Jaimié Birtel's photography blog

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Inside the Mind of a Seattle Photographer: Why I Do What I Do

I’ve always felt that you can learn a lot about someone by how they choose to spend their time - you can learn what makes them happy, what is most important to them, and what motivates them. In my case, I think that’s true of my profession, too. As I get to know my clients, many of them ask me why I do what I do, so I’ve dedicated this blog to answering that question.

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Dress to Impress: Outfit Tips for Headshots

Professional headshots are an excellent investment in your career, whether you’re a small business owner, a salesperson, or any professional who wants to grow in your industry. You can rest assured that I’ll put all my expertise to work to create the best headshot for your personal brand and the look you’re aiming for, but part of your image depends on you and your outfit choice. Check out these tips to nail your headshot wardrobe.

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Photo Session Outfits: How They Can Make or Break Your Portraits

Planning outfits for a photo session, whether it’s family photography, maternity photography, or other types of portraits, is an important part of preparing for your session. While some of my fashion-minded clients love the opportunity to go shopping and other clients feel intimidated by styling. That’s why I offer personal styling services in which I visit you for an in-home consultation and actually help you choose the outfits for your family’s session.

This isn’t a service many photographers offer, so why do I include it in my packages? Because I know that outfit planning can be stressful and because your outfits make a powerful difference in your photos in several ways.

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what makes a great headshot?

A headshot is one of those simple yet important assets you’ll use over and over again in your career. It isn’t particularly expensive or time-consuming, but you’ll use this headshot to create an excellent first impression and connect with clients on your website, social media pages, email signature, business card, and more.

What should you look for in an excellent professional headshot? Let’s talk about the top factors that take a headshot from good to great.

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Studio vs. Outdoor Maternity Photos: Which One is Right for You?

Maternity photography is a personalized way to celebrate your pregnancy and preserve memories of this truly unique experience for the rest of your life. There are endless ways to style and customize your maternity photography, but one of the first choices you’ll want to make is whether you want in-studio maternity photos or outdoor maternity photos.

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Get Adventurous! Why (and How) to Push Your Comfort Zone in Your Maternity Photos

It happens over and over: a client takes a risk in her maternity photo session by wearing a gown she didn’t expect to love or trusting my posing guidance, and then she’s utterly floored by her finished portraits. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard clients say, “I wasn’t sure how that would turn out but I’m absolutely in love with it!”

This photo session is an excellent chance to be a bit brave and push yourself a little outside of your comfort zone…for several reasons.

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What Is the Golden Hour and Why Does It Matter for Outdoor Portraits?

If you have any photographer friends or if you’re a selfie expert, you might have heard of the “golden hour.” What exactly is the golden hour and does it matter for your outdoor portraits? As a Seattle area family photographer, I’ll give you the essentials I’d want my clients to know.

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Family, Clothing Tips, Fall photos, Photo sessions Jaimie Birtel Family, Clothing Tips, Fall photos, Photo sessions Jaimie Birtel

What to Wear for Fall photos

Fall is utterly gorgeous in the Pacific Northwest, so it should come as no surprise that autumn is one of the most popular times for outdoor portraits in the Seattle area. Who doesn’t love a cozy family photo with colorful trees in the background? If you’re planning to take advantage of the fall season, use these tips to plan the perfect fall portrait wardrobe.

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What to Wear for a summer portrait session

Planning outfits for a photo session, whether it’s family photography, maternity photography, or professional headshots, is an important part of preparing for your session. While some of my fashion-minded clients love the opportunity to go shopping and other clients feel intimidated by styling. That’s why I offer personal styling services in which I visit you for an in-home consultation and actually help you choose the outfits for your family’s session.

This isn’t a service many photographers offer, so why do I include it in my packages? Because I know that outfit planning can be stressful and because your outfits make a powerful difference in your photos in several ways.

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Safety in Newborn Photography: What Parents Need to Know

Whether you’re welcoming your first child or you’re adding onto your family, I know that your baby’s safety is of the utmost importance. As your Mercer Island newborn and family portrait photographer, that’s the case for me too! Many parents don’t realize that newborn photography can come with risks if it isn’t done properly or that they need to be mindful of the photographer they choose for safety reasons. To help protect your precious baby, I’m laying out the top facts parents need to know about safety in newborn photography.

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