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Canvases are my favorite way to showcase artwork on the wall. The way it pops out from the surface just makes it feel a little more impressive than a regular print. I offer options to frame these canvases, but I also like the look of them bare, which is what you see here. There are three ways to customize the outside wrapped edge of the image: with white, with black or with the outer edges of your image wrapping around. That last option requires a photo with a good amount of space around the subject of the photograph. My samples show a white edge wrap, which I think matches the light and airy feel of the room. This is the edge option that is most popular with my clients. All canvases are finished with sawtooth hangers on the back and bumpers to keep your wall protected.
The professional print lab that I order my products from uses museum-quality, archival papers and inks to ensure that my clients' prints will last generations. I'm proud to say that all the products I offer are hand-crafted in the US with recycled paper in a facility with solar power.
It's important to me to offer high-quality products because my clients are very important to me and so are their images.
Also pictured above are my press printed albums. Look out for a blog post highlighting them soon!
Feel free to contact me for any questions regarding the products I offer!
The professional print lab that I order my products from uses museum-quality, archival papers and inks to ensure that my clients' prints will last generations. I'm proud to say that all the products I offer are hand-crafted in the US with recycled paper in a facility with solar power.
It's important to me to offer high-quality products because my clients are very important to me and so are their images.
Also pictured above are my press printed albums. Look out for a blog post highlighting them soon!
Feel free to contact me for any questions regarding the products I offer!
Email me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com
or call me at (631)256-7476 to schedule a session!
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Running a home-based photography business is an amazing dream. I get to create artworks that become an important part of my clients' lives. Just like anything in life, there are downfalls, though. When the commute to your job consists of walking across the hall, you don't get a lot of sunshine during the work week. I'm seriously lacking in Vitamin D and cabin fever can set in during the bleak midwinter. That's why I can't wait for spring to come so I can do some more outdoor sessions. I've been going out every few weeks this winter scouting locations I can't wait to shoot at once the 2 feet of snow on my lawn thaws!
A few weeks ago (before the lovely blizzard whited out the landscape), I visited Lake Ronkonkoma for a personal project and realized what a great location it could be for a photo session with families and kids. The county park is located on Lake Shore Road, on the north side of the lake. As Long Island's largest lake, there is a huge number of portrait opportunity spots all along the lake front.
The wildlife in the area is very used to the presence of people, so expect some close encounters with the ducks, geese and seagulls that call the lake their home. They'll be happy to get in the background of your photos!
A few weeks ago (before the lovely blizzard whited out the landscape), I visited Lake Ronkonkoma for a personal project and realized what a great location it could be for a photo session with families and kids. The county park is located on Lake Shore Road, on the north side of the lake. As Long Island's largest lake, there is a huge number of portrait opportunity spots all along the lake front.
The wildlife in the area is very used to the presence of people, so expect some close encounters with the ducks, geese and seagulls that call the lake their home. They'll be happy to get in the background of your photos!
The table area is another great spot, especially for a family group photo or some candid photos of a picnic lunch. The fields nearby offer a beautiful view. You can also capture some shots of family fun on the baseball field and basketball court. Finally, you can reward your kids for a job well done by spending some time at the playground.
Make sure dear old Dad stays firmly on shore, though. Those Lady of the Lake stories are probably myths, but better to be safe than sorry, right? ;)
I hope you enjoyed this 2nd installment in my series of Best Long Island Photo Spots. Read the 1st installment in the series here.
Contact me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com to schedule a photo session at your favorite Long Island location, and comment below if you have a great spot I should visit for my next installment!
Make sure dear old Dad stays firmly on shore, though. Those Lady of the Lake stories are probably myths, but better to be safe than sorry, right? ;)
I hope you enjoyed this 2nd installment in my series of Best Long Island Photo Spots. Read the 1st installment in the series here.
Contact me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com to schedule a photo session at your favorite Long Island location, and comment below if you have a great spot I should visit for my next installment!
