2013 Year in Review

Here is a  slide show of KRP Photography's 2013 year in review.

January 2014 Casting Call

In 2014 KRP Photography will be putting out monthly casting calls to fill needs for the creative shoots we will be planning.

 KRP Photography is currently seeking models for the following types of photo shoots.  These are very specific and all criteria must be met to quality.  The participant will receive digital files with a print release at no cost in exchange for participating.  Participants are required to sign a model release for the images so KRP Photography can use them for internet, media and print advertising.  Interested applicants should email KRP Photography at krpphotography@comcast.net with the wors "Casting Call Response" in the subject line.  Spaces are very limited and will be filled on first come first serve basis for those who meet all criteria.

January 2014 Casting Call:

This month I am looking for models for 2 sessions:

1.  A female model to wear a red dress in the snow.  I do have a red dress that will fit a size 6/8 or you can wear your own once approved for shoot.  Needs to be a semi-formal to formal long flowing gown.  Please send a photo and photo of dress if you have it to KRP Photography if interested.  Obviously the date of this will solely depend on the weather and may not happen if it does not snow in January 2014.

2.  A female model that LOVES books and book stores for a session to be held in a library or book store.  For this it will be casual wardrobe, but there are a couple shots I would like striped tights for.  If interested please email KRP Photography.

Thank you for your interest and I look forward to hearing from you.

Stay tuned for next months session ideas!!!

2013 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway

 

Starting Sunday 12/1/13 I will be starting KRP Photography's 12 Days of Christmas giveaway.  Each day for 12 days I will post an item on Facebook up for giveaway.  This is my way of saying Thank You to my fans/clients for such a wonderful year!

To Enter:
Each day a photo of the item up for grabs will be posted on Facebook.  Like the photo and comment on it to be entered.  Entries will be accepted from the time the image is posted until 6pm each night.  A number will be selected at random and that commenter will win the prize.


Disclaimer:
This contest is in no way endorsed, administered or associated with Facebook.  It is solely put on by KRP Photography


Items Up for Grabs:
Dunkin Donuts Gift Card
Target Gift Card
8x10 Gallery Wrap
$50 Print Credit
Mini Session
Mini Session with CD
Ornaments from Linda's Creative Crafts
Sexy Stitch Shirt Gift Card
2 Hand Painted Wine Glasses
A Tray of Pulled Pork from Competition BBQ Team Bang Bang BBQ
Bubbly Bath Salts & Bath Bombs Gift Set
Custom Lighted Support the Troops Wine Bottle
Items may be added up until the start of the giveaway!!!



Fine Print:
You must be a fan of KRP Photography on Facebook
You can only comment 1 time on each item
Please feel free to share with friends and family so they can win too.
Leave some love on any pages linked for the items being given away
Any Print Credits, Printed Items or CDs must be used on future sessions.
Items can be picked up local or mailed - all items must be picked up or mailed by 12/15/13.  If you win please specify if you would like to pick up the item or have it mailed.

Day of the Dead

Another fun shoot.  My sister did all her own makeup (Amazing!!!).  This was so much fun and the photos came out just how I imaged.

Sparkle and Shine

I have wanted to play with Glitter at a photo session for a while now.  Thank fully I have friends who let me use this with their children, even though they will find Glitter for weeks. :)

The "L" Family

This family was so much fun and so easy to photograph.  Our session just seemed to fly by. 

Baby Sophia

This is one spunky little girl.  She is definitely strong willed and had her own ideas about how her photo session was going to go.  She had beautiful big blue eyes though!

What are little boys made of?

Its summer time so the old poem about little boys is definitely in full swing.  Yesterday my son found a frog and wanted to keep him.  We let him for a while but told him he had to let him go so he could have fun too.

What are little boys made of?

What are little boys made of?

Slugs and snails

And puppy-dogs' tails,

That's what little boys are made of.

 

 

What to Wear for Fall Mini Session

Ok you have booked your Fall Mini Session, now the task of picking out the wardrobe.  Don't worry.  Remember to dress like your normal selves so everyone is comfortable.

Here are a few tips to help you decide what to wear:

1. Decide on a Color Scheme
The first thing I ask when someone seeks advice on colors to wear, I ask where they plan to hang the portraits in their home, and what colors are in that room. For some people, this doesn’t make a difference. But for others, if they plan to hang the prints in their family room that is painted red and black, and you plan to wear orange and brown, it won’t work very well. If your room is neutral (like mine) and you’d like some color pop from the portraits, and you just need help deciding on colors, here are a few thoughts.

