A little Vintage Romance with Tiki Closet!

The thing about doing what you love is that work feels like play (and usually not visa-versa!)

Today I was lucky enough to be able to create some images for a local vintage boutique. Here's a preview of some of my favorites (check Facebook for more to come):



Thanks so much to Bets and the girls from Tiki Closet. You were all amazing to work with!

What to Look For in a Good Headshot

Portraits are my business. I think about lighting set-ups in my sleep. No joke!

But you would be surprised how many people used come into my studio not knowing what it was they were looking for.

To combat this I began requiring coffee-time with all potential clients. We get all nice and caffeinated. We get to talk to each other. We get to know what it was we were aiming for in a session. Everybody wins!

Today I thought I would include a fabulous guest post by NYC Actress Angela Dee to help all working and aspiring actors when they begin to think about searching for headshots:

What to Look For in a Good Headshot

Knowing what a good headshot is is like knowing when to shelve those high-waisted mom-jeans. It is a trend that is as changeable as any you read about in fashion magazines. Black and white shots? Or color? Horizontal framing? Or traditional vertical/portraiture framing? Full-body shot? Or 3/4? OR tight in at the face? Glossy printing or Matte? Border or no? Name on the front?, etc., etc.

And how much should you be paying for said photography? What's expected of you in the session and what should you expect from the photographer? Do you go for a glamourous shot of yourself or a more candid, snapshot? Knowing what to do once you've taken that photo and have the print/disk in hand can be equally illusive and frustrating. Do you get postcards? Do you choose one photo or go for 3? Do you put one image on the final print or 4?

Today (early 2010) a good NY headshot should be in color, clean, simple, head and shoulders, with bright, clear eyes. I say NY, because the demands seem to differ slightly between NY and LA. So, as I am an NYC actress, I am going to stick with what I know and let the LA readers provide any alternate info through comments.

Now, regardless of what style you go in for, one of the most important factors in a headshot is that it looks like you. I know that must sound pathetically simplified. But you'd be surprised how many people don't understand this fact. If you run out and get a make-up artist to completely glam you up like you were going to the Oscars, and sit in front of a photographer who over/under-lights you, then you finish up by having a retoucher remove EVERY blemish you have and over air-brush your skin, then your photo is not going to look much like the person who walks into the audition room. This is a number-1 pet-peeve of all casting directors and agents. It completely defeats the purpose of a headshot.

All a headshot really is is a quick, visual reference for the casting director or other industry person. If they come across your photo and like what they see, how do you expect to get to the next level with them if you walk into the room looking like a completely different human being. Trust me. It is a complete waste of EVERYONE'S time. Not to mention your money.

Here are some pointers I've learned from personal experience that may help you the next time you are in the position to get a new pic:

Do your research!

Don't just go with the first photographer you see. Or the one with a celebrity on his/her website. That doesn't mean anything. Look at your friends photos. If you see one you like, ask your friend about their experience. This is important. Primarily because someone can have a pretty good shot, but it took 4-hours to get and the photographer was distracted and unprofessional. Look online at as many photographers as possible and mark down the one's that you like in your gut. When you have it narrowed down to say 3 or 4, make an appointment to meet them. You can tell a lot by meeting them face-to-face.

If you have ANY reservations at all, they're probably not the photographer for you. In general, as an avid bargain-hunter myself, one of the most helpful things you can do to secure the best overall experience when you purchase any big-ticket item, is to CROSS-REFERENCE! Ask around. If you are in a class, ask people about the photographer. Google them for reviews. Luckily today there are reviews about everything so chances are you'll get a good idea of whether it was a good experience to work with a given photographer. You can ask other industry professionals, but beware that some agents and such get a commission (percentage of sales) for everyone they send to a photographer (same is true for acting coaches, vocal teachers, classes, etc) so they might not necessarily be 100% objective.

Lastly here, photographers range from $200 - $1600. The old adage "You get what you pay for" does apply when it comes to photography. But so does the fact that actors are some of the most exploited people on the face of the planet. It costs a fortune to be an actor. But, just because a given photographer comes with a high rate doesn't mean they're any good. And, on the same note, if you find a photographer that is your dream artist but comes with a hefty price-tag you should save up every penny and go for it. If they're good, then you'll spend less on retouching and the picture itself may last you anywhere from 2 - 5 years.

So. You have your dream photographer. What next?

I'll be posting an in-depth look at a photography session and all that good stuff that follows soon. Stay-tuned! In the meantime, please feel free to take a look at my own, personal headshot as a reference to this article at The NYC Actor.

Angela Dee is a professional actress working in Film, Theatre, TV, Commercials and Voiceovers since 2005. She currently live's in New York. Find her at her website: http://thenycactor.blogspot.com/
There she discusses things you should know about the industry, but that no-one will necessarily tell you. "I will be documenting what I learn about being a working actor in NYC as I go along, so that you can learn from my mistakes/successes and avoid some of the pitfalls I may have landed in without knowing better. This is not the holy grail - so I welcome comments and feedback that are helpful to the new or even seasoned actor out there."

