Last January we hosted the most fabulous boudoir party at an upscale, boutique hotel in Sacramento. Two days, nine women, one "pretty committee", one photographer and whole lot of sultry goodness!

All of the women were thrilled with their images, and LUCKY FOR YOU they are allowing me to share them! I could have done an individual blog post for each of these beauties, but it's wedding season, and I am BUSY! So here is a little peak at just a few of the amazing images that came out of our time together.

While all of these women showed up looking beautiful, we were lucky enough to have two of the best artists in the industry on hand to take these sessions to the next level. Our "pretty committee" was made up of Christi Reynolds, of Christi Reynolds Makeup Artistry and Stylist Jenn Fischer, of Republic Salon in Folsom.

After 9 women in 2 days, we were all pretty wiped out. But it's hard to complain when your job consists of sipping champagne, eating strawberries and cupcakes, and helping someone see just how beautiful they really are! Each one of these ladies walked out of the room with a little extra pep in her step, and I bet she smiled at each person she met that day.

Now on to the good stuff...but make sure to get ALL THE WAY to the end. I'm announcing the dates for my next boudoir party this summer!!

This last image was from the first night. Christi Reynolds was the sole artist for hair and makeup.

My favorite thing about all of these women is that they are REAL WOMEN. They are moms, they are bankers, they are yoga teachers and marketing directors. While they may look like models here, they are just like you and me - working hard every day so they can enjoy the things they love. Each one of these women decided to reward themselves with a gift, which is exactly what a boudoir session is. A gift to yourself.

Make the choice to reward yourself this summer by attending my next boudoir party. The only details I can reveal to you today are the date: July 17th & 18th. Want to be the first to know more details and when you can sign up? Hop on over to my Facebook Fan Page and "Like" my page. Details will be revealed there first! Not on Facebook? No problem, just sign up for my newsletter (contact form is to the right on this page) and you'll be "in the know" in no time!

Until then, stay sexy Sacramento!

I met up with Brandy for some fun graduation photos at UC Berkeley this week. She's graduating from her Masters program and, like most people, has never had professional photos taken. Her dear friend Kate (client of mine and awesome yoga teacher) got her this session as a graduation gift. What a thoughtful gift!

The weather was perfect and the campus provided us with a stunning and diverse backdrop for her session. Here is a sneak peek at our photo adventure!

Enjoy...

Our 2012 Spring Picture Party was such a success this year! Filled all 10 spots and lucked out with gorgeous weather (although it was a tad warm). We started out in the morning with the first 5 families meeting up at Phoenix Park in Fair Oaks, CA. I love this location for it's beautiful oak trees and tall green grass. What I didn't count on were rattle snakes! The warm weather woke them up over the weekend and we had a close call with one of them. After wrapping up the morning sessions, we decided to change locations.

Our evening sessions took place at an old favorite, Powerhouse Park in Folsom. I've worked here many times, but none of my families coming to the later sessions had ever been there. This was perfect, or so I thought! Another rattle snake decided to cross our path, but thankfully he was fully visible and easy to avoid.

Despite the heat, the snakes and the last minute location change, we still had a fantastic day. Thanks to each of you who joined me in capturing a special time in your life, and the life of your child or children. If you missed out, make sure you like my Facebook Fan Page to get updates on our next Picture Party in the Fall.

Until next time, enjoy this peek of my special party guests...

The next set all took place at the Powerhouse Park in Folsom, CA.

Happy Spring!

Spring is finally here! What a great time for family portraits. We celebrated Reagan's 9 month milestone with some fun photos at Red Bridge in Fair Oaks. She is just too cute! Big brother Brodie was a big help in getting his sister to laugh and smile, and he had some great ideas for the photos as well. Check out a little peek at our fun afternoon in the sun!

 

Like me, you probably subscribe to Groupon and Living Social to get discounts on local services, restaurants, and goods. Personally, I have a love/hate relationship with sites like these. I love finding discounts on things I will actually use, such as half-off my favorite sushi restaurant or a tune-up for my bicycle. However, I hate being inticed by deals I don't need or won't use, like that fitness pole dancing class I let expire!

Just about once a week I see a new deal on these sites for a family or boudoir portrait session. Since I offer both of these services, I always click on them to see what they include.  95% of the time I find myself shaking my head in disbelief, wondering how this photographer can make any money on their deal. I do the math and every time it turns out they are working for free or even losing money on the deal. It baffles me because I don't know anyone who wants to work for free; do you?

The other reason I check out these deals is to see the photographer's work. Sometimes it's good, most of the time it's not. New photographers use these sites to help build their business (we've all been there so I'm not hatin' on that). That's one of the reasons the deals are so cheap.

I could go on and on about the benefits and pitfalls to photographers using this massive discount method to get clients, but what I really want to talk about is how using these discounted services can benefit (or harm) you, the consumer.

It's temping to buy these photography deals because they are cheap. If you've done any research on portrait photographers, you have probably found them to be somewhat expensive (the good ones anyway) so why not take that deal? You might get lucky and have a great experience! My advice to you is DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Just because it's cheap doesn't mean it's the photographer for you. Just checking out a website is not enough to know if a photographer is good. Ask to see an entire gallery of someone's session, as well as personal referrals.

I screen all of my clients before agreeing to shoot them. I want to ensure I am the style of photographer they are looking for, and I also want to avoid a problem client. As a consumer, it's important to find the right photographer. After all, you are spending several hours with them during the planning, the shoot itself and the post-shoot meeting. You are also trusting them to capture a milestone in your life; your baby at 6 months old, your hot body at 40, your family before your kids go off to college...the list goes on. These are important moments and the decision to capture them should not rest on a coupon.

You might be reading this and thinking, "she's just jealous because new photographers are taking her business." I can assure you that is not the case. I encourage new photographers to grow and learn and build their business. I teach workshops on these very topics. We all had to start somewhere and I have not forgotten that. In fact, I appreciate these deals because they eliminate the client that I don't particulary want or need for my business. I want lifetime clients; the ones that come back every year, the ones that tell their friends and family about me. I'm a coupon clipper and bargain shopper too, just not when it comes to photography!

So if you're going to take that deal, do the research first! And remember the old saying. "you get what you pay for."

This was such a special session. Danielle and Brian and I all went to high school together so we go way back. Danielle started coming to me for photos when Jack was born, and then of course Sam too. You might remember him as "motorcycle baby"! This session involved the whole family, plus Danielle's mom and her best friends because they are documenting a special time in their lives. You see, Danielle has been battling cancer for about 6 months. When we first heard the news, the only thing I could think to offer was a photo session for her and her family. She finally decided to take me up on my promise and I am so happy she did!

If you want to follow Danielle on her journey, you can check out her personal blog.

For now, enjoy these special moments with an amazing family!

What an amazing weekend! "Weddings 101: A Workshop for Photographers" was a huge success yesterday. I am so thankful for all of those that helped me put this workshop together, and to the attendees for showing up eager and ready to learn!

I have lots of people to thank here. #1 goes to Victoria Flower! She has always been an awesome second shooter and yesterday was no different. Victoria was the best assistant I could have asked for - ordering lunch, taking care of our models, reminding me to give the students a break...oops! Thank you so very much for all of your help. I hope you got some great shots out of it too! I also want to thank The Murer House Foundation for providing the location. What a beautiful place for photos!

Thank you to our real bride and groom, Kristin & Casey, for braving the cool air and letting us boss you around for 2 hours, all the while keeping smiles on your faces and never tiring of kissing each other! Kristin looked absolutely beautiful, thanks to Christie & Bridget at Republic Salon and Blow Out Bar. Amazing hair and makeup talent in these two!

And we can't leave out a crucial element of bride and groom photos...the flowers! Thank you Fiore Fantastico for a beautiful bouquet and boutonniere. So cool that the boutonniere had a magnetic back!

Not only did our attendees learn a ton about wedding photography and build their portfolio, but they took home some amazing prizes & discounts from some of my favorite vendors! Thank you Loktah Natural Media Products for the beautiful DVD/CD cases, Zenfolio for the free trials and annual discount on websites, proofing galleries, shopping carts and blogs, and to Totally Rad Actions for a discount on actions, free trial of your new Rad Lab, and a give away of $150 off one product in your store. We had some very happy students yesterday!

Now on to the fun stuff...photos! All the images of us in the workshop are provided by Victoria Flower.

And now on to some of my favorite shots that I captured at the workshop while I did demos for the students...

This one is a favorite...would love to see it in a large metallic print!

If you'd like to know about our next workshop opportunity, sign up for our newsletter or "Like" us on Facebook to stay up to date! All the links are in the right hand sidebar on this site.

Erin & Parish had dreams of a winter white wedding in South Lake Tahoe. February is usually a great time of year for a snowy wedding in Tahoe, but not this year! We made the most of it by finding a patch of snow for some photos, and found some lush indoor areas at the Embassy Suites.

One of my favorite parts of this wedding was Erin coming down the elevator for the ceremony. Parish couldn't see her because he had his back turned. The whole event was made so special by all the close friends and family in attendance.

The Embassy Suites in South Lake Tahoe did a great job hosting the wedding. The food was delicious and the staff was super helpful. Rev. Dave made the ceremony special and even remembered my request to step out of the photo for the bride and groom kiss! Thanks Dave!

And now on to a little peak at the day (evening reception photos will follow soon). Enjoy!

 

Here's that patch of snow we found!

And a big thanks to Safeway for providing the beautifu red rose bouquets and boutonnieres!

Weddings 101: A Workshop for Photographers!

WHEN: Sunday March 11, 2012 9 am to 3 pm

WHERE: Historic Folsom, CA

Are you a photographer who wants to start photographing weddings? Maybe you've already photographed a few weddings but want to learn more?

Register for The Weddings 101 Workshop with Shoop's Photography!

Q. Who will this workshop benefit?
A. Newbies to Novices - whether you've shot a few weddings or none at all, this workshop is guaranteed to teach you everything you need to know about photographing weddings for a living.

Q. What will this workshop cover?
A. Wedding basics from start to finish, including marketing, the consultation, contracts, the intricacies of the wedding day itself, post-processing, pricing, products and more. The goal is to create raving fans in your brides and grooms so they tell EVERYONE about you!

Q. Will I get to do any actual photography?
A. Yes! We will have a lovely bride and groom model complete with flowers and proper attire to photograph on the grounds of the beautiful Murer House property. Each attendee will get a chance to build their portfolio.

Q. What do I need to have to attend?
A. A digital SLR camera and lens, basic knowledge of how to use your camera, an open mind, and a fun attitude!

This workshop is limited to 10 guests ONLY! You will get one on one attention and lots of shooting time with the models.

The cost to attend is $250 per person. You will only need to photograph one wedding to get a return on your investment! Email amber@shoopsshutter.com to sign up!

Attendees will get exclusive membership in my private online workshop group, plus receive gifts from my favorite vendors including Zenfolio, Loktah, Totally Rad Actions and more!

Find out how Shoop's Photography went from shooting $800 weddings to $4000 weddings and became the #1 Favorite Photographer in Folsom/EDH Style Magazine 3 years in a row!

BONUS!! One lucky attendee will win a the opportunity to assist me at a wedding this year!!

What are you waiting for? Call me at 916-804-8578 or email amber@shoopsshutter.com TODAY!

I felt compelled to stop what I was doing and write this article today. Perusing through Facebook, I see more and more posts lately about people wanting to become photographers. They just got a nice new camera, they love taking photos of their kids, and friends have told them they have a "good eye". While these are all great reasons to love photography and want to do it more, it takes a lot more than that to become a professional photographer.

If any of you reading this have found yourself in this situation, please read on so I can help you to either make a commitment and get started, or keep your day job and continue shooting your kiddos for fun.

So what does it take to become a professional photographer? A fancy camera? A big loan from the bank to buy equipment? A website? Before you run out and start spending money and advertising your services, you need to start from the beginning.

1. Education

This is your #1 investment. If you don't know what you are doing how will you use that fancy camera you just spent your life savings on? A camera is not a photographer, it's a tool photographers use to do their job. How you use your camera will dictate how well you do your job. There are lots of affordable if not free ways to educate yourself. Take a class at your community college, check out books on photography at your local library, ask your favorite professional photographer to mentor you, take a workshop on beginning photography, or try an online course in the subject you are most interested in (camera basics, portrait photography, wedding photography, etc.).

2. Hardware & Software

You just took 100 images of your friend's baby. Now what? Just hand her your memory card and let her copy them? What happens when she posts up a poorly exposed image on Facebook and advertises it as your work? When you get a hair cut, you expect to leave the salon with a nicely styled 'do, right? Your stylist would prefer you look good too, since you are now advertising her work. Your photography client should get the same treatment - it will serve both of you well. So you'll need a computer and an editing program to help you process your images. Whether it's Apple or Windows, Photoshop or Aperture, it's up to your personal preference. So do some research and find what fits your style and budget best. Once you decide, you'll need to go back to step 1 above (education) to learn how to use that software!

Quick side note on cameras & lenses - start with what your budget can handle. You need to master your camera before upgrading to the professional level. Before you drop $2500, you should be sure this is the purchase for you. I recommend renting lenses and other items and trying them out before making the jump!

3. Portfolio

Now that you know how to use your camera, have chosen a concentration (families, weddings, business portraits, pets, etc.) and you have a computer and software to process them, how do you get clients? You need a portfolio! If you're just starting out, ask your friends and family to model for you. It will be good practice and they'll get some nice images out of it. You can find volunteers on Craigslist and Model Mayhem. Most workshops will have models for you to shoot and use the images for your portfolio.

4. Branding & Advertising

Now that you've built up a decent portfolio, it's time to start advertising. Create a Facebook fan page (it's free) or a website. You have lots of options when it comes to websites. Some are free, some will cost thousands. Start out with what fits your budget and build up as your business grows. Create some post cards with a few of your best images and contact info and drop them off at local businesses that serve the type of clients you want to work with. And make sure you have a professional email and voicemail. Asking someone to email you at noahsmommy@aol.com does not look professional. And don't forget about your logo and branding. Think about it - when you see those golden arches, you know it's McDonalds. When you see the red target symbol, you know it's Target. Your brand is you - so create it carefully. I always recommend hiring a professional when it comes to your logo and branding.

5. Service

Remember why you got into photography in the first place? You fell in love with capturing images for others. Don't let it become about getting every client or making a lot of money. It's going to be quite some time before you turn a profit. Listen to your clients and serve them well. But keep in mind; you cannot be the photographer for every person. If they are looking for a different style or service than you offer, suggest they find someone better suited for their needs. It will be best for both parties in the long run.

I started my photography business over 5 years ago. I had studied photography off and on since high school and it was a hobby of mine for as long as I can remember. People started to tell me, "hey you have a good eye, can you take some photos for me?" and so it began...but it's not all about passion and loving to take photos. I spent years trying to serve clients that weren't for me, late nights editing and going blind in front of the computer, tears over an upset client that didn't get what she wanted, empty bank accounts and overdraft charges...it wasn't pretty. But I went out and educated myself (and I continue to do so constantly) and with experience, my business has become a success. I have met some amazing friends, traveled to exotic places, and have been able to work in my pajamas. I have the support of an amazing family and husband. In a nutshell, I feel I am very lucky. But I also know that luck had nothing to do with my success.

So if you still want to become a professional photographer, do yourself and your future clients a favor and start with number 1 - education. This article barely scratches the surface on being a professional photographer, but it should help you get started.

Cheers and Best of Luck!

~Amber

p.s. If it's wedding photography you are interested in, you have to check out my upcoming Wedding Workshop!