This is going to be a pretty candid blog post. For over a month, we have not been able to take any sort of photos. Our last session was March 8th, and since then, I've just been trying to get a grasp on this changing landscape due to COVID-19. I very recently had a couple of people reach out about at home sessions and, unfortunately, I'm not opening up my calendar again until (hopefully) July. It really is heartbreaking to tell people I cannot take their photos until possibly the middle of summer. That's extremely weird, uncomfortable, and downright depressing. However, I RECENTLY (4 days ago) started trying to make the best of it. I want to give business owners the opportunity to still get photos to update their website and social media. Photography as a tool is absolutely necessary, even though phtoography as a career is considered non-essential. With that in mind, I started thinking of ways to help people take their own headshots from the comfort of their homes and with the ease of their cell phones. I was inspired to create this post by a photographer named Graceful Designs Photography. She gave amazing instructions to new parents on how to take their own Fresh 48 photos while we are all currently social distancing. I wanted to kind of expand on that for entrepreneurs, which is why I created a quick step-by-step post that will hopefully keep your website updated and social media game strong! Turning your...

Anybody who has been following my blog, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook should know that I love animals. Shawn and I absolutely cherish our little dog, Pony. We also love the special pets that we have the pleasure of photographing for our wedding couples. Normally, we only get to see these bundles of joy for engagement sessions, prancing around Susquehanna State Park or relaxing in the shade at Middle Patuxent Environmental Area (or even just a kitty relaxing at home while everyone is busily getting ready). Every so often, a couple wants to include their furry friend in the wedding, much to the delight of everyone. Unfortunately, this option is often overlooked for even the biggest pet enthusiasts. The logistics of handling, accessorizing, and chauffeuring the furry loved ones can be big hassle. Luckily, Furever & Fur Always is here to fill that gap and ease your concerns! About Furever & Fur Always Tiffany and Tehya (or, T-n-T as they affectionately refer to themselves) work all around the Maryland, DC, and Virginia area as a Wedding Day Dog Care service. This duo solves absolutely everything with your adorable pet on your big day. They safely escort your puppy to and from the venue, manage accessories, and chaperone. They coordinate just about anything you need! These two don't even just stick to weddings, also handling overnight stays, engagement sessions, and more. This concept is so lovable, I reached out to ask if I could find out more about their service...

While preparing for your big day and hoping it all comes together, it's easy to feel like the dating process all over again. Balancing the bittersweet emotions of anticipation, excitement, fear, and hopefulness. This is especially true for your wedding photographers, who you are entrusting with preserving a huge life event for generations. That's a big responsibility, even when you are dealing with those of us who have years of experience and knowledge. You only get one chance for your wedding. So how do you know it is a good choice you can be excited about? They might meet your checklist of requirements, but is that sufficient to finding the perfect wedding photographer? Finding "The One" Wedding Photographer Having gone through it ourselves, we know that feeling of searching for the perfect wedding vendors. Besides budget and guest list, it's one of the biggest stressors of preparing your nuptials. First, there's the balance between cost and value, finding vendors who have quality work but won't break the bank. Then you hope they are available on your date. You spend some time in meetings or email exchanges before narrowing down to one vendor. Finally, you weigh out your options and put money down to lock them in for your date. Everything is finalized, and the commitment is real. So, before you invest, what are some important questions you two can ask yourselves to be certain you won't feel buyer's remorse? Editing Style Does their editing style match what I want...

This is the time of year when a lot of our couples are planning their engagement sessions. Whether they are dreaming of a "lost in the wood" session or high fashion city shoot, timing means everything. For Shawn and I, breaching this subject is a point of contention. We are both night owls, so whenever the thought of early morning comes up, we both kind of shudder. However, we recognize the beauty in small crowds and fabulous light. Our couples, though, don't always know of those benefits as well as we do. It means so much to me through chatting with our couples that we are able to provide them with loads of session information. One of the biggest things we cover before an engagement session is the timing for a session. So what better way to benefit everyone than through a blog? There are pretty images below, so everyone stick around until the end :P. What is proper timing? One of the first things I want to touch on is the best hours of the day to be out. We have found that for sunrise sessions, we want to be shooting 30 minutes after the sun has risen. For sunset, we like to give ourselves 2 hours before the sun has fully fallen. These times are typically called the "golden / magic / perfect hour," but I just like to say "ohhhhh, mah gawsh! Best!". Here's a cute little info graphic I've created...

During the wedding season, it's easy to keep productivity high because I follow a format for my days. I cull, edit, post a blog, set up Instagram posts, etc.. But during the off season, all of this changes. There are no longer weekends filled with beautiful receptions or romantic engagements. The off season falls around November and December for us, which means that the weekends are now booked with shopping and family. It's a time that I absolutely love, but to be honest, the holidays completely take every ounce of my energy. What should be a time to regroup and plan for the new year becomes laying on the couch with a plate of mashed potatoes. I struggle big time with being productive during this time of the year. All I want to do is drink hot cocoa and watch Christmas movies, but that's not realistic. Though my mission during the off season definitely goes through some shifts, I make sure that I pay close attention to what I'm doing throughout the day. From list making to "treat yo-self" rewards, I make sure I touch on all of tips below in order to jump start my productivity. This allows me to continue to accomplish all that I want to do, while still enjoying this time of the year. Setting goals for yourself Goals are the biggest thing that keep me in a steady workflow. When we have weddings, the goals are to cull a certain number of images before...