Julia was happiest in her Mommy's arms and I love this photo of their new little family of three.
Welcome to the world, Julia!
Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Baby Julia- Chicago Newborn Photographer
Oh, sweet little Julia... you were such a darling baby who did not want to sleep a wink! We spent a lot of time cuddling, swaying, and feeding this little one and in the end got some adorable portraits while she was awake and a few after we wore her out enough to fall asleep :-)
Julia was happiest in her Mommy's arms and I love this photo of their new little family of three.
Welcome to the world, Julia!
Julia was happiest in her Mommy's arms and I love this photo of their new little family of three.
Welcome to the world, Julia!
Monday, February 10, 2014
Snowy Downtown Maternity Shoot! - Chicago Maternity and Newborn Photographer
Right away, I could tell this was going to be a fun session. This couple is so laid back and were such champs during our freezing photo shoot at the Kinzie Bridge. I love this location, not just for the amazing views of the city, but for the variety it offers. We were able to get some shots on the bridge, and then head down to the Riverwalk for a completely different look. There was even a vent on the side of the East Bank Club blowing out nice warm air so we were all able to warm up a bit between poses. They are not finding out the sex of the baby, but it seems the consensus so far is Girl :-) We will see next month!
Monday, February 3, 2014
Welcome Baby Logan! - Chicago Newborn Photographer
I love being able to photograph clients for both maternity and newborn sessions. It is so much fun to see two people become new parents! Baby Logan is a lucky little guy to happen to have a great Mom and Dad (and older "sibling"). Logan was such a sweet little guy, and wasn't very interested in sleeping for the majority of the newborn session. Once he had a little snack, he was out like a light and I was able to capture some great lifestyle shots as well as posed portraits. I hope to see Logan and family again later this year!
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Escaping to Miami- Chicago Family and Newborn Photographer
After one cancelled flight on Friday evening and one delay on Saturday morning, I finally made it to Miami! It was just the little break from the cold that I needed and spending time with Michael's family is always a great time. Little miss Eliana was my very first newborn "client" and it has been so amazing to see her grow and change each time I visit. Sunday we spent some time doing a lifestyle photo shoot in their beautiful Coconut Grove home. Eliana was on fire that day, so many smiles and so much spit-up! I will be going back to Miami at the end of February to photograph the newest addition to a family I used to nanny for and can't wait!
Here are some of my favorites from the trip-
Thursday, January 23, 2014
My Top Photography Tips for Shooting in the Winter Snow- Chicago Photographer
In honor of the current below zero temperatures we are enjoying here in Chicago, I thought I would put together my top five tips for shooting in the snow and cold. Grab something warm to drink and settle in for some learning!
1. Prepare Yourself (and Your Clients) for the Cold.
Kind of a given, but it is important to remember to protect any exposed areas to the bitter cold when out on a shoot. Photographers are often putting themselves in strange positions to get the best shot and this may mean kneeling in the snow, climbing through snow piles, or even laying down on a frozen sidewalk. Dress warmly, and an extra pair of socks never hurts.
Fingers are most often exposed since you need those digits to turn dials and press tiny buttons that seem even smaller when wearing gloves. A great alternative are these fingertip-less gloves which only expose two fingertips. When not shooting, you can just flip those little covers back on.
I like to suggest my clients bring along a favorite quilt or blanket to wrap around themselves for cozy shots. Bringing personalized mugs (or Starbucks cups) with hot chocolate can be a cute prop and also keep your clients warm.
2. Care for your Gear
Cameras can withstand severe cold, but your battery may not perform as well as it would on a warm day. If you plan to be out for more than a couple hours, bring a backup (put in in an inside coat pocket to help keep it charged) and make sure you start your session with a fully charged battery.
When you bring your camera indoors, just like your eyeglasses, camera lenses can fog up and condensation can form. To help protect the electronics in your camera, warm it up slowly by leaving it in the camera bag for at least 20 minutes before turning it on again. While outside, you can also place your camera in a plastic bag, bring it indoors, and any condensation that forms with only form on the outside of the bag, and not on the interior of your camera.
3. Ignore your Camera's Exposure Meter (sort of)
One of the biggest issues when shooting in the snow is ending up with dull, gray images. This is due to the camera's tendency to assume that adding all the tones in an image will produce an average color of gray. Most of the time this works pretty well, but when out in a white snow-covered landscape, the average color is white, NOT gray. Alas, your camera is not smart enough to know this so you have to do a little manual adjustments. The easiest way to combat this is to "overexpose" your image +1 or +2 stops. Your snow may lose a little detail, but your subject will be properly exposed and the snow will look white, not dull.
