The Blog of VSD Photography

I just need to lose those extra pounds

“I just need to lose some weight before my session”. I hear this a lot when I talk to women about getting their portraits made. I also hear excuses about hair, about not liking how we look, about not liking to be in front of the camera. How many excuses will we allow ourselves so that we don’t have to get pictures made?

If I could offer a rebuttal to any of the above (and any of the numerous other objections you may have in your head), it would be this: Your family loves you the way you are now. Your friends love you the way that you are now. At what point *will* you feel ready? At what point *will* you be good enough? When you find old pictures in albums of your grandparents or relatives of so many generations past, do you focus on any flaws that you might be able to find? Or do you wonder at the mysteries that are buried within the 1,000s of words that that images are worth? When your children look back on the images they have of you what will they focus on? Their focus will be on their memories of you. And their children’s children’s children will be fascinated with how the women of the middle 2000s dressed and fixed their hair and made themselves up. You are so much more than your supposed flaws — to your children, to your descendants, to your family, to your friends, and to yourself, my friend.

So, call me and let’s talk about those extra pounds, or those flaws that you can’t seem to get over. I’ll ease those fears and we can move past the hesitations to make sure we take the best picture of you that you’ve ever had made. Just the way you are.

A Photo Session is a Confidence Booster

Blog, Tips

My client was sitting across from me putting the final touches on her makeup. We were chatting about a little of everything and naturally I started talking about how I’ve loved getting into the portraiture genre in my home studio. I love being creative with my clients and it has helped me gain confidence by posting, promoting, and talking about this new genre for me. “I’m so excited for my session because I’m working on building my confidence as well, and I know this will help me!” she responded. My client wants to start speaking publicly and being more present in her professional environment. Sitting for me and being in front of my camera, pushing herself just a little out of her comfort zone, was one of the first steps in gaining that confidence.

For this post I’m going to include a couple of images that I had taken of me at my own confidence-boosting photo session with Dorothy Beam Photography. It was fabulous and I still love looking at these images!

Many women, over 75% actually, lack confidence in the workplace. And we can assume that stat is similar for lacking confidence in general. The majority of us are also unhappy with our bodies. So how could a photoshoot, where you are capturing your image and the state that it’s in, boost confidence? I believe there are several reasons:

Doing something you’re “afraid” of helps you overcome that fear. You survive and see that it wasn’t just not so bad, but was actually fun. Seeing your body, your face, your “flaws” in print, but still loving the process and the final images is empowering.

Being pampered makes you feel good, and when you feel good about yourself that confidence of the day can resurface when you look at those images again. You get pampered before, during, and after a session with me. And we all know how that feels. Amazing! I love using folio boxes and wall art to display images because it’s so easy to go back and look through your images. . . and feel again that confidence and love for yourself that you felt while being pampered on the day of the session.

It helps you put things in perspective – come to terms with what you don’t like about yourself and focus on things you do like. We all have at least one thing about ourselves that we’re displeased with. But have you taken the time to reflect on the things you might like about yourself? Even if they’re not physical traits, the images you create at your session will show off your personality, and you’ll begin to see and appreciate what you can like about yourself.

Seeing your intrinsic beauty, when you normally see yourself as something less, is empowering. Physical beauty is fleeting. And the idea of what is considered beautiful changes. But having your picture made and capturing the essence of you are — that is your intrinsic beauty — and we all have that. Realizing that you are more than just a physical appearance is empowering.

When we come across images of our ancestors or just old pictures in an antique store or a book. We know practically nothing about the daily lives of those women. But we can see who they were. We remark about the fashion of that decade, but then we start to see past the fashion, and begin to wonder about the woman underneath. We begin to understand the intrinsic beauty of who she was and what she was capable of, or what she had to endure. We feel the power of that legacy.

See for yourself how much of a confidence booster a photo session can be. Schedule a consultation with me so we can talk about why you need to boost your confidence.

Trends for 2021

Blog, Tips

2020 Has left us wanting.

I don’t think that we’ve ever been as ready for a new year as we collectively are now. 2020 seemed to take about five years to get through.

Weary GIF from Thegoldengirls GIFs

HELLO, 2021!

