Archive of ‘Tips & Tricks’ category

Introducing: Erika’s Client Closet

/ Portraits, Tips & Tricks

I love shopping and for my clients to feel their best, so how do I combine 2 of my favorite things? Erika’s Client Closet! Dresses for every body.

What is it?

A curated selection of dresses that I handpicked that are flattering on all body types, and photograph beautifully that my clients can now borrow (for free!) when you book a session with me!! I have dresses that range from size small – large. Many of the dresses can be bump-friendly for maternity sessions too.

How does it work?

After you book a session, you’ll have access to borrow a dress from my closet. I will send you an email with pictures, size and fit of the dresses ahead of time. Then you can let me know which ones you’re interested in. If you are local and would like to try a dress on before your session, you’re welcome to try them on in my home-studio! Otherwise, I will bring it to your session for you to change into in my changing pod. (Yes, my super awesome little changing pod can come with my anywhere!)

I know how stressful it can be to figure out what you should wear, plus figure out what your whole family is going to wear for your portrait session. My goal is to help make the process stress-free while helping you look your absolute best! I want to help you feel empowered and confident for your session. If you feel great, you are going to look amazing!

Here’s a few of the dresses in action:

Ready to borrow one of my dresses? Reach out today so we can get your session booked!

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Favorite Portrait Locations From 2020

/ Tips & Tricks

I think we’re all in agreement, the past year was crazy (there’s no other way to describe it). However, amidst the crazy, I am so incredibly thankful that I managed to safely connect with and shoot over 40 amazing families! There so many great locations for sessions near and far, so today I’m sharing my top 6 favorite places I shot last year!

  1. At Home – I loved getting to bring some light to families with my front porch portraits sessions last spring. Since 2020 was a year of being home and spending time with family, what better way to commemorate it than pictures on your front porch! Looking for a location that is purely YOU? Look no further than your family home.
LOVE that fur-family could be included for sessions at home too!

2. Colonial Williamsburg – CW is one of my favorite locations because there’s so many different options for portraits! From brick buildings to greenery and add in all the history, and it’s perfect for all portrait sessions! I’ve lived in Virginia for 9 years and still manage to find new locations in Williamsburg every time I go.

Bonus Tip! After a session in Colonial Williamsburg, be sure to get nachos from Precarious Beer Hall or pizza from Mellow Mushroom!

3. Yorktown Beach – Yorktown is hands down my #1 most requested location and it is one of my favorite places here on the peninsula! The best part of this location is that the whole location isn’t beachy, there’s also battlefields, and historical buildings. Since I’ve shot here so many times, I know all the hidden gems and where to go to avoid the weekend crowds!

Bonus Tip! After your session, stop by the Water Street Grille to sit on the patio and enjoy a drink with a great view of the river!

4 – Newport, Rhode Island – This was my first visit to Newport, Rhode Island and it was the cutest little seaside town that I never knew I needed to visit! I LOVED how coastal it was, I mean, I got to shoot on a sailboat and it doesn’t get better than that! I wish I was there longer to explore, but the rocky beach & cliff walk were my absolute favorite.

5 – Nashville, Tennessee – I don’t often get to shoot in downtown locations, but when I do, I am o.b.s.e.s.s.e.d! The light buildings helped create the perfect clean backdrop for Laura & Aaron’s maternity session. With so many people staying home, there weren’t many people out and about which worked out in our benefit!

This was a random field on the side of the road. So glad we stopped for these!

6 – Duck, North Carolina – I loved getting to shoot my best friend’s anniversary pictures on the perfect, overcast day. The best part of pictures on the beach when you’re vacationing there is that you can take advantage of the beach later in the day when it’s less crowded!

I’m looking forward to all the fun, new places I’ll get to shoot this year!

Interested in a session but not sure where to do it? I’d love to chat to find the perfect location for you! Contact me today.

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5 Tips for Selecting Outfits for Your Portrait Session

/ Portraits, Tips & Tricks

Easy ways to make preparing for your session stress-free!

I know getting pictures can taken can be intimidating and stressful, I have been in your shoes! Getting your spouse or family to agree to pictures can be a challenge, so to make it easier on you, I put together my top five tips for picking out outfits for your upcoming session!

1. Pick a color scheme! Start with thinking about what you are going to do with your final pictures. Will you print them and put them as a gallery wall in your living room? What colors are in your living room? Wear those tones! Then your pictures will complement your décor, and you’ll actually have a use for them! Don’t let them live on your phone forever.

2. Pick one item of clothing and coordinate the rest from it. Your power color is lavender? Love it. Now find a plaid button-down for your spouse that has that color in it. Plaids are awesome for this reason! One plaid shirt can have different shades of that color and other colors to incorporate for other family members. The same plaid can have lavender and seafom green—now find something seafoam green for your child to wear! When it’s all together in the final image, it is going to look amazing.

3. If you want your pictures to be light and bright, wear light and neutral colors! The soft colors will be so appealing and pleasing to the eye. Pastels, whites, greys, soft blues, oh my! I promise if you stick to neutral colors, the pictures will turn out great!

4. You don’t need to be matchy-matchy. Gone are the days where everyone in the family wears white shirts and jeans. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those pictures!) It’s best to wear coordinating outfits to give the images some depth and dimension. I mean, just think of your favorite song.  Harmony creates the depth of the chorus! That’s what different colors and patterns do to an image.

5. Dress up! Getting pictures taken is a fun opportunity to play dress up. Wear a dress, ask your fiancé/husband to wear a blazer! You will look sharp and will feel even better. How often do you get pictures taken? It’s a special occasion 🙂

Lastly, make sure you feel comfortable in what you wear. If you feel your best, you will look your best. Here’s more inspiration to help you pick the perfect outfit for your session!

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