What's in My Bag (Part 3): Accessories

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from fellow photographers (or those looking to get into photography) is “what’s in your bag?” I decided to finally write a series of blog posts detailing the current gear that I use because, when I was starting out, I knew how much it helped to know what gear those in the field found useful, because, let’s be honest – there is SO MUCH gear out there. How are you supposed to know what will work best for YOU and the type of photos you love to shoot?

So if you just so happen to be interested in the tools I use to create photos, you are in luck! Last but not least in the "What's in my Bag" series are my favorite random accessories!

Expo Disc (White Balance Filter)

This has become my new favorite accessory that I take with me everywhere! A white balance filter allows you to easily set a custom white balance for any lighting scenario – for example, in a church with  mixed lighting, etc. It has saved me from some pretty ugly lighting many a time this year!

Fotocreat 5 in 1 43” Reflector

I cannot go to any shoot or wedding without my little pop-up reflector! I find such a HUGE difference in my work, especially for senior portraits, when I use a reflector! It just adds that extra “pop” to images by bouncing light into people’s eyes. I would go as far as to say that consistently using a reflector has been the biggest game changer in my work. I love this reflector in particular because it has a handle, so I can use it on my own if need be!

Neewer 150x200 cm Reflector

Call me crazy, but I love my reflectors so much that I invested in TWO! I love having a larger reflector because, as you may be able to deduce, it reflects more light – I can easily use it for couples, bridal parties, or full-body senior shots. I typically need an assistant to help me with this one, though, which is the only downside!

What's in My Bag (Part 2): Lighting & Accessories

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from fellow photographers (or those looking to get into photography) is “what’s in your bag?” I decided to finally write a series of blog posts detailing the current gear that I use because, when I was starting out, I knew how much it helped to know what gear those in the field found useful, because, let’s be honest – there is SO MUCH gear out there. How are you supposed to know what will work best for YOU and the type of photos you love to shoot?

So if you just so happen to be interested in the tools I use to create photos, you are in luck! Second up in the "What's in my Bag" series are my favorite lighting tools and modifiers!

These are probably some of the least expensive lighting products on the market, but I LOVE them. These Yongnuo speedlights and transceivers are SUPER easy to use, and have always been very reliable in terms of firing (for me). I usually have to replace these every one to two years, but they are so cheap that I don’t even mind!!

Lighting Equipment:

(3) Yongnuo Speedlight YN 560 III for Canon

These speedlights can be used on Canon cameras or off camera, using a receiver or transceiver (see below for more info on those!)

(3) Yongnuo YN-622C Wireless ETTL Flash Trigger Receiver Transmitter Transceiver

These transceivers are inexpensive and work with the above speedlights!

Light Modifiers & Stands:

(2) Westcott  43" White Shoot Through Umbrella

I love these white shoot through umbrellas for clean, evenly spread light, and typically use one or two of these with speedlights for family formals at weddings!

(1)  Westcott Rapid Box 26" Octa Softbox

In addition to having a few shoot through umbrellas, I love having at least one softbox I can bust out if need be! This softbox is incredibly easy to set up and is perfect for photographing portable, on the go sessions and events. In contrast to umbrellas, softboxes provide more concentrated light. I love using this one in particular for couples or individuals!

(3) Ravelli ALS Full 10' Air Cushioned Light Stand

These air cushioned light stands are my favorite for lighting receptions and dance floors! Their height allows me to place speedlights high above guest heads for less disruption during reception activities.

What's In My Bag (Part 1): Cameras & Lenses

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from fellow photographers (or those looking to get into photography) is “what’s in your bag?” I decided to finally write a series of blog posts detailing the current gear that I use because, when I was starting out, I knew how much it helped to know what gear those in the field found useful, because, let’s be honest – there is SO MUCH gear out there. How are you supposed to know what will work best for YOU and the type of photos you love to shoot?

So if you just so happen to be interested in the tools I use to create photos, you are in luck! First up in the "What's in my Bag" series are my favorite cameras and lenses!

