It’s Our Anniversary In Our Photography Business!

Help me celebrate our anniversary in business! Shhh..... Guess what? Can you keep a secret?  Oh, shucks! I bet you can! Tomorrow is my anniversary! Not just any anniversary.. tomorrow is THE day I picked up my camera! This day was the moment I stopped taking photos of landscapes because I fell in love with taking photos of people! Prior to this, I did a lot of landscape work and I would say I was a heavy hobbyist.

Rocco and bubbles his teddy bear!

My Gigi princess.. I think she is trying to make a bird’s nest!

I did publish my work in the two books I've published!And guess what? Boy! Were these portraits AWFUL. Yes, extremely awful. I started out with a NEX-6, Hey! Don't judge! I purchased a cruddy kit lens and a 70-210 (another awful lens with a 3.5 f/stop) and I started clicking away. These awful images, I learned. I then started to think... hey I'm not doing too bad... even though they really did suck... I thought I was good!

Photography Is A Learning Journey- Sometimes You’ll Want To Give Up!

Haha! I was far from it!I learned right away to have some thick skin in this industry. My work was mocked and given extreme constructive criticism. I was told I suck (I thought I was the schiznit) and that I had to keep working. Too much work on the eyes... her skin is glowing... she looks like an oompa loompa. Your white balance is crazy.  At least the eyes are in focus. Too much fake blur... and yada yada. Guess what? They were right. This all hit hard... Why? Well, didn't I say.. I thought I was the schiznit. I cried and wanted to give it up... but I didn't allow it. It was then at this time when I was hit on my hiney. I started from scratch and learned the basics.

Learning Your Settings When You Start Out

The ins and outs of my equipment, settings, working with manual, (it was a HUGE HUGE step when I switched from "portrait" mode to "aperture" mode in those days), then onto manual settings.  I learned about light. I upgraded my equipment to something more professional (the NEX was a great camera, but wasn't cutting it). I upgraded lenses. I took classes.. Classes after classes... after classes.. (I'm still taking classes, btw.) I learned how to properly expose.  I purchased a ton of props... and I mean a ton. Look at my basement and garage... it's very frightening to say the least.

What I Have Learned This Past Year

I learned how to set my own white balance, learned about light and how to read it and utilize it.  I learned about focal planes and getting it right in camera so that I don't have to photoshop the hell out of it. I learned how to shoot in RAW. I learned that someone will always be better than you. I learned to not judge others coming into this industry that are just starting out because I was in their shoes. I learned to edit and to edit from the best.  I learned how to shoot with a manual focus lens and it's honestly all I use now! I learned to make FRIENDS in this industry and not ENEMIES. I learned a bit about flash photography (I still need a bit of work on it). I eventually learned to take constructive criticism like a champ.

I guess to sum up this entire past year... Is that I LEARNED and I learned a lot.

As We Continue Through The Journey

I have won a few awards with my work and am now starting to get a bit of recognition in the industry. I worked dang hard to get here.  The point that I'm trying to make about all this learning is... YOU WILL NEVER STOP LEARNING IN THIS INDUSTRY.You think you know it all... and then you are dropped right back down to reality because you don't.

Photography to me is my passion and love of life. It has been my light in some of the ups and downs in my reality and it's always been there for me. I hope to keep learning and I want to keep learning. I want to grow. I was a seed and now I'm a sprout. I haven't turned into that flower yet and it will take years to get there, but I am working on my way and working hard to get there.

A BIG Thank You!

Basically, enough of my ramblings, but... I wanted to thank you all for giving me one of the best years of my life. I have never worked so hard for something (okay, I have always worked hard!)  I will continue to give my clients the best and I wanted to thank you all!! Also, it's a great and wonderful feeling to be able to take great photos of your kids. I think that's what I learned most about this... was that I made it fun experience and I was able to capture some beautiful memories that I will always cherish with and of my babies! So as I raise my glass of water up high... I wish myself a Happy Anniversary!!!

Dee

Shooting Star Photography- In South Jersey... General Facts

General facts and info about working with Shooting Star Photography.

Here at Shooting Star, in South Jersey, we are here to provide you the best service available in our general area.  We offer the most superb and most unique scouted locations for your photo shoot, as well as a private in-home or outdoor garden studio! Yup, we have an amazing outdoor studio... with thousands of flowering perennials! You'll have to see it for yourself!Here are some fun facts, so you can get to know us better!

General Facts

1. Where is Shooting Star located?

We are located in South Jersey, Woodstown to be exact.  A lot of folks think this is far away... However, I am only about 15-20 minutes away from Deptford and Camden County.  I am a short drive from most places in South Jersey, due to our location in the state. We are located near most major highways, like 295, 55 and the turnpike.

However, not to worry!  We will come to you!

2.What is Shooting Star's booking requirements?

We require just a $20 retainer to hold your spot. The rest can be paid at the time of your session. We do this to protect both client and photographer. Most photographers ask for more, however, we ask for this small retainer as good faith that you will arrive to your session.

3. Is Shooting Star a legal business?

Absolutely!  We are registered as a LLC with the state of New Jersey, we pay sales tax every quarter and are licensed to operate and insured business.

