Putting Your Best 'Image-Attitude' Forward

When we say that someone has an “attitude”, that often means something negative.  But “attitude” doesn’t have to be that way.  A person’s attitude, per the Goggle Dictionary, implies an emotional or mental state that characterizes them.

You may be thinking, “What does this have to do with my image or my portrait?”  A great deal! Like it or not, the image you show of yourself can influence others’ perceptions of who you are as well as your level of expertise.  So, to capitalize on the impression a photo can elicit, before you take your next portrait, think about what “attitude” you want your image to bring forward publicly … your “image-attitude.”

©Dana Attebery Photography

©Dana Attebery Photography

Some things to think about … For business portraits, there are options from the professional attire (formal buttoned-up look) to the business casual look.  Do you want the look of a studio backdrop set up, an environmental shot within your office, or an outdoor portrait?  Do certain colors of clothing make you look a certain way (washed out or energized)?  Do you want to convey a smile or a serious expression?  All of these options convey different attitudes which can impact how new clientele perceive you.

©Dana Attebery Photography

We can’t control what someone thinks of us, but we can influence it.  Simply thinking ahead of time about the image attitude you want to convey can help you make choices in clothing, background, location, and expression.  And if you are taking company-wide portraits, ensuring that everyone is on the same page with their image-attitude, can help create a unified and consistent message visually.

Dana Attebery Photography - serving you through portraits, headshots, product photography, commercial and editorial photography, 360-virtual tours, fine art images, and 1-on-1 lessons.

Thinking of rebranding your company’s image attitude with updated headshots or portraits?  Call or email me to set up a portrait session.  I look forward to working with you to capture the image you want to convey!

info@danaphotography.com 626-374-3638 www.danaphotography.com

I’M SORRY, BUT WHAT DOES WATER HAVE TO DO WITH MY PORTRAIT?

In planning for a portrait, I have had clients ask me how best to prepare.  One of the first things I tell them is to drink water.  There are other preparations I share with them like clothing, hair, etc., but simply drinking a good amount of water the day before the photoshoot will help hydrate your skin and bring health to your face.  

Alcohol and caffeine (coffee, sodas) will dehydrate and can cause a prune-like look to your skin.  Not good when you want to put your ‘best face forward.’  

So, just for a few days, stop the alcohol and coffee and just drink water in preparation for your portrait.  You will see a difference!

Would you like an updated headshot or family/office portrait you feel good about?  Call or email me to set up a portrait session!   I can come to your location to save you (and your staff) time …  

Dana Attebery Photography - serving you through portraits, headshots, product photography, commercial and editorial photography, 360-virtual tours, fine art images, and 1-on-1 lessons.

info@danaphotography.com 626-374-3638 danaphotography.com

Ugh! I don’t like getting my portrait taken!

It’s something I hear quite often when I start a headshot photo session: “I never take a good portrait” or “I don’t like the way I look in pictures.” 

I get it.  I, too, start to nitpick how I look in a photo. But as someone close shared with me, we tend to be more critical of ourselves, and others are likely not going to even notice that which we are fretting over. 

From my experience, I’ve noticed that the attitude you come into the photo shoot session with can impact the final photo.  I’ve seen people come in - of all shapes and sizes - who are excited, ready to dive in, and have fun in the process.  I’ve also had people come in who are nervous, don’t want to be there, and are dreading the photography experience.  

#1)  From my experience, if you are joyful, relaxed, comfortable with yourself … it shows up positively on film.

#2)  But … what do you do if you aren’t so happy to be having your photo taken, or you wonder how to stand or what to do with your hands (put them in your pocket, behind you, in front of you???), or you feel awkward and uncomfortable … and you are sure the photo will not turn out well!  Now what?!

If you are scenario #1, keep enjoying the process and keep bringing your enthusiasm, confidence, and positivity to your photo shoots.

If you are scenario #2, let me share some hope and insight that I use when I take photos.  First of all, thanks for showing up for the picture!  Second, please know that part of my job is to help you be able to relax and feel more comfortable with the process.  So, feel free to come as you are (nervous, not wanting to be there), and let’s take it from there.  We’ll chat a bit and talk over some ideas.  I’ll provide some coaching to help you know how to stand or sit or what to do with those arms/hands/head.  And you know what?  We don’t have to get it right on the first shot.  That’s the beauty of digital photography. No harm in giving something a try … no harm in taking extra photos.  

