CrazyStars Photography

Tips for Your Portrait Photo Shoot

2011-11-16T21:39:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, I wrote some tips on engagement shoots specifically. With much more experience under my belt and a couple more years having passed, I thought I would revisit the topic. This time, you can consider this as relevant for all types of portrait photo shoots.

#1 (this is #1 for a reason!): When thinking of your location, your clothes, hair, shoes and what types of poses you might want to do, keep this in mind: BE COMFORTABLE! Don't go anywhere, or wear or do anything that makes you feel awkward. Photographer's pose suggestion feel a bit forced? Let them know and adjust to be more comfortable and relaxed. Trust me, if you aren't feelin' it, it will show in the photos.

#2: There are 5 things I suggest you consider when choosing what to wear:

Comfort - If you'll be climbing around on rocks or walking on the beach, flip-flops would likely be a better idea than stilettos. Long sleeves and/or layers on a warm day could make you sweaty and you could freeze if it's cool out without a sweater!

Location - As aforementioned, be sure you're comfortable. Also remember where you're going and dress for the place. A cocktail dress and suit isn't necessarily appropriate for urban or beach photos (though, at the same time, that contrast could also provide for some interesting photos!)

Color: Deep shades of colors ("jewel tones"), like magenta, ruby (deep red), emerald (deep green), sapphire (deep blue), and amethyst (purple) all generally work out well in just about any situation. Orange and yellows can also be good for brunet(te)s and those with darker complexions. That doesn't mean you can't wear other colors, so don't be afraid to throw some more neutral colors into it. Try to stay away from busy patterns. Wear the color(s) that you think complement you best.

What Your "Portrait Partner(s)" is/are Wearing - Matching exactly isn't suggested or recommended, but planning your outfit(s) to coordinate well definitely is. This can include wearing a different color or it can be wearing different shades of the same color.

Looking Like Yourself - Don't feel that you have to "dress up" to look great in your photos!

#3: (This is mostly for you, ladies) Don't force anyone to wear anything they really don't want to wear. You may not feel that your husband's choice of shorts if a good one, or you may feel that your wife needs to wear a dress to look nicer... Or you may think your child's choice is a bit odd. But, suggestions aside, it really is often best to let them decide. (Obviously, if it's a very young child, they may want something ESPECIALLY strange, not excluding running around in their birthday suit, haha. Within reason, it could still be the best idea to give them SOME choice in the matter. Perhaps give them a few outfit choices and see what they'd like best?)

#4: Look around at photos online or in magazines and send any you'd like to try to recreate to your photographer ahead of time (or bring them with you to your session). There are no guarantees that the situation will be perfect to capture them, but there's no harm in trying! Besides that, it can give your photographer a better idea of what you'd like.

#5: Do not be afraid to let your personality shine through! Many peoples' favorite shots are exactly those "silly" captures from when they weren't thinking about the camera aimed at them. Laugh, smile, tease... Bring things with you that have some meaning (Sports fan? Bring a ball, bat, racket, or hat for your favorite team! Pregnant? Bring ultrasound photos, baby shoes, or a favorite plush animal!). Just have fun with YOUR photo shoot! :)

Sheann & Ryan's Wedding: Sneak Peak

2011-10-20T15:56:00.000-07:00

Still working my way through the photos from Sheann & Ryan's wedding, but felt like sharing a few of them (I always enjoy giving a bit of a teaser :) ).

A few thoughts on finding the right photographer

2011-09-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

I've seen a few other photographers write about what they feel is important when searching for a wedding photographer and a few have made points that I agree with (while others seem to be writing more of a "Why you should hire me" list). What follows this paragraph is not me trying to sell you on hiring me for your event, but my sincere thoughts on things to consider during your search.

The most important thing is whether their style meshes well with your style. Do they take the types of shots you would want on display on your walls and in your albums? If not, keep looking - your photographer is out there! Remember that you have options, no matter what your budget is. Also remember that just because you feel a photographer has talent doesn't mean they are the right photographer (you can admire a wedding dress that isn't quite what you're looking for, right?).

