shutter-and-hemlock

Social Media Marketing: Why Being Authentic Matters to Your Business

erinljones2022@gmail.com (Erin Jones) — Thu, 02 Nov 2023 04:53:00 GMT

Digital Marketing: Why Being Authentic Matters to Your Business

Often times when I say I work in marketing and social media, people will just say, “Oh, so you’re paid to be on Facebook all day? That’s so easy and awesome!” Or, “Ugh, I hate social media and how toxic it is.” Listen, I'll be the first one to dunk on social media, but I also understand the value of it for businesses.

Yet like most things in life, social media and your presence online is what you make it. Sure, you can’t always hide from the trolls, depressing news, or endless scrolling, but if you are your authentic self online and in real life (with exceptions of course, because privacy and boundaries matter), I promise you will have a much better experience with social media.

I’m here to change your mind about marketing and social media as a whole, so let’s jump into it, shall we?

Social Media is More Than Just Ads & Memes

Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Reddit...all of these platforms are so much more than just social media, but instead, ways for people to learn, connect, and grow. Today’s algorithms are so smart and intuitive, that you can literally customize your feeds to see only things that you want to see. Tired of toxic friends or family on your Facebook feed? Hide them from your timeline and join more meme groups. Sick of ads showing up from a brand you have no interest in? Get ‘em out of here.

Being online and interactive on social media is about connecting with an audience. Whether that means from the business side of things, or the consumer. As a consumer, you can completely customize your experience so you can have a much healthier relationship with your online interactions. You don’t have to see the things you don’t want to see, and you don’t have to interact with the things you don’t vibe with. It’s all about balance and remembering that the internet and social media aren't real life.

From a business standpoint, yes, you’ll likely run ads and do social media marketing, but are you just posting for the sake of posting? If so, you’re not looking at social media as a way to connect with your customers, but rather just adding fluff to an already crowded media platform.

It’s so important to take your customers through the funnel of awareness, engagement, and consideration before you even get to the action/conversion stage. And I find that that is best done when you approach social media marketing from a people-first method vs. one of business-first.

What to Do When You Don't Know What to Wear for Engagement Photos

erinljones2022@gmail.com (Erin Jones) — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 04:59:00 GMT

What to Do When You Don't Know What to Wear for Engagement Photos

No matter who I’m photographing, what the occasion is, or how many people there are, the number one question I’m asked before a photoshoot is “What should I wear?” Or I have couples that say “We don’t know what to wear for engagement photos...can you help?”

Don’t worry, your question is completely valid, but I’m here to tell you that it’s not as difficult or stressful as you think it will be. Yes, you can head to Google and search for “engagement photo outfits” or “engagement outfit ideas,” but do any of those outfits feel like you? Do you often think that the people in these photos look too perfect and put-together? If so, don’t worry...you’re not alone because I’m the exact same way. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve searched for “nerdy wedding ideas” only to get back two extreme spectrums of too corny, or too fancy. Gimme my “just right” porridge/images, damn it!

Anyway...I’m here to tell you that your engagement photo outfits don’t have to be a scary topic. Hell, I’ll even go shopping with you to help you guys pick out outfits if it scares you that badly. But I’m hoping by the time you finish reading this, you’ll have a better understanding of what to wear for engagement photos and you won’t have to bring 15 outfits to our photoshoot.

Questions to Ask Yourself & Your Partner

Let’s get one thing straight first— photoshoots are a team effort, not just for one of you.

I always hear one partner say, “I hate getting my photos taken, but she/he/they wants this done so I’m doing it.” There’s such a huge stigma against having your photo taken (it’s okay, I hate it sometimes too!), but I also LOVE proving you all wrong when you have a good time during the shoot. I mean, you guys get to make out and say stupid things to each other for a few hours—is it really all that bad?

What I’m getting at, is that you really need to sit down with your partner well before you have the photoshoot. Have a chat about what you both picture, not just one of you. And if you don’t know where to get started in the conversation, here are a few questions I recommend.

What's Your Style?

If you answer this with, “I don’t have one,” that’s not true. Everyone has a style, but you just have to accept that your style may not be flowy bohemian dresses—it could just be jeans and a t-shirt. And that’s okay! The most important part of engagement photos is making sure you’re comfortable physically, and mentally. Part of that is my job, but I also need you to meet me in the middle.

When I talk about meeting me in the middle, I just ask that you be open to suggestions about your wardrobe before the shoot. Do you consider yourself to dress a little country while your significant other loves rainbows and glitter? We’ll make it work, I just ask that you warn me before you show up with glitter bombs and cowboy boots.

The point of this question is, is to figure out how you and your partner can still be yourselves when you’re trying to figure out what to wear for engagement photos. Don’t put away the nerdy graphic tee if that’s always what you wear, but maybe throw a button-down shirt over it with a neutral color that matches something your partner is wearing. It’s all about compromise...and also about not making your photographer cry from wearing too many color palettes. More on that later.

What Season Are You Taking Photos In?