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Even though your kids may be bummed that summer is over, the first day back to school is always a little exciting anyway. Capture that memory with an annual first day of school photo. Here are some tips on shooting a great back to school photo.
Look for Light
Find an area in your home with good natural light coming in. Have your child face an open window or door, or head outside for great lighting. Shooting in the early morning before the school day begins will make light soft and beautiful. Avoid using your camera's flash, which can make photos look flat.
Pick a Spot
Take your back to school photo in the same location every year, whether it be on your front porch or at the bus stop. Keeping it consistent will show your child's growth over the years and make it especially fun to flip through the photos when your children are older.
Provide a Prop
Give them something to do with their hands. Download this free printable sign so you always remember what grade your little scholar was in!
Look for Light
Find an area in your home with good natural light coming in. Have your child face an open window or door, or head outside for great lighting. Shooting in the early morning before the school day begins will make light soft and beautiful. Avoid using your camera's flash, which can make photos look flat.
Pick a Spot
Take your back to school photo in the same location every year, whether it be on your front porch or at the bus stop. Keeping it consistent will show your child's growth over the years and make it especially fun to flip through the photos when your children are older.
Provide a Prop
Give them something to do with their hands. Download this free printable sign so you always remember what grade your little scholar was in!
For desktop computers and laptops, right-click and then select "Save Image As".
The image is sized to an 8x10.
Enjoy!
The image is sized to an 8x10.
Enjoy!
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Sometimes it feels great to get out of the studio to photograph babies and families in nature. That's why I offer on-location outdoor photography sessions in Suffolk County. My clients often ask me for suggestions on where to have their family shoot when the weather is too nice to be indoors. Here on my blog, I'll continue to update you on great Suffolk County, Long Island photo spots as I discover and shoot at these locations.
The first in this series will highlight the Stony Brook Grist Mill, Duck Pond and Avalon Park. What's great about these places is that they are located right next to each other so they can easily be seen in one visit. They offer gorgeous views and a lot of opportunities for family activities.
We'll start off at the Grist Mill which is located at 100 Harbor Road in Stony Brook. This historic place is both a museum and a working mill. It serves not only as a beautiful background for your images, but an educational experience! Behind the building is a great area where kids can sometimes see the mill doing its job, with water flowing from the pond across the street.
The first in this series will highlight the Stony Brook Grist Mill, Duck Pond and Avalon Park. What's great about these places is that they are located right next to each other so they can easily be seen in one visit. They offer gorgeous views and a lot of opportunities for family activities.
We'll start off at the Grist Mill which is located at 100 Harbor Road in Stony Brook. This historic place is both a museum and a working mill. It serves not only as a beautiful background for your images, but an educational experience! Behind the building is a great area where kids can sometimes see the mill doing its job, with water flowing from the pond across the street.
When you're done at the mill, take a 30 second walk across Harbor Road to visit the duck pond! You're bound to get some great shots of your kids discovering the many animals who live there. There are beautiful vistas around the banks of the pond and you'll be able to include the ducks, swans and even the cormorants who live nearby in your photos.
After that you can walk to the Avalon Park and Preserve, which is located directly behind the pond at 200 Harbor Rd, Stony Brook. Cross the bridge where you will find lots of places to sit for photo opportunities. Climb up the steps and follow signs to the labyrinth where kids can walk along the stone markings to the small pit in the center. Pile the family inside there for a great group shot. You'll also find there some large stones with a statue of Prometheus climbing. Kids will enjoy playing hide and seek throughout the high stones. Continue on the paths beyond for photos in the trails and meadows.
Remember that Avalon is a nature preserve. It's important to be respectful of the wildlife and to remember the old expression:
"Take only photographs, leave only footprints."
(A side note to my photographer friends: professionals need permission to shoot sessions at Avalon so please call the office at 631-689-0619 before you visit with your clients).
