Kelli Brewer Photography

Kelli Brewer Photography is expanding!

2012-02-16T21:03:00.001-05:00

That's right, Kelli Brewer Photograph is expanding! Am I adding a full-time assistant? Moving into a studio space? No - I'm expecting a baby!

Congrats! When are you due?
Thank you! My expected due date is August 7, 2012. That's right - I'll be nice and ripe during the hottest months of the year here in the DC area. I think I'll get a head start on getting rid of the baby weight by sweating it off...

What does this mean for your business?
The biggest change is that I will reduce the number of sessions I take on come Spring. I will limit myself to 2-3 sessions a month, so when things start to warm up and I "reopen" for the season, you'll want to book your sessions early to ensure availability!

Will you be taking a maternity leave? Will you return to your business after the baby??
I anticipate beginning my maternity leave the last week of June. This gives me just a little over a month to prepare for the arrival of my 2nd child, whose gender has yet to be determined. I anticipate - and hope - to return to actively shooting sometime in September. I hope that will enable me to work with so many wonderful families again in preparation for the fall and holiday card photos! =) Of course, this is all wishful thinking and many variables could change these plans at any time.

It's been a big change for me to experience pregnancy with another one already running around. It couldn't have worked out better that I've been able to experience the hardest months of pregnancy during the quiet, albeit mild, winter season. I look forward to working with you in the Spring and keeping you posted on baby Brewer, 2.0!

Friday 5

2012-02-10T13:37:00.000-05:00

1. I am considering starting a photography business. What kind of hidden costs are there to photographers?

As I have just recently finished my taxes for this past year, I can tell you there are A LOT. I wish it were as simple as having a nice camera and finding people willing to pay you for taking their pictures.

Here is just a short list of some hidden costs that go into running a business:

- Web hosting, domain renewal (aka kellibrewer.com)
- Advertising
- Paper products (brochures, packaging, contracts, stickers, branding, etc.)
- Online gallery hosting for clients
- Commission fees paid to photo printer - The cost of prints from client purchases, shipping, boutique packaging, etc.
- Camera equipment and rentals
- Self-employment and other taxes
- Gas and mileage to/from shoots
- Accounting fees
- PPA membership, equipment/business insurance

and more!

2. How long have you been shooting for?

I tend to answer this differently from time to time, but if I am being honest, I have only shot professionally for about a year. I spent a few years building my portfolio after shooting the wedding of my good friends. I did a few sessions here and there to gain more experience, but it wasn't until after the birth of my daughter that I really started putting my name out there and making this a business venture instead of a hobby.

3. What do you look for in another photographer? What kind of photographer would you hire?

I wonder how other photographers would answer this, but I personally look for someone with a style similar to mine. I love the look of vintage photos and I think effects can be really pretty, but they can also really date a photo. I tend to gravitate towards photos that have more timeless coloring and qualities to them.

4. When will you begin scheduling clients for the spring and summer?

The winter has been super mild this year here in the DC area! I am hoping to start entertaining session bookings in late March and early April. It really depends on whether or not this great weather continues and when Spring temperatures will make their arrival! I am definitely looking forward to getting out there and shooting again!

5. I'm a pretty new photographer and I am considering taking a workshop. The only problem is that it's $1800. That seems like a lot of money. Do you have any experiences with workshops?

Now, I will preface this by first saying I have never taken a workshop that demanded that much money, but I can't imagine what you would be taught that is worth that much money... Unless Wolfgang Puck is catering the "provided lunch", I think you can definitely find more cost effective workshops in your area, or better yet, online workshops.

I have taken an online workshop with Crave Photography that I was really happy with. I feel like I learned a lot in regards to post processing, and I love watching other photographers workflows (this is what they're most secretive about). Workshop Jungle also has a great list of online and local workshops - I would definitely look into some of those listed. They are very reasonable and cover the entire spectrum of talent and experience.

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Gwen Turns 1 - Dumfries, Virginia Photographer

2012-02-05T14:14:00.000-05:00

It is hard to imagine it's already been a year since I photographed Gwen and her parents for her newborn session. We followed up with a few additional sessions throughout her first year, and this was the end result - she's ONE! Happy Birthday Gwen!

Emily & James Engagements

2012-01-18T17:49:00.000-05:00

In December I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing Emily and James, who are set to be married in the Washington, D.C. LDS Temple. They were so great to work with, especially when I needed to reschedule due to being ill. Emily hails all the way from Australia! Her family will be flying in for the big day and I can't wait to meet everyone. James, originally from Michigan, seems like such a keeper. They were both flexible and laid back but gave me plenty of direction and ideas for how they wanted their session and ultimately their wedding coverage to go. I can't wait to see them in a few more months and share the images from their wedding day!

Friday 5

2012-01-10T17:06:00.000-05:00

1. What kind of insurance do you use to protect your equipment?

As a member of the Professional Photographers of America, I have insurance provided by PhotoCare that covers my equipment loss due to fire, theft or my equipment breaking. I am also enrolled in the Indemnification Trust program, which protects me in the event of digital image data loss, my inability to be at an event or session at a certain time, missed images, and even client dissatisfaction. It feels good to be protected!

2. What piece of equipment would you buy that wouldn't have a place in your camera bag on a daily basis?

Hmmm... this is tough. I love a fisheye lens, but their uses are limited, as they don't work well for portraits. Also, I'd love a super-wide lens. Mostly for taking pictures of my home and my DIY projects. Again, a wide angle lens would never work for portraiture, maybe weddings, but the cost vs. use would be too great. I'd rather invest in equipment that would benefit me from a business standpoint.

3. What is your least and most favorite aspect of shooting a wedding?

The least favorite? The pressure! A wedding cannot be rescheduled, so the fear of my becoming ill, getting stuck in traffic, or anything going wrong is a giant stressor. As for on the job, missing a shot, missing a "moment" - I can only be in so many places at once. The long hours are tough, but I am grateful that all of my couples have taken care of me! They always make sure I am fed at the reception and enjoy myself! The best part of course is being part of so many intimate moments for a couple on their wedding day. I love being with the bride before the ceremony. I love being there to document the first time a groom sees his new bride. Also - I love the food! Who doesn't love a taste of wedding cake as part of their job??

4. Why is it that you no longer include the digital files in your package?

It is my goal to provide my clients with the best final product that I can deliver. I simply cannot do that by giving away my images to be printed by unprofessional photo labs. While they are no longer included in my package to clients, they are available for purchase at very competitive rates. It is still possible to obtain the digital images of your favorite poses from your session!

5. What are your thoughts on the new D4 camera body, just announced by Nikon?

More than I paid for both my current camera bodies and my husband's used car COMBINED. Not in my future, let's leave it at that! Someday... when I strike oil.

Learn from my mistakes!

2012-01-05T14:04:00.000-05:00

There are a few things I hold most dear to me. These are the things I dread losing. My husband, my daughter of course, and -- my computer. In such a technology centered world, don't you find yourself lumping in your computer, cell phone, or cameras into your prized possessions? A few weeks ago, the worst happened - I thought I'd lost my hard drive.

There are a few ways in which a hard drive can fail, break or be damaged. A power surge or mechanical drive failure (it breaks, or just stop spinning/working) are the two leading causes. When I attempted to turn on my computer one evening to work and it wouldn't turn on, I assumed the power supply to my system was broken. My husband, who works on computers for a living (and is therefore exceptionally handy to have around) took it apart to diagnose the problem. A few hours later, my husband approached me slowly. And quietly. This disturbed me for a number of reasons and I was left speechless when he said to me, "You may want to say a prayer because I can't get either of your hard drives to work."

10 years of personal images.

2 years of client images.

Every song I've ever downloaded.

Photoshop, my precious Photoshop.

Home movies.

My journals.

Of course this happens right before Christmas as I am trying to finish up client orders so they can make and purchase gifts for their families. It was a nightmare! In my initial panic I emailed a few local data recovery centers, interested in a price quote. I told them the situation - that my power supply had gone out with a vengeance and in turn blew out the tiny circuit board on the hard drives. My face went white when I received a response - $799 - $1400. Well, at least it's a taxable business expense? Hurray?

In an effort to make an already long story shorter, to save my hard drives it cost us $60. $30 for the new part (the little green circuit board on the top of a hard drive) and $30 for rush shipping. My husband replaced the part and within 5 minutes my hard drive was back up and running. I cried. I danced. I jumped on my husband and threw my arms around him. I hugged my little girl. My optimism was not for nothing!

So - here is the question I am sure many of you are asking. As a professional photographer, or at least a tech savvy lady - didn't I have a backup?

Yes... and no. I had a backup, but I did not have an external backup.

I used my main drive to store my files and used a separate hard drive as my mirror. However, because of the power surge within my machine it knocked out BOTH drives - the main and the mirror. If I had the other drive as an external (thus a separate power supply) this very likely would not have happened. I thought I was being so prepared and efficient by having my backup and mirror - I was wrong. Very wrong.

How did I solve this problem?

I am now operating my main drive, an external backup and I'm using an online backup storage service called Backblaze.

While my external helps in the event of a power surge or a main drive mechanical failure, Backblaze helps protect against both drive failure, power surges, fires, toddlers, and the end of the world. The best part? It's only $5 a month for piece of mind and unlimited online storage. Worth every penny, especially knowing how close I was to losing everything. When you're a photographer, or a even a mom or dad with a camera, that phrase could not be more true. My pictures, my memories - they're everything to me.

So, learn from my mistakes. How are your files being stored and protected? Are you covering all your bases - think worst case scenarios and how your computer would fare. Don't let a situation like mine happen before you evaluate what needs to be done!

Ordering Deadlines

2011-12-05T20:41:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! I can't believe the winter holidays are almost here. As such, there are a few dates to note so that my clients can be sure to have their images before the Christmas holiday:

December 11

If you currently have an online proofing gallery, your selections must be made prior to December 11th in order to guarantee your final being images being ready before Christmas!

December 20

This is the last day you will be able to order prints from your online galleries to ensure they will arrive before Christmas Day! Shipping is only 3-5 days, but it's not unusual for things to get backed up around the season!

As the season comes to a close, I am so thankful for all the clients I was able to serve this year! As the winter months roll in, my sessions will be limited to indoor newborn/child photography but I look forward to scheduling families, couples, seniors - you name it - in the Spring!

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The Erker Family - Vienna, Virginia Photographer

2011-12-01T15:46:00.000-05:00

Despite it being a downpour outside, I made the most of the soft light inside with Melissa and her family a few days before Thanksgiving! I've mentioned in the past about how much I love candid newborn and family photography and this is the epitomy of that! I loved how they forgot I was there, just interacting with each other as a picture perfect family. It enabled me to really capture some sweet, natural moments.

Friday 5

2011-11-28T21:16:00.000-05:00

1. Do you ever plan to offer "mini" sessions for a reduced price?

I have offered mini-sessions in the past, but no one took advantage of them! =) Clients typically prefer to pick their own session date (usually not the case with mini-sessions) so booking mini-sessions can be difficult - clients can cancel/want to reschedule, the times/dates available may not work, the location may not be ideal, etc. It isn't an idea I have completely abandoned, so perhaps I will cook something up in the future.

