My Daughter and being a South Jersey Portrait Photographer

Twirling in the tulip patch in South Jersey.

One reason that I got into photography, is my children. I just wanted to have pretty photos of my kids and to document them growing. I just wanted pretty photos and to cherish these fleeting moments. I purchased a camera in 2010 for a vacation, when I had my first child, Rocco, I would get out my little panasonic lumix and document my little red-head. However, it was time to "upgrade." I then went into the Sony Mirrorless a6000 system and it became love at first sight. Now, I shoot both Canon and Sony full frames, but it was the little push I needed in the beginning, to learn and to grow.. that has gotten to me where I am today.

I feel so blessed that I can capture my own children, HOW I WISH TO CAPTURE THEM. In the fairytale style that I love and taken all throughout South Jersey and Philadelphia. Now, my daughter has not always been a willing participant, she happily loves dressing up my dresses now and putting on a little show/shoot. At first, it was a struggle and she didn't want to wear any dresses, whatsoever. Kind of ironic, right? Now, she loves it. She loves getting to explore new places and being outside and the opportunity to meet other kids.

Picking tulips and giving me her usual “stink eye” look. She’s a trip!

My little lady in the tulips of South Jersey.

I now present you with my little love... Gigi and some of the joys and captures over the years. Hope you enjoy these images, as much as I do.

My little girl taken at Mood's Farm Market in Mullica Hill.

Having a fun day at the Jersey Shore.

My little girl at the Jersey Shore/beach in South Jersey.

Cherry blossom fun in South Jersey.

In the garden in Woodstown. My two loves. Rocco and Gigi.

Enjoy these fleeting years, with your children. You won't be disappointed in capturing them and memories that will last a lifetime. No one can take these moments away and I AM SO GLAD I HAVE THESE.

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee Giumetti

Shooting Star Photography

My Photography Session Prep Sheet and Style Guide

The Importance of Prepping for Your Photo Shoot

Prepping for your photo shoot is crucial for ensuring that you achieve the best results and have a smooth, stress-free session. Here are several reasons why prepping is essential:

1. Clarity of Vision

Prepping helps you clarify your vision for the photo shoot. It allows you to define the style, mood, and overall look you want to achieve, which guides all other aspects of the shoot.

2. Logistics and Coordination

Proper preparation ensures that all logistical details are taken care of, such as securing the location, obtaining permits if needed, arranging for hair and makeup, and coordinating with the photography team.

3. Time Management

Prepping helps in managing time effectively. When all the elements are well-planned, it minimizes downtime during the shoot, making the most of the available time and maximizing productivity.

4. Comfort and Confidence

Being well-prepared helps everyone involved in the shoot feel more comfortable and confident. Whether it's the model, the photographer, or the entire crew, knowing that everything is organized helps reduce stress and fosters a more relaxed, creative atmosphere.

5. Equipment Readiness

Preparing includes ensuring that all equipment is in working order, charged, and packed. This minimizes the risk of technical issues disrupting the shoot and allows for seamless transitions between different shots.

6. Creative Direction

A well-prepped shoot allows for more focus on the creative direction. With logistics and technical details taken care of, there's more mental and emotional space to explore and experiment with different poses, angles, and expressions, resulting in more dynamic and compelling photographs.

Yep, things are changing around here. I am a picky photographer. I have to be. This is my livelihood and honestly, I want folks to get the very best out of their session when working with me!  It's good to be picky! I am a bit of a snob when it comes to light too. I love light and I have strict standards to when I like to shoot outdoors to give the very best and to put you in the best light... NO PUN INTENDED.Here's my general guide... Yes, it's long... but you want the best in the Philadelphia and New Jersey region, right? 

Shooting Star Photography Styled Session Prep Sheet

Since I am offering stylized sessions, this is a great list of information on prepping you with your photo shoot with Shooting Star Photography.

Maternity Preparation

I bring about 3 gowns for you to choose from.  Please no flip flops as they do not photograph well. Closed toe shoes, boots, going barefoot, or neutral colored sandals are preferred and photograph the best.I will also bring some headpieces to choose from.  Please wear your hair to your liking. I prefer hair down either straight or curly.

Undergarments

Please bring nude boy shorts or underwear.  Preferably a nude strapless bra or nude bra in general.  I do not provide these items due to hygienic purposes.