True Story:  I’ll never forget a headshot photo session I was doing for a company.  One of their staff expressed how they didn’t like any of the photos taken of themselves in the past.  My goal was to make sure this person enjoyed the process and to provide different portrait options. Well, the photo shoot came and went and I turned over the photos to the company for their internal distribution.  I wondered about this particular staff person and a while later asked the company about how that person had felt about the result of their photo shoot.  Come to find out … this person LOVED their photos so much that they ended asking the company representative to have more images from the portrait!

How about you?  Would you like an updated headshot or family/office portrait you feel good about?  Call or email me to set up a portrait session!   I can come to your location to save you (and your staff) time … and gently coach you into your next great headshot or portrait.

Dana Attebery Photography - serving you through portraits, headshots, product photography, commercial and editorial photography, 360-virtual tours, fine art images, and 1-on-1 lessons.

info@danaphotography.com     626-374-3638         danaphotography.com

Tea in the Sahara … What story do you think is behind this image?

Curious? Read below to find out.

Image © Dana Attebery

Have you ever wondered what the story is behind a song, a painting, or a photograph?  When it comes to photography, an image always tells a story.  Some of those stories are deeper than others, but all images have a story to tell.

The image above is of my mother whom I recently photographed in the Arizona desert near where she lives.  The photo is based on the song that Sting wrote and performed with his band, The Police, called, “Tea in the Sahara.”  The song is about three sisters who wait for a prince to join them for tea in the Sahara desert.  However ... the prince never arrives. 

This song has resonated with me as I have observed my mother since the passing of her husband over 25 years ago.  I’ve been wanting to do this image for many years to reflect my mother’s continuing desire to be reunited with her ‘prince’ (hence, the empty chair).  

After sharing my idea with her about 10 years ago, she promptly said ‘NO.’  Just recently, though, I asked again and was pleasantly surprised when she said, “Yes, and what do you want me to wear?”   

Sometimes the stories we see in images are not always cheerful and uplifting.  Some tell a story of loss and hope.  But they all tell a story of some kind or another.

There will be times when a simple headshot or portrait is what you want.  But when you want to tell a deeper story ... before you ever pick up your camera ... it will serve you well to patiently observe, listen and get to know more about the person you want to photograph.  Photography is, after all, more than just pressing a button.  

Would you like a portrait that tells your story … or is there someone whose story you’d like to capture?  I’m available to photograph or teach YOU how to photograph.  Email or call me today for a portrait session or a specialized teaching session. 

Dana Attebery Photography - serving you through portraits, 1-on-1 lessons, headshots, product photography, commercial and editorial photography, 360-virtual tours, and fine art images.

info@danaphotography.com    626-374-3638    www.danaphotography.com

Umm … excuse me… there’s a pole coming out of your head!

 Sunlight or Shade (Part 3): You’re taking an outdoor portrait and you found the best shade (see last week’s article). But … whoa! … what’s going on in your background?

Not the best location for your subject!

I didn’t know humans had antlers.  Taking a portrait outdoors is more than just about the person you are photographing.  It is also about the environment they are in.  Having a background that is distracting (light pole sticking out of their head, or a tree branch looking like an antler) will take the viewer’s eye away from your subject and onto the background.  You don’t want that!  The background behind your subject should bring focus to your subject, not take it away.

Your background is just as important as your subject, and should bring the focus in on your subject. - Image © Dana Attebery

Check the background.  So, once you have found the right shade for your portrait by using the palm of your hand (see my previous blog post “Portrait Lighting - Part 2), look past your palm to see what the background is like.  Remember, your background should bring emphasis to your subject.  This can be done either by:

a) using the background as a frame to draw the viewer’s eye inward toward the person or 

b) ensuring the background is not distracting, such as what happens when you intentionally make the background go out of focus. 

Move just a little bit.  If you find good shaded light by using your palm and see that the background is distracting, simply move your subject to the right or left within that shaded area, or do a very slight turn to the left or right to get a different, but less distracting background.  

In this image I moved the subject to the left to prevent the tree in the background from coming out of her head. By doing that, I was able to use the two trees to frame my subject and bring the focus and attention in on her. - Image © Dana Attebery

I’m taking questions for future blog content.  Email your questions about your camera or how to take better photos to  info@danaphotography.com.  I look forward to answering some viewer questions in upcoming blogs.  

