Family Fall Fun Photographs

Session Recap: Central Park for their first family photographs

When a client returns to me, not only is it super fun because we already know each other, but it tells me that I served them well the previous session and they are looking for the same boutique, custom service again for their printed portraits.

Central Park family photographs

I photographed baby for his Newborn photographs and now, less than a year later, it was time for the family's first session together.

Mom, Dad, baby, and pup all got their best coordinated (with my help) clothes on and met me at Central Park. I had walked the park entrance they like the previous week and got Mom's favorite locations chosen ahead of the session. With all of this prep to make sure it was an easy session, we were able to concentrate on keeping baby and pup happy and looking at the camera.

Central Park Fall Family Photographs

What are you most looking forward to for your photography session?

Mom said before the session that she was most looking forward to "having our first family pictures taken" and we absolutely achieved that goal. Previous to this, all that Mom and Dad could share online or with family were selfies. They now have professional family photographs of all four of them together!

Central Park Fall Family Photographs

What three words or phrases would you use to describe your loved one(s) in the session?

We channeled their desired "smiley, supportive, & cuddly" vibes throughout the session. We had planned ahead and the parents brought pup's favorite squeaker toys for me to have in my pocket (or right about the camera) — the family was able to cuddle and concentrate on each other while I made sure everyone was looking at the camera. And just LOOK at their smiles, so natural and happy.

Central Park Fall Family Photographs

Why did you decide to invest in portraits? Why are they important to you?

Not only did I follow up because I knew baby was approaching the 10-12 month mark (so fast), but both parents knew it was time for a session too. "To remember this time in our lives since it goes by so quickly." I have seen the family in the neighborhood a few times in between the newborn session and this Fall session — I got to watch as baby got bigger, he started to hold his head up on his own, his eyes got brighter, his hair got lighter, and both parents went back to work. Time slips away and pretty soon he will be walking, talking, and a bit more squirmy for photographs — which is why I love the 10-12 month age for family photographs as babies are still happy in parents' arms but can see and understand to look at the camera.

Central Park Fall Family Photographs

Where do you plan to display your final custom printed artwork?

Fall family photographs are a GREAT time to get double use of your professional photographs. Not only can you get the beautiful wall artwork for your home (and maybe grandparents' homes) but you can also get Holiday cards. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa, calendar New Year, Luna New Year, or more, it is a great time to send out some happy snail mail to friends and family. I am also a graphic designer so I custom design holiday cards and can do the entire process for you (design, print, stamp, and mail). Read more about custom holiday cards in this blog post. This family's goal was "making holiday cards and a print for a frame" and I am so excited to deliver these products for them.

Central Park Fall Family Photographs

Your turn?

Follow me on Instagram or sign up for my newsletter so that when it is your time for family photographs, you know who to contact.

Comment below, I would LOVE to know which is your favorite final photograph from this family's Central Park Fall photography session.

4 Reasons Why You Need a Professional Headshot Photograph

For everyone from college to retirement, an updated headshot keeps you relevant in the working world.

Headshots are a professional necessity as important as your resumé, LinkedIn profile, and interview skills. While most jobs do not ask for a headshot (or even legally cannot ask), if you have a LinkedIn profile, they will see your profile photograph. Just like your resumé, your headshot gives a first impression to your potential employer or business partners, and a professional headshot versus a cropped group photo or selfie can instantly show your professionalism in the workplace, as well as a bit of your personality.

There are a few times in your life when you absolutely need a new professional headshot and I am here to help you prepare for those moments.

#1 - College internship seeker

Your (maybe first ever) professional headshot is an important one! You are likely young and starting your LinkedIn profile from scratch. Set aside some money (or save monthly during freshman/sophomore year) to hire a professional photographer to capture your headshot. It is also possible your college is offering a headshot session for a reduced rate, be sure to sign up for a slot. This is an investment that will last you a few years and have a lot of eyes on it.

A few tips for your college (and all) headshots:

• Be sure to pay for at least two images, sometimes a photographer will give you a dark and a light background, or a studio and an outdoor session, or simply offer two poses like straight on and quarter profile.

• Wear a solid colored top, no pattern. We want the photograph to focus on your face, not your outfit. Keep it simple, and semi-professional (a suit or blazer is not necessary at college age).

• Smile — practice in the mirror before your session, do you like a certain smile more than another?

• Know if you have a side you prefer of your face. We only see ourselves in the mirror or selfies — have a friend take your photo with their phone and help you determine if you have a preference which usually has to do with the way your wear your hair or the symmetry of your face.