As we welcome the new year, new fashion trends are around the corner. What do we have to look forward to fashion-wise? If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that comfort will trump style if we’re given the choice. Most of us did go the comfort route in 2020, and we don’t want to give that up as the new year emerges (and as we emerge from our quarantines to live life again?). Expect to see comfort in the 2021 trends – in size and feel. Yes!

Several trends Harper’s Bazaar and Marie Claire are seeing:

patchwork
baggy
knitwear
cutouts
florals and feathers

A nod to the 90s is also expected with bras as tops (I guess that started with Madonna in the 80s?), sheer fabrics, and pleated minis. Lug soled shoes are expected, too. Will they be as heavy as they were in the 90s? Break out those Doc Martens!

Hair trends seem like they’ll be all over the place, but the main words are retro and casual. I’m all for the curtain bangs and bobs. But the mullet? Good grief, let that one die! InStyle has the visual inspiration.

The two colors Pantone picked for 2021 are grey and bright yellow. Or more precisely “Ultimate Gray” and “Illuminating”. Comfort and freshness. Benjamin Moore also predicts soothing and comforting colors, but gives us a bigger palette to work with.

HOW DOES THIS TRANSLATE TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?

For your portraits, it’s great to go with the colors and styles that are on trend and that you feel comfortable wearing! I would say though, that unless you’re going for an editorial look, stay away from the florals and the loose sizing on top. Tighter fitting clothes always photograph better if you’re looking to flatter yourself. If you’re having a photo session to create images that you’ll want to cherish for your lifetime and then pass down to your children, I would steer more towards classic looks that stand the test of time. Fashion is definitely fun to play with and express yourself, but we all have pictures of ourselves where we’re wearing “that” trend and we cringe every time we look at it. You and I will chat before your session to talk about what would be best for the type of session you want to have.

Cheers!

VICKI

A tour of my home studio

Blog

During the COVID lockdown I did what many of us did:

Took long breaks and didn’t get anything done.
Got creative with new types of hobbies – for me it was watercolor painting
Did insanely creative things – for me it was to create a home studio

Welcome to my new, beautiful, small but mighty home studio! I’ve been an on-location, natural light photographer for my whole career. . .until the Covid lockdowns began. When we began our stay-at-home, I took a big break from photography. I couldn’t go on jobs, so I focused on being creative in other ways — watercolor painting and drawing for one. After a while, though, the itch to get back into photography grew. I also have a strong DIY streak and so the idea of repurposing my office into a home studio was born and quickly grew. With the help of my amazing husband, we moved the furniture out of the office. I was left with a 10×15 space with amazing light.

I’ve set up my backdrop stand with my various backdrop options. I have a blank wall to photograph on. I have my v-flats to either reflect light or to serve as makeshift walls (the black “wall” is my absolute favorite!). I’ve got my various studio lights to help create the light when the sun isn’t working. In Ohio, the cold, grey weather hampers outdoor photography in the winter. Now I have a space where I can shoot no matter the weather outside. I’ve created several tulle skirts to start my studio wardrobe, which I can tell will grow quickly.

My clients love having their sessions here! It’s a safe space where they can relax, get comfortable, and enjoy being pampered. I’m super concerned about cleanliness and health. I wear a mask during every session and every reveal appointment and I make sure surfaces are sanitized.

If you’ve been thinking about having new headshots or portraits made, let’s set up a consultation to talk about how we can achieve them in my studio. Welcome!

What to Wear for your Session

Blog, Tips

Trying to choose your outfit/s for your portrait session is a little like trying to decide what to wear on a first date. Does this color look good on me? Does this make me look fat? What will that outfit say about me?! Don’t worry! It shouldn’t be that stressful! Here are some tips I’ve pulled together:

Be yourself — Start with your own personal style. Think about clothing styles you currently have and the stores where you normally shop. Wearing clothes you are comfortable in will ensure meaningful photographs that are true reflections of who you are as an individual. Me? I love sequins.

With that being said, what do you want your images to say about you? If you are in a conservative business, your headshots should look more professional and traditional. If you are in a more relaxed line of work, the sky (or your personality) is really the limit. If you are wanting to make a stunning statement, go for something you don’t normally wear. My parachute dress, for instance. You’re welcome to borrow that for your session!