2. Why do you shoot with Nikon and not a Canon?

My research behind my first big SLR camera purchase was this - "Wow, I love the way my friend's pictures look. I'm going to buy their camera so my pictures look like that too." Yep. That is exactly what I did. I purchased a Nikon and now it is just what "I know" and why I remain loyal to the brand!

3. What might wannabe photographers not expect from shooting a session?

For me personally, it's how sore you'll be afterward! I have horrible joints and knees, so following a long day of shooting a wedding, and even just an hour session with a family, I am beat. By the end of the night my knees are throbbing and my thighs are feelings the burn. This may or may not indicate I am in horrible shape...

4. Do you ever sell your unedited proofs to clients?

No. It would be like a baker selling a cake without frosting. I only want the world to see and view my work at its best.

5. What have you learned this year about running a business?

So much! It's been a great year and I feel very successful, grateful and ready for a break! =) I have managed to really perfect my workflow and work out the kinks with my policies and procedures. Loving my work and doing what I love is very different from being a businesswoman. This year, those two things worked much better together!

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Kent & Lee are engaged! - Occoquan, Virginia Photographer

2011-11-28T17:19:00.000-05:00

Lee and Kent are engaged! What a wonderful night for our session. The lighting was just brilliant and I loved our backdrop overlooking the Occoquan River at Occoquan Regional Park. It was great to have Lee come to the session with so many fun ideas. Even Kent had requests of his own and it really helped them personalize their engagements. I'm so looking forward to learning more about their wedding day and wishing them nothing but the best! Here are a few favorites of this sweet couple:

The Miller Family - Manassas, Virginia Photographer

2011-11-22T22:51:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to share these images of the Miller family. I am especially pleased with the outcome of our session. Remember that freak mini-snowstorm/rainstorm we had a few weeks ago here in the D.C. area? Well, unfortunately that was the morning the Miller's session was originally planned. We ended up rescheduling and choosing a new location, the Manassas Battlefields, and had a beautiful sunny morning for our session!

It is hard to be around Molly and her family without falling into a good mood. She is such a happy person and radiates her joy. The kids were such cooperative models (with the help of Gummy Bears...) and we were able to capture a lot of great moments from this family of four. I hope they love these images as much as I do!

Introducing Ryleigh - Bristow, VA Photographer

2011-11-19T22:07:00.000-05:00

A few months ago I was able to photograph Jacquelyn and Don as they awaited the arrival of their first baby, a girl, named Ryleigh. Just one day after Halloween, on 11/1/11, she was born! What a cool birthday, right? They invited me into their home this past week to take the first pictures of their sweet bundle of joy. Congrats guys!

Friday 5

2011-11-18T20:28:00.000-05:00

1. Can you explain a little bit more as to what you mean by "RAW" files?

RAW files are a file saving option withing your digital SLR camera. The RAW file format is digital photography's equivalent of a negative in film photography. RAW files are your negatives, where a JPEG is your developed picture. Just as with film negatives, RAW files give you the flexibility to change settings after an image has been taken (such as white balance, exposure, sharpening, etc). RAW files are certainly more forgiving, but they aren't without drawbacks. The file sizes are much larger than a JPEG because they record so much extra data, they cannot easily be viewed outside a photo editor (which is why I shoot in RAW+JPEG) and take more time to transfer from camera to computer. That being said, I believe RAW files trump JPEGs in every way. =)

2. How do you react when potential clients tell you (or their friends) that you are "too expensive"?

I believe there is a difference between being out of budget for a potential client and someone not valuing me for what my time and talent is worth. I believe every potential client should shop around - not only to understand the varying rate for professional photography, but also for the style and personality of a photographer. Clients will find that my prices are extremely competitive and any experienced photographer is going to charge what they need to in order to cover their expenses, taxes, time, and their talent.

3. What would you do if you dropped your camera or it broke?

Cry.

No really, I'd probably cry. It's my 2nd child! Even though my equipment is insured, I would be devastated. While I was waiting for the legalities of getting it replaced, I do have my previous camera model to use as a backup. I carry it with me at all the weddings I just shoot because of all places, that is NOT where you want to be without a camera. =)

4. Where does most of your business come from?

I work mostly through referrals, so I usually know clients through other clients. Facebook has also been a great tool for advertising.

5. Will your prices change next year?

They will, yes. I'm simplifying and compensating for my growing business' growing business expenses! I don't think clients have anything too much to worry about - I'm ironing out the details, but there will only be a slight increase overall and clients will actually get more images and more prints with my new pricing plan. Stay tuned!

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Introducing Keeghan - Fredericksburg, VA Photographer

2011-11-12T23:51:00.000-05:00

Baby Keeghan is two weeks old! I had the opportunity to photograph Kimberly in her last few weeks of pregnancy. It was great to see her again and meet this little guy!

The Hammock Family - Lorton, VA Photographer

2011-11-11T15:24:00.001-05:00

You may recognize Chance, or at least the name, from my previous posts where he's worked as my second shooter. This week I had the opportunity to photograph he and his wife Jenny at the historical Mount Vernon estate in Lorton, VA.

The story of how we met is rather unique: Chance and I are both members of Live Journal, an online blogging community where Chance has a Photo-a-day project. One day a mutual friend asked why we hadn't "friended" each other since we lived so close to each other. It didn't take us long to become fast friends.

Chance is big into photography, so he was a natural choice when I was looking for someone to help me out with my wedding coverage. The first time we ever met face to face was just a few days before we shot our first wedding together! We've worked together several times since then and even his sweet wife Jenny has gotten in on the action, helping us out at one of our events.

Here are a few sneak peaks from our afternoon where Chance, the photographer, stepped in front of the camera for an hour!

Out of the Office, Booking Update

2011-11-03T14:44:00.001-04:00

Just a few quick notes and updates for clients and potential clients alike!

Out of the Office: I will be away this weekend, so client orders and processing will be on hold. My access to email will be limited, so responses may be delayed but I will respond as quickly as I can! Clients who have recently fulfilled print purchases and are waiting on their high-res CDs can expect them next week. All other operations will resume on November 8.

Booking Update: I am currently booked through the year on all weekends - I have no weekend availability. I am however accepting a number of weekday clients, booking in the evening hours between 4:30 and 5PM. I have just a few more sessions available in November and limited availability in December. I am so grateful to be this busy, but sorry to those clients I cannot accommodate!

Custom Art: Just a quick update that custom art can now be ordered through all live final galleries of clients! The deadline for Christmas orders is November 27th!

See you all next week!

-Kelli

The Hoban Family - Lorton, VA Photographer

2011-10-31T15:21:00.000-04:00

This week I was able to shoot at a new location, Mason Neck Park, for the Hoban family! I previously worked with Jaclyn and her 2 girls back in July. When we stepped out of our cars at the location, we both remarked how we went from one extreme to the next! Luckily it wasn't as chilly as it has been the past few days, so the girls were still happy and game to walk around this new, unknown location.

I love working with clients I have worked with in the past - there's no greater compliment than being asked to work together again! It's amazing how much more grown up the girls seemed after just a few months! We talked all about their birthdays, what they were going to be for Halloween and everything coming up next for this family. Here are some of my favorite shots from our Fall afternoon together!

Introducing Custom Art

2011-10-29T14:41:00.001-04:00

I am so excited to announce that I have partnered with my friend and artist Craig Walton to provide custom artwork of your images from your sessions with Kelli Brewer Photography. Taking a favorite image from your session, Craig hand creates templates of your images to represent your photograph as a monochromatic piece of art.

A few months ago one of my couples said they had received the most awesome gift for their wedding made out of one of my photographs. I had no idea what they were talking about - I've seen people frame announcements with my photos, but never a painting! When I saw the piece of work I was in total awe! What an awesome gift! Since then, Craig has worked with my images to create amazing gifts for my clients. I decided I needed to make his services open to the masses!

Each piece is painted onto your choice of a 1/2" wooden tablet or 1/2" white canvas (canvas sizes may vary slightly from those listed below). Ready to hang, these pieces will create lifelong keepsakes of your images. Clients may purchase their custom pieces within the next few weeks in their online galleries. If you've previously worked with Kelli Brewer Photography and would like to order one from your session, please contact me soon! Pieces take 4-6 weeks to be produced, so act fast!


8x8 .................. (one face only)	$75
12x12 .................. (up to 2 faces)	$100
12x16 .................. (up to 2 faces)	$150
18x18 .................. (up to 4 faces)	$200
24x24 .................. (up to 6 faces)	$250

Want it by Christmas? You must place your order by November 27 to guarantee delivery before December 25!

Friday 5

2011-10-28T20:41:00.000-04:00

1. How long does it take for you to edit images and prepare a blog post?

I am usually pretty excited to get the preview posts up for clients shortly after their sessions, so it is not uncommon for me to come straight home and download the images to my computer and get to work. As I am starting to sort through the images from their session, I'll pick the few that stick out to me and edit those. Since every session is different, the first few edits are a bit slower as I learn what needs to be corrected or boosted to complete an image. Once I've edited and web-resized my images for the blog post, it only take about half an hour to write and post the entry. From the time I sit down and get around to posting the blog, it can take about 4 hours. All while watching Parks and Rec on the monitor next to me - that may distract me a bit =)

2. What is the reasoning behind putting your logo on the images on your blog and Facebook?

There are a few reasons I do this - the biggest reason is so that clients don't attempt to print these images without my consent or without paying for them. We could get into all the legal hoopla, but just because you pay a photographer to take your images does not mean you own the images they take. Believe it or not, people will try and print these low-resolution files - I have colleagues that have had this problem and I wanted to prevent it as best I could. Another reason I add my logo to my images is advertising! Clients often share my images on Facebook (a great, awesome marketing tool!) which leads people to my blog or professional Facebook page. Lastly, there are some sad people that take images from other photographers and try to pass them off as their own or images they've taken. With my logo embedded onto each file, I try to make it harder for any of these things to happen.

3. Do you think it is better to specialize in one area of photography? What do you consider your specialization?

I think that is a personal decision of a photographer. A decision that can be based on natural talent in one area, an ability to be fulfilled in one area of photography, a market for a narrow field/artistic vision... A lot of variables. I don't know what I specialize in - I feel like I am one of those photographers that can do a little bit of everything. Weddings are just engagements on crack. Family portraits are engagements with kids... They're all related so I find it easy to flip between session types and it keeps my creativity evolving.

I will be honest however and say I do not think my specialty is infant/newborn photography! Much of the infant photography you see out there right now is full of backdrops, blankets, props, cute little hats, and contortionist like poses. I find it very difficult to set up these shots and have them come out the way I'd like. Me <---- Perfectionist. I would get very down on myself looking at other photographers amazing studio work.

Because of that, I decided to give up "prop newborn photography" and focus on a more candid lifestyle approach. No props, no fancy bean bags - just the baby on a bed on a soft blanket. Mom and Dad snuggling with baby on the sofa. I've given up trying to be like the photographers I see on Facebook and instead just being me - a natural-light, lifestyle documentary photographer.

4. What happens to your business in the winter months?

Like bears, photographers also hibernate for the winter. Well, that was my cute way of saying it, but it's not too far off. Since I work completely outdoors with the exception of newborn/children work, most of my winter is quiet. Clients don't usually want to shoot in the winter because of the cold and the unpredictability of the weather. It's hard to schedule and commit to dates when snow and sleet enters the equation! Until things resume in the spring when it warms up, I enjoy a break and focus on indoor sessions.

