Backups
I was asked today by a mom looking for a professional photographer for her son’s bar mitzvah, “what about your backups?” I had no idea what she was talking about at first. Then we got into a discussion about the various weddings she had attended recently, and how the photographer never showed up. YIKES! That would never happen with Joan Heffler Photography. No way! No how! I have backups! Whether a wedding, corporate, or event, I have a cadre of professional photographers in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, and Saratoga Counties who I network with and share with on a regular basis. If something happens to me, I get on the internet and shout out for a replacement and in a nano-moment, I am covered.
And that is what a real professional is all about! Amen!
Having a good personality will get your everywhere!
Life as a photographer is so much easier if you have a good personality. You can get right in there and make people feel so much more at ease when you “play” with them while smiling and engaging them in conversation. I am not talking about the weather. I am talking about something like this: ” That sweater you’re wearing is just perfect for our photo session today. So glad we had the opportunity to talk about what clothing to wear before our shoot. ” What a difference it makes in the quality of the photo session; whether a studio portrait session, an event, a corporate photography shoot, a wedding or bar or bat mitzvah. Engaging your audience with your good personality smoothes out the day.
A good personality will get you “Pictures with Personality!”
Preparing for the Portrait Session
Joan Heffler Photography is a full-service professional photography studio specializing in corporate, branding, portraits, headshots, special events, and weddings throughout Albany NY’s Capital Region and beyond.
I want your photography experience to be the most pleasant you will ever have. My photography is “painless,” and I believe you will enjoy the time we spend together.
What to wear? How you feel about how you look can make a difference, so I want you to feel great! Bring the clothes that do that for you and when worn, your colleagues tell you how great you look. We will be focusing on our face, not your body.
- Men look great in a light blue shirt and blue suit (please no white shirt and no black suit). If you want to convey power, wear a tie with red in it. (Patterned ties are OK). Ties with yellow and plum/lilac are in now so consider those as well.
- Women think they look thinner and best in black or white but in digital, black and white wash you out. Please–NO Black and No White! Women with dark hair and mediterranean skin look terrific in primary colors (winter colors), maroons, greens, blues and cherry reds. If you are light skinned, pastels are best – light green, lilac, pink, light blues. Talk to me if you want a consultation on what to bring.
- Choose a color that you know compliments your skin tones. If you’re not sure, think of the clothes you wear that you receive compliments on. Usually, you look good in them because their color brings out your eye color and best facial tones.
- For women, do not bring large dangly earrings or large hoops unless that is the look you want to portray to the public.
- Long sleeves are best but open necks are a no-no! Too much contrast between skin and clothing is not OK. Try to avoid V necks. Checks, large stripes, herringbone, little checks and loud patterns are a no-no as well! In general, bring at least two sets of changes.
If you are still not sure, please feel free to call me at (518) 346 – 4485 or email me at joan@joanheffler.com. I am here to help you in all ways. Most often if you have light skin and light hair, complimentary colors are light blues and dark blues, lilac and plum, maroons, light greens and dark greens (red is powerful so be careful). Browns and warm colors are excellent with light and dark brown hair. With jet black hair, think winter colors with brilliancy.
“No! No! Black and White”
People think wearing black and white clothing is perfect for studio portraits, but No! No! Black and white washes out your face and in studio portraiture, your face is what we focus on. People think they look thinner in black, but again, we are focusing in on your face, not your body.
If you really want your personality captured, wear colors!
Kind Words
Echoes of our weddings still chime through our days. We are truly newlyweds in our delight. It was wonderful to have you there ~ and with camera in hand. The pictures are great! I’m so glad you captured the waltz ~ you were the only one who did. Your photographs are clearly at a high artistic level ~ you saw the subtle, the beautiful and the meaningful.
