Life's a Beach
Summer memories should be photographed
Beach Sessions
Summer 2022
Life’s a Beach
Let me capture it
The summer is here and now is the time to book yourself a beautiful beach session. These book quickly and come out amazing. Also, if we book in the morning, you can make a family beach day out of it. Best times to book are early in the morning to catch the east coast sunrise or in the evening during golden hour.
Who needs a headshot?
WHO NEEDS A HEADSHOT?
First I’ll explain and then I’ll ask. Headshot- n. a photograph of someone's face, especially a promotional photograph of a model, actor, or author. This definition is somewhat dated. With the importance of social media, everyone putting themselves out there needs one.
Entrepreneurs - You’re starting from scratch and people want to know who you are. People respond to visuals much more than just some bio. Putting your best foot forward is key when networking and doing the leg work to promote your business.
Professionals- Doctors, lawyers, and real estate agents are constantly promoting or being printed in some amazing newsletter, magazine, or newspaper for the amazing work they do.
Social Media Influencers- Content is king when it comes to social media and when it comes to visuals, Instagram is the kingdom. Headshots, glamour shots, and behind the scene shots are currency. LinkedIn is becoming a close 2nd, if not more important, for headshots.
Now I ask again… Who needs a headshot?
Full day rates, half day rates, and individual headshots are available.
Questions about headshot sessions email me at gonzalo@grdesignphoto.com (link below).
Dos and Donts for your next portrait session
Dos and Don’ts for Your Portrait Sessions
First off, your photographer should be telling you this because you are hiring an experienced professional… right? Well if they don’t, here are a few things you need to know for your next portrait session:
Don’t get hammered the night before! We all like to party and theres nothing wrong with that. Just remember what you look like the morning after. Not all photographers can photoshop bags under your eyes.
Stay away from huge logos and overly busy patterns. Styles change and you don’t want a FUBU shirt in your mounted family portrait.
Don’t overdue the makeup. Less is more. Your best bet is to hire a makeup artist. They know how to style you for flash photography.
Iron and coordinate your with others that are in the shoot. I love matching fathers and sons wearing linen and a white button down on the beach or matching mothers and daughts wearing matching sweaters in the fall.
Last and most importaintly, PRINT IT OUT. Get it hung on your wall to look at and love every day. There’s no point in leaving it on you usb and losing that or keeping it on your computer and it crashing.
5 things you need in your photography website
5 things you need in your photography website.
What makes a great website? It’s debatable but some of the most important things are as follows:
Great eye catching photography. Less is more. You will be judged on your worst photo so only post your absolute best. (attention)
A call to action button. Make it clear where your potential clients can contact you so they can book you. (booking)
Have your location on your website. If a potential client has to chose between 2 photographers they’re going to pick (or contact) the one with the known location. (booking & SEO)
Blogs. Give tips on what to wear or what to expect in your blogs. It establishes you as an authority and helps your SEO. (SEO)
Most importaintly, get Google verified. This will make you searchable when people look for photographers in my area. (SEO)
I'm Back
Thanks for all the well wishes on social. The family is doing great. Monroe is just the cutest little bundle of joy but it’s time. Time to get back to work. So how can I help you make memories?
Family Portraits
Maternity & Newborn Portraits
Weddings
Head Shots
Branding
Sweet 16s
Events
Help me get these girls through college.
3 Head Shot Tips for Killer Images
3 Tips for Killer Head Shots
First is your catch light. This is when the light from your main (key) light hits your subject’s eyes. This brings dept and life to your image.
Second is your key light. This is your main light and you will get a different feeling in your image depending where you place your light. I like to place my strobe at 45 degrees (10 or 2 o’clock) and a few feet over the subject’s head with my softbox angled down.
Last is the back light. Also know as rim, shoulder, or hair light; it lights the back of your subject. This illuminates the back edge of your subject and separates them from the background.
With this lighting and enough practicing with posing and you should be able to go after those corporate head shot gigs in no time.
Fun Fact: 99% of people getting head shots are not models. They won’t be comfortable in front of a camera. Hell, I”M not comfortable in front of a camera. Be relaxed, be charismatic, and make it fun. The picture will show what they feel. Laughing and relaxed will show. Nervous and uncofortable will also show.
INVEST IN YOURSELF
Graffiti Session
Whenever I’m photographing an older child, 12-17, I offer different locations for different moods. Clients usually chose something woodsy or something on the Hudson River. I’ve always mentioned urban or graffiti but clients usually had shorter sessions and opted with the “prettier” settings. I finally found a client who chose an extended session and wanted one of the settings be a graffiti backdrop.
Anyone who knew me during college knows my thesis was a book on graffiti so I obviously had a ball. Do you want to be my next subject to photograph underneath the Holand Tunnel entry bridge?