5. You said you have a big announcement or something on your Facebook. Are you pregnant? Are you going international? Are you going to be on Ellen? What's the deal?

I know! I didn't mean to keep you in suspense, but I have to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I let everyone else in on something new coming to Kelli Brewer Photography - and no, it's not another baby. =)

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Oliver at 6 Months - Vienna, VA Photographer

2011-10-26T15:39:00.000-04:00

How cute is this little guy? Oliver was such a happy baby and just had the biggest grin I've ever seen. He is just a few weeks away from being 6 months old, but he is scooting and rolling over like a champ. I don't think it will be long before he starts crawling all over the place!

The Pressey Family - Occoquan, VA Photographer

2011-10-24T22:59:00.000-04:00

This weekend I had the opportunity to shoot the Pressey Family (wow, out of context that could sound horribly violent) in Old Town Occoquan. Lindsey, Chad and Grayson were such a cute little family. Originally from the area, we graduated from the same high school in different classes. Though friends in high school, Lindsey and Chad didn't start dating until they both reunited at college. As Lindsay puts it, jokingly, Chad was "too good for everyone in high school". A cute couple, with a super cute little boy and though he may not be pictured, a super cute crib dog. =)

Friday 5

2011-10-21T15:28:00.000-04:00

1. How much direction do you give your clients?

This is a tough one. Some clients don't need a lot of direction - they seem to forget I am there and are really comfortable in front of the camera. Other clients need a lot of direction - where to put their hands, how to sit, what to do with their legs. You never know what to expect going into a session and sometimes it can take a while for me to identify the types of clients I'm working with for each session. The biggest thing to remember is to not over direct a session - you don't want subjects looking uncomfortable or overly posed. The more fluid and natural, the better. It's always something I'm working on.

2. Aside from newborns, what is the most difficult age to photograph?

It varies from child to child, but ages 1 to 4 can be tricky. The younger they are the more difficult it is to get them to look directly at the camera. They're also wanting to exercise more independence, so being held or sitting for a setup can be difficult. When they start to round out about the age of 4, you run into difficulties getting a natural smile. I'm still trying to figure out how to get a natural smile and avoiding saying "cheese!". Boys this age can also totally be turned off by photographs. Kids are a challenge for any photographer, even seasoned ones. It just takes work and practice - something I'm working on all the time.

3. How long do you spend processing a single image?

It varies from shot to shot and session to session. Now that I have a more streamlined workflow, it goes really fast. I usually spend just a few minutes on each image once a client has made their selections.

4. Do you do in-person proofing? Do you help guide clients through their images?

I conduct all of my proofing online so that clients can take as long as they need to sort through the proofs of their session. I don't want clients to feel obligated to buy more images or certain shots because I am sitting there - I don't want them to have any regrets at the end of our working together. Plus, I am always surprised at the images clients select. Photography is so interpretive and subjective!

5. Has a client ever questioned your work or been unhappy with your work?

A few weeks ago I had a client reference some of my previous work and requested I shoot a bit differently - at first, it really rattled my confidence. However, I chose to take it constructively instead of beating myself up or being angry that someone questioned my style. The more I thought about what had been said, the more I acknowledged they were right. I've applied it to my new work and I definitely see a change and an improvement in my compositions and creativity.

As far as I know, a client has never been unhappy with their session. I go out of my way to make sure clients are happy with my work. I think the biggest thing for anyone working with a photographer to remember is that the outcome of a session does not rest solely on the shoulders of the photographer. It's important to work together and have open communication to get the best results from each other you can!

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The Crane Family - Manassas, VA Photographer

2011-10-19T16:03:00.001-04:00

Fall is here! Check out the warm tones and backgrounds in my family session with the Crane family at the historic Civil War Manassas Battlefields. It was a busy Saturday afternoon at the park, but luckily when dealing with a vast battlefield it was easy enough to stake our spot every few minutes to get some shots of their family. Additionally, with a 3 and 1 year old you have to move quick! It was a tricky session for me, but I just love the coloring and warm tones throughout our shots. Here are just some of our shots from our afternoon at the park:

The Eliason Family

2011-10-15T23:06:00.000-04:00

Hail, torrential downpours, and even tornadoes couldn't postpone my session with the Eliason family! Luckily the clouds parted and within a matter of hours you'd have never known it was so ugly out the past few days.

The Eliason family are some of my favorite people! I have known Karen for years and she has quickly grown to be one of my closest friends. Unfortunately for me however, her husband Ken is starting a new career and they will soon be moving so he can attend Dental school. I will be so sad to see her family go. I love her boys and her sweet Laura, born just a few months after my own little girl Autumn. Little Colin was very concerned as to the whereabouts of my little girl during our session, but big brother Nathaniel kept him and all of us laughing and on our toes with these 3 handfuls!

Friday 5

2011-10-14T10:53:00.001-04:00

1. What works the best for you in getting children and family groups to all be looking at you?

As long as Mom and Dad are looking at the camera, I am bound to eventually get one shot of the whole family looking at the camera at the same time. With children, they'll look at me for a few seconds and then check out the squirrel to my right. I usually just regroup and ask, "Oh - look right here at the camera! Oh, perfect! That's great!" I try to be friendly and encouraging to keep their spirits up.

With babies and infants, I have found that shaking my car keys works great. The sound is what I think does it. However, when I was just being photographed by my friend Melanie Rice, she used balloons and party blowout noise makers (those things you blow into and unravel). They really got my little girls attention!

If I'm not able to get "the shot", I am usually able to piece together different faces and smiles from multiple photographs into one keeper. It takes more work, but I'm there to get the shot, and by dang I'll get it!

2. How do your techniques differ when serving a client that is totally unfamiliar to you...ie. some person who found your blog and loved your work and called you up and hired you for a session. How do you cope with nerves in these situations? It's one thing to do photography for someone you know or at least someone who knows someone vs. total stranger :)

The very first session I conducted with someone I'd never met before or that was not a friend was nerve wracking... How would I know who they were? Will it be awkward? What if it's a murderer luring me into some crazy location to get me alone! Seriously - all things I fretted about the night before.

I'm seasoned now to the point where I don't even think about it. I love meeting new clients for the first time. I cultivate a relationship with my clients through numerous emails prior to the session that when it finally arrives and we meet for the first time, I feel like they're old friends. I consider myself fairly personable and always find something to talk about. Getting to know the family and learning more about their story helps them open up to me and really comes through their photographs.

3. Do you use a battery pack or grip when shooting?

I do not. At this point I don't have a need for one. My battery life on my D7000 is amazing - I can shoot a whole wedding (8+ hours) and not even use half my battery.

4. Are you nervous to show clients straight out of the camera images?

If I were to process or even soft-edit all of a client's images before showing them, that would severely delay how soon their galleries would be available given the number of clients I am working with. More importantly, editing images a client will not purchase is poor time management and would result in a higher cost to the client. I've done it both ways, and my currently workflow process is much more time efficient and enables clients to see more of their images, faster.

By providing edited previews on the blog prior to the release of their proofing gallery, I give clients an opportunity to see what the finished products will look like and allow them to make selections based solely on poses and composition of each photograph. This is just simply what works for me!

5. Where did you learn to use Photoshop? Can you recommend any online courses?

I am self taught! I have been using Adobe Photoshop since version 4, and we're now on CS5! It's been years of practice and experimenting. I also find I benefit from my training as a graphic designer as well.

As for online courses, there are a number of photographers who offer Photoshop mentoring and blogs with more tutorials that are specifically photography related. I highly suggest MCP Actions - they offer a lot of classes and articles that are beneficial to all skill levels!

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Can you spot the differences?

2011-10-13T20:04:00.000-04:00

When my clients are proofing their images, they're looking at straight out of the camera shots that I have selected from their session. Since they're looking at unretouched images, I encourage them not to worry about lighting, distracting images or the coloring of the images, as these items will be corrected in the post-processing stage.

Case in point - the image below was a favorite of the Strong family, but they were concerned about how hazy it appeared compared to the rest of the images. This was the result of shooting into the light and a resulting lens flare. They weren't sure if it could be saved. In the before and after, can you spot the differences between the two photos?

So - what's different?

Well, 98% of the problem was fixed within Adobe Camera Raw (this is why I shoot exclusively in RAW!) - the hazing, exposure and clarity was all retouched before I brought it into Photoshop. Additionally, I removed the drain pipes that I found distracting. It also bothered me that we were shooting on a hill and the sidewalk line was diagonal. Lastly, the leaves had not quite changed in the woods we were shooting in so I bluffed a little bit by adding a tad hint of color.

Oh RAW, what would I do without you?

The Lytle Family - Stafford, VA Photographer

2011-10-11T22:57:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago Kimberly contact me about fitting her and her family in for a family/maternity session. "Fitting in" is an understatement - this gorgeous (soon-to-be) mama of 3 is due in 10 days! We met for our session at the gorgeous Government Island location in Stafford where the leaves are slowly beginning to change for the fall. Mixed with the families coordinating red outfits, the scenery was sublime.

I have to say that I have never met more polite children than these two adorable kiddos! Kaleb was so out going for a 10 year old and little Kaya (I hope I'm spelling that right... she even wrote it in the sand and I can't remember!) was a total ham for the camera and said hello to every passerby during our shoot. I hope my little girl grows up to be a sweet and outgoing as these two!

Good luck in the next week Kimberly and I can't wait to work together again on a newborn session of that cute little boy!

The Strong Family - Quantico, Virginia Photographer

2011-10-11T20:25:00.000-04:00

This past weekend I had the pleasure of photographing the Strong family for the second time. Last year I photographed just the three children at Mount Vernon, but this time parents Heidi and Cody got in on the action. The fall leaves were just starting to poke out!

Our session took place near the National Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Virginia. Cody has served in both the Marines and Army, and these walking paths behind the museum are special to the family. Evidently many Sunday afternoons have been spent walking the paths together. With new orders and a possible overseas move on the horizon, the family wanted to conduct their session at this special location that they will be sure to miss.

P.S. Did you know recurring clients receive a $25 credit off session with Kelli Brewer Photography? =)

Behind the Scenes

2011-10-08T00:11:00.000-04:00

With the onset of Fall, my wedding season has officially come to a close. I am still in disbelief I had a wedding season at all! I had originally begun my business as a portrait photographer with no intention of venturing into weddings again - too much pressure! However, the offers kept coming and I couldn't resist. Flattery is a girls best friend. While weddings are an imense amount of pressure and a one shot deal, I love the rush and more importantly I love behing behind the scenes. I love spending so much time with the couple on their day, watching the reception hall get decorated and staying until the very end of the night after most of the guests have left.

It's a lot of pressure to photograph the wedding parties. By the wedding day, I've worked with the bride and groom already for engagements and gotten to know them better through various calls and emails. However, it's rare I know the bridesmaids and groomsmen. Getting them to open up for the formals can be tough and intimidating. It helps though when they're not shy in front of the camera. Or shy around the groom...

Photo by Chance Hammock

Planking. When we were out shooting the formals prior to the ceremony, my groom said, "Kelli! Get a picture of this!" In my old age (27 years young) I had no idea what planking was at the time. I thought to myself, this? Really? They told me it was some fad from England or somewhere in Europe. I took the picture at the request of the client and it was months later I found out what planking really was. Heck, they even devoted the opening of an Office episode this season to the fad.

