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Playing with Flour
— 10/19/2016 by Monika Wertman —
Playing with flour is something I have wanted to do for a while. Last summer I had a senior in the studio who was enrolled in the culinary program at the local high school and we played with flour a little, yielding some great shots. A few months later I saw an image that combined flour and dancers and I wanted to do something similar. I love dance being a dancer myself and the mother of a dancer, so combining dance with flour is natural.
The first order of business was to secure one of my favorite dancers I have worked with before, presenting me with a challenge as Nutcracker rehearsals have started. It left us with a 5 pm starting time on a Sunday afternoon. The second order of business was to find an empty, industrial space we could make a mess in. One of my business associates offered the use of such a space. At 5pm we had some natural light left that entered through a strip of windows to our left, but we were able to control the rest of the light and by the time we were almost done, the natural light was fading quickly.
This was so much fun! Maddie, my dancer, is a blast to work with. She is beautiful, graceful and follows instructions wonderfully. She had some of her own ideas that we incorporated as well. But the time we were done, Maddie had flour in places she probably never thought were possible. It was her dad’s birthday and they went to dinner after we finished the shoot. I am sure that her hair was still lightly grey at dinner 🙂
This shoot was one of those things I love to do. Work with a lovely young lady who is open to trying something unusual, resulting in imagery that we are proud to display. It also gives us a chance to play. A chance to figure out what it takes to get a certain shot, so we can repeat it if a senior or adult wants to have the same experience. Before we got into the flour, I tired some things with sheer fabric and the fan I have, to discover that the fan was not powerful enough for the effect I was after.
As an artist, you do not wait to try these things with your clients, but in sessions that are arranged to try out new things. As an artist, I draw inspiration from other artists. I see things and wonder how it was achieved. I know how to light things to get what I want, but some of the other effects, such as creating wind to achieve certain effects have to be explored on my own time table, not that of a client.
I believe that these sessions during which we play and explore to continually build our portfolio is what sets us apart from the competition we have around us. Wertman Photography has grown over the last few months, adding an additional photographer and a videographer to the team. We have added equipment that needs to be explored and personally I am working on my masters in fine art, continually growing as an artist.
When you hire us, you get a team of artists, not technicians. You will work with people who understand light, movement, emotion and relationships. This knowledge shows in our work. Whether we work with athletes, create fine art for fun, photograph families, babies or weddings, we bring our knowledge with us and apply it all to creating memories for you that you will be proud to share with your friends and families for years to come.
Call us today to book your unique session. Tell us what you have in mind and we will be sure to get it done for you. 301-693-3021
Vote for your favorite image for a chance to win a family session for up to 5 people, a $150 value.
Swimming and Action Shots
— 10/12/2016 by Monika Wertman —
Two weeks ago we had the pleasure of working with Alderson Broaddus’ swim team again. I was great working with the athletes we met last year and working with some of the new recruits.
The weather was much warmer this year than last and the sun was out the entire time we were there. More of the swimmers opted in to capture action shots this year as well. We used a different location for the team shots and I still worked in different areas of the campus. 19 of the 20 swimmers were able to attend the team picture and everyone was there for the head shots. All in all a successful trip.
What I enjoy most in working with these young adults is seeing the obvious connection they have as a team and their dedication to their sport. They are all very easy to talk to and very easy to get good pictures of.
Athletes as a rule are fun to work with. They love showing off their skills, their athleticism and in this case, how they have grown in one year.
When we get to work with a particular team year after year, it is fun to see how the athletes change, grow up and develop in their skill set.
It surprised me to see how these young men and women had changed in a year. They are, after all in college and at least the juniors and seniors are over 20. Yes, they are looking older and more mature. They are coming into their own in many ways and athletically this shows.
We have worked with a couple of other teams as well, but for me at least, being the mother of a swimmer, this is the most fun.
If your child is part of a team, school or club, and you are tired of seeing the same pictures every year, please consider sharing this post with your coach and school. The images captured during this shoot have just been shared with the parents and part of the proceeds from the picture purchases will go back to the team to help them go to Florida for training in January.
Every sports team raises money for gear, trips, entry fees and other assorted stuff. Why not raise funds this way? If you are interested please give us a call today at 301-693-3021.
Family sessions outdoors
— 08/04/2016 by Monika Wertman —Over the last few weeks I had the chance to work with several families, many of them with little children and new babies on the way. All of the session took place outdoors because the weather was nice and these families chose to be photographed outdoors.
Working with young families is always fun and I love shooting in a pretty location. Being outside gives me a chance to propose great locations that give us plenty of options and scenery changes. Here in Hagerstown, we have many such locations. We have parks galore and within a short driving distance we have great little and big waterways that add to the variety I can offer my clients with an outdoor session.
