Academic excellence, graduation season, and job searches are stressful tasks and events on their own. Being a college senior during a pandemic was anything but stress-free. Not only students but institutions and instructors had a difficult time transitioning to an online learning environment. The pandemic has left students in a state of limbo and has heightened their financial anxieties, physical and emotional health concerns, graduation disappointment, career uncertainty, and negative academic impact.

The graduating class of 2021—both from high school and from college—has not had the proper time to grieve the loss of the last months of their high school and college experiences and their graduation ceremonies. People are in survival mode, and being mentally and physically stable is a luxury. There is sadness everywhere right now. It’s a tough request to ask students to adapt while their future plans have been hindered, but this is the reality.

This Giveaway is just something that we wanted to do to show our appreciation for the grads by honoring them with a free session and pictures to show their special moment. We know that the class of 2021 has faced a great amount of adversity, and have successfully pushed through to the finish line. Yes, the portrait session is not a reflection of their entire high school or college experience but these circumstances do not have to take away from all that they have achieved. 

These timeless images will be forever remembered by them, the class of 2021, who have endured such a difficult time. This is our way to show the graduate's accomplishments by highlighting this moment about them, not the social injustice or inequalities, not the misery of the pandemic. Help us to celebrate them by giving them this gift.

REASON THREE: Tradition + Future Generations

Now, this might be a little off subject, but I promise I have a point. Sometimes when I walk into a wedding I'm photographing, there is a table set up with the wedding photos of the couple's parents and grandparents. The first thing I think of is, "Oh, how sweet!" Then I realize that I'm there to photograph this couple's wedding day so that someday their grandchildren might display that photo on their big day. And I think of just how powerful photography can be. One of my favorite things to do is look at old photos of my family, especially those who I've never met. It's important to have quality images that can be passed down from generation to generation, because we just don't know how our Facebook photos are going to be viewed 50 years from now.  It's also fun to start the tradition of having family photos taken so it can be continued. Your teenagers may roll their eyes at it now, but someday they will see the value and continue on their own.

​

REASON TWO: Wall Art Featuring Those You Love Most; oh, and YOU!

Let's face it, selfies are the big thing now right? Why are they such a big deal? Because it's a way to make sure EVERYONE gets in the photo, including the person taking it. And with the famed "selfie stick" the options are endless. But are these really the photos you want to blow up on a canvas and show off to anyone who walks into your home? No...   Family portraits are an investment; yes. But if you think of creating these photos as art, you're really investing in so much more. I can't think of any better art to put on the walls of a home than art that features the people that you love most. And guess what? One of those people should be you! How often do you see a photo of a family, but either Mom or Dad is missing?? Often. Because someone had to take the photo! Well, a professional photoshoot ensures that everyone gets their moment to shine! 

When was the last time you had a family portrait taken? No, I'm not talking about a group photo at a family BBQ. I'm talking about a professional portrait. Maybe you do a family photoshoot every year? Maybe you've only done it once? Maybe you've never had one? Whether you are a seasoned professional in finding perfectly matching outfits for your family or you think you could never get your kids to sit still for a portrait; this post is for you! 

Let me start by telling you that although I am a photographer and I may be a little biased in this, I didn't grow up in a family that took family portraits. We didn't send out holiday cards every year and the photos on our walls were from events or our annual summer vacation. We have ONE professional photo and it was taken 20+ years ago. So I'm speaking to you as someone who didn't have this tradition, but who plans on having family portraits taken every year. In fact, if it wasn't for the pandemic we wouldn't have known  how bare our walls were and we just started taking family portraits ourselves. And that's because now I know exactly how important it is. 

So before you decide if family portraits are for you, let me give you three reasons why. Here's the first to this three series of messages: 

REASON ONE: Document Changes

Your children are changing fast. They can change so much in just a few months. Documenting your family every year or even every few years can help show just how much you all are changing. Whether you're adding new family members, losing teeth, getting braces and so much more, this can be captured in a beautiful professional way. 

Take this beautiful family for example. These photos are five years apart. The youngest daughter is a growing tween and dad can not put her over his shoulders anymore. I'm so glad that this family decided to do photos again because soon their daughters will be leaving for college. Don't wait around for the right time, do it to document the current changes in your life.