Location, location, location — Consider the setting of where your session will take place. Will it be at the park, near water, your home, downtown? Imagine your setting and the types of colors that will be there. Since the setting will end up being the background of your photos, it has a big impact on your overall look. For example, if you plan to have the session at a garden, wearing floral outfits might not be the best idea because you would blend in and get lost in the busy background. Ideally, you want the background to complement you, but not match so much that you become the background.

Colors — A good rule of thumb is to pick one or two main colors that will complement your skin tone and be a cohesive bond with the location. If you get too colorful it could distract from your face. However, I am the first to say rules are meant to be broken, and if your favorite clothing is a myriad of colors, well, wear it. Being comfortable is more important! Also, consider the location of your session. Typically, pastels (think peach, mint, or lavender) go well with natural scenes. Primary colors such as blue, red, and yellow match modern locations like the city.

Solids & Prints — Our eyes are naturally drawn to patterns, so dressing in a print will stand out. Once again, if that is your personality, go for it! Otherwise, I would recommend sticking with one print on one piece of clothing. Playful prints such as stripes and polka dots look great, especially on kids. If this is a family session, dress the adults in complementary solids to balance the look. For families, I recommend one pattern, two at the max.

Layering — Wearing a business jacket or cardigan that can be removed for some of the images adds variety. A note about arms — many women aren’t crazy about their upper arms. I would recommend wearing something with sleeves at least to the elbow to camouflage that area. Depending on the season, consider layering your outfits with accessories such as headbands, rain boots, scarves, jackets, and hats. Accessories add variety to your images and can double as fun props!

Jewelry — for more conservative looks choose smaller, classic jewelry pieces. Statement necklaces are a great way to add visual interest to an image if it fits within your job boundaries.

Need help? I’m here! I’ve got Pinterest inspiration boards to share with you. I can also come to you and help you look through your closet. I’ve also got the number of a great personal stylist who can help you do a deep dive into your closet.

Posing Tips for Your Next Photography Session

Blog, Tips

“It’s picture time!” Whether they’re professional pictures or someone is pulling out a camera at a party, do those words strike a little bit of fear?

We all want to look our best.

But most of the time we feel that the camera isn’t very flattering. Take control of how you feel when posing for any photo!

I’ve compiled a list of EASY tips to incorporate the next time someone pulls out their camera and wants to capture the moment. Modeling for me is my lovely daughter, during the time of social distancing and quarantine because of the coronavirus. Thank you, Reagan!

1. Don’t stand square to the camera. Standing with your whole body directly facing the camera squares your body. It’s more of a power pose than a flattering pose. Think Superman (larger than life).

INSTEAD – stand slightly angled to the camera. This visually slims the body and creates a flattering figure.

2. Don’t slouch. I know I sound like your mother, but we all know the nonverbal cues of slouching.

INSTEAD – Have straight posture or even an arched back. This does so much! Not only does it pull in the core but it helps elongate the neck and gives you an immediate boost of confidence. If the camera is capturing your backside, an arched back helps give your body nice curves and a slimmer shape.

3. Don’t keep your arms close in to your body. This doesn’t allow any visual space between body parts, and it accentuates those flags that ladies tend to start flying in mid-life.

INSTEAD – Hold your arms away from your body –usually women do this naturally by placing their hands on their hips. If there’s something to hold onto nearby, hold onto that (a fence, a flagpole, a post, etc).

4. Don’t stand with square hips. This keeps the body stiff and is another power pose.

INSTEAD – Stand with one hip cocked. We do this naturally without thinking about it. And since your body is at an angle to the camera, make sure the hip closest to the camera is lower and the one away from the camera is higher. This means your front knee will most likely be bent. And that’s flattering as well!

5. Speaking of standing stiffly – don’t stand with straight limbs. Once again, it keeps your body stiff and can look awkward.

INSTEAD – follow the old adage – “if it bends, bend it”. Use those joints to your advantage and bend them, even slightly. This gives a fluidity to your body and makes you look comfortable.

