Everything lined up just perfectly for this spring maternity session: a gorgeous couple, the perfect maxi dress, blooming yellow irises and that gorgeous afternoon light that makes me happy just thinking about it.
Spring is so fleeting, so when we hit it right at that moment when the flowers are blooming, it makes me so thankful that the couple could have them included in their session.
Click HERE to read more
Mother’s Day is this Sunday and, I don’t know about you, but it snuck up on me this year! Apparently, I’m not the only one because I’ve been getting lots of husbands emailing in for last minute gift certificates for Mother’s Day. So, if you’re getting this email and you’re a husband, I’m just here to give you a little nudge because you pretty much can’t go wrong with a photography session as a Mother’s Day gift. Or, if you’re a mom, you might just want to drop a few hints like, “Ahem [loudly clearing throat]… Isn’t this beautiful spring weather just perfect for taking pictures with Jill? Oh, how funny, look at this newsletter I just got…” *wink*
Simply email us at info@jillcarmel.com or purchase your gift certificate HERE and we will email you one to print out and pop into a pretty little card, just in time to hear, “Oh my goodness…this is exactly what I wanted!!”
Ladies, have a wonderful Mother’s Day. I hope you get everything you deserve!
-Jill
This April marks my fifth year in business (yay!) and it reminds me to celebrate the families that have been with me since the beginning. These lovely people that you see below have had six sessions with me and we have yet another on the calendar to welcome their twins (yes, TWINS) to the world.
For their pregnancy session, we meandered down to the river on an overcast and somewhat cold day, but they brushed off the chill like champs and we came away with a set of images that I love.
Oh, and a little brag for Katie - she really does look this amazing in person! Every time I look at these pictures, I silently pray I will look even half as incredible as she looks when I’m pregnant (fat chance). Lol Click HERE to read more
It was a perfect day in Sacramento for spring portraits at the Capitol. There is one cherry tree there with the most amazing blossoms that only blooms for about two weeks out of the year and we caught it in its prime. I love this shot — it’s like “Super Baby!” haha
So, I have a fun new announcement to make…The demand has gotten large enough that I am now making it official and offering a limited number of mentoring sessions each year to those who are interested in improving their photography or who would like to take their small business to the next level. Mentoring sessions have no set curriculum and are designed around you and what you wish to achieve in your growth as a photographer or business owner. Everyone is welcome from beginners to advanced.
There are two options to choose from:
Phone/Skype Consultation – $150/hr (2 hr minimum)
We can cover anything from defining your style, photographic technique, interacting with the customer, equipment, websites, SEO, building your business, marketing, branding, creative exploration – you name it and we’ll talk about it. I will be an open book for you.
In-Person Mentoring Session – $850
Includes five hours of one-on-one time together, answering all of your questions, plus a 30 minute photo shoot of YOU so that you can take some pictures home with you to use on your blog or website.
Aside from my own 13 years of experience behind the camera, I have personally attended in-depth workshops and/or mentoring programs with all of the photographers listed below. I can pass on the knowledge that I gained from those experiences to you.
Carrie Sandoval & Brittany Woodall (Baby as Art)
Barb Uil (Jinky Art)
Sarah & Chris Rhoads
Audrey Woulard
Lena Hyde
Tamara Lackey
Laura Novak
Chery Muhr
Lori Dorman
Amy Smith
Skye Hardwick
If you are interested in signing up for a Mentoring Session, simply email us at info@jillcarmel.com along with what you would like to talk about and we will contact you with available dates.
*Please note that these sessions are only available to individuals residing/working outside of a 200 mile radius of Sacramento, CA.
Maternity photos in the spring are one of my favorite sessions. There’s the excitement of the baby and the beautiful backgrounds and everything comes together so beautifully.
I drove down to Elk Grove for this shoot so that we could incorporate the family’s beautiful home. I got there a little early so I poked around the neighborhood looking for nice spots to take them to. Just down the street from their house was a driveway lined with pink blossoming trees. It was like heaven…
Okay…get ready for a some obnoxious horn tootin’ because I’m a little bit proud of myself…If any of you were wondering why I was a little absent from the blog last year, it was because this little business o’ mine grew more last year than any other year. Want some proof? I was published a total of eight times in 2012 which is an all-time high for me. I’m so honored that my work was chosen to be featured in these awesome publications. And a big THANK YOU to the families who participated! You can see these plus earlier published works on my website’s “press” page.
The weather is warming up and the blossoms are on the trees. It’s time to starting thinking about what you’re going to wear for your spring photography session!
Many of you know this is my favorite time of year for the flowers on the ground and the fluffy white clouds…but it’s also a super fun time because the of the spring fashions! I love seeing my customers show up to their sessions in the latest trends. Here are some tips to get you inspired!
My customers frequently ask what gear I have in my bag, so I thought I’d do a little post for anyone else who’s interested:
Main Camera Body
Nikon D800
Backup Camera Body
Nikon D700
Lenses
Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8
Nikkor 85mm f/1.8
Nikkor 50mm f/1.4
Nikkor Micro 60mm f/2.8
Here are some pictures of the gear so that your mind doesn’t melt when reading all of the techie mumbo-jumbo…
If you’ve been wondering what to buy for yourself, take a look at a post I wrote last Christmas with some great cameras for day-to-day use. Jill
Light like butter and honey mixed together…I couldn’t stop taking pictures…
Love the shots near the Folsom bridge! Sometimes I’ll stop at the picnic bench there and have a blueberry muffin from Karen’s bakery.
Good luck to the mom-to-be!
[...] be a dramatic backdrop. And if you stumble across a spectacular blossoming cherry tree, as in this baby photograph by Jill Carmel, don’t pass up that photo [...]