Things to Consider When Printing Your Family Photos

It’s so exciting to finally get your professional family photos – you’ll be beaming with pride and want to show these beautiful images off as soon as possible in your home. But figuring out where to print your photos can be tricky because your decision may impact the quality of the finished pictures.

To make sure you’re covering all your bases and will have the best possible outcome, here are four important things to consider when it comes time to print your family photos.

Protect the Digital Files

You likely won’t have a home photo printer that’s high-quality enough to print something worthy of hanging up in your home. Until you figure out where you will have the photos printed, you need to protect those digital images.

The moment you receive photos from your photographer, make a backup of the files. This backup will ensure you have digital copies you can share with friends or families on social media. You’ll also have continued access to your pictures, which can be handy if you want to set up a screen saver on your computer that features your most treasured loved ones.

Unfortunately, technology can sometimes fail, which is why it’s highly recommended you print your favorite shots as soon as you can.

Where to Print Your Photos

Before you can print your photos, you must decide where you will have them printed. You can take the files to a digital lab, such as those you find in JCPenny and Walmart, or you can use an online photo processing service such as Shutterfly.

Most photo labs are very helpful and will ensure you get high-quality prints you can proudly display in your home. If you are more familiar with photo printing, the online route will work just fine. You’ll attach your photos and send them in for printing without having to step foot into a photo lab.

You also have the option of asking your professional photographer to take care of the prints for you. Your photographer will already have a relationship with a high-quality printing service, so they’ll be able to steer you in the right direction and assist you with all your printing needs.

Choosing a Finish

When you’re printing your photos, you’ll be asked to choose between a matte, glossy, or pearl finish, and they each have benefits and drawbacks. Glossy is the option most labs will use because it makes the colors pop more. Unfortunately, glossy prints also show other imperfections, such as fingerprints, which can be annoying. If you choose glossy prints, you should avoid touching the front of the photos and put the pictures in their frames as soon as you receive them.

Matte, one of your other choices, will prevent marks from showing up, but the colors often look duller, which is why it’s a better choice for fine art prints. One advantage of matte prints is that light doesn’t create as big a glare as it does with glossy prints. A pearl finish, by comparison, is the perfect in-between option.

If you have any doubts about what kind of finish would work best for your photos, discuss this with your photographer before ordering any prints. Even if you aren’t arranging photo printing through your photographer, they’ll be happy to share their knowledge with you.

Selecting a Size

If you’re displaying your family photos in your home, you’ll want them to be big enough to show all the details you’d miss in smaller pictures. In most instances, photographers take shots in such a way that you can print them in larger sizes, ensuring the prints showcase the expressions of the people in the photos. When it comes to printing, 4″ x 6″ and 8″ x 12″ are two of the most popular sizes, but which size you order depends on what you plan to do with the prints. You may want to decide where you will be hanging or storing the prints before you decide on a size.

If you feel you would prefer some guidance from a professional, speak to your photographer about printing options prior to your shoot. Many photographers already include printing in some of their packages, so if you want to skip the hassle of printing your photos yourself, look for these packages. They may be a little more expensive than printing your pictures at a photo lab, but you can be sure the quality will be top-notch.

Cherish Those Memories

Once you have your printed photos at home and ready to frame, put them somewhere you’ll be able to see them often. It might brighten your day to see the smiling faces of your loved ones and recall all the wonderful memories you’ve made together throughout the years – and think about all the adventures still to come.

Transform your precious family memories into timeless keepsakes with Suvi Tory, a renowned photographer in the field of printing. Contact Suvi Tory today to discuss how to bring your family photos to life!

Originally Posted on: Suvi Tory

Mini Sessions vs. Full Photoshoots: Which One Should I Book?

If you’ve wanted to schedule a photoshoot with a professional photographer for some time now, you’ve probably seen a few mentions of mini sessions. When you’re not familiar with everything a full photoshoot includes, it can be hard to figure out what a mini session entails.

As you can guess by the name, a mini session is less of a time and financial commitment than a full photoshoot. Both full photoshoots and mini sessions offer real value to clients, but given each person’s unique circumstances, one may be a better fit than the other.

Advantages of Mini Sessions

If you want to capture photos of your three toddlers, chances are you’re already pretty strapped for time, which is when a mini session might be a better option for you. A mini session may also benefit you in this case because it will require your toddlers to be on their best behavior for a shorter amount of time, making it less likely you’ll have an epic meltdown to contend with. That can take some stress off your shoulders.