During the initial phone call I ask if they have a favorite spot that means something to them as a family. Most of the time the answer is:”no” If this is the case, I then propose one or two locations I think will work well and let my families decide from there. We generally settle on mid-afternoon and many times it has to be on a weekend day. Occasionally I am asked if we can do the session at the families’ home. We offer this option as it turns it into more of a lifestyle session. Indoor or out, a home location offers it’s own challenges that we love to rise to.
At Wertman Photography we are also willing to travel a distance if that is what it takes to make our clients happy. Within a 25 mile radius from he studio, we travel for no additional charge, outside of this radius, the additional rate depends on the distance we need to cover and how long it will take us to get there. Personally, I love to go to new places a bit of a distance away. It allows me to be creative and meet challenges I may not have here in town.
One such session was held on family land, on a rainy day. We walked through softened areas to get to water ways, used tree cover when it started raining and utilized umbrellas when it got a bit worse. In the images you can not tell that it was overcast, because we where in wooded areas and only emerged when it was not raining. It was a fun session and produced fun images the family loves!
Call us today if you want a unique session in an outdoor location of your choice or recommended by us. We will be happy to work with you and create memorable images that you will be proud to hang on your walls. 301-693-3021
Celebrating Love
— 07/15/2016 by Monika Wertman —A few weeks back I had the pleasure of helping a lovely couple celebrate their love for each other during their engagement session in Harrisburg, PA. Sometimes engagement session can be a bit of a challenge as it takes the couple a little while to be comfortable in front of the camera. I do my best to help them forget that I am recording their affection for each other, but the groom in particular often does not loosen up until we are about 20 minutes into the session.
These two were different and it was very easy to work with them, as they seemed to immediately forget I was there recording their every move. I was able to capture sweet little moments as well as lots of laughter. When I did insert some instructions, they were carried out quite naturally and as a result we got some great imagery.
We walked all over Harrisburg, starting at the water front and working our way to the government buildings that are surrounded by a beautiful park.
I love shooting in locations other than the studio’s hometown as it gives me the opportunity to incorporate architectural elements not found in Hagerstown. Harrisburg has wonderful bridges, old buildings and great architecture that create a wonderful backdrop for any photoshoot, but lend themselves especially well to an engagement session.
The weather held out nicely for us as well that day, staying sunny with wonderful clouds in the sky. The forecast that morning called for rain halfway through our scheduled session time, but we were lucky and the rain held off until after we were done.
At Wertman Photography we include engagement sessions in our wedding packages, as it is important to work with the couple before their wedding day and a pleasure to get to know them during the process. During the engagement session we have time to explore what each of them likes, how they act in front of the camera and how we work together as a team to create good imagery. For me, gaining this knowledge before the wedding day, makes it easier to prepare for the big day as the couple and I have gotten to know each other better. It paves the way for great communication in the months leading up to the wedding.
Your wedding day can not be recreated, and this knowledge creates pressure for the couple, sometimes more so for the bride as so many things need to be prepared for and run smoothly. Getting to know each other during the engagement session, laying the ground work for trust during that session, takes the pressure off my couples as they know that they will not need to worry about their photography coverage the day of their wedding.
When you first get engaged, you are on cloud nine, floating happily until your realize that you have a wedding to plan. Let us help you take some of the pressure off and make us your trusted advisor for your photography. Know that we have you covered! Call us today to schedule your free consultation and let us show you why your first choice is Wertman Photography. 301-693-3021.
Team Action Sports Photography
— 07/12/2016 by Monika Wertman —Wertman Photography is now offering team action sports photography. We have been offering athletic photography for a while, creating portraits that show the athlete’s spirit, determination and personality. Now we are taking it one step further and will be offering action shots for teams of all sizes and ages.
It all started when I had a chance to take photos for my daughter’s college swim team. I took care of the individual shots of each swimmer that are now on their website ( Alderson Broaddus University), created some killer team photos and captured action shots of the swimmers who wanted to participate. I created a controlled environment; the coach gave us one lane in which we got to play and have some fun.
Every athlete looks like the latest olympian in their minds and it is this look we are after during our time with them. For swimming, you can not get these shots during a meet. The lighting is not right and too many people crowd the deck. This is true for all sports.
We are offering a controlled environment during a practice night, under guidance of the coach, giving each player a chance to look their strongest and best.
Contact us today if you want your team, club or dance school to book a day with Wertman Photography to create images like you have never seen them before. Images you will be proud to share with family, friends and hang on your wall. Images that will make your son and daughter look like a champion.
