Unicorns-Smoonicorns

Happy New Year!!!

A look at a unicorn photo session in South Jersey!

As we venture into the new year, we want to express our gratitude for your continued support and enthusiasm for our unicorn sessions. Your excitement is truly inspiring!

At Shooting Star Photography LLC, we are thrilled to announce that we will be offering more unicorn sessions in the upcoming months. These enchanting sessions have brought joy to so many families, creating magical memories that will be cherished for a lifetime.

Whether it's your little one's first encounter with a unicorn or a return visit to capture more whimsical moments, we look forward to providing a magical experience for all. Stay tuned for updates on session availability and booking details.

Thank you for allowing us to be part of your special moments. Here's to a year filled with wonder, laughter, and of course, unicorns!

Our mini unicorn we used in this shoot!

Unicorns are the best!

Twirling away for her session.

Wow! Has this been a cold month! It's awful. However, I had a wonderful holiday with family and friends. I loved every minute of the time we shared together and cannot wait until next year! I hope you also had a very blessed Christmas/New Year's/Hanukkah/ Kwanzaa!We're getting excited for another busy year.

Folks are already booking their beach and fall photos. In which I highly suggest doing so early. We don't like turning folks away! Shooting Star is only taking a limited amount of bookings for the year, so don't hesitate!  We've been playing around with our new equipment and will be offering studio work shortly. Testing a few things out and want to make sure we are 100% good to go and consistent before we start offering it to the public. As always.. we want you to have the BEST and this is what we are about.

Unicorns this month

Why is a Unicorn Photo Shoot So Awesome?

Unicorn photo shoots have become a magical phenomenon in the world of photography, captivating both young and old with their whimsical charm. Here at Shooting Star Photography LLC, we have had the privilege of capturing the enchantment of these breathtaking creatures through our lenses. Now, let us explore the mesmerizing reasons why a unicorn photo shoot is undeniably awesome.

1. Unicorns Radiate Pure Magic: Unicorns are creatures of myth and wonder, symbolizing beauty, purity, and grace. These ethereal beings have the power to transport us to a realm where dreams come true. A unicorn photo shoot allows us to capture their mysterious aura and share that enchantment with our clients. The resulting photographs become cherished memories that evoke a sense of joy and awe.

2. Unique and Memorable Experience: It's not every day that you get to witness the presence of a mythical creature up close. A unicorn photo shoot provides an unforgettable experience, something that stands out in a sea of ordinary portraits. From the moment you meet the unicorn, touch its glistening mane, and experience the magic firsthand, you'll be left with cherished memories that will last a lifetime.

3. Imagination Takes Flight: Unicorns ignite the spark of imagination within us. They carry us to a world where anything is possible, where dreams and fantasies come alive. A unicorn photo shoot becomes a canvas where creativity and imagination blend seamlessly, allowing us to capture extraordinary moments that transcend the ordinary. With a range of props, costumes, and settings, our team at Shooting Star Photography LLC can create visually stunning scenes that exude the essence of fantasy.

4. A Symbol of Beauty and Innocence: Unicorns are often associated with beauty, innocence, and purity. Their presence in a photo shoot adds a layer of elegance and grace that is unmatched. These majestic creatures possess an innate ability to captivate, illuminating each frame with an otherworldly allure. As photographers, we are able to capture not only the physical beauty of the unicorn but also the pure and genuine emotions that arise from the interaction between subject and photographer.

5. Connection with Nature: Unicorns embody the spirit of nature, often depicted in lush meadows, mystical forests, or beside sparkling waterfalls. A unicorn photo shoot brings us closer to the natural world, allowing us to witness the camaraderie between these mythical creatures and their surroundings. The images captured during such a session flawlessly blend the ethereal with the earthly, creating a visual spectacle that celebrates the harmony between fantasy and reality.

In conclusion, a unicorn photo shoot is undeniably awesome due to the pure magic they radiate, the unique and memorable experiences they offer, the flight of imagination they inspire, the symbolism of beauty and innocence they represent, and the connection they have with nature. At Shooting Star Photography LLC, we aim to capture these extraordinary moments and create a visual journey filled with wonder and whimsy. So, let us embark on this enchanting adventure together and create timeless memories that will transcend the imagination.

southern new jersey portrait

This month, our features are "Just You" photography. Simple portraiture where I have invited a few folks to my own home for simple and classic portrait work. These were sold out. I'm very excited to get started! We also have unicorn sessions that we are rolling out the end of this month. It's looking like we will start to see a warm up. It's definitely needed.

This 7 degree weather is not even for the birds! I want the kids to have a great time! We have some great little gifts will be handing out to the kiddos for their participation in these wintry sessions. Our theme is wintry wonderland. We will have a snow machine on hand and are going with winter blue colors to pop with everything. It should be a great event.

These are sold out, too!  Shooting Star will be keeping the kiddos warm and offering suggestions on how to dress for the day! So don't fret. We we also have furs and capes to keep you all nice and toasty, too!! We look forward to the next upcoming year with Shooting Star Photography. 

