You've probably noticed that photographers all have different styles.  From the approach we take to composing the shot to the way we handle post processing, it's an art and we all do it our own way.  I love the differences you can find when scrolling through different works!  It's awe inspiring to see the talent that's out there and the unique ways skills are mastered and reflected in the images.  But, if I had to pick a favorite style, it always comes down to colors that pop.  It's what grabs my attention and as a result, my work often reflects that preference.  Here are 4 ways I like to amp up that vivid shot!

1. Choosing the setting.  
Of course, certain seasons are better for putting out that all natural color "Wow" so Fall and Spring are always a great time of year and require little to add color to the scene.  A colorful tree line reflecting off of a body of water creates its very own beauty.  Some other settings I love are greenhouses, flower fields, and old abandoned buildings that are covered in graffiti art (think Concrete City- PA). 

2. Props.
I get bored easily.  There.  I said it. For that reason, I am slightly obsessed with finding fun new pieces and props to use in my photoshoots.  I'm a sucker for a really cool vintage couch... and as you may have noticed, those are usually in a unique shade of material.  If I know I will be hosting a studio session, I plan out sets for weeks to ensure that I have fun texture and color to move the eye around the shot. Give me all the ferns and flowers, pillows and soft colorful blankets!   If I'm sticking with plain backdrop and no furnishings or props, I really only use black or white, because I really want to make the subject pop and will often use various lighting possibilities to increase the drama.  

3. Camera Settings.
The camera will do what you tell it to do (within its specific range of capabilities) so if you want to be able to achieve a certain look, it's also important to consider that when choosing settings and making adaptations for the scene.  You can save yourself a bit of headache in post by paying attention to the white balance.  Choose the setting that fits your shot.  There is a lot of technical vocab we can throw in here, but I'm not about it. Let me give it to you straight, take the picture in a white balance setting you think is appropriate.  Review it.  You'll notice if it's too yellow or too ....any color. Adjust that and try another until you get it where you are comfortable.  Use a neutral gray in your shot because that can help when you get it into post and realize the colors are off a bit.  ...Because, yes, you can adjust the balance when you're editing too!  
You'll want to make sure you're not overexposing your photo when taking it as well.  While, often a darker image can be recovered fairly well, an overexposed one does not give the same leeway.  

4.  Editing.
This is where you can really have some fun!  There are presets out there that can help you achieve a certain look, but I find that it's extremely rare that you can simply hit a preset and call it a day.  I like to make adjustments manually.  The color variations and saturation can be completely altered in editing. An image that already had great color can be enhanced subtly in such a way that you wouldn't even think it had been! Conversely, an image that you may have thought couldn't be salvaged, can often be adjusted with some finesse to brighten and colorize.  

Digital photography opens so many doors to creativity and there is just so much you can do from start to finish to create photos you love!  While I tend to lean the route of bright, rich, colorful images, I also love how artists create soft pastel looks or dark, muted, moody looks.  From time to time, I'll explore something different, but somehow always find myself back in the world filled with color and drama that fills my soul.  Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder! 

Normal people see a gorgeous sunny day and think of how great it will be for pictures. Photographers see something entirely different.  We see blown out highlights, deep, dark shadows, the possibility of squinting subjects and immediately have to start thinking of how to make it work. Photoshoots on full sun days are something that requires a strategy.  Photographers have to be on the lookout for that sweet shady spot, ways to create images that allow for a pretty backdrop while keeping the sun at the subjects back, and they have to be ready to compensate for the harsh light conditions. 

I have no doubt that when my clients see me coming with a light stand or a speedlight mounted to my camera on a sunny day, they're thinking "what the heck does she need all that for!?"   And, maybe I won't need it for everything, but more often than not, it really has helped to have handy!  Those lights are for "fill flash".  If I want to negate the harsh shadows in certain circumstances, I can use that flash.  I don't leave home without one!  When I started doing portraits several years ago, I was all about natural light.  I still love natural light and there are photographers out there that do AMAZING things that way. 

It was my first wedding that made me decide to dig in to using flash, not only on camera, but off.  That idea had been extremely intimidating, but I had always loved the drama that could be created with light and shadow.  It took A  LOT of trial and error, though.  I'm not about that technical life.  My learning process has to be by doing -- by making lots of mistakes and learning from them... a lot like how I live my life!  

After a few articles, podcasts and video after video, I had SOME basic understanding.  (If you are looking for some really helpful resources to learn more about photography, I recommend checking out Improvephotography.com.  Really down to earth people who master the craft and have a way of discussing it that doesn't make you feel like you jumped into another universe!) Understanding the idea of using flash is one thing.  Putting it into practice is another and that requires finding the tools that you can feel comfortable using.  Effective speedlights, easy to use triggers.... it can be costly finding out what you prefer working with, for sure!  But!  I found it. And, it was a game changer for me.  