(2) Canon 5D mark iii’s

Why two, you might ask? When photographing weddings, I like to make sure I have one fully functioning camera, and one back up (just in case!) - you never know what can happen, and I would hate to be left without a camera on the biggest day of someone's life!

(1) Canon 70-200 f/2.8 USM ii

This is most certainly one of my favorite lenses. I often use this lens for couples and families because of the compression (here is a great article about compression, for those of you who are interested!). I also love to hand this lens off to my second shooter to grab super tight close ups of couples and bridal parties while I am getting the main “safe” shot!

(2) Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4

This lens is by FAR my favorite lens for photographing seniors. I love the low aperture (more about that here!), which lets me create an almost dreamy-like backdrop! I also love using this lens for couples when I want to get super close up!

(2) Sigma Art 35mm f/1.4

These are my standard go-to lenses many a time for getting in large backdrops (buildings, church ceremonies, etc.), as well as for tight spaces, like getting ready photos for wedding days in small hotel rooms! I also love using my 35mm for detail photos (wedding invitations, usually!) on wedding days!

(1) Canon 100mm f/2.8 macro

In my bag, this lens really has one sole purpose: the ring shot! For wedding days and engagement sessions, I always love to have my 100mm on me to ensure I can get an epic ring shot! I also love having this lens, because it has a similar compression style to the Canon 70-200, so it can act as a backup if need be for that specific lens!

The Pros & Cons of Scheduling A Photo Session During the Winter Months

Have you ever considered having family, senior, or engagement photos taken during the winter months? Here in Western Pennsylvania, where winters can be long and cold, not quite as many people venture out on location for photos in the dead of winter when they can curl up in front of the fire with a cup of coffee instead (I’m totally putting myself in that group of people!!). BUT if a winter photo session has ever peeked your interest as a possibility, I’ve put together a little pros and cons list to share the good and the not so good of scheduling a winter photo session!

Pros:

We’ll get to utilize breathtaking and unique backgrounds. When I’m driving past a mountain of freshly snow covered trees, I often stare in awe. There’s something so beautiful about freshly fallen snow that makes for a clean, gorgeous backdrop, not just when you’re driving to work but when you’re having your photos taken!

You’ll have that “cozy feeling” in your photos. There’s something about having your photos taken in the winter that immediately creates a “cozy” feeling, especially during engagement and couple sessions where you are going to be close and cuddled up anyways!

You’ll have more times to choose from with a higher probability of weekend dates being available! Because there’s less demand for photos in the winter, I usually have more timeslots available, both during weekdays and on weekends. Essentially, scheduling in the winter means you’ll get a fast pass to the front of the scheduling line!

Cons:

The obvious one: it’s COLD! Consider this test: does thinking about being out in the cold for 60 to 90 minutes make you want to never leave your house again? Then a winter photo session might not be the best choice for you. While some people don’t mind being out in the cold for an extended period of time, others would much rather wait until the warmer months (which is completely understandable!).

There’s a higher chance that your session might be cancelled or postponed due to extreme temperatures or inclement weather. Flexibility is key for winter sessions. There’s a chance your session could be snowed out (while snow is beautiful in photos, it’s not worth endangering your life for) or postponed due to freezing temperatures (who even likes to walk to their car in -5 degree weather?!). Being flexible is KEY!

It might not be the most enjoyable hour/hour and a half of your life. This one kind of speaks for itself – hanging out in the park in 15 degree weather isn’t nearly as fun as watching the sun set on a 70 degree day. The truth is, having a photo session the winter means you might be cold to your core!

What do you think? When considering the pros and cons - where do you fall? I write none of this to persuade anyone out of a winter session, but only to educate based on what some clients wish they would’ve known in the past. If you’re still interested in a winter photo session, be sure to check out my blog post “How to Prep for Your Winter Photo Session” for tips on preparing for a cold weather shoot!

