In lieu of a wardrobe post this week, Wardrobe Wednesday is giving away a FREE SEAT to the He Said She Said Photography Workshop to be held in Naples, FL on March 30th and 31st. This is an $1,100.00 value! Head over to fellow Wardrobe Wednesday-er, Shannon Dodge of Shannon J. Dodge Photography’s blog for details on how to enter and how to win!!!

Well, I know this one is obviously a little late for Christmas, but it’s still a great list of gifts for the special photographer in your life!  I’ve been just swamped with last minute to-do’s coming off of maternity leave, so please excuse my tardiness!  Morgan of Morgan Dawson Photography has some great ideas!

There is just not enough time left in the shopping season to be anything but honest and straightforward, so here goes: This is the kind of stuff I would want as a photographer, and I think it can help you, too. If you’re a photographer, you can send a link to this post to friends or family who need gift ideas. If you need to get a gift for a photographer or shutterbug, you’ve come to the right place. Here we go…

THINGS TO STASH INSIDE A CAMERA BAG:

Memory Cards: Photographers really can never have too many of these. When buying them, just be sure you know what format your photog uses. Compact Flash and SD are the most common, but double check since you never know. My personal collection includes a bunch of SanDisk 8GB compact flash cards, but I wouldn’t turn down a larger size (who would?). These can be purchased at so many different stores, so be sure to compare prices.

• SanDisk 8GB Extreme SDHC – BH Photo – $15.95
• SanDisk 8GB Extreme Compact Flash- BH Photo – $28.95

Batteries: When I asked the other WW girls about their stocking stuffer wish list, batteries were the first things mentioned. Flashes and other gear will burn through these puppies in no time – extras are a must!

• Energizer Lithium AA Photo Batteries – $15.19 (8-pack)

Lens Cleaner: What happens when mud gets on a lens? Smudges or sticky kid fingers? This two step solution will easily fix the day. All you need to do is use a few drops of the solution and then use the pads to wipe it away. Easy!

• Eclipse Cleaning System Solution – $7.95
• PEC-PD Lint Free Wipes – $9.79

Pop-Up Flash Diffuser: If your photog has a camera with a pop-up flash, this is a great gift idea. While the flash is easy and convenient, the light is often harsh and less than flattering. The best way to even out the light is by diffusing it somehow, and this puffer couldn’t be easier. It slides over the flash and automatically diffuses the light – awesome!

• Gary Fong Puffer Pop-Up Flash Diffuser – BH Photo – $16.95

Towelettes and Wipes: These little wipes are such a lifesaver for both the photographer and their clients. Large bottles of sunscreen or insect repellent aren’t likely to make their way into a camera bag, but there is always room to stash a few of these. If the model – or photographer – start to get a little shiny, the blotter papers can be a great fix when you’re on the go.

• Coretex SunX SPF 30 Sunscreen Towelettes – $12.75
• OFF Insect Repellent Towelettes – $11.25
• Clean & Clear Oil-Absorbing Sheets – $4.65

FUN CAMERA GIFTS: These are just cute camera-related gifts that would make any photog smile. My personal favorite may be the “Oh Snap” bag, but that’s just because it also comes on a onesie

• Retro Camera Tea Towel – $14
• Oh Snap Camera Tote or Reusable Shopping Bag – $12
• Camera ornament – TwentyTwoTurtledoves on Etsy – $20
• Antiqued Silver Camera Necklace – debbychoi79 Etsy shop – $14.50

Fingerless Gloves: If you shooting in the cold, you’ll want a pair of fingerless gloves. If you’re sitting at your desk on a cool morning and want a little warmth, you’ll want a pair of fingerless gloves. Tons of colors – various warmth levels. A perfect gift!

• Freehands Microfur Gloves – $24
• Armwarmers/Fingerless gloves – Chicksale on Etsy – $39

Custom Camera Strap: Why stick with the boring old black camera strap when you can have one with style!

• Reversible Camera Strap – PhatStraps on Etsy – $34.99

Coffee Mug: Coffee mug? What’s so special about a coffee mug? This one actually keeps your coffee HOT! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made myself a cup of coffee or tea and then sat down to do a little editing. Before I know it, I’ve completely forgotton about my drink and it’s gone cold. This mug has a lid and stainless steel double wall interior (read: warm drinks). Note – they also make a travel version!>

• Trudeau 16-ounce desk mug – $16.06

This fabulous post from Kelly of Kelly V Photography is for you photogs!  Read below for some great inspiration on Christmas mini’s and some awesome discounts!