A Vintage-Style tutorial featured on MCP Actions!

A tutorial that I wrote on how to create a Vintage SX-70 style photo was featured on the MCP Actions Blog today!

For those of you who are aching to learn how to re-create the gorgeous warmth that SX-70 photos were famous for, check out the article and let me know what you think!

Link Round-Up for 7/25

It's time for another blogging experiment link round-up!

Crissy from Indie Biz Chicks: Crissy's Fall Marketing Ideas, among so many other things, is an example of why I follow this amazing lady's blog religiously! When I feel like I have run out of ideas for my business, Crissy always seems to be a wellspring of knowledge, ideas and advice!

Mallory from Miss Malaprop: If you're just starting a business, or are a little low on funds - worry not! Because you can find a contest to win free business cards here!

RJ from Designed by RJ: I am in love with this post from RJ! Memory is a huge thing that effects my work, and it's so inspiring to see her old family photos in her Memory Project!

An exclusive Photo Print Giveaway with Laura Evans

Yay, exciting news! My lovely friend Laura Evans and I have been secretly planning a fantastic giveaway and now it's time for all of you to have the opportunity to win an exclusive one-of-a-kind print from each of us!

I've definitely mentioned Laura on several occasions, and for very good reason. She is my go-to gal for everything photography! We bounce ideas off of each other and share resources - her support has been wonderful and invaluable in this past year.

Laura's work is also a constant source of inspiration to me. She sees the beauty in the everyday and can transform the mundane into the sublime. She is truly a poet with her camera.

So when we hit upon the idea of doing a giveaway together, we wanted to find images of ours that would compliment each other's. At first glance, our work is very different. Mine tends towards the realm of dream and fantasy, whereas her's celebrates the daily moments many of us overlook.

Despite this seeming disparity, we found a common theme that both of us have been dealing with recently: "Saying Goodbye."

Many times as we grow we move beyond certain relationships, and people come in and out of our lives. It's simply part of being human in our modern and transient world, but it is something that tends to be painful and cause deep reflection. So Laura and I both chose images that seemed to resonate with that theme.


These images are not available in our shops and are available as an exclusive prize to one lucky winner. Both of these photographs could be hanging on your wall for free! All you have to do is tell me what it is about the images that speak to you, and why you would like to win the giveaway. Also tell me where you would hang them, cause that would make me smile!

Pretty simple huh?

For an extra chance at winning, head over to Laura's Blog and do the same there.

If you really want to win these prints, why not tweet about the giveaway (be sure to include us in the tweet @levansphoto & @jenkiaba)!

Also remember to include your email address in your entry so that we can contact you if you win. All entries must be received by July 29th.

Best of luck!

Jen

A day of Joy, from Maggie May the dog

The women of FPoE continue to amaze me. I know I've shared about them often here on the blog. They've rallied around fellow member Katie to help her buy a new camera after her old one kicked the bucket, they readily share their knowledge and support each other. Most recently I've been inspired about how these ladies have campaigned to help out Joy St. Claire and her beautiful canine companion, Maggie May.

Because I have a little Maggie in my own life (our basset, whom we lovingly call "Maggie Moo") it was important to me to share this with you!


Maggie May is Joy’s best friend, going wherever Joy goes. Maggie May is Joy's whole family. In addition to her fame on the internet and on Joy’s Etsy shop of fine art photography, this free-spirited Lab/ Greyhound mix has been giving back to the community for years.

She has been featured on animal calendars to raise money for rescue groups, and she was also a therapy dog, visiting local hospitals, and helping heart patients recover from surgery and treatment. Despite being in two different homes and two animal shelters by the age of 1, Maggie has forgiven and forgotten her tough start in life.

After a bout of pancreantitis and complications, she is recovering and eating again and getting back to being her old,playful self. Joy has spared nothing in making sure her best buddy was saved. In the meantime, Joy is left with supporting her health care and recovery which involved hospital stays and lots of medication.

Already Joy donates portions of her sales from Etsy to aide the Gulf Coast oil spill recovery, but from now until the vet bills are paid all sales must go toward Maggie’s veterinary care.

So what us ladies of FPoE are asking is that you take a moment to reflect on the special partnership that our companion animals share with us, and visit Joy’s awesome photo shop

With every purchase you’ll be helping Joy and Maggie May recover, both in health and finance. Not to mention that you will be adding an original piece of beautiful, affordable art to your home that will have a very special meaning that you’ll remember every time you see it.

Joy has also been selling a special set of textures to photographers! All of the proceeds will go to paying for Maggie's vet bills.


Check out Joy's Shop Here

And her Blog here!

Ooooh Purdy! New Business Cards!