• Deep breaths, the photographer will make your comfortable and a headshot session is usually very very quick, it will be over faster than it took you to get ready.

• Save your headshot files in multiple places with keywords that you can search your computer easily for them, these are not something you want to lose or screenshot later.

#2 - Remove the cap & gown

Congratulations, you graduated from college or a masters program, it is time to go out and find a role which also means it is time to update your headshot. You likely have aged since your first headshot in freshman/sophomore year of college and you want to look "old enough" to resumé reviewers (many have unconscious bias towards age even for incoming roles).

A few tips for graduate headshots:

• You can dress a bit more professionally, which may vary depending on the career you are entering. A tie, suit, blazer, or blouse would look nice but not necessary for all roles, however still stick to solid colors in general (a tie can have a soft pattern).

• Look the part — do some research before your headshot session to see what people working at your potential companies are wearing in their headshots on LinkedIn. Be sure to add and message them after you update your headshot.

• This headshot could last you up to 5 years so be sure to save in the same places on your computer as your internship search headshots and the same keywords.

#3 - Each company, each year

Every large company has an internal email and messaging system, plus people systems that allow others to see a profile photograph of you. Each company 10+ employees should offer annual headshot days for employees to have consistent headshots, for new employees to join in, and for any trans employees to have their identity affirmed at work.

Consistent headshots at companies could be on a colored background specific to the company (mine would be purple, right?), with the company's building or office in the background, wearing company clothing (like the fashion industry) or with the company logo on it.

Tips for companies supplying employee headshots:

• Keep it consistent year over year, therefore not every employee needs a new headshot every year, only new hires — keep a consistent photographer for this

• For new hires needing consistent headshots, supply examples ahead of time and day-of so each employee can see how to pose for consistency

• If you do change your headshots, clear your team's calendars so they are available to all get their headshots taken

• Have a make-up day in case you have employees out sick or on leave

#4 - Every 5 years

Whether you are looking for a new job, opening your own business, or staying in your role, be sure to update your headshot every 5 years or so. While we don't all age or change much how we look over every 5 year period, it is likely some things have changed like fashion, hairstyles, makeup, and more. Set a reminder in your calendar on the day of your headshot for 5 years in the future to schedule another one.

Are you ready to schedule your professional headshot?

Find a local photographer who can achieve the style you are looking for at your current needs. Are you in the New York City area or Northwest Arkansas? Check out Hannah Golden Photographs for personal or company headshots.

Let me know in the comments, when was your last headshot taken?

How To Get the Best Photos With Your Pet (That Are NOT Selfies)

A professional photographer's guide to Pet Photography

Plus how to overcome the task of getting your pet comfortable with and to look at the camera.

How many photos do you have of your pets? I am sure the answer is infinite because we all take pictures of our loved ones, especially our dogs, cats, etc. all of the time. Your phone's photo app is full of pet photos from them sleeping an adorable way, doing something silly, playing, and more.

But how often do you get photographs WITH your pet, not just of them? And are they almost all selfies? If you have another family member take the photo, how often does your sweet pet look at the camera? I am willing to bet maybe once, but most likely they are looking at you beside them, not the other person.

As an example, let's picture a scenario — you are sitting on your sofa with you pup, cuddling and loving each other. Your partner/roommate/child/friend/parent/guardian/other-fabulous-person walks into the room and sees this cute cuddle time and wants to get a photograph of you and pup. The best photographs of living subjects feature their eyes, so your person calls the pup's name to try to get the pup to look at the camera. Pup may look once then back at you. Pup may move from the cute position or leave to go greet the other person. Pup may not be interested at all. Your person may have gotten one or two quick snaps, if they were lucky. So what do you do?

The easiest solution is to hire a professional pet photographer to get those perfect photographs of you with your pet, but until then, here are a few tips on how to get the best photos with your phone of you and your pet. Plus you can use these tips when you do hire a professional too.

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Professional Pet Photographer's Tip #1 — Patience

Do not pick up your pet and hold them or place them on your lap if this is not normal for you.

Do not run after your pet to try to get them back after they leave the photo session.

Do not drag your pet or move them unwillingly into place.

The key to getting the best photographs is patience.

Patience to allow your pet to come to you naturally.

Patience to let your pet have a break from photos and get a snack, water, or a nap.

Patience (and flexibility) to photograph wherever the pet is safe and happy rather than going to a dedicated space.

