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When Adee entered the studio, it hit me how long it had been. The beauty of repeat clients is the history. Connecting at different points through our journeys. It was incredible to catch up.
What’s interesting is we didn’t talk about business. As curious as I am about how the Real Estate world is treating him, we talked about family. About strengthening bonds, about seeing our children for who they are and adapting to their needs. About prioritizing our time with them. It was lovely.
I do, however happen to know that he’s got a great track record with flipping homes, so if you are an investor, he may be your match: adeeweismark@kw.com
With 3 kids 2 and under, New York was feeling too small for Daniela and her family. They wanted to move to a vibrant city with space to breathe and a friendly community with playdates for her growing family. Having supportive family already in Atlanta made it more enticing. With her degree in Social Work, she bid adieu to her role as a counselor in a performing arts school, and opened up Spark Teens Coaching.
“Here at Spark Teens, our mission is simple: to provide tailored guidance and support to teens and their families. Drawing from a foundation of listening, collaboration, and a genuine passion for addressing the unique challenges teens encounter, we are dedicated to sparking positive change by helping teens reach their highest potential with confidence and resilience.”
Daniela works with teens and their families to focus on an issue, create a plan, and IMPLEMENT it.
Here’s what I can promise about Daniela: she’s incredibly easy to talk to. She’s open, friendly, and vibrant. I know she came in for a branding session, but I felt like we were “out for coffee.” I can imagine being a teen and finding her comforting, safe, and relatable.
My first memory of Miri was seeing her push her single buggy past my home on her regular strolls with her husband. Little did I know soon she’d have a double-stroller, and they’d one day make my home/studio the destination to capture her beautiful family.
She began talking to me about a session soon after the birth of her second. She came to the studio to check out the artwork in person, and talk through all our options. As he neared his first birthday, she was ready, and so were her kiddos, with their beaming smiles.
I know it can be intimidating, bringing littles, hoping it works out. This was the day after the time change, so they were already in their “witching hour,” and naps hadn’t been successful. But when our goal is focused, rather than our goal just being to make them perform for an hour, then we can put our energy into nailing what we need, and stop shooting at the first signs of angst.
We shot the first images on the trails in the woods behind the studio, and then ran to the front of the house to chase the sun for individuals of the kids.
Miri had the perfect space for her collection. We had a great time exploring the different sizing and configuration options.
She loved the funky vibe of the square prints, but wanted a touch more room and emphasis on the whole family. These will be matte floating metals.
Next? I send to print, and then head over there to install them! I can’t wait to see them up. A journey worth every step.
I’m grateful that this is my fourth session with Joey and Esther. I got to capture them with their parents, once they became engaged, a wedding re-do, and most recently with their sweet baby. He’s the most good-natured 11 month old! A true people person, eager to connect and beaming ear to ear. We’re keeping him off social media at this point, but I’m grateful to share this sweet family with you here.
Joey and Esther kept gushing about how all the grandparents were going to need prints of their sweet baby. They loved this image, saying it truly is the essence of their son. I can’t wait for him to see these as he ages, always with a proud sense of self, and then show his own children one day.
My Mother
She asks me to take her portrait.
I ask if she loves it.
She says, “It’s not for me, it’s for you.”
I pretend I didn’t really hear it. Because I can’t really hear it.
Rubbing my back as I fall asleep in my childhood bedroom
Walls covered in the mural she commissioned that would spark stories
She listens. The greatest gift she gave me was that she made space for listening.
She was safe, and she taught me to listen to my own.
But I can’t hear her today.
Can I tell you about the ridiculous amount of fun I had with Ellie?
She works as a Psychiatrist with her own practice. Much of her work is Telehealth, and she’s putting together a fantastic new website. But she’s pretty camera shy, and has little to show of herself. We needed her clients to get a sense of her.
She arrived game for anything. We wanted some headshots, some branding, and lots of material for use on the site and to cover her for any needs that arise. So we got to make maximum use of the studio and grounds: shooting indoors and out, rearranging to create a variety of scenarios and backdrops. It was amazing to really put my location to use.
We did headshots first. One outdoors, one indoors. So she could present different vibes as is called for by occasion.
