February Casting Call & January Review

Well in January I put out a call for someone willing to wear a brightly colored dress in the snow and someone who wanted to do photos in a library.  I had people answer that call. 

Here are a few from those sessions:

 

FEBRUARY CASTING CALL:

 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.

This month I am looking for models for 2 sessions:

1.  Steampunk/Gothic themed photo session.  Attire is NOT provided.  Please contact me if you are interested and be prepared to send me a photo of the outfit you have in mind.

2.  A Pointe Dancer willing to dance in their shoes outside.  I have a cool graffiti bridge location I would like to take some photos at.

Thank you for your interest and I look forward to hearing from you.  If you are interested in either of these sessions please email me today so we can set up a time!

Stay tuned for next months session ideas!!!

Traveling Studio

Did you know that KRP Photography offers a traveling studio.  I do not have an actual studio space, I bring the studio to you.  I have lights, backgrounds and props that I pack up and come to your home.  This helps provide a calming, comfortable feel to your portrait session.  No dragging the kids out to an unfamiliar place or taking your newborn out into the nasty weather.  You don't have to leave the comfort of your home!So even though its cold outside you can still have beautiful photos taken, right in your home!

Here is an example of the traveling studio setup:

Here are a few examples of photos taken using the traveling studio setup:

How to Prepare for your Photo Session

So you found a photographer you like and have booked your session.  Now you have a few decisions to make.

1.  Choose your session style -
      A.  Formal - Usually done in a studio and everyone is dressed up

  
  B.  Casual - Can be done in a studio or at an outdoor location.  Everyone usually wears
            comfortable everyday clothes.

So as you can see the style of your session has a big impact on how your photos will look and the feel they will have when on display.

2.  The next choice you have to make is your location.  Usually you can choose between a studio or on location setting such as a park, your house, the beach, etc.

3.  Then you need to choose the clothing everyone will wear.  Everyone does not have to match in exact colors or patterns.  You want to coordinate with a pop of an accent color but not match.

                                                                        Formal sample:

 

Casual Sample:

4.  The last thing to think about is if you want a theme, like valentines, super hero, etc and what poses you would like to try.

Be sure to contact your photographer before you session to review all these item so everyone is on the same page and your session will go smoothly.  Its a great feeling when you get the photo of your family that you wanted!

 

Get to Know your Photographer

In an effort to help you learn a little more about who I am I had 2 posts planned this week.  My favorite things to do and my favorite places to shop online.  Since my whole house fell ill this week I am combining the two.

So lets see, my top 10 favorite things to do:( in no particular order)
1.  Spend time with family and friends - this is very important to me because these are the people 
     that are always there for you.
2.  Photography - It started as a hobby and turned into a business.  I love photography and still go
     out and shoot just for fun.
3.  Movies - Love love love going to the movies and seeing them on the big screen, eating popcorn
    and candy.
4.  Roller skate - I loved to do this as a kid and then took a hiatus.  Then later in life it is how I found
     my hubby and the tradition continues and we take our son now.
5.  Go to the Beach - I love all that is the beach, the sunrise/sunsets, the smells, the feel of the sand
     and water.
6.  Trying new foods - Our family is very adventurous when it comes to food.  If there is a new place
     opening up we will be there.
7.  Travel -  I haven't done a lot of it but I love to go to new places.  Road trips used to be a favorite
     but now its easier to travel faster with a family.
8.  Scrapbook - kinda goes hand in hand with the photography.  It is a great way to document your
     family and preserve those memories
9.  Read - I am a HUGE book fan.  I read all the time and my go to place when I am upset or bored or
     pretty much anytime is a book store.  I love the smell and just wondering around.  I hope books
     never give way to the digital era.
10.  Competition BBQ - My family has a KCBS Competition BBQ team called Bang Bang BBQ. 
       We compete several times a year and the best finish we had was at Hogs and Hops with 1st place
       ribs and 2nd place overall in 2012.  Great times had by all.

Part 2, my favorite online places to shop/visit:
1.  Amazon - Love this site, you can usually get great deals on just about anything you are looking for
     and if its not on there its gonna be really hard to find.
2.  Clickin Moms - This is a fabulous site for all stages of photographers.  They have a forum with a
      plethora of knowledge and a great store with training and cool gadgets.
3.  WHCC - This is the print house I use for all my photographic printing needs
4.  As for all those props and misc items for photos I go just about any craft store or online store I can
     to find what I am looking for

Hope this has given you a little insight into who I am. 

Before & After

Ever wonder what your photographers photos look like straight out of the camera.  Or how they got to the end result of a really cool photo?  Today I decided to share some before and after images of a pretty popular session I did, the Day of the Dead shoot.

Last October I got the idea I wanted to do a Day of the Dead photo shoot.  I had the location in mind the look I wanted to achieve I just needed a willing model.  A model willing to wear the makeup and willing to shoot in a cemetery.  So of course my sister jumped on the opportunity to go out and have some fun with me.  After several hours of makeup (all done by her, she's crazy good at hair and make up.) we set off on a 15 minute car ride to the cemetery through a small town.  She got some pretty funny looks along the way!