   

We believe in photography—but more than that, We believe in photographs. Printed photographs are tangible. We can hold on to them, pass them around, frame them and hang them on a wall. We can make albums to be treasured and looked through by children for years to come.

We can’t touch a file, and the truth is we don’t know the longevity of a file or if we will even be able to find it someday. A digital file is a bit of a mystery—if it’s lost, where did it go? If a drive is damaged, what happens to the files? How many people truly back up all their images?

What happened to disc cameras, eight-track tapes, Walkmans, and other technology we thought would last forever? What will our children be looking at in 20 or 30 years? Photographs are special—files are not!

We believe in printing our work professionally. We believe our work is more than a screensaver. Years of studying and perfecting my craft come down to more than sending files via the internet.  

615626000beautiful workplace, computer with white blank empty screen, home office interior

The photographs that we create for our clients are not only precious to our clients, they are also precious to us. It is our work, a lifetime of work that deserves to be printed.

Photographs are passed on to children and grandchildren. Can you imagine a floppy disk, a DVD or a flash drive sitting in a frame representing your family portraits?

Like many photographers we have struggled with bending to the needs or wants of a clientele that is looking for files. But this is what we discovered over the last year—it makes us uncomfortable in the center of my gut to hand over digital files, no matter the price. Clients have told me that the DVD is still sitting on a desk and they should have had me make the prints in the first place because they never have time to get to it.  

We often wonder about those files that were sold…How were they printed? Did the client crop it too tight? Is the color correct? Did they attempt to alter the image? It troubles us because we put so much of ourselves into our work. And, we have to wonder…are we really acting as professionals and serving our client the best way that we know how to by simply selling intangible files that may never be printed?

For some, it’s easy…take some photos, edit them, burn them on a disk or flash-drive, and make a few bucks. We don’t and can’t operate that way—we care too much about our work, about our clients and future generations that might have no photographs because we wanted to make fast and easy money selling files. 

We are taking a stand! We are photographers! We are without a doubt passionate about creating photographs—real pictures, printed on professional paper—and beautiful albums. We want your children, their children, our children and future grandchildren looking at and holding onto photographs, not the latest greatest gadget.

It has taken deep soul searching, a lot of thought and time, to define the value of our work. We are taking a stand against selling files and taking a strong stand for printing our photographs. 

If being a business owner and photographers today means the current market will force us to sell files not photographs and to compromise our work and our values—well then, we are out.

But, that won’t happen! We know it won’t because we know there are people and clients who value our work, understand and respect the value that we have placed on our work, and actually want photographs.

We are David and Susan, professional photographers—We believe in and value photography and the images we leave for our children. Our work and your portraits will be professionally printed to our standards, they will be available to frame and look at in albums…  

The portraits that we create for you will not become a part of your screensaver slideshow.

We have worked too hard and taken too much pride in our work for that to happen. We will not take the risk that in 20 years we will be a generation of lost photographs.

There We stand!

Have you ever wonder how those family photos just looks amazing? Well...did you know that it has to do to what they wear? To help you on your next family photo session, we at SuStudios would like to give you some tips and tricks on how to dress for the occasion. This is one of the many tips that we offer to all of our clients and we want to make sure that you have our secret to prepping your family to what they should wear on their next photo shoot.

Here we go...

As you’re coordinating your outfit with your family or group, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palette and wardrobe pieces coordinate, but don’t actually “match.” We recommend that you avoid thinking about “matching,” and instead think about what “fits” together. This will create more visual interest, and allow each personality to shine through.

The goal for coordinating a family or group is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom. The more we can mix that up, the better. We encourage you to think about planning each outfit with “dominant colors” and “accent colors” in mind. A dominant color is the color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate. When you’re planning each member’s outfit, if you can aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’s going to look great all together. Now each person has their own dominant color while still incorporating a few touches of the others that will pull all the looks together. This will break up the color visually and highlight each personality.

We recommend selecting those softer, lighter tones and avoiding those ultra-bright, bold colors. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. Feel free to vary the shades of the colors, too. That softer color palette fits beautifully into a natural environment, and can easily be paired in so many different ways.