Cherry Blossoms
2022’s Cherry Blossoms will be in full bloom April 2-10th. If you would like to have an amazing session like the ones below, book now! Click on the booking info button to schedule a session or ask questions. This year’s locations are Branchbrook Park in Newark or Verona Park in Verona.
Your Ideal Client
I want someone who knows my worth, appreciates my work, and won’t make an issue out of. … insert photographer problem here.
You do realize you found that already right?? Past clients. You have their info… email them
What to look for when hiring a maternity &/or newborn photographer.
Experience
You will be pregnant with this child only once. You might be spending a lot of money on one or both of these sessions. Make sure your photographer can consistently produce what they are showing on their site or social media. An experienced photographer should be answering most of your questions before you even ask them.
Vibe
You should be vibing with your photographer. If you aren’t comfortable with your photographer, there is a good chance that will come through in your photos. Photographers who know what they are doing are comfortable with their sessions and their confidence 9/10 will be passed onto you.
Can They Bundle?
Maternity photographers might not be newborn photographers but newborn photographers are almost always maternity photographers as well. See if they have bundle packaging. My “The Glow” package is a maternity session and newborn session and images from both sessions end up in your album and, at times, the birth announcement cards.
Ps: you should be printing this beautiful journey out. Don’t just post it on your social media, print it out and hang images in your nursery. Make an album and put it on your coffee table for all to see.
Winter Wonderland
Tips for your next winter session
If you are brave enough to take pictures in the dead of winter, here are some tips you should know.
Wear Layers
The session below was 17 degrees when we started photographing. The best thing to do is wear layers. Thermals for your legs, thick socks or 2 pair, snow boots, and long sleeves with a thick sweater looks great and you might not even need a coat.
Extras
Bring extras. Extra hats and extra gloves will give your session different looks. It will also keep you warm if you take pictures playing with the snow. Sneak some hand warmers in there too.
Move
Shivering is your body’s way of keeping you warm. The more you move , the warmer you will be. This can serve two purposes: keep you warm and make your images more fun. Running, jumping, and dancing puts a smile on anyone’s face.
Photography & Editing
How well can your photographer edit?
If your photographer shoots, dumps the images on a card, and makes you download your images from a rinky dink google email, you got robbed. There are so many reasons your photographer needs to be able to edit images. I wont bore you with all of them. I will just stick with my top 3 reasons.
Control what you can’t control
You can’t control the weather or how busy your location will be in real life. You can in Photoshop though. The right photographer can remove people and make it a bright, beautiful day.
Head swaps and out with the ugly
Let’s keep it real. Kids are goofballs and when you want a family picture they never want to cooperate. Photoshop and a tripod are your photographer’s best friend in this situation. Also, no one wants garbage cans, people, or ugly looking trees in their background.
Safety!
If your newborn photographer lets your baby sit in a froggy position and doesn’t piece together this shot, scream at them. Don’t let your baby be put in danger.
Word of Mouth
The Maternity Referral Program
I figured that everyone loves easy money and I love photographing so lets help eachother out. This referral program is for all things maternity: Pregnancy Announcement (Guess What), Maternity (The Glow), and Newborn (The Binkie).
It is very simple:
Rave about me to an expecting couple.
They contact me and say you sent them my way
You receive $50 when they sign a contract and make a payment on a Guess What, The Glow, or The Binkie photo sessions.
REPEAT
Headshot Happy Hour! Cheers!
I am happy to announce that I will be hosting a headshot happy hour on Friday April 9th. Lets put 2020 behind us and show potential clients the best version of yourself. Below are examples of the session and the location in Saddle Brook.
The session is 15 minutes with black, white, and grey textured backgrounds. You will receive 2 images that will be formatted for high resolution, low resolution, and black & white. There is an option for hair and makeup. If you are interested or have any questions, click the button below or leave a comment in the comment section.
What to expect in a photo session.
Yes i know a lot of you reading this already had an amazing session with me. This blog is for that new client you’ve sent my way. I love word of mouth referrals btw. Photoshoots can be extremely daunting. What do you wear? Should you shoot indoor vs outdoor? Do you even know what you don’t know? This is where a good photographer (like me) comes in.
First off… RELAX. Even if our session is a total disaster in your eyes, I usually get a few salvageable images. There was pregnancy announcement session where the big brother wouldn’t stop crying. I had him hold a sign and made it seem he was upset about possibly getting a sister. Even if it is a total disaster, there’s always a reshoot.
What do I wear? Dress up! Look your best. If it’s a group, wear matching colors. For example the whole family wears a white top and blue jeans. Make sure it’s neat. My goal is you love the images so much you buy a huge print and hang it in your living room to enjoy forever.
Bottom line is if you arrive knowing what to expect and how to prepare for a photo session, you will be comfortable not to worry out the things you can’t control. Be in the moment. Have fun. It’ll show in your images
My two most frequently ask sessions are maternity and headshots. I hope these links calm your worries.
I HATE HEADSHOTS!
Why you should be on BOTH sides of the camera.