How to Prepare for Your Winter Photo Session

There are SO many things I love about photographing people in a winter setting. There are lots of unique and picturesque backgrounds, and the photos always end up having an overall “cozy” feeling to them! But what does it really take to have your photos taken in the dead of winter when it’s 20 degrees (or less!) outside? There are a couple of tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years that have helped make winter sessions more enjoyable for those who are brave enough to step in front of my camera. So if YOU are planning on having family photos, couple photos, or senior photos taken during the winter – these are my best tips for you!

Make sure the first thing you’re thinking of when planning your outfits is WARMTH!

• Add accessories like scarves, hats, jackets, long boot socks and boots.
• Consider actually wearing a coat for your photos!
• Add layers underneath your chosen outfits – socks, long johns, an extra t-shirt – anything that will insulate you a little bit more!
• If you’ll be walking around in the snow, consider bringing a pair of snow boots for walking between locations so your “nice” boots or shoes don’t get ruined!

Bring some EXTRA warmth with you for in between shots!

• I always bring a blanket or two with me to my sessions in the winter, but I highly recommend bringing extra for yourself if you think of it! This can be a lifesaver while walking between locations or even just between shots!
• Hand warmers are a LIFESAVER for cold winter shoots. You can put them in your gloves, shoes, and pockets without the camera picking it up (for the most part!)

Be willing to be flexible if the weather calls for it.

There’s a higher chance of inclement weather, especially in Western Pennsylvania in the winter months, which means that a session could easily get snowed out or cancelled due to extreme temperatures. It’s not fun to have your photo taken in negative degree weather, which can make the session (and memories associated with it) somewhat unenjoyable, which is the very LAST thing I would ever want!

As a firm believer that photo sessions can be (and should be) enjoyable, incorporating these tips and tricks into your winter photo session will ensure that you stay somewhat warm and toasty throughout your entire session!

When Should We Have Our Engagement Photos Taken?

You’re engaged – congratulations!! For many couples the first few steps in wedding planning might include finding (and booking) a wedding venue, beginning the ever-popular bridal dress search, and booking an engagement session! One of the most frequent questions I receive from recently engaged couples is: “when should I book our engagement photos?”

This is a great question, but really, there is not one-size-fits-all answer. I always recommend couples book their session sooner rather than later, but truthfully, the question of when to book your engagement session comes down to how you plan to use your engagement photos. For example:

• Will you be using your engagement photos for an engagement newspaper announcement? (If so, you might want to schedule them within the first few weeks of being engaged!)
• Will you be using your engagement photos for save the dates? (Save the dates typically get sent out 6 to 8 months before the wedding date, so it would be best to schedule your session 8 to 10 months out from your wedding date.)
• Will you be using your engagement photos for bridal shower décor? (The bridal shower typically occurs 1 to 2 months before a wedding, so 4 to 5 months should give you enough time!)
• Will you be decorating your wedding with your engagement photos? (If you’re really only planning on using your photos to decorate your wedding, you could probably time your engagement session just a couple of months out from your big day!)

Other points to consider that may affect the timing of your engagement photos might be…

…if you have your heart set on getting your photos done during a certain season.

 …if you have your heart set on a certain seasonal location (for example – if you’re from Pittsburgh and you want the fountain at the Point in the background, scheduling during the summer time would be best, as it turns off as the months grow colder!).

…if you would like to have a destination engagement session in a different city (your photographer’s availability might be varied for sessions that require further travel).

Who Cares About Engagement Photos?

Remember the first time you rode a bike? Super. Scary. You might’ve had someone there to help you get your feet off the ground, but it probably took more than one try to get the hang of riding that thing!

Much like anything in life, usually the first time we do ANYTHING, it doesn’t come first nature. It feels weird – awkward, even – just because we’re not used to it or have never done it before.

The same is true for having your photo taken! You may have had experience having your photo taken when you were a senior in high school, or as a professional for a LinkedIn headshot, but if you’re getting married, more than likely you’ve never had your photo taken with someone else. And trust me, having your photo taken with someone else is totally different than having it taken by yourself!

But how? For one, an engagement/wedding photographer is looking to capture an interaction. So instead of you interacting with the camera, the goal is to get you and your fiancé interacting together. And while some couples are total naturals in front of the camera, most of us (yes, I’m raising my hand too!) need a little guidance and practice before we catch on.

So… let me ask, very boldly: if you’ve never had your photo taken with your significant other before your wedding day, do you want to go in without EVER having practiced, on one of the biggest days of your life?

If you do, I give you major props, because you’re much braver than I was! Even as a wedding photographer, I was a little uneasy getting in front of the camera for my own engagement photos. But once I did – I slowly started catching on. I started to see what our photographer was looking to capture, and I learned how to play into those moments to get the best interactions possible with my now-husband! And let me tell you – we LOVE those photos and have many of them hanging up around our apartment, because they capture who we genuinely are.

On my wedding day, I was able to go into the day worrying less about one thing. I knew that we had practiced having our photo taken before and that we were total naturals (well, maybe not TOTAL naturals, but not too bad ;) ), so I knew we were going to get awesome photos the day of our wedding, too.

And that, my friends, is one pretty awesome reason to have engagement photos taken. But just to recap and add a few more points – engagement photos…

1. …allow you to test out your wedding photographer before the wedding day to see how they work (and to see their work!).
2.  …allow you to get more comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day.
3. …give you some photos of you and your husband or wife-to-be in your everyday clothes, looking like yourselves, which are great for save the dates, bridal shower decorations, Christmas gifts, wedding décor – the list is endless!
4. …give you an excuse to have a date night. Planning a wedding can be CRAZY. Trust me, I understand – I planned mine while I was starting a business, going to school full time, and working part-time! But the day of our engagement photos, my now-husband and I were able to relax and just enjoy being in the presence of each others company without worrying about anything else.

So really – what you are you waiting for?! Schedule that session today! And if you’re looking for a local Pittsburgh engagement photographer, I’d love to talk with you to hear more about you and your fiancé!

Can I be a Wedding Photographer if I'm an Introvert?

When I was in middle school, I didn’t have many friends. It’s not because I didn’t want to have any friends – I was just painfully shy. I could barely look people in the eye, let alone hold a conversation with them, no matter what age of whoever I was “holding” a conversation with.

Because I have natural tendencies towards introversion, I used to limit myself – a LOT. I told myself I couldn’t be a leader, and that I could never EVER do things where the attention was solely on me. I specifically remember telling myself that there was no way I could EVER own a business, because who would want to work with an introvert? People LOVE extroverts and their big personalities – why would someone choose to work with me if they could work with them?

But that’s the funny thing about life. Sometimes what we perceive as a weakness can actually be a strength. Towards the end of my high school years, I started challenging myself to simply just love on people – THAT is something I could do, regardless of the personality type I had. I realized that my introverted-ness couldn’t be an excuse for not having any friends, or not getting where I wanted to be in life – so I started simply finding ways to love on and listen to the people around me.

In wedding photography, there’s a bit of a bent towards people who are extroverted. Introverts see them as having the upperhand (or so I’ve seen with some of my introverted friendtographers), but I wanted to share three tips for introverts who might be struggling with being an introverted wedding photograph. I am by no means an expert in this, but if what I share can help someone else, I’m all for it. So here are my top tips:

1.  Ask a LOT of questions – good ones.

Upon first meeting me, some people mistake me for an extrovert. Sometimes, my introverted tendencies are disguised by my love for asking questions. It’s SO easy to keep a conversation going, even if small talk isn’t your “thing,” by asking questions. But the catch is – they have to be genuine, and they have to require more than“yes” or “no” response. And at a wedding, there are so many friends and family members of the couple coming together that there is always a plethora of good questions to ask!

