Boudoir & Milk Bath

Portraits

    Ladies!

Have you thought about what you're getting your man for Valentine's Day?

Want something different this year? 

    Fist, let's go over what I'm offering this year. Boudoir and milk bath portraits are a great way to not only take care of that Valentine's Day gift, but to have an everlasting memory of your confidence and yeah, show off a little. 

    Some basics if you're interested. For one day only, Saturday, February 6th, at the Groom Inn in Greensboro, I will be set up to offer these portraits. The sample photos are just quick ones I took of myself at home, so no, they do not have to be in black and white, nor will the background be as dull. The Executive Suit at the Inn is the room I have reserved and it is Gorgeous!!! 

(Here's a link to the room if you want to check it out.) The Groom Inn
 

Now you're thinking, "Tell me more!"

    Your session will be one hour and if you want to bring a friend and share the time, please feel free to! I've been on your side of the camera for this type of shoot before and taking a friend with me helped both of us feel more relaxed and we got to joke around with each other and it was just a great experience for both of us. If you decide to bring someone, please know time will only permit for two outfits each. If you want to book the hour for yourself, please feel free to bring three outfits. The milk bath photos are optional, but do not cost extra. If you looked at the room from the link above, you will see the large garden tub, perfect for these types of shots. Flowers will be provided to float on top of the water, so if there are any allergies, please let me know ahead of time. 

What do I need to bring?

    You are responsible for all of your outfits and any personal items, ie, shoes, jewelry, etc. I have a black satin robe and a long strand of pearls you are welcome to borrow, but anything else is up to you. If you are planning on doing milk bath photos, please think about what you want to wear in the tub. (this will count as one of your outfits) Please bring a towel and a full change of clothes to wear after the bath. I will provide a hair dryer, and an extra towel to help you dry off. 

Ok! Book Me!

    I will need a deposit of $50 to hold your spot. Sessions will start at 4pm on Saturday with thirty minutes between each session for tidying up, draining the tub, (yes, each session will have a fresh bath made), and of course because of Covid, the room will be sanitized between each customer. 

    The remaining $100 is due before your session starts, either that day, or in advance. I will also need a model release signed, which I will email you so you can go over it, but will have physical copies with me that day for you to fill out. 

    You can email me at: 

Williamson.photography@yahoo.com

or call me at:

(336) 953-9896

And of course, feel free to ask any questions. ~Jan

    

My "Why"

Why?

     Let me start by introducing myself since this is my first "official" blog. For those that don't know me, my name is January. (No, I wasn't born in January, I was actually due in November. But that's a another story for another day.) I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, best friend, God-mother, niece, granddaughter and some would say "a hot mess" at times. I come from a small town and a tight-knit-family. I love photography, genealogy and learning about the past. (I also have other interests and hobbies, but that's another blog or two later.) 

     I bring up the genealogy because this is part of my "why". My paternal grandmother started a book years ago that I have since taken over filling in missing parts. I have a picture of my great-great-great-great grandparents, not many people I know can say that. 

John & Sarah Brown circa 1860

     If you can't tell by the picture, they weren't wealthy. The majority of my ancestors were farmers or potters, while a few were shoe or furniture makers. My ancestors understood the importance of having their picture taken to document their life and they saved up so they could. Even if it was just once in their life, they knew the importance of it. They wanted to leave their mark. They saw the value in preserving their legacy so they could be remembered by their great-great-great-great granddaughter over 100 years later. (I'm just that important ;) 

     I have spent the last several months pondering how I wanted to label my business, and what message I want to send. Why do I want to be a photographer so badly? What difference can I make? How can I stand out in a saturated market? Why did God give me this desire for so long? I always wanted to be a photographer but have had a difficult time answering the questions above.
    Well, at 38 years old, I finally have my answer: I want to be a visual story teller through pictures. Everyone has stories they want to tell. Just like my ancestors, I value and understand the importance of photography. I want to make sure that everyone has photos of themselves that they can leave behind as a representation of who the were for future generations. I want to help them tell their stories.

My grandfather (child), his father, brother and family friend.

     It's a simple picture: four guys with stringed instruments. Though as simple as it is, it tells a story. I never knew my grandfather as he died when my Dad was 14, but it's through pictures and the stories that they tell that help me feel connected to my heritage.

