An unforgettable birth announcement at MGuire Air Force Base in South Jersey

An Epic Birth Announcement

Epic Birth Announcement at McGuire Air Force Base in South Jersey

It was a day unlike any other at McGuire Air Force Base in South Jersey, as the soaring skies beheld a momentous occasion. The proud dad, a daring pilot, had just found out he was becoming a father, and the entire base was abuzz with excitement and jubilation. Word quickly spread throughout the tight-knit military community, and a sense of exhilaration filled the air. With the grace and precision akin to his breathtaking aerial maneuvers, the pilot and his beloved partner declared the pending arrival of their little aviator, completing their own extraordinary mission. The birth announcement echoed throughout the base, reaching every corner, as colleagues and friends, both near and far, shared in the joy of this remarkable moment. A reminder to everyone present that in the midst of their heroic duties, the miracle of life-knows no boundaries.

The Importance of Birth Announcements

Birth announcements hold great significance as they serve as a heartfelt way to introduce a new member to the family and announce their arrival to friends and loved ones. These announcements create a sense of joy and excitement, allowing family and friends to share in the celebratory moment. They serve as a lasting memento, preserving the details of the newborn's arrival and serving as a historical record for future generations. Additionally, birth announcements contribute to the strengthening of social bonds by fostering connections and nurturing relationships. In a digital age, physical birth announcements also provide a tangible keepsake, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter in the family's life.

Why is it important to have a birth announcement?

Birth Announcements: Celebrating new beginnings!

Birth announcements hold a special place in our hearts, marking the joyous arrival of a little one into the world. These simple yet significant announcements fulfill a crucial role in today's fast-paced world. Capturing the essence of this incredible milestone, birth announcements allow families to share their precious bundle of joy with friends, family, and loved ones near and far.

In a digital age saturated with social media, birth announcements offer a tangible and personal touch. They provide a heartfelt way to introduce your new addition to your inner circle while solidifying bonds and celebrating the miracle of life. Whether it's a traditional, elegant card or a customized digital creation, birth announcements allow parents to express their unique style and showcase their little one with pride.

But birth announcements are more than just a cute photo and a few memorable details. They serve as keepsakes, capturing a fleeting moment in time that will be cherished for years to come. As time flies, these announcements become treasured memories, enabling families to reflect on the joy and excitement that surrounded their baby's arrival.

Moreover, birth announcements play a practical role in keeping loved ones informed. From extended family members to close friends, it's a challenge to personally inform everyone about the arrival of a new baby. Birth announcements simplify this process, ensuring that no one is left out. Additionally, they can serve as a reminder for loved ones to schedule visits or send heartfelt wishes to the growing family.

At Shooting Star Photography LLC, we understand the significance of birth announcements. Our expert photographers and design team work tirelessly to create stunning and customizable announcements that reflect your unique story. With our expert touch, we help families capture the essence of this awe-inspiring moment, allowing them to share the joy, celebrate the miracle of life, and create lasting memories.

This year has been an awesome year, in the Shooting Star universe, thus far! I am forever grateful! There have been shooting locations at castles, beaches, private gardens, abandoned properties, peony fields, backyards, and grassy meadows that have all taken me by surprise!!!  All mostly here in South Jersey! I've even had folks come out of state to see me! Come on, that's awesome!!! However, the one experience that truly sticks out for me is a recent birth announcement I did for this soon to be family!!  It was probably one of the coolest things I've done in a long time... and I have traveled everywhere!!!I was contacted by this beautiful couple, as they wanted to announce this special time in their life!  And we wanted to make it EPIC... Truly Epic and original!

 Dad is a pilot for the military and I was invited out to McGuire Air Force Base, right here in South Jersey!  I truly can't thank these two for this one of a kind experience!As a big history nerd... yup, you can go check out my southjerseyexplorer.com site if you don't believe me... I'm the biggest dork out there!

I was as giddy as a school girl for this photo shoot!Want to see the pics? Well, here they are!!!  What a way to announce a first pregnancy, eh!!!?? I would have loved to have done something like this for myself!!! Check out the little jumpsuit in the cockpit!!

BABY "K" Has Been Cleared For Landing February 2016!  I wish these two nothing, but the most joy in the widest world with their new bundle of joy that is about to arrive! Who knows? Maybe she/he or will join in daddy's footsteps?  Who says a girl can't be a pilot, if it is a girl!!Crossing another spot off the bucket list! The McGuire base has always been a spot that I have wanted to visit for the longest time in my adventures around South Jersey! Thank you, to the both of you for making it happen!!!  