Don’t get me wrong. I love shooting headshots. I hate taking them. It’s a necessary evil especially since I am constantly stating that all professionals NEED them.
Here’s what I’ve learned on the other side of the lens.
It’s awkward as hell!
Unless you’re a model, it’s really hard to pose yourself.
I’m not it control, the photographer is.
Comment below if I’m wrong but these are pretty universal feelings for anyone who isn’t a model. This is why it’s important to hire a photographer that knows what they are doing (me). Someone who knows how to pose despite your weight, height, or skin tone (ME). Most importantly, someone who is charismatic to loosen you up (MEEE!!).
Telling a Story
Photography for most is just taking out a cell phone, capturing a cute image, and leaving it on your phone until you get a new phone and never see that image ever again. I’m guessing you’re clicking on my page because you want something more. I can definitely help you with that.
Lets start with the easiest, most beautiful journey you will ever take, CHILDBIRTH. This is my favorite story to tell. I know how beautiful this story is because the next group of photos are of my family. Freezing these moments and mounting them on a wall will take you back to the way you felt when you were taking that journey. Lets do it the right way.
For my corporate followers, you can tell a story too. Professionalism! It’s a simple story to tell, but it is also a very important one. Headshots are your clients’ first impression of you. Professional, uniform, and charismatic makes for a great first impression.
Whether you would like more information or you are ready to book, click on the button below.
Who needs a headshot?
WHO NEEDS A HEADSHOT?
First I’ll explain and then I’ll ask. Headshot- n. a photograph of someone's face, especially a promotional photograph of a model, actor, or author. This definition is somewhat dated. With the importance of social media, everyone putting themselves out there needs one.
Entrepreneurs - You’re starting from scratch and people want to know who you are. People respond to visuals much more than just some bio. Putting your best foot forward is key when networking and doing the leg work to promote your business.
Professionals- Doctors, lawyers, and real estate agents are constantly promoting or being printed in some amazing newsletter, magazine, or newspaper for the amazing work they do.
Social Media Influencers- Content is king when it comes to social media and when it comes to visuals, Instagram is the kingdom. Headshots, glamour shots, and behind the scene shots are currency. LinkedIn is becoming a close 2nd, if not more important, for headshots.
Now i ask again… Who needs a headshot?
Full day rates, half day rates, and individual headshots are available.
Questions about headshot sessions email me at gonzalo@grdesignphoto.com (link below).
Reasons you need prints in your life (Copy)
Reasons you need prints in your life.
While I love and respect the posting and sharing of my clients’ images after one of my photoshoots, I feel like clients should go the extra mile and get those images printed. It doesn’t even have to be through me. I’m in the process of getting photo release cards so clients don’t run the risk of other places not printing my photography. If you take the time and spend the money on a shoot, some sort of physical product should be purchased as well. If you just take the digital prints and never do anything with them you run the risk of losing the USB and your computer crashing. Yes this is worse case scenario it won’t happen right away. I only archive my clients’ images for a year or so.
Showing off the digital images can be a nuisance also. You need to be near a computer. You need to find the USB if it’s not saved on your computer. Physical products are usually on a coffee table, on your wall, or make your mornings bright when you hold your coffee mug with my images on them. You see these products every day.
You have choices as well. You’re free to take your images to Walmart or Costco. I don’t recommend it. I won’t stop you. I will warn you that the quality and colors will most likely be subpar. The quality of those products won’t compare with manufactures that strictly deal with professional photographers. Screens are calibrated and images are color corrected so you receive the best image possible.
Yes it will cost more. There is nothing wrong with going the less expensive route. Quality will make your images stand out though. Just what ever you do, don’t let your image collect dust hidden in a drawer.
Gift Certificates Available
Give the gift of photography. Memories for life.
I want to quit my job!
Don’t get me wrong, I love teaching but photographing an entire office’s headshots was a dream come true. If I can photograph two businesses a week and one newborn a week, I would be in heaven. If you know a business in need of headshots, please send them my way.
These are just a few of the professional I had the honor of photographing at Capital One. There are always a few camera shy people who decline having their images shared.
Teaching Moment to Photographer Friends
I like to be efficient. I’m always kind and professional. I give clear directions so there is no need to touch my subject. Most importantly, make them laugh. Lets start with why you should make them laugh. Not everyone is comfortable in front of a lens. I personally HATE it. Making them laugh relaxes them. Pair that with being kind and professional and you’ll leave a great mark. I treat it like an assembly line so the day is organized and everyone in the office has the same type of images. My process was a few variations standing, a few variations sitting on a tall stool, a few sitting in a regular chair, and one creative one. This session was in NYC so buildings in the background was a must. One extra thing I like to do is get everyone’s name in the order I shot them. Renaming your files will make you look amazing because you’re making distribution much easier. This is easy in Lightroom (for example: capital_one_ bob_1).
Click on the gallery below to see the images close up.
Always available