<![CDATA[ - Blog]]>Sun, 05 May 2024 19:38:15 -0700Weebly<![CDATA[Amazing Album Trends]]>Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:49:27 GMThttp://simplythebestphotography.com/blog/amazing-album-trendsOne of the best ways to preserve memories in your life is a photo album.  While everyone probably owns a photo album, most people have never considered owning a playbook album.  One of the newest trends in albums is a video album called a playbook.    

One of my favorite events of the year is the Wedding Professional Photographers International expo where I get to check out all of the newest trends in photography products and technology.  This is where I found the playbook, which is a photo album book that opens to contain a screen that displays pictures and videos from your event.  Just like a movie, you can jump forward, play music and rewind the album!  What a great way to use your pictures!  Now they are not only a static image but an interactive movie experience.  

Please check out the links below to learn more about the playbook option and how this can take the memories from your event to the next level.  
]]><![CDATA[Photo Booth Fun]]>Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:47:12 GMThttp://simplythebestphotography.com/blog/photo-booth-fun
Top 10 reasons you should have a photo booth at your next event:
1) Everyone loves pictures!
2)Photo booths provide entertainment and a fun activity for guests beyond food and drinks.
3)The touchscreen station is easy for guests to use (even little kids who can't read can use the photo booth!)
4)Photo booths are funny!  Most people smile and laugh when they view their images and then take more!
5)Photo booths offer more than just photos.  Videos, giff and boomerang files can also be taken with the photo booth.  
6)Photo booths provide instant memories and a party favor for your guests from your event.
7)Guests can receive their images instantly by choosing to have them emailed or texted to their phone.
8)Backdrops and props are included with our services to fit the theme of your event!
9)The photo booth automatically makes an online gallery from your event which you can use to download, share and view the pictures with no work on your end!
10)Still need another reason?  Check out our youtube video below to view the photo boot in action at our events!
]]><![CDATA[What to wear for your family portrait]]>Wed, 23 Dec 2020 15:28:33 GMThttp://simplythebestphotography.com/blog/what-to-wear-for-your-family-portraitPicture
Tips on selecting clothes for your session:

Be Timeless -
Clothing can easily date your portrait.  For that reason, simple clothing with a timeless cut and style works best.  Single colors work best.  Avoid busy patterns and text on shirts.  If you would like to choose a pattern, plaid is a timeless pattern that can work well.  Long-sleeves are a good call for most portraits, taking attention away from the arms and keeping it on the faces and expressions.  Jeans, khaki, black or grey pants can be timeless and casual.  Darker clothing recedes in the image and can appear slimming.
 
Color & Style -
A good place to start is to pick a color that is flattering to your skin tone.  For example, maroon, pink and khaki dominate my closet.  Another good choice is blue and white.  Different hues of the same color family, or complimentary colors work great together. Instead of looking for top-to-bottom looks for everyone in your family, decide on a color scheme that works for all, like white shirts and blue jean bottoms or black pants with light blue tops.  Ideally, keep your clothing selection within the same style (dressy, casual, sporty, etc.). For a soft, timeless look, choose neutral colors in classic styles. Bold patterns and bright colors can detract from a portrait, but if it’s your style you may want to consider pairing a single pattern (like stripes or plaid) with solids. 

Layering -
Layers will not only provide more visual interest in your photos but they will also allow a lot more variety in your shots and poses.  Layering also lets you easily and quickly vary your look; simply add a sweater, jacket, or hat and you have an entirely different look without changing your entire outfit.

Comfort Counts -
​Remember: the goal of your photo shoot is to capture the members of your family as they are today. Consider that you might be sitting or leaning in different poses. If you are having an outdoor session, be sure to wear shoes that you can walk around in the grass or woods in.  High heels do not work well outdoors and will sink into the ground.  Also, shoes are not the main focus of a portrait and are often not included in the picture.  They will show up at some point, so please try to match these also with the same guidelines as the clothes.  Brown or black usually works best and will blend in with most outfits.  Another option to consider is going barefoot.  This natural look is cute, especially for young children's portraits and indoor family pictures with kids. 

Try this. Lay out everyone’s clothing together in the room where your portrait will be displayed so that you can see how the colors, patterns, and textures of the photo will complement those of the room itself. Replace outfits and add accessories until you achieve a fresh and exciting look for that room.
]]><![CDATA[Wedding rings - Often overlooked on your big day]]>Sat, 06 Jun 2020 07:00:00 GMThttp://simplythebestphotography.com/blog/wedding-rings-dont-forget-to-have-them-photographed
Picture
Most wedding days have a formula for photographing the big day that falls into a chronological order of events.  Don’t forget to have your photographer take time to photograph your engagement and wedding rings.  Often, this detail is missed because someone is carrying them around in their pocket to give to the groom right before the ceremony.  Rings make for GREAT addition to your wedding album because they are the symbol of marriage, and the rings are often one of the most expensive component of a wedding.
    Before the ceremony, I like to ask whom is holding the rings and find that person.  Often the rings are in a special box created for the occasion.  Using a macro lens, I enjoy photographing the bride and groom’s ring in an extreme close up shot.  This ensures the cut of the diamond and other jewels are in perfect focus, along with any engraving and other details of the jewelry.  Placing the rings in the bridal bouquet is also one of my favorite go to shots for weddings.  This captures two really important details in a classically beautiful photograph.  Often the bride will also have the dress and accessories ready for photographs, this makes for great ring placement also.
    Photographing the wedding rings is one of my favorite parts of a wedding day.  It allows for some great creative shots displaying many of the details the bride and groom have planned out.  It also adds variety to the wedding photographs and album.  Not all photographers will have the lens or capacity or knowledge of photographing extreme close-up, macro shots.  I believe this is an important component of full wedding photography coverage and am looking forward to bringing this level of detailed service to your wedding!

  • Erin Bess
Picture
Picture
]]><![CDATA[Beyond the Bride & Groom - How to organize family portraits at your wedding]]>Thu, 21 May 2020 07:00:00 GMThttp://simplythebestphotography.com/blog/beyond-the-bride-groom-how-to-organize-family-portraits-at-your-wedding
Picture
Group family photographs are on the top of the list for most brides and grooms at their wedding.  These are the images that will be shared by the entire family and make the passage of time in one’s family album.  When going over the timeline of the wedding day, the bride usually asks me when is the best time to accomplish this?  If you are having a fairly traditional wedding, usually the most optimum time is directly after the ceremony.  This allows for everyone to arrive (on time or not) and move through the importance of the ceremony.  Right after the ceremony is over, all of the attention will be focused on greeting the bride and groom.  This is a great time to use that energy and focus before the cocktail hour!
    I usually suggest starting with the largest group desired and moving into medium and then smaller groups until only the bride and groom are left with their parents.  This allows us to dismiss family members once they have been photographed to socialize with other guests.  This method also cuts down on confusion and extra talking and milling about.  Many bride’s will ask me if they need to compile a list of groups to photograph.  My answer is usually no, as this tends to be fairly easy to achieve if orchestrated right after the ceremony when everyone is present.  If you would like to make a list of family groups to photograph, please go ahead but it is not usually necessary to accomplish the goal of family groups photographed with the bride and groom.

    After the family groups are finished, this is a great time to work with just the bride and groom on their couples portraits.  This way the guests have gone on the the cocktail and appetizer hour, are entertained and happily out of the way!  It also gives 15-30 minutes to build anticipation for the bride and grooms entrance and announcement as a married couple.  Occasionally a bride and groom prefers to be photographed together before the ceremony due to various reasons.  The only reason, beyond tradition, I typically would suggest that after the ceremony portraits are better is because the emotional anticipation and relief of the ceremony being a success provides a more relaxed bride and groom which reflects in their pictures.
    Helping organize the wedding day time line is a complementary service available to any couple who is looking for guidance or advice on the flow of the day.  I enjoy helping people with this process, and draw not only on my own wedding experience as a bride, but also from the dozens of weddings and events that I have photographed.  Please give me a call to go over the events of your wedding day at anytime.


  • Erin Bess
Picture
Picture
Picture
]]>