We here at SuStudios would like to give you some tips and tricks on how to have a successful photoshoot! In this series we will focus on how to schedule the PERFECT Date and Time. To start this off, we want to say that WE’RE NATURAL LIGHT SPECIALISTS. What that means is that we believe that natural light, from the sun and its reflections, creates photographs that feel fresh, timeless and truest to you.

We begin all portrait sessions two hours before the scheduled sunset during “the golden hour,” when the light is the dreamiest and everything is golden. To determine when golden hour is use a sunset calculator online to determine the scheduled sunset for the date and location you’d like to do your session. Then, just subtract x-amount of hours to figure out the start time of your session. Remember, the sun sets much earlier during the colder months of the year and much later during the warmer months, so make sure to factor that in when choosing your portrait session date. 

Sweet Light Keep Going

If you’re planning on taking off work or have evening plans afterward make sure to plan a buffer of time when getting ready so you can arrive a few minutes early to your session and be ready to start on time. We’re only able to shoot when natural light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down.

The feeling of now knowing what to wear when appearing on camera can be an overwhelming experience. Additionally, not knowing what colors and clothing appropriate to wear in video can add further anxiety. This is why a question such as ‘ What color clothing is suitable to wear when being filmed ‘ is a common one.

Before you get started make sure you wear clothing that is consistent with your branding. The clothing you choose should also make you feel good about yourself.  You will also want to consider wearing something that accurately represents your style. If you have an upcoming date booked with a camera, below are some tips which will help you look your best. This advice is great for general interviews and testimonials.

As a general rule, solid and rich colors look best on video and film. Try and avoid wearing bright white clothing which can dominate the screen. A safer color to wear would be a not-quite-white colors like light beige and light grey. Also, very pale colors may work better. Try and choose colors that compliment your skin tone and wear colors that make you feel comfortable and confident.
 

When it comes to selecting your on-camera wardrobe you should avoid clothing that has a lot of patterns. Try staying away from clothing that has stripes, plaids and floral patterns. Some video cameras will have a difficult time processing patterns which can affect image quality. While modern cameras are better equipped at handling patterns it is better to stay on the safe side.

TRY AND AVOID LOGOS

Unless you are trying to promote another brand avoid wearing clothing that has a logo written all over it.  Your brand matters so consider wearing something the brings out your personality.

FINAL WORDS

Remember that content is king, but dress for video should never be overlooked. The color of the wardrobe may appear as a minor item, but it does add a lot of value to the video production. Hopefully, this article would have given you some good tips on what to wear on camera.

Family Portrait SessionsCapturing once-in-a-lifetime moments!

5 Tips for a Stress-Free Family Portrait Session

Family Portrait Session are an important part of preserving memories of your growing children, creating family heirlooms and artwork that you can enjoy daily while displayed on your wall, and experiencing something fun and exciting as a family. 

Although most families know they are long due for a family portrait, many are feel like planning such a session is overwhelming, i.e. "we don't have anything to wear"; "we are too busy will soccer/baseball/school work, household chores, etc."; "my kids and husband dread the idea of spending time getting their picture taken"; "my kids are so small and difficult to photograph"; the list goes on and on.

Has this happened to you?

Family photo sessions are such a key way to preserve memories of your family that you don't want it to be a stressful time. Here are our best practices for a stress-free family portrait session.

Tip #1: Plan 

Schedule your photo session at a time that is good for everyone (including working around nap times, if necessary). Have everyone clear their schedules so there is plenty of time before and after your photography appointment. Hurrying to your photo session because your afraid of being late or rushing things because you have to be somewhere else next, won't result in great images or a pleasant experience. Plan to arrive at least 15 minutes before your session time. This will allow for enough time in case there's unexpected traffic, necessary bathroom breaks, or a time to merely get familiar with the location of your session. 

Tip #2: Wardrobe is Key

In addition to planning your time, you'll also want to let everyone know what to expect at the photo session, notably, what everyone should wear. We highly recommend you coordinate in general, but don’t be matchy matchy. If it helps, choose three different colors as a swatch on which you can base all your outfits. Comfortable yet elegant is best! So feel free to show your personality. No families really go out wearing matching blue jeans and white shirts, do they!? Be yourselves. We also suggest avoiding solid white clothing (but some white -- e.g. under another garment, accessories -- is OK). Too much solid black may blend into shadows. Remember, all things are OK in moderation. Rich solid colors and textured clothing work great! (Accessories like scarves, hats, fringe, knitted items are great, too.) We always tell our clients, "It’s up to you, but just so you know -- most people who choose big bold patterns, graphic t-shirts, sweat pants, or flip-flops live to regret it". 

