Tips and Tricks

When it comes to Reno senior photographers, you have a lot of choices. In any budget or style, there is a multitude of people willing to serve you. As a mom who very highly values family photography in my personal life, I know how overwhelming this process can be.

I am grateful that you have found ME and you are interested in timeless senior portraiture, but whether or not you select me to create portraits for you, I’d like to share 3 big tips for finding Reno Senior Photographer who’s a good fit for you.

How do you choose the RIGHT Reno Senior Photographer for YOU?

Tip 1: Professionalism, Attitude & Personality

Your Reno Senior Photographer should be a good fit for you. At minimum, you want a Reno Family Photographer who is friendly and professional.

You also want someone who has a wonderful attitude to make the process of a senior photography session FUN and not stressful. You’ll want someone who will help prepare you so that you have the BEST session of your life to document this incredible milestone.

And finally, you need to be comfortable in front of the camera to LOOK comfortable in front of the camera. Your photographer should give you an experience that makes you feel good while their lens is pointed at you!

Tip 2: Products & Keepsakes

What good are your senior photos if they sit on a hard drive as digital files, or only make a brief appearance on social media? Part of a senior photographer’s basic skills should include being able to professionally design an heirloom-quality photo album and/or other quality display items. These are some things to consider while looking at a family photographer’s sample products:

• Do you notice any tearing/crackling in the binding or edges of their sample album pages? Your photo album is meant to be a lasting heirloom. If a photographer’s sample album is literally falling apart, that’s not a good sign.
• Are their albums designed in a timeless way? Do the images flow from well from one to the next?
• Does the photographer provide other products aside from an album? Can you get a professional canvas from them? How about a professional print or other wall display? Do they carry products you LIKE?
• Can you purchase gift options to treat the special people in your life? Think of grandparents etc who would love to be sent a photographic gift with your senior portraits!

Tip 3: Style, Portfolio & Consistency

While searching for your Reno Senior Photographer, you might be overwhelmed by the choices. If you rush while selecting your photographer, you could overlook an important aspect of their photography – their style, or more importantly, the consistency of their work.

A Reno Senior Photographer’s style isn’t just about the technical aspects or the angles. It is about their unique perspective and creativity. It’s also the way in which they edit the images. And in fact, it is the WAY they take the images. You’ll notice that my photos are bright…light and “airy.”

I also SERIOUSLY love using backlighting techniques. I don’t shoot in direct sun and I make sure the light on your face is soft and natural. That’s MY style, and if you dig through my portfolio, that is what you will see.

Is your Reno Senior Photographer’s style a fit for you? Is it timeless? Or are they using a trendy one-click filter that will look cheesy and cheap in a little while? Will they meticulously edit your photos? Or will they rush your pictures to you without hardly glancing at their final product? Do they CHANGE their style like the wind changes directions? How do you know you’ll get the style you think you will? Pro tip: ask photographers to send you an entire client gallery so you can see how consistent their work is in the course of one single senior session.

A quality Reno Senior Photographer will take a beautiful photo on the day of your session and edit it to make it stellar. They will provide a collection of incredible photos that flow well together and could all go on one wall and look AMAZING.

Professional senior photographers should spend a considerable amount of time editing images. If they shoot your session on “auto mode” and give you the images straight out of the camera…that is not the work of a professional OR an artist. A friend could take a snapshot on your iPhone just as easily. But that isn’t the experience you’re going for if you’re reading this!

Conclusion

These are the top things to consider carefully when choosing your Reno Senior Photographer. But one more thing: although price is something most people have to consider for their varying budgets, you may not want to make it THE deciding factor.

One day, photographs are going to be the ONLY keepsakes you have left after time moves on. They are also one of the major things people hand down to their children. The value of your portraits is immeasurable even though it may be hard to understand that right now.

Watch for red flags when selecting a photographer whose prices seem too good to be true. Low prices are usually an indicator of inexperience.

Reno Family Photography is an investment. No one deserves the feeling of regret when viewing their senior photos after spending so much time preparing for them. We hope these tips will help you avoid that situation as much as possible.

Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co. is a Reno Senior Photographer. We serve the greater Northern Nevada and Northern California areas. Contact us and find out how this Reno Senior Photographer can create incredible one-of-a-kind senior portraits for you!

By now, you’ve probably heard me say that your high school senior portrait EXPERIENCE is an investment. Not only is it a financial investment for your parents, but it’s also an investment of your time. To help you spend your time more efficiently, I’m providing a comprehensive list of tips to help you prepare for your senior photoshoot with me!

Before we book our shoot together (about 3-6 months in advance), you’ll have thought about the following things already:
What season your want your shoot to take place (keeping yearbook deadlines in mind).
How many outfits you want to be photographed in.
How long your photoshoot will last to accommodate your wardrobe changes.

Now you need to do the rest of your senior photoshoot prep!

3-6 Weeks Before Your Senior Photoshoot:

1. Decide where you want your senior photoshoot to take place. I have a great list of locations if you don’t have a spot in mind.
2. Assemble your outfit inspiration (hello, Pinterest) & begin to shop.
3. Research and book your hair and makeup artists if you haven’t already added this service on to your session with me.
4. Decide if you want to bring props to your senior photoshoot.
5. Begin a teeth whitening regimen if desired.
6. If you wear glasses – I HIGHLY recommend getting contacts if you don’t already, even if it’s JUST for this senior photoshoot. If you feel like you look “weird” without your glasses, consider purchasing your frames (or similar ones) without lenses. Lenses of any sort = glare. Transition lenses = sunglasses.

1 Week Before Your Senior Photoshoot:

1. Make sure to drink lots of water! It helps clear your skin and moisturizes your lips.
2. Liberally apply chapstick throughout the week – especially if you are on specific acne medications.
3. Launder, iron and hang your outfits.
4. Gather your accessories in bags and hang them up with their corresponding outfits. I also recommend keeping your shoes in a bag with your outfit so you don’t forget them!
5. Get lots of rest (reduces puffy eyes, of course).

1-2 Days Before Your Senior Photoshoot:

1. Gals: Prep your hair & skin as your hair and makeup artists have instructed you to do.
2. Gals: Get your nails done (pampering time!), or paint your nails yourself (I recommend clear polish at minimum). Guys: trim and groom your nails!
3. Eat healthy, nutrient-rich meals so your skin is in tip-top shape. Avoid greasy foods and starchy carbs (to reduce bloating).
4. Gather and clean props (dust your musical instruments, give your doggie a bath, wash your car).
5. Sleep well the night before your session. Try meditation if you haven’t been sleeping well in general. I recommend the Calm app!

THE BIG DAY:

1. Give yourself lots of time to get ready.
2. Make sure you groom your eyebrows/facial hair long before your hair & makeup session starts.
3. Eat! Again, make sure the foods you eat this day are nutritious, but filling. Bring water & a snack to your senior photoshoot.
4. Bring flip flops/slippers to walk from spot to spot if your photoshoot shoes are uncomfy.
5. Bring your bag of makeup with your for any necessary touchups – especially lip gloss!
6. Be happy! It’s time to have some FUN!

As a Tahoe and Reno high school senior photographer, I often get asked a LOT of questions surrounding the ins and outs of a senior photoshoot. Among those questions are always:
What should I wear?
Where should we shoot?
What do I bring?

No worries, fam – I am here to help with a list of do’s and don’t with wardrobe tips and LOADS MORE for your high school senior portraits.

Reno Senior Photo Session Tips from Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co.

SENIORS! I hope you’ll find this FREE GUIDE helpful in planning your high school senior portraits. Please reach out to me with questions or input…I am always here to help!

DO wear something that comfortably expresses your personality.

DO think about what you AND your family will being doing with the photos. Of course you’ll be posting them on Instagram. But you probably want them to mesh well with your family’s interior design preferences as well. OR stand out, depending on what you’re going for. If your family’s home decor and design is classic and elegant – will your photoshoot at a downtown Reno location with tons of graffiti fit in seamlessly if your parents put your pictures up on the wall? It’s just something to consider!

DON’T forget about shoes, hair and accessories. You will be photographed from head to toe! So make sure your nail polish isn’t chipping (on fingers AND toes)! That’s something that’s VERY difficult to photoshop (and often times impossible), so don’t let it ruin your favorite photos!