With my Godox AD200, 850II, wireless trigger (Godox X1) and my preferred modifiers from Magnet Mod, I am able to "play" with so many different setups!  If you are curious and want to play too.... grab one of these and give them a shot!  I'm telling you, if I can use them, anybody can!  So to all my fellow creatives out there, keep working your craft and trying new things!  

Photographers wear black, gray, neutral, white when shooting, that's a given. We don't want colors to reflect off of our subject.

Shooting weddings, I want to step it up a notch, not just my leggings and black tee so I break out my more professional attire. Makes sense, right? Well, this ONE time .... Let's just say some professional clothes are just not suitable wedding wear!
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Once upon a time, there was a beautiful couple. They married with a ceremony that ran the gambit of emotions culminating in their first steps as husband and wife.
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As is the usual, we hit the property for some bridal party pics and once finished with the groups, I excused them back to cocktail hour and focused on a few moments with the new Mr. & Mrs.
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This is where it gets interesting.
It was a warm, sunny afternoon. Running around in the heat obviously had me feeling a little sticky. I had chosen slacks and a blazer, never knowing whether I will be too hot or too cold on any given fall day in nepa.
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We did several different shots and then I thought we'd wrap up with a few full scene, breezy looking poses.
If you've ever worked with me or watched me work, you probably noticed that I'm kind of all over the place. Standing, bending, sitting, laying, squatting..... SQUATTING.... (anything for a different perspective.)
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Let me let you digest this. Sunny. Warm. Slacks. Sweating. SQUATTING.
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If you read this far, you know what happens next.
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Yep. It's perfectly quiet out there and I hear the seam pop 🙈as I set in to focus on my shot and suddenly it's breezy alright!
My WHOLE seam gave out when my NON-STRETCHY pants stuck to me as I squatted for a different angle!!!!
My couple heard it. The videographer helping to stage the dress in the air heard it. We all froze for a hot second and my mind raced to figure out how I would get through this and finish recording the rest of the evening. Preferably, WITHOUT, calling attention to my WHOLE ASS hanging out! 😲
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Thinking fast, I set down my gear and wiggled out of my blazer. It was a fitted blazer so, not huge, but I managed to get full coverage tying it around my waist. I wouldn't be able to move much without repeat exposure so I started to spit-ball ideas to fully manage the situation.
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The bride and her party had dressed at home so stealing someone's pants was out.
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I was nearly an hour away from home so there was no running out or even having my husband bring pants. By the time I got them it would be pointless.
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There MAY have been a Dollar General, if anything, within a 10 minute drive, but in the world of weddings you can't just miss 10-20 minutes you'll never get back.
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I was beginning to fear that the blazer around my waist was going to be my only option to shield people from an innappropriate view!
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We rode back to the banquet room in our golf carts. As the videographer driving mine parked us, I could see the bride and groom talking with a tall guy in jeans and a sweatshirt.
As I approached, he met me laughing, knowing what had happened and introduced himself. The DJ. While mortifying, it WAS comical! I laughed and cracked a joke about him having anything to help my predicament-- tape, sweatpants, ANYTHING!?
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In a lightbulb moment, he said he actually had Gorilla tape! My eyes must've been the size of quarters!
"Really!? Can I use it!?"

Within minutes I found myself pantsless in a bathroom stall Gorilla taping the WHOLE back seam of my slacks, INSIDE AND OUT.
It wasn't pretty, but it did the job so on they went with the blazer retied to add the curtain of coverage to my hideous new look.

The show must go on! With a few laughs and a huge sigh of relief, I managed to finish the job with no more incident. Thank God for a sense of humor, silver linings and Gorilla Tape!

Lesson learned: Do NOT wear clothes that don't stretch ... to photograph a wedding.
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or... to do anything.
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Sidenote: There are now a pair of leggings in my glove box. "For emergency purposes."


#fashionforward #splitpants #weddingphotographer #stories #laughitoff #gorillatape #wardrobemalfunctions #makeitwork

I have to tell you.  I OBSESS over sets.  I mean, I browse the inter-webs for ideas.  I comb through pretty things on Pinterest.  I think about trends and seasons and details.  I LOVE details.  After several years and thousands of photographs, I can tell you that traditional backdrops rarely come into play around here.  In the MMP world, a backdrop might be a sunset, a mountain view, a nature trail, or a rolling creek.  A set might consist of simply what nature designed, or it could include some fabulous handpicked vintage furniture and accessories.  Set styling is ever changing and I never get bored of trying new combinations to make your photo sessions, not only include great results, but also unique and fun memories! 
Photographers all have a niche or form that they prefer to work within.  Some love landscapes & nature, some love animals.  Some photographers feel fulfilled creating works of art from photographing cityscapes and architecture while others like to bring us closer than we ever thought we could be to tiny little creatures and details found with the macro lens.  Some of us like photographing people.  I'm one of those!  My clients are what make me want to pick up my camera and get down to business.  We get to work selecting places and spaces that will enhance a photo AND represent the personality of the person in it!  

