“…but where does the CD go?”
While recently chatting it up with another artist friend who had bought the new 27″ iMac, she mentioned she felt a little silly as she asked that very question of Apple’s support team when she got home and realized that she couldn’t find the CD drive. She couldn’t find it because Apple no longer includes a CD drive on their iMac computers.
It’s just one more reason why we encourage our clients to have their photographs printed! Even if you managed to buy a CD of photos, where would you put it? I understand that most people still have a CD drive but that will no longer be the case in just a few short years. Because digital media changes so quickly, it is more important than ever to print your photographs. If you don’t, you’ll be required to constantly update the media and the more pictures you save, the larger that project becomes.
After all, can you still play your iPod on a CD player? Or a CD in a tape recorder? Or a tape on a record player? Who cares, you’re probably streaming live anyway. Get it?
Just like with music, you need to update your digital photos to the most current format [film scan, CD, thumb drive, hard drive, cloud etc.] in order to keep them “archived.” And I use the term “archived” loosely because every time you open those files, they diminish little by little. [For example, making a tape recording while playing a song on vinyl is not going to have the same sound quality as playing that vinyl on a record player. It loses quality.] And just like a CD can get a scratch or a tape can become tangled, your digital files can become corrupt over time or when moving them to new format. That means they are damaged and lost forever. And I know you think you might be able to stay on top of it. I mean, a disc to a thumb drive seems manageable (as long as the files are still in tact). But when your parents were listening to Chubby Checker do the Twist, the internet hadn’t even been invented yet! Imagine their shock if you said “One day, you’ll be able to watch this on YouTube.” Thankfully music moguls have conglomerates who continue to archive their work so that we can all watch Chubby twist his little hips online. We have companies like Disney who spend millions of dollars and countless hours restoring their films so we can watch Cinderella on blu-ray. And in all fairness, because we see those oldies but goodies updated regularly, we really don’t give much thought to our own creative work that needs preserving. I think it’s fair to say that you probably don’t have access to those teams for your Easter Sunday egg hunts or your Sweet 16 or how you looked just a few months before meeting your little girl for the very first time [click here for maternity].
I understand you want to keep the digital files for peace of mind and they are nice to have as a backup, but having your photographs professionally printed is the only real way of backing them up. Not to mention that your favorite photographs are meant to be seen! They are meant to bring a smile to your face when you are sitting at the breakfast table and look up at a big print of your little one covered in the frosting of his very first cake. They are meant to remind you of the love you have for your husband and the life you’ve built together as you flip through your wedding album. And they are meant inspire you to be confident and appreciate the person you are as you get dressed every morning, passing by your bedroom boudoir wall portrait. Your photographs are artwork that is meant to be seen!
You don’t really believe those digital files are the equivalent to a film negative, do you? If you did, you definitely don’t want to know what a photographer would have to charge you for them!
So, print your pictures. I suggest printing all your photographs small to have as keepsakes and choosing your absolute favorites to decorate your walls with. Your photographer can help you narrow down your decision and give advise on what will work best in your home. But, you have to start by making the commitment to print your photographs regularly.
Didn’t you just hate running errands when you were a kid?! I remember when I was little, one of those errands usually included dropping off a roll of film or two at the drive thru photo lab. It was part of our regular routine. And when I was in my mid twenties, my mom gifted me the most amazing photo album. It was a full collection of photos of me from birth to age 16. It included things like my mom’s hospital bracelet, dedication certificate and lots of photos! Photos of family vacations when I was a baby, holidays, music recitals, trips, birthdays etc. It was amazing. All those important memories, in one location and passed down to me so that I could revisit them whenever I like and share them with my own family one day.
I’m guilty of it as well. As a professional photographer, I have access to the best labs and even I have photographs sitting on my phone or desktop that need to be printed. We get busy. We wait until we have a bulk order and then forget all together. I get it! But I’m making that commitment with you today to print my pictures! Will you? If it makes it easier, just order 10 a week. Can I let you in a little secret? When people took pictures on film, they had no more than 36 photos per roll! You don’t need to print thousands at a time. You just need to print regularly. Your children and your children’s children will thank you for it. I can’t imagine growing up in a world where years, even decades at a time, of memories and moments are just missing because they were never printed, can you? Comment below if you will pledge to print your pictures!!