Mini sessions are also ideal if you’re considering working with a photographer for a more custom shoot and you want to try out their services, almost like a sample session.

Advantages of Full Photoshoots

If you need a larger variety of photos that follow a specific style, a full photoshoot would be a better option. Let’s say you’ve decided to update the décor of your home, and you want some high-quality family photos to hang as art prints. You’ll have a wider selection of photos and styles to choose from if you book a full photoshoot with a trained photographer.

A full photo session also costs more, so keep that in mind when planning for your session. But if you want to make an investment in capturing this special time in your life, there’s arguably no better way to do it, so it may be worth the splurge.

Main Differences Between a Mini and Full Photo Session

If you’re still not sure which type of session would be better for your circumstances, here is a quick comparison of these two types of photo sessions. Keep in mind that this might differ among photographers, so you should be sure to ask your photographer what each session includes at their studio.

MINI SESSIONS

• Predetermined location: You won’t have a lot of time for moving between locations, so one location will usually be used.
• A smaller time slot: The average mini session lasts from 20 minutes to an hour.
• Fewer images: Clients can expect to receive fewer images because there won’t be as much time for posing and taking additional pictures.
• No custom editing: Most mini sessions do not include custom edits.
• Fewer outfits: Subjects will be able to take photos in one to three outfits.
• Special props are less likely: It may not always be possible to use special props during a mini shoot because of the lack of time. Special props are generally used for personal branding sessions.
• Less time for the consultation: The pre-shoot consultation is briefer than what you may have with a full photo session. If you’re the type who likes to take your time exploring exactly what you want, you’ll need to be prepared by giving some thought ahead of time as to what you’re looking for.

FULL PHOTO SESSIONS

• You can choose a location for your shoot: This can be especially helpful for certain types of shots, such as engagement photos or high school senior pictures, where a location is often extremely important.
• Longer sessions: The average full photoshoot lasts about two hours. That gives you more time to find the exact shot you want, but it also requires a larger time commitment, which doesn’t work for everyone.
• More images: Clients can expect to receive more images since the session is longer.
• Custom editing: There will be more options for editing the images, leading to exceptional quality.
• Longer consultation: The pre-shoot consultation is in person and more detailed.
• Special props are welcome: More décor and props can be included in the shoot.
• More wardrobe changes: Subjects can bring extra outfits for the session, usually up to four or five.
• More posing: More poses can be used during the shoot, giving you a wider range of unique images.

Choose Whatever Works Best for You

If you’re wondering whether mini sessions are better than a full photoshoot, know that there’s no real way to say one is better than the other because each option serves a slightly different purpose – it all depends on what you want to achieve.

Regardless of the option you choose, you can expect to receive beautiful photographic memories that you can use for years to come. If you’re still unsure what you’d like, speak to our photographer about your requirements to decide what’s best for you.

Resource by Suvi Tory

Easy Ways to Take Better Photos in Small Spaces

Whether you’ve always lived in a modest home or you’ve recently downsized, it’s possible to take great photos in a smaller space. If you enjoy taking photos of the people you love but are tired of all your photos looking similar because you’re working in a small space, here are a few handy tips to help you produce fresh images you love.

Pay Attention to the Light

We all know that light can completely change a photo’s mood, which is why it’s important to pay attention to the light in your home if you want to take beautiful and creative shots.

Spend time paying attention to how the light changes in different rooms of your house throughout the day. You may realize that you’d be better off shooting your pictures at a certain time of the day when you can make the most of the natural light.

Move Things Around

When you want to shoot professional-looking photos at home, you may need to shuffle things around to eliminate a lot of the noise and clutter from the background. Want to feel like you’re working in a brand-new space? Why not rearrange your furniture or move a few things around?

Look at some of your older photos – do you notice an object in the background that you could move? Even something as simple as changing the bedding can completely alter your photos. It can take a little bit of effort, but you can drastically improve the quality and feel of your photos just by rearranging a few items.

Look at Things from a Different Perspective

A professional photographer can produce such breathtaking images because he or she is constantly looking at everything with a critical eye. They didn’t always have that ability – it’s one they developed with practice. And you can too if you work at it.

Take the time to look at things from an alternate perspective if you want to create fresh photos that have a different feel than the ones you usually shoot. Think about the angles you generally use to shoot pictures of friends or family members – how can you change this up? Changing your perspective is an easy way to liven up your images and add a creative touch to a seemingly ordinary shot. You can even play with perspective and light for something really different.