I have to admit... I get bored, kind of easily.  It's to everyone's advantage though!  My character flaw is an advantage because I am always brainstorming.  For you, that means I'm searching for something new for your next photo op!  Each year for the holiday season I host at least two, sometimes three mini session opportunities as well as Exclusive Mini Sessions.  Of course, the ever popular Tree Farm Mini is usually on the menu, but in recent years minis have been hosted at local businesses like The Grand Bank and Boxes & Bows Gifts & More with sets styled by their owners helping me to be able to offer more one of a kind options for those holiday portraits. This also gives us all the chance to get out of the cold for an indoor option that still exemplifies the idea of getting festive for the season.  

No matter the season, or the event, clients have entrusted me to bring together an idea that they'll love!  From visiting parks that offer various settings to towns like Jim Thorpe that provide seemingly endless sources of color, texture, and motion, I am always happy to get out there with my clients and get creative.  When we are working together in studio or in home, it is an honor to be able to bring a perfect combination of sets and props to choose from.  

My favorites?  

The Greenhouse - A hairbrained idea came into fruition one day while browsing the marketplace.  There it was.  The exact thing I had been looking for... I just had to go get it, take it apart, get it home and reassemble all the pieces.  No problem.  (yes, that was sarcasm.) An hour ride, my little guy getting stung by a bee, and a sweat filled summer evening spent taking the structure apart, finally got me my future set.  For weeks it sat in pieces on the ground and then over the course of a couple of days I managed to piece it back together- mostly on my own!  Now to fill it with color.... I forgot to mention that I have had a brown thumb for most of my life.... I'm working on this.  
In the end, it produced some awesome portraits unique to each season throughout the year.  From simple & summery to filled with fall color and then even followed up with holiday greens, the greenhouse has been a fun set to bring some of my ideas to life.

The Settee - Seriously.  How can you not love a cute settee?!  I've picked up cute country style as well as vintage victorian style pieces.  There have been sets that I've used exclusively for holidays and others that I've changed up and made available in any season.  There is just something about the perfect seating for a family photo or a really cool chair matched with an outdoor setting that makes my heart flutter!  (I know. I'm weird. We're all used to this by now.) 

The Area Rug - So simple, yet it brings so much to the table.  Damp ground?  Problem solved. Kinda boring setting?  Get that pop of color to kick it up a notch. Seems like something's missing?  You guessed it.  The perfect area rug often helps bring the set together, warming the space or providing a little more emphasis on your subject.

As we move into a new season of outdoor photoshoots, I look forward to hunting for new pieces and preparing for some future offerings that I know you will love through MMP!  Stay tuned for some crazy fun upcoming announcements that I'm excited about bringing you!!! 

Gone are the days of the traditional in studio, everyone doing the same canned thing, senior sessions.  I remember being a senior.  Of course, my parents loved the images.  They then had to spend a ton on prints- which I still find floating around in keepsake boxes of random sentimental stuff.  Now, photo sessions are far more interesting and personalized!  I love that!
This year especially, the school experience has been one of many variables.  Seniors are not getting the same versions of events as students in years prior.  Covid has brought along limitations that reach beyond the scope of anything we may have imagined and our kids have had to adjust.  They have had to give up many normal social events that are celebrated at the end of a high school career, or they've had to trade them for a much more tame, filtered version.  They've had to stay home. ALOT.  They've had to adjust how they socialize and how they learn.  Some have had to give up doing things they previously enjoyed.  Many experiences that were once in-person were traded for something done in front of a web camera and no matter how great your internet speed is, and as lucky as we are to live in the age of endless digital/virtual possibilities, it can still be a daunting task to enjoy.  
Our kids have been adaptable and resilient and I think we are all proud of how they are going with the flow and making it work. After all, that's a huge lesson in becoming an adult, isn't it? 
One thing that I encourage parents to do is give their student a fun, unique, and personal senior photo session.  This is something that has only gotten better as the years have passed.  It's something Covid can't take away.  I've had the pleasure of working with so many great young adults this year creating images that celebrate their personalities.  The Graduate Elite package is built to give all the options in one session, but another great way some parents are choosing is to book multiple mini sessions seasonally!  What a great way to change things up, add more variety, and sprinkle something fun throughout the school year!  
Whatever way you choose to honor that senior in your life, don't miss out on a fun photo experience.  Now, more than ever, they need these little things that don't have to be dumbed down.  It's time to reimagine the senior photo experience!  Bring the prom dresses, the suits, the sports uniforms, the art & the interests!  Let's make a memory!
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