6. Don’t pose with your head down, and we’re focusing on the chin here. This accentuates double chins and hides your jawline.

INSTEAD – pose with your chin up and out, but don’t over-exaggerate it. This helps to elongate the neck, reduce double chins, and accentuate your jawline.

7. Don’t pose with your hands flat towards the camera. This can make them look larger and brings attention to them.

INSTEAD – place them on a plane that won’t be directly facing the camera. And remember the “if it bends, bend it” adage. But don’t go crazy there either – we don’t want claws. Hold fingers naturally bent and you’ll look relaxed and confident.

8. Last, but not least, if you’re resting any part of your body on anything, don’t completely rest it on there. The majority of the time this means placing your chin in your hand or your arm on a fence post (etc); or even being cheek to cheek with someone. When you actually rest your chin on your hand or your arm on a fence railing you’re smashing that skin up and distorting your features.

INSTEAD – just fake it. Only rest lightly so that you have the look you’re going for, but your skin and features stay natural.

So there you go! Practice these in front of a mirror until you get the hang of it. The next time the cameras come out you’ll feel more confident and will feel great about the way you look!

And when is the last time you’ve had your pictures taken where you’ve felt confident?

It’s time!

Click below to schedule a 15 minute chat with me where we can discuss what updated pictures can do for your confidence, your business, or your social media presence.

The Anatomy of a Photography Session

Blog, Tips

My daughter was three years old and taking her very first dance class. At the end of the season she and her classmates were set to perform a cute routine dressed as bumble bees for the year-end recital. One major problem, she did NOT want to go on stage! She was freaked out about the unknown and didn’t want to go through with it. Thankfully, the dance studio scheduled a dress rehearsal, where all the dancers could get an idea of how recital day would work ahead of time. They knew what to expect for the big day. My daughter was nervous and anxious during the dress rehearsal, but that day took away all fears for the actual recital. She confidently buzzed onto the stage and killed it, so to speak.

Consider this your dress rehearsal for your next photography session. It shouldn’t be as fear-inducing as having to tap dance on stage in a bumble bee costume, but you probably do have questions about what is involved and what your obligations are.

Here’s how my photography sessions work, from pre to post.

The Pre-session Consultation

I love to get together in person to meet you and discuss the details (coffee is my treat). Sometimes my clients just don’t have the time, so a phone call or Zoom call will work. This is when I get the nitty gritty from you.

– Why do you want new pictures at this time?
– What are you wanting from the session? One or two images for your business card? A whole album-full of images from a newborn session?
– What location/s do you have in mind? (I can suggest ideas)
– What style are you wanting to portray (I can suggest ideas)
– What props, if any, do you think you might want to use?

It really is that simple!

2) The Session

We get together at the agreed upon time and have what will most likely be the best time of your week. My sessions really are relaxed and a lot of fun!

– sessions run between 30 minutes and an hour or two (depending on how many locations/outfits/looks we’ve decided upon). I can get a lot of images in a short amount of time, so if you have a significant other or child who “hates” to have their picture taken, tell them to relax. It will be painless.

– Speaking of relaxed — I like to use a mix of posed images and candids. We all want one or two pictures where a majority of the people are looking right into the camera and smiling*, but the magic happens between the poses. I like to make this happen with prompts. (Guys love prompts the most because it gives them a mission to accomplish, and it’s usually to act silly with the kids, or whisper inappropriate things into your ear 😆).

Boom, session is done, and nobody died!

*smiling won’t always happen with kids and THAT’S OK. When you look at a picture of your child and they are smiling because you threatened them within an inch of their life, you’re going to remember that tension for years to come when you look at that image. If we try to get the little to smile but s/he just isn’t having it, we’ll laugh about it and continue on with the session. You’ll end up with an image that is real and authentic, and speaks to who your child really was at that time in life. THOSE emotions will be so much more heart warming.

3) The Reveal

Shortly after your session, we’ll schedule your reveal, which I also like to do in person with my clients. I selfishly love to see their reactions when they see their images for the first time. Here’s what we’ll do:

– go over the images in your gallery, one by one. First we’ll just look at each one and smile and laugh as we remember the day.