When was the last time your family had their story told with pictures?
What story do you want to tell through imagery?

Modeling/Acting Head Shots

*Photo Credit: Jeanna Beasley*

When going into acting/modeling, head shots are your #1 need for building your resume. My daughter (pictured above) started down this road several years ago. Although she decided to not pursue it, we still learned a few things that I feel will be helpful to someone starting out.

Your photo must look like you. For children, head shots are suggested every six months. Once someone has stopped growing, once a year to every other year is usually good. If you change in any way from your photo, it is good to either attach a snap shot to the resume, or to write "Has Braces" or whatever the change is, so the casting director or those auditioning you will be aware of the change. It is best to keep your hair color/length the same also.

Makeup is one thing we heard a lot of different opinions on when we would ask. Everyone had a different opinion. My best suggestion is, have as much on as you would if you went to an audition. A lot of makeup is usually frowned upon for someone young. The above head shot is not the best example, as we feel the eye makeup is a little too heavy. Natural lips, and natural eye shadow work best from what I've seen.

Clothes are something that could hurt you if you don't choose them carefully. The above picture is not a good example for that reason. The yellow lace detail on the back of her shoulder is a distraction. Do not wear anything low cut if you're young, and no matter the age, don't wear a tank top or something that breaks the eye away from your face. (Notice how the yellow strap is just between her face and shoulder. We should have put a longer sleeve on her to cover that up)

Jewelry is a big no-no also. We were not planning on using this picture as a modeling picture when we first took it, so that's one reason why I am using it to explain a lot of the "don'ts". 

Now, what is right about this picture? Her expression, hair, composition and lighting. Most modeling/acting portfolios have a straight faced (blank expression) and a laughing or smiling face expression. Both of those, along with a full body shot should go on your Comp Card. (more on that later)

Her hair is styled natural, and out of her face. In all honesty, it could have been pulled back a little bit farther if not put into a pony tail. When it comes to modeling, I know they want you to audition with your hair pulled back so they can see a clear view of your face. 

The way she is composed is great. Not all shots need to be done this way though. There needs to be a straight on shot for one of your basic shots. 

The lighting is perfect also. You don't want any harsh lighting, or shadows. Soft, even light is key to a great head shot.

Comp Cards (as mentioned above) are what you give out, almost like a large business card. I will shoot the three basic poses needed for a comp card, along with some fun shots for you to have in case directors ask. 

*Photo Credit: Angela Owens

Little bit of a shameless plug here ... If you or your child would like to gain some experience modeling and "get your foot in the door", ask me about my friend's system.
(This is my daughter's favorite court that she's ever been on!)

Outdoor Fall Pictures

Note: Before you read this "wonderful blog post", please note, this is my first one lol... Be easy! ;)
Now the good stuff...

I'm writing this for mainly my clients for their upcoming sessions at a beautifully historic location in North Carolina called Old Salem, but anyone wanting tips on outdoor portraits are welcome to read along!

First of all, clothes. Solid clothing is ideal for any portrait session. Patterns and prints can be distracting, so keep it simple and let you stand out in a picture, not your outfit.

Please wear good walking shoes. Although we are allowed to drive from location to location, I would still encourage good walking shoes. The sidewalks at Old Salem are exactly that, Old! There are areas where tree roots have broken through and if you're not careful, you could trip. Also, we will probably be walking in gardens and yards, so closed toe shoes would be ideal.

Family sessions with small kids are one of my favorite things to shoot. I love getting candid shots as well as the staged ones. Just remember a snack, and maybe their favorite toy to help them feel more comfortable. A change of clothes may be something you want to throw in, just because you never know. (You might want to throw in a snack for the hubs too... we all know how they can get when they get hangry ;)

Lighting is something we photographers are always assessing and we're always having to change our settings, positions, or maybe the way you are to get the picture we're aiming for. With that being said, outdoor, especially after the sun is up and before the sun starts to set, is pretty tricky... yeah... like almost all day lol. If the sun is bright, shady spots are going to be our best friend! If it's over cast and there isn't much hard lighting, then you've pretty much struck outdoor lighting gold! An overcast day is pretty much a photographer's dream.

Let's all pray for an overcast day and beautiful fall colors!