"Take only photographs, leave only footprints."
(A side note to my photographer friends: professionals need permission to shoot sessions at Avalon so please call the office at 631-689-0619 before you visit with your clients).
There it is, folks. I hope you enjoyed the first installment in my series of "Best Long Island Photo Spots".
Contact me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com to schedule a photo session at your favorite Long Island location!
Contact me at laurapeaphotography@gmail.com to schedule a photo session at your favorite Long Island location!
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As a photographer, I want to see my clients come in for professional photos as much as possible. I love creating meaningful art for their homes. I also know that my clients are busy. They can come to me for the holidays and big events in their lives, but what about the special little things that happen in their homes everyday? That's why I encourage my clients to take more photos at home. Today I want to offer a few tips to help improve the way you capture the magical moments in between studio sessions.
1. Get to know your camera!
You don't need to study your manual cover to cover, but at least familiarize yourself with the different scene modes your camera offers. Most point and shoot digital camera on the market include:
- Portrait mode: This is best for photographing faces up close.
- Landscape mode: This is best for scenery and large outdoor vistas.
- Night mode: This is best for shooting portraits at night with a flash.
- Sports mode: This is the shooting mode you might find most useful when taking photos of your children, because everyone knows that kids are fast! This mode will help freeze the action when your kids are running around a soccer field or just your backyard.
1. Get to know your camera!
You don't need to study your manual cover to cover, but at least familiarize yourself with the different scene modes your camera offers. Most point and shoot digital camera on the market include:
- Portrait mode: This is best for photographing faces up close.
- Landscape mode: This is best for scenery and large outdoor vistas.
- Night mode: This is best for shooting portraits at night with a flash.
- Sports mode: This is the shooting mode you might find most useful when taking photos of your children, because everyone knows that kids are fast! This mode will help freeze the action when your kids are running around a soccer field or just your backyard.
2. Give them something to do with their hands.
A small prop goes a long way to keep a kid in their seat long enough for you to snap a great photo. A stool or rocking horse can keep them grounded where you want them to be. A prop also gives you a great opportunity to catch your child interacting with their environment. Don't get discouraged if they throw it at your head and run away, though! Get candid shots of them on the run! Remember that it's not always about the smile. A pout or tears can make a beautiful and unique photo.
3. Make it a game!
If you want your child to sit or stand a certain way, show them! Tell them you're playing copycat and they win if they do what you do! Simon Says is also a great way to do this. For older kids, a great trick is to play the I bet you can't game. Saying "I bet you can't kiss your sister on the cheek" or "I bet you can't smile with your teeth!" is a good way to get what you're looking for. Showing them their photo on the back of the camera can help interest a child but use this as a last resort or else they'll make you stop and show them after every click of the shutter! Remember to give them a little prize when they do well. Next time they'll look forward to posing for a picture.
If you want your child to sit or stand a certain way, show them! Tell them you're playing copycat and they win if they do what you do! Simon Says is also a great way to do this. For older kids, a great trick is to play the I bet you can't game. Saying "I bet you can't kiss your sister on the cheek" or "I bet you can't smile with your teeth!" is a good way to get what you're looking for. Showing them their photo on the back of the camera can help interest a child but use this as a last resort or else they'll make you stop and show them after every click of the shutter! Remember to give them a little prize when they do well. Next time they'll look forward to posing for a picture.
4. Turn off the flash and look for the light!
You need flash sometimes if you're shooting at night or somewhere very dark. In many other situations, though, it's best to switch to no-flash mode on your camera. Flash can highlight unflattering features. Your best bet is to head outside or find a spot in your home that lets in natural light. The light coming in from a large window or your front door can make an otherwise plain portrait beautiful. Face your child toward the light and get shooting!
You need flash sometimes if you're shooting at night or somewhere very dark. In many other situations, though, it's best to switch to no-flash mode on your camera. Flash can highlight unflattering features. Your best bet is to head outside or find a spot in your home that lets in natural light. The light coming in from a large window or your front door can make an otherwise plain portrait beautiful. Face your child toward the light and get shooting!