Makeup

Please keep makeup as simple as possible. Dark/heavy makeup do not mix well for outdoor portraits as you will be moving around and will probably sweat a little.Please bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated. We include immediate family (if you have other children) and the father in the beginning of your session so please plan your outfit accordingly.  Towards the end, we will ask you to change and do some formal shots with the father and then the formals of yourself. We will have an assistant on hand to help you with whatever you need.

Children's Prep Sheet

At this time, I only have dresses and gowns for girls ages 1-14. We do have a few boy's items. Please inquire.We pull about 3 items for a half hour shoot and about 5-7 items for an hour shoot. We currently do not provide a current list of dresses in our inventory. We do like to freshly cycle them so that we aren't photographing the same dress all the time.Please arrive 15 minutes early so that we may dress you in a wardrobe prior to the start of your session.Make sure child is wearing neutral undergarments. Is clean. Trust me, I know how kids can be. I have two myself. Also, check for any boogers.  I know it's gross yes, but editing out boogers is no fun either.Please bring a few pairs of dress shoes as we do not provide this for our clients. Preferably, white, silver, gold, black or neutrals as they can go with anything.Makeup, I do not recommended makeup on any child as I like them to be children. I do not alter appearances as other photographers do and will not alter a child's appearance other than skin correction.We also have a wide arrangement of headpieces to choose from.

I will not liquify ribs, alter ears, eyes, give nose jobs or slim a child. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE WHATSOEVER. I want your child to have a fun experience and feel like a princess.  They will be treated as one!Please bring some water and snacks so that we can take breaks throughout the session and your child can take a few moments for themselves.

Family Sessions

At this time we do not have a full inventory to style an entire family session. However, we can provide you with some great tips.Attention to detail is everything, including socks! Especially for men, we can see your socks in certain posing placements. Also, please keep phones out of pockets and hair ands off of wrists.  We will also do a quick check before we start our session.Wear neutral colors, pastels or jeweled tones. Prints are okay, but nothing too loud.Textures film well. So if you have silks, chiffons, feathers, tulle, these are great choices to wear on camera!As above, no heavy makeup.

Keep it light and fresh. Bring some snacks and drinks for the kids and please make sure they are well-rested prior to their session.You can always shoot me a text or email, if undecided in a wardrobe selection. We are here to help!Wardrobe selection,  as well as light, are the two most important roles in your photographs.  Believe it or not, location plays the third role, not first. Please trust me on locations that I provide.

FYI, You will probably think I am showing up like a bum to your session. I normally wear tights, boots and either a blouse or sweater. You will see me mostly rolling around in  the dirt (yes, I am very dirty after each session) or you will be seeing me trampling through mud. I take this job very seriously for my clients! My assistant is usually in much more presentable attire. Please don't judge me.

Now Time For The Fun!

All sessions will take place about an hour to an hour and a half prior to sunset. On particular beaches, we may start about a half hour prior to sunset and work with the light when it has set. No exceptions. I am very strict when I shoot because I like to provide my clients with the best!I do not double book days.  I only do one session per day, which is why it is very important to pay your retainer and lock in the date you want. As dates book up quickly, even weekdays.

In the case of inclement weather, we will reschedule and if we are unable to reschedule, you will receive your retainer back.I hope

I have provided you with a great list going forward! I am a bit picky, but this is why people choose me. These are memories you will have forever and attention to every detail is very important to me!Please feel free to reach out with any other questions!

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee

Tis' The NJ Photographer Busy Season

This is the CRAZIEST time of year for any photographer. We are super duper busy and it seems like there is no end in sight! Ha! However, I know there will be in the next upcoming weeks and thank goodness!  I had to turn folks away this year because our books were completely full. In fact, we still are pretty full for the remainder of the year and have sessions up until New Year's Eve.. Yup, working until the last day of the year.However, I truly am blessed.  For a photographer who specializes in only outdoor photography (I am trained in studio and have shot events indoors) I am pretty blessed that folks are reaching out to me to get their treasured moments captured.A lot of my weekdays have had to reschedule this week due to the rainy weather, so we will be doing them next week. I am quite surprised that folks are still wanting to do outdoor sessions.

The Photography Busy Season is Generally from October to December. However, mine can run from Spring to Fall depending on the Offerings!

What is the Photography Busy Season?

The Busy Season in Portrait Photography
In the world of portrait photography, the busy season typically revolves around certain times of the year when demand for portrait sessions is at its peak. While it can vary depending on the location and photographer specialization, there are a few common periods that are considered the photographer's busy season.