Our prices WILL BE going up soon, so it is suggested that you book NOW to save! I wish everyone a very Happy 2018! It's going to be a fantastic year! We're very excited! 

Dee

Shooting Star Photography     

Check out what we have in store this winter!

Magical Unicorn Sessions in South Jersey!

Magical unicorn sessions are a whimsical and enchanting experience where the focus is on capturing the beauty and charm of these mystical creatures. At Shooting Star Photography LLC, we bring your unicorn dreams to life through our expertly crafted sessions. Our team is dedicated to creating a magical atmosphere where you can bond with these fantastical beings and create stunning, one-of-a-kind images.

During a magical unicorn session, you can expect a neutral and professional approach as we work to document the unique connection between you and the unicorn. Our skilled photographers are experienced in capturing the essence of these magical moments, ensuring that each image reflects the wonder and joy of the experience.

Whether you're looking to celebrate a special occasion or simply want to indulge in a bit of fantasy, our magical unicorn sessions are sure to leave you spellbound. Contact us today to schedule your own enchanting session and let us help you create memories that will last a lifetime.

Petting her unicorn in the most magical South Jersey forest.

Unicorns are undeniably awesome creatures that capture our imagination with their mystical charm. With their beautiful, ethereal appearance and the mesmerizing shimmer of their single, spiral horn, unicorns embody a world of magic and wonder. These enchanting beings symbolize purity, grace, and strength, inspiring us to believe in the extraordinary. Beyond their ethereal beauty, unicorns are also known for their innate ability to bring joy and happiness, making them beloved by people of all ages. Whether it's in mythical tales or modern folklore, unicorns hold a special place in our hearts as a symbol of hope and fantastical adventures.

Even though you tend to see similar themes in the industry, I try to make those themes unique and my own. It's the distinctive style that folks hire me for. It's something I have strived and worked on and with only 2 years in this business (Yep, incorporated in February 2015), I still have a lot of growing pains to work out. For example, overbooking, charging not my worth with the quality I continue to push out. I purchase these high end designer gowns in the $500-$700 range and then charged $250 a session with all digitals.

This will wear anyone out.. but this is also the story of anyone new in this industry. Who hasn't figured things out and needs to make adjustments as you move forward... to just be overall BETTER.This July we are doing Magical Unicorn Sessions.. in a Winterland theme. Lots of winter greens will be used. Winter capes, furs, the whole nines. Today, after a few issues in getting the correct converter for the output of our heavy duty snow machine, we finally put things through the ringer and everything is working as planned. So for our upcoming unicorn sessions, we will have snow. REAL SNOW. Not a snow overlay.

We want folks to have a magical experience whenever we come to us and we feel this will be an added benefit.  Here's a video of the snow machine hooked up to our vehicle for our test run... It was a success! We can't wait to use it for upcoming sessions! 

Another thing I wanted to stretch on...

With Facebook’s new algorithm of changes that occurred last month, it’s more and more important as not just photographers, but overall small business owners to keep their websites up to date with the most current information. Facebook has made it harder and harder for you to reach your audience because they want you to PAY to be seen.

This is where blogging comes into play. You should be updating on current work, projects, or happenings. Most say people don’t read this stuff, but they do. This is important and vital. I receive a about 30% of my business via web searches. Facebook was the majority last year, however with recent changes, it’s become fewer in between. The reach is abysmal especially when launching specials, mini sessions, or honestly anything across the board these days. This is a dawn of a new age and it’s time to start thinking smarter not harder.You can’t continue on doing the same things if you aren’t getting anywhere.

It’s a new way and era and if you think Instagram may be the answer.. it isn’t. They are also making changes. What you need to focus on is in person meetings and encounters, trade shows, word of mouth (which is HUGE,this is where a majority of my business comes from) or via different marketing means.. like Sue Bryce’s voucher program.

One thing with me is consistency. Consistency is key. RARELY and I say this wholeheartedly.. Rarely do I have a bad session and not like the results. This is how picky I have become though.. in regards to shooting times, locations, outfits.. It’s something you learn and keep learning to bust out the best results for your clients.

It’s been a CRAZY year.. with mini sessions and full sessions, we’ve done about 550 sessions. Which is a tremendous volume especially for an outdoor photographer and whose months are March to November as their busy season.

As it starts to get slower, these next few months I am going to happily share more of this gorgeous sessions. It’s been a pure joy to be the best of South Jersey. Okay, maybe not the BEST, however we feel our work is different and doesn’t look like every photographer out there in the area. It seems everyone is doing the same things. Why be mundane when you can have something different and marvelous. We are all about elegance, light and true emotive captures. We’ve worked hard to separate ourselves and hope this shows in our work. We love every family that comes our way and have worked with the same families… often times 5/6 times per year.

 If you would like the last spot in this winter wonderland unicorn session or more information, you can find this here! Hope to see you here!