5. Get in the photos!
When your kids look back at these photos when they're older, they want to see you in them too! Learn how to use your camera's self-timer or hand the camera off to someone else to make sure you're included in some of the special moments you're going to capture! Getting a small tripod or putting your camera on a steady surface can help you document the everyday.
The last tip is the one I think is the most important!!
6. Print print print!
Your photos are not safe until they're on paper. Digital files are likely to get corrupted, and hard drives don't last forever. They can fail and your precious memories can go along with them! Printed photos, however, can last lifetimes, well over 100 years. Bring your photos to reputable printers that use high quality papers and inks to make sure your family can look back on your memories for generations. A yearbook style album of all your photos is a great way to organize your memories.
Now get shooting!
When your kids look back at these photos when they're older, they want to see you in them too! Learn how to use your camera's self-timer or hand the camera off to someone else to make sure you're included in some of the special moments you're going to capture! Getting a small tripod or putting your camera on a steady surface can help you document the everyday.
The last tip is the one I think is the most important!!
6. Print print print!
Your photos are not safe until they're on paper. Digital files are likely to get corrupted, and hard drives don't last forever. They can fail and your precious memories can go along with them! Printed photos, however, can last lifetimes, well over 100 years. Bring your photos to reputable printers that use high quality papers and inks to make sure your family can look back on your memories for generations. A yearbook style album of all your photos is a great way to organize your memories.
Now get shooting!
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CameraGiveaways.com is an awesome site that runs sweepstakes throughout the year for photographers to win new gear. And March's big winner was...ME! I received a brand new Nikon D800 and it's been amazing!!
They interviewed me on how I got into photography, how I shoot, etc. and you can read that here. You can also see some of the first shots I took with my new camera. Thanks so much to CameraGiveaways.com! I'm off to go shoot some more!
They interviewed me on how I got into photography, how I shoot, etc. and you can read that here. You can also see some of the first shots I took with my new camera. Thanks so much to CameraGiveaways.com! I'm off to go shoot some more!
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I'm taking a break from posting babies today to show some of my personal work.
Well, here on my beloved Long Island, it certainly doesn't look like the first day of spring out there! As I type this, I'm looking out my window to see something I'm REALLY tired of at this point: snow. I mean, come on March, you're supposed to be going out like a lamb. This is not lamb-like behavior!
To distract myself from the bleak landscape I see before me, I decided to make some lovely desktop wallpapers for my readers to download and use on their computers or phones. Two of these photos I took in my own yard! The middle one of the pink orchid was taken at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay. If you've never been, I recommend a visit because no matter how cold it is outside, it always feels like a spring day in their greenhouse.
For desktop computers and laptops, click on the image you want to open, right-click and then select "Save Image As". For iPhones, press and hold on the image you want and then tap "Save Image". For other types of phones....beats me! Enjoy and may they remind you of sunnier days. I'm looking forward to when my island looks like this again!
Well, here on my beloved Long Island, it certainly doesn't look like the first day of spring out there! As I type this, I'm looking out my window to see something I'm REALLY tired of at this point: snow. I mean, come on March, you're supposed to be going out like a lamb. This is not lamb-like behavior!
To distract myself from the bleak landscape I see before me, I decided to make some lovely desktop wallpapers for my readers to download and use on their computers or phones. Two of these photos I took in my own yard! The middle one of the pink orchid was taken at the Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay. If you've never been, I recommend a visit because no matter how cold it is outside, it always feels like a spring day in their greenhouse.
For desktop computers and laptops, click on the image you want to open, right-click and then select "Save Image As". For iPhones, press and hold on the image you want and then tap "Save Image". For other types of phones....beats me! Enjoy and may they remind you of sunnier days. I'm looking forward to when my island looks like this again!
