I have been wanting do more senior pictures and am so excited that the class of 2014 Senior picture season is here. This is such a fun time of life when you start thinking about college and your future. That last year of High School when you really get to enjoy friends and family before starting off on new adventures.  These sessions are supposed to be fun and light and to capture personality.

I started a new referral program so when they tell their friends to book with me they get some great rewards!  How does it work? Once your friends have booked and finished their session, that referral counts towards you receiving these prices.

-3 Referrals gets you a Phone Skin (or a custom Grad card (Front only) ready to print)
-5 Referrals gets you a Custom Design 5×7 Grad Card (front and back), including your first 10 printed and ready for mailing.
-10 Referrals gets you $100 cash, which every High School Grad needs!

Check out my Senior Picture packages HERE!

this post, Senior Pictures Referral program! first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

These ladies are are just fabulous!  We took the pictures right in the Jordan Valley Garden, which are open to the public, and would be AMAZING for some bridals.  I had never been before so it was great to see the place, actually made me wish I had a green thumb!  If you are in the area you should go check it out and and take a picnic dinner!

this post, Jordan Valley Garden Club Board first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

this post, Baby W and Family {Utah Newborn Photographer} first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

This family is just fantastic!  And I get to be related to them, she is my cousin and we grew up only 1 month apart!  So it only makes sense now that we are both photographers!  Its great because we can share ideas and new found knowledge together, only she lives in GA so its not as fun as it COULD be if we were closer. Their little boy is as old as my youngest girl, and the  two are so cute together….too bad they are cousins.

this post, B Family 2013 first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

Sweet precious babies!  How can you not love them.  I took these back in January but have been so behind on my blogging, that this is one I missed.  I love their baby skin and sleepiness.  Each baby is so different at every session I do.  This little boy did not especially love to be moved around, but he was pretty easy to ease back into sleep, but kept a scowl on his face just to make sure we knew he didn’t like this one bit!

this post, Baby G first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

So I’m not going to claim I know a crazy lot about makeup, in fact I really don’t do any of this stuff in my own life.  However I do know what things look better in photographs,  so I have learned what to do (in case I ever decided I don’t want to be a cheap lazy make up person).  I am going to direct what I say towards Brides, but some of these things are great for other sessions as well. If you can afford it I would recommend using a professional makeup artist for your wedding day, if you are local, Studio Enizio, ask for Morgan!  Although, if you don’t want to put your cash here, which would be me, and  you are going to do your own makeup keep reading for some tips! (however, hiring someone will probably cost as much as buying new makeup)

While you everyday makeup might look great walking down the street or out on a date. In photos, makeup gets washed out. So if you put on your regular blush, eye shadow, mascara, it will vanish in pictures. If you go one shade deeper it will show up better. This doesn’t mean just cake on layers and layers of makeup..that wont look great either, but you might want to invest is some new products.  There are some great youtube videos out to help you also.

Also bring your makeup for touching up during pictures!

FAKE EYELASHES

Seriously!  They might feel funny but they look amazing.  I’m not talking about 2 inch long, or really fuzzy, or sparkly, but something really natural.  One that has different lengths and blends in black and brown colors. False eyelashes accentuate your eyes make them pop in photos.  Even if you think they look… well, fake, they wont in the pictures I promise.  Just practice before the day of though.  There are many fabulous lashes available, so go check them out! Revlon Fantasy Lengths Self-Adhesive Lashes are great, but I always buy the extra glue in case the ‘self adhesive’ doesn’t stay long enough.
Or if you want to spend a little more you can pay for extensions at most any beauty salon.

EYES

If you are doing a smokey eye using a brush and makeup particles tend to fall down under your eyes and upper cheek, the try doing your eye makeup BEFORE your foundation.  Also, dark circles?  Despite what we have all thought you should actually start at a darker shade and then work up to a lighter one.  Try using Eve Pearl Trio Concealer.  Also don’t lean to far on either side of too much eye shadow shimmer, or too matte.  Mix them both.   Also, don’t line the entire eye with eye liner, just top and outer edges.  Too much liner will make your eye look smaller.