Next, keep in mind that the most important thing is the style and quality of a photographers work and not what school they went to (or whether they even have a degree) or how much they cost. Neither of those things are necessarily an indication of their talent - the photos they take are. So don't let their BA in Photography or their $5,000 price tag make you believe they won't disappoint you (no photos from a wedding they shot by themselves? Well, there's a haggling point if ever there was one!)

Third, before putting down your deposit, be sure you have seen photos of the things that would be important to you. Some photographers are better at photojournalism, while others are best at posed shots. I've seen a few portfolios that only have amazing posed shots which don't indicate how well the photographer works under the pressure and timing of a live event. Just how important is it to you that the photographer get a great shot of "the kiss" or the ~~smashing of cake into your new spouse's face~~ cake cutting?

Fourth, do you get along well with your photographer? I've found that I, personally, get the best results when I click with my clients. They feel more relaxed and I feel as though I know better what they want. Meet up with your photographer before the event so you can get a sense of how well your personalities mesh.

And now, I have some photos to get through!

Meagan & Tony's Wedding

2011-08-01T01:18:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of spending July 23rd with Meagan, Tony and Gavin (Meagan's super cute toddler) as they officially became a family. There was a lot of love in the air and a lot of laughs. :) They got married on campus at California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, CA. What a great spot!

You can see all of the photos here.

Here are some of my favorites from the day:

Inside Edition

2011-07-29T03:33:00.000-07:00

I had to take a break just now from editing the photos from Tony and Meagan's wedding. Having just gotten through most of the "getting ready" shots and the formal/posed shots, I stopped near the beginning of the "pre-wedding" shots. Those are the shots where the bride, groom, wedding party and immediate family are all a mix of relaxed and a bit anxious as they are all ready to go and just waiting to start the walk down the aisle.

Over the past month in particular, one thought has stuck with me. And that thought is this: I love not only capturing memories, but am also touched and honored to be "on the inside" of things. Can it be stressful to be sure I get all the shots I feel I'm expected to get? Sure, a bit. But honestly, I find that I'm so caught up in the fact that I'm involved in some of peoples' most precious moments that I rarely actually feel stressed.

I think the way I feel about photographing people is something that really adds to the quality (and quantity, for that matter :P) of the moments I catch. Constantly, I'm thinking about how much what is on the other side of the lens could mean to people. Some of the photos will wind up in albums; others on walls and mantles; still others on thank you cards, invitations, and save the dates; one might be someone's Facebook profile photo or the shot they use for their 'record' album cover.

But not only did I get to shoot and see so much, I get to be a part of so much. I get to talk and laugh with the stars of the day, their "supporting cast" and everyone else special to them.

And now, going through the photos from my latest gig, I keep finding myself smiling or laughing.

I'm sure all of this sounds sappy, but I so very much enjoy getting to hand over a little bit of a time machine where people can relive some of their happiest days. :)

Melanie & Jimmy's Engagement Shoot

2011-07-19T19:26:00.000-07:00

My husband and I met up with Mel & Jimmy at Cal Lutheran University weekend before last and spent nearly 2 hours walking around campus taking some engagement photos. It was a lot of fun hanging out with them and they are seriously a cute couple - both have a great sense of humor and aren't afraid to be a bit silly (my favorite type, as is obvious to anyone who knows my husband, Mike, haha).

The campus is a great place to shoot as it has a lot of different areas and is very aesthetically pleasing (I like to take my dog for a walk around there several times a week, in fact!). I also got to make them my guinea pigs with my new heart chalkboards I made that week (which turned out well, if I do say so myself).

Here are a few of my favorites:

As you can see, I had a lot of favorites! :)

The Art Box, Atelier, First Annual Art Show

2011-06-10T16:58:00.000-07:00

The Art Box, Atelier, had its first annual art show and boy, are were some talented artists on display! Check out the full gallery here, and keep scrolling to see some of my favorites from the show.