DO buy new outfits if you wish, but be sure to “test” the outfit beforehand so you know whether or not it’s truly comfortable in any position! Play around with accessories to see how you can really work your outfits, too!

DON’T wear something you can’t comfortably sit down in. You don’t want all of your photos to be stiff upright standing shots. Comfort is key. If you don’t feel comfortable, you won’t look comfortable.

DON’T expect your transition lenses in your glasses to be clear outdoors – they are sunglasses outdoors! Consider wearing contacts, or put your glasses away for your session. Even non-transition glasses have their own set of issues (hello, glare).

DON’T wear baseball caps – they will create harsh shadows over your forehead & eyes. Part of what makes a great portrait of you is seeing your eyes! By all means, bring hats as accessories, but don’t plan on wearing a hat for the entirety of your senior session.

DO consider the time of year and location of your shoot. If you’re getting senior photos done in the fall, think of colors that compliment orange, yellow and red. If choosing springtime, think about color that compliment green and pretty pastels (a variety of flowers will be in bloom). Are we shooting at the colorful West Street Market? If so, neutral colors like gray and white are awesome there.

DON’T wear TINY patterns (small checkerboard/ houndstooth etc), because they don’t photograph well. Neither do large graphics that wrinkle up in certain positions, becoming unreadable (logo t-shirts). Other things that don’t work are: thin straps, huge blocks of bright red & pink (and neon colors), too many matching colors and LOTS of black/white. It’s better to have contrasting/complimentary colors. Neutral colors as a base (like denim, khaki, gray, white etc) work great with pops of colors brought in through accessories and layers of clothing (jeans, a yellow tank and a white cardigan, for example). Bringing different accessories is a fun, easy & quick way to liven up your look – jewelry, scarves, jackets etc.

DON’T bring more than two outfits unless you book the appropriate length shoot for the number of outfits you want. Changing looks takes a lot longer than you might think, so plan in advance and book more than 1 hour if you want more than one outfit change during our shoot.

DO bring props! Props bring your personality to to forefront of your photos. Some examples are balloons, an instax camera…or your car! Pick something that really expresses your interests or what’s going on in your life at this moment.

DO rely on a professional makeup artist & hairstylist to highlight your beauty. Pretty, pretty please! I can even arrange this FOR YOU. I have seen so many times first-hand how pro hair and makeup make such an incredible difference in someone’s confidence. Contact me for my hairstylist and makeup artist recommendations.

DO visit my Pinterest Senior Inspiration board for outfit and color ideas.

Phew, that should cover it! I hope this article helps prepare you for your senior photoshoot with and that you LOVE your photos when you see them for the first time. Below are some examples the tips above in action!

And hey, if you’re ready for a senior photo experience of a lifetime, reach out to me to book YOUR amazing experience today!

As a Reno headshot photographer, I often get asked “what should I wear for my professional headshots?” So I am here to help with a list of do’s and don’t with wardrobe tips and more for your Reno headshot photography session.

Headshot Photoshoot Tips

DO think about how you will be using your headshot when you make your styling decisions. Will you be including your headshot alongside many others for speaking engagements? Does it need to stand out, or fit in? Does your company have specific requirements for your headshot? Know the answers to these types of questions when you are getting your wardrobe ready!

DO wear something that comfortably expresses your personality while still maintaining the necessary level of professionalism in your specific field or industry.

DON’T forget about shoes, hair and accessories. Despite the fact that these are called HEADshots, you could potentially be photographed from head to toe! Speaking to females here – make sure your nail polish isn’t chipping (on fingers AND toes if you are wearing shoes that show them)! That’s something that’s VERY difficult to photoshop (and often times impossible), so don’t let it ruin your favorite headshots.

DO buy a new outfit if you wish, but be sure to “test” the outfit beforehand so you know whether or not it’s truly comfortable in any position! You should be able to comfortably sit down in your outfit. You don’t want all of your photos to be stiff upright standing shots. Comfort is key. If you don’t feel comfortable, you won’t look comfortable.