2.  Be an excellent listener.

When you ask a question, make sure to listen to the response. This may sound quite obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people forget to listen to the answer to the question they just asked, simply because they’re trying to think of the next question or how they’re going to respond. Asking a follow up question or clarifying a point from what the other person said is a great way to keep the conversation going and make sure you’re listening!

3.  Don’t hold back on dishing out compliments – but make sure they’re genuine.

This is one of my favorite strategies for making people feel comfortable when I’m taking their photo. Compliment the CRAP out of them! I love having the opportunity to encourage people, and, believe it or not, being in front of the camera can sometimes make even the most confident folks clam up a little bit. By genuinely complimenting whoever’s in front of your camera, you will automatically boost their self-esteem. But again – make sure your compliments are genuine, because we all know what it’s like to receive a compliment that isn’t really genuine! Keep it real by pointing out something specific, like: “I love the pattern on your dress!” or “your hair color looks perfect against this backdrop!” or “the way you just naturally tucked your hair behind your ear was perfect! Would you mind doing that again?” Anything that can build the confidence of the person in front of your camera is a great way to go!

4. Take the time you need to recharge.

Introverts tend to recharge their batteries (or refill their bucket) by having alone time, so make sure you get the alone time you need after a wedding or portrait session! This might mean unwinding by watching a movie, Netflix series, reading a book, or taking a nap. I personally love to come home and edit a few sneak peeks while I watch a show (usually the Goldbergs or How I Met Your Mother!).

If you’re an introvert chasing a dream, limiting yourself like I was – I challenge you to try putting each of these three tips into action to see if they make a difference for you! And as always, share any tips you might have in the comments below – you never know who needs to know what you have to say!

Lessons I Learned From Photographing My First Wedding

I used to look at wedding photographers and think they had the best, easiest job in the world. They show up, take some photos of some stuff that’s happening, go home, and send the files to their clients ba-da-bing, ba-da-boom – job done, with a couple hundred (or thousand) dollars in the bank!

Then, I photographed my first wedding.

I had no idea what the going rate was for wedding photography, so I charged a few hundred dollars, and when my first couple signed and sent in their contract, I felt great! “Easy money,” I thought to myself. “Now I can just focus on being creative!” I wish that was the only thing I had to think about.

In the few months leading up to my first wedding, I quickly realized that there were so many things I wasn’t prepared for. Did I have the right gear? How was I going to light a dark reception space? How was I going to know what was happening throughout the day and where to be? Was I going to have time to pee?!

I quickly started to realize that I was in way over my head – so I started doing everything I possibly could to prepare myself! I rented gear, contacted the bride for additional information about the day, told myself that I didn’t need to drink water on the wedding day (I’m pretty sure I was dehydrated that day). A few problems arose in my panicked state:

• I rented some “nice” gear, but I had no idea how to use it
• I rented a camera that took CF cards instead of SD cards and found myself having to purchase enough memory to hold a wedding from Best Buy the day before the wedding (I didn’t even know CF cards existed before that!)
• From everything that I had purchased and rented, I found that I actually lost a significant amount of money trying to be prepared

So, for anyone out there who might be interested in getting into wedding photography – I am SO excited for you!! Photographing weddings is so much fun – sometimes stressful – but being able to love on and encourage people through one of the best days of their lives (while photographing emotion and beautiful details) makes my job SO worth it! Here are a few lessons I learned from photographing my first wedding – take from this list what you feel will help YOU!

1.  Know your gear inside and out.

One of the worst things for me about that first wedding was how little I knew about my gear. I was used to shooting on one camera, but switched over to another more intricate camera for the wedding day without having much time to practice with it. What was the result? Me, fumbling around with my gear for the entire day instead of focusing on loving and serving my couple.

2.  Know how much it’s actually going to cost to photograph the wedding.

What are your expenses? Is there an extra piece of gear you need to purchase or rent in order to complete the job? Will you need to pay someone else to second shoot with you, or an assistant to help carry your bags? Will you be taking any toll roads to get to the venue?