The best way to coordinate with the shooting location is simply to present the best version of yourself.

Tip #3: Have a "Plan B"

If you know your preschooler or a baby is prone to spit-up or drool, you may want to consider bringing an outfit change or two just in case. It also wouldn't hurt to bring snacks, safety pins, something to bribe the spouse and kids (don't worry, we won't judge). Lastly, depending on the location of your session, there may not be access to bathrooms, therefore, it may be a good idea to plan a bathroom break before arriving at your session especially if you have little ones. 

Tip #4: Pictures on an Empty Stomach... Not Fun!

We all know our families are no fun when they're Hangry. Make sure you either bring some snacks or that you've confirmed with your photographer if snacks will be available at the session. We always make a point of having water and snacks at our family sessions.

Tip #5: Make it Quick and Painless

Although it would be great if all our families could sit still for a 2-hour photography session with multiple outfit changes and poses, however, the reality is most kids and spouses come to their portrait session wanting it to be over as quickly as possible. For that reason, you may want to consider booking your session with a photography team (2 photographers vs. 1 photographer) that can typically shoot a variety of images in a much more shorter amount of time.

Our customers love our 20-minute Mini Sessions as the time is short enough to convince the spouse and kids, and since we are a husband and wife team, we typically show 50-70 high-quality images that capture a wide range of moments our customers cherish.   

Your family portrait session should be fun and memorable, not stressful. Let us help you schedule it!

Contact us to schedule your consultation!

Let's Talk About Your Family Session Today!

The investment in a high-quality professional headshot is a direct investment in your brand. Whether you are a Fortune 500 Company or a local small business, a great headshot will show you at your best, precisely how you’d like potential clients to see you. Since most of us can feel awkward in front of a camera, an amateur photographer may only serve to create photos that are a poor unrealistic representation of who we are and our professionalism. On the other hand, a professional photographer can provide guidance and encouragement to bring out the best of our personality, creating stunning professional images. Photos that we would be proud to share with anyone. 

A professional photographer can also advise on wardrobe, color schemes, backdrops, and natural vs artificial lighting in order to match your brand and vision. 

Most business owners are already aware of the massive influence social media and internet presence has on promoting a company brand. However, few may realize the impact of a high quality, digitally enhanced headshot can have on a social media platform, internet page, and even a simple profile. The old adage “you only get one chance to make a first impression” has never been more true. 

Here are five reasons why every business and professional needs a great Headshot:

1. People see your professionalism. If you look professional and trustworthy, prospective clients and other professionals, who have never met you, will be much more likely to meet with you. 

2. A great headshot provides your audience with a window into your personality. Are you easy to work with, are you determined, are you sincere, are you friendly, are you confident? Since a picture “is worth a thousand words”, your audience can connect with you instantaneously through your headshot. 

3. It reminds people of who you are. Have you ever been to a networking event and completely forgot which card belongs to who? A headshot helps your centers of influence remember who you are and what value you provide. 

4. A recent headshot helps people see the “real” you. Have you ever seen a LinkedIn profile picture of someone from 20 years ago, and when you see them in person, they look totally different? This type of experience can give your audience a feeling of inauthenticity and can even work against building trust and rapport, so don’t do it. 

5. Looking your best builds your confidence. Providing prospective clients and other professionals with a polished high-quality representation of yourself will reduce the anxiety that comes along with stressing over a first impression. You are then able to focus on doing what you do best, being yourself. 

You probably already know the need for a quality headshot, and I’m hoping this post has given you the small “nudge” you needed to seek out a professional photographer and book your session today. I want to recommend searching and finding the right photographer for you. It may be as simple as reviewing the photographer's work and making sure they are a good fit. In any case, here are a few photographer questions to help with your search: Are they highly and positively reviewed by former clients? Does their portfolio fit your style and vision? Do they have experience shooting headshots? Are they flexible, can they come to your location? Will they restrict where you can use or post your headshots? 