Photo by Chance Hammock

The Mothershead wedding party giving me some GQ sexy

I had one wedding where the groomsmen were coming up with all the ideas, one after another, and all I had to do was shoot. Some parties need a little more help or have groomsmen that are a little camera shy. I do my best to give them direction and make it light hearted. The goal of a photographer is to engage the subject and make them comfortable. For some reason my go-to saying is "like you're modeling for the GQ cover" or something similar, maybe a "Ralph Lauren ad". I don't know if I have ever even read GQ...

There is one particular position I like my groomsmen to stand in - "protect the junk", which is essentially just the hands clasped in front. I don't know any better way to describe it and it always gets a good laugh and gets the men to let down their guard. At Kristen and Johnny's wedding I used this technique and throughout the reception the groomsmen would say, "Protect the junk!" every time they passed.

I've always found that the groomsmen are more willing to be silly and perhaps that helps the groom release any jitters he may have prior to the ceremony. I know that Paul, from Tyler and Cassie's wedding certainly made us laugh with his help. He was able to give Tyler a lot of pointers on how to take a good picture. Case in point:

My brides have all been exceptional. They're all naturals. Really, with a beautiful bride in her dress all they need to do is smile to take a great picture. Still, that's a lot of dress. I find myself doing double duty a lot - fluffing the dress, fixing the hair, re-pinning a veil. It's not everyday I get a lovely assistant but I was so happy to have Courtney to help me with Jessie's bridals. She pitched in lots of ideas, grabbed items when we needed them and helped keep the animals occupied and out of the shot when they weren't needed. Oh, and tons of comic relief - she provided me with lots of natural laughs and smiles in the Johnson's photographs!

I really enjoy the time that I get so spend one on one with my bride and groom on the wedding day. It's so amazing to see a couple on the ultimate romantic day. It's interesting to see the dynamic between a couple and why they fit together so perfectly.

Photo by Chance Hammock

Occasionally there will be a few interruptions during our session of bridals before/after the ceremony. Last minute reception arrangements, bathroom breaks, hair/makeup adjustments. Prior to the ceremony however it's not out of the ordinary to run into guests who get a sneak peak at the couple before everyone else. At John and Lise's wedding there were 2 different ways to get to the reception hall and some guests happen to pop in while we were shooting on the road. One such guest was Lise's maid of honor and our childhood friend Liese.

She couldn't resist stopping and saying hello! I love seeing friends see the bride and groom for the first time to congratulate them. Oh - and did you notice Liese's license plate? She's a radiologist tech if that helps.

Photo by Chance Hammock

The shot being taken above

The day after a wedding, I am sore. When I get home late at night after the reception is over I pop some Aleve immediately. All that standing, crouching and running around can really add up to a good workout! For the first 3 weddings of the season I wore the only dressy black shoes I had that weren't heels. They were cute and went with my ensemble for each wedding. They also gave me both blisters and bruises on the sides of my feet by the end of each wedding. Is it weird I was proud of them...? They were like badges of honor for a job well done! I finally invested in a pair of "work shoes" that were comfortable, stretchy and still fashionable with my uniform.

I am always grateful to the DJs, staff, reception hall managers and even the bridal party for taking care of me during a wedding. From making sure I get a meal and even a few minutes to sit down. It was especially great to have Chance at multiple weddings where I could have a backup and assistant to help during busy times. Better yet - someone to eat with in a corner during a quick break! It is great to work with such a great friend. Not every wedding requires a 2nd shooter, but I'm beginning to think all my weddings require a Chance.

As pivotal as my job is during the day, it really is important for me to blend in and not get in the way. I try to dress comfortably and appropriate for a formal occasion, but I stay businesslike and try not to draw attention with bright colors. I avoid going into the isle as much as possible during a ceremony but when I do, I crouch and tip toe as best I can - hence the Aleve at the end of the day.

Before each ceremony begins, I always talk to the Reverend or officiant over the whole shebang. I've been told some officiants have strict rules about what you can and cannot do or some locations require you not shoot in certain areas, or even at all. That's what I've been told - so far, each officiant has said "Get as many pictures as you can!" I've later asked guests if they considered me a nuisance or distracting from the bride and groom and so far, so good. Blending is the goal.

Photo by Chance Hammock

It was a great wedding season. I learned so much from my couples and each wedding I shot. I loved the rush and feeling I had coming home late at night after a full day of work. Working on weddings also helps me to appreciate my own marriage, which is going 6 years strong. Something about being surrounded by all that love and mushy stuff, and especially by friends and family who love and are so excited for the bride and groom... it just puts you in a good mood.

I'm so grateful to all of the couples and families I worked with this year. Grateful they trusted me to get the job done and to give this rookie wedding photographer a shot. Photographing weddings has made me a better portrait photographer in all aspects of my work. I have loved working with my friends and being a part of their special days. I hope that when they look back on their photos from their wedding day that they not only cherish the memories of what a fantastic day it was, but that they remember their little photographer too.

Here's to next season!

Friday 5

2011-10-07T19:54:00.001-04:00

1. Do you ever worry that your friends are looking for a discount?

I would love to cut all of my friends a deal but I am running a business and want to be fair to all my clients. I've made it a point to not give discounts to friends so that one friend doesn't feel snubbed when they don't get a reduced price. The only sessions I conduct for free or at a reduced rate are for my immediate family and sessions I conduct to build my portfolio in a particular area.

2. Your daughter is stunning! Do you just take a million pictures of her!?

Um... no. I'm horrible! You would think the daughter of a photographer would be sick of having her picture taken, but in my situation that is not the case. Aside from snapshots when she's doing something funny, I am usually so busy with client images that my own "sessions" are quite neglected. It wasn't until just a few weeks ago I bothered to have my own pictures taken for the first time - ever! I feel bad that I don't take more "professional pictures" of my little girl and that is definitely a resolution I have for 2012!

3. What gear is on your wish list?

Wish list indeed - it will be years before I can save enough to buy everything I'd love to own and shoot with! I would love the 85mm 1.4 lens - it's beautiful for portraiture. A little limiting though since you need so much space between you and the subject, which is why I have not seriously considered replacing my 50mm with it. I'd also love to buy the 28-70mm 2.8 to have on hand for weddings, but I love renting this lens from Lens Pro 2 Go. I would also love to have the 35mm 1.4, which would come in handy when I need just a little more room than the 50mm can give me.

4. Have you ever lost or botched client files?

No - and I hope I don't jinx myself. I have heard of this happening to other photographers, which is why I always download my images immediately following a session. I don't clear them from my memory cards until the card is full several days/weeks later, just in case. However, I have heard of quite a few programs that can magically recall images recently deleted from an SD card. I always keep those on the backburner, just in case.

5. Besides getting your gear ready for sessions, is there anything else you do? Jumping jacks, pep talks? :o)

I try to relax as much as possible before a session so that my stomach condition doesn't trigger. I prepare the night before to help. I do my best to leave early in case I do need to stop, get lost, etc. It's always my goal to arrive before the client. I love to pump myself up in the car with good jams - for a while it was Flo Rida's "Club Can't Handle Me", and lately it's been Lady Gaga's new album!

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Richard & Kimberly Engagements - Occoquan, VA Photographer

2011-10-01T23:35:00.000-04:00

It's amazing to get to work with friends, but it's even more amazing to work with one I've known since the 4th grade! A bonus of working where I grew up perhaps? Kimberly and I once sat at the same table in Mrs. Wells 4th grade class where I vividly remember having an argument about the song 'The Sign' by Ace of Base. I was arguing that the words were "I saw the sun" because why else would she sing "and it opened up my eyes...to get into the light where you belong"? Yeah well, I may or may not have lost that argument. We continued being friends into high school and through Facebook have been able to keep in touch as we've both gone off to school and grown up.

She and Richard are still working out the fine details of their wedding planning, but I was so excited when she asked me to take their engagement photos. It is always so flattering to be hired by a friend. Richard suggested Occoquan regional park, just across the water from historic Occoquan, where I have shot many sessions. It was a beautiful location and one I hope to use again! Here are just some of my favorites of this super cute couple:

Friday 5

2011-09-30T20:56:00.000-04:00

1. Do you use Lightroom?

I don't - I know a lot of photographers that love it, but I am not one of them. When it first came out, I gave it a try. However, it is just so slightly different than Photoshop that I found it hard to navigate and use. I can't use Photoshop Elements for the same reason - actions and menus are organized differently and I am a person of routine. I actually use Adobe Camera Raw (ACR) and LOVE it. I love how streamlined it is to transition my file right into Photoshop to put on my finishing touches. Just a personal preference!

2. How do you keep all of your files organized?

I organize them as such: Session Type - Last name, First name. So, on my computer you'll find Newborn - Doe, Jane. Within a client's specific folder, I have additional folders entitled Roughs (SOOC and unedited RAW/Jpg Files), Finals (edited images), Proofs (web sized blog sneak peeks), and Selected (client choices).

3. What is the busiest time of year for your business? The slowest?

Right now is by far the busiest! I am booking faster than I ever have. Fall is a busy time because of the changing of the leaves and "holiday card pictures". Things will slow down in January - it is a calm after the storm that is the winter holidays. Things will remain quiet (and too cold to shoot outside) so many of my sessions will be limited to indoor newborn photography. Things pick up again in March as it starts to warm up.

4. Is it hard to be a photographer with a child? How do you conduct business while still considering yourself a full-time stay at home mom?

A lot of people have a misconception about stay at home working moms, that we "have it made". In a sense, we do. I know I feel that way. However, there is a drawback. The one issue many don't understand is we're never off the clock - we can't leave work at the office. When my daughter naps or goes down for the night, that is when I go to work. It is important to me to not be glued to the computer editing images when she is around, so I conduct most of my business after hours. My house keeping takes a beating because of this... Being attentive to my daughter is also why I prefer to conduct most communications with my clients by email - it allows me to focus during the day on being a mom, but also making sure I can give clients my full and undivided attention when discussing business and the details of working together.

As for conducting sessions, I couldn't do it without the support of my family, that is for sure! I am very lucky to live just minutes away from my parents, who are always more than willing to look after my little girl for an hour or two while I sneak away to a session. On the weekends, my little girl spends one on one time with her Dad or they accompany me to a location so they can play outdoors while I am off with a client. Still, there have been many times where she cries when I leave, and I cry a little bit too. I love my job, but I love being a mom too!

5. Your clients always look so well put together. What do you recommend as far as putting outfits together without being matchy matchy?

My clients are amazing at this! I am always impressed how coordinated everyone looks while still remaining individually presented. I think it's important to remember to work with shades of color, not one specific tone. If you're wearing brown, explore tans for the kids. If you're wearing blue, explore navy, royal and pastel blue for members of your family. Another way to pull in more colors to tie everyone together? Accessories! Head bands, belts, bracelets, shoes.

Pinterest is another amazing new tool. I find fashion inspiration on it all the time! Keying in "photo clothing ideas" brings up tons of possibilities!

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Introducing Alathea

2011-09-30T16:02:00.000-04:00

Introducing baby Alathea! Born to Sarah and Danny, she is just a few weeks old. You may notice something very different about this newborn session - no props, no backdrops, no knitted hats... This is the direction my newborn sessions will be moving after the first of the year. My vision as a photographer has always been that of a documentary, candid style and this session with Danny, Sarah and Alathea illustrates that. There is nothing more natural and sweet than the sole focus being on the family and their brand new baby. I am so excited for the future of my newborn sessions!

The Brewer Family - Oh hey, that's me!

2011-09-28T11:49:00.001-04:00

As a photographer, I spend so much time behind the camera that it is not very often I have pictures of myself. Doesn't that always happen to the photographer in the family, professional or not?

One of my close friends Melanie is also a photographer (see her family pictures here) and when I knew I would be visiting Utah I asked if she would be interested in a trade - a chance for both us photographers to have nice pictures of ourselves with our families. Melanie was game and I am so happy with the results from our session! I am so grateful to have such beautiful pictures of our family. If you are in the Utah County area, please consider hiring her - she's amazing!

http://www.melaniericephoto.com

Enjoy this sneak peak at my family - my husband Adam and our almost 2 year old daughter Autumn. Without the support of my husband I wouldn't be able to do what I do. Photography also allows me to be a stay at home mom to my first love, my little girl. So, here we are - thanks so much Melanie!

The Young Family - Payson, Utah Photographer

2011-09-27T21:58:00.000-04:00

If it were possible for a photography business to have a mascot, the Young family would be mine. 3 years ago my friend Stacy asked if I would photograph her engagements, bridals and wedding. I was flattered - but also shocked. I'd never taken professional portraits. Sure, I loved photography, loved photographing people but to photograph one of the biggest days in someone's life with little to no training... yeah, I was shocked. However, Stacy persisted and I accepted. A year later, I photographed the newborn images of their daughter Paige. And now, I am sharing with you the images from their family of 4 session. Geez, I'm getting all teary eyed!

If it weren't for this family, and their asking me to photograph their wedding, I don't know if I would be where I am today, or if Kelli Brewer Photography would even exist. As Stacy recently told me, "I just knew. I have a feeling about these things and I saw your talent." It is because of them I "went for it" and I get to do a job that fulfills me creatively and emotionally.

/end mushy backstory

I couldn't visit Utah and not see one of my best friends and I certainly couldn't leave without updating their family photo album! Morgan and Stacy live in Payson, Utah. They took me to what seemed like the peak of the mountains in the nearby canyon. Can you believe their little Nissan Altima made it all the way up the winding, rocky roads? It overlooked Utah Lake and miles and miles of the Rockies. It was absolutely beautiful. The fall colors were so warm and such a gorgeous backdrop for their cute little family. It is amazing to look back at my previous sessions with this family and see just how far I have come as a photographer. Thank you for everything Morgan and Stacy!

I couldn't resist posting a few pictures I took inbetween shots of the family - I was so grateful for the opportunity to see Utah at its best while I was visiting my former home of 6 years!

The Rice Family - Sundance, Utah Photographer

2011-09-27T16:40:00.000-04:00

Yep, you read that right - Sundance, Utah. This past week I traveled back out West to visit some friends and my husband's family. It's been over 2 years since my husband and I have been back to where we met and went to school. It was also a great opportunity to see some of our best friends we left behind and that includes Melanie Rice and her family!

Melanie and I started out as "online friends" years ago. So long ago I can't even remember! Since then I have grown to consider her one of my closest friends despite eventually moving and living 2000+ miles apart! She is also a photographer - an amazing one at that - so we love to bounce ideas back and forth and confide in each other all things photography. After all, being so far apart it's not exactly like we're giving the competition pointers... =)

I was happy I had the opportunity to take family pictures for her in Sundance, Utah just inside Provo Canyon. It's not very often the photographer is in front of the camera! If you have a chance, and especially if you live in Utah County, please check out her work if you have considered getting portraits done of your family, child or newborn!

Jacquelyn's Maternity Session - Bristow, Virginia Photographer

2011-09-17T22:51:00.000-04:00

I am so excited to share this session with my blog followers! This is only my 2nd maternity session to date - the first was years ago, when I was just building a portfolio and still offering free sessions while I did so. Today was like Christmas morning! I was so excited for a new challenge and Jacquelyn and Don were such a cute couple to photograph. They are excited parents and I can't wait for their little girl to arrive in a few short weeks!

The Knight Family - Occoquan, Virginia Photographer

2011-09-16T22:13:00.000-04:00

Remember a few months back when I held my first giveaway, the "Awesomely Bad Photo Contest"? It was a blast, and some of the entries were hilarious! It was the Allred family who took the prize with 94 votes! Ashley Allred (now Knight) submitted the entry and won a free session for her small little family. With just a few days before they went home to Nevada, we squeezed in a session in one of my favorite locations, downtown historic Occoquan.

Congrats John and Lise! - Midland, VA Wedding Photographer

2011-09-15T22:09:00.000-04:00

My last wedding of the year! I'd been looking forward to the wedding of my friends John and Lise for months. We'd had 4 straight days of pouring rain and I worried their poor day would be washed out and pictures would be impossible, but the day of the wedding the sun was shining and it was a picture perfect day.

Their wedding was absolutely beautiful! The location was to die for - in the words of Rachel Zoe, "I die." John and Lise were married and had their reception at the Poplar Spring Inn Manor House. It was again, just beautiful. I am already planning a trip back with my husband to the small inn located in Midland, Virginia. Did you know they've cooked for the President?? The food was exquisite and overall the "old Hollywood, vintage" theme of the wedding was flawless.

It was a great wedding surrounded by friends and family. I've known Lise since the 1st grade and I am so happy for her and John! I also had the opportunity to partner with Chance Hammock for this event - he was a great help and a fabulous 2nd shooter. It's bittersweet that this is my last wedding of the year, but I am looking forward to all the upcoming sessions I will have through the fall!

Here are some highlights from the wedding of the new Mr. and Mrs. John Benoit =)

Photo by Chance Hammock

Left photo by Chance Hammock

Photo by Chance Hammock

Left photo by Chance Hammock

Photo by Chance Hammock

Such a neat guestbook idea! Wedding guests held up a frame around their faces while a guest snapped their photo.

Introducing Ryder - Woodbridge, Virginia Photographer

2011-09-12T14:56:00.001-04:00

I am so excited for Phil and Kari who welcomed Ryder into their family on September 1st! I previously photographed their family in November of last year, so I was excited when they invited me into their home to take newborn images of their baby boy. Kali is a very protective big sister - very concerned as to what I was doing to "baby brother". Here are some of my favorite images from our session!

Introducing Grayson - Annandale, VA Photographer

2011-09-10T22:53:00.001-04:00

I was really excited to have the opportunity to photograph Grayson. He will be a month old on the 15th, but he was so happy to curl up and let me photograph him. Grayson's father Anthony will soon be going away for training, so it was perfect timing to grab some shots of father and son with mom Kate. I loved getting to know their family (in the middle of the monsoon the D.C. area has been experiencing!) and I am always so appreciative when first time parents allow a "stranger" into their home to handle their brand new baby! Thank you Anthony and Kate!

Why work out when you can just use the liquify tool?

2011-09-05T21:04:00.003-04:00

If you've checked out the About section of my page, you may have read that I love celebrity gossip. You might see a photo or video of paparazzi getting pictures of a celebrity going to say, the grocery store, and wonder "Who on earth cares to see a photo of Jennifer Gardner going to Whole Foods?"

I do.

I'm that person.

Plus, didn't you know she is pregnant with her third child with Ben Affleck! Anyways, when you follow celebrity gossip like I do you know just how important a good photo can be - and a bad one. It's not uncommon to see a magazine cover airbrushed so much that it's hard to even recognize the star. Airbrushing sometimes goes so overboard and photos are so manipulated that it just starts getting laughable. I mean - who are they fooling? However, when done right - and tastefully, a little nip and tuck there can make all the difference. Heck, it practically resurrected Britney's career.

This is a topic I have wanted to cover for sometime, but I had struggled with how to go about it. I couldn't use a client image without A) totally humiliating the client and B) losing the client in the process. So, I'll be the client.

What we're talking about here is the liquify tool in Photoshop. This is the "nip and tuck tool" more or less. It's found under the Filter option of your Photoshop Menu bar:

There are a few different "brushes" or techniques to nip and tuck. I find myself using the "Forward Warp Tool" and the "Pucker Tool". The severity of the airbrushing depends on the brush size. The smaller the brush, the more "precise" the editing. I use a medium brush for a more fool proof application.

So, this is how you know we've become friends. Below is an image of me without makeup 4 days after giving birth to my daughter in October of 2009.

Using the forward warp tool, I am going to hold down my mouse and drag my tummy back into where it should be.

That's better! Baby? What baby? The only problem, is now I look a little top heavy. Trust me - they're not normally that big... So I'll use the puckering tool to kind of "squeeze" them back to normal size.

Again, better. Subtle changes. Now, if we're getting picky, we can also tighten up my arms, and pull in my shoulder blades as well. After all, everyone wants to look their best post-baby! =) Take a look at the before and after below by rolling over the image with your mouse:

Obviously this is a drastic change - one that I would never apply to client images. But a nip and tick there to smooth things out? Sure. Afterall - that's what Photoshop is there for. Just like make up, as photographers we use Photoshop to accentuate the beauty already there in an image.

So, go crazy with the liquify tool but remember - don't go overboard. Don't end up on http://www.psdistasters.com =)

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3 Photos, 3 Ways

2011-08-23T21:41:00.001-04:00

Below are 3 images, processed 3 different ways using popular techniques today - which one do you think will stand the test of time?

I have spent the last year figuring out my workflow and how I wanted my final images to look. I've decided on what I consider to be classic images with bold and bright colors. The first image in each series is how I would process the photo for a client. While I love the look of many popular editing techniques that are trendy at the moment, I don't always feel they're appropriate for every shoot and I want my work to be consistent. Not only that, I am not sure those techniques and finishes will still be relevant and "in" after a few years. I hope my images are timeless.

It is amazing how the post processing of an image can change the outcome of the final product and alter the mood and style of a photograph dramatically.

Gwen's Six Month Portraits

2011-08-20T22:16:00.001-04:00

It seem like just yesterday I captured the newborn images of baby Gwen. A few weeks ago her mom Pam asked me if I would do a "panel" for her, taking pictures every few months until Gwen's first birthday. Seeing as how the Leiningers are some of my best clients (and have referred many friends to KBP!) I couldn't refuse. 6 months is such an adorable age and so much fun to photograph. Gwen was so content to just sit and smile for me - she's still immobile, so that helps! Here are some of my favorite images from our small session at their home:

...and it's naptime. =)

If you missed out on a newborn session for your little one, consider a portrait session for your growing toddler!

Baby Airbrushing

2011-08-19T21:04:00.002-04:00

A few weeks ago I happened to find myself on a photographer forum in a discussion about infant photography. I feel like I am still getting my feet wet in that area, which makes me so excited about all the upcoming newborn sessions I have! Anyway - the discussion turned to whether or not to airbrush an infant's face to remove redness, dry skin, baby acne, and other skin conditions characteristic of new babies. One photographer was very adement that airbrushing newborn photos was wrong, that babies are perfect the way they are, and it is a crime to change or edit their skin.

As a photographer - and a MOM - I could not disagree more.

Baby acne is a common problem. My own little girl had it as an infant. Of course when she was born, she was perfect. I don't remember her skin being red or blotchy at all, despite it appearing so red and uneven in her first photographs. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen (and not so secretly I breathed a huge sigh of relief she wasn't funny looking). However, a few weeks after she was born her acne hit. It was brief and went away on it's own. When I remember her as a baby, I remember her skin being flawless and perfect. That is what I wanted her photographs to look like.

When I work with parents during a newborn session there is a lot of downtime while we wait for baby to cooperate. In getting to know the family, I also typically address a few things - whether or not they'd like me to use props, if it is alright if I remove a diaper, if I may pick up and hold the baby, and if there are things they'd like me to remove or edit, such as the baby acne. I have never had a mother ask me to leave the acne or redness on their child's face. In the case of this argument, I think airbrushing wins. As long as the baby doesn't start to look like plastic (which I am sure I have been guilty of in the past) or you're airbrushing out characteristic details like birthmarks (without the consent or request of a parent) I think some cleaning up is absolutely necessary and okay.

Here is my sweet little girl and my image straight out of the camera. Look at those big blue eyes! Okay, sorry. Getting off track. Notice her skin? The uneven coloring, the red "pimples" and a lot of texture on her forehead. She was also molting or something because she was peeling like whoa.

The first thing I did was to use the Patch Tool to remove the red spots and white fuzzies. Using the patch tool you simply draw and select around the area you need to edit and drag and drop your selection to an area you want to replicate from - so in this case, I dragged my selection to "clean" patches of skin.

Already a vast improvement. Next, I apply Coffeeshop PowderRoom skin action to my image. This creates a number of layers I can edit to improve my image - a skin smoothing layer, eye define, and eye brightness. I will use this to soften and blend in her skin and bring out the blue in those baby blues - she gets those from her dad.

Almost done! Now I've smoothed out the skin and brightened up her eyes just a tad. Now I want to work on the coloring and finish up my image. The white balance, or color tone, of the image is a little cool which means I would like to warm up the photo and add some yellows. This will also help make her skin a bit more creamy. I love Florabella's Vintage Photoshop actions Retro Vintage. I reduce the opacity of the action layer to 77% - a fine line between an "effect" and "natural look".

As you can see, it is an improvement from our straight out of the camera image while still sustaining her natural beauty. Airbrushing should be used like makeup - enhance what is already there - not cover it up.

Roll over the image with your mouse to see the before and after. Thanks for reading!

Camera Bag Review

2011-08-17T14:48:00.001-04:00

When I first began my career as a photographer, I had a camera, a lens, and a battery charger. Over the years, things have drastically changed. At any given moment I would say my bag of gear weighs more than my 22-month old. Going from such a small stock of gear to my present and growing inventory had long since created a need for a better storage solution.

My old camera bags. The first two were never meant to be camera bags - that I recall. They were our video camcorder bags - so small for my SLR's that I had to attach my flash bag on the strap as it would not fit into such a tight space. When I began shooting weddings I knew I needed more gear and more space. Then came the diaper bag. That's right - I unloaded the diapers, wipes, lotions and toys from my diaper bag to shove in camera gear. Well, in my defense it does have lots of pockets and compartments. =)

It was time for a change and with my birthday coming up I knew I had to indulge myself, my growing business and take care of my precious cargo. I researched for months. I was finding myself very indecisive. I looked at Kelly Moore Bags, Epiphanie... but their stock was always limited and while their customers raved over how cute their bags were, the quality and craftsmanship for the price left much to be desired. I don't remember how I found my way onto Etsy, and more specifically Gypsy Rose Handbags, but there is where I found my very new, very custom, very awesome camera bag.

The reviews for Judy's work (the woman who crafts each bag by hand) were impeccable. Nobody was questioning her craftsmanship and everyone raved about how many compliments they received on their bags. The first thing I noticed upon looking at the bag listing was the amount of padding (aka protection) in each pocket and throughout the bag - something I'd been unimpressed with in viewing other manufacturers. At the Etsy store you can customize your fabric, interior color, add pockets, zippers and ask for other specifications desired for your bag.

When it arrived (packed with care) I was blown away. It was far better than I'd even imagined (I went with the Large Hobo style). The quality and craftsmanship was amazing. It was just as good as anything you'd find manufactured for a large retailer - but better. Think of the difference between TJMaxx and Prada... This is Prada people.

The gear I carry with me varies from session to session, but much of what you see above is what I'll tote around with me for larger scale shoots. 2 camera bodies (obviously using one to photograph the goods!), flash, lenses, battery charger, lens wipes, memory cards, camera remote, cell phone, pens, business cards, wallet, and yes - even fruit snacks. At some events you never know when you're going to eat.

It all fit with ease into my bag. The bag closes at the top with a clasp tightly to secure the gear, followed by the Boho flap which also clasps at the bottom of the bag. A perfect fit. There is over an inch of padding on the bottom of the bag with a hard base to help protect the equipment and help the bag stand upright. The fabric is a twill/canvas - very durable while still being flexible. The strap is adjustable and can be suited for different heights and body types.

Lastly, I just couldn't resist adding this accessory to my purchase. A camera strap cover! Goodbye bright yellow Nikon advertisement, and hello to matchy matchy! =) There are 2 reasons this strap was worth every penny - first, the peek-a-boo lens cap pocket and second the added padding. Carrying around a heavy camera body is taxing on the neck and shoulder and this will certainly ease the pain!

So there you have it. I would like to clarify I was not paid in any way for this review or "advertisement". I just love the product and want to share what I've found because there ARE other options out there besides the big name camera bag companies - and cheaper too! As Judy says "there is a difference between home made and hand made" and she makes that completely clear with the workmanship and love put into her bags. If you're in the market, whether large scale or small, she has something to offer you in her shop. Check her out!

Facebook Giveaway

2011-08-11T13:11:00.001-04:00

I am so excited that my little page on Facebook has garnered 600+ fans, or "Likes"! I am so grateful to my friends who support me in this venture, my clients who share their photos on Facebook to friends and family, and those who have found my Facebook in one way or another and have stayed. I decided to celebrate this feat by rewarding my Facebook fans!

That's right! I'm doing a giveaway! Find your way over to the Kelli Brewer Photography Facebook page and find the status detailing the giveaway. All you have to do is tell me about your favorite photo that you have displayed in your home. Why does it mean something to you? Is it a touching photo - or is it silly? Who or what is in it that makes it a favorite photo? One lucky Facebook follower will win a 16x20 Foamboard Print of their photo! A $75 value, totally free!

- In order to win, you must "Like" Kelli Brewer Photography on Facebook

- Only entries left on the Facebook status detailing the contest will be accepted - please do not leave individual comments on the wall or this post, as they will not be counted

- All Facebook followers are eligible - this contest is open to all U.S. residents/APO addresses

- Image may not be copyrighted or belonging to that of another photographer without a copyright release or permission - I don't want to step on the toes of another photographer!

- Nothing pornographic or vulgar will be accepted!

Anton & Tomoe - July 27, 2011

2011-08-01T20:09:00.000-04:00

Last week I was able to photograph a really special wedding. Anton and his bride Tomoe flew all the way in from Japan to be married in the Washington D.C. LDS Temple. It was a very small, intimate gathering with family. I wish them all the best and a very safe trip back to Japan!

Why buy professional?

2011-07-28T14:22:00.001-04:00

Whether or not to require your clients to purchase prints from you vs. handing over a disc with the high-res files on it has been a long standing debate for an up and coming photographer. I understand the argument from both sides: as a professional, I want my work to be displayed and reproduced properly as a true representation of my quality of work and as a consumer, I want to spend the least amount of money but get the most bang for my buck.

Obviously, that creates a problem.

That's why a few months ago I began offering the DVD of images from portrait sessions as a "gift" to any client who purchased $25 worth of professional prints. I found it to be the greatest compromise between photographer and consumer, and more importantly a way for a client to see first hand the difference between professional prints and that of oh, let's say, your favorite neighborhood Warehouse Wholesaler. A place where I think I buy gas and hot dogs more than anything else...

Look closely at the prints below. On the left is a professional print and on the right the bargain print. The first thing I noticed when I compared the two was how "muddy" the bargain print is. The colors are dull and there is a blue undertone to what should be a black and white image. Second and most importantly is the loss of detail. Look at the subjects and you'll see how much more depth there is in clarity, detail and shades of the professional print. Lastly, and what I can't illustrate in pictures, is the quality of paper. Professional paper is top quality, completely archival and much thicker than bargain printers. By touch alone you can conclude where each print came from.

Now let's look at a color image. Below is an image of my sweet little girl when she was just a few weeks old. It is displayed proudly in my front room and it remains my favorite image from her newborn session. Why is it my favorite, you ask? Those beautiful, fall colors (she was born in October)! Colors that are clearly muted and dulled in our bargain print. Sad panda. In a professional print your blacks are true blacks - they're not gray and they're not navy. Notice how much more detailed the weaving of the basket is in our pro print.

While some photographers aim to make a large profit on their prints ($50 for an 8x10? Really...?) I aim to simply cover my cost of the print, that of the web gallery and other photographer related expenses while providing quality images that reflect your investment into the session and the investment of time and talent I've applied to your images.

The logic is this: if you buy a state of the art 65" 3D high definition TV, are you going to watch VHS tapes on it? Keep that in mind when you work with a professional photographer. If you're going to invest in custom photography, remember to invest in the final product. =)

Introducing Victoria - Washington, DC Photgrapher

2011-07-24T23:12:00.001-04:00

Let's all say it together - look at that hair! Gorgeous, no? Baby Victoria was only a short 8 days old when I met with her. She was so sweet and slept through most of the session. I so enjoyed getting to know her mom Vanessa better! We'd been corresponding for weeks and while we waited for Victoria to sleep between poses, Vanessa let me grill her all about city living. Vanessa and her husband literally live in downtown DC and I was just in awe - it'd always been a dream of mine to live in a row house in the city. I live in a townhouse in the suburbs - that's the same, right? =) Thanks so much to the Patterson family for welcoming me into your home and congratulations on the arrival of your precious little girl!

Introducing Christian - Gainesville, VA Photographer

2011-07-19T20:57:00.001-04:00

This past Saturday I made my way out to Gainesville to take some of the first images of 4 week old Christian. His age made the shoot a bit more challenging but it gave me an opportunity to get to know Amanda and Josh better and how they're handling being first time parents. That's the thing about newborn sessions - there is a lot of waiting involved when you're on a baby's schedule. It's definitely easier when you are in good company! It was a pleasure to be invited into their home to take these images of Christian.

The Hoban Family - Stafford, VA Photographer

2011-07-12T22:50:00.000-04:00

There was a moment I wasn't sure this session with the Hoban family would happen. Previously I've mentioned that I have a stomach condition. I'll spare you the details... Anyway, a few weeks ago it was a sad day for Kelli Brewer Photography - I had to ask a client to reschedule because of my condition. It was my worst nightmare! I have never wanted it to interfere with my work and I stressed and stressed over it, but I am so grateful to Jaclyn and her family for being so kind and willing to work with me despite my last minute need to reschedule!

Luckily the following week I was feeling more like myself and we were able to meet at Government Island in Stafford. It was a blissfully hot day but the girls were dressed cool and the tree cover helped shade us during the late afternoon. Despite the heat, Jaclyn's two little girls were so well mannered and did whatever I asked of them. Anytime I asked Jaclyn if there was something I was missing or a shot she'd maybe had in mind she simply said, "I trust you!" It made my day - and put a little pressure on me =) So, here are just a few of my favorites with the Hoban Family, and here's to hoping I delivered!

Kristen & Johnny - June 25, 2011 - Fredericksburg, VA Photgrapher

2011-07-01T13:50:00.000-04:00

A year ago I didn't think I'd be shooting weddings as part of my work as a photographer, yet here I am showing off my 3rd wedding of the summer! I can honestly say that while it is more stressful and pressure to shoot a wedding I love being apart of such a special day between two people and in this case, Johnny and Kristen Mothershead.

This event was a little different because I hadn't worked with Johnny and Kristen previously. Normally I build a relationship with a client through the engagement, bridal and planning process. However, Johnny and Kristen were so warm and easy going throughout the process that you'd never know we were working together for the first time that morning.

I also had the pleasure of working with friend and photographer Chance Hammock. Chance is an awesome landscape and architectural photographer who is looking to transition into portrait photography. He helped me out tremendously as my second shooter!

Kristen and Johnny were married at the Cannon Ridge Golf Club in Fredericksburg, VA. There was so much love for them in that reception hall that only carried through their night of partying - and let me tell you, they can throw a dang good party. It was such a fun night and again, I felt so honored to be asked to help capture the memories of their special day. Congrats you guys!

Photo by Chance Hammock

Photos by Chance Hammock

Right photo by Chance Hammock

Photos by Chance Hammock

Photo by Chance Hammock

Photos by Chance Hammock

Photo by Chance Hammock

Left photo by Chance Hammock

Photo by Chance Hammock

This toast by Kristen's sister and MOH Lindsey was flawless and hysterical! We all felt sorry for the Best Man having to follow her toast!

Photo by Chance Hammock

"Johnny, this is the last time you will ever have the upper hand again in your marriage!"

Back in Business!

2011-06-26T21:41:00.001-04:00

I am happy to have another annual family beach vacation to the Outer Banks in the bag, as well as another gorgeous Wedding! Kristen and her new husband Johnny are such a fun couple - I so enjoyed seeing everything that went into this wedding. I can tell you this - these two knew how to throw a party! I don't think I've ever been to a reception where everyone was involved, partying, and just having an awesome time.

I can't wait to share more images with you from their wedding - it's another item on my growing to do list. That being said, I am officially back from vacation and back in business! I feel so blessed to find so many inquiries in my inbox - keep 'em coming! =)

"Out of the Office"

2011-06-17T20:38:00.000-04:00

It's finally here! No, not Christmas. Not my Birthday. Not the Oscars. The Beach!

"The Beach" meaning the annual vacation I take with my family to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. My whole year revolves around this trip. All 27 of us (yep, you read that right) caravan to a home right on the coast of the Atlantic for an entire week. We surf in the ocean, play in the sand, swim in the pool and bike for miles... Now that my little girl is a year older and more independent, I can't wait to share this trip with her! We've been cycling this tradition for 24 years and it never gets old.

As you can imagine, I'm taking the week off to relax and enjoy time with my family so contact/updates will be limited. I'll do my best to return emails and inquiries but responses may be delayed. No worries though, I'll snap right back into normal operations when I return. Waiting for me a day after I get home is the wedding of the lovely Kristen Bailey and 2 other weddings waiting to be post-processed. =)

See you all in a week!

My little girl, last year during her first beach trip!

kellibrewer.com is now actually kellibrewer.com

2011-06-15T13:43:00.000-04:00

Ever since Kelli Brewer Photography was born my website has been hosted as a blog on Blogger. I've always found Blogger easy to use and it does all the work I'd have to code and do by hand if I broke out my rusty HTML/CSS skills. Plus, anytime I headed to another photographers site I went straight to their blog. The blog is where the goods are at.

http://www.kellibrewer.com has always been a redirect to my blog, but now I've got it all set up to where it stays my dot com no matter where you go on the site.

The downside?

It appears as if all my comments and Facebook likes (one post had 40 Facebook likes! GAR!) are MIA since the change. Boo...

So, with everything, you win some, you lose some.

The Anderson Family - Vienna, VA Photographer

2011-06-12T00:07:00.000-04:00

I had the great pleasure of photographing the Anderson family - on the hottest day of the summer thus far! Yikes. The Anderson family were such great sports with the heat and humidity at the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens in Vienna, Virginia. Ideally we would have rescheduled, but they were soon to return "home" to Bogota, Columbia. Tamara and her husband Toby work for the U.S. Federal Government and are currently living overseas.

It was an especially memorable visit home to the D.C. area for father and daughter. The trip was to finalize and dot the paperwork for Toby to official adopt Jailynn. I was so honored to be asked to take photographs for the family to remember this important event. I am so happy for their family!

Can you spot the difference? When the clone tool comes to the rescue...

2011-06-09T14:02:00.000-04:00

Can you spot the subtle difference in these two photographs?

If you're still looking, let me point you in the direction of the Bride's hair. See it?

As a photographer it's my job to pick up on things that are important or of concern to my client. It was hot and humid from morning rain the day of the event and Cassie was concerned about her bangs separating. She and her bridesmaids tried to keep a close watch, but every now and again they got away from us. That's where the clone tool comes in!

The clone tool let's you more or less "copy and paste" from the existing image. As your brush paints over a specific area, instead of a single color it paints an exact copy of a selection within that image. For Cassie's hair, I selected the clone tool and pressed ALT. This changes your cursor from a brush to a cross hair or bullseye looking cursor. While holding the ALT key, you'll select the area you want to copy. I selected the side bangs almost right next to the broken section by simply clicking the cross hair in that area. By doing that, you've told Photoshop where you want to paste from.

What I love about Photoshop CS5 is that when I remove my hand from the ALT key and begin painting, I can see what is going to be copied there before I click the mouse. After adjusting my brush size, I simply painted the small section of skin poking through.

The finished product is what you see. No more broken bangs, just perfectly set hair. =)

Camera Raw Magic

2011-06-06T22:48:00.000-04:00

I always love to see before and afters when it comes to what photographers and Photoshop can do to an image. Unfortunately many photographers aren't willing to share what they consider to be "unfinished" work or how they got to the end result.

I'm not one of those.

I will be the first to admit I don't get it right in the camera every time. Luckily my background in Photoshop dates back as early to my first website in the 6th grade. I judge a good photographer by the end result - I don't care how they got there.

I shoot in RAW format. Well, RAW + JPEG to be exact. RAW files have a lot of flexibility. You can change exposure, color balance, highlights, shadows, saturation - THE WORKS - before burning the image as a JPEG. There's a reason the file format is huge. Having that ability to go back and correct a mistake I've made on the camera is priceless.

Take this image as an example. It's completely blown out (or over exposed) but with Camera Raw in Photoshop I was able to bring out the blacks in the image and re-saturate the washed out colors. After the application of some of my favorite Photoshop Actions (the Florabella "Vintage Summer" action to be exact) and VOILA. One of my favorite images from Jacob & Jessie's wedding!

The Dorer Family - Woodbridge, VA Photographer

2011-06-05T22:59:00.000-04:00

This weekend I snuck down to Leesylvania State Park with the Dorer family. I went to high school with both Barbi and Chris - Barbi and I were in the same graduating class and spent many days laughing in Ms. Manikas' class! It's been 10 years since we last saw each other, but she hasn't changed a bit. She is one of the sweetest girls you'll ever meet. Here are some of my favorite images from our session out by the Potomac!

Jacob & Jessie - May 27, 2011 - LDS Wedding Photographer

2011-06-04T23:38:00.001-04:00

It was amazing to be a part of Jacob and Jessie's special day. You may notice you won't find any pictures of their ceremony. That is because Jacob and Jessie are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As members of the LDS faith we believe when we marry we do so for Eternity - "til death do we part" is not apart of our vocabulary! Jacob and Jessie were married in the Washington D.C. Temple in a special ceremony called a sealing, which is a sacred and beautiful act where cameras are not permitted. However, they were surrounded by their closest friends and family and their joy and excitement following their ceremony can't be denied when you look at these pictures!

It was very clear to me over the course of getting to know Jacob and Jessie better as a couple that they are the best of friends. I felt so privileged to share their special day with them and had a blast. Here are some of my very favorite pictures from their day at the Temple and their reception at Rockhill Plantation in Stafford, Virginia.

Every time Jessie sank down, her dress just engulfed her. We couldn't resist a picture!

This being an LDS wedding, we had mashed potato margaritas! Equally genius and delicious!

I think we all had tears in our eyes while watching the Father/Daughter dance.

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Johnson! =)

Friday 5

2011-05-28T19:56:00.000-04:00

1. I saw on your Facebook you rented a lens. Do you do this often? Where do you rent from?

I typically shoot with my own lenses for portrait sessions, but for weddings it is important to have versatility and a good zoom lens. For the wedding I shot this weekend I rented the go-to wedding lens, a Nikkor 24-70mm 2.8. I went with Lens Pro to Go, and I have been SUPER pleased.

2. Who takes your family photos?

I have never been shot by a professional portrait photographer outside of the places at the mall! I think part of the reason is that I am a perfectionist and when I take the pictures myself - whether it is through self-timer or recruiting a family member to do it - I can process them into my style and what I'm looking for. I haven't found any photographers locally that I'd be willing to give up the control for yet!

3. Is it hard to do wedding photography with your stomach condition?

Yes - and no. My condition, microscopic colitis, has varying degrees of severity that I cannot always control. I initially stayed away from wedding photography due to the pressure of it being a one-time-deal that can't be rescheduled should I become ill, but I don't want my condition to hold me back. I take every precaution I can to curb any symptoms and prevent any from coming on. Sometimes it starts days in advance if I have a big event like a wedding to shoot. So far, *knock on wood* it hasn't held me back.

4. I love photography myself and even majored in it at college for a short time. I want to get a more professional camera, just to have and take cute shot of my kiddos, what kind of camera do you use? Can you make a recommendation?

For most of the sessions you see on my blog, I am using a Nikon D80 SLR camera with a 50mm 1.8 lens ($120!) I recently upgraded to a Nikon D7000 - I upgraded for better ISO control, newer technology and speed. There are entry level SLRs like the new D3100 that is an excellent camera for the price.

A great SLR body is a great start, but great glass (lens) can really make or break a picture. The 50mm 1.8 is a big staple in a photographers bag and is so inexpensive. When just getting started it was all I could afford and I haven't looked back.

However, for just shooting around the house and kids, any kit lens that comes with your camera will get the job done until you get more familiar with your camera and different lenses. Just the upgrade from a point and shoot to an SLR will make a HUGE difference in your photos.

5. Do you have any tips for a start-up business owner?

Just starting out in the photography business I did a lot of free sessions to build my portfolio. I asked friends that were already married if I could shoot "engagements". It was a win-win. I was able to build my portfolio, gain practice and they received a disc of images for their time. Once I did a few free sessions, I started doing sessions free but clients were asked to buy prints from me in exchange for an otherwise free session. Once I got enough experience and had a substantial portfolio, I began going "legit" and charging for both my time and talent.

Have a question, curiosity, business or photography question? Submit it below!

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Tyler & Cassandra - May 19, 2011

2011-05-25T14:05:00.000-04:00

My first wedding of the summer is officially over! Only my 2nd professional wedding to date, I am so happy with how everything turned out and I can't tell you how much I loved being apart of Tyler and Cassie's day. From the laughs in the limo, boredom in the Bridal suite (we all wished we'd brought cards), to delicious food and good time with friends, it was an amazing day!

The "first look". Tyler was so confused - "What kind of face do I make? Where am I looking? What do I do!" Once he saw her for the first time, instinct kicked in. "Wow, you look beautiful!" Well done Tyler.

I loved how small and sweet this bridal party was. Such an awesome group of people - I can see why Tyler and Cassandra counted them as some of their closest friends.

Everyone always takes pictures of the brides shoes - Tyler wasn't having any of that.

I just had to take a picture of the uneaten food on the Bride and Grooms table. Doesn't this happen at every wedding? They were so great about greeting their guests that it was ages before they were able to sit down and finally grab a bite to eat!

This was probably some of the best food I have ever had at a wedding reception. Oh, and that pasta? To die for!

Congratulations Tyler and Cassie! Wishing nothing but the best for you both!

Congrats Tyler and Cassandra!

2011-05-21T19:17:00.000-04:00

It was my pleasure to photograph the wedding of Tyler and Cassandra Williams this past Thursday! I can't wait to share the images from this wedding, but for now, here is a first look at the happy couple:

More to come! Also, I apologize if I have not yet responded to your inquiries. As you can imagine, it has been a very full, busy past few days. Normal operations will resume on Monday, May 23rd! =)

The Leininger Family - Woodbridge, VA Photographer

2011-05-17T22:17:00.000-04:00

A few months ago I was invited to take newborn photos of Pam and Doug's youngest, Gwen. I was so flattered when they contacted me again for some updated family photos. It was so fun to see how much Gwen has grown!

Pam asked me to suggest a location that would be child friendly, so we headed out to Leesylvania State Park for its open spaces, playground and proximity to the water. Unfortunately, that probably worked against us... After every click of the camera the kids asked "Now can we go play on the green slide?" Opps! I knew I had to move quick!

With 3 kids under three you'd think Doug and Pam would be pulling their hair out, but their little ones are so sweet and so well behaved. I was in awe of their little family. They totally indulged me while we took some photos and eventually yes, the did get to play on the green slide. =)

Remember, all repeat clients shooting with Kelli Brewer Photography may take $25 OFF any package! =)

The Gonzalez Family - Manassas, VA Photographer

2011-05-13T19:04:00.000-04:00

This weekend I shot my very first session with my upgraded equipment. A family friend (and coincidentally the father to two of my upcoming brides) allowed me to borrow his 85mm 1.4 lens. Can I just say it is AMAZING? Of course, it is far outside my price range so I was incredibly grateful for the opportunity to borrow and shoot with it!

The Gonzalez family and I walked around the Manassas Battlefield Park this Saturday. It is quickly making its way to the top of my favorite locations list! I just love the variety of scenery and the huge, wide open landscape. Taken just a few days before Mother's Day, I think these images will be the perfect gift for Eveyln and her little family. Here are just a few sneak peeks from our session!

Friday 5

2011-05-13T19:03:00.000-04:00

1. What kind of preparation goes into a shoot before the actual shoot itself?

After I've coordinated a location, time and package for a client I check in with them about a week before our actual session to finalize the details, send them a helpful information sheet and forward them a copy of their contract. The night before a session I charge of my batteries, clear out my memory cards, clean my lenses, my camera and make sure all my camera settings are back to my usual shooting defaults. I never want to walk onto a shoot unprepared or having to make all those adjustments in front of a client!

2. I know you like to shoot outdoors, but what do you do for indoor shots? Do you use your flash?

Natural light will almost always look more flattering than light from a flash. If I find myself shooting indoors for events or even just personal images, I will turn my ISO up to allow for the low-light. Even with a lot of bright lights on indoors, it doesn't compare to natural sun-light, even in overcast weather. I also use an SB-600 flash made by Nikon. It is so much more flattering than the little on-camera flash that pops up on my D7000.

3. What is the greatest compliment you've received to date?

A friend and I were discussing a recent wedding invitation we'd both received when she asked me if I'd taken the photographs for it (opening a wedding invite with my pictures is like Christmas morning!). She said that she thought I had, because just looking at the images she thought they were "my style" and "my work". I don't think she realized she was giving me a compliment, but it meant so much to me that someone could identify my work like that. A photographer is always crafting his style and point of view and I finally feel like I have found mine.

4. Along with the same question above, what is your greatest reward from your business?

I love seeing my work in my clients homes. Whether it's on the refrigerator, over the mantel or in frames along a bookcase, I get warm fuzzies. It means so much to me that clients love their images enough to want to proudly display them in their homes and for all their friends and family to see. I love walking into my siblings and parents homes to see my images all over the walls - it's often hard to spot one I haven't taken. It really gives me the confidence to keep going and growing as a photographer.

5. Have you ever had any really weird requests? For like poses or locations or something.

I'm happy to oblige my clients in any request they may have, within reason of course. That's the beauty of digital - if it doesn't work, it's not as if I have wasted a frame of film. I find that sometimes kids want to be extra silly or might have an odd pose they'd like to shoot. Instead of forcing them to smile or pose for those "over the mantel" photos, I am happy to take their silly picture. They feel a part of the session and don't go into a meltdown, which makes the shoot easier overall.

Have a question, curiosity, business or photography question? Submit it below!

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New Camera + My Sweet Girl

2011-05-08T21:36:00.000-04:00

This weekend I finally took the plunge - I upgraded my camera! It was a necessary upgrade and a reward for my success as a result of working with so many wonderful clients. I can't wait to use it to photograph more families, couples, brides and newborns!

I immediately wanted to start shooting with it and who better to photograph than my little one! Everyone always assumes I just have hundreds of photos like these since she is the daughter of a photographer, but I am guilty of not taking as many photos as I should. Here's to hoping a new camera and this sweet face inspire me to be better about capturing her sweet moments!

Happy Mothers Day!

2011-05-08T10:00:00.001-04:00

Becoming a mother is and will probably always be my greatest joy to date. I feel like a rock star for having gone through a pregnancy and given birth. I never accidentally stepped on my baby (like I so greatly feared) and now I get to enjoy having my daughter run into my arms for giant hugs and feeling her head in the crook of my neck when I carry her up the stairs.

I learned from the best - my mom is my very best friend. I brought my daughter into this world and into my parents home for the first few months of her life and I am so, so grateful for the invaluable lessons I learned from my mom. I don't know how I would have gotten through my first night with a gassy baby without her!

I have had such a pleasure photographing so many families and moms over the years. I know I treasure the few photos I have with my mom. Here are some of my favorite moments captured between mother and child.

Happy Mothers Day!

Singin' in the Rain

2011-05-06T21:29:00.002-04:00

A wise woman (and fellow photographer) once told me it was important to shoot for myself - not for hire, not to please a client. I wanted to work on a session "just because", and my niece Lauren was the perfect model for my creative outlet. She was an especially good sport - it was raining, cold, and windy! You'll notice she is missing one of her front teeth - that happened just minutes before we were supposed to leave. These pictures captured the event perfectly!

Not only was it a good opportunity to just have a little fun with the camera, but it was a great opportunity to spend some one on one time with my gorgeous niece. Her family is lumped into that unfortunate category - they're not far enough away for an overnight trip but not quite close enough for frequent visits. I loved getting to work on a session with no pressure or expectations but more importantly I loved spending quality time with family.

Here are my favorites from our quick, cold and wet session:

Friday 5

2011-05-06T00:08:00.000-04:00

1. Do you let clients preview their images on your camera after/during the session?

No, I don't. It's like getting a haircut and making a judgement before it's been styled and polished. I may take a great shot and show it to my client immediately after, but I would never let them flip through all the images I've taken. I like to wait for the "Wow" factor after they've been polished in photoshop and only the best are kept. =)

2. What kind of lighting is best for outdoor sessions?

Sunrise and an hour or so before sunset is the best lighting, which is why I typically conduct all my sessions in the evening. When the sun is high, it creates very harsh shadows and is too bright on the face. By waiting until the sun is almost down, shadows are much softer. Overcast or cloudy days may not seem ideal, but they are actually perfect lighting for outdoor sessions.

3. What kind of camera do you shoot with?

I currently shoot with a Nikon D80. When I purchased my SLR camera I don't know that I had seriously considered shooting professionally. I just knew that I loved photography. Had I known where my business would be at today, I would have bought a higher-end model. However, I think my work speaks for itself and a nicer camera does not always a photographer make! I would really love to upgrade, but that will come with time. Time and money. Money is important.

4. Do you have a favorite famous photographer?

I actually really love Annie Leibovitz. She is the head photographer for Vanity Fair magazine. I love the coloring, textures and softness in her photos and the photo journalistic quality to them. One of my favorite shoots to date of hers were the first pictures ever released of Suri Cruise, the daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise.

5. Do you prefer to shoot film or digital?

Hands down, digital. Like so many others, I grew up shooting film. I hated tearing open that envelope of freshly developed pictures and seeing shots I really hoped turned out in fact didn't. I love seeing the immediate results after I've clicked the shutter to see if the shot worked or not. Plus, there's no time in between shooting and getting the images on the computer to edit them. They're just so versatile. I've worked with film in college, learned the process - which is beautiful - but professionally and to keep my sanity, digital is the way to go.

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Friday 5

2011-04-29T19:53:00.001-04:00

1. How many photos do you take during a session?

Probably between 200-300 in an hour session. I take quite a few images from the same pose or moment to compensate for blinkers, laughs, eye contact, etc. Even something so subtle as a different hand position can create a better image, so I'm always snapping.
2. Do you have a recommendation for a point and shoot?

I currently have a Nikon Coolpix, but I haven't been happy with it. My favorite point and shoot was my Canon Powershot. It was fast, easy to use, saved the images quickly and gave me great images. Sadly, after a few years it began missing pixels and the sensor was shot. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the Powershot models! I always look for manual features, an optical zoom, and ISO options.

3. What is your biggest fear when taking on a session or working with a new client?

I have a condition called microscopic colitis which is unpredictable. My worry is that I will be late to a session because I've had to stop numerous times on the way there (which is why I always try to leave extra early) or that on the day of a wedding I will be extremely ill and unable to shoot. It's easy enough to reschedule a portrait session but that is not an option with a wedding day! Luckily I have never had an issue *Knock on Wood*

4. Where is your favorite location to shoot?

Chapman's Mill is definitely up there, but I also really love Old Town Occoquan. The old buildings, being right by the water and the many different textures and backgrounds to work with in a small amount of space.

5. My husband always blinks no matter how many times I count or try to get him not to. We don't have a single picture where he isn't halfway closed or blinking. Any suggestions?

I read this trick somewhere, and it's especially helpful in large group photos - Have everyone close their eyes and on three, ask them to open their eyes. Wait a moment and then snap the image. I've had great success with it.

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Happy Easter & Availability Update

2011-04-24T22:27:00.000-04:00

I hope everyone had a happy and safe Easter Holiday, whether you celebrate the resurrection of our Savior or enjoy a visit from the Easter Bunny! I spent my Spring Break with family took some time to shoot my adorable niece Lauren. It was a crazy week but now business will return to normal.

Regarding my availability, I am now completely booked for the month of May! I am still taking on portrait sessions for the remaining summer months. Contact me today to pencil in your session!

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