Check out our galleries for dance samples and other sports and fitness related images as well as older blog posts related to this topic.
Senior Photos should be a great experience
— 06/10/2016 by Monika Wertman —Now that summer is here and you are thinking about who to hire for your senior photos, let’s look at what you should consider when making your choice:
Whether you are a guy or a girl, you will want to showcase your interests, whether they are sports related, you have a favorite pet, or are into cars or other big toys. Are you into winter sports and would like to get action shots in the snow? Here at Wertman Photography we will be happy to meet you at your favorite location and incorporate that interest into your session.
Now we all know that you want your senior pictures to look different than last year’s school picture, right? How do you accomplish this, you ask? Here are a few tips on what you should do to insure that you will get some one of a kind images from your high school senior picture session:
Spend a couple of months researching the kind of imagery you would like to see. Look through sports magazines and browse the web for ideas and styles. Do you like the edgy, grungy look? Do you want to look like the latest gold medal winner in one of her endorsement commercials, or do you want to look like the girl or boy next door, clean and pristine in your gear?
Once you have determined what look you want, contact us and show us what you are looking for. We will then plan your session and recommend the appropriate length of time we will need to accomplish the look you are after. If you are a football player, chances are you have access to your school’s field, if you are a swimmer, access to a pool may be more difficult. As a skier or snow boarder, we will need to wait for the weather to be cold enough to work in snow. We need to understand exactly what you would like to accomplish in order to give you the session of your dreams.
Understand that special requests require prior planning and that you are asking your photographer for individualized services. She will invest time in your session and you and your family will invest money in return. This tradeoff will ensure a fantastic session for you and great images for your family and you to share and display. After all, your senior session should be an experience you will look back on remembering how much fun it was to create the images you wanted.
Ask about cost only after you have determined whether are the right fit for you. It is important to have report with your photographer to get what you want, when you have fun, the images show it. But do ask, you will want to know how much your family will need to invest in the service and what you will receive in return. Ask about products that are offered and be aware that a boutique studio and a boutique service such as you are looking for and we offer, will offer some great print collections for you to choose from.
Finally, after you book your session and have paid the retainer fee, enter the date in your calendar and arrive 5-10 minutes early at the predetermined meeting point. Your photographer will be there waiting for you and when you are on time all will go smoothly and you will have a wonderful experience which will in turn result in great photos to choose from.
We have worked with some great seniors over the past few years and some great athletes, and are looking forward to adding you to that group. Please feel free to browse our senior and sports gallery for additional images and call us to schedule your session.
Weddings and Celebrating Love
— 05/02/2016 by Monika Wertman —There is nothing we enjoy more than capturing love in any shape or form and one of our favorite things to shoot are weddings. I wanted to play around with some ideas that had been hopping around in my head for a while and since during a wedding we are dealing with a time line and locations that are chosen by the bride and groom, we don’t always have time to get everything we want and need to be flexible as nature sometimes throws a kink into our wheels. For that reason and because something new should not be tried out on clients, I organized a stylized wedding shoot with several local vendors and 5 fabulous models.
Maryland has fickle spring weather and we had been watching the weather with baited breath, praying that it would be nice the day of the shoot and it was. In the morning we shot at Ava’s Lounge and the Ballroom at Schindel Rohrer in downtown Hagerstown whose owners Gary and Jennie are wonderful to work with. I wanted to capture an uptown/lounge feel for images for a long time and Ava’s is perfect for that. JB Bridals generously provided us with 6 gowns and 6 tux ensembles for the day and the first two gowns were perfect for what I had in mind for the lounge.
Bella Salon and Spa sent us two of their most talented stylist and make-up artists, Lindsey and Bettina and they stayed with us all day, touching up and re-creating hair and make-up. TG designs added floral arrangements to our adventure and let us play with the bouquets all day.
The second half of the day was shot at Cortland Manor, at the time under management of Hempen Hill Barbecue and Josh is a gem to work with. He had his team at the ready all day and even fed everyone lunch. Being prepared by Hempen Hill, you can imagine that we did not lack a thing and that it was delicious.
Carson jewelers let us play with fabulous bling all day as well. You can imagine that I had a blast shopping for the gowns, tuxes and jewelry prior to the day and appreciate everything that everyone contributed to make our day successful.
We had a blast working with everyone and from the feedback I have gotten so far, the feeling was mutual. I think the images speak for themselves and if you see something here that you would like to do at your wedding, please let us know. The vendors mentioned within this post are our preferred vendors to work with for your special day, and since we had this experience, we know for sure that you will be pleased when you choose them for your next event or special day.
Please vote on your favorite image in this post and you will be entered into a drawing for a 1 hour family session for up to 5 people.
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