If you want us to create and print your pictures, just email info@shannon-michelle.com for bookings.
[Drive thru photo courtesy of Kodak]
Fashion Inspired Portraits make an amazing alternative to traditional headshots. I’m always honored when other professional photographer’s chose to work with me. Here are just a few of the creative and corporate clients I’ve had the pleasure of working with. Click on the website to view their work!
PHOTOGRAPHER HEADSHOTS:
Kelley Cronin – Kelly Cronin.com
Jaclyn Lombardo – Jaclyn L Photography.com
Tricia McCormack – Tricia McCormack.com
Anna Sawin – Pencils and Lens.com
ARTISTS AND CORPORATE HEADSHOTS:
Holly Nichols – H Nichols Illustration.com
Katherine Kowalik – Tullis Funds.com
The Oceanos Inc. Team – Oceanosinc.com
Are you in need of an updated headshots? Message us for booking!
info@shannon-michelle.com or 617.307.1155
Ever heard all you need is confidence to take great picture? It’s total bullshit! How many of you have felt confident but still didn’t like your pictures?
Exactly.
Do you know that models are some of the most insecure people I’ve ever met? [shhhh, don’t tell anyone….they’re human too]. If you think about it, it makes perfect sense. Their entire career is based on rejection and rejection solely on their physical looks. They know exactly what’s “wrong” with them and they’re always aware of it. So how can that be? How can a model be insecure when one of the most important things you need to look great in pictures is confidence?
What models do have, is confidence in how to pose on camera and because of that, they are comfortable being photographed. They know their angles and how to show a product, but as a person they have insecurities with their bodies just like you and me. So that thing you’ve heard about confidence is sexy. That’s probably true in person. But on film, I find that your confidence isn’t really needed. Mine is.
[Huh?!]
Keep reading…
[Megan – Norwell High – Class of 2016]
Since I don’t expect you to learn how to become a model overnight [although that would be nice], what you really need is a photographer who is confident in posing you!
So many of the women I work with are nervous about how to pose and that’s completely natural. But what I want you to know is that when you work with me, whether it’s for a boudoir shoot, a senior portrait, a headshot, maternity…it doesn’t matter… I will pose you, nose to toes! You will never have to worry about how to pose when you step into my studio. You just have to relax, enjoy having your hair and make up done and then trust me. I will teach you industry tricks and tips that work best with your body frame. But the best thing about fashion? The editorial division! If you’re just so totally bad at posing straight to the camera, I’m going to have you move in a way that I know will photograph nicely. Playing with your necklace, playing with your hair, movement, looking away and photographing details are all things I use to create a diverse album but also keep you looking good, no matter how awkward you get! After all…
You don’t pose to look like a model; You look like a model because I pose you!”
Contact us info@shannon-michelle.com now for booking info and find out firsthand how I would pose you!!
Ready for a new headshot? A beauty portrait? Ready to try boudoir? Great! Now what in the world will you wear?! More specifically, what colors look best on you? Keep reading for…
3 Foolproof Ways to Know What Colors You Should Wear in Photos
1] Select a color that you love! Is there that one color you feel comfortable in and are happy wearing? Wear that!
2] You know that one color that you don’t love but every time you wear it, you get tons of compliments? Wear that!
3] Who is your celebrity doppelganger? Google that person and look at her red carpet outfits. What color is she most photographed in? Wear that!
[Hint: She’s not dressing herself; she has a professional stylist.]
The bottom line – Don’t over think it. When you’ve hired the right photographer, you’re going to look great so just enjoy it!
Want more info on what to wear for boudoir? Click HERE to sign up for your free lingerie style guide.
