But she encouraged me to go for it and I had a little fun asking myself the same questions I ask to other photographers!  I have to admit, it is weird being in the role of interviewee instead of interviewer!  But I like how it came out and I am beyond honored for the opportunity!

To check it out, please click here.  Hope you enjoy!  And thanks Marsha!  You are the best!

Wearing layers is a must so that you are able to take some things off if you get warm during your shoot.  Photographers work really hard at getting that shot so they often find themselves in unique spots, on the ground and sometimes even jumping around.  So you definitely get the blood pumping and need to be able to make adjustments if you get warm during the shoot.  But it is also important to dress in a way that represents you and your brand.  As photographers, clients are hiring us, we are the face of our companies.  Be sure to dress accordingly but also comfortably to be able to get into those unique situations that I mentioned above.

Leggings, jeans, sweaters and boots are all things you can wear to both look the part and stay warm.  In the winter, I also had a hat, gloves and scarves to my wardrobe to keep me warm but also allow me to take these pieces off if needed.

Check out this winter themed inspiration board below and be sure to check out my Fashion Friday posts on ChicCritiqueforum.com, in addition to this blog.  Stay Warm Photographers!

I have heard the word so often that I just assumed I knew what it meant.  I’ve been to the workshops, heard people speak about it and read the books.  But, did I really know what it meant?  The official definition?  No.  So I got out my handy-dandy Webster’s Dictionary and looked it up.  (And yes, in case you are wondering, I still have an actual red book on my bookcase.  I’m old school!)

According to Webster, Brand /n/ a mark made by burning with a hot iron to attest manufacture or quality or to designate ownership.  WHAT??  Ok, Mr. Webster, not that kind of brand.

So I took to the internet (now I am in this century. ha!) and found that Wikipedia defines brand as a name, term, design, symbol or any other feature that identifies one seller’s good or service as distinct from those of other sellers.

I guess these two definitions aren’t really that different at all.  I mean, aside from the burning with hot iron bit, they both refer to distinguishing a good from other’s goods.  Right?

And after reading these definitions, I can understand why some people thing branding is all about one’s logo.  As it states above, it is a name, term, design or symbol and that can mean a logo.  But what I’ve come to realize is that your logo is just a piece of the branding puzzle.  And there are many more pieces to put together.

So what are these other pieces and how do you define your brand?

I am by no means a branding expert, but I have done some research and I am constantly trying to perfect my brand.  So I will share with you what I do know and hopefully this will help you in your branding quest.

When I first began my photography business, I created a logo immediately.  I picked some colors, fiddled in photoshop and came up with a make shift logo that would help start my business.  Back then, I didn’t think a lot about the brand and what I wanted it to be.

Slowly, but surely, I began to consider branding and how it would affect my business.  I realized that branding also includes identity.  Your identity as a photographer and as a business is part of your brand.  Branding is the perception that your clients or perspective clients have about you and your business.

Photography is such a personal industry.  You are your business.  And, as with any industry, there are lots of people that can do what you do.  So how do you stand out?  How do you create a perception about your business that will attract the clients you want to attract?

So often we have heard and read that clients pick you, not necessarily the photos, and nothing defines your brand better than YOU!

Figuring out who you are and what makes you different is one piece to this Branding Puzzle.  What is it about you that makes you different?  What is it that you want your clients to relate to?  What do you want them to feel when they hire you?

Think about those famous brands out there…Apple, Starbucks, Anthropologie…what is your perception of these brands?  I think of Apple and I think cool and hip.  Starbucks makes me think of sitting in my local shop, sipping a mouthful of coziness.  Anthropologie makes me think of quirky, unique clothing that makes me stand out in a crowd.  And somehow owning a mac instead of a PC, drinking my cup of joe from Starbucks and wearing my mustard-colored sweater and cute striped skirt help define who I am.

Who are you?  Figure this out and that will put one piece in the correct spot and help you to begin to determine your brand.  What type of photos do you take, what strengths do you have and what do you want to do with your business will all help you define your brand.

The next piece of this branding puzzle is investing in your brand.  Once you have a clear understanding of who you are and what your brand is, then ask for help creating the name, design, symbol of your brand.  Your website, your social media presence and your blog are all extensions of your brand.  Make them consistent and undeniably YOU.

Like I said earlier, I began with my own make shift logo that was very simple.  But as I began to grow in my business, I realized I was constantly getting the same compliment on my photos.  ”The color in your photos really pops!”  So I realized that I was expressing my love of color, texture and pattern in through my photos.  And that is part of me and part of my brand.  At that point, I invested money into a logo designed by a professional.  It has been a process, this branding thing.  I am still changing things and making each piece of my business fit this fun, colorful mold that is my brand.

Which leads me to the next piece of the branding puzzle, it takes time.  A brand is not made overnight.  And taking the time to figure out you and what makes you unique is worth it in the long run.  Spending money up front on your look, logo and design may end up making you hate it down the road.  So take a little time to figure out what you are, who you are and what you want your brand to be.

If you are working on your brand in this new year, I would love to hear from you!  And if you have any questions or want to start a discussion about branding, let me know!  We can all share our thoughts and help each other through this branding process!  I am in the process of helping a fellow photographer with her brand and I will be sure to share with you the results!  Stay tuned!