2. Select one focal piece
If you have a color palette in mind, or even if you don’t…shop around to find one patterned piece that you love. It can be a little girls floral dress or a boys plaid shirt, but if you find one central piece, it helps to plan everything around that. Since us moms like our kids to be the focal point, I’d suggest this focus piece to be on one of the children (not an adult). That doesn’t mean that they will stand out the most, after accessorizing (my next  point) it will all flow together.

3. Pick 3
It’s a good idea to pick 3 colors to work with as your main colors, then consider grays, whites, blacks, or browns as freebie’s. Not necessarily all of them together, but one or two that work with the 3 colors you chose.

4. Layers & Accessories
Cardigan, necklace, headband, scarf, button up shirt, tights, hats, ties. Layers & accessories add dimension, pizazz, fun, texture and therefore richness to the overall look. In the past, I have had the problem of purchasing all of these in my color palette (while keeping the receipts very close by) and once I have the clothing planned out, start throwing in accessories to see what works. If I have 2 girls, they don’t both get yellow headbands, but one yellow and  one blue to spread out the colors. If you notice on my boys in the image above, they both have undershirts to provide another layer. Boys have fever options when it comes to layers (and seem more difficult to dress). I often try to put my 2 boys in two types of shirts and layer them differently. One a button up with t-shirt underneath, the other a polo type with T underneath and maybe sleeves rolled up into each other. Below, I found a vest that fit.

5. Mom’s, don’t give yourself the leftovers
You know how some moms will go around the dinner table and make sure everyone has all of their food situated before they sit down, and then their food is cold? Don’t be that mom when it comes to clothing for your family portraits. Don’t pick everyone else’s out, then just grab something from your closet that only looks “ok” on you, but matches the color scheme. You need to feel AWESOME in your family pictures! If anything, I’d pick something that you think looks fabulous on you, then plan around THAT!  It’s tough enough to get mothers IN pictures, so when you are in them, you want to feel and look good!

6. Split up the colors
If I’ve got 6 people in my family, and have selected 3 main colors, I don’t want all of those colors on top, nor to the people that are close in age–I want to split them up. I want to weigh some color towards the bottom in one or two of them as well.  I do this with shoes, skirts, and pants. There are so many more options now with those fun colorful jeans. I did also purchase a pair of red converse for my son for our pictures last December that hasn’t been worn much since–but darn-it they looked awesome in the picture!  You aren’t just investing in a photographer, but in the clothing to enhance your awesome family.

7. Lay it on the floor
Once you have gathered items in the colors you’ve picked, I try to find a spot in my home that I can keep it all out. I like to lay the pieces on the floor, and look at it from afar, take a picture of it.

8. Split up the pairs
If you have natural pairs in the family: mom and dad, Brothers, sisters, Mom and baby, try to split up the colors, as they will often be standing near each other. When I have babies, I know I will want to be holding them (helps me look thinner) so I see my baby as my “pair” and aim to not dress us alike. My husband is my obvious other pair, and as the two tallest, I have to make sure he and I are also not “matchy-matchy.” This part can get complicated, so do your best, then let it go!  Hopefully the photographer will notice this and split everyone according to the colors. But ultimately, the natural/candid shots that I like to take won’t be so planned out.

10. Plan ahead
Make sure you start this planning when you book your session (hopefully a few weeks before it takes place). Be thinking of it, look around in your home/closets, shop well in advance so you aren’t stressing at the last minute.

Here are a few samples wardrobes:

 

 

Just remember to be comfortable and have fun!!!

 

 

Back to School Mini Session

Its that time of year again.  New clothes, shoes and supplies and the kids are headed back to school.  Miss Olivia is just too cute getting her school photos taken.  She is always super happy and smiley which makes my job even easier.

   

Casting Call

 

I will be posting new casting calls for specific photo sessions I would like to do. These are based on what I am looking to add to my portfolio, creative sessions, or based on specific model looks or locations. 

 

If you fit the description and would like to apply for an open casting call  please

email me at krpphotography@comcast.net and you will be contacted shortly.

 

• Steampunk/Gothic Session (you must have correct attire for this shoot) 
• Glitter Blowing Session (Looking for a little girl for this one) 
• Maternity/Newborn Sessions

I am looking to book these session from September - November 2013, to keep up to date on available sessions visit my facebook page at www.facebook.com/KRPPhotography

 

Each casting call has a limited number of openings.  If you fit the description or know someone who does, please contact me! Models who fit the casting call will receive a full 1 hour session and 15 digital images for $99. Models must sign a session contract and release form just like a regular client.   If you refer someone for these sessions you will receive a $25 KRP Photography gift certificate to use on prints at your next session.

 

Email me today at krpphotography@comcast.net to set up your session.

