The Anatomy of a Nostalgia Studio Photo-shoot
Photography is all the rage. It’s in our nature to want to surround ourselves with images of our friends and families that we love so dearly. Not only do we want these images for ourselves, but we also want to share them with everyone else. With the advancement of digital photography, editing software, and the multitudes of dynamic social media platforms, it’s becoming easier and easier to create and share those memories.
Photography is an investment. Like any other investment, it’s important to carefully consider your options in order to find the right fit for you and your family. One way to do that is to learn a little bit about what goes on behind the scenes. What are you really paying for? Is it worth it? Before you decide to take the plunge, take a look at the anatomy of a Nostalgia Studio photography session.
Communication is key in creating a piece of artwork we can both (client and artist) be proud of. It’s important to establish your goals for the shoot, and share them with your photographer. Do you have a vision for your photographs? How involved would you like to be creatively? While many clients may simply be in need of a photo for a Christmas card, others may have a unique vision, and wish to be more involved in the creative process. My goal is to work closely with you to tailor my artistic vision to fit your needs. This brings us to my next topic: Inspiration and Research.
The Inspiration/Research phase is by far my FAVORITE part of the creative process. It’s nearly impossible to avoid being inspired in today’s world, and I, for one, am always seeking it! My sister and I have a vision for an inspiration blog called Current Mania. We’re always finding inspiration in the most random places. We’ll become totally consumed by an idea, sending us into a creative frenzy. It’s funny how we both experience it the same way, but hardly ever at the same time.
As a nine to fiver, I’m stuck in cube-land most of the day. I look to blogs and creative sites for inspiration when I can’t get outside. One of my favorite sources of inspiration is BHLDN’s ‘B’ Inspired Blog. The site is so beautifully executed from the content right down to their custom designed typeface. I look to other types of online resources for that special kind of inspiration that comes out of nowhere, like Provisions by Food 52 and The Bulletin by Terrain.
If this doesn’t make you want to plan a wedding, you’re crazy. (Image courtesy of Provisions by Food 52)
And then there’s my favorite kind of inspiration–the kind that comes from the inside. Like the way the light shines through the trinkets in my windowsill that gives rise to a warm, and mysterious color palate that I HAVE to re-create in my next shoot.
Curating and processing a selection of photographs is perhaps the most complicated part of the process. It’s easy to get carried away with editing photos. We’ve all seen the contrast-boosted train wrecks that so often make their way onto our Pinterest feed. I’ve been there! When you’re learning the programs as a new photographer, you want so badly to use all of the tools at your fingertips. I’m all about making your photographs uniquely you, so I’ve cut back to correcting blemishes, whitening teeth, and removing any pesky distractions like bra straps and the occasional flyaway. I then experiment with a variety of Photoshop actions and personal touches. For me, photo editing is an evolving skill, but I’m working towards a natural feel that enhances what’s already beautiful. I’m finding the more experience I gain, the less editing I need to do.
Before
After
There’s so much that goes into making the perfect photo. I could talk for days about client experience, but that’s a whole other topic. There’s nothing I enjoy more than throwing myself into a shoot. I’ll spend forever researching and looking for inspiration based on knowledge of my client’s style and comfort level. I tend to get a bit manic when it’s time to actually take the photos, and find myself coming up with fresh ideas on the spot. Even so, I always seem to be surprisingly pleased at what we’ve created. Like I said, I find joy in creating something we can BOTH be proud of.
If you have a vision or would like to talk to me about taking photographs or helping with personal design projects, let me know! I’m always open to brainstorming, and can’t wait to get started on my next project.
Until then,