I learned that Ellie lives in the world of “YES!” She claimed she wasn’t creative (not true), and allowed me to guide and suggest. But as vulnerable as I imagine she felt, she excitedly not only tackled every concept presented, but contributed her own nuanced ideas. It all felt so synergistic.
Click each to view
You want to work with Ellie (Elyssa) if you want a team mate. Someone who will be receptive, malleable, enthusiastic, and willing to challenge both you and herself. https://www.elyssabarronmd.com/
Sara wanted a session commemorating her son’s upshern (3rd birthday). Originally, she had in mind that we do the session before the party, since they were dressing up anyway. Ultimately, she decided to separate the two, as she wanted a low pressure session where it would be the only thing on her mind.
We shot in their home, moving only a couple pieces of furniture and taking advantage of the lovely light in their space.
We reviewed the images together, then she chatted with her amazing interior designer (I need to get her name and link her here!!), and together, we created a vision, and I edited her images accordingly.
Left: our design, virtual on the wall, Right: the actual installation
It was tremendous fun creating images to fulfill our final vision.
EDIT! And then…
Sara reached out, craving one more image. She wanted a color shot, to gift her husband for his office:
There’s a common scam photographers get, someone asking them to capture a “reunion,” and then pay the other “vendors” for them…
But I knew this one was legitimate, because the call came directly from Ramah Darom, explaining that their retreat center was hosting a family reunion, and that family portraits had been requested. Eliana, who runs the retreat center, said that she was coming to me because she and the family wanted to gift finished artwork to the matriarch for her home, as they were gathering to celebrate her 80th birthday.
I wanted to capture the sun rising behind the family over the lake. The two hour drive in the dark up through the mountains was stunning nonetheless. They really do have the most fantastic venue, and as I trekked, I reminisced about my pivotal time working there.
Ramah had put together an outstanding itinerary for them, featuring truly quality together time. I arrived as they were finishing their breakfast buffet, and then went to fine-tune the location I had in mind.
It was muddy, and there were tire tracks… and I was thrilled that the family was good sports about it, because it was PERFECT.
I got to know the family a bit. They had ventured in from all over, including California and Israel. They were a vibrant group, whom while diverse, were cohesive under Elaine’s leadership. When she and I had our selection appointment, she took me through their journey as a family. One of discovery, adventure, and risks with a big payoff. She had a clear vision for her family, and this reunion felt for her like the culmination of all her goals and efforts. She has such deserved pride for all that the generations she created are achieving.
I can only dream of glowing the way Elaine does when I’m 80. To have such sharp and radiating memories, and tangible proof of a life that was worth living. May we all experience such joy.
Stacey is dedicated.
She’s given herself wholly to her family, including her son who needs extra love and time, for years.
She’s finally at a juncture where she’s able to launch herself. Into a new career in real estate, into building new relationships, into exploring her next phase. So I was delighted when she decided to do headshots, that she chose to also do a branding image, and hair and makeup as well. This day was hers. It was about her: reinventing herself.
I gave her two versions of her branding image. The second is sized as a Facebook banner and fades to white, so she can easily add text and use it on her website and social media.
I wish Stacey so much ease and support. She’s offered it for years, and I hope she receives it for years to come.
When you are testing lighting for Thursday’s headshot clients requesting a specific look, and your sassy 8 year old test subject strikes a pose…
Lighting for this scenario is trickier than you would imagine. Want to learn more? See behind the scenes!
Get on Instagram! everyone said. I dragged my feet, but finally acquiesced.
It finally paid off, and I enjoyed my first session from someone who found me on IG!
Elliot is a law student at Georgia State University. Always thinking through every move, and several moves ahead, not only did he want to review our contract thoroughly (everyone should!), but he wanted to get ahead of the game getting his headshots, knowing that they would be crucial in his next career steps. This is a man both thoughtful and focused- he knows where he’s going and is proactive getting there.
I guess this just proves that, whether we are 24 or 39, it’s always time move forward, push yourself, and take those extra steps.
Redfin LOVES PHOTOGRAPHIC GALLERY WALLS!!
I received an email from Redfin, the Real Estate search engine, that said, “We are excited to let you know that Shayna Image has been chosen to be featured in Redfin's next blog article, "How to Curate a Photo Gallery Wall in Your Home”". We've selected notable experts in the field to provide homeowners with some creative ways to curate a beautiful photo gallery in their homes.”