Unicorn Session Information

Remember we travel the entire Delaware Valley region.. all of South Jersey (Moorestown, Cherry Hill, Pitman, Jersey Shore, Cape May, Vineland, Moorestown, Marlton, Medford... Philadelphia suburbs mainline Delaware, Montgomery, Chester, and up to Bucks county (north) and as far west as Lancaster, Northern Delaware, Parts of Central NJ (for example Princeton area), and northern Maryland. Let us create something magical for you!  We're in for a huge 2018!

Happy Shooting, my friends!

Dee  

Unicorn Sessions-Photography is EASY. Not.

Unicorn magical sessions in south Jersey

Unicorn photography is a unique and specialized skill that requires a keen eye, creativity, and technical expertise. Capturing the enchanting essence of these mythical creatures demands the ability to harness and enhance their mystique through the lens. Unicorn photography requires a deep understanding of lighting, composition, and perspective to bring out the ethereal beauty in each shot. The responsibility lies in the photographer's hands to emphasize the magical qualities of the unicorn while capturing their grace and allure. To possess the skill of unicorn photography is to possess the power to transport viewers into a world where dreams come alive, igniting a sense of wonder and awe that only these majestic creatures can awaken.

Photography is simple everyone can do it.

I am going to explain to you in rich and lavish detail.. It is not. In fact, it's been one of my hardest jobs of my life. It's time to get a little personal and about business here! :)

First off, I got into photography while running a travel blog many moons ago. I worked in corporate America previously. You can google me if you want, you'll see me pop up in a few news articles and probably see the books have written. Bleh bleh bleh.. right? I am boring you. Hold on!

I LOVED taking photos. Didn't know much about light and would just snap this, that, and the air. It honestly didn't matter. I didn't edit them either. I just loved it. For me, it was the thrill of exploring that particular place or landscape and taking a picture as a token that I've been there.

Well... out plops my son and then my daughter. At this point, I decided to flip tables, change things up a bit and to photograph them. These important moments because they change SO FAST were important for me to capture. So like many photographers, I got into portrait photography because of them.

This little lady enjoed being photographed with her puppy the unicorn.

Again... easy peasy, right? Hold your horses, will ya?

I started taking photos and learning my camera settings. Learning about light. Lots of trial and error. Friends saw these photographs and wanted their pictures done. Now, at this time... I thought I was dabomb.com. I wasn't. I was terrible. I'm now doing some of my friend's photographs and thinking hmmm.. this is easy maybe I should start a business....

And I did. Decided to incorporate my business in February of 2015. At this time, I STILL thought I was awesome. 

There were no clients. It was crickets. I'm like oh $45 is too expensive... let me lower them to $35 and give a ton of images. I continued to blog and at this point is when things got busy for me. I was taking workshops and learning online. I was building my lens collection. My work was starting to get noticed.

Then things got super busy. So by end of fall season.. I am practically ripping my hair out. $100 sessions (yep, raised them from those whopping $35 sessions) and I am spending 2 hours on one photograph editing. A total waste of time and resources. Time away from my own kiddos she family. It was awful. At this time, I continued to book like crazy and am virtually winging it and going day by day.

So tax time comes around... and this was my ah ha moment. Seeing how much money owed and realizing I wasn't charging enough to even make minimum wage and that I technically wasted so much of my time for PENNIES. I was seriously working for PENNIES and this was the second year. The numbers don't lie.

The first year, was even worse I was basically paying myself to work. I put the family virtually in debt because always wanted the latest and greatest shiniest things. You eventually realize you don't need those things.

We always need to get a nice pet in too. With our beautiful unicorns.

So come 2017... those few years have learned and learned well. I had to make a decision to either start making a profit... or I need to quit.

What I am trying to say is this. There are so many folks that end up burned out in this business. They have no real plan. They love what they do, but they often lack on the business side. They have no business plan m or marketing set in motion. They lack motivation because it can be a frustrating and very confusing start.

Now, one thing with myself. I am a go getter. I always had a plan. My plan wasn't enough when I started.I was super busy and was afraid to raise my pricing to where I should be priced at with my talent and worth.

I made it a point to offer a full session experience this year. Offering high end custom made gowns for my company.

We also tackled on limited series sessions. Such as unicorns, mermaids and princess castle sessions. Because I was so busy.... I ended up hiring my mom to come onboard full time to be my assistant. I love working with my mom. Not many daughters can say this and I'm sure would love the opportunity to work with your own mom.

I noticed office work starting slugging behind. When that happens, customer service starts to slip... so have had to hire an office manager to keep things running smoothly, so that we can provide our customers with the service they expect and honestly the best. We don't like offering anything less than the best...asWe are completely full service.

So... for now and going forward we have a concrete plan. I have a team at my disposal to insure I give my clients the best and they are your team, too. We have your back.

This is not an easy job, I work 24/7 at every waking hour to make my business better. No one told me going into this, that I would spend most of my time on the business end and not shooting/editing. A huge misconception most photographers have getting into this.

What I am saying is if you want a well-organized and run photography business. That will WOW you from beginning to end in the Philly area.. you've found it. We're right here. We're not going anywhere. We've only just started!