Spring and Summer: As the weather warms up, many families and individuals seek out portrait sessions to capture outdoor scenes with blooming flowers, lush greenery, and warm natural light. Spring and summer are popular for graduation photos, family portraits, and engagement sessions, making this period a busy time for portrait photographers.
Fall: Fall, particularly the months of September and October, is often the peak season for portrait photographers. The stunning backdrop of autumn foliage, with its rich and vibrant colors, provides an ideal setting for outdoor portrait sessions. Families often schedule sessions for holiday cards during this time, contributing to the high demand for photographers.
Holiday Season: The period leading up to the holidays, including November and December, is another busy time for portrait photographers. Many individuals and families wish to have professional photos taken for their holiday cards, capturing the festive spirit and creating lasting memories.
Special Occasions: Throughout the year, specific events and occasions contribute to the busy season for portrait photographers. These may include occasions like weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and other milestone celebrations, which often require professional portrait sessions.
Overall, the busy season in portrait photography is typically aligned with periods when natural backdrops are at their most picturesque, and when families and individuals are inclined to capture moments for special occasions or annual milestones.

As a photographer, it's essential to plan and manage resources effectively during these peak seasons to accommodate the high demand for portrait sessions and deliver exceptional results for clients. Utilizing effective scheduling, marketing, and customer service strategies can help photographers maximize the opportunities presented during the busy season.

Ho Ho Ho It’s Busy Season South Jersey!

Merry Christmas to all from Smithville!

Hello Engagement couple!

I Thought it would die down this year, but it hasn't! All I can say is thank goodness that I have my assistant by my side or I don't think I could get through this craziness. I am looking at the clock right now and happened to glance over and it is 2:22 AM.  I should be in bed, but I am up editing sessions for people so they can have before the holidays!

We had a successful sold out mini session at a great tree farm, here in South Jersey.  The owners are truly kind and it went off without a hitch. It started to rain as we were packing up for the day.I will be working extremely hard this week since it will be raining out, but I honestly can't wait for a break on Saturday when I travel to North Jersey for a workshop.  It will be nice to get my mind out of work!

Trying to Pencil Clients In Has Been Hard!

I will have 2 sessions this Sunday and then sessions during the week.  It honestly never ends, haha!  Which is fine, this is what I am suppose to do and I love it! I truly do, but I would like a little sleep every time and again! I haven't had a chance to get stuff up on here since all I do is look at a computer screen all day.  I wish there was a magic photoshop action that you could press and all my photographs could be complete... but that's not the case, and I'm sure they will never been anything like that while I'm alive.

I love meeting with people, and doing the actual shoot and planning, but it is the editing I dread. I don't mind it when I am very busy as it can be very fun and you can play around with new things. It's the fact that I hand edit everything. Every single photograph and it is a very intense process. One that it can take me a half hour to an hour to edit one photo. For basic edits, it takes me less than 5 minutes, but have you seen my work? There isn't much of a basic edit, ha!I'm looking forward to the holidays and getting this workload out to folks so it brings smiles to their faces! I can't wait for folks to see their albums!! Next year, I plan on doing things differently.

My books were sold out for the year in early September and I had to turn folks away!Also, next year we are planning some special sessions. I have private access to a few locations.. Think flowers and lots of them.  I will be holding different sessions throughout the Spring and Summer season when things are in peak bloom.

New Year Ahead!

 I am actually very excited for next year as we will be offering a unique product line and special stylized sessions!!!

Think gorgeous gowns and beautiful scenery! What can be better than that? I've managed to develop some great friendships and relationships with people and they are kind of enough to let me use their property.Next year there are some big plans ahead and I can't wait to have some much needed downtime (since I don't do studio work) this winter.Who am I kidding?

People are actually booking me for January! Ha!  Hey, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger. I honestly feel incredibly blessed to be able to capture some beautiful memories for families and all kinds of folks.  This is a fun field.Okay, well work calls me back to edit. I will probably be up editing for a bit. I'll update this real soon!!! 

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee   

Behind the Scenes with Shooting Star's Post Processing!

Before and After Post Processing Editing.

The secret is out of the bag South Jersey! Photographers aren't just great behind the camera these days, they are often magical wizards when it comes to the post-processing department (meaning editing your photographs)!  I'm spilling a little beans at what goes on in my editing process.I am a firm believer in getting my photographs correct in camera. In fact, that's what I always strive for.  