Scroll through to read my tips, and also to get some great advice from fantastic print photographers across the USA:
It was time! The annual family self-portrait. It was a disaster, as always. Without someone behind the camera, its a silly face free-for-all. I don't want to tell you how many images I had to splice together. But I will. Outtakes below.
We took the settee, one of the exciting new pieces of furniture I purchased for the studio, behind the house/studio. I love having tons of gorgeous, natural spots to draw from for photographic backdrops, all right here.
How did this image happen? I set up my camera on my tripod, tethered to my computer. My computer was set to fire 20 times 5 seconds apart, and we did three rounds. My light and diffuser were slightly right, triggered remotely by the camera/computer. Then, I took 4 different images and fused them together into this one.
4 different images?? That’s not normally necessary for a client session. But a client session has me behind the camera, coaching. When I’m in front of the camera, this happens…
I’m dying to see this on canvas. Next step for us is to pick our space, and use my software to see it virtually on the wall, to ensure we’re choosing the correct size. Can’t wait to show the finished product!
Melissa is an artist. Not by trade or practice, but creatively, in her mind. By trade and practice she’s a Maharat, a leader, and a guide. But she gets these incredible creative bursts, and I get to execute them! She saw my headshot, and wanted a twist for herself. My favorite messages are from her, saying “I just had this crazy idea for a photoshoot…” See one here.
Darker, more dramatic background? Or brighter? What do you think?
We wanted something rich, dramatic, but still as colorful and vibrant as Melissa! The only purple in the original image was in her headband, but I infused the color into our backdrop and her necklace to build cohesion.
Here’s the setup behind the scenes!
Alexandra is an artist. When she reached out to me, there was a perfect understanding of what we are trying to accomplish when you work with me. She wanted us to build art together. She did, however, throw me for a loop when she asked about the process of booking three sessions in a year.
I told her I have a two-session discount that could easily be adapted…but why three sessions? Clearly there was a goal…
She mumbled a bit, talked about capturing different environments… then came out with it: she was expecting!! She imagined a gallery in their home that tells the story of their evolving family through this time: a family of three, a family maternity session, and as a family of four.
I definitely squealed through the rest of our consultation.
Our session was delightful, learning all about Adam’s work as Executive director of local synagogue Or VeShalom, which I had the pleasure of attending for a few years, and getting Stella’s full spunk. They are such a dynamic family! But what was truly fun was capturing this image, with Stella completely unaware of why we were taking it:
We’ve been waiting all these months until Chanukah to finally make the announcement. May this family have nothing but joy going forward.
Speaking of going forward… it’s almost time for their second session!!
Tinisha is delightful. Effervescent. Ready to listen and share. Dedicated to her family, her teenage children, and ready to be dedicated to yours as she helps you find your home.
And a shout-out to LUCY for making the connection!!
Adrienne and I continue to evolve together, both in friendship and artistically, through the years. We first bonded in middle school choir. Decades later, she’s making a living as in interior designer and muralist. And we keep hiring each other! Beginning with murals in my children’s old rooms, most recently she’s the artistic brain behind my photography studio (hire her!) And I’ve had the chance to create her maternity, newborn, and last year’s family picture. Which brings us to this year!
Mike, who tours with the band, Hinder, playing bass, endures Adrienne’s and my endless reminiscence year after year. He has such a softness with his girls.
Setting up for John’s session, I decided it was time to update my own headshot.
Photographing yourself? Nervewracking. There’s no “me” on the other side of the table to tell me to relax, to coach my angles. Worse? Photoshopping yourself. Always a reminder that we look at others with kinder eyes.
But I think the outcome is pretty thoroughly me, and I’m good with that.
The background was originally grey, like in John's, but I decided to warm it up and go a bit more mono-chromatic.
Here’s a pull-back of the setup, plus my helper.
I actually answered an unknown number. It wasn’t a car warranty, for once, but it was Michael Smith, who heard from Falynn that I was the person to call for headshots. A fellow Architect at OTJ Architects, he specializes in biomedical science facilities. But we clicked immediately over cowboy boots and wall art.
His home galleries are spectacular, but he’s one of the few who doesn’t need my process to arrange a spectacular array on his walls! There are definitely some perks to the field.