Although you may be tempted to choose a budget-friendly portrait shot from a department store, I recommend that you don’t skimp out, and instead invest in a quality product that you will be proud to show others. Who knows, the investment may prove to open opportunities and new business, paying multiple dividends now and into the future. 

Susan Arevalo

Co-Owner

SuStudios Photography

See some of our recent headshots here: Professional Headshot Gallery

If you are interested to hear more about what I can offer you, please leave me your info and lets schedule a time for a consult so that I can help you with your needs to grow in the social media market this year. https://www.sustudiosphotography.com/contact.html

Here are success stories and images from my brand photography of these amazing individuals.

Here is Nicole Williams, a personal trainer who believes in helping other women not only to stay in shape but also to feel good about themselves. Fitness is not just to loose weight but also inspires one to be confident about themselves. Nicole teaches women to be self disciplined and her example encourages other to push themselves. She is strong but also gentle, her kindness inspires others and you wouldn't know about her unless you see her for the lovely person that she is. So my job was to convey the other side of the personal trainer at the gym, she is dedicated to working with you outside of the gym and be your own personal coach. She takes her fitness seriously and her life and actions reflects that. 

Brand Photography

When you choose brand photography through me, you will get product shoots, headshots, and a variety of images that you can use to post for your website or social media. Along with this, you will get professional headshots that you can use to show people who you are, whether on your website in the About pages or on Linked In. Here is Angelice Foreman, a dietician who is also a Nutritional Coach. Here are a few of her headshots and one of her in the field.

Waiting on Client

There are other inspirational women who are life coaches and counselors but you wouldn't know them unless you see who they are and what they stand for. These are headshots that are inviting. These women are loving and it shows by their genuine smiles that they just want to help people and their service is something of value because they will invest, not only in your physically wellbeing but also in the areas of your spiritual and mental.

                   Rebecca Williams, Couples Therapist                                                 Shonda Padron, Life Coach

To the Photographer who is aspiring to do full time wedding photography:

A word of advice: You do not want your first time photo session with your Bride and Groom to be on their wedding day. This is so stressful and chaotic for you and the participants as is. I remembered how nervous I got when I showed up on a wedding day to find that this was our first meet up. I was so nervous. I literally felt like I was following them around taking any photos that I get a chance to. We did not built a rapport with each other, so I didn't know how to give out my suggestions for the photos because I didn't want to intrude. That was mistake #1. I didn't take charge but you know who did? The videographer! Except he doesn't provide the clients with a timeless image, that was my job. He kept putting the Bride and Groom in the worst possible lights ever. In harsh direct sunlight and spotty lights underneath the trees, I was mortified. Then to make matters worst, he kept getting in my shots. It was a nightmare. But I felt like I couldn't say anything because I don't think the Bride and Groom would trust my judgement. That was mistake #2. I didn't speak up or educate. So learning from all of my past, here are my tips for you, dear fellow photographers. I am not saying that I got it all figured out but I am finding success in this and I would love for you to use it as well. 

To the Bride and Groom:

