My photo
I'm a free-style portrait photographer who serves the Twin Cities area.   If you are interested in hiring me for your photographic needs please visit my website at www.jensportraits.com
Want a copy of an image to use on your Facebook, Twitter or other web account? Shoot me an email at Jennifer@JensPortraits.com and I will be happy to send you a resized image that will look great as your avitar!

Thursday, May 29, 2008

| Throw out the "Cheese!" |

I would like to suggest something bold, something daring. I want mothers all over the world to throw out the "Cheese!".
Most people grew up going to Sears or some crappy mall studio, sat in front of some stranger, had a stuffed animal pushed into our faces and expected to smile. No matter what they did, rarely was there ever a capture of a natural smile. A capture of us being ourselves. A capture without a scrunched up forced smile.
So today I dare you, when taking pictures of your children, try avoiding the popular phrase, "Say cheese!"
Take your child to a place where they can wander and explore. Let them play and be themselves. Embrace images that don't have your child looking square on at the camera with a big "cheesy" fake grin. Embrace their childhood and capture them how they really are. Sweet. Inquisitive. Tender. Playful. Small. Capture their hands playing in the sand. Capture their fingers tying their shoes. Capture their feet hanging from the chair. Capture them jumping after bubbles or running through a field.
Throw out the "Cheese!" and take pictures that celebrate your child, how they really are. Beautiful.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

| Just a little suggestion |

for those brides out there trying to decide where to register... this might not be such a bad idea!

Monday, May 19, 2008

| Education Piece #1 |

I would like to dedicate postings here and there to educate the public about professional photographers and the work that we do.

For my first post I would like to address the subject of a photographers prices.

I know that sometimes when we are choosing a photographer it's hard to imagine why they would cost so much just to come and take a few snaps and make you prints. I would like to share with you all the things that will go into your photography session and prints...

When I have a client contact me for a session and the decision is made on where the location would be I not only show up for the day of the session, but likely the day or two before the session to scout out great spots, check to see how the sunlight will be for the session (because I am a natural light photographer I need to know this, it's very important) and that usually takes an hour or two.

The evening before your session I clean all my lenses and charge up all my batteries. I go over my equipment to make sure I have enough memory cards that are cleared and formatted for your session. Equipment can add up to several thousand dollars and each use puts wear and tear on them and shortens the life of each piece, at some point they will wear out and have to be replaced.

If you have scheduled me for a wedding I will have likely rented a battery pack or a lens for your wedding and pick them up the night before, which also requires more time, money and driving.

The day of your session I dedicate my time to you. We will likely spend a couple of hours visiting the great spots I checked out, creating your wonderful images that you will be anxious to see as soon as you can!
For each hour of shooting I can expect to spend no less than 3 hours editing. Editing will include going through each image and marking them as keepers or tossers (tossers are deleted at that time). Each image kept will then go through a routine of editing for white balance, color, contrast, and sometimes converting to black and white, sepia or texture. This editing is done on my calibrated computer screen to maximize the best color, color that will match your prints. It is also done with the skills that I have taken hundreds (if not thousands) of hours to learn and to perfect.

I then go through each image and see if there is anything I can do to make the image better. Get rid of pimples, soften the skin, lighten dark circles under the eyes or smudged lipstick, remove a fly away hair. Then each image is saved in it's full size. After that I go through and do creative cropping and save each image in it's cropped size.

After it's all said and done, each image is given a custom name for your gallery, resized and sharpened for web and then uploaded to your gallery for your viewing pleasure!

I often take the time to talk with my clients about their print needs and help in finding the best sizes and arrangements to suit their projects. I have taken quite a bit of time making sure that the lab I use gives you the best quality, color and paper.

So as you can see, there is much more that goes into your session than just showing up and taking shots and posting them up. Time, knowledge, creativity, money, quality, equipment, programs... it all adds up.

Photographers are in the business because they love photography, but also to make a living, and it's important that they get paid for their time, knowledge, skill and the quality of their products.

I hope this helps some to understand a little more why there's a difference between hiring a professional photographer and having a teenager at Target press a shutter button.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

| Trash It! |

I'm adding a Trash the Dress session to the list of free sessions I'm giving away.

If you are interested in creating stunning images in your wedding gown (post-wedding) with a Trash the Dress session (Dress does not necessarily have to get dirty, or we can find the nearest lake) then please contact me at giveaways@jensportraits.com .

| Chosing your photographer |

With SLR's becoming more affordable it's easier for people to purchase one and start up a photography business.

What makes the photographer you've chosen different?

Being a great photographer requires much more than taking pictures.

Make sure the photographer you hire is skilled in editing as well. You won't be able to know what your final images will look like by looking at the back of their camera. Chose a photographer that fits your style of editing. Each photographer will have their own style. Some like to keep their images crisp and clean with bright colors. Some like to edit with textures. Look through a lot of your photographers work to make sure you know what to expect when you see your proofs.

-Negative-
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-Final Proof-
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Thursday, May 8, 2008

| Welcome |

Welcome to my new blog! This new blog that I've started is specific to my business Jen's Portraits at www.jensportraits.com and is for things like

  • Introducing new products
  • Announcing specials
  • Holding give-aways
  • Giving photographing tips

And who knows what other uses I'll find for this!

So today I want to start with a monthly session give-away!

For the months of May and June

It's spring, the earth is fresh and new and I'm looking for some fresh new images for my website. I'm looking to make new images in the areas of :

  • Newborn - 6 months
  • Engagement
  • Trash the Dress

There are three requirements you must meet in order for you to receive one of these give-aways.

  1. You have to be willing to let me chose the locations and poses. I am looking to create some specific images for my website.
  2. You have to be willing to sign a model release so that I can use these images on my website.
  3. You have to commit two hours of time to the session.

In exchange for meeting these requirements you will receive a CD disk with 10 fully edited full resolution images with a limited copyright release for printing. If you wish to use my professional lab's services you may order prints from me at a 25% discount. This giveaway is good until June 30, 2008. If you are interested in any of these session give-aways please send me an email at giveaways@jensportraits.com

The Things I Blog About