In my mind I wanted really dark, contrasty, moody images to portray the feeling you get when you think of Day of the Dead and a cemetery.  I think these came out perfectly, even though they started nothing like they ended up.

For the editing I adjusted, white balance and exposure.  Then converted to black and white ( I shot with this in mind, planned on them all being converted).  Then I added a vignette to the edges to darken the image a bit.  Then for these I also made them matte, just added to the feel.

Here are a few before and after images:

How to Display your photos

Now that you have your CD and know where to print your photos, what size and how to hang them? 

The first thing you need to think about is where you want to display your photos.  Once you decide that you need to decide on your size.  Yes an 8x10 or 11x14 sounds big but in reality they are actually pretty small when you put them up on a wall.  See example below.

Now you have your location and an idea about size, now you need to decide if you want just one large photo or several photos to show off your entire photo session.  Here are a few layouts to consider.

Just remember to display your photos so you can enjoy them and do not print them too small.  Bigger is always better!

Feel free to share you wall displays with us or ask any questions you may have.  Enjoy!

Where should you print your photos?

So you had your session with your photographer and now you have a disc of images.  Where to get them printed?  You may be surprised in the difference depending on the location you use.

The places I recommend are:
Your Photographer's Professional lab
www.mpix.com
www.mypublisher.com

Why not use Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, Target etc?  The answer is simple Quality.  You want those wonderful memories to print and look the way you remember them and how you previewed them with your photographer.  I am not saying that all those places I just listed are bad, but with those places the quality control and equipment maintenance are low.  They often do not clean and/or change the required chemicals to print photos as they should and this causes quality issues such as color cast, contrast issues, etc.

Of course my first recommendation is to order your prints from your photographer. They print their photos at a professional lab with tons of quality control.  Also your photographers equipment is calibrated to their print specification so what you see in your preview will match what you print from them.  This ist he way to get the best results.

If however you chose to get a CD of images and want to print on your own I recommend MPix and My Publisher.  They have the best quality for the price of the places I have tried.

As always before printing any images from your photographer please read the included Print Release.  What is the Print Release you ask, well it is the document from your photographer telling what you can and can not do with the images on your disc.  A Print Release is NOT a copyright release, you photographer still retains all rights to the photographs.  Usually print releases allow you to print images at a lab of your choice.  However with most you are not allowed to alter the images in anyway.  If at any time you have questions about if an item is ok to do with the images contact your photographer for clarity.

So you have your CD, Printed your photos for family and friends.  Now What???   I recommend that you make a backup of your images.  Keep your CD, but also store your images on another medium, ie thumb drive, external hard drive, another CD, etc.  This way if something happens you have another copy of the images.  I also recommend that if you do not scrapbook your photos that you try to print a year in review photo book from one of the above listed print houses.  This is a great way to highlight the events of the year and wonderful photos from your photographer.  This preserves your images and lets you share with people.  People love to look at photo album's.

Hope these tips have been helpful and if you have any further questions please feel free to contact me.  Thank you!

Who is KRP Photography???

Ever wonder how your photographer got started?  Did they always love photography? What do they do besides photography?  Who are they?  Well here's your change to find out.

KRP Photography is pretty much a one man band.  My name is Kim and I am the photographer for the company.  Have I always loved photography?  Yes, for as long as I can remember there has been a camera in my hand and I have always loved to take photos of everything.  I knew I really wanted to do photography when I was young, I loved photographing just about anything.  Macro seems to be my go to and gets my interest quickly.

Who am I you ask.  I am a wife to my husband George for the last 12 1/2 years, mom to my son Alex, Sister, daughter, and friend to many.  I love all things creative and the arts have always influenced my actions.  I love to be outdoors, especially at the beach.  My family and friends are super important to me. I also love tattoos and competition BBQ.

What do I like to do besides photography?  I like to scrapbook all the photos I take, roller skate, do competition BBQ, go to the beach, listen to music and read lots of books.  All those things influence my photography also.

I am the face of KRP Photography.

 

 

So you see all the photos of me and wonder who takes them.  Usually me.  I get out my tripod and remote and take self portraits or better know as "selfies".  Wonder how to get better selfies?  Here are a few tips.

 

 

1.  Use a tripod with a remote or the interval timer on your camera.  This is easier then stretching your arm out as far as you can to get that photo.

 

2.  Use a reflective surface if you don't have a tripod, mirrors, windows, etc.

 

3.  Try different angles.  Don't be afraid to experiment, you can check it out and if it doesn't work try something new

 

4.  Props aren't necessary but can help tell who you are or what you want to convey.

 

5.  Shoot a lot!!!

New Years Day 2014 - Time for Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

New Years is a great time to set goals/resolutions to help you have a great year.  These goals can be personal, business related or just fun things all around.

Here is a list of my New Year Resolutions:
1.  Plan at least 1 fun family outing a month
2.  Plan at least 1 date night for the hubby and I
3.  Find more time to exercise
4.  Photograph both sides of my extended family in their entirety
5.  Take more photos of George, Alex and I
6.  Get KRP Photography's name out to more people
7.  Learn even more about my new camera
8.  Blog more consistently for KRP Photography
9.  Save Money
10.  Manage my personal, family and business schedules better

What are your New Years Resolutions?  Feel free to share.