I never want to have to later rely on Lightroom or Photoshop to "fix" my issues or problems. I go into every shoot with direction.  I know how I want things to go, what poses we'll be doing, and if using props, utilizing them to their full potential (I'm not the biggest fan of props, fyi.)I am not bossy, but I know how to give great direction and how to pose people to show them in their best light.  I think some new photographers don't know how to take charge of the situation at times and that can be a new and difficult learning process, especially how to photograph toddlers. They can often-times be the most difficult. 

 I went a little off-track up there, but a lot of these editing programs can sometimes make photographers lazy because they always have that in the back of their minds... "Oh, well I can Photoshop that out."  That's all fine and dandy, but It takes up too much valuable time.  I don't know about you, but my time is highly valuable and I try to utilize it to the best of my ability.  I'm a multi-tasker and I'm fabulous at it!  If you get it right in camera, you will only have to do minimal editing. It makes you a better photographer overall. Good images make for the best and final products. Also, it makes you more aware of details and getting things right as you are doing the session.The point I'm trying to make is, there is a dividing line these days.  

Are we photographers or are we graphic artists?  I've even seen graphic artists turn to photography.  Some folks are both... Some photographers are shoot and burners where they upload and hand over the images to their clients. In a sense, they are like myself perfecting it right in camera and they don't want to spend time editing. I consider myself somewhat of both.  

My goal is getting it right artistically in camera and then I try to "enhance" and edit it in post processing. I feel that as photographers these days you have to put on two faces in a sense. You need to be up to date, improve and perfect your skills, and know at least the basic Photoshop functions.  Hopefully, you can later expand on those functions where it is second nature... but you at least need to know what everything is, and what they do, when it comes to your editing software.  It's expected nowadays.  

 If you do not stay on top of your game, in this ever-changing very saturated career field, you'll be dust in the wind.The photography field is one tough market and we need to be on top of our toes. This is why during downtime, that I partake in new editing classes.  I also will take standard photography camera classes to learn new techniques.  This is what I admire in when it comes to photography and why I've always had an interest in it. You could be a professional photographer for over 20 years and still not know everything there is to know.Photography is a challenge and I was born and bred for challenges. 

  I started professionally in October 2014.  I registered my LLC, purchased insurance, props, took classes, figured out my cost of doing business, painstakingly chose the best photo processing lab by printing samples of my work, and I purchased numerous books about different aspects on photography, and they are presently expanding and taking over my library. I've studied up on new gear and purchased this gear and have seen myself grow in such a short amount of time.  I love that! I see the end result of hard work. 

 I am still not where I want to be and NEVER will be.I will always strive to learn from each photo session and make the next one better.  

I'm 23 sessions in from when I started in October (and I keep booking) and from what I hear with the veterans, that have been in the game longer than myself,  I'm headed off to an excellent start.  However, I've been a serious hobbyist for many years and have years of experience. 

 Improving myself and challenging myself, is just who I am and I always strive for the best customer service, product and photographs!

Before.

After.

I figured I'd write this blog post to share a bit into my post-processing and what I can do.  I do firmly believe that you need to learn how to edit and edit well as part of being a photographer these days.  

 I was able to otherwise bring this almost dark and useless photo back to life!  I exposed for the sky which made the subject a bit dark. This is a common mistake. Some actually prefer to do this, others will expose for skin tones (and my current process this is what I do now), but when you do expose for skin tones, you can also commonly "blow out your sky." Also, the sun was shining behind them which made their faces darker. This was harsh mid-day sun. 

I shot directly into the sun. Now, I use a reflector and by using the reflector it would have made this a perfect photo in camera.. But I didn't use it here.  See learning process!!!However, I was able to use my editing skills to bring this photograph back to a viable, useable and fabulous photo! It turned out to be one of my favorites from this session!  It's also another great example of why you should shoot in RAW. If this was a JPEG, I'd probably just toss this photo and deem it as unusable. 

 Here's another before and after. I always shoot in RAW, so things look a little funny right out of camera. That's just what those RAW files do, but if you look... my focus and the overall composition is great in this shot.  However, with a RAW photo, you always have to make adjustments. 

Before.

After… the firefighter.

Hope you enjoyed seeing this and a what goes into my post-processing. Most photographers, are skilled at both taking photographs and are wizards in the editing department these days!  

The top photographers in the industry can sometimes edit up to 5-6 hours to produce just one image nowadays!  Editing is a skillset just in itself and it takes a lot of patience... trial and error!  We are practically magicians these days and it's expected!!! 

 Happy Shooting, my friends!   -Dee