Jaimié Birtel's photography blog
Should You Have an Indoor or Outdoor Photo Shoot?
For so many families, this time of year around the holidays is full of photos. After all, the whole family is together (a rare occasion for many families) and dressed up, and you’re feeling especially appreciative of each other so you want to capture these special times together. If all of this has you thinking about doing a professional photo shoot, I’m here to help!
One of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want an indoor photo shoot or an outdoor photo shoot. It’s all a matter of preference, but there are pros and cons for each one.
Why Do You Need Women’s Branding Photography?
As a photographer, I’m proud to have a varied portfolio of photo sessions - I enjoy family portraits, newborn photos, maternity photos, and other types of sessions, all for different reasons. But for the past few years, I’ve been especially investing in my branding photography, in part because, as a woman business owner myself, I’ve seen the need for branding photography that’s specifically geared toward women. Here’s why!
5 Signs Your Headshot is Losing You Money
One of the most common misconceptions for business owners is that a great professional headshot is something that’s nice to have, but that if you don’t have one, it’s not a big deal. The reality is that you’re not just missing out on the benefits that a strong headshot could bring you - having no headshot or a poor headshot could actually be costing you clients.
Prospects will form a first impression of you, and your headshot helps to determine whether that impression will be positive or negative. Here are some signs you might be missing out on business because of your headshot.
Here’s What I Look For in a Photographer
I get the absolute joy of capturing heirloom portraits for so many families in the Seattle area. But I’m a mom too, and I know exactly how precious family portraits are, so I make time to have my own family’s portraits taken too. I’ve been the photographer and the client, so I’m here to give you some insights to make the process easier. If I were looking for my family’s photographer today, here’s what I would look for.
How to Make Your Teen’s Senior Photos Stress-Free
When your child is in their last year of high school, everything seems bittersweet. You’re so excited for them and the future that lies ahead of them, and you cherish all the exciting milestones and memories they’ll make in their senior year. But at the same time, all of these things are further reminders that your baby has grown up and is getting ready to fly on their own. This adds a bit of stress to every senior event, including, of course, senior photos.
Senior portraits do take a lot of planning and coordinating, but the photo shoot should be a fun experience for both you and your teenager. To make sure that it’s a great experience for you both and not just a stressful day, check out these tips for stress-free senior photos.
Why Boudoir Photography is Perfect for Moms
Of all the different types of photography I offer, from family portraits to branding photograph, boudoir photography is easily the most misunderstood one. So many women think that they don’t have the confidence for it or that they should wait until they’ve sculpted their ideal body, or, especially heartbreaking, so many moms think that it’s something they should have done when they were younger, but they missed their chance.
As both a mom and a photographer who has watched so many of my clients come to life in the course of a boudoir photo shoot, I can tell you that moms are actually perfect for these sessions! Here’s why.
Defining Your Year
If you’re on my mailing list, you might’ve seen my latest newsletter about being intentional about how you want your new year to go. Everywhere you look, the beginning of the year is a time when there’s so much messaging around renewing your ambition and giving it your all this year. We see it when it comes for fitness and New Years resolutions, when it comes to business and careers, when it comes to financial goals…and if you’ve tried in the past to do that New Years “give it your all,” and you’re like most of us, it was a week or two into January when you realized that that’s not realistic.
None of us were made to do it all, and that’s why this year, I’m setting my intention to one word: acceptance. Not every year can be the year that my business reaches new heights or the year that our vision boards come to life, and that’s okay!
Can You Have a Great Maternity Photo Shoot If It Rains?
We’ve all had our plans changed or ruined entirely, more than a few times, because the weather has other plans. As a maternity photographer in the Seattle area, I’ve seen more than my fair share of uninvited rain clouds. But does rain have to ruin your maternity photo shoot if those clouds roll in on your day? Or can you still have a maternity photo shoot in the rain?
Nervous About a Boudoir Photo Shoot? Read This!
You thought about boudoir photography for a while, about whether it might be a fun and uplifting experience for you, and one day you decided you’re worth investing in and you booked your session. But after a while, self-doubt started to creep back in, and you got nervous. Am I really going to be comfortable in front of the camera? Do I actually want to feel that bare and exposed?
So many of my clients go through this before their boudoir photo shoot, and I’m here to assure you that it’s completely natural! Boudoir photography is a big step outside the comfort zone for most women, and in fact, that’s kind of the point - being brave and embracing who you are to rediscover your confidence.
Should You Make a Mood Board for Your Branding Photo Shoot?
For your business, branding photography is an investment that has powerful potential. It’s a vital step in building your brand and connecting with the right customers. But there are a million recommendations out there about how to make the most of your photo shoot, and one that you may see mentioned often is to create a mood board to show your photographer. As a branding and headshot photographer, I’m happy to weigh in about this suggestion.