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What to do to prepare for a successful Photo session
— 08/22/2016 by Monika Wertman —What to do to prepare for a successful Photo session.
In this post we will focus on some of the things you as the client can do to ensure that your session with us will be successful and productive.
Whether you plan to book us for a family or senior session, a glamor/boudoir or a couple’s session or a newborn session, there are a few things that you as a client can do to prepare for your time with us and to ensure that you will not only have a great time during the session, but that your pictures will turn out great. You will, of course, assume that we will do everything in our power to ensure these things as well, and we do, but you can help make it just a wee bit easier for us.
Here is how:
#1 Schedule a consultation with us prior to the date of your session. We offer consultations with most of our sessions, in fact make them mandatory for some. Even if you have booked a session for which we do not require a consultation, book one anyway. During this time we will plan the where and when, what you should wear etc. For a family session, this can be discussed over the phone if you are super busy, and with children, you are. We understand this. For a senior, boudoir, engagement or couples session, an in person consultation is best and highly recommended!
#2 If you plan on bringing your pet to the session, please inform us ahead of time so we are prepared with water for your pet and by having anything he may bounce into out of the way.
#3 Discuss your wardrobe with us. This can be a simple discussion of color choices or be more involved such as what it is you are planning to wear and if you have questions on what form of clothing photographs better. If you plan to wear formal wear, please let us know so we have the studio set up accordingly if we are shooting inside. If we are planning on outdoors only, and we are dealing with high heels, please let us know, so our plan does not involve you climbing over rocky and potentially muddy surfaces.
#4 If your session includes several clothing changes, organize them before you arrive. Changing time will go more smoothly and take away less time from your session. ( A few months back we had a family of 8 with three clothing changes, the mom was fantastically organized. I have never seen anything go more smoothly! It was impressive)
#5 We will most likely ask you this, but in case we do not, please let us know what ages your children are. This applies to an in studio session as we’ll as an outdoors/lifestyle session. We love working with littles, but want to know ahead of time so we are prepared with props and location choices that are age appropriate.
#6 Women and girls, please wear makeup, even if you generally don’t do anything more than mascara, do a bit more for your session, especially if it is a senior session, a professional headshot session or a glamor session. (we offer professional hair and make-up services starting at $85 if you are not sure what to do, and include these in all of our regular glamor and boudoir session) Wearing make-up ensures an even skin tone and guarantees fantastic results for you. On this note, do not fret if a pimple pops up the day of your session. We remove blemishes in post production.
#7 If it is a hot summer day and we are shooting outside only, please bring some water with you. We always bring some, but it helps if our clients come prepared as well.
#8 Please arrive on time!!!!!!! We set aside your session time plus 15 minutes. If you run late, you eat into your session time, which gives us less time to create the images we want to create for you. If we come to your home, please be ready for us. We generally arrive 5-10 minutes early so we have time to set up.
Wertman Photography has several shooting spaces within the studio, including a private dressing area. When we go on location, we can bring a pop-up tent for clothing changes as well. Together we will create great images that will stand the test of time and will preserve precious moments for you for years to come!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Each of the three sessions included shots in front of an antique mirror recording progress and change.
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.
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.
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.
Casting Call
— 03/03/2016 by Monika Wertman —Casting Call for Male and Female Models
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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.
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
An Engagement Session in the Cold Weather
— 01/26/2016 by Monika Wertman —It is cold out and while we warm the house with fires and just came out of the most festive season of the year, many young couples also got engaged. I recently worked with such a couple, though he had popped the question before the typical season during which many guys do so and we were able to get the engagement photos done while Christmas décor was still up.
We went outside for several of our shots, for 10 minutes at a time because it was too cold to stay out longer than that. This is a very sweet couple and very cute together. The lovely bride has been a client of mine for a while and I was thrilled to share this fabulous change in her life with her.
We started our session at 4 in the afternoon as they life by an open field with a mountain range in the background and fabulous sunsets in the evening. As with all sessions, it is all about planning it out. For our engagement sessions we allow about 2 hours for shooting, changing clothes and moving about between different locations. We include a consultation during which we decide how to style the session to our couples’ tastes, how to offset the imagery we capture during the engagement session with what we will capture the day of the wedding, and discuss wardrobe, what colors photograph the best and what story we want to tell.
We have fun planning and the day of the session goes smoothly because we planned. Even if a detail goes astray, we adjust and the end result is great imagery our couples are proud to hang on their walls.
What is important to keep in mind when you select Wertman Photography for your wedding and engagement photographer, is that we shoot to create artwork for your walls. We capture sweet moments you may want in an album or book, plenty of images we can create safe-the-dates from or a guestbook, but you will have several images to choose from to decorate your walls with. These will be meant to be at least 16×24 inches and you will have the option to get them printed on canvas, metal or in framed fine art prints.
Please explore our wedding/engagement gallery to see more samples, like us on facebook, twitter and instagram. All the links are on our site. We would love to add you to our favorite clients.
Santa Pictures in the Square
— 12/10/2015 by Monika Wertman —About three weeks ago, during the 2nd Saturday event in Downtown Hagerstown, we set up a photo booth complete with Santa and a tree. We offered micro sessions at a very reduced price and had lots of families take advantage of this.
We gave the children a chance to warm up to Santa, sit next to him, on his knee if wanted and gave them time to interact. We called it the Santa Experience.
This particular Santa has been Santa for 49 years now and is still gong strong. Many families dropped by and told stories of how they remember sitting on his knee and how it is neat that now their children get to do the same.
Below are a few images to show you how it went.
WE plan on doing this on a larger scale in the studio next winter, offering mini sessions that will be priced specifically for that purpose and will allow even more time for your children to interact with Santa and several special print collections will be a part of this offering. We are looking at doing this one weekend toward the end of November before it gets too busy.
Please keep us in mind for next year. Going into the home stretch of 2015, you will find us in the square for the donut drop on New Year’s Eve, offering a photo booth similar to the Halloween experience. We will be located within the fire station across the street from Bulls and Bears.
We are looking forward to a great end of the year and would like to thank everyone who has helped us be successful in 2015.
Happy Holidays!
Please browse our galleries as we are constantly adding new work. And if you have not gotten the email with details on how to see all of the santa pictures, here is the link: http://wertmanphoto.zenfolio.com/santa2016
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