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Stuff in the ‘Maryland’ Category

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.

seniors

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:

senior photos and pets

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?

wertman photography Katy's senior pictures-9

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.

senior guy sports

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.

ballet dancer

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.

senior guy

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.

senior girl

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.

A Tailored Newborn Session

— 05/20/2016 by Monika Wertman —

Over the last few months, we have had the privilege to capture several maternity sessions and the resulting newborn sessions, tailoring each to what the family wanted.  Each had it’s wonderful moments, but the one I am highlighting today holds a special place in my heart as it is the firstborn of a sweet couple who we have been creating memories for since they got engaged.  Every time we get together, their love for each other shines stronger than the last and seeing them add a little bundle to this love has been precious.  It is these sessions I live for, these moments that hold special meaning and are the reason why I do what I do.

wertman photography baby bump-maternity-5

We did a series of three sessions, two of which were maternity, the first one being the gender reveal session, the second being the big belly session and of course, the third one being the newborn session.

This couple is a hoot.  We always laugh a lot when we get together and everything is very natural and free flowing.  I make suggestions and the two of them interpret them in their own perfect way.  For our gender reveal, my mommy-to-be had very specific ideas and working in the upstairs floor of an old building that houses a restaurant and bed and breakfast on the first and second floor and was under construction, gave us a perfect background to not only showcase the changes that were happening with this sweet couple but also the freedom to write on brick walls and contrast roughness and softness.

wertman photography baby bump-maternity-4

For our second session, we were still able to go to the floor that was under construction as there are big windows and with the now larger belly, I wanted to create some silhouette images I had not been able to get in the earlier session.  We also drove than old family house for outdoor shots.

maternity

Each of the three sessions included shots  in front of an antique mirror recording progress and change.

wertman photography baby bump-maternity-1  wertmanphotography maternity-9408  wertmanphotographynewborn-2530

For our newborn session we started in the nursery with a very bright-eyed 1 week old baby girl who gave us more than we had imagined.  Even at her tender age, her parent’s personalities are showing through and she was ready for action.

newborn

For the second half of the session we returned to the old building to add to our collection of mirror shots and add a few images of the little one in her mommy’s wedding gown and images of the three of them as the new family that they are.

newborn in weddinggown

wertmanphotographynewborn-2630

Being allowed to take a part in a young family’s happiness is a privilege and honor we do not take lightly here at Wertman Photography.  This is a special moment in a couple’s live and amidst the chaos of lost sleep, diaper changes at 3am and bleary-eyed happiness it is important to step back for a couple of hours and just enjoy this bundle of joy and let us record these moments to look back on when everything settles down.

hands

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.

uptown bride

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.

bride , groom and best man

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.

bride and groom

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.

rings

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.

two brides    bride and groom

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.

wertman photography stylized wedding shoot-24    bride and groom

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.

Pictures for Mother’s day

— 04/05/2016 by Monika Wertman —

Are you stuck trying to figure out what to give mom for mother’s day this year?  She has everything, now what?

senior photos and pets

We have a solution for you:  Why not give the gift of memories?  For a mom, there is nothing more precious than images of her children, whether the kids are young or grown up.

little girl

Once grand kids are in the mix, this treasure trove of memories expands and pictures become even more special, especially if miles are in between you and your mom.

children

So create some memories with Wertman Photography this year and gift them to your mom, she will love you for it and treasure the gift for years to come.

family photos

We can even frame images for you, create special photo gifts you can’t find anywhere else or create that special portrait that mom will want to hang on her wall in a larger size.  The options are without limits.

newborn

Call us today to schedule your session between now and April 24 so we can guarantee delivery in time for mother’s day, or purchase a gift certificate to give to her so she can be in on the fun.

Roundball Classic 2016

— 04/01/2016 by Monika Wertman —

This past weekend I was the official photographer for 13 games of basketball.  The Roundball Classic is an event that has been going on for several years, showcasing basketball players inter senior year of high school from several counties around the area.  College coaches come to watch and recruiting happens on the side lines after every game.  To say that shooting 13 games of basketball was intense is an understatement.  It was downright exhausting.

basket ball

As a bonus at the end of each day, Rick and Dave, the organizers and brainiacs behind this endeavor,  ask alumnus and former stars of schools in Washington County to play against each other.  Ages for these games range from the newly graduated to men in their 50’s.  Below are a few of my favorites from the weekend.

basketball

basketball            basketball

 

basketball

If interested, images may be purchased at the following location, which holds all of the images captured during both Saturday and Sunday.  the games are uploaded in order, so scroll through to see if your child or spouse is featured:  http://wertmanphoto.zenfolio.com/roundballclassic2016

It’s Bridal Season, win an Engagement Session

— 03/18/2016 by Monika Wertman —

This Sunday we will be at the inaugural bridal show at Frostburg State. The show will feature local venues, caterers, vendors and photographers. Wertman Photography will represent Hagerstown, MD and show off why it pays to hire a professional with years of bridal experience, an all inclusive wedding experiences as well as a fun, outgoing personality you want to spend time with and who will guide you through the jungle of wedding preparation.

bride and flower girl

Come join us this Sunday at Frostburg State for show only specials and a chance to get to know us better as we show you why we are the choice you should be making.

wedding day       bridal shoot

You cannot leave this day to chance.

engagement photos

 

Check out some images from some of our favorite brides from last year and come see us Sunday or book your free consultation now.

wertman photography engagement Jake and Meghan-13

 

Weddings small and large, we can handle them all and guide you to a blissful experience.

engagement

 

Nominate newly engaged couples on this blog to enter them into a drawing to win an engagement session, a $300 value. In order to be entered into the drawing, you will need to tag them on this thread and provide their full name. They can only win if we can contact them.

bridal session

Casting Call

— 03/03/2016 by Monika Wertman —

Casting Call for Male and Female Models

wedding-photography-slide
I need two female and two male models for a stylized bridal shoot.  Shoot will take place at two venues, 4 clothing changes, hair and make-up services provided.  All work is for trade and each vendor is participating to receive images and new promotional material.  Trade for models will be fully edited portfolio images from the day of shooting.
Female models need to be 5’8″ to 5’9″ and need to bring heels with them, in either white, cream or silver, evening shoes to match the gowns.  size 8-10 wedding gowns need to fit, which translates to regular dress sizes of 6-10.  I am looking for hour glass models.  We want these images to look real, yet fantastic.

wertman photography Adrienne and Joshua wedding-12

Male models should be a size 40 regular with an inseam of 34.

Please contact us no later than March 18th to be considered for the opportunity.

April 5th will be the fitting day at JB bridal in Chambersburg.  the shooting will take place in Hagerstown on April  12.  Hair and makeup will likely start at 8 am and shooting will start at 10am.  Please plan on a full 8 hour day.  Only serious, committed models need apply and we will meet in person before the fitting day.

Please contact the studio directly through email if you are interested:  info@wertmanphotography.net

wedding gown
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