For instance, when taking pictures of your child playing in their playroom, don’t shoot from above them as you usually might. Get down on all fours and shoot pictures from the floor where they are sitting. It will completely transform your photos and give you more insight into how they view their world. Your child will love seeing you entering their domain, and their face will light up – so have the camera ready to go as soon as you get down there.

Don’t Overthink It

To create a collection of memorable photos, sometimes you need to slow down and only focus on one or two things. When you’re overly focused on trying to make the photo something new and creative, it can detract from the result. For example, instead of shooting posed, smiling photos, why not try capturing candid black and white photos?

If you still want a posed picture, shoot some like that, and then keep shooting as your family begins to interact with each other after the posing is finished. You’ll get more natural expressions and see the magic of the relaxed interactions they have with each other. Sometimes, a little less direction is a good thing in photography – it allows for unforgettable spontaneous shots.

Recreate Something from the Past

When you can’t necessarily think of something new, browse through some of your older photos and find ways to recreate past photos using a new angle or different lighting. Now that you have more experience, you will certainly come across a few photos that you know you can shoot better.

Shoot Some Close-Ups

For those days when you just can’t muster the energy to rearrange your items to allow for a less cluttered background, you can still take some beautiful photos. Instead of shooting images that show a background, take close-ups of your loved one. A headshots photo that shows their face close up can bring out things you don’t normally notice in other pictures – such as the highlights in the eyes and their luminous skin.

Practice Makes Perfect

Regardless of the size of your space, remember to keep picking up your camera –that is the only way to learn to work with what you have. No one produces professional photographs without practicing a lot to get to that level. The beauty of digital photography is that you can take hundreds of photos in one session, and it’s simple to delete the ones that don’t work out. Eventually, you’ll have more that you’ll want to save than delete, even while working in a small space.

Originally article posted on Suvi Tory Photography

9 Ways to Get People to Smile Naturally for Family Photos

Being yourself can be hard to do when someone starts pointing a camera at you. Suddenly, you’re acutely aware of every move you’re making and every insecurity you have about your appearance. It isn’t easy to be relaxed enough to give a genuine smile when you’re feeling self-conscious. Fake or uncomfortable looks are enough to turn what could be art prints worthy of hanging on your walls into a missed opportunity for an outstanding family photo.

There are ways, however, to bring out natural expressions and smiles in every subject – even the ones who don’t feel comfortable in front of a camera. When you hire a photographer for a professional photo session, these tips for encouraging authentic smiles and expressions will help make your newest family portrait a great success. If your photographer doesn’t suggest these ideas, feel free to jump in there yourself with these stress-busting ideas.

1. Get Them Laughing

It’s hard to give a phony smile when you’re laughing. Getting someone to tell a great joke or a funny story so that everyone starts laughing and relaxes is an excellent strategy for nailing professional photos. Don’t be surprised if your trained professional tries to crack a joke or two themselves to calm the crowd.

2. Look at Each Other

Your subjects will have a better, more natural relationship with each other than they will with their professional photographer. By having them look at each other instead of staring at the photographer, the camera will be able to capture their love for each other and their natural chemistry.  

Sometimes all it takes is looking at the people you love to achieve the perfect smiles for your next family photo. If you were feeling self-conscious before, all those worries will fade when you look the one you love in the eyes.

3. Forget the Cheese

Everyone expects that photographers will ask them to say cheese right before taking their picture. But instead of using the classic “say cheese” line, incorporate something unexpected into the sentence to elicit smiles and laughter. Using the word “money” instead of cheese right before snapping a picture produces a more natural smile. 

If you’re shooting pictures with young children, try having them shout out “Elmo” and watch their delighted reactions. Seeing the glee their kids have over getting to yell out the name of one of their favorite characters will instantly relax parents as well.

4. Take a Breath

If you have people who are really nervous, get them to close their eyes, take a deep breath, and smile as they open their eyes again. A five-second breather like that can be enough to get the photo session back on track.

5. Give a Compliment

Everybody has insecurities, and someone well-versed in photography will know that a well-timed compliment can do wonders to help people relax. By finding something that warrants genuine praise – whether it’s a nice outfit, a beautiful smile, or a gorgeous head of hair – a photographer will be able to get a more natural smile out of their subject. You’ll be making someone feel good at a time they need the praise, and you’ll be improving the outcome of your professional portrait photographs. That’s a double win!

6. Fake Your Laughter

You’ve heard that saying, fake it until you make it. Well, it even applies to laughter. If you can’t find the real humor in a photoshoot, try laughing anyway. It’ll feel strange at first, but it’s bound to be contagious, especially if there’s someone with a unique laugh in the group. 

7. Be Silly 

Everyone can benefit by taking themselves less seriously for a few minutes. If there are children involved in the family photo session, they’ll especially appreciate the opportunity to spend a few minutes being silly. You can get everyone to stick their tongues out or wiggle their bottoms for a fun reaction.

8. Happy Thoughts 

Telling everyone to think happy thoughts is a great way to get some real smiles for the camera. Everybody has something that makes them happy when they think of it, and a photo session is a perfect place to harness the positivity those happy thoughts have to offer. 

9. Relax Those Facial Muscles 

Very often, a forced smile is due to tense facial muscles. To prevent this, get everyone to scrunch up their faces and relax them to achieve a natural smile. Or have them open their mouths wide for a second to ease the tension.

Watch the Magic Happen

Coaxing a smile during a family photoshoot is easy to do with the tips we’ve provided. By encouraging people to interact with their loved ones and take themselves less seriously for a few minutes, your next family portrait could be the best one yet, full of natural smiles and laughs.

Originally Source by Suvi Tory Photography

4 Things to Consider When Choosing a Senior Portrait Photographer

Whether you plan to attend college, a trade school, or join the workforce after you graduate, your senior year of high school is an exciting time and a milestone that you should capture in photos. You’ll want to remember your friends, teachers, classes, dances, sports, and even your hairstyle and favorite outfits.

Having professional photographs taken at this time in your life will help you preserve those precious memories. You’ll be able to look back at those photos years from now and instantly recall those fun-filled days.

Getting the best professional photos starts with finding the right photographer. There are four main things to consider before searching for a professional portrait photographer who’ll document this special time in your life.

Your Photographer’s Personality

For your photos to look natural and relaxed, you must feel comfortable with the person behind the camera. That can take a little shopping around – much like dating before you find the partner of your dreams.

Before you hire a photographer and schedule your senior portraits, it’s important to meet with your potential photographer to decide if they’re a good fit. Everyone feels comfortable with different types of people, so decide what type of personality you would feel the most relaxed around. That will help you know what to look for during your meeting. If you’re an introvert, consider choosing a photographer who is playful and outgoing, so they can help you feel relaxed and comfortable during your professional photo session.

Before committing to a photo session, try to meet with the photographer you’re considering hiring. If that’s not possible, a short telephone conversation may help you decide if you’ll be comfortable with him or her.

While email is a convenient way to communicate, it’s harder to get a feel for a person’s personality through email. That means deciding on a photographer you’ve only communicated with through email is not the best approach.

Your Photographer’s Style

Senior portraits no longer follow the traditional formula that parents of today’s teenagers may have experienced when they had their own senior photos taken. Today’s seniors have many more options than ever before regarding photos, including having their pictures taken in their favorite locations.

Some photographers excel at studio photography, while others specialize only in outdoor photography. Those who are well-versed in photography and have extensive equipment will be able to handle both indoor and outdoor shots, whether it’s in their studio or at an offsite location.

Before you start your search, get an idea of the photography style you’re looking for – Pinterest is a good place to start. You’ll easily be able to narrow down your choices by going through each photographer’s portfolio, ensuring you’re only meeting with photographers who meet your requirements.

Your Budget

It’s important to know your budget before you start your search. Many photographers will already have their rates on their website, but some won’t post that information to their site.

If you’re unsure how much they’re charging, you can ask about pricing when you speak to them over the phone. The price of your senior portrait session will vary depending on what you’re looking for and how experienced your photographer is.

It’s also helpful to understand exactly what your senior photo package includes because that will vary from photographer to photographer.

Availability

Senior year can really sneak up on a student. One minute, you’re having a fun, relaxing summer at the end of your junior year, and the next, you’re in your senior year, facing a jam-packed schedule. It’s helpful to keep in mind that photographers generally have busy schedules, so it’s important not to leave your search to the last minute.

It’s recommended that you plan at least six weeks in advance if you want to get the date you want for your photo session. Those who are in multiple sports, activities, or have after-school jobs, may want to start their search even earlier to ensure that both they and their photographer will be able to find a date that works. If you’re struggling to secure a date, find out whether changing the location or the date to a weekday will make it easier for your photographer to fit you in.

Once you have a date secured, you can focus on the finer details such as the location, outfit, accessories, and hair and makeup choices. Speak to your photographer for recommendations if you need them. They’ll be able to let you know what will work well in photos and stand the test of time.

But above all else, wear something that you’re comfortable in and reflects who you’ve been in high school. Years from now, when you’re pulling out these photos to show your own children, you’ll want to be a true reflection of you and your personality.

Originally posted on Suvi Tory

Why an Outdoor Location is Perfect for Your Family Photo Session

Time seems to fly by when you have a family. Before you know it, they’ll be out of the nest, making lives of their own. Now’s the time to treasure those precious fleeting moments by having them documented by a trained professional. Having your family’s pictures taken by a professional photographer can lead to beautiful pictures you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

Whether you have snow, sunshine, or even an impending rainstorm, an outdoor location for your next family photo session can be just the setting you need to create an unforgettable set of images. Here are some reasons why an outdoor location might be perfect for your family’s next professional photo session.

Natural Light

One of the secret weapons professional photographers use to create gorgeous pictures is natural light. The golden natural light that you can find in the early hours of the morning and the late afternoon, an hour before the sun goes down, is magical. It casts a beautiful glow and can really bring out the color and highlights in people’s eyes.

The natural light you find in outdoor settings will make your photos beautiful without any extra effort. But to make the most of it, you’ll want to stay away from the harsh mid-day light that will leave everyone in the picture squinting.

No Studio Limitations

When you’re taking photos outside, you’re not confined by the walls of a studio, which means you can really get creative with your poses. It also allows your kids to play and have fun, which is great for candid shots. By ditching the walls of the studio, you’ll get to explore what photos work best instead of having to work in a small space.

The Addition of Natural Props

Natural props will be a big trend this year. Instead of using generic items from their closets, people now want to incorporate the natural beauty of flowers, leaves, trees, and fruit into their photos.

Think how adorable your family would look in professional photos where you’re all bundled up, holding a sled and getting ready to enjoy an afternoon of winter fun, or holding a basket of apples at a local orchard. So many interesting items and colors outside will work beautifully for breathtaking family portrait photos.

Relaxation

Being in a familiar outdoor setting is much more relaxing for families than spending time in an unfamiliar studio. This is particularly true if you’re dealing with younger children, who might get anxious or uptight in a studio where they’re not allowed to touch anything and have to behave the whole time.

Giving your kids the space and freedom to expend energy and be themselves can make your photo session a lot less stressful. It can also result in more natural expressions because your kids will be in their element, and you’ll be less stressed knowing there is nothing they can break if they’re outside.

Capture Your Surroundings and Your History

Your neighborhood and surroundings are just as much a part of your life as your family is. When you choose an outdoor location, you get to freeze this moment in time and remember your surroundings just as they are at this time – you never know when your neighborhood might look completely different.

When your kids are older, it will be fun for them to see their old, familiar haunts. It will bring back those precious memories of spending time with you as a family unit in places that were important to them.

Incorporate Your Pets

If your furry friends are an integral part of your family and you would love to include them in your photos, an outdoor location makes this a lot easier. Some studios may not allow pets, and even if they do, it can be nerve-wracking when you have to watch them around expensive camera equipment and backdrops. When they’re in a small studio, curious, high-energy pets can get into trouble if you’re not careful.

Plus, how often have you watched your children playing with your pets and wished you had captured that precious moment? An outdoor setting can be the perfect opportunity for that. You can head to the local park where you always walk your dogs for a memorable family photo that will warm your heart every time you look at it.

Head Outside to Get Some Ideas

The best way to find the right outdoor location for your professional photographs is to start exploring. Ask your kids to go for a drive with you while you explore scenic locations you don’t know and visit some of your favorite places to scan their photo potential.

If you’re unsure which outdoor location would be the ideal backdrop for your upcoming photo session, speak to your photographer about a few suggestions that might work well for you and your family.

Originally published at Suvi Tory

How To Make Sure You Take More Family Photos In 2023

Our world and our lives can feel exceptionally fast-paced compared to the lives of our parents and grandparents when they were our age. We have so many roles to play these days – parent, employee or boss, housekeeper, friend, and chauffeur for busy children who seem to have never-ending extracurricular activities.

With so much to pack into your schedule, it can feel like your day flew by with little time to do anything extra. The years come and go much more quickly than you imagine they will when you first bring your baby home from the hospital. But your children are proof of how fast time is passing – they can look different every week. Before you know it, they’re reaching major milestones – their first day of school, their first double-digit birthday, or passing you up in height.

Suddenly, you might realize that you haven’t taken nearly enough pictures of your children or of the entire family. Maybe you’ve missed those adorable photos when your child didn’t have their front teeth anymore or when they went through their awkward smile phase. It’s not too late to start documenting more of their days with pictures or taking more pictures of you as a family unit – 2023 could be your year to finally start taking more pictures.

Every photo is a meaningful keepsake, regardless of whether it is taken at home or at a professional photo session. As long as you’re taking photos on a regular basis, you can capture every moment, both big and small.

Ways to Begin Taking More Photos

Here are a few ways to ensure you take more photos in 2023.

• Create a schedule: If you want to take photos more regularly, schedule them just as you would with a doctor’s appointment by putting them on your calendar. Along with highlighting special events and milestones in your calendar, you could also set weekly reminders on your phone to take a new photo. Creating a schedule will also ensure that you can book a professional photographer well in advance for special events.
• Always have a camera ready: By making a point of keeping your phone or camera close by, you’ll always be ready to capture a memorable moment. Even if you’re simply heading out to the park with your kids like you always do, keep your camera on hand and make sure your phone’s battery is charged. A few minutes of taking pictures of your child in a baby swing at the park will help you remember that moment forever. If you have playdates at the park with another parent friend, ask them to snap a picture of you playing with your child – and then do the same for them.
• Download a new app: If you love being creative, why not download one of the many popular photo editing apps so that you can get creative with your family pictures? You’ll get to explore your creative side, and your new app will be the perfect excuse to take more photos.
• Have some fun at home. If you are spending the weekend at home, use this time to play dress-up with the kids and have some fun in front of the camera. You can even get your kids involved by getting them to take a few shots. Or you can go to your backyard for a picnic and photo shoot at sunset. Grab a selfie stick so you can all be in some of the pictures together. Your kids will love having a backyard adventure and taking family pictures, so don’t be surprised if they ask you when you’ll do it again. 
• Hand over the camera: Let your child be the photographer for a change. Hand them your camera and tell them to take a picture of you. Many times, parents are so busy taking pictures that they are rarely in pictures. While it’s wonderful to have a lot of pictures of your child, your child will someday want as many pictures of you as possible, and the ones they take of you will have a special place in their hearts. 
• Hire a photographer: If you aren’t well-versed in photography or you want to focus on enjoying being a subject in a photo instead of being the photographer, hire a professional photographer. A trained professional will be able to create frame-worthy professional photos that you’ll be proud to display on your wall. We would love to help you and your family to have gorgeous family portraits. Check out our family gallery here.

Enjoy Your Time Together

It can be easy to get sidetracked with your never-ending to-do list, but you should always keep in the back of your mind that moments are fleeting. Make sure you’re making the most of your family time by taking pictures, living in the moment, and enjoying each other’s company.

Originally posted on Suvi Tory Photography

4 Reasons Why You Should Invest in a Family Portrait

Why family portraits are one of the best investments you can make.

There’s nothing more important than family; they’re the people you share your home and life’s experiences with, the people you share meals and happy moments with. You love them more than anyone else on earth. You create memories with your family, which is why it’s so important to capture moments together as you are now. 

It’s rare for you to get your entire family together in one shot but having those professional photographs is truly special. Here’s why you should take the time to hire a professional photographer to shoot a beautiful family portrait you can hang as an art print in your home.

1. Portraits Are Beautiful Décor Pieces

If you’re looking for something special to hang on your wall at home, a family portrait is the perfect option. Portraits usually work best on a focus wall, which is why it pays to hire a photographer who is a trained professional. If you’re going to have a photo of your family in a prominent part of your home, it should be beautifully shot. 

Someone who is well-versed in photography will know how to bring out the best in each photo. If you have shy family members who are often uncomfortable during a photoshoot, an expert photographer will know how to put them at ease and draw out their confidence and personality to create an unforgettable image.

2. They Last a Lifetime

With today’s technology, you can take a great selfie, print your work, and be quite pleased with the final result. But group shots are much harder to pull off by yourself, and you can greatly benefit from having a photographer do the work. They can print your photos using quality materials that will stand the test of time. 

The reason why family portraits are seen as investments is that they’ll last for years. Your family will get decades of pleasure from seeing these professional photos. Years later, they’ll remember the experience of having a professional photo session and recall the joy of being together with their loved ones on that occasion.

Photos like this can be passed down to future generations, so they have something special to remember their family by. This can help foster a strong sense of family and can help the younger generation see their older relatives in a new light.

3. Portraits Make for Wonderful Gifts

Let’s face it – gift giving can be extremely hard at times. If you’re not careful, you can end up spending a significant amount of money on something your loved one might not even like or need. If you’ve been racking your brain for gift ideas for a family member, having a digital image printed so you can give a framed family photo is a great option. 

A family portrait is a touching gift that will bring happiness to a loved one every day. Whether you’re looking for a Christmas gift, a birthday present, or any other special occasion, it’s a great option that’s sure to be a big hit. 

There are so many frame options available that you’ll be sure to find one that goes well with the existing décor in their home. The family portrait will end up blending seamlessly into their homes and will become a showstopping piece, depending upon how big you make it. Before ordering or picking a size, be sure to scope out how much wall space your loved one has available at their home – you don’t want to order something too big that will require them to move some of their other belongings.

4. It Brings the Family Together

Shooting a family portrait is a great way to bring the family together, so why not make a fun day out of it? Get your family members to come up with creative ideas for the shoot if you want to do something a little less traditional. Take this opportunity to spend some additional time together afterward so that you can attach some special memories to the portrait too.

Don’t Miss These Memories

With busy work schedules, the duties of being a parent, and running our households, our lives can often be so busy that we get distracted from what’s truly important in our lives. It’s a good idea to remind ourselves from time to time that nothing’s more important than family. 

In the grand scheme of things, a family portrait session doesn’t take much time out of your week, but the return you’ll get for your effort will be huge. You’ll trade a couple of hours now so you can get a lifetime of enjoyment from these pictures. There’s no time like the present to capture the special bond between you and your family, so make an appointment today for these important memories.

Source by Suvi Tory

Types Of Personal Branding Photography Every Entrepreneur Needs

A personal branding photography session is much more than simply a group of people getting their picture taken. When it comes to your company, branding workshops highlight the one thing no one else can compete with: YOU. You’re the best asset you have, and a great personal branding photography session can show the world what you’re about.

Personal branding photography offers a gold mine of content and marketing materials that can be repurposed time and time again at any point in your career. To help you figure out which types of personal branding photographs you might want to have in your portfolio, we’ll break down the five most common types.

Modern Headshot

Modern headshots can be as run-of-the-mill or as exciting as you want them to be. They certainly don’t have to be photos of you dressed in a jacket or set against a white backdrop (unless you’re like that, of course!). All that’s required is that you are looking and smiling at the camera. One of the points of personal branding is establishing a connection, and it isn’t easy to connect with someone when we can’t see them face to face.

If you’re worried your headshot may lack personality, you may still express yourself by your choice of environment, your attire, or your accessories.

Lifestyle

What do you like doing in your spare time? What do you find appealing? We’d want to know where we can find you on the weekends. You can use lifestyle branding photographs to show off all of your accomplishments and favorite activities.

Grab a cup of your favorite coffee, check your phone, put on your most comfortable jeans, and let your true self shine through. This is also an excellent chance to show your social connections. Get some pictures of you playing with your kids or a cute picture of you and your significant other, and you’ll be well on your way to helping others get to know you on a more personal level.

When shooting lifestyle photography, make sure you capture a variety of expressions, including staring towards the camera and looking away.

At Work/Behind the Scenes

Humans are highly visual creatures, and if we’re going to collaborate with someone, we want to have a sense of how things will function. This is accomplished for prospective customers by seeing photographs of you working. These behind-the-scenes shots help them believe you are an experienced expert who understands what you’re doing.

What’s a typical workday like for you? What are the tasks you’d be doing on any given day in your field? To demonstrate what you do all day, behind-the-scenes images of you working away at your laptop or growing your empire from the comfort of your own home are vital.

Tools of the Trade

There’s a good chance you have a few things in your toolbox that make your work a whole lot simpler. These kinds of photos let you show them off. If you’re a florist, please include some stunning blossoms in your display beside your cutting shears with the aid of a personal branding photographer. If you’re a baker, open up your pantry and get the KitchenAid Mixer from the cupboard.

Flatlays and Vignette

Flatlays are a terrific technique to shake up your ordinary marketing photographs and make them more interesting. When taken from above (looking down), they provide a different viewpoint than the straight-on photos we often include on our websites and social media feeds. Furthermore, they are an excellent tool for conveying information and creating visual appeal.

THE ADVANTAGES OF MARKETING YOURSELF THROUGH A PERSONAL BRAND PHOTOGRAPHY SESSION

A personal branding photography session opens up the world of marketing and gives you several benefits, including:

• Distinguishing yourself from the competition.
• Allowing the audience to feel a connection with you.
• Engaging in meaningful human interactions with your potential leads and converting them into customers.
• Establishing trust and credibility with others.
• Increasing engagement on social media platforms and posts.
• Creating more compelling content.
• Positioning yourself as the expert who can dispel any lingering doubts that customers may have before making a financial commitment to you.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

If you’re a business owner or side hustler who wants to take your company to the next level, personal branding photography is a great tool. Real individuals and prospective customers will connect with you and your company if you use high-quality photos to express its worth to them. With this investment, you can customize your photographs to meet your specific needs.

At Suvi Tory Photography, we take the time to get to know you and your company before beginning any work with you. We’ll help you plan your style and outfit to ensure your photographs are consistent with your brand narrative. We’ll use our expert eye to help you crush your business goals!

Source by suvistory

WHY YOU SHOULD HIRE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER

With the current digital camera market producing such great, user-friendly cameras and most people having smartphones at their disposal that can take good photos, is there still a reason to hire a professional photographer? The answer to that question is an emphatic yes!

At a time when amateur photography has never been easier, there are still many reasons why a professional photo session is a good idea.

Tools Don’t Trump Talent

Having a fancy camera doesn’t make you an expert. Everyone who owns a computer isn’t capable of writing a best-selling novel, just as an expensive camera does not automatically result in photographic skills. Just because your friend, co-worker, or relative has a high-speed, top-quality digital camera doesn’t mean they are well-versed in photography. In fact, it’s possible to own a fantastic camera and not know at all how to operate it capably.

While quality equipment does help the average consumer improve their photography game, a professional photographer offers an artistic approach, creative eye, and experience that cannot be purchased at a camera store. You still need an expert to end up with breathtaking professional photos. Why should you entrust your special moments, time, and energy to someone who might not know what they’re doing?

Professional Equipment Has Its Perks

While placing professional equipment in an amateur’s hands doesn’t mean you’re going to get excellent images, in the right hands, it can be used to take next-level images. Shooting with top-of-the-line cameras and professional lighting equipment helps professional photographers take the best shots, even in less-than-optimal circumstances. Capturing low light, nighttime, and even high-speed action shots can be tricky for amateur photographers, but a professional knows what’s required to capture those shots.

They’ll know what all the functions on their cameras mean and when they should be used. No matter what time of day or night it is, how bright the sun is, or any other factor that would make an amateur’s heart race with stress, they’ll know what to do.

Posing Is Their Thing

Have you ever tried to get friends and relatives, including kids, to stay still and pose for a big group shot? It’s easier said than done. And when you finally do get them to all stand still and pose, it’s almost guaranteed that someone will turn their head or start looking in the opposite direction from everyone else.

When that happens, an amateur photographer might think, “Oh, well. It’s good enough.” Or worse, they might not notice it until they have downloaded the pictures onto the computer. By then, it’s too late for reshoots. A professional photographer will notice right away and get everyone on board with where they should be looking.

Need a little inspiration for your own memorable portraits? If you hire a photographer, they’ll lend their expertise when it comes to posing. Photographers perform these tasks sometimes daily, so they have perfected the skills required to get the best results while making everyone feel comfortable in front of the camera. They’ll effortlessly bring out the best in you, and by the end of the session, they’ll have their subjects so at ease they’ll be totally relaxed, offering natural smiles.

They’re Hired Help

A professional photographer has just one role – to get the best possible photographs for their clients. They’re not worried about missing out on the fun, listening to conversations, or getting to interact with their loved ones like a family member who is shooting pictures would be.

Using a friend or family member to take your photos could mean missed moments. A professional photographer is exclusively hired to capture the day and won’t miss out on photos because they’re chatting with the other guests, grabbing a drink, or dancing.

Hiring a trained professional guarantees you capture as many perfect moments as possible. It also means you won’t risk hurting a friend or family member’s feelings if you’re not happy with the photographs they take.

The End Result is Part of the Process

Experienced photographers can capture professional photographs, but they know that’s not the end of their job. In some ways, their work is just beginning. They also edit and retouch images to achieve a beautiful finished product. They can also assist with extras such as albums, custom prints, and canvases.

Professionals offer customer service right to the very end because they know taking wonderful pictures is only part of the job. Customer satisfaction is just as important.

You Don’t Have to Worry

At Suvi Tory Photography, we know that customers don’t always take the time to notice the special moments that are happening all around them, every single day. When you enlist the help of a friend or family member to shoot your photographs, they still turn to you with all their questions.

When you’re at our studio, you’re our VIP. We’ll handle all the small and large details, so all you have to do is relax, take a deep breath, and just enjoy being in the moment instead of worrying about what comes next.

Source by suvistory