#ILOVELIGHT Workshop

It's been nagging at me all week that I had this enlightening experience last weekend and that between work, the dogs, the gym, etc., I haven't had time to reflect on it here! (excuses, excuses, I know).

Last Sunday I attended the #ILOVELIGHT workshop hosted by husband and wife team Easton and Lauren Reynolds of LuRey Photography and Mike Allebach of Allebach Photography. Let me first just start out by saying that these are wedding photographers that have been on my radar for a while now, as I truly respect their mad skills (specifically their use of lighting) and aspire to get to their level one day. 

I came away with such valuable advice, literally I filled pages of my little notebook that day on so many off camera lighting tips, as well as gear info, and just plain creative advice. There were a few nuggets of advice (aside from the technical) Easton said that day that really struck a cord with me. 

• It's important to walk into whatever assignment (be it wedding, engagement, etc.) confident that you can deliver amazing work with whatever light condition thrown your way.

• Going beyond calling yourself a "natural light photographer." I must sheepishly admit I've been caught calling myself in the past this due to my reliance on natural light and the intimidation factor in artificial light. *fluorescent light will be the death of me*

• Each wedding is its own creative playground.

• Find a mentor that knows you as a person, beyond your photography skills

• Becoming creative is an unlearning process 

• Fill up your bag o' tricks! Constantly look for new techniques. Photography is a creative process and there is no end to your learning 

Towards the end of the workshop, we were able to venture outside and shoot with some models. This perhaps was my favorite part of the day, and I wish we had focused a little more on this. It's one thing to sit and watch one go through the techniques but true learning for me doesn't begin until I'm out there doing it myself. Here's a couple of my favorites. 

And hey here's the group! Connected with a ton of great people that I hope to work with again!

Tiffany's at the Beach Bridal Shower

I've gotta hand it to her, my bridesmaid Amber is one of the craftiest bridesmaids I know. FIRST she gives me my amazing Harry Potter themed shower last September (think floating candles, Honeydukes station, spell books AHHH) and now she's at it again for our friend Drew's bridal shower. 

I guess you could say Drew's a little classier/less dorkier than me as her theme was Breakfast at Tiffany's meets a Day at the Beach. I wasn't sure how those two themes were going to meld together, especially considering we had a mini blizzard that day, but it was so cute!!

So surprised!

P.S. Bare with me, I've been experimenting with Lightroom again and so there's some here that works for me and some that doesn't. 

New Personalized USB Drives From PhotoFlashDrive.com

They've finally come! I've been doing some research on the best way to deliver photos to my clients and this is what I've come up with:

Aren't they just beautiful? These babies are from Photoflashdrive.com and I am super super happy with them. They come in a beautiful wooden box display and you can engrave your personal label on them. Plus their customer service was great, and no I don't work for them :P.

When we got our wedding photos back, I was so ecstatic to see them come back to us in their own cute little tin to keep it safe. That's when I realized it's about more than just the photos. Of course that's the most important part, but I think it's also important for clients to see the special attention you give to their photos by the little things like packaging. Plus I've always had a thing for crafts so in the future you may see me experimenting more with packaging..

My New Year's Resolution: Getting Serious About My Photography Business

My New Year's resolution for 2015 is to get serious about building my photography business.

For the past couple of years I've been wishy washy about delving full throttle into the process, specifically when it comes to selling my work. If your product is good it should sell itself right? Wrong.

I'm learning more and more the power of branding and marketing and, more importantly what clients want.

Significant Steps Taken to Further My Business

• Purchased Salesographer, and so far it has given me straight to the point advice on selling my work without selling my soul
• Totally rearranging my website, from layout to pricing, to photos
• Set up an account with Pixieset so that I can upload my work to online galleries for clients to view and purchase
• Totally reorganized our in home office so that I have a place I can work with in-person clients
• Am networking and gaining experience with photographers that have been in the business for much longer than myself by assistant and pursuing workshops
• Working on a new plan to present my work through personalized USB packaging
• Thrown myself fully into becoming an expert with shooting and editing techniques

BAM. I'm super excited and super in the zone.

First Wedding Shadowing the Amazingly Talented Tyler Boye

Last weekend I had the privilege of shooting with Tyler Boye, who owns Normandy Farm's in-house studio, which we chose for our own wedding photos. You could say I'm fangirling, but ever since I discovered his studio I've been following his work ever since. His shooting and editing techniques are breathtaking and I've been dying to know his secrets.

SO last week he let me in on a few as we met at Northampton Valley Country Club to shoot a Roaring 1920s themed wedding. I learned a lot about lighting most of all, and much more.

Also, can someone please explain to me why I've been a Lightroom snob for the past five years?? I think I'm breaking up with Photoshop...I'm in love. Legit though, this is my first shoot experimenting with Lightroom and so these photos may be tweaked at a later date, but I'm pretty thrilled with some of my favorites, which are below so enjoy and let me know what you think!

2014 Copyright Christine Nicole Photography

Jess and Seth's Classic Philadelphia Engagement Session

On Sunday I had the opportunity to photograph a couple I've known since college (they've been dating for seven years and I was so happy to hear they were engaged!), first with their Great Dane Penny at a nearby park and then we headed down to Center City, Philadelphia for some classic Philly engagement shots, from the steps of the Art Museum to hopping a cab to City Hall.

Penny was a fun challenge. At 120 pounds, she was such a handful that Seth brought his dad and sister to help keep her focused, along with lots of treats. I had to laugh going through my photos later because you can see his sister holding her in place, then slinking off to the side of the pics and then you can actually see Penny walking off camera to get the treats they were hanging over my head. And I love that sign.

I don't know if I'm being too hard on myself (probably not) but while the lighting was great that day, I feel like I'm still not editing my photos to get the effects I really want to. I try to lighten, and sometimes I end up losing information or details. I try to darken and lose the details to the shadows. So then there comes the shadow highlights and then again sometimes I overuse. So I'm still trying to perfect my own editing and shooting style, but I'm definitely headed in the right direction and getting more experience. 

Apparently none of this bothers my clients though-so maybe I am just nitpicking. Word of mouth really is one of the best way to find new clients, I'm already getting more and more inquiries!

Most importantly, I'm really learning what I love to shoot. I LOVE engagement shoots, they're so much fun! At the risk of sounding cheesy, I love the opportunity to really get creative shots that capture a couple's relationship and personality. And I love their reactions when I show them their pictures. Jess said she actually teared up when I sent her the one of the two of them kissing outside City Hall. 

2014 Copyright Christine Nicole Photography

Alexis and Shawn's Kohler Park Engagement Shoot

These were taken not far from my house, at Kohler Park, which is my fiance and I take our dogs for a beautiful walk past the fountain pond to the dog park further back. 

 

Alexis, who is super adorable by the way, had to guide her fiance a little through being a good photography model but I think they did just fine once they started to ignore the camera.