I’m so excited to have my session with the beautiful Meagan featured over on an awesome new photography site called Inside the Locker.  It’s all about senior photography, and it has some great inspiration and resources for all of you photographers, and seniors too!  Go check it out! 

I was totally blown away when Tabitha of Confessions of a Prop Junkie asked me to be one of the first featured photographers on her brand new site.  What an honor!  I was a little nervous about a photographer interview, but Tabitha had such great questions it was a piece of cake.  To check out my very candid interview and a special “tip”
 (hint, hint, it has to do with reflectors!), head on over to Prop Junkie and check it out.  Make sure to look around, Tabitha has some great inspiration resources and vendor giveaways going on all the time!  And you may recognize some of my images in the header too.   Thank you for the fabulous opportunity! 

Rebecca of Rebecca Keeling Studios has put together an awesome post just for photographers this time around!  I don’t photograph weddings, but I imagine these tips will be very helpful for those of you who do! 

I was so excited when Shannon posted a request for feedback for suggestions on upcoming posts the other week. She did a fabulous job last week with the extended family wardrobe and I wanted to follow that up with the other request specifically for our fabulous photographer followers! I actually thought about doing a post several months ago about photographer wardrobe suggestions but I had totally forgotten about it, so thanks for the reminder, y’all!

Being knee-deep in wedding season myself, I thought it would be a great idea to start this series of photographer wardrobe suggestions with…well…weddings! In considering the overall wardrobe, it seemed only natural to break down each part and discuss them individually because they all play an integral part in the grand scheme of things. So let’s jump right in, shall we??!! 

 When shopping for tops for the wedding day, I always look for comfort first. Stretchy fabrics, designs that hide my “flaws” so that I look my best, and most importantly on hot summer days, breathable materials. The blue tank blouse shown here is a great combination of all of these things. A cotton blend material, ruching around the middle, sleeveless to give you some breathing room, AND…a side zip instead of a button front. For me personally, I have a larger chest area and can’t really get away with button front blouses without being paranoid that at any moment the girls might turn me into the main attraction! So, the side zip option on some modern blouses is always helpful! A great little jacket is one way to layer stylishly for evening weddings when it gets chilly. Again, in a great linen blend material. I actually own this black vest and wear it quite a bit with a simple cotton shirt, similar to the one shown here. I love the professional look it gives me while still being lightweight and very comfortable. Although I typically do wear dark pants with my black vest, I think it’s fun to throw a pop of color under the vest with a cute little cotton shirt of choice. The great thing about all of these tops is that you could mix and match them for many different combinations of looks. The tank with the vest, the t-shirt with the jacket, and vice versa. I always shop with this in mind so that I get more “bang for my buck” and have lots of different options when dressing for the wedding day. 

 One of the features I absolutely MUST have in any bottoms that I purchase for the wedding day is STRETCH! I don’t know about y’all, but it’s not unusual for me to be on the floor, on a chair, or anywhere in between trying to get THE shot, and I certainly don’t want to be hindered by my pants…or (for the love of everything holy) have them split down the back! I also prefer to have pants with pockets to hold a spare memory card when I’m running around. And, I also love to have flat front closures…they just seem to be more comfortable overall. Here are some great pants options along with a pair of pin-striped capris for those warmer, outdoor weddings where you still need to look nice. Pair these with the cotton shirt and vest and voila! A super cute (and FUNCTIONAL) wedding day wardrobe. For those weddings where you need to dress a bit more formally, here is a perfect stretch cotton wrap dress. Be sure to pair these with some short black leggings so that you can still get the shots without worrying about flashing your bride and groom! 

 Next on our list, and arguably the MOST important part of your wedding day wardrobe…shoes! All of these brands have come highly recommended by some of my wedding photographer colleagues, so I hope that one of them will be perfect for you. I typically prefer to wear flats on the wedding day but if I were to shoot a very formal event, I would consider wearing a higher heel for the ceremony and then changing into more “sensible” shoes for the reception. The wedge design of these two shoes in particular makes them much more comfortable than the traditional high-heeled shoe to start with, but they are also rumored to be even MORE comfy. Be sure to check out the links for these particular suggestions…the Cole Haan shoe has Nike Air technology embedded into the sole and they have a complete line of “Air” shoes with this same comfort technology. They are a little pricey but then again, so are Nike Air tennis shoes. I know what’s on my list to purchase next! 