Depending on where your taking photos and what time of year it is, my suggestions for what to wear for engagement photos (or any photoshoot) is going to change. From colors to the number of layers you’re wearing, most of it is common sense. But if your significant other is picturing you both frolicking through a field of flowers in the middle of summer, and you’re picturing cuddling up in blankets with video games, we’re going to have to compromise.

And while we can make any color work in any season, just make sure you consult with each other to know what you want. Hate the heat and don’t want to sweat through a shirt? Summer may not be the best. Don’t want rosy cheeks from the bitter cold? Maybe stay inside until spring.

Luckily, there are a few general tips you can follow no matter the time of year. We’ll get to that in a minute, but for now, here are a few engagement photo outfit ideas for each season.

ENGAGEMENT PHOTO OUTFITS FOR FALL

Muted or Burnt Color Tones
Boots, Leggings, Shorter Dress, and a Cardigan
Long Dress, Jean Jacket
Jeans, Button-Down Shirt
Chinos and a Sweater
Jeans, Layered Shirt Combo

Remember: Fall can still be pretty warm, so make sure you have enough layers you can take on and off if you need to adjust throughout the shoot.

ENGAGEMENT PHOTO OUTFITS FOR WINTER

Warmer Tones to Contrast the Cold
Boots, Jeans, Sweaters
Dress (if you’re brave) and Jacket
Sweaters, Scarves, and Hats

Remember: Even if it’s cold, we don’t want to add too many layers to make you look like you can't move. Use simple, practical pieces that will leave you a little chilly (so you have an excuse to cuddle), but not enough you’re cursing at me for dragging you outside.

ENGAGEMENT PHOTO OUTFITS FOR SPRING

Avoid Loud Floral Patterns
Warmer Tones are Best
Flowy Dress or Cardigan/Kimono
No Shorts or Sneakers
Jeans and/or Chinos with Rolled Up Sleeves on Button-Down

Remember: Depending on where we shoot, some of these tips may change. It’s also okay to bring different shoes to walk in and change when we’re at the site if we need to do some hiking.

ENGAGEMENT PHOTO OUTFITS FOR SUMMER

Bright Colors, Not Loud — NO NEON (unless it's a stylized shoot)
Simple Patterns (Stripes, Polka Dots, etc.)
Flowy or Loose Clothing
Swimsuits if Applicable
Hats and Sunglasses

Remember: It may be very hot out, so the more comfortable you are, the better. If you sweat a lot, bring an extra shirt or two to change into if needed. No judgment whatsoever, because I will be sweating profusely no matter what the season!

Where do you want to take photos?

This is the best question to ask. You get to think back and reminisce about what your relationship really means together and what exactly you want to capture in your engagement photos. Did you meet at Comic-Con while you were both cosplaying? Or maybe while grabbing hum bao at Pike Place? Do you love to go hiking or have dogs (I hope you have dogs)?

There are no limits to where we can shoot your photos, you just have to be up for the adventure! I may be fat and out of shape, but give me a bit of time and we can hike all over Washington state to get some great photos. Pick out a spot (or spots) that have meaning to you, and once you decide on that, you can better hone in on your outfit(s).

Wear What You're Comfortable With

Here’s a secret: you can buy the fanciest dress for your photoshoot, but i f you don’t feel good in it, it will show in photos. It’s as simple as that. If you feel self-conscious about your shirt being too tight around your middle, you’re going to fidget with it the entire time. And while it’s my goal to make you forget about these things and make you look your best, you’ll have more fun if you don’t have to think about your clothing.

If you’re not big into clothing, don’t go shopping for an entire new outfit for your photoshoot. I don’t care, as long as you can feel relaxed when the time comes. I’m not here to sell the clothing you’re wearing, I’m here to capture the love you’re wearing (I hate myself for writing this because of how corny it is...I’m keeping it).

Engagement Outfit Tips for Women

If you’re not a dress girl, that’s completely fine, but they do tend to look better in photos. Why? Because they have movement. Movement is so, so key to my photography style. You’re here because you vibe with my style (hopefully), so if that’s the case, I’m always going to push you to wear something that has movement. Even if you’re in jeans, I’ll ask you wear a flowy top or cardigan, or even wear your hear down just so we can have something that flows.

Just remember, try and stay away from loud colors or patterns. The more neutral you can be, the better. Also, don’t be afraid to accessorize!

Engagement Outfit Tips for Men

Remember what I said above about fiddling with button-down shirts or constantly tugging at sleeves? You may want to look nice, but make sure your shirt is one you feel confident in. If it’s from a few years ago, head out and buy a new one, OR leave it open with a shirt underneath.
Also, don’t be afraid to wear watches or other accessories—you’re allowed to look just as good as your significant other!

Engagement Outfit Tips for Non-Binary / Gender Neutral

Do none of the above seem to fit you or your partner’s style? Again, that’s okay because we want you to be completely true to yourself. I would rather have you comfortable and wearing five different colors than feeling uncomfortable in an outfit that doesn’t fit who you are.
Just stick to the basics - don’t overlayer, add accessories, and keep your color palette limited to 3-5 colors.