– then we’ll talk about what you want to do with the images (which we went over at the pre-session consultation).

– then we’ll go over the images again and decide whether each image is a keeper and how it should be used (in an album, as a print for a folio box, as a wall portrait, gift print, etc).

– then payment is made and I give you an estimate as to when I’ll get you any mock-ups that I will owe you.

– once you approve any mock-ups, I place the order with my professional lab and then deliver your prints and products to you when they arrive.

4) The Happily Ever After

You get to enjoy your images for ever and ever!

The End, standing ovation, you nailed your photography session like a pro! No bumble bee costume needed.

Are headshots enough?

Blog, Personal Branding, Tips

We’ve been learning about personal branding and why all entrepreneurs and many business people need to curate and maintain their personal brands on social media.

You’ve learned that there are different types of content that you need to post and present to your readers (current and potential clients). All of this content gives the reader a better idea about who you are as a person, business, and brand. So we’ve really just answered the main question right here. No, headshots are not enough when it comes to your social media content.

Especially for service-based businesses.

Headshots are great to show the person behind the company. But even a really great headshot can’t provide the reader with all of the information about you that they will need to “know, like, and trust” you.

Clients are going to want to get to know the well-rounded you, because in today’s economy, they don’t want to do business with just any company. Customer Experience is king.

So, you can’t get by with just having your headshot as your profile photo and on your business cards. The content you post needs to include things like:

behind-the-scenes images of you doing what you do.
Images of the gear you use in your specific niche and why you chose it.
quotes and/or infographics on topics that will help your client.
you working with a client
links to articles you wrote or feel are important to your client.
images of happy clients
videos of all of the above!
the list is only limited by your imagination.

Below are two examples of my Instagram feed. Mixed in are happy clients, images of my workspace, images of me behind the scenes, having fun, etc. so my clients and potential clients can get to know me better.

So, your task now, is to begin curating your social media feed. What can you post to help build and nurture your client relationships?

If you know you need help, contact me for a short consultation, and we can detail a plan to get your social media content on the right track!

Planning your Personal Branding Session

Blog, Personal Branding, Tips

Creating, curating, and maintaining your personal brand is an important part of your business. Making sure your online presence is genuine, relevant, and consistent can feel overwhelming though. Where to start?

First let's figure out what to post

You need to post a variety of content that your audience will connect with: original work, quotes and graphics from others, writings, engaging content, and most of all photographs.

This is where I come in! I can give you the images that you’ll need in your strategy to keep your content fresh and engaging. Headshots, selfie-style shots, product images, behind-the-scenes images, and more.

Your personal branding session will capture all of that–and you can then use all the material we create throughout the months on your social media channels.

Your not just limited to social media though. These images can be used as profile images, business card pictures, images for your media kit, etc.

Where to begin?

First, let’s set up a consultation. I prefer in person, but we can do Skype or over the phone as well. We’ll get together and discuss who you are, what you do, and how you want your brand to be conveyed by your clients, current and potential.

We’ll plan out everything about your session, including your outfits, specific images and series of images that you would like, and desirable locations. Need styling help? I have a fabulous personal stylist to recommend!

You might want to schedule hair and make up with a make up artist. (I have a recommendation here as well.) Some women prefer to do their hair and make up themselves, and that is totally fine. This would be the time to get her on the books though.

That’s really it! You will probably have some homework after our consultation where you’ll pull together several outfits, and make sure you have your “props” picked out, but there’s nothing more for you to worry about. I’ve got you!

You’ll end up with enough content for at least three months of social media posts. Or you can schedule sessions throughout the year — continual fresh content!

So now that you know how easy it is to pull together a personal branding session, what are you waiting for?! Let’s create your content!

What is Personal Branding & who needs it?

Blog, Personal Branding, Tips

If you have an online presence related to your business, then you need to know and care about personal branding — and you need to do something about it!

Today, people want a real connection with who they buy from. Your business’ brand isn’t only the font and colors you use for the logo. Your business and you as its owner give a specific vibe to clients. This is your personal brand!

Fun – serious – relaxed – safe – casual – high-end – formal – compassionate – irreverent – – these and many other adjectives are different ways you could describe yourself and your business and how you want its persona to be projected to the world.