I know that planning a wedding is hard and costly. I mean, I am married myself. But choosing the right photographer doesn't have to be. In fact, the right photographer will go with the flow of your wedding timeline and if they are smart, that is their photography timeline as well. What I mean by this is that your photographer should be involved in your timeline, not as a coordinator but as someone who will capture your event as you had envisioned it but with their expertise on the photographs. People don't realize it but photos speak a thousand words, so you only have one shot to get it right. And believe me when I say this, that is a lot of pressure for us as a photographer. But how do we work together on your wedding day? Point #1: Establish a relationship with your photographer. I'm sorry but one or two conversations over the phone is not enough. Believe me, I learned that the hard way. I showed up after countless conversations of prepping and planning with my Bride and on the day of the wedding, I was still a stranger taking their pictures. It wasn't their fault and its not like they haven't seen my work, I mean thats why they choose me, right? But what was missing was their experience with me in previous shoots. In this case, during the engagement session. So one way that you can built a rapport with your photographer is to do an engagement session with them. That way on your wedding day, it will not be your first time meeting them. Not to say that you can't still have a great experience even if you didn't book them as your engagement photographer. But you will miss out on great photos. And what I mean with this is that great photo takes time and time is not what you have at a wedding day. 90 percent of the time, the wedding timeline does not go as planned and everyone has to make adjustments to that. But the person's job that will be effected the most is your photographer because photos will be the first to be cut out when it comes to a shortage of time. That means, your scheduled of 1 hour couples photo session can be as short as 30 minutes now. The photographer not only has to be innovative with their time but also has to try to capture you with limited instructions on how you should pose. So if you want those timeless pictures that you see on Pinterest, that takes time. Point #2: Work with your photographer on posing. Guys, this is can be done through two ways. Your photographer will either pose you the same way they pose all of their clients or you pose yourself without their help. Remember, we are working under pressure and like my previous message to the photographers was, I can give suggestions but will you take it? Consider this is our first meet up and there are no trust built. What if I suggest something and get shut down and you end up posing yourself. I don't know but let's not leave room for that. This goes to my next point #2: Engagement Session is a time to practice your posing. 

With SuStudios Photography, we recommend you booking an engagement session with us for this reason. In the short amount of timeframe that we have, we want your experience to be with us as relaxing as it can be because you have other things to worry about. Let us help you prepare for your wedding day pictures. I can guarantee you that you will feel confident not only in trusting us but confident in how you feel about your photos. Here is Berlyn and David's Engagement Session. Super cute couple that are so sweet and reserved when they started, to being super comfortable and relaxed halfway through the session. They mastered the foundation poses perfectly and had so much fun doing it as well.

Here's their first picture with me.

Here is Berlyn and David now, using the poses that I educated them on.

                                    This is pose is called the V-Up. This pose will be used for their family formals and bridal party pictures.

Here, we have the Close Pose. They can either press closer to each other or to give it a more intimate feel, their body can completely face each other.

                                                               Then we introduce you how to do fun poses like the Lift and the Dip.

And that Ladies and Gentlemen, are some of the poses that we will go over with you during your engagement session. Like I mentioned before, your engagement session is a chance for you to get to know your photographer, to built trust and and be educated by them. When you book your engagement shoot with SuStudios, you will not only get to know your photographer but you will feel more relaxed and confident on your wedding day. Thank you for reading this blog. We hope you take this journey with us. 

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Getting married is the most eventful moment of your life. If you are planning a wedding, you know that choosing a location and venue not only represents your style but it can also reflect on your culture and beliefs. With SuStudios we want to capture every aspect of your venue because we know that you have worked so hard in finding just the right one for your special day. 

Catholic Church

Catholic Wedding Wide angle view of the altar at a Catholic church

Outdoor Chapel 

When it comes to photographing the Bride, we know that it is mostly in the details. Since she spend a lot of time in picking the right hair and make-up stylist, we want to have photos of that, as well as her gown and veil. With SuStudios Photography we value your must have shots of how radiant you look in your wedding dress. 

The Bride and her dress

We know that most couples would prefer the traditional ceremony and would like to wait to see each other at the alter for the first time. But if you like to break that tradition, we will be there to capture that First Look and do it in a way that gives you privacy.

The First Look

Other then the kiss at the alter after you say "I Do", the couple's session are our favorite! This is when the newlywed couple are the least stressed and filled with so much love that the session allows for candids and sometimes guided poses. But the objective of this session is to create memorable images. This can only be possible with timeline discussion with your photographer. Note this: GREAT IMAGE TAKES TIME. 

Couple Session

If you are a Bride and Groom looking for a photographer for your special day, we want to be that and so much more. At SuStudios Photography, we want to tailor your wedding day photography to your vision. That means that we need to do certain things, in communication, in understanding, in creating things like a mood board, and going through and doing talk throughs. We want to help you create timelines and itineraries. We want to have checklists to help us make sure that not only do we understand your vision but that it comes down to properly communicating and understanding what your expectations are. If you would like to learn how we can be of service to you, please contact us at (951) 888-0563 for a free consultation. We hope to hear from you soon.

Susan Arevalo

Owner and Photographer

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The things that we go over during your engagement session will lead you to having better images on your wedding day. Here's what you can expect from our Engagement Session:

1. Free Consultation in regards to creating a Mood Board

2. We will go over your photographic style and how we can tailor the shoot to your vision

3. We will give you tips on wardrobe, hair and make up, and where to do your shoot

4. We will teach you foundational poses that will prepare you for your wedding day photos

5. You will feel comfortable and at ease on your wedding day because you have already built a rapport with us

Photographic Styles:

Traditional Portraits

Lifestyle

Candid

Journalistic

Location of Shoots:

Beach

Desert

Downtown

Park

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"Artistic portrait photography is all about finding the emotions and expressions in portrait shots"

I heard that great portrait photography is a result of combining the right technique with an artist's expression. Technique is very important, because in order for you to create stunning and emotive portrait, you need to know your camera setting, compositions, angles, lighting, backdrops, and poses. But just as these are important, your creativity is what makes your photographs...your artwork. It is in itself, your very own creative interpretation in how you see the world through your lens. Landscape and photojournalists are amazing at capturing those timeless moments but portrait photography requires some work. There are so many interpretations of how to become a great portrait photography...so here's my interpretation of it. Here are my key points in why I love portrait photography and confident that I am good at. :)
 

1. Get to Know Your Subject

2. Educating Your Subject

3. Direct and Guide Your Subject in Posing

5. Choosing the Right Background and Lighting

6. Shoot The Photos Confidently and Creatively

Get to Know Your Subject

People forget that the subject that we photograph is the most important aspect of portrait photography. That means making sure the subject feels comfortable with you is an important factor for a successful session. Even if you are familiar with your subject, people can get uncomfortable when they get in front of the camera. It is always a good idea to keep communicating with your subject before and during the shoot. Sometimes I don't get to meet my subject before hand or we had little interactions, so our session shoot is a time where I get to connect with my subjects. I would ask about their education and what they are trying to pursue in life. Even the most uncomfortable awkward people can be put at eased through a simple conversation. Another thing is that I try not to discuss my ideas about the shoot with my subject until during the time of our session because I need to meet with them first. I know that they have never met me or even experienced a photo shoot from me, so I usually start off on taking a couple of test shots and only show them the best ones. I do this so they have confident in what I can produce for them in these shoots. I am also trying to see how comfortable they are to exploring my creative innovations and factor in their preferences. By the end of the shoot, my subjects are so excited to see their images. I then give them a couple of sneak peeks so that they have something to look forward to from their session and they in return share it with their friends and family.

Educate Your Subject

One of the things that I do before our shoot is that I empower my subjects before the day of their shoot. This means, I have educated my shoot about what to wear and for the ladies, how to do their hair and make-up. I will send a style guide package and help them to choose the right time for photos, especially if they do an outdoor photo shoot. I can have the most expensive camera equipment but can still produce poor results if my subject is not ready, comfortable, relaxed and feeling their best. There is a difference in those clients that take my advice. Just like the day of your final exam, if you studied the materials you feel confident but if you didn't, you will feel insecure. So those who took the time with the style guide that I sent after the booking, you can tell. They do not have mismatched outfits. If it's a couple, they coordinate their outfits to compliment each other. That means soft, muted tones versus bright or dark contrast. If it's a family, you do not need to match in colors. It's about selecting a color scheme that all members can compliment with. I encourage all men to look their best and the style guide gives you pointers on that, even on how the ladies can encourage their man. As for the ladies, I encourage them to get their hair and make-up professional. Some of my engagement shoots, I tell the brides to have a practice hair and make-up run though with their stylist. There are some exceptions to the rule if you know how to do it yourself though. But the overall factor is this, you will be photograph if you want come out looking good in your photos...coming looking your very best. 

Direct and Guide Your Subject in Posing

This is a common thing that many photographers struggle with. They may have the skill sets in taking great photos but they are uncomfortable in posing their subjects. I realized that this is a skill set that you either have or need to learn. In the beginning of my photography session, I knew nothing about camera settings but I had no problem directing my subjects on posing. Even if my photos were low quality or in bad light, my clients would love how they came out in it. I know now that you need both, the technical skills and posing to produce a great image. Images that are not only your creative flare but also something that evokes genuine emotion. One of the things that we, as photographers, need to learn how to do is to use our photography to capture emotions and expressions. But this will surely fail if you have not focused on your subject and all you have been doing is to try to get those shots for your portfolio. You did not do the first step of focusing on your subject. You are not talking to them and making them feel comfortable. Your interest have been to just get the job done and not engage nor educate your subjects for their sessions. But if you sense that your subject is ready, comfortable and relaxed...you need to keep them that way throughout the shoot. Make sure that you avoid fake smiles and blank looks. What you need to look for is a genuine sparkle in the eye, a faint smile, or a confident expression. But this doesn't just naturally happen. Sometimes you have to guide the subjects to get there. Some of my photos have my subjects laughing or smiles where their eyes are closed. Those were candid shots after a lame joke that I said or I would encourage others a round them to make them laugh or have them recall a funny experience that they had. So I am not always behind my camera taking pictures, I look at them and I snapped the photo. I noticed that every time I am behind the camera, they are tensed and I can tell because their shoulders are raised and their smile is staged. So I gently remind them to drop their shoulders. Sometimes, I just pause and tell them to roll their shoulders back or shake off the nervousness. Work with your subject and give them time to get into the zone. Forcing or hurrying this process will not work. Even though I feel confident in my posing, a great photographer knows that enhancing your skills will only make your subject look and feel better. My job at the end of the day is to make sure that they have a great experience during their session with me.

Choosing the Right Background and Lighting

You may have heard this say: "The location you choose for the portrait shoot is going to be a significant influence on the final results". That means as the photographer, it is your job to work in the environment that you are in. Sometimes your subjects will go with the locations that you suggested but others just want some where completely different and usually, it's the first time that you have shot there. Well...a good photographer knows how to make use of their situation by using these three rules: 1) You want a neutral, uncluttered background that will not distract the viewer from your subject. 2) Control the depth of field for a blurred background. 3)Ensure that your subject is well lit.

1. In portrait photography the background is just as important as the subject. A busy or distracting background will take attention away from the person in your photo. But you don’t have to choose a completely plain background. For instance, an interesting wall and sometimes a colored door could provide a wonderful pop of color or texture.
2. Shoot with a shallow depth of field. This allows you to have your subject in sharp focus while the background appears blurred or out of focus, helping your portrait subject stand out. I found that blurring the background correctly can add more emphasis to the subject and make your work look more professional established. So it is important to see how the background will turn out and learn how to adjust the shutter and aperture accordingly.
3. Lighting is critical to a photographer. A good photographer should be able to use the available lighting to his advantage. Natural daylight is the most attractive light source for portrait photography. The creative use of the sun as a light source in outdoor portrait photography can produce amazing results. Although shooting outdoors in natural light gives the best results but it can also introduce you to some challenges. You would need to plan according to the weather, time of the day, and changing lighting and environment conditions as the day progresses. Avoid shooting in direct sunlight as it produces harsh shadows and can make your subject to squint. But if you have no other shade, it's ok as you carefully shoot into the sun, with your subject’s back to the sun, that is. This is called backlighting and can result in a golden glow around your subject. But keep in mind that shooting into the sun does require you to provide some “fill” light to illuminate the shadows on your subject’s face. If you can choose mornings or late afternoons when the sunlight gets diffused, and you get a lovely, warm, natural glow.
    

Shoot the Photos Confidently and Creatively

First of all if you want to be confident in your shoots, you have to know your stuff. If this means you have to take some classes just to learn the basics, do it!!! I used to get these critiques after what I thought were amazing photos. "I love the photos but when I printed them they were grainy" or other photographers tell me "The photos look great but your background is too overexposed".  I could look at the feedback in two ways, 1) I can quit this photography business or 2) Use it to better myself. I obviously chose the latter. But know your worth and it does not come from your work or how many clients you book. For me, my worth comes from God and I am confident that he does not see me as a failure but as someone who has great worth and value in his sight. So after educating yourself, explore your creative side and add that style to your photography. Your style should be who you are as a photographer and why clients will choose you over the others. Watch what other photographers are teaching and use their techniques but have your own style. With this said, good luck finding who you were meant to be and have fun shooting!!!

Susan Arevalo,

Owner and Photographer of SuStudios

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