Okay, so I sneaked in a photo of Emma, the owners' daughter, but is she not a little cutie? ;)

The Grizwalds

2011-02-19T19:38:00.000-08:00

And, because they are deserving of their own blog post, here are some photos of the live band that played 80s covers all night - The Grizwalds!
(check out their website here.)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Event 2011

2011-02-19T19:28:00.000-08:00

Thrivent Financial had their annual company party in Newport Beach, CA on February 1st and 2nd and CrazyStars Photography was there to document it all from start to finish! The theme for the event was "My Big, Fat REO Wedding" and the guests were strongly encouraged to dress up in costume. To say there were some creative and fantastic costumes would be an understatement!

Here are a few of my favorites from the event. Many, many more can be seen (and purchased) here.

My Sister-in-Law's Baby Shower

2010-10-10T19:13:00.000-07:00

I'm going to be an aunt! My sister-in-law, Beth, is due in January and had her 'hometown' baby shower last week (she lives in Austin, TX, but grew up in Thousand Oaks, CA). It was a great shower with a fun crafty brunch theme hosted by my mother-in-law, 'aunt'/godmother-in-law, and one of Beth's best friends.

For more photos, check out the gallery. Also, any Austinites out there, for a crafty fun baby shower (or bridal shower) of your own, contact Beth & her partners at The Wondercraft. And, of course, I am available to capture your showers. :)

Grandma-to-be, Sally, and 'Aunt' Patric (Sally's best friend from high school)

Hand-designed organic onesies!

The mommy-to-be!

The Art Box, Atelier, Grand Opening!

2010-09-15T18:25:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of attending and shooting the grand opening of a fantastic new art studio in Dos Vientos, Newbury Park, CA. It's run by some dear friends of mine who are not only crazy talented, but really sweet!

See more photos in the gallery here and check out The Art Box, Atelier on facebook.

Lourdes & Peter's Wedding

2010-07-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

Many, many, many more photos can be found here.

Lourdes' Bridal Shower

2010-07-12T20:12:00.000-07:00


Fun & games :)

Trying out the new camera at Universal CityWalk

2010-07-10T19:00:00.000-07:00

Having acquired a new camera, I wanted to test it out before shooting the gig I had that weekend. So I decided to head to Universal CityWalk for a few hours and see what was happening there. I was in luck! It was a Friday afternoon in April and they had just started their Friday night Summer Concert series.

The in-ground fountain is always a great place for fun shots!

A very talented street performer, Chelsea Williams

See more photos of Chelsea here.
See more photos taken at CityWalk here.

Surprise Shoot - For the newlyweds, not me! ;)

2010-05-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

I was hired to surprise these sweet newlyweds at a family brunch. The couple was a lot of fun! I'll be shooting their wedding in July. :)

See the rest of the photos here.

AM Theory Live at KXLU 88.9FM's Studio

2010-05-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Once again, I got to be a part of history. Here are some photos taken at the KXLU studio during AM Theory's first live radio performance.

Easter Sunday at the Ventura Harbor

2010-04-10T10:26:00.000-07:00

I went over to the Ventura Harbor for their Easter Sunday celebration and it was quite the happening place! Great for some fun photos of the families and of the band playing, Upstream.

The A.M. Theory Project's First Show

2010-02-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

My husband and I were lucky enough to get to see the first ever live performance of The AM Theory Project.

See full gallery of photos here.

A Surprise Shoot in Sedona!

2010-01-10T16:15:00.000-08:00

My husband and I went with a friend of ours to see the gorgeousness that is Sedona, AZ while visiting said friend in Phoenix. While we were at the chapel waiting for the sun to set, we noticed a couple sitting over to the side. Turns out, Jimmy was proposing to his girlfriend, Nadia. They asked us to take a photo of them and were surprised to get a mini-shoot out of it. :)

See the full gallery here.

Chelsea Girls in Las Vegas

2009-12-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

Family Portrait Session with the Fields

2009-12-06T14:10:00.000-08:00

Wednesday afternoon, I had the pleasure of shooting one of the most adorable families I know in a nearby park. Little Emma was a champ during the 1.5 hours of having a camera on her (cameras love kids who love cameras ;) ) and so were Mommy and Daddy Fields!

See the full gallery of photos here.

See the full gallery of photos here.

Motorcycle Photoshoot

2009-11-10T12:03:00.000-08:00

I met up with my sister and her new motorcycle and we took some shots up by the old civic arts plaza here in Thousand Oaks.

Ami & Ken's Wedding

2009-10-21T11:09:00.001-07:00

The Saturday before last, I was invited (along with my husband) to be the unofficial "second shooter" at some friends' wedding up in Santa Cruz (Highlands Park in Ben Lomand, CA to be exact). I did my best to stay out of the hired photographer's way and to not "steal" any shots (that is, him posing and me shooting over his shoulder - not just professional courtesy, but just common courtesy!). Here are a few of my favorite shots.

More at CrazyStars.net

Engagement Photo Suggestions

2009-09-13T19:33:00.000-07:00

So, besides having relatively recently been a bride (I can't believe it's already almost 6 months!), I'm also a photographer and have officially done several "engagement shoots". So here are a few tips that I have for anyone choosing to book one.

#1 (this is #1 for a reason!): When thinking of your location, your clothes, hair, shoes and what types of poses you might want to do, keep this in mind: BE COMFORTABLE! Don't go anywhere, or wear or do anything that makes you feel awkward. Photographer's pose suggestion feel a bit forced? Let them know and adjust to be more comfortable and relaxed. Trust me, if you aren't feelin' it, it will show in the photos.

#2: There are 5 things I suggest you consider when choosing an outfit:

Comfort - If you'll be climbing around on rocks or walking on the beach, flip-flops would likely be a better idea than stilettos. Long sleeves and/or layers on a warm day could make you sweaty and you could freeze if it's cool out without a sweater!

Location - As aforementioned, be sure you're comfortable. Also remember where you're going and dress for the place. A cocktail dress and suit isn't necessarily appropriate for urban or beach photos.

Color: Magenta, blues, greens, purples, oranges and other "jewel tone" colors can generally work out well in just about any situation, but don't be afraid to throw some more neutral colors into it. Try to stay away from busy patterns. Wear the color(s) that you think complement you best.

What (S)He's Wearing - Matching exactly isn't suggested or recommended, but planning your outfit(s) to coordinate well definitely is.

Looking Like Yourself - Don't feel that you have to "dress up" to look great in your photos!

#3: (This is mostly for you, ladies) Let your fiance(e) wear what (s)he wants! I understand that you might not think shorts are "nice" enough or that her wearing jeans and not a dress may be "too casual", but, suggestions aside, you really should just let them decide.

#4: Look around at photos online or in magazines and send any you'd like to try to recreate to your photographer ahead of time (or bring them with you to your session). There are no guarantees that the situation will be perfect to capture them, but there's no harm in trying! Besides that, it can give your photographer a better idea of what you'd like.

E-Session with Amy & Ken

2009-08-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

I took some photos of Ken & Amy on Saturday at this fantastic discovery (the Orcutt Horticultural Ranch Park in West Hills, CA). Ken works with my husband (who was also there working as my great assistant) and he and Amy will be getting married in Santa Cruz next month.

Here are a few of my favorites:

More at my website, CrazyStars.net

Engagement Photoshoot with Jaimi & Brian at the Ventura Harbor

2009-07-27T16:58:00.000-07:00

I met up with Jaimi & Brian at the Ventura Harbor on July 19th and we were all surprised to find Pirate Days going in full-swing. We went across the way to the beach for the majority of the shoot.

See More At CrazyStars.net

Boys & Girls Clubs Goleta Basketball Shoot

2009-07-13T16:02:00.000-07:00

I went to the Goleta Boys & Girls Club yesterday and had a portrait session with one of their basketball teams. The kids were unsurprisingly adorable and the parents very sweet people.

Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot.

See More At CrazyStars.net

"The Snake"

2009-06-23T17:51:00.000-07:00

Took some photos on "The Snake" today (Mulholland Drive near Kanan).

A few of my favorites:

See More At CrazyStars.net

Boys & Girls Clubs Las Virgenes - Thousand Oaks Baseball Practice

2009-06-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Happened to catch today's baseball practice at BGC Thousand Oaks on Hillcrest Drive and snapped some photos of the kids.

See More At CrazyStars.net