It’s important to pay attention to your ‘know, like and trust factor’. You grow and nurture this factor by posting regularly on the various social media sites you are on.

What do you post about?

Post pictures, videos, articles, tips, quotes, etc that go along with your personal brand. This content lets you show the true you.

You should be posting consistently. Consistent posting on your social media channels allows your audience to get to know you and learn about you before ever asking anything from them or trying to sell to them. How often that is is up to you, and your audience will get used to your frequency.

People like buying from people, especially people they feel they know and have a connection to. Your personal branding deepens that connection and leads to trust.

Your audience won’t convert until they trust you. Your personal voice, that they’ve come to know and like, is what will guide them to want to work with or buy from you.

Personal branding separates you from your competition and draws your ideal client to you.

I can help create enough content to post consistently week to week in just four sessions throughout the year! If you attempt to come up with all of your personal branding content on your own you’ll end up spending WAY TOO MUCH TIME on it. Eliminate the stress and constant hassle. Schedule 4 sessions with me – they’ll be a couple hours each throughout the year – and you’ll receive back enough content to post almost every day. A treasure trove!

"At the end of the day, everything you're doing/selling today can and will be sold different, cheaper, better. This is why personal branding is becoming the single-most important asset because the internet is commoditizing everything"

Nick Cavuoto

Digital Marketing Consultant

Quinceanera Session | Juliahna at Vizcaya

Blog, Quince Session, Senior Sessions, Sessions

What would you do for beautiful and amazing quinceanera photos? Juliahna was willing to get dressed up in two beautiful gowns and brave the Miami summer heat and humidity. And it paid off! Her quince session at Vizcaya was the most perfect thing.

We were blessed with an overcast day. This made for beautiful lighting, but insane humidity! Juliahna was a pro about it though. I brought a small, hand-held electric fan that we would cool her off with. In some photos she’s actually holding it behind her! You do whatcha gotta do to get the shot, and Juliahna brought her A game. Take a look. . .

If you’re planning your upcoming quince, let’s get together to talk about one of the most important parts — the photography!

Event | Zumbathon

Blog, Event, Sessions

Recently I mentioned how Rima has the energy of five women. And that she is a Zumba master (well, technically just an instructor – but after witnessing this Zumbathon – she’s a master). In order to raise money for a South Florida women’s organization, Rima held an event where seven Zumba instructors went round-robin leading the attendees in some fun Zumba dancing for hours. It was a blast to watch and photograph, but I’m not sure I could have kept up! Here are a couple of images from the night.

Have an event coming up? Let’s chat about how I can help you out!

Signature Session | Rima’s Headshots

Blog, Business, Sessions, Signature Session

Rima has the energy of about five women. I keep telling her she needs to take a break, but she has so many great ideas about what she wants to do to help people get healthy. Ladies, she will whip your butt into shape!

She’s a wife, a mom, a personal trainer, a Zumba instructor, and a Bollywood/Zumba instructor. Here are her latest portfolio images for her business.

Ladies, we wear so many hats! If one of your hats is “business owner”, you should think about getting updated headshots/business photos. Think about a session in your home, office, or outside!

Quick Pics | Christina at Pembroke Gardens

Blog, Quick Pics, Sessions, Street Photography, Urban

It’s simple to set up an urban photo shoot anywhere in the South Florida area. We have so many options. If you’ve been thinking about getting updated photos taken, consider an urban setting!

Travel Session – Boston

Blog, Sessions, Travel

Boston on July 4th is totally meant for geeking out on history. The Freedom Trail is something every American should do in their lifetime! (We’ve done it twice now.) What I didn’t know about Boston, and what is equally worthy of geeking out on, is the amount of art residing in the city.

One of our art stops was the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Having lived in South Florida, the Gardner Museum reminds me a lot of Vizcaya in Miami. Beautiful grounds surrounding Venetian palaces housing numerous and various priceless works of art.

2020 Has left us wanting.

HELLO, 2021!

HOW DOES THIS TRANSLATE TO YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION?

VICKI

First let's figure out what to post

Where to begin?

South Florida | Dayton, Ohio | Beyond