Patience is also key in getting a pet to look at the camera.

Pets tend to face towards their owners, not away (which is where the camera is). Some pets, like super smart pups, are easier to get their attention to the person holding the camera rather than the person holding them. However I have cats and can tell you, it is NOT easy to get a cat to look anywhere specific at all. Most people tend to ask pets to look somewhere by calling their name or forcing their face towards the camera, but patience is key in letting them look at their own pace and desires.

I suggest wait for you pet to be ready and happy to look at the camera (with some additional tips up your sleeve).

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Professional Pet Photographer's Tip #2 — Go To Your Pet

All pets have their favorite places to play, to nap, and to feel safe. Note these before you grab your camera.

Instead of letting your pet come to you, go to them where you already know they are happy. Do they have a favorite chair or bench to sleep on? Do they not like to be held but love when you are on the floor with them? Do they like to be in a basket, on the counter, or in a pet bed?

Setup your space around where they are happy. If you can clean up the area behind their favorite space for it to have minimal distractions, your photo will focus more on your pet than the home items behind them.

Once your pet finds their favorite safe space, pose by them and rejoice in the perfect, happy setup of your pet and you.

Need them to look at the camera or know how to pose with them? I have got you covered below.

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Professional Pet Photographer's Tip #3 — Eyes on the Prize

Gather your pet's absolute favorite toys to bring to the photo session. Have your camera person hold up your pet's favorite toy and your pet's eyes will immediately find it (located by the camera). I suggest toys that make noises or lights, something flashy or their favorite to play with (but does NOT make them move like something they play fetch with).

Also have treats on hand to reward good behavior. If you have the camera person hold the bag of treats and shake by the camera, this starts the connection of treats to camera. Have your camera person carefully approach, offer a treat where the pet is located, and retreat for a photo.

Catch eyes, reward, photo, repeat.

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Professional Pet Photographer's Tip #4 — Poses with Your Pet

You have a few options here depending on your pet, however key to all photos with your pet is to interact with them.

Pet them calmly, give them head scritches, nuzzle into them with your face, kiss their head, your face on their belly, anything that you usually do and is not out of the norm. Do NOT upset them by doing something new, you want to keep them as calm and happy as possible.

Pose One: If you followed Tip #2, you are with your pet in their favorite place. The best poses are when your face is close to your pet's face. If your pet is on the ground, you go to the ground. If they are on a chair, you kneel beside them. Your head should be within one foot of their head.

Pose 2: If you have a super smart or calm pet and did not need to follow Tip #2 and are able to hold your pet wherever you want to, then you have more pose options. Remember to always keep their face within one foot of your's—the closer and more touching, the more the connection and love is shown between you both.

Pose 3: A calm pet or one that you are silly with all the time will be able to be silly in photographs. Can you hold the pet in a unique position like a baby, like the lion king presentation, on your shoulder, or something else that you feel is quirky to you both? Highlight your relationship with these fun poses.

As always, listen to your pet's needs and do not push if they are uncomfortable. Breaks are great. And always treats as thank them for being a model.

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Professional Pet Photographer's Tip #5 — Hire a Professional

Awesome, you have practiced all of the tips above and have gotten some fantastic photos (hopefully) with your pet. Were they exactly what you wanted or do you want more? Were they all solo shots and you want photographs with all of the humans or multiple pets in your home? Tried a tripod and realize the pet doesn't look at the camera or gets bored easily? These all may require a professional to come in.

If you have already been utilizing the above four tips, your pet will be ready for a professional to come in and get new photographs with you.

When you hire someone outside of your family and friends, you should add in time for the pet to meet and TRUST the photographer, the professional camera, and any other photo gear your photographer may utilize like reflectors, lights, and more. Plan for a pre-session meeting in which your pet meets the photographer and understands they are trustworthy and the person that gives a lot of treats. Then when your photographer returns a few days later, your pet is ready to look to your photographer for treats.

Your professional pet photographer can also create custom artwork of your pets like macro photos of your pet's nose, eyes, paws, and more. They can also help you with printing high-quality artwork of you and your pets on canvas, metal, or wood, as well as framed prints, albums, holiday cards, and more.

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Looking to hire a professional pet photographer in NYC or NWArkansas? Check out Hannah Golden Photographs at www.hannahgoldenphotographs.com for custom photographs in your home with your pet.

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Share below in the comments your favorite tips or how these helped you get great photographs with your pet.