WEAR A MATTE FOUNDATION

You don’t want shiny and oily skin in pictures,so use a  matte oil-free foundation. Using a primer first will help your foundation achieve high staying power, will help even out your skin so your foundation glides right on, and will give you a soft, pretty glow instead of showing every tiny imperfection.
Finish dusting  translucent powder over the top.  I love Makeup Forever’s Line of HD Foundation, primer and their finishing powder, there stuff is seriously amazing and looks invisible when you wear it.  Also blending with a brush is the best way to get ride of  harsh lines.

CONTOURING

Wear Blush and bronzer, if you opt for just one or the other, your face can look flat in pictures. Start with bronzer on your cheekbones and around the outside of your face; then, apply blush just to the apples of your cheeks.  There are some great tutorials around pinterest.  If you can find the time to practice well before your pictures I would try!

USE LIP COLOR AND GLOSS

Even if you’re going for a nude lip, a color that matches your lips will get washed out in your pictures. Go for a color that’s two shades brighter than what you normally wear. It will make a difference. Whatever you decide to use, make sure you also have a gloss to go with your color.

APPLY MAKEUP IN NATURAL DAYLIGHT
VERY IMPORTANT!  Do your makeup in natural light or you could end up having crazy coloring!  I’ll say it again, Do you make up in natural light,either by a window or one of those nice lamps that creates the natural light coloring.

WATER-PROOF
Seems like a duh.. but its easy to forget with everything else.  It last longer weather you cry or not!

HAIR REMOVAL

Never, ever wax or use hair removal cream the night before or day of your wedding. Waxing and waxing products make your skin EXTREMELY smooth, sometimes a little too smooth for makeup to adhere properly. Creams can do the same thing and can also potentially burn your skin. If that happens, you’ll need time to go without makeup so that you don’t trap the heat of the burn into your skin and make it worse.What Not To Do…

this post, Makeup first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

Most likely if you are into flowing blogs you have seen the Six Sisters Stuff. If by chance you don’t do the blog scene but love pinterest, you have probably pinned their stuff (I have).  The truth of the matter is… they are all REALLY sisters, and they’ve got skills, and a cookbook!  Now I myself come from a family of all girls.  However their were only 3 of us.  I can’t imagine what dad be going through with all these dating years!  Only half of them are married so he is right in the thick of it.

These girls were fabulous and I had a blast!  I hope they need to up date their blog pictures again next year too.  I finally have all their names down after editing, so I can finally stop saying you, and you and you.

this post, Six Sisters Stuff first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

Had so much fun with this family!  I love when its easy to get mom and dad to let loose and have fun.  They were laughing the whole time saying they couldn’t take themselves seriously… well I’m the same way in pictures so I totally love it!  They are an adorable family!  They have TWO 3 year olds, I have one and I can’t even imagine! 

this post, D Family Pictures {Draper Park} first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

So what does it mean when you hear the words SOOC, Edit, and Retouch?

SOOC stands for Straight out of camera, this is the unedited, raw image, which most photographers wont give you ever, unless its Uncle Bob who does not know anything about or even own any editing software, which is why you got him for free…

You get what you pay for!

Now there is an edit. Technically and edit is just brightened, color enhanced, crop image.  Pretty fast editing.  Which will make a picture look better, and is probably cheaper on the wallet.

But you know those images that make you say… “man, I really like her pictures”.  You want to book them, but they cost more.  You think, “Oh man, I like these pictures but Photos By Whosamama is cheaper…”  WHY?  Because they put way more into each picture creating the best looking image for you.   This is called a fully Retouched photo.  some photographers add retouching as a separate cost if you want it.  There is no right or wrong way to do it.  For me, its what I do.  This is my art and I love to put my touch on the pictures.

Below is my visual example of what I create for all my clients.  I never give the SOOC, and I never stop at just an edit.  I love to create amazing pictures for all my clients!

this post, My editing Style first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea

Big thanks to the SnapKnot wedding photography directory for offering this great camera giveaway!

I personally would love to turn my 5D Mark II into my backup camera!

Whether you are looking to take better wedding photography pictures or just upgrade your camera, we are happy to present this opportunity for photographers of all types to enter for a chance to in a new Nikon D800 or Canon 5D Mark III! Enter via the widget below and you’ll have a shot at the grand prize. You can also share you special referral link as much as you want to rack up bonus entries and improve your chances of winning!
Read more at http://snapknot.com/blog/wedding-photography-pictures/#GC1BSVArTvg4Ksuk.99

this post, Want to win a D800 or 5D Mark III? first appeared on Chelsea Peterson Photography written by Chelsea