The top image is exposed according to my camera's light meter set to 0. The image on the bottom is "overexposed" +2 stops. Besides the watermark, there were no edits. Exposure made all the difference!
5. Move Somewhere Warmer!
Kidding, but I am looking forward to my impeccably timed trip to Miami this weekend. I'll try to send Chicago some warm thought as I relax and dip my feet into a pool :-)
1. Prepare Yourself (and Your Clients) for the Cold.
Kind of a given, but it is important to remember to protect any exposed areas to the bitter cold when out on a shoot. Photographers are often putting themselves in strange positions to get the best shot and this may mean kneeling in the snow, climbing through snow piles, or even laying down on a frozen sidewalk. Dress warmly, and an extra pair of socks never hurts.
Fingers are most often exposed since you need those digits to turn dials and press tiny buttons that seem even smaller when wearing gloves. A great alternative are these fingertip-less gloves which only expose two fingertips. When not shooting, you can just flip those little covers back on.
I like to suggest my clients bring along a favorite quilt or blanket to wrap around themselves for cozy shots. Bringing personalized mugs (or Starbucks cups) with hot chocolate can be a cute prop and also keep your clients warm.
2. Care for your Gear
Cameras can withstand severe cold, but your battery may not perform as well as it would on a warm day. If you plan to be out for more than a couple hours, bring a backup (put in in an inside coat pocket to help keep it charged) and make sure you start your session with a fully charged battery.
When you bring your camera indoors, just like your eyeglasses, camera lenses can fog up and condensation can form. To help protect the electronics in your camera, warm it up slowly by leaving it in the camera bag for at least 20 minutes before turning it on again. While outside, you can also place your camera in a plastic bag, bring it indoors, and any condensation that forms with only form on the outside of the bag, and not on the interior of your camera.
3. Ignore your Camera's Exposure Meter (sort of)
One of the biggest issues when shooting in the snow is ending up with dull, gray images. This is due to the camera's tendency to assume that adding all the tones in an image will produce an average color of gray. Most of the time this works pretty well, but when out in a white snow-covered landscape, the average color is white, NOT gray. Alas, your camera is not smart enough to know this so you have to do a little manual adjustments. The easiest way to combat this is to "overexpose" your image +1 or +2 stops. Your snow may lose a little detail, but your subject will be properly exposed and the snow will look white, not dull.
The top image is exposed according to my camera's light meter set to 0. The image on the bottom is "overexposed" +2 stops. Besides the watermark, there were no edits. Exposure made all the difference!
4. Look for the Contrast
Another big issue when shooting in a vast field of white snow is that you will have trouble getting your camera to focus. To combat this problem, find something that contrasts with the snow such as your clients, a tree, a dead leaf, whatever. If I am shooting far from my client and they are surrounded by snow, I find myself focusing first on them and then recomposing the shot while holding the focus. Posing your clients by a large tree or along a shoveled path are also ways to create contrast and give your camera something to focus on.
5. Move Somewhere Warmer!
Kidding, but I am looking forward to my impeccably timed trip to Miami this weekend. I'll try to send Chicago some warm thought as I relax and dip my feet into a pool :-)
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Now on Thumbtack!
Hannah Drews Photography is now featured on Thumbtack! This is an internet marketplace where clients can search for local services and read reviews from previous clients. Hopefully Thumbtack will bring in some new smiling faces for Hannah Drews Photography!
Thumbtack
Thumbtack
Monday, January 20, 2014
Kinzie Bridge Fashion Shoot- Chicago Photographer
I am always on the lookout for a new photo shoot location, and when I visited the Merchandise Mart the other week, I saw the view from the Kinzie bridge and knew I had to do a shoot there asap. Luckily, I have a wonderful friend (and natural model) who writes for a fashion blog and was looking to take some portraits for an upcoming post. She wore a perfectly chic outfit that matched the gritty cityscape and bridge graffiti. Check out her blog, 2girlsin2cities, for great fashion inspiration and great DIY projects.
If any high school seniors are looking for a unique portrait location, contact me to book your Kinzie Bridge/Downtown Chicago session this spring!
If any high school seniors are looking for a unique portrait location, contact me to book your Kinzie Bridge/Downtown Chicago session this spring!
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