My Photoshoot Must Haves

December 21, 2019

I typically try to pack light when I go out to my photoshoots. And the items that I DO bring with me are items that I absolutely can’t live without! I’m going to share with you guys what my Must Haves are that I bring along with me to each of my photoshoots.

“Photography has no rules, it is not a sport. it is the result which counts, no matter how it is achieved”

-Bill Brandt
pc: Indiejessphotography

Gear

My camera - I shoot with a Sony A7iii + a Nikon D750 and I absolutely LOVE them!
My Lens - My favorite go-to lens that I pretty much take with me to every shoot is a 35mm 1.8 g lens. This is a Prime Lens and has been amazing to me! I also have a 50mm 1.8 on my NikonD750 as this is another great versatile prime lens.
Memory cards - I usually have two 64gb memory cards loaded in each of my camera’s and an extra one at all times!
Extra Battery - This is a MUST especially when shooting weddings. (Usually I try to keep 4 batteries for each of my camera’s)
Sun Shade/Diffuser - I bring this to almost every shoot just in case there is some harsh lighting that I just can’t work around. (I mostly use this when I have an assistant helping me during my shoots)
Backpack - Carries all my Gear.

Personal Essentials

Water - Especially shooting here in Arizona, I always need to be sure I’m well hydrated!
Snacks - Quick easy grab-and-go snacks are perfect, especially when shooting all day.
Gum - Necessity.
Comfy Shoes - Since I’m on my feet the whole shoot I have to make sure I’m comfortable!
Oils - Some shoots can be kind of nerve-racking so I always have my oils handy! A few oils I use are below:
- Stress Away - Helps reduce stress + smells fresh.
- Lavender - This one is sooo calming and soothing
- Lemon - Helps me get focused up!
- Awaken - Helps with relaxation + brings confidence.
- Valor - This helps empower self-confidence + aids focus and attention.
  *These oils are from an awesome company called Young Living! Their Seed to Seal Promise is amazing! Unlike other essential oils out there, Young Living does not use fillers and their oils are not diluted or perfume-y. (Check out there Seed to Seal process HERE.) I’m a distributor and if you like what you see from your research with Young Living, let’s chat about it! If you’re too eager to get started, grab your Starter Kit using my link!! (Click HERE for my link) ;)
Hair Ties - It can get toasty out here in Arizona, so hair ties are definitely a must!!

Now you got to see a little bit of the behind the scenes preparation on my part and what exactly my must haves are! I hope you found this interesting and if you are looking to start your own photography biz, I hope you found this helpful! Feel free to send me a message via my Contact Page if you want to chat further!

How to Prepare For a Family Photoshoot

December 14, 2019

Are you in charge of arranging your next big family photoshoot? Planning and preparing for a photoshoot can be quite the daunting task. Don’t worry, I gotchu. I’ll try to help make it a little easier with this quick + simple guide to preparing for your photoshoot!

Communication. Communication is key. When arranging a family shoot that includes extended family, It’s helpful for all of the family members to be kept “in the loop” in regards to the details of the upcoming photoshoot.
- Meet + Discuss with the family about important details such as: Time, Location, and Attire. It is best to come to a solid agreement in regards to these details.
Attire. The big question. “What do I wear??”. I will create another blog post completely dedicated to this question in the future, stay tuned! For now, I’ll try to keep it short + sweet!
- Don’t be too “Matchy-Matchy”. I would suggest wearing colors that compliment each other. For example, you could mix + match neutral colors. A sample of a color scheme could be: light browns, creams, and blush. For a more warmer color scheme you could go with: mustard, maroon/burgundy, and off-white/cream. The idea is to have a color palette and not be too strict with it. (Pinterest is also a GREAT resource when looking for a nice color palette and outfit inspiration)
- Solids usually work best. When in doubt and are in need of a fail-proof combo, stick to solids! I would avoid printed words/logos and busy prints. If wearing plaid, try to avoid small plaid and small stripes.
- No to baggy or overly tight fitted clothing. I’m not going to go into too much depth with this one. I would just suggest wearing fitted clothing. :)
Full Tummies. Bring some snacks and water along to your shoot! Full tummies = happy faces!
Relax + Have fun!! Just be yourself and enjoy the special time with your family! (I LOVE to capture those happy candid moments)

I hope this helps you prepare for your next family shoot! Reach out to me through my Contact Page if you have any questions or want any more advice on how to prepare further for your shoot. Thank you!

3 Tips for Photoshoots Taken Outdoors

December 7, 2019

I love shooting outdoors! There’s something so special and enticing about using natural lighting for photoshoots. You obtain this unique and strong glow from the powerful sun. As much as I love shooting outdoors, the sunlight can be a bit harsh at times and the weather may not always like to be in our favor. So I’m here to let you in on a few tips + tricks that I’ve found helpful when shooting outdoors!

Time of Day. My favorite time to start my shoots is approximately 1 hour to 1 hour and 30 minutes before sunset. This time of day is known as Golden Hour. This means the sun won’t be directly above the subject. When the sun is positioned above my subjects, they experience harsh lighting and extremely dark shadowing. In turn, it makes my editing process a lot more difficult! I gotta love my Golden Hour shoots!!
Positioning subjects to have the sun behind them. I always position my subjects to have their backs to the sun. This helps keep their faces completely shaded and provides a gorgeous glow of light emitting from behind them. This makes your subjects stand out beautifully!
Effectively use wind to your advantage. We all love those “hair flowing in the wind” shots, don’t we?? Well, when dealing with soft winds, you can use it to your advantage by placing your subject to where the breeze can gently blow on their back so their hair can gloriously flow in the wind. However, when faced with high winds, find shelter!! Find a wall or object that your subject can stand against to shield them from the high winds and you can still obtain a beautiful shot.

I hope you found these tips helpful. Definitely try them out at your next shoot, and let me know how it went!