What should I wear?
What to wear for your family photo session - my top tips this season!
Read moreWho are you anyway?
In the past, all you really needed in terms of photography for your business was a strong headshot. Since the age of social media, this has changed dramatically. Today, customers engage in a different way with businesses. People are eager to hear more about your story and to connect with you, not just your brand.
Brand photography is a catalog of images that is unique to you and that tells the story of who you are. Included in a branding gallery are lifestyle images, product photography, headshots, workspace images, and other images that may be helpful for your business. When you look at your gallery, you will notice a cohesive look and feel, a compelling tone of voice, an undeniable energy, and an indelible message that resonates from the collective album. Each photo counts.
So, why do you need brand photography?
Attract Attention
In today’s world of social media moving at a breakneck pace, beautiful imagery is crucial to getting noticed. People often make a split second decision about whether or not to trust your brand, or even read another 30 seconds more on your website. Powerful imagery helps you get noticed and look professional.
Create Connection
With the right imagery, you can tell the story of your brand far better than a bunch of words on a page. When I am buying from a small business, I love learning more about the face behind the brand. Build rapport with your clients by having images with YOUR FACE in them! Think beyond the traditional headshot - include lifestyle images of you working, interacting with clients or colleagues, or enjoying a hobby. Give them a peek into your world.
Your gallery will be more than impactful, high quality photos. It will tell the story of who you are. It will create the narrative of why you matter and encourage the customer to engage with your brand.
When people hire you, they are choosing you over countless others. Make it hard for them to say no.
“Working with Tracey was a wonderful experience. She made me feel comfortable from the first minute and was both ready to take my ideas as well as offer her professional expertise in what shots to do. Having beautiful branding photos has been a big part of leveling up my art business. I’m very grateful for Tracey’s help in capturing my brand aesthetic in her photos.”
Working with me: your brand evangelist!
I LOVE small businesses, and I LOVE telling your story. Having worked in non-profit management for over 10 years, I understand the importance of telling a compelling story. I have also worked for a small consulting firm which focused on high growth female entrepreneurs- women who are trying to stand apart in an otherwise dominated world. My diverse work experience provides a unique perspective as you and I craft your brand story together.
When you work with someone like me, who looks at the big picture, it is the difference between a collection of snapshots and an engaging experience with your WORLD, your brand. I will understand not only your product/service, but what sets you apart, your goals, your motivation, and your desired impact. It’s crucial that whomever you work with understands this mix, otherwise your images will fall flat/be two dimensional.
I look forward to creating a genuine connection with you and making you feel at ease in front of the camera. Before our session, we will talk about what message you hope to convey through your photos, and what kind of look you are going for. We will also cover things like what to wear and what to bring.
Over the course of our time together, we will create a gallery of images you can draw on for your website, social media, and yes, that will include a traditional headshot.
I look forward to working with you!
“Tracey is an exceptional photographer! When she took shots for my business, she quickly assessed which angles and shots would be most impactful (she nailed it!). She also helped guide me as I had to model with my products (very awkward for me, but she made it feel very natural). Her direction and keen eyesight helped to create the most comfortable, candid, natural-looking photos/moments! I was thrilled with how easy/natural she made it feel and the proof is in the authentic moments that she captured beautifully! ”
The importance of physical photos
My mom, sister, and I circa 1982.
Growing up, my parents displayed our family photos in our home. I can still remember which ones were printed, and sometimes even the frames they were in! As kids, my siblings and I loved seeing those photos, and other photos as well, as it helped transport us to various stages in our lives.
Fast forward to today. I have thousands of photos stored on my phone, on my external hard drive, and “in the cloud”. It’s so easy to let them just live there. It pains me, as it’s just not the same as having a printed photo in hand, framed on the wall, or in an album in which you can thumb through.
Last summer, we had our own family photos done, and I was determined to get them printed and on the walls. I am so glad we did. Every time I look up at them, it gives me so much joy. We display photos of other loved ones in our home as well, and we especially cherish those of our loved ones who are no longer with us.
When I look around our home and see photos of our loved ones, it gives me a sense of belonging. Belonging to a place, and to each other. This is our house. These are the people we love. We see them right there.
Our family, captured beautifully by Autumn Aguiar Photography. This image hangs in our dining room, where I see it every day.