3.  Clarify the terms of the agreement beforehand.

A few questions to ask yourself might be: How many hours of coverage will your couple be receiving? How many digital files (or print products) can they expect to receive as a result? Will you be editing the files? How will you be sending the files to your clients?

4.  Get all of the information you need beforehand so you don’t have to bother the bride the day of the wedding.

When you know what’s going on the day of the wedding, you can create a game plan to make sure you have enough time to get all of the important and requested photos. Being prepared is KEY!

5.  Drink some water and eat some food throughout the day – seriously!

This one might be just me, but at that first wedding – I didn’t eat or drink anything all day. In fact, my second shooter (who’s now my husband) literally had to force the camera out of my hand and hide it from me so I would sit down and eat something (because really, no guests want photos taken of them while they’re eating). It’s okay (and necessary) to take a little break when you’ve been shooting for 8 to 10 hours!

And above all – enjoy it, and go with the flow! Know that your job is so important, not only because you’re capturing what moments will be remembered for years and generations to come – you’re also capturing how they will be remembered. And that, my friends, is what makes this job such a special & unique one.

Andddddd in the spirit of transparency, I wanted to share a few images from the first wedding I ever photographed as the primary photographer four years ago (complete with my old crazy watermark and everything!)! I have to give a HUGE shout out to my first couple who trusted me to photograph their day - I can't thank you two enough for trusting me to photograph your day, especially when i was just starting out! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

To Bring or to not Bring Your Camera?

Did you know that there is such a thing as a "photo-taking impairment effect?" I recently read some research by Linda Henkle, a psychology professor at Fairfield University, suggesting that taking photos of something can actually impair you from remembering said event - which, as a wedding photographer, really surprised me.

But then, at my next wedding, I paid attention to guests and family members at the wedding and recognized so many people who were essentially living through their camera phones - recording a toast, but watching it through their phone. Ready to take a photo of the first kiss, and watching it through their phone instead of being present and active in the moment they were in. Ever since then, watching a mother of the bride, bridesmaid, grandfather, friend, or whoever else watching a wedding day unfold through their phone has made me rethink the importance of my job. I realized then that as a wedding photographer, I get to help other people actually LIVE in the moment, and STILL get to remember it later - which is such a beautiful way to serve people!

“Are you more concerned with taking photos, or are you spending your time making memories and being present in whatever you’re doing?”

And of course, this applies to more than just wedding photography. Parents - having photos of your kids is so important, but being there for them and engaged in whatever they're doing, encouraging them along the way, is even MORE important. Kids will remember how present you were... or how distracted you were by your phone.

The same goes for anyone, really - on vacation, are you more concerned with taking photos to remember the trip, or are you spending the majority of your time actually making memories and being present in whatever you're doing?

I recently found myself photographing a beeeeeautiful destination wedding on Mackinac Island in Michigan, and while I was SO excited to take photos of my beautiful couple in such a stunning location, I found myself hesitant to bring my camera with me on my off-day. Typically, if I'm in a new place for the first time, I LOVE to document what I see so I can remember and share it. But my husband said an off -the-cuff comment as we were getting ready to head into town that made me rethink my packing list for the day: "I just want to be present with you today." WHOA. Right then and there, I was reminded of all of the moments I've missed because I was too busy hiding behind my camera. So, hesitantly, I pulled my camera out of my bag and left it sitting on a chair in our hotel room. And let me tell you - that day spent fully present with my husband was one of the BEST gifts I could've given to our marriage. We laughed, we walked, and we soaked in that time together, being fully present with each other and with our surroundings.

I'm no expert (I mean, I'm still a photographer to my core!), but I want to challenge you to do the same.

If you're a guest, friend, bridesmaid, groomsman, or family member at a wedding, my suggestion is to allow yourself to enjoy it - fully - without a phone in hand. Wherever you go, even if you bring your camera or your phone or whatever you use to document our life, be sure to take the time to actually live those moments. Be a part of those memories. Laugh, cry, shout, clap, and take the time to take it all in ❤️