 Last, but certainly not least, the most fun part of your wardrobe…accessories! As I mentioned earlier, I do tend to stick with darker color clothes when dressing for a wedding but not when it comes to my accessories. This is where I let my personality really shine through. I love to choose one large piece of jewelry, a statement piece, and then go smaller with the other items. Such as this fabulous necklace, I might pair with small diamond stud earrings. Or this gorgeous bracelet (with no bangles, I might add…don’t want to be jangling around in the back of the church during the silent prayer!) with a small, understated ring. And check out this super cool Michael Kors belt! It’s not your momma’s fanny pack! It’s big enough to hold extra cards, batteries, lip gloss, your phone, or whatever you need to keep on you at all times and still look FAB.

I wanted to leave you with a few other items that are a “must have” for the wedding day so that you can be successful AND stylish…and rock those shots!

1. A few weeks ago, I had the brilliant idea to purchase a new pair of shoes and wear them to a wedding the same day. Let me just say that I wish I’d had these little babies stuck in my bag that night. Perfect for your aching dogs after a long day, yet still stylish enough to pull off at a late night reception!

2. A change of clothes…you never know what might happen and you always want to be prepared!

3. A little beauty bag with some back-up cosmetics, deodorant, extra girly items, and perfume…for those days when you need to get freshened up after sweating your bootie off at the 104 degree July wedding with no shade.

So that’s it! I hope this list will have you on your way to wedding wardrobe success. Happy shooting, y’all! 

BUYING GUIDE

(Shoes)

Cole Haan Air Tali OT Wedge | $158

Clarks Domino Pip Beige Leather | $95

Seychelles Chirp | $90

Aerosoles Laser Printz Yellow | $60

(Bottoms)

J Crew Premium Stretch Bistro Pant | $88

Boston Proper Paris Fit Classic Trouser | $89

Ann Taylor Loft Ann Olivia Stripe Cropped Pants | $60

Ann Taylor Loft Knit Wrap Dress | $70

(Tops)

New York & Company Ruffle-Front Sleeveless Solid Shirt | $30

Arden B Ruffle Collar Trench Coat | $69

New York & Company Five Button V-Neck Vest | $40

(Accessories)

Nordstrom Michael Kors Leather Belt with Woven Bag | $68

Chicos Tansy Earrings | $16

Arden B Flower Cluster Necklace | $34

Express Beaded Stretch Bracelet | $35

Last month, I had the wonderful opportunity to have my work featured over on the awesome new inspiration site TML:Focus, from the ladies of The Maternal Lens.  There are so many amazing photographers and sessions over there, you’d be crazy not to go check it out.  It’s a great place to get some inspiration, whether you are a photographer or a client with an upcoming session.  Thank you ladies for the wonderful opportunity, and thanks to Miss Charly for a killer senior session – “urban vogue” indeed! 

I am so incredibly honored to have one of my senior sessions (starring the beautiful Chandler) featured over on a great photography site, The Lens Loves.  It truly is humbling to have my work published among so many talented photographers.  Even better, the founder of the site, the supremely talented Drew of DrewB Photography, was one of the first photographers I came across whose work really inspired me.  So to be selected for a feature by her is really a dream come true!  Go check it out and make sure to browse the site, there is so much wonderful inspiration to be found.  You can also find Lindsay Horn Photography and LHP Seniors listed under their new nationwide Photographer’s Directory as well!   Thank you Drew and Krista for this great opportunity!

