what to wear?!? || for photographers

My first real photo shoot with a model is approaching, and I've been thinking about it a lot. Mostly my thoughts are questions:

What equipment should I bring?

Where should we go first?

What poses should I suggest?

What should I wear?

Yes. That last questions usually pops up if you're the model, but for me it's important. Being a photographer, I know what it's like to get down on the ground to get the shot, climb on top of things, and go through hot and cold weather. I need an outfit that'll hold up through all of these obstacles. And so do you!
Here are some ideas for outfits that us photographers need in different situations:

1. Weddings
Okay, weddings are tricky. You want to stay out of the way, but at the same time you need to be everywhere at once. You also need something you can move freely in...

Summer Wedding by nutty97 featuring chiffon dresses

You can't beat a sun dress! It'll keep you cool, stylish, and comfortable. As for flats, you can never go wrong with them if you have a pair that will be comfortable for you for a whole day :)

2. Family Sessions
Now you really have to be able to move! Especially if there are a bunch of little kids. You want to be able to look casual without looking, well, bummy.

Summer Family/Lifestyle Session by nutty97 featuring short shorts

This outfit will give you the ability to run around and chase the kids, while still being able to look somewhat professional (in other words, not bummy ;).

3. Summer Engagement Session
I'm gonna be honest with you: I love engagement sessions. Why? Because the couples are calm, mature, and cute as anything. I've only done one, but I'm hoping and praying I get to do another one.

Summer Engagement Session by nutty97 featuring jean shorts

Like I said in the collage, if you have heels or wedges that you can walk (or run) in easily and comfortably, go ahead and wear them! Especially for engagement sessions, because couples are typically more patient than toddlers ;) Also, wear something that makes you relaxed. If you are relaxed and easy-going, the couple will be too.

4. Summer Model Sessions
In this collage, I'll show you what I really do plan on wearing:

Summer Model Session by nutty97 featuring faded jeans

I actually own that shirt, and capris similar to the ones pictured. I'm choosing to wear tennis shoes because we're shooting at a few different locations, and I want to be able to climb up on things and do whatever else I might have to do :)

I hope this little guide was helpful, I certainly enjoyed putting it together! If you'd like any other "photographer guides" I'll see what I can do :) Do you have any tips for photographers? I'll feature the best ones in my next "guide" post!

-hannah

chow down pt1 [lighting]

I have expressed my love for food photography to you multiple times, but after a while I thought, "hey, I'm telling them how much I love it, why don't I give them tips to love it?" So, here is the first of several  tips to photograph food better:

1. Lighting
Lighting is super important in food photography. If you don't have good lighting, you don't have a good food photo, its as simple as that.
Compare this:

To this:

Relatively the same subject, totally different lighting conditions.
In the first photo, the salad was on the kitchen table. All the lights were on in the kitchen and the camera was on the no-flash setting.
Poor artificial lighting+auto/no-flash=bad photo.

Now look at the second photo. Totally natural lighting, shot in manual (sorry, I don't know what settings).
Natural lighting+a photographer who knows how to and is shooting in manual=good photo.

Natural lighting is on of the keys to a good food shot.

What I do to achieve natural lighting is to a) place your food near a window or b) take it outside. Either of these options are good just make sure if you're doing them, do it before the sunsets...

Taken after the sun went down :P

Now go crazy! Practice, practice, practice, and soon in no time you will have mastered the skill of perfectly lighting your food photos!

-hannah
p.s. don't forget to enter the blog design giveaway!