“I have to say this is probably one of the best things that I have done for myself in a while! Walking in I was definitely feeling a little nervous and not knowing what to expect. I mean putting on a small amount of clothing in front of a stranger that you’ve never met before who wouldn’t be nervous! Not only is Shannon’s location super super cute and quaint. I felt so comfortable in her space and Shannon herself makes you feel like you are longtime friends. Plus she does this every day so she’s used to seeing every shape and size. So the first outfit was the most revealing (hence not being pictured here). The ones following that were more softer kind of sexy-over-the-shoulder outfits. With never doing this before Shannon gave me great direction and helpful hints. Who would’ve known how hard it is to be a model? I feel like at some points I was doing a yoga pose! Got to give those models some credit. After about three outfit changes we were on our last shoot. Which involved the fan blowing my hair which was absolutely amazing… I felt like a real supermodel! After leaving I really did not know what to expect. I basically just left everything up to Shannon. I am so glad that I did. I was completely blown away by the finished photos that she sent me. Not only did she make me look great but she made me feel amazing about myself. Which I think everybody should experience!”
Deanna is a co-owner of the earth friendly Salon, Verde Boutique in Braintree, MA. For the full review, click HERE.
Honored to photograph the beautiful Holly Nichols. More to come!
In the meantime, check out her fashion illustrations HERE.
FOR BOOKINGS OR INQUIRIES: info@shannon-michelle.com
Today, I pulled some files for a past maternity client of mine. How fun it was to look through her portraits again, so I decided to share a few of my favorite maternity shoots with you. Enjoy! 
TRICIA G. | SOUTH SHORE STUDIO
BELLA A. | THE W HOTEL RESIDENCES – BOSTON
JENNI V. & SARAH G. | SOUTH SHORE STUDIO
SARAH G. & | SOUTH SHORE STUDIO
Give us a call! We are excited to hear from you and answer any of your questions!!
Photography by Shannon Michelle Photography
Hair | Make up by Krisann Kiley
FOR BOOKINGS OR INQUIRIES: info@shannon-michelle.com
“Sometimes, you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory.” ~ Dr. Seuss
I often hear photographers talk about how much your images will mean to you when your children’s children look at your wedding album or about how quickly your newborn baby will grow. And I believe every word of it. But as a boudoir / fashion photographer, I sometimes find myself feeling a little….well….if I’m being honest here…superficial.
There, I said it.
I mean, I know what I do is important. I know I’m meant to do this work. I’m good at it, and I absolutely LOVE helping women celebrate themselves as they are! But does it really compare to the newborn photographs of your children?!
And then, I opened my inbox this morning.
Wow! I will print this out as a daily reminder that what I do has significant impact. I am so inspired by this woman and I am honored that she trusted with me with creating such intimate images for her, that now hold so much meaning. I am reminded that I don’t need to compare with other life moments; because this moment is equally as great!
Please enjoy her letter below and let her inspire you to celebrate yourself today. Not in 6 months, not in 10lbs…today.
You are loved. You deserve to be celebrated.
HAIR / MAKE UP FOR CLIENT “J” WAS CREATED BY KRISANN KILEY.
This letter reads:
Hello Shannon,
I’ve been meaning to write and thank you for some time, but better late than never. In the summer of 2013 I got a boudoir shoot, in anticipation of my husband’s 40th birthday. When I came to the studio, I had just had a biopsy and was waiting for the results; I found out later that I had breast cancer, and several months later had a mastectomy. I really appreciated the opportunity to be playful and sexy and forget about what was going on during the shoot, and I’m very grateful to have some beautiful images of my pre-cancer body. I just wanted you to know how much those photos have meant to me.
J.
It’s a perfect fall evening, the air is crisp but not cold. The distinct sound of the street performer playing drums on his plastic buckets is one that is almost as much of a staple to Lansdowne St. as is the smell of piping hot sausages, peppers and onions along with the yelling of excited (and a bit crazed), lifelong Redsox fans. This is Fenway Park!