So I've been doing some revamping on my website (lookout: blog revamp may be soon to follow!) and decided that it was time to do a revamp on my business cards as well.

Thought I would share some of my designs with you and see whatcha think!

I'm pretty excited about this new look that I've come up with, so I'm off to Moo.com to get them printed!


Where do you get your business cards printed? Do your cards need a facelift? Let me know!

How Focal Length Affects Portraits

Do you read Jodi's MCP Actions Blog? I think you should! She has a plethora of resources there for photographers of all levels - and today's post is no different.

Her guest blogger, Haleigh Rohner, has written a great article on focal length, how it affects your portraits, and why the 70mm-100mm range is generally considered ideal for portrait photography.

This visual example alone is pretty stellar!

Before your next portrait session, I highly suggest sitting down and reading the full article!

Are you missing the Summer Biz Sessions?

Summer Biz Sessions Audio Highlights

This summer has been flying by! I hope you've been able to enjoy the season and have been able to do some fun things - like picnics and barbecues, watching fireworks, visiting the beach, or just sitting on your porch and enjoying a nice summer breeze at night! But let's not forget that there is still LOTS of work to do within our businesses! If you're ready to learn some new things - and have fun doing it, check out the Summer Biz Sessions calls! Crissy from Indie Biz Chicks has these calls each Tuesday night from 9 - 10pm Eastern. Everyone meets on a conference line and there have been some great speakers so far, and the topics have been awesome! I'm going to include a quick recap with some highlights below. The Summer Biz Sessions are onlyt $15 - which is a GREAT price! You will have access to all of the recordings as soon as you purchase them. You will be able to listen online or download them to your computer. And we still have MORE sessions to come! The fun doesn't end until the end of August! To purchase now for only $15, visit the Indie Biz Chicks! Here are some highlights of what we've heard on The Summer Biz Sessions so far. Jennifer Perkins of Naughty Secretary Club giving tips on approaching a craft store and asking to teach a crafty class there: Tishia Lee of Tishia Saves Time gives tips on how to tell a client that you are raising your rates Hilary Halstead Scott of Halstead Bead gives tips on inventory management Leslie Truex of Work At Home Success gives tips on spotting a phony telecomuting offer Rachael E.C. Aklin of Caffeinated Design talks about Personality Branding Alexia Petrakos from Thrive Creative Coaching talks about time managment and not letting your work "work" you. Crissy Herron from Indie Biz Chicks gives some tips on how to use video to promote your business Grab ALL of The Summer Biz Sessions audios now by The Indie Biz Chicks! Happy Listening! Best, Jen

Wanna win some Free Greeting Cards?!

This week I am offering another awesome giveaway! The lovely prize is 50 5 x 7 Greeting Cards for One (1) lucky winner! The Giveaway is sponsored by Digital Room, which specializes in greeting card printing!

And just to be totally up front with you, I do get a set of these too as a thank you from the company. So I'm pretty excited to begin designing some cards! =)

Save the Dates, Birthdays, Thank you cards, Invitations - the options are pretty endless.


Get a chance to win a set! Design them to your heart’s content and be as creative as you can be.

Here are the details:

• 50 7x5 Folded Cards with Plain Envelopes
• 14pt Cardstock Gloss
• Outside Print Only
• 4 Baronial Blank Envelopes
• Half Fold (Scored only)
• Limited to US residents; 18 years old and above

Here's how to enter:

Leave 1 (one) comment here and tell me what you would want your Greeting Cards to say!

Bonus Entries (leave one new comment each time you have done the following):

1. Subscribe to my newsletter!

2. Follow my blog.

3. Blog about the giveaway and leave me the link.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet the giveaway. You can tweet once per day.

5. Become a Facebook fan of Jen Kiaba Photography


The giveaway ends on July 25 at 12:01 am. The winner will be chosen randomly, but the more entries you have the better your chances are of winning!

Best of luck!

Jen

Leave it to the Pros: Photography for Your Biz!

You're as busy as a bee when you're an Etsy seller; you have to run every aspect of your business!

Or do you?

Did you know that there are a lot of options out there for the photography for your buisness. It's true, you can do it yourself. But you don't always have to!

You can find young photographers and models out there to help you create professional looking photos without having to spend any money.

When you need top quality photos, professionals are the way to go. But if you can't afford it right now, it's never a bad idea to help someone do some portfolio building.

No, it's not too good to be true. You will actually be doing them a favor by helping them build their portfolios, and you won't have to struggle with photography.

That way you can spend your time doing what you do best: crafting your amazing handmade goods!

I've created an Free ebook to teach you how to find Photographers and Models for your Handmade Biz! This exclusive guide takes you through different options for creating amazing product images for your Etsy and Handmade shops. You will learn the free and cheap options, as well as how to approach hiring a professional photographer!

Download the Free Ebook "From Muse to Model" here!