4. How Do I Pay For My Session or Product?

We accept Visa or MasterCard, or cash and will invoice you accordingly.

5.Do you allow pets? 

Yes!  Please just give us a heads up!  However, in my family sessions, we have had a few dogs.  Dogs and pets are family too!We may even provide them with a little treat, if only they behave (I'm sure they will)!  We also do Pet Photography.  In our studio or any location you prefer!

6.What is the best time of day for a session?

Generally, the rule of thumb for photographers is what we call "Golden Hour" this is 2-3 hours prior to sunset, depending on the season or time of the year.

However, I have shot many of sessions in midday sun and I am experienced in this regard.  I can adapt to any situation or condition. It's why I am a called a professional photographer.

7.What do I wear for my session?

Wear something that is nice, yet casual.  Your hiney may get a little wet depending on the location or what poses you want... You may also get a little dirty!  It's all up to you and what you want!  I have some pdf files on what to wear.  However, coordinating, but not matchy matchy colors always look great!  Don't be afraid of color or prints, either!  Pick one outfit and build around that, if it's a family shoot. You'll create something FABULOUS trust me!

8.Where do we go for our session?

We can go anywhere you like!  It depends on the style you are looking for.  However, I have hundreds of scouted locations in my repertoire, from vacant lots, to barn-styled, nature, sunset, and even beautiful beach locations!  Tell me what you want and I will make it happen!  If there is a place of meaning or of value to you, or to your family... let us know! We're always up for something new!

9. What is your traveling fee?

I will travel up to 40 miles from the vicinity of my home.  After that, I charge $0.50 per mile.  In the grand scheme of things, it comes out to just a few bucks!

10. How long will it take for me to receive my photos?

I often have the photos finished in less than a week!  When finished, they are uploaded to a private high-resolution gallery for you to see them or to download! In my contract, it states that it can take up to 3 weeks, but this is usually in effect for the busy season. I have never had to go to 3 weeks even in busy season. The most anyone has ever had to wait was about 7 days.

My turnaround time is important and apart of my customer service!

11.Do you give refunds?

Since this is a service I provide and I am retained for this service and for that chosen day. I do not offer refunds.  However, I only charge a $20 retainer fee out of good faith. This will not be returned. However, returns are at the discretion of myself, depending on the circumstances.

12.What if we have to reschedule for personal issues or weather?

Safety is my number one priority when it pertains to clients!  I will contact the client in the case of bad weather and we will discuss our options. You must reschedule your photo session within 2 weeks of cancelling the session due to personal conflicts, or for bad weather.

Hopefully, I was able to address any questions you may have down the line.  If I haven't, you know how to reach me!

Happy Shooting, my friends!

-Dee

Do You Know What Natural Light Photography Really Means?

In studio session with a little baby girl.

Fill flash used here to separate kid from background and was getting dappled light on his face.

I also had to use fill flash here. The sun was casting hard shadows on their faces. This was a 1pm photo session, here in Salem County.

Ruh Roh!  I'm about to open up a can of worms here! I may even make some folks a bit upset who say this is their profession locally in South Jersey... But here we go...Have you ever heard someone mention that they do all natural light photography?  Sometimes they use the word "organic" oooh and ahhhh... Since organic is the cool thing these days... But did you ever wonder what the hay this actually means?  Well... Here we go!

When someone says they are a natural light photography that is explicitly what they mean... They know only natural light and how to photograph in it.  And.... Yes!  Natural light is the best type of light you want in most situations!  It caresses, it emphasizes,  hey, it is just beautiful... BUT... And I'm sure you were expecting a BUT at some point. There are limitations to where you can go in this natural light photography genre.Okay, I'll explain...

What does a natural light photographer do on a cloudy day?  Outdoors, cloudy days are the best days you can ask for, but let's say... What happens when you have an indoor photo shoot that day? Do you call it off?What I'm trying to say is... When folks say they are natural light.. They are LIMITED in their photographic skills.  For myself, being a photographer is knowing how to adapt to any situation... Whether sunshine or lack of any light. It's knowing how to use natural light, artificial light and shooting in very low light situations. 

I respect natural light photographers in how they market themselves, but they are also limiting themselves on educating themselves about other aspects in this crazy profession of photography.Here's the dilemma I have with natural light photography (and yes, I use it as much as I can), but in South Jersey, we only get limited days that are sunny or partly sunny.  Our yearly average, we get 94 sunny days and 111 partly sunny days (these days are most ideal when photographing). Here's the kicker.  This leaves you with only 205 days to utilize what the weather is giving you.  There is an average of 365 days/year. Which means you are seriously limiting yourself and your business, if you are strictly a natural light photographer.

There are such things as "bouncing light", fill flash, using strobes or continuous lighting, ice lights and many other products on the market. Photography is definitely an art. Folks who have been in the business for over 20 years are still learning. That's the depth photography surmounts.I just think photography just isn't a cut and dry business.

If all you use is natural light, so be it!  Just try to be the best you can be in it. However, I think in the natural light arena itself (especially in New Jersey since our sun is lacking), you are severely limiting your overall potential as a photographer. There are just so many other arenas of photography to learn and you are just hurting yourself, if this is all you shoot in!

Well... happy shooting, my friends!

Dee