As I mentioned in my previous post, I get a lot of questions about my little studio set-up, so I decided to put a post together for all of the visual folks out there (like myself).  When I set up in my own home, I most often use my entryway.  Yes, it is a little tight to shoot in, but I have both North and South facing windows, so it is very well-lit.  Here’s a pull back shot from my last commercial shoot:

I think I managed to darken up most of the mess in the background, so don’t let that distract you.   Since you can’t see the whole area (I was backed into the corner with my widest angle lens), here’s a little diagram of the layout of the room:

As you can see, I pull the blinds up on all of the windows.  I angle my set-up towards the larger windows, but I still get nice fill from the smaller windows camera left.  I also prop my lovely Hobby Lobby foamboard up against the door to get a little more light bounced back on that side.  Here is the final product:

There’s still enough shadow and light to give it that natural light look that I love, and I can keep a catchlight in both eyes (when she cooperates).  I’ve had some questions about the set-up itself as well, so here goes!  The backdrop stand is a Savage Portable Stand, I just love it!  The bamboo mat was ordered from Home Depot online, and the damask backdrop is a curtain I got off of Amazon.  I also picked up a length of white baseboard from Home Depot, along with the red clips holding it in place.  The white fluffy rug you see in the pull back shot is one of two I bought at Hobby Lobby, I usually just lay them next to each other and you never know it’s not one big one.  I believe that I’ve seen them at IKEA as well.  I hope that helps!  Obviously, if I’m in my clients’ home for a newborn session, I set up wherever I can get the best light, and I typically use front lighting rather than side lighting.  This area in my house is just uniquely suited to good side lighting.  Feel free to comment below or email me if you have any questions!

Well, this post has been a LONG time coming.  Back in the fall we did a big giveaway and feature with the fine folks at Tea Collection over on our Wardrobe Wednesday page.  This was my first introduction to this company, and after hearing and reading so many wonderful things about the company and their products, I picked up a couple of outfits (I love their girl’s dresses) for Emory’s two-year old birthday portraits.  Now THAT was a saga in itself (her portraits), and I will save that for another post all about my girl (consider this your sneak peek).  To make a long story short, we received the clothes, they are FABULOUS, we eventually got the portraits done, and now I wanted to share a little review with you.  It’s something I hope to be doing every now and again … as a photographer I may be looking for different things in the clothing I choose for myself and my family, and who knows, maybe that information will be useful for someone!   

The first thing I noticed when checking out Tea Collection’s adorable children’s clothing (and particularly their girl’s clothing) is the color palette.  It is so frustrating for me to go and purchase clothes for Emory only to find hot pink and flourescent purple EVERYTHING.  That’s all well and good for play clothes, but when I want something for portraits, I’m generally looking for deep rich colors or something that is vibrant without verging on tacky.  Believe it or not, that can be hard to find for little girls, especially if you don’t want to break the bank.  So when I first laid my eyes on the Tea Collection website, I had that “Ahhhhhhhh” singing moment in my head.  Seriously.  Their colors are all so rich and yummy, they are colors that I would want to wear.  I was hooked! 

Upon receiving the items I selected, I was blown away by how well-made they were.  Anyone who knows Emory knows that she is ROUGH on her clothes, far more little boy-like than lady-like let’s just say.  She’s barely two and I’ve thrown out countless pairs of pants and tops due to holes, stains, etc.  It is obvious that these clothes are very well-made, and so far they’ve survived a lot – spaghettios, grass/mud, our “dog” phase where Emory crawls on her knees all the time, and so on.  They’ve probably been washed dozens of times but they look as good as the day I opened the package.  That gets two big gold stars on my list! 

Another very cool thing I love about this company is that each collection they design is inspired by a different part of the world.  Their tag line is “for little citizens of the world.”  How neat is that!  Emory’s outfits shown here from the fall collection were inspired by Old World Hungary.  They really incorporate a sense of art into the design, and perhaps that’s why they appeal to me so much as a photographer.  It also means that each new collection will be fresh and different, although you will still get the same great quality, color, and artistic design that makes them so unique! 

While these, particular clothes are no longer available for purchase (shame on me for waiting so long to blog, I know!), I just got the catalog today for the newest collection, and let me tell you, it is to die for!  It was inspired by Catalonia – it just sounds gorgeous doesn’t it.   Here are some of my favorites from the early spring collection, chosen with an eye specifically for what might look good for your next portrait session:

Plumas Scalloped Dress - Gorgeous colors, and just enough fun design to make for easy accesorizing and interesting portraits

Jardin Ruffle Top with  Barcelona Bermuda Shorts - Great spring feel to this outfit, and something to run around and have fun in too!

La Musica 5-Piece Set – Another great thing about Tea is they offer mix and match sets at a discount!  This one is my favorite, pick any outfit, you can’t go wrong!