Fall 2017 Studio News

I have to confess I have been terrible about updating my blog and Facebook with my latest work. Life gets very busy, but I'm still working. I love my job, and I'm excited about the busy fall season. Read below for session options, and how to book your spot. I would love to see you!

VENTURA COUNTY

This spring I was hired to photograph the county of Ventura. It was so fun to travel all over the county. Here are a few images from the project I've been working on. It has been a lot of fun.

BOOK YOUR FALL SESSION NOW!

If you have been thinking about booking a session this fall in time for Holiday cards now is the time to do it. My weekend dates are almost gone, and I would love add you to my calendar! I've had a few years experience booking Fall sessions, and each year it seems that clients procrastinate booking their sessions, and then we have to hurry and scramble to get it all done in time. I've decided I want my holiday season to be less frantic, and I'm hoping the same for my clients. For that reason, any session done after 11/25 will be charged a rush fee of $100. Hopefully that's an incentive to get your session booked before then.  Read below for more information.

FULL SESSIONS

Full sessions give you the most flexibility and time to get beautiful and natural images of your family. It takes time to warm up to the camera, and relax into the environment you're in. Full sessions allow you to do that without rushing. This means you'll receive many more images, and some more natural smiles and interactions between you and your family. You also have more control of the time and place where your session is held. Go HERE to start the process to book your session.

MINI SESSIONS

This option is great for people who only want an updated family photo without all the bells and whistles of a full session. Most of my mini sessions are with families who have had sessions with me before, and are familiar with my style. It's also a great option for people whose husbands will only agree to short and sweet sessions. Mini session dates are as follows:

• October 14th in Westlake Village
• November 4th in Thousand Oaks

The cost for mini sessions is $187.50 to reserve your spot, and $187.50 is due the week of the session. The cost includes your session fee, full editing on every image, and 15 image digital downloads. Prints, canvases, and albums will be available to purchase after you have seen your images. To book your session simply go HERE.

See More Sessions Like This:

• Beach
• Charity Work
• Children
• Commercial Work
• Couples
• Family
• Headshots
• High School Senior
• Maternity
• Military Homecoming
• Newborns
• Studio News
• Teens

See the latest on Instagram @juliegcampbell

Natural Beauty

If I were to describe my newborn photography style I would say natural beauty. Newborns are so unique. They are sleepy and curled up for a very short period of time. Even though they are all very similar, you can see their personalities coming through right from the beginning. This handsome little guy was over 3 weeks old (considered too old for newborn photos by many photographers), but he was one of my easiest babies to photograph ever.

I have found that if you make the babies as comfortable as possible they will be happy and be themselves. You don't need to pose them in crazy unnatural poses to be cute. 

I love his little hints of a smile, and his button nose and back wrinkles (why aren't those cute in adults?). 

Why do I take close up pictures of hands and feet? Because you will love to see them in 1-100 years from now. They are precious beyond words. 

See more posts like this:

• Beach
• Charity Work
• Children
• Commercial Work
• Couples
• Family
• Headshots
• High School Senior
• Maternity
• Military Homecoming
• Newborns
• Studio News
• Teens

Who am I? Take a peak into my life through Instagram @juliegcampbell

We're all together - Now what do we wear?

Your children grow up, get married, and move far away. No matter how much you wish they could all live on the same street as you it's just not practical. Thank goodness for texting, phone calls, Skype, FaceTime, and summers. Summers are the best time for schedules to relax, and we can make the time to gather together in one spot.

If you're thinking of booking an extended family photo session the thought of planning outfits can be daunting. Here are a few simple tips to make it easier. 

1. Pick 2-3 colors you love. Don't forget you'll probably be hanging these photos up in your home, so choose colors that go with your home decor. Once you've chosen those colors you'll want to mix and match them throughout the whole family. This family chose pinks and blues. It's OK to not have them all exactly the same shade of blue or pink.

If you have a particularly large group you might want to consider neutral colors like black, white and grey. Most people have those colors already in their wardrobe and it will be easier to coordinate. 

2. You can add interest with patterns. Depending on the size of your family you can get away with a few patterns that go along with the colors you have chosen. Another great way to add interest and variety is to layer your clothing. Think about adding hats, decorative scarves, jackets, sweaters, chunky necklaces, and bracelets to your outfits. 