If you would like to book your birth announcement today, we would love to assist in creating something magical!

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee

Shooting Star Photography

My absolute FAVORITE time of the year... Spring!

Spring has arrived, South Jersey!

 Isn't it just wonderful?! This was a very very cold winter!  It at times felt like it was not going to leave, but it did... and now everything is blooming away! For April, the weather has been rather blissful! Yes, we've had some rain, but the majority of days have been filled with sunshine!!  Throughout this text here, I am showcasing some photos I took recently in the Shooting Star Garden!

I hope you like and as always, it is an offering on a photo location to my clients!   I've been sooooo busy! I think I have a total of 16-17 sessions (I'd have to look in my planner) scheduled until June right now. I'd say for a new business to the area, that's a great start!  Every single day, I am working hard to improve myself and just get better. I hope to be a "shooting star" in 10 years and known worldwide.  Yup, that's my goal... and if you truly knew me, you'd know that this will happen, hahaha!  Anything I put my mind to, I have accomplished tenfold so I'm adding photography to medley.  I am looking to grow this business to one of the bests in the area!

If I'm not working or doing sessions, I'm investing my time in education,, spending time with my kids and well, spending time with my kids! They're also excellent models when I want to try something new!  Of course, as a mom I take pride in them too. Well, duh!   

Dogwood lovin Spring in South Jersey!

Weeping cherry blossom in background for spring photo shoot.

Garden baby and all smiles.

Boy having fun near the stream in Salem County, NJ.

Little boy having fun.

Little boy on a bench posing for a photograph.

Little girl in on the moss in the spring garden.

Checking out her boots and enjoying the garden.

Daffodils in Salem County, NJ. Coming to life.

Bleeding hearts blooming.

Weeping Cherry Blossom.

The grounds here at Shooting Star have been nothing but superb this spring.  Right now, the weeping cherry and magnolias are blooming, tulips, hellebore, grape hyacinths, standard hyacinths are blooming.  The daffodils are still in bloom.  We have hundreds of them EVERYWHERE.  All the perennials are rising to the surface... It's definitely spring!I actually saw a hummingbird trying to feed off of our cherry the other day! It was a great start to the season!! The Kwanzan cherries have popped open some blooms and should be fully alert in a day or two.  I love it! If I had to choose between my garden or photography, it would destroy me. Both are my absolute favorite hobbies.

 I could never decide between the two!These last few weeks, I've been taking the kids out to play in the garden and to try some new tricks on them!  They've also "helped" me a little to prepare it for this spring by cleaning out all the flower beds and weeds!  I am so blessed to have these gorgeous grounds.  It is a true oasis and right here in South Jersey!  Sometimes, I need to pinch myself because it is just so magical!  I love strolling through the grounds and walking down the terraces to the stream.  I find it to be my garden of Eden and I am so very blessed to be able to offer it to my customers for their photo sessions.  

My customers LOVE it!  It's truly a splendid and unique offering that most photographers don't have.   So if you ever want to have a beautiful private session... look no further! I can offer that too you... including a stream!  Our hundreds and hundreds of lilies are starting to break through too! Ohhhh, I cannot wait! I time everything so there is always something in bloom from early spring all the way through fall! It's incredible! 

Happy Shooting, my friends! 

Dee  

Another Easter Mini Photography Studio!

Last weekend, we had spring Easter mini's at the studio in South Jersey.  We were suppose to celebrate this beautiful season by going outside, but the weather would not allow it! The ground was too mushy from the snow we received on Friday (I also did a wedding on Friday and am almost complete with the editing). I elected to do them indoors.  I had 4 families arrive throughout the day and this was my first session of the day.

I will add more when they get completed!  This session here, lasted about 20-25 minutes and were able to get a nice variety of captures within this time frame.  I truly believe that kids this age really can't go much longer and this is why mini sessions are the way to go sometimes.  

Easter sessions in full swing!

Come and buy my bunnies! They are gorgeous!

I'd buy bunnies from her!

This was one of my favs!

The most adorable smile!

Pretty as a princess!

Easter eggs, anyone?

More easter eggs?

Holding up her Easter Basket!

And that's all folks! See you next time!

Ages 1-3 can often times be difficult for parents as well.  Mini sessions allow the kids to get some cute photos without having temper tantrums!  You all know how this age goes!My Trick?  Well, I ask parents to sign a getting-to-know-you questionnaire prior to the session. It helps me to get to know the kids and parents with this. I also let the kids warm up a bit before I start shooting away.  I don't immediately go snapping away.