What Not to Wear During Your Engagement Shoot

Okay, so you’ve probably been waiting for this section or you just scrolled all the way down here from the top (rude). I may be repeating some of these tips, but they’re so tried and true, that I think you’ll find them helpful all the same:

Any Shade of Neon - Please. For the sake of your photos and for my sanity, don’t bring neon colors to an engagement shoot unless we talk about it before hand. The only time I want to see them is if we’re doing a super funky shoot in the city or something hyper-stylized.
Too Many Patterns - Simple stripes or small patterns are fine, but I try to steer people away from the latest floral fashion trend when possible. Especially if we’re shooting in a forested area, we don’t want you clashing or blending in with the surroundings.
The Same Colors - Some folks like that “matchy-matchy” style for their engagement photoshoots, but that’s gonna be a no for me dawg. Be yourselves, not the picture-perfect idea of yourselves.
Impractical Shoes - It’s okay to wear heels or sandals for the actual shoot, but please bring something to walk in. The last thing we need is for tired feet to make for grumpy photos.
Too Many Layers - No matter what season, too many layers is going to limit your movement in photos. My photography style is all about movement, so we want to keep your clothing as least-restricting as possible (unless that's your style).

Don't Agree With Any of This?

That's fine - because some days I don't agree with myself either. But honestly, as with most rules, they’re made to be broken. I ADORE when clients come to me with ideas that go completely against everything I've written here. Give me more fantasy, cottage-core, whimsical, or magical photoshoots of your dreams. These are just your basic guidelines.

At the end of the day, I would love it if you had fun ideas for your photoshoots. If you’re that extremely nerdy couple that dresses up in Renaissance garb, or maybe full body paint for a Seahawks game, I’m here for it. I don’t want to tell you what to wear for engagement photos, but simply help guide you.

Embrace yourself, embrace your personal style, and I promise we’ll have a blast together.

Why Engagement Photos Matter, Because “I Hate Being In Pictures” Isn’t An Excuse!

erinljones2022@gmail.com (Erin Jones) — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:55:00 GMT

Why Engagement Photos Matter—“I Hate Being In Pictures” Isn’t An Excuse!

Couples photoshoots are some of my favorite types of photos to take. There’s just something about going on an adventure with a couple and watching them blossom and show their love in front of me for the camera. It’s such a unique and special bonding time for couples before their wedding, but so often I hear people asking, “Are engagement photos worth it?”
Why your engagement photos matter can mean something different for every person. Whether they’re for save the dates or simply a way to unwind amidst the wedding planning chaos, I promise you that your engagement photos are worth it. And I’m not just saying this to get you to shoot with me—I don’t care where you go to get them done, just do it! Honestly, you won’t regret it.
Today, I really want to hone in on some of the reasons as to why engagement photos matter so much to couples. It’s not as simple as you may think!

Engagement Photos Are Sentimental

Now when I say sentimental, I don’t mean your photos are going to be sappy, but instead, they’ll create a wonderful expression of your love for each other. Oftentimes, people will opt out of taking engagement pics to save money because they think they’re just something sappy for you and your partner to do. But they don’t have to be like that!
Your engagement session can be you and your partner grabbing Beecher’s at Pike Place —I will gladly take pics of you shoving mac-n-cheese in each other’s faces or grabbing coffee from La Panier . We could go to the aquarium where you had your first date, plan an elven picnic in the woods, or maybe splatter paint on each other—let's just have fun!
Whatever it is, I just want you to pick a place where you can feel comfortable with the person you love. When was the last time you took a photo together that wasn’t a selfie or one your friend took of you at a wedding? Yup, that’s what I thought ;)

It's Okay to Treat Yo'Self

Amidst the chaos of planning your wedding, I often find that engagement photo sessions help solidify how “real” the situation is. You actually get to marry your best friend! When my husband and I took ours, we had such a fun time, and it really made us feel closer during a very chaotic time.
Taking engagement photos often serves as a way for couples to feel that “togetherness” and love that prompted them to get married in the first place. You get a day together to dress up, go out, and simply bask in your love for each other through laughter and lots of smooches. Take a deep breath and just enjoy this moment together before the real wedding chaos beings.

Engagement Photos Help You Get Comfy in Front of the Camera

If you’ve never had professional photos taken (or even if you have), you’re likely going to feel awkward and uncomfortable in front of a camera the first few times. It’s hard to have the focus be on you. Trust me, as a shy and awkward introvert, I totally understand. I also tend to hate photos of myself unless I take them or another photographer captures my best angles, but that’s why it’s my job to help eliminate that worry from your session.
The best part? I live in a fat body. I understand how to maneuver; I know what limitations look like; I know how to take it slow so you're not sweating off any makeup. Remember that these photos are for you and your partner, so I want to help make things as enjoyable as possible for both of you.
By taking engagement photos, you’re also helping to prepare for the wedding day. You're going to be in front of plenty of cameras, smiling a whole bunch, and probably completely over it. But when you have practice with engagement photos, you’ll already be comfortable with your photographer and know what to expect on your big day. Think of an engagement photo session as a “practice run” for your wedding—I promise it will give you amazing boosts of confidence!