How to Prepare for Your Photoshoot!

So many clients ask what they can do to prepare for a photoshoot, so I thought I would pull together some quick basics that anyone can do the week leading up to their session that are surefire ways to make you feel more confident in your own skin!

To start, make your skin shine! I love the SkinClique ZO Exfoliating Polish to remove all the dead skin on the surface of your face, to leave only the glowing new skin below. I use this stuff twice a week and it completely changed the texture of my face. Obsessed! I love to follow the scrub up with this cryomask that feels AMAZING on, and your skin is left looking hydrated and feeling like silk.

In the mornings, work on de-puffing those cheeks and eyes with a roller you can keep in the freezer. I love this cheap option you can get on Amazon or a number of other retailers. I do this every morning while drinking my coffee before the kiddos wake up and things get hectic. It’s my own little version of a cold plunge to help wake me up! I also pop these Grace & Stella eye masks on to help reduce those dark circles under my eyes.

Before any of my own photoshoots or even just a fun night out, I do a lot of whitening, lol! I use these Luminex teeth whitening strips and even after one use I can see a difference. For someone who drinks coffee every morning, these chompers could use a little brightening from time to time. I also love to make the color of my eyes pop by using Luminex eye whitening drop to clear up any redness. It lasts for around 8 hours, so your eyes pop all day long. I only use these for photo days and special occasions, but I know others who use them way more often.

With blonde hair and blue eyes, I love a good tan, but with my own history of skin cancer, I opt for faux tanning options every time. I found this quick spray tan that’s literally full proof for a quick spray on color. It only last about a day and you need to let it dry really well before going out and doing anything, but it’s a solid option for the day of a photoshoot! Do NOT use this for the first time on the day of your shoot though, lol- you’ll need a practice run to make sure you have the right color and master application so you don’t show up looking crazy for your photoshoot!

And for your face, I am OBSESSED with Salty Face products. They make a great tanning foam and a solid tanning water that I use on my face interchangeably. I put either on a clean face after I moisturize at night, let things dry completely and then I wake up in the morning with a little glowy tan. The foam is great for your whole body. just make sure you snag one of the blending brushes. Or if you want to try it all, they make a bundle that smells all coconuty and delicious!

Check out all of my recommendations here on my shopmy page!

Mini Branding Sessions

Your first impression matters! And in a world where your online presence is often the first impression you make on your potential clients, it’s more important than ever to be mindful of how you present yourself. For small business owners and entreprenuers, YOU are a representation of your brand. A mini branding session is the perfect way to update your online presence visually with a curated collection of images to showcase what you do!

Our mini branding sessions start with a 15 minute planning call to get to know one another. We discuss your brand, your color scheme, any products you might want to include, as well as a rundown of what to expect the day of your photoshoot. From there, we create a custom mood board and shot list, so we’re ready to rock the minute you walk in the door on the day of your session. Clients get a 30 minute makeup look with one of our favorite HMUA (we adore Lindsey Regan Thorne) followed by a 25 minute photography session. We love to include a little “B-roll” footage for clients with one of our talented social media coordinators (like Annie Spence and Brooklyn Banks) which makes for the perfect little bank of footage to create reels and other social media posts with. Oh, and did I mention we always start with mimosas? Now, who’s in for the next?!

timeless children's portraits | charlotte, NC

Who doesn’t want timeless portraits of their children displayed in their home? It’s a no brainer for me, which is why I created the Children’s Portrait Pop Up! With three kids of my own and 9 years in the business of photographing children, you can trust that I’ve come up with the perfect system to capture your little ones in images you’ll treasure for a lifetime. From the moment you sign up, I’ve got you. You’ll receive notes on what to wear, what to expect, and details on how to make the most of our time together. I lay it all out for you to make sure we get the BEST photos possible!

“My kids had so much fun during their portraits! They’ve already asked to come back again!”

— Parent

We’ll spend a quick 15 minutes together in front of the camera, which is just the right amount of time for any child to sit, smile, laugh, be silly, and have just enough attention to get us the perfect shots. Every child leaves with a little goody at the end of our session (and no, I’m not above bribing them with said treat if we’re having a tough day). Your job as the parent is to have fun, sit back, relax and let me do all the work! I ask that parents take a back seat during our sessions and let the child know that Miss Amanda is in charge. This helps our little ones know who to listen to rather than having multiple adults directing them at once, which can feel overwhelming. And my biggest rule during these short sessions is that I don’t allow discipline or threats of discipline during our time together… this is a time for fun! So think of this as 15 minutes out of your day that you don’t have to parent ;) I promise, my strategy works! It’s all about trust.

What to expect after your session? Approximately two weeks after our time together, you’ll receive a password protected, online gallery of your edited images, with a special code to download the images for safe keeping. My biggest piece of advice, however, is to go ahead and order those prints! These are meant to be keepsake images, displayed in your home, not hidden away on your hard drive. Which is why my galleries are set up specifically to make ordering framed prints, enlargements, and archival prints so easy. Not only is ordering directly from your gallery simple, but it’s the most cost effective option for quality prints out there. Turn an everyday print to a piece of art to be cherished for generations. Printed on professional-grade fine art archival paper, fine art prints have a matte appearance with excellent image sharpness and optimal color density and gradation. The thickness and surface texture of these fine art papers provide both substance and beauty. And the pricing is amazing! A 16x24” black gallery frame with white mat for $162?! I promise you won’t find another place to print and frame your images at this quality for this price anywhere else. It’s a no brainer! So what are you waiting for? Register for the next Children’s Portrait Pop Up today!

K. Files Design | Charlotte, NC

We have ALL spent an enormous amount of time at home over the past year, and if you’re like me, you’re constantly brainstorming ways to spruce up your spaces both inside and out. Over quarantine we built a zipline, a raised flower bed, a treehouse platform, and hung a swing…all things to keep the kids busy. But now I’m about ready for some adult outdoor spaces, and I bet you are too! Luckily for you, I have someone you need to meet to help you with those outdoor projects!

I’m so excited to introduce you to Karri Files Paul, the owner and lead designer of K. Files Design, a premier landscape design service in Charlotte, NC. She is NYBG Gardening certified with a knack for creating sustainable spaces, but spent the first half of her career in the fashion industry in New York City! After graduating from Parsons School of Design she spent 16+ years in the world of apparel with amazing brands like Tommy Hilfiger (I know! Tommy Hilfiger! She’s kind of a badass!). After leaving her post as a Design Director at Tommy, Karri made the leap into landscape design when she relocated to her home state of North Carolina. Her eye for design is spot on, her plans are gorgeous, and her attention to detail is impeccable.

We had the opportunity to capture a few images together to help boost her brand, and I am so excited to share them with you. Did you know that good photography is one of the best ways to boost your online image? Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re interested in refreshing your brand imagery!