 Some kids get scared of this and of course a stranger clicking in their face is never a fun time! I'll usually do some "test shots" and I tell them this. I will also show the children the shot I took of them.  It seems to ease them into it for an enjoyable session all around, for both photographer and mom and dad!  It works!  I have yet to see it not!I tried out new lighting this time and I'm in love with the soft feeling of it! I will have to give it a whirl for the future. It's also very easy to set up!  

Thank you Gary Fong, photography pioneer, on this effective lighting suggestion! Seriously, Mr. Fong, you rock!  I really love the soft feel of this new lighting. It's not as harsh as before and I'm EXTREMELY picky when it comes to my photography because I expect and want nothing, but the best for myself and my clients!I'll post some more mini photos here soon! I also have a few weddings (yup, testing that avenue out!)  and a few family/single sessions that I need to get up here on the blog ASAP!  Plus, update the portfolio.  We truly have been busy!!!

We're attempting an extreme marketing campaign by offering very reasonable fees for sessions right now!  Since we are a new business, to South Jersey, we are really trying to get our name out there! Please look at our new pricing menu!  We are also going the route of a boutique experience, where we will consult with the client in regards to what they wish  out of their session.  

Also, by discussing our options, props, time of day, types of poses, etc. We also offering a beautiful high-end (yet keeping it affordable) product line.  I also have scouted locations all throughout South Jersey... From Camden County to Cape May County, we've got you covered!!! 

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee Giumetti  

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

It's a Dog EAT Dog... Photography World

Playing in the snow in Salem County.

Photo edited to inspire Alice In Wonderland... As sometimes the photography field can look like!

Maternity sessions are awesome!

Breaking Into The Tough Business Of Photography

This is going out to any new photographer out there. The photography world is a dog eat dog, competitive field my friends. They will literally eat you up and spit you out alive and then double that! For anyone just getting into it, it's a whirlwind of information and a bizarre Alice In Wonderland experience.

I'll explain my reasoning. There are actually different levels one attains on this photographic journey. One is getting your new camera.  You get excited and start snapping away. Folks start to see your "snapping" and then want you to take pictures of them and their kids and then the ego slllllowly builds up and before you know it, you'll start to add special "effects@ with your new editing gear, buy some presets and actions.  You'll order business cards, open up a facebook page and website and voila you are a professional, but guess what you're so wrong!I understand we all start somewhere and yes, I am not perfect by any means (but at least my work is in focus and people don't look like Oompa Loompas, you know with orange over-saturated skin).

You need to learn your principals before you ever start to charge or call yourself a professional.With principals, I mean by your rule of thirds, composition, the exposure triangle, light and being able to read it. Plus, there are so many other factors and expenses that come into play.  Editing software, good quality lenses, registering your business, obtaining insurance, paying taxes, calibrating your monitor, SD Cards, filters, props, expodisc, learning how to edit and to do it properly...

All these items add up.  It soon becomes very overwhelming to a beginner.It's amazing that folks think they can take a picture and because they think they have great equipment and they are professionals, but have no clue about most of what I speak of above.Yes! We all start somewhere and I'm not knocking anyone down because they want to pursue their passion... But... If you don't know what I am talking about, when I listed all the items above... YOU SHOULD NOT BE IN BUSINESS. 

You should be gaining and learning these skills and at least understanding your basics as mentioned above.  When you learn them, yes... By all means open a business...But guess what? There are hundreds of others of professionals opening their doors every single day and you better have a plan... A business strategy and marketing plan (and guess what, you can't rely on facebook for your marketing anymore as they changed their algorithms when it pertains to businesses.)

You will soon find out that sometimes your work and what you produce doesn't matter and that 90% of this field requires a business plan to last. This is an extremely saturated field. What are you going to do to separate yourself? What's your plan? Because you sure do need one if you are going to last.

This is not an easy field and one must develop thick skin to keep going forward.You just really need to want this, if you decide this is the path for you. It requires getting your hands dirty with no acknowledgement sometimes or praise. It means hitting the pavement and sometimes knocking on doors to get your name out there.

Business cards and a website are just not going to cut it, in this field.You may get very busy and keep getting busy when you first start out, but eventually you end up hitting a road block.  From there and what you do from there, will determine your future success. 

There will be many times when you'll just want to throw in the towel and give up in these moments.What you need to do is sit down and develop a plan and strategy, follow it through and you just may have a chance as a successful photographer.  Getting started is not an easy feat and I wish you the most luck in your endeavor.

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee