Monthly Archives: October 2012

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For the past three days, the news reports have been filled with news on hurricane Sandy: potential flooding, power outages, business and school closings and the effect of several storm systems converging. As a photographer living in the coastal town of East Hampton, New York, I am well aware of the effects of storms. A week ago I was photographing the changing the leaves. This morning, as the wind was building, I drove through the town of East Hampton and visited two of my favorite portrait beach locations. The peak of the storm is supposed to hit later today, but already the surf is growing and approaching the parking lots. The huge gusts of windy made standing still for photographing a challenge. This is not a day for portraiture but a great day for photographs of the surf!!

Photographs of the effects of the approaching hurricane Sandy

Photographs of the effects of the approaching hurricane Sandy

Photographs of the effects of the approaching hurricane Sandy

 

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Wedding photography is encompassing more aspects of a wedding couple’s relationship than ever before. There is the surprise proposal, the engagement portrait session, the rehearsal dinner, the wedding, and the Sunday brunch.  There are four reasons I love engagement photography!!

1. The session can happen when the light is at its best in a location of your choice.

2. There is plenty of time to relax and create playful images of couples doing what comes most natural.

3. It gives me, the photographer, a chance to get to know the couple before the big day.

4. If the wedding day has a tight schedule where portraiture is given only a small amount of time, in an engagement session, you can create very romantic portraits with no time constraints.

I was fortunate to have the pleasure of photographing Liz and Adam this past weekend at my favorite East Hampton beach. I hope you enjoy these photographs.

Engagement portraits at the beach

Engagement Portrait Session at the beach

If time allows, plan an engagement portrait session along with your wedding day celebration!! If you haven’t proposed yet, check out an earlier blog I wrote on “The Proposal”

https://debkalasportraits.com/engagement-photography-secret-proposal/

 

 

 

 

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As a portrait photographer, I find that many of my clients plan their yearly portrait sessions around making a Holiday Card. Sending out Holiday Cards plays a large role in their family holiday celebrations. There are endless choices and possibilities so how do you decide what’s best for your family? I have a list of five suggestions that can simplify this process.

1. Choose the photograph: Do you want a photograph of your whole family or just the children? Many cards we design can use two or more photographs. You may want a photograph of the whole family on the front of the card and a photograph of just the children inside. Perhaps there are some active playful photographs of your children where two or three tell a story. Sometimes we create a bar of three small photographs for a mini story.

Designing your holiday photo cards

2. Paper Styles: At my studio, I offer a slightly textured watercolor card in white or ivory, a smooth fine quality white and ivory stock paper, a one-sided extra thick card stock in multiple colors and a coated linen texture. Choosing the color paper depends on the photograph you are using. Is it a warm toned photograph with lots of sunshine? Ivory can be a great choice! Maybe everyone was wearing an outfit that goes better on white stock. Each photograph and card has to be considered on its own terms.

Designing your holiday card, textured papers

3. Holiday Card Greetings: Greetings fall under different categories, religious, non-religious, or the unique use of a favorite quotation. Part of a song or poem that has specific meaning to the family or relates to the photograph can be used. Sometimes you can search the internet or browse through a book store or card shop for a greeting. If you would prefer, email me and I will send you a list I have complied over the years.

“The world is so full of a number of things,

I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”

Robert Louis Stevenson

4. Names: The woman’s name first, man’s name, then surname. Children’s names should appear below their parents. The word “and” and “&” are interchangeable and a matter of personal preference.

Jane and Robert Smith

John, Kevin and Samantha

Or

The Smith Family

Jane, Robert, John, Kevin & Samantha

If you have a pet, don’t forget to include their name. Sometimes we make paw prints for pets not photographed but a part of the family.

5. Return Address: The home address is written in the same font style as the text inside the card. Either the address is written out or the family’s name may be included like:

The Smith Family

22 Indian Hill Road

East Hampton, NY 11937

 Designing your holiday photo card

Most of all have fun creating your card. Let the professionals help you and do it early so you can have all of your envelopes addressed by Thanksgiving Weekend!!