DON’T expect your transition lenses in  your glasses to be clear outdoors – they are sunglasses outdoors! Consider wearing contacts, or put your glasses away for your session.

DON’T wear baseball caps or other hats unless it is part of your persona (and acceptable in your headshots) – they will create harsh shadows over your forehead & eyes. Part of what makes a great portrait of you is seeing your eyes!

DO consider the time of year and location of your shoot. If you’re getting your outdoor headshots done in the fall, think of colors that compliment orange, yellow and red. If choosing springtime, think about wearing pastels. However – since these are your professional headshots, again make sure that the colors you choose compliment the level of professionalism you are trying to convey. For headshots, I tend to love jewel-toned colors any time of year (deep purple, emerald green, royal blue etc) and pastels in the spring.

DON’T wear all black. Unless you really want to – your style is up to you, of course! But black is a very common color for headshots, and you typically want your headshot to stand out and show your individuality.

DON’T wear small patterns (checkerboard/ houndstooth etc), because they don’t photograph or print well. Neither do large graphics, thin straps, extremely bright colors (especially red, pink and neon shades).

DO rely on a professional makeup artist & hairstylist to highlight your beauty. If you’ve booked my premier headshot package WITH hair & makeup styling, I will coordinate the services with the artists.

DO visit Pinterest and search headshot images to get outfit ideas. If getting hair & makeup done, provide your artist with style inspiration! Also make sure to consider how “done up” you wish to be in your headshots. Make sure to convey all those details to your artist so you get the look and style you want!

That’s it! All my do’s and don’ts for your headshot portrait session look. I hope this article helps prepare you for your session and that you LOVE your new headshots. Below are some examples of headshot portraits – maybe some of them will inspire your look!

When it comes to Reno family photographers, you have a lot of choices. In any budget or style, there is a multitude of people willing to serve you. As a mom who very highly values family photography in my personal life, I know how overwhelming this process can be.

I am grateful that you have found ME and you are interested in fine art portraiture for your family, but whether or not you select me to create portraits for you, I’d like to share 3 big tips for finding Reno Family Photographer that’s right for you and your family.

How do you choose the RIGHT Reno Family Photographer for YOU?

Tip 1: Professionalism, Attitude & Personality

Your Reno Family Photographer should be a good fit for you. At minimum, you want a Reno Family Photographer who is friendly and professional. But you also want to look for someone who is great with kids.

You also want someone who has a wonderful attitude to make the process of a family photography session FUN and not stressful.

And finally, you need to be comfortable in front of the camera to LOOK comfortable in front of the camera. Your photographer should give you an experience that makes you feel good while their lens is pointed at you!

Tip 2: Products & Keepsakes

What good are your family photos if they sit on a hard drive as digital files, or only make a brief appearance on social media? Part of a family photographer’s basic skills should include being able to professionally design an heirloom-quality photo album and/or other quality display items. These are some things to consider while looking at a family photographer’s sample products:

• Do you notice any tearing/crackling in the binding or edges of their sample album pages? Your photo album is meant to be a lasting heirloom. If a photographer’s sample album is literally falling apart, that’s not a good sign.
• Are their albums designed in a timeless way? Do the images flow from well from one to the next?
• Does the photographer provide other products aside from an album? Can you get a professional canvas from them? How about a professional print or other wall display?
• Can you purchase gift options to treat the special people in your life? Think of your parents and how much they would adore a sweet photographic gift of their grandchild.

Tip 3: Style, Portfolio & Consistency

While searching for your Reno Family Photographer, you might be overwhelmed by the choices. If you rush while selecting your photographer, you could overlook an important aspect of their photography – their style, or more importantly, the consistency of their work.

A Reno Family Photographer’s style isn’t just about the technical aspects or the angles. It is about their unique perspective and creativity. It’s also the way in which they edit the images. And in fact, it is the WAY they take the images. You’ll notice that my photos are bright…light and “airy.”

I also SERIOUSLY love using backlighting techniques. I don’t shoot in direct sun and I make sure the light on your faces is soft and natural. That’s MY style, and if you dig through my portfolio, that is what you will see.

