Category Archives: Blog
Take a Look Behind the Scenes [Westminster, Maryland Photographer]
By admin on February 10th, 2012
I thought it might be nice for you to see the person behind this business and a quick studio tour, so here it is! These videos also give you a sneak peek at the beautiful products we can offer you for your newborn baby, child or family portrait session. We hope to see you soon in the studio! In the meantime…stay warm!
SusanRiley Photography studio tour Part One
A Snowy Sneak Peek | Owings Mills, MD Baby Photographer
By admin on January 22nd, 2012
This little man was definitely worth the trek out after the first snow of Winter here in Maryland. He was absolutely precious – even if it was a little tricky to get him to sleep. Normally my babies go out like a light, but this little guy just knew he wanted to see what all the fuss was about. When we finally figured out that a pacifier was all he needed, he photographed like a champ! Enjoy these glimpses into this wonderful family!
Why is taking pictures of my kids so hard??
By admin on January 18th, 2012
Have you discovered yet how difficult it is to get your own kids to stand still long enough for you to snap a quick picture? Or, maybe you’ve found (like me) that asking your child to simply be “natural” isn’t in their vocabulary yet. And then there’s this one – which frustrates me the most: the minute your child is in front of someone ELSE’s camera, they are an angel. How irritating is that? It’s almost worse when the person behind the camera says “you have such an easy child – you’re so lucky”. Ha! If they knew the behind-the-scenes trauma of trying to get just ONE nice picture for the family holiday card, they’d go running.
Why is this? Why is taking pictures of our own children so difficult? In my experience, there’s a couple of things at play. While we most certainly can’t align the sun, moon, AND stars, we can at least align a couple of them at any given moment…with a little practice and a little education.
Get in the Mood
Capturing your children when they are simply playing makes for a great photo. If you are constantly bugging your child to “look over here” and “smile!”, they are going to do the exact opposite every time. By trying to force the mood, you’re actually setting yourself up for more frustrations – from both you and your child. Instead, keep your camera handy and just take a couple of pictures when your children are doing what comes naturally – playing! Let them enjoy themselves, stand back and take some pictures from the sidelines. The smiles and joy will be much more natural-looking and real.
Meet them where they are
Lots of times I see parents who try to pose their children in rows or in a certain styles as if these little munchkins could take direction like a grown model. They can’t! Rather than forcing them to stand a certain way or in a certain area, get down on their level and take the pictures of them where they are. If you position yourself well (at about a 45 degree angle) with the light behind your child, and get down to their level, you will get a stunning picture. But remember – move yourself…not your child.
Know your camera
Take the little booklet that came with your camera out and start to read it. Play around with the buttons and take a couple of pictures around your house to see what happens when you change things up. Make notes of settings you like and which ones you don’t. Go online and watch a YouTube video tutorial that someone has done about your camera make and model (there is one for almost every kind of camera). Click pause every now and then and try out the technique they shared. But do ALL of this before ever trying to get a good picture of your child. Children are constantly on the go. If you try to say “stop, right there…wait. I just need to figure out which setting to use….” you are setting yourself up for failure. Kids can’t stay focused that long and you’ve missed your window of opportunity. By knowing your camera before hand, you will be ready when that perfect moment happens.
Don’t forget….sometimes, the picture is just not meant to be. We’ve all had time with our kids that they become a big blur, or they are over exposed, or their faces are completely dark. It happens! But if you work on the 3 big items above, they will be less likely to happen and you will be more likely to get a picture you love.
Want to find out more great tips like these? Join us for our Mommy and Me Shutterbug Class on February 18th from 10AM-1PM. There’s food, plenty of easy-to-use info, a babysitter for your children, and FREE GIFTS from businesses like Office Depot and Bladerunner Hair and Nail Salon. Plus, everyone gets a professional digital master image of themselves with their child/children. There are limited spots, so be sure to sign up for yours today!
Custom by Choice
By admin on January 11th, 2012
Have you ever wondered why custom photography costs so much? Or what the “real” difference is between the chain stores and custom photographers? Well, this 20 minute reveals all of that and more. This is an honest video about the difference between custom photography and those chain stores…by someone who actually has used those chain stores! (Yep…even I fell prey to their trap) Learn more about what makes custom portraiture stand out, what’s included in the boutique experience, and why time and again, you’ll be a person who is Custom by Choice!
A Family Affair [Westminster, MD Photographer]
By admin on January 7th, 2012
I had such a wonderful time with this family today! With 5 kids under the age of 12, this mini-session was definitely high energy. But that’s what I love! Every single one of them were such a joy to work with today and I had a ton of fun. It’s a great experience when kids just feel so comfortable, they interact with you immediately. Enjoy their little sneak peek!
Shutterbug Session! [Maryland Photography Class]
By admin on January 7th, 2012
Don’t forget to register for this fantastic event! On February 18th, I’ll be hosting a Shutterbug Session: Learning how to use your camera and edit your photos. This class is designed to help anyone who has a camera and just wants to take some nice pictures of their kids and family. Did you get a new camera for Christmas and want to use it, but have no idea what all the buttons mean? Or maybe you have a point and shoot camera but want to get some beautiful images out of it. Then this event is for YOU!
This class is only 3 hours and you walk away with a bunch of amazing FREE gifts! Here’s the rundown of the day:
1.) Custom-designed tutorials for you and your camera
2.) Brunch items and coffee to chat with other moms and new friends
3.) Babysitter for the kids while we work
4.) A swag bag with free gifts from local vendors
5.) A free digital image of you and your child/children
So what are you waiting for? Register using the link below, grab your camera, your kids, and a laptop (if you have one) and join me for our Shutterbug Session on February 18th!
New Year, Great {News}Letter!
By admin on January 4th, 2012
Welcome to 2012! I have some exciting news for all of you and can’t wait to share all of the updates that are coming. The great thing about a blog, facebook and twitter page is that I can provide this information quickly and in stunning quality to you as my valued clients. But, I believe in gifting the people who so generously gift me throughout the year.
That’s why I’ve created the SusanRiley Photography Newsletter for subscribers. This studio newsletter comes out only once per month, but is chock full of great tips for taking pictures at home, new classes available, coupons and even free gifts. Want to see?
As a preview of what’s to come, here’s the January Newsletter!
This is the only time that the studio newsletter will be available online. After this, all newsletters will only be available to current clients and email subscribers. Ready to finally get a useful and fun email with valuable coupons, free gifts and resources once per month? Just sign up below and it’s yours!
Winter Lookbook | Maryland Child and Family Photographer
By admin on December 18th, 2011
As we wind down to enjoy the Christmas holidays, I wanted to take a moment to talk about winter at the studio. Typically, I hear many parents express concerns with booking appointments through the winter months because of the cold weather. But, to be honest, these make some of the BEST portraits of the year! In the winter, there’s a natural rosy glow to everyone, the light outside is g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s and families tend to get closer together to keep warm. All of these elements combine to create some amazing photographs. Plus, once we go indoors, the fun really begins and we get to capture those “real” moments of laughing, baking, playing and cuddling that are a part of our lives but rarely get photographed.
Don’t let this wonderful winter season slip by without some portraits of your family. To give you some inspiration, here’s a Winter Lookbook of some of my favorite images from over the past few years. Book a family, child or newborn session this season and fall in (warm) love with winter’s chill all over again.
Just a little Z’s | Hanover, PA Child Photographer
By admin on December 4th, 2011
What a perfect weekend for pictures! I joined this fantastically hip family to capture some beautiful images of their 11 month old son and we had a wonderful time. Little Z played in the leaves, toddled all over the place and gave me some really adorable toothy grins at all the right moments. Plus, it turns out that mom and dad are foodies and even shared a new restaurant that I’m so excited to try with my husband. One of the best parts of this job are getting to meet such generous people – I feel like I always walk away with more than I brought to the session! Thanks little Z and family for a fun way to start my morning. These portraits are just a small taste of our time together – enjoy!