 

 

So you've had your photo session; now what do you do with your images.

Before you view the images from your session you should think about how you would like to display them and where you want to display them. Those two things will determine what you should tell your photographer you are looking for at your viewing session.

Are you looking for a print to put on your desk at work, hang on the wall in your home, an album to set out or tote around or would you like a collection of prints. Do you want to hang images at work, family room, bedroom, grandma house, etc. All of these things will play into your decision.

Once you have an idea of how and where you would like to display your photos, be sure to go over with your photographer at your viewing session so they can help you choose images to best fit your needs. A nice way to show off images and fill up that empty wall you have in your home is to do a wall display. This can be a couple pictures to a whole wall of pictures.

Here are a few different layout ideas.

 

 

 

For your wall display you can use framed prints, canvases, gallery wraps or stand-out images.  Each will provide a different look/feel to your display.

 

Another thing to consider is image size.  The above templates have sizes listed but you need to visualize a size in your home.  When you say 16x20 people think that is huge, but when you put it on a wall behind a sofa it doesn't seem quite so big anymore.  Here is an image that shows how the different sizes look on a wall.

 

 



Just remember, these are your memories for years to come.  It is an investment and will be one of the very few purchases that you will still have in 15, 20 years, or even a lifetime.  Choose wisely and be proud of the images of your family and share them with everyone who comes into your home.

Tips for Photography in the Rain

Well it has been one of the wettest summers in a very long time.  In June alone we had over 15 inches of rain.  So when this happens you have a choice to make, let it stop you from shooting or improvise and have some fun.

Main thing to remember if you will be out shooting in the elements is to protect your gear.  Most cameras and lenses are not weather tight.  This mean you need to take steps to protect your items.  You have a couple choice. 

You can buyer a rain cover.  There are 2 Options:
An economical choice, but not best quality:
http://www.amazon.com/OP-TECH-USA-Rainsleeve-18-Inch/dp/B000PTFDYO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375042597&sr=8-1&keywords=canon+rain+cover

Better quality not bad price wise either:
http://www.amazon.com/Camera-Cover-Canon-Models-combinations/dp/B0016D3YJY/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1375042648&sr=8-5&keywords=canon+rain+cover

Or you can make your own.  This is what I did.  Here are some easy instructions:
1.  You will need a large ziplock bag ( I used the Jumbo 2.5 gallon size), a black sharpie, electrical or duct tape, scissors and of course your camera.

2.  Put your camera in bag so lens is facing sealed bottom end, trace the outside of the lens onto the back and cut out circle.  Use tape to secure bag to end of lens to keep water out.  Then you are ready to go.

So of course I wanted it to rain after being the rainiest June in a long time and we have had hardly none in July.  Or at least none when I could get out to shoot.  So a friend of mine improvised and made our own "rain" to test out the cover and have some fun photos.

So don't let the rain dampen your day.  Get out have fun and enjoy all types of weather.  Just remember to protect your gear!

My Photographic Journey

Its always fun to look back and see where you started.  I always pull out old photo albums to look at photos, 1 because I love to see old pics and 2 its fun to see how much I have grown.

My journey started as a child.  I was in a family full of people who loved to take lots of photos, which I think influenced me just a bit.  As a child I remember having several different cameras.  I remember having the old disc camera.  Here is an example of how you got your negatives.

Then I had a 110 camera.  For those that don't remember those, your film came like this.



I also used my moms 35mm Film Pentax SLR.  I used this for many many years and loved this camera.

Who remembers when you had 35mm negatives?

One of the moments that I remember that stands out that I think really hooked me on photography was when I was a child, my Aunt came over to take some photos of the cicadas for a class her and my mom were taking.  It was a really bad year for them, there were so many we could collect wheel barrels full.  I remember following her around while she took photos and just loving the process.  After that I was always the one taking photos at all the family event, dance recitals and just for fun.

So there began my photo journey.  Here are a few early photos (disregard the scrapbooking LOL)

 



My cat was in a lot of my photos, she was always there.  Then I started college and had to take photos for class.  Here are a few.

 

Then I started working on my photos and techniques and here are more college photos:

 

 



              (Gotta Love Commercial Photography Class)

Then I decided I really wanted to pursue portraits, and they were not the best in the beginning, but I continued to work at it and feel I have really grown over the years.

Here are a few early ones:

 

                                                                                              This is one of my all time favs

Here are a few more recent photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

So if you have made it this far, Thank you!  I hope you enjoyed seeing a little into my journey and its still continuing.  I feel I have a lot to share from many many years of experience and I feel I have lots to learn to continue improving my photography.  It is my passion and I truly love photographing people.

Thank you for sharing my journey this far.