Is your Reno Family Photographer’s style a fit for you? Is it timeless? Or are they using a trendy one-click filter that will look cheesy and cheap in a little while? Will they meticulously edit your photos? Or will they rush your pictures to you without hardly glancing at their final product? Do they CHANGE their style like the wind changes directions? How do you know you’ll get the style you think you will? Pro tip: ask them to send you an entire client gallery so you can see how consistent their work is in the course of one single family session.

A quality Reno Family Photographer will take a beautiful photo on the day of your session and edit it to make it stellar. They will provide a collection of incredible photos that flow well together and could all go on one wall and look AMAZING.

Professional family photographers should spend a considerable amount of time editing images. If they shoot your session on “auto mode” and give you the images straight out of the camera…that is not the work of a professional OR an artist.

Conclusion

These are the top things to consider carefully when choosing your Reno Family Photographer. But one more thing: although price is something most people have to consider for their varying budgets, you may not want to make it THE deciding factor.

One day, family photographs are going to be the ONLY keepsakes you have left after time moves on. They are also one of the major things families hand down to their children. The value of your portraits is immeasurable.

Watch for red flags when selecting a photographer whose prices seem too good to be true. Low prices are usually an indicator of inexperience.

Reno Family Photography is an investment. No one deserves the feeling of regret when viewing their family photos after spending so much time preparing for them. We hope these tips will help you avoid that situation as much as possible.

Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co. is a Reno Family Photographer. We serve the greater Northern Nevada and Northern California areas. Contact us and find out how this Reno Family Photographer can create fine art portraiture for your family!

Part of my services as a Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer, and a Reno/Tahoe Portrait Photographer, is to schedule and plan photoshoots, create custom wedding timelines, invoice customers at appropriate times and send out info at certain points along the process – among MANY other tasks. Some tasks are easy to do by nature, but for others, I need reminders to keep me on-schedule.

As a mom and wife, I’m in charge of many additional things…too many to list, in fact. A bulk of those tasks stem from managing our finances and the budget for my business and our family, and I keep track of things like special events, doctor’s appointments and the oh-so-time-consuming-but-extremely-invaluable Taekwondo lessons/tournaments/testing for our oldest kid.

The most important tool in my kit for staying on top of the many things I need to do, is my Emily Ley Simplified Planner. Up until January of 2016, I was using a generic monthly planner, and in the back, I had a LONG running list of to-do items. Not only was it kind of boring and failing at keeping me on-task, but it wasn’t particularly pretty or representative of my brand either.

I had been stalking Emily Ley on Instagram and decided to take the plunge and try out her Simplified Planner for 2016. I didn’t realize at the time how truly different this planner was. I chose the Daily Edition in “Happy Stripe” and I started utilizing the daily pages, which have the following sections: Today, To Do, Dinner and Notes. It also has a monthly spread, where you can get an overview of your whole month.

At the top of each day is an inspirational quote, which I have really grown to enjoy about these daily pages. I love them as well because I have plenty of room to write out the day’s schedule by hour (6am-9pm), a to do list I can actually tackle in one day, and a place to plan dinner and write some extra notes. Sunday’s daily page has a weekly prep section which asks you to plan meals for the week ahead, tidy up, write down appointments/to dos for the week and “fill your tank,” which are all excellent tasks for a Sunday afternoon (if I’m not photographing a wedding or portrait, that is).

If you were to ask me to review my Simplified Planner, I would say this: I simply ADORE my Simplified Planner. It’s pretty, super functional, great quality and fun to use. More importantly, though – the daily pages have made my to-do list so much more manageable. Now that I can break things down into daily to-dos, this planner actually keeps me on-task and ahead of the game most of the time. Emily Ley just released her 2016-2017 Academic Daily Simplified Planner in the cutest covers, ever! I’m waiting for her calendar year version release in the fall because my current Simplified Planner in Happy Stripe covers me until January, but I hope I can get the Fancy Floral cover at that time. It’s SO ME!

Fifth and Chestnut Photo Co. is a Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer and Reno Portrait Photographer. We are also lovers of art, simplicity, and organization! We hope that any products we review or showcase can enrich your life as they have for us. If you’re on the hunt for a Lake Tahoe Wedding Photographer or Reno Portrait Photographer, get in touch!