I recently asked some of the families with whom I’ve worked if they’d share their thoughts on the importance of physical photos. Here’s what they had to say:
“I could have thousands of digital photos, but they all could not match the enjoyment I get when I look at framed prints, holiday cards, or especially our bamboo panel photo prints! My most treasured gifts over the years are the albums I can hold in my hands, the family picture calendars we hang on a real wall, and printed photos of my girls—from budding artist picture ornaments to professionally framed portraits.” - Marta M., Hamilton, MA
“I love having physical photos on our walls and in picture frames because as your walking down the hallway or walking into a room you’re brought back to a wonderful memory or moment in time. It makes you stop and appreciate life’s blessings and all the memories made throughout the years.” Amanda M., Hamilton, MA
“I absolutely love having framed prints on my walls. I’m just finishing up a little renovation/ facelift at our house and my framed prints were the starting points for my redecorating. Time passes so fast, especially with little ones. These pictures help me hold onto the moments for a little longer and treasure the amazing gift of being a mother to my two sweet girls. I’m so grateful for this!
The last couple years have also meant not seeing friends and family as much as we would have liked, so sharing actual photo prints (instead of digital ones) is a wonderful way for our loved ones to have something to look at throughout the day to make them smile even while we are apart.” - Emily S., Georgetown, MA
So… what now? Carve out a few minutes this month. Make a 15 minute appointment with yourself and write it on your calendar. Pick a few favorite photos and print them. Don’t get overwhelmed by choosing the “perfect” one. Just start with a few. Spot them around your home, or give them to a friend. Notice how they make you feel when you see them in your space. Or… take note of the feeling you get when your friend lights up at the sight of your gift. I promise you, it will feel good.
If you need recommendations as to where to professionally print your images, just reach out to me, and I’d be happy to help.
North Shore Family Photography: Capturing more than the Pinterest-perfect portrait
In today’s world, we can be distracted by the myth of the “Pinterest perfect” family. Carefully curated images, posted with template filters, perfect captions, and inspirational quotes. It can be hard not to fall into the comparison trap. I know you know this, but this is not real life. Social media is someone’s highlight reel, and sometimes not an accurate representation of the actual moments that are taking place. Real life is a stubborn toddler, piles of laundry, and breakfast on the go. While I aim to deliver you with high-quality, artistic family portraits, I also strive for authentic portraiture, capturing the spirit of your little ones and your family.
This brings me to local mom, Linsley Waldron. I just love Linsley’s style. She approaches her family photography sessions with an open attitude. She truly wants to capture her family in a genuine manner, highlighting everyone’s personalities.
In today’s blog, Linsley shares her thoughts about her photo session with me:
What was picture day like?
We were running late and our youngest was being a 2 year old so we were rolling in HOT and a little stressed. But of course, Tracey's chill even keel disposition and never feeling rushed made everyone feel fine. In turn, we got great pictures that show who we are as a family.
Which images stood out to you and why?
We have an image of our 2 year old daughter, Margo, with a “pop” that’s so beautiful. It was a bribe at the time, but now it serves as a snapshot in time to remind of us of Margo at that phase. (We had used pops to transition her off her pacifier.) Time flies and you quickly forget all the small little hectic details of your third child. Having this photo of her baby face with that pink pop in hand is something I will cherish forever.
Our Christmas card was one of Tracey’s photos of our son being a complete goof! Which is totally him- jumping up and swinging on our arms - the belly laughs and everyone running in their own directions but having Tracey capture it in one lens is why she’s so talented and easy to be around!
Why did you order professional prints?
We enjoy having physical photo prints displayed in our home, as opposed to stuck on the computer or phone. I didn’t want to lose quality by transferring them to a different print source. We made giant prints and displayed them in our house and they are crystal clear. We used her printer and we were blown away at the professional finish! They are awesome.
What’s a memorable moment from your session?
Seeing Tracey get into the ocean and have a wave crash into her and her simply smiling saying, “Well, we got the shot!” We knew at that point that this is way more than just a job for her. She loves what she does which is refreshing!
Any parting words?
Tracey is local, low key and so easy to be around. She is affordable for family photos and keeps everything stress free, relaxed when things can be hectic when you want your kids to SMILE or act a certain way. It was even easy to convince my hubby to come along and that’s not always easy! Then getting a professional result is a win/win!
Linsley Waldorn is a mom of 3 in Hamilton, MA, and also serves as an Account Executive for Nike Licensed Apparel. We first met several years ