A grand adventure is about to begin! ~ Winnie the Pooh This cute little family of three is very dear to my heart. I have been blessed to have them in my life for quite… More
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{Mother’s Day Mini Sessions!}
See the beauty in today.
❤
{Choosing A Photographer}
In this day and age, just about everyone has a digital camera or DSLR. And, much like myself and many other photographers I know, our dream once started out as a hobby. It is this reason that choosing a photographer these days can be a challenge. Here are some tips to choosing the right photographer for you:
- Choose an experienced photographer you know and are comfortable with:  It can be really easy (and inexpensive) to call mom or Uncle Fred and say “Hey, can you bring your camera over this weekend, we need some family portraits taken.” But, unfortunately, you are most likely to end up with images that you don’t love. The purpose of taking the time to have memories captured is to cherish, share and display them. If you are getting your first family photos taken, ask friends who they have worked with, why they liked them, and take a peek at the final product.
- Don’t choose a photographer by price:Â Photo session prices vary so greatly it’s hard to even make a range. It is best to select a handful of photographers based on recommendations from others or by a style you prefer, and then compare quotes and go with the most affordable option. If the photographer of your liking is out of your price range, book your session for a few months out and save to pay for it. Trust me, it will be worth it. Remember, memories are priceless!
- Once you have a photographer you love, stick with him/her: I find this to be incredibly important, and I do not say this from a marketing perspective. If you have done a photo session with a photographer that was fun to work with and produced images that were amazing, stick with him/her! My favorite sessions are of clients that I work with time and again, because I am comfortable with them, I know what they like and what they don’t like, and best of all, I feel like I have become part of their family.
Now I’ll be the first to admit, I am not perfect, and my work is always improving from a technical aspect. Being stagnant in the high tech world of photography is a big no-no. When I first started out, I had much less session experience (naturally) than I do today. There are many things that I learned, such as posing to create the look I’m going for, how to capture the light to properly illuminate my subect(s), things to look for that will make my images stink (closed eyes, crazy hair, wardrobe malfunctions, photo bombers, etc.). It is through my experience in my sessions that I have learned how to produce beautiful images. Am I the most experienced photographer I know? Not by a long shot. But, I continue to educate myself to ensure that  I grow as a photographer by gaining experience and learning from others, so that my client base grows right along with me.
So remember, when choosing a photographer, be sure to choose one that has the yearning to continually educate him or herself – it will benefit you as a client for years to come!
Sunny Hugs,
RheannaÂ
Photography is the only language that can be understood anywhere in the world. – Bruno Barbey
What to Wear?
This is probably the MOST frequently asked question of my clients. What. On earth. Do I wear??? Â It can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you are Mom and trying to coordinate your crew. You find yourself wondering “What color scheme should I pick?”, “What accessories do I pick?”, “What shoes do I wear?”, etc.
A few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a great blog by a spunky, fun gal name Annie, called Paint the Moon. Annie is a multi-talented mom of three who has quite the schedule as a photographer, blogger and PhotoShop action extraordinaire. One of the first articles I read on her blog was titled “What to Wear” and oh man, it’s perfect. I have (in previous blogs) written about this very topic  – but Annie found a way to explain it in terms that make it super easy, along with great photographic examples. In her blog, she says:
Coordinate but don’t match. When styling a photo session, I like to start out with a basic color palette and go from there. It can help to have one “rock star” in the photos who carries a pattern in their outfit that the rest of the group’s clothing or accessories pulls from…
If you want to read the entire article (which I highly recommend…) her is the link to Annie’s post:
What to Wear – painthemoon.net
Enjoy!
Sunny Hugs,
Rheanna
All sessions (excluding weddings) are $150. That includes the $50 session booking fee. Call 360-771-4505 to schedule your spring session today.
Under Construction
I like to think that I have all the time in the world to do all of the creative, crafty marketing stuff I have lined up for my photography business. Finishing my website has been at the top of that list for, oh, 2 years??! Time to get it together Rheanna!
The good news is, that my website is currently under construction. The bad news? My website is currently under construction. 🙂 Trying to find time in my hectic life is like trying to find a magic unicorn in a doughnut shop giving away a dozen free doughnuts. But, alas, I have set a goal for a complete go live of March first, and I intend to meet that goal.
In the meantime, stay tuned for my blog posts. My in-process goal is to post at least three times a week. I will be posting tips and tricks for preparing for your photo session, guest blogs that I think are amazing, and if my ambition doesn’t get the better of me, I will be posting a weekly photo challenge.
So stay tuned – and please forgive the fact that hardly any of my website links have content. Coming soon!
Sunny Hugs,
Rheanna
Back to Shootin’ (and bloggin’)
Well, well, well….look who’s back! 🙂 It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged – in fact, I can’t remember the last time I blogged. That’s either a sign that I have been way too busy in the last year, or I’m getting old. Either way – time to get back in the saddle again!
The last year has been crazy to say the least. So crazy, in fact, that I decided that I needed to take a little break from blogging and photography. It wasn’t an easy decision, but it was right for me and my family at the time. But, along with the crazy, a lot of exciting and inspiring things have happened in the last year, and they have made me all the more ready to get back out there and do what I love. I have dusted off my camera, and am ready for action!
A few weeks ago, I did an engagement session for a sister friend of mine. It was an awesome session, and one filled with a lot of love (and an endless amount of laughs!). These two make my heart smile, and the bond that they share together radiates in their photographs.  We spent some time down on the waterfront in Vancouver, Washington (one of my favorite spots), in what I can only describe as ethereal lighting conditions, on a somewhat cloudy afternoon. Days like that make me thankful I have the ability to capture beautiful moments to create lasting memories for my clients. I greatly look forward to their big day in May.
Congratulations Kathy and John!