Want to know more now and take better pictures this summer?  I provide 1-hour, customized 1-on-1 or small group training sessions.  I will customize the training to your photo and camera questions and help you become more creative and confident in taking your own pictures!  Invest in an hour… and enjoy the ongoing results!  Call or email for details and pricing.  

Dana Attebery Photography - serving you through portraits, headshots, product photography, commercial and editorial photography, 360-virtual tours, fine art images, and 1-on-1 lessons.

info@danaphotography.com     626-374-3638         danaphotography.com

Sunlight or Shade - What do YOU think?

Your favorite person is graduating and you want to take an amazing outdoor portrait.  Should you take the photo in sunlight or shade?  

Two quick things to understand about sunlight and shade: sunlight is a direct light source and acts like a spotlight which creates deep shadows and bright highlights, while shade creates an even soft light source with minimal shadows.

Direct Sunlight - Senior Portrait - Dana Attebery Photography

Open Shade - Senior Portrait - Dana Attebery Photography

Here’s the deal!  One is not better than the other …  it’s just how you use them!  

If using direct sunlight, one idea that is easy is to turn the person you are photographing around so that the sun’s light is coming from behind them (i.e. Backlighting).  Now their face is in the shade with even lighting and the sun becomes a hair light.

Backlighting - Marketing Photography for Azusa Pacific University - Dana Attebery Photography

If photographing in shade, like under a tree or an archway of a building, then you will have even light on your subject with no bright and dark areas on your subject’s face.  

But …  here’s a vital factor to know when taking photos in the shade. … not all shade is the same!    Stay tuned.  There’s more on this subject coming soon. 

So how about you?  Do you need a graduation photo, an updated headshot or family/office portrait?  Call or email me to set up a portrait session today! 

Dana Attebery Photography - serving you through portraits, headshots, product photography, commercial and editorial photography, 360-virtual tours, fine art images, and 1-on-1 lessons.

info@danaphotography.com     626-374-3638         danaphotography.com

All images copyrighted by Dana Attebery Photography - 2021

The Case of the Uninvited Chin

Dilemma:   Ever seen a photo of yourself where an undesired extra chin showed up without being invited?  How do you minimize it without contemplating plastic surgery?  Click below to find out.

Adobe Stock

PHOTO TIPS FOR DIMINISHING A DOUBLE OR EXTRA “CHIN”

What’s Going On?

When we stand for a photo, we often automatically shift our weight onto our back foot and lean back a little.  This shifts our head angle and buries our chin into our neck which adds thickness to our chin/neck area - thus the double or extra “chin.”   

2 Simple Steps When Standing

First, simply shift your weight forward onto your front foot.  

Second, gently point your chin towards the camera.  (Gently is key. Don’t shove it out there.  That will just look…ahem… awkward.)  

Seated for the Photo?  

The same concept applies.  Don’t sit back into the chair where your chin will collapse into your neck and create extra chins,  Instead, sit on the front edge of the seat cushion, lean slightly forward and point your chin towards the camera. 

A Couple Extras for You 

Add a twist to it!  Whether seated or standing, slightly rotate your body away from the camera and turn your head toward the camera while you have your weight shifted forward.  

Chin up.  Lift your chin slightly, but not too much because again, that can look kind of awkward.  Remember, you want to come across relaxed and natural, not straining.

Voila! You have minimized the double or extra chin!

Now how about you?  Would you like an updated headshot or family/office portrait?  Call or email me to set up a portrait session today!   I can come to your location to save you and your staff time … all within Covid guidelines. 

Serving you through portraits, headshots, product photography, commercial and editorial photography, 360-virtual tours, fine art images, and 1-on-1 lessons. 

info@danaphotography.com     626-374-3638         danaphotography.com

Graduation!

Had a wonderful time with Maroun this month photographing his senior portrait.  I like that he was game to step out of the box and go after a 'high-style' for his portrait.  Oh, and a great shout out to his sister, Mary, for wanting to be my assistant for his shoot.  Mary, you did great!  Congratulations, Maroun!  

Daniel's Senior Portrait

With no acting or modeling experience, Daniel really acted like a pro to the cues I was giving him verbally.  We had a great time on his senior portrait, but most importantly, the family loved the shots of him.

Senior Portrait Special - It's not too late!

Call now to set an appointment.