3. Whatever you do please do not ever wear shirts or pants with large logos or wording on them. They will not be easy to read in camera and will look messy and distracting. Also avoid shirts with cartoon characters or other faces. Your eyes will go straight to that shirt in a photo instead of the person wearing the shirt. Movie and TV character sneakers are also distracting. Choose shoes that are more neutral.

4. Be comfortable in what you wear. Don't wear anything too tight or uncomfortable that you can't move around and snuggle your family in. If you're comfortable you'll look comfortable on camera. If you choose a style of dress you don't usually wear it will feel strange and you might regret it. If your children are used to being in casual play clothes, don't dress them up too much. They will feel uncomfortable and may act out. It's OK to dress them up, but make sure they can move around.

5. Don't stress too  much about it! While deciding what to wear is important it's not the most important thing about your photo session. Those faces you love are what's important. If you worry too much about the little details it will make the experience unpleasant. Do what you can do and then let it go. If your daughter in law didn't cooperate and shows up in neon orange just let it be. She'll regret it, but you'll still look great.

See More Posts Like This:

• Beach
• Charity Work
• Children
• Commercial Work
• Couples
• Family
• Headshots
• High School Senior
• Maternity
• Military Homecoming
• Newborns
• Studio News
• Teens

The Latest on Instagram: @juliegcampbell

A little bit of crazy, and a whole bunch of Love.

Sweet Brooke and her family only lived locally for a short time. I got to know her a little bit and immediately recognized that she had a heart of gold. I love how devoted she is to her family. Those little kids and her husband have 100% of her attention and love. 

Our session before she moved away again was a little bit crazy. The kids were full to the brim with energy and excitement. They are not ones to sit still and pose, which is fine with me. Sweet little J stole my hear when she wanted to hold my hand the whole time (which can make taking pictures very difficult). There is nothing sweeter to me than a family playing together and happy. 

See More Posts Like This:

• Beach
• Charity Work
• Children
• Commercial Work
• Couples
• Family
• Headshots
• High School Senior
• Maternity
• Military Homecoming
• Newborns
• Studio News
• Teens

The Latest on Instagram @juliegcampbell

How to Choose a Newborn Photographer

Obviously I want you to choose me if you're looking for a newborn photographer. I have been photographing newborns for 9 years, and absolutely love it! I love watching these babies grow and photographing them year after year. It is such a huge perk of my job. Some of you may feel overwhelmed trying to decide among the masses of photographers out there. Don't just choose based on price. You want to love the photographer's style of photography, experience, their attention to safety and cleanliness, and the way they conduct their sessions.

Style

Just like everything else in life newborn photography changes and evolves over the years. 15 years ago people didn't have their newborns photographed, and now it's more common than not. There are many different styles of photographers for newborns. There are those that are experts in intricate poses and sets. There are lifestyle newborn photographers who don't pose the baby at all, but just photograph them as they are. I have adopted a little bit of both worlds. I find so much beauty in both ends of the spectrum, and I try to incorporate them in my newborn sessions. 

Most newborn photography you see shows the baby asleep. There are many reasons for this, but mainly it's because newborns are unpredictable. It's difficult to get good eye contact through the camera, and we don't like to talk about it much, but babies do go cross eyed a lot. When they are sleeping their faces are peaceful and beautiful, but when they are awake their eyes are so beautiful and reflect so much personality. I love to photograph newborns awake for at least some of the session.

Really check out your photographer's portfolio. Do you love what you see? Do you want to see your baby photographed in that style? A great place to look for professional photographer is in the The Professional Photographers Association and The National Association of Professional Child Photographers list of photographers. These are the photographers who care enough to keep learning and growing as a photographer. 

Safety

When you are selecting a newborn photographer please think of the safety of your baby first. There is no image worth injuring your child. You may see some poses on the internet that look amazing, and you're not sure how they pulled it off. Most likely the photographer used Photoshop to achieve that pose. It's NEVER safe to hang your baby from a tree branch, dangle on a shelf, or hold herself up with her own hands. Safe photographers will use photoshop composites to do this. I personally stay away from anything that is unnatural or will hurt the baby's body in any way, even by accident. I think babies look best in their natural poses anyway.

Newborns are usually photographed in the first 2 weeks after they are born. This is a vulnerable time for your baby. You want to keep them away from anything that could get them sick. Make sure your photographer washes her hands, camera equipment, and anything the baby comes in contact with before the session. Does she have her immunizations up to date?

Location and Comfort

This session was photographed in my studio, but you might also want to consider a session in your home. It can be so personal and custom to only your family having it at your home. When I suggest this to some clients they shy away from it saying their house is too small or not nice enough, or they don't want to clean. I've done newborn sessions in studio apartments and mansions and it honestly doesn't matter. It's my job to make you look good. All I need is light (I bring my own in case you don't have it) and your baby and I can do it. Don't ever worry about cleaning for me. I have 4 kids of my own. I know what a well lived in house looks like.

I also discuss with my clients the best way to prepare for the session. I have found that sessions are much shorter and go smoother when the parents do some simple things to prepare. Nobody wants a 5 hour newborn session. That's just too long, especially when you're recovering from birth. My sessions only last about 1-2 hours, and that includes feeding and diaper changes.

See More Posts Like This:

• Beach
• Charity Work
• Children
• Commercial Work
• Couples
• Family
• Headshots
• High School Senior
• Maternity
• Military Homecoming
• Newborns
• Studio News
• Teens

The Latest on Instagram:

5 Things to Think About When Planning your Senior Portrait Session

Are you graduating soon? Have you been thinking of doing senior portraits, but you're not sure if it's worth it? Are you worried they will look like everyone else's and be boring? Here are my tips for having a successful senior portrait experience.

1. Think about what you want to do with the images.

Are these for a photo album, to hang on the wall forever in your parent's house, or to display on a shelf or desk? Having a plan for what to do with your images before your session sets you up for success.

If you want to display them in your home think about the colors of the location and your clothing. Will they match the colors of your home? Do you have a particular wall in mind? Will you need a vertical or horizontal image to fill the space?

2. Make your senior portraits all about what excites you.

What makes you unique? What do you love to do? What has made high school special for you? Thinking about your talents and interests, and incorporating them into your session will make the images so personal and meaningful to you. You'll look back and remember all the memories of this time in your life. The senior displayed here is a super star soccer player. She didn't want her whole session to be about soccer, but we did include some of her in her uniform.

Maybe you can't think of anything that makes you unique. I think you're wrong. It can be anything. Do you love to garden, bake, read, hike, row, play the piano, or even sunbathe at the beach? There are fun and creative ways to include those things into your session.

3. Ask your photographer for help.

I hope you hire me, but if you don't, which will make me very sad, ask your photographer for guidance. It's our job to make you look good. Any good photographer should have suggestions for locations, the time of day to schedule your session for the best lighting, what to wear, and any other question you might have. I love it when clients bring a few change of clothes. You might consider wearing a casual outfit that defines you in high school, and then a dressier outfit that you love.

4. Bring a Friend

Let's be honest, it's a little scary to show up at a location with a photographer you don't know at all or only know in passing and have them point a camera at your face for an hour. I always suggest that my clients bring a friend. Bring your parents of course, but maybe you want to bring a friend or two as well. Having a familiar face there who knows exactly how to make you laugh, and make you feel comfortable makes the experience fun. I am more than happy to even take a few shots of the friends all together.

5. Make a Night of It

You will probably spend a lot of time getting all dressed up for your senior portraits. Think about getting your hair and make up done by a professional. I know that I feel amazing after I've been to the salon. It will add a level of confidence you might be craving.

After your session plan something fun to do. Go out and enjoy how amazing you look. I promise you won't regret it.

If you don't live in my area, and are looking for a highly qualified photographer you can search by state here: http://www.napcp.com/blog.php/locations/

See More Sessions Like This:

• Beach
• Charity Work
• Children
• Commercial Work
• Couples
• Family
• Headshots
• High School Senior
• Maternity
• Military Homecoming
• Newborns
• Studio News
• Teens

The Latest on Instagram from @juliegcampbell