Pushing through the crowds, we ascend up a dark, narrow, concrete path that leads to an opening where upon exit you are almost blinded from all the lights. Then, the most exciting thing happens. As your eyes adjust, you take in place so saturated in color, a place so rich in history and just like that you are staring at the oldest ballpark in America! A place where since 1912, generation upon generation of die hard fans have been cheering on loyally; rain or shine, win or lose. The place where JFK’s grandfather threw the out the “first pitch,” where fans have stuck it out since 1918, just before Babe Ruth was sold to the Yankees, until 2004 when the “Curse was Reversed.” You can’t avoid the excitement of such a place. And Tuesday night was just that exciting! It was my husband’s birthday and what better place to celebrate than out for a night of baseball with friends?! Cold beer, popcorn, the loud and vulgar heckler attacking player #9 on the Tampa Rays inning after inning (I’ll come back to that later), all added to the experience. “NOW, BATTING FOR THE BOSTON REDSOX, DESIGNATED HITTER DAVID ORTIZ!” Designated hitter huh? My husband so lovingly explained that his only job is to hit the ball. Although Ortiz does occasionally cover first base, designated hitters are not required to play offense and will often bat in the lineup for pitchers. “The pitcher’s don’t know how to hit?” I asked. He just kinda laughed it off and said they may know how to hit but it’s not worth taking the risk that they may get hurt during a play. As the evening went on, I noticed the pitcher warming up for the next inning. Then another. And another. How many pitchers does one team need?! LOL. Well, turns out there are opening pitchers, relief pitchers, closing pitchers etc. As you can probably by now tell, I’m not the most educated sports person there is but it got me thinking, these ball players are professionals. Their leagues are professionals, their coaches, managers, owners, all professionals. Yes, they love the game but let’s face it, baseball is a business. They are there to make money. If they don’t make money, they can’t continue to do what they love. Without making a profit, they don’t play ball. I’m sure that the pitcher for the Boston Redsox can hit a baseball and I’m sure the designated hitter can catch one. But to run this team like a professional business, they let each player do exactly what he is best at. And that is his only job. He is just expected to hit the ball. He is just expected to pitch the closing inning.
I often hear “You don’t photograph weddings? You don’t photograph families? Kids? What do you photograph?! What’s left?” I always find that a bit funny. It’s as if there are only weddings, families and kids as a career option for photographers. I guess that’s a little like me saying a baseball player catches, runs and hits. It’s the very broad, general idea but not at all how a professional team actually works. And it’s not how I work either. In answer to your question about what else is there to photograph, there are photographers who just photograph food, there are advertising photographers, photographers who just photograph pets or landscapes. There are some photographers who just photograph fashion, editorial, runway, red carpet, lifestyle, a day in the life of…I could go on and on. But I create fashion inspired portraits for women. And do you want to know my answer to why I only create fashion inspired portraits for women? It’s because I’m really, really good at it. Plain and simple. Yes, just like a hitter can also catch a ball, I can also photograph a wedding or a family portrait. But just like the professional leagues, I leave that up to someone else on my team…and by team, I mean colleagues. I don’t need to be the opening pitcher, relief pitcher and closing pitcher. Could I do it? Probably. But wouldn’t I be exhausted?! And I wouldn’t be able to give the best of me at all times. I want you to have the best of the photographer you chose. Getting married? Hire someone who specializes in weddings. Expecting a baby? Contact someone who just does newborns. Your family is growing? Time to book a family portrait photographer. Need a grooms gift (boudoir) or really feel the need to be pampered and celebrated? Then I’m your girl! I’m really good at what I do. And that is to pose people from their nose right down to their toes, to make them feel comfortable and to connect with them in a way that creates a portrait like no other. I understand there is a lot of emotion and urgency that goes into buying the services of a wedding photographer or newborn. But what is more urgent than having a portrait of yourself that you are proud of? One where you feel beautiful and comfortable? If you wait until you are perfectly happy with your body or the way you look, will your children’s children ever have an amazing portrait of you? Since your little girl learns from what you believe, not what you tell her, will she ever know what it’s like to accept herself? To think of herself as a beautiful, strong woman who deserves to be celebrated? Do you remember when you would watch your mother get ready for an evening out? You thought she was the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen. You watched her apply her lipstick and maybe even helped with her pearls. You watched as dad lovingly kissed her shoulder and zipped up her dress on the way out the door. You have beautiful portraits of her because she was confident. She didn’t hide from the camera. What will your loved ones have?
Now, about that loud and vulgar heckler….yea, that was my husband. LOL.
FOR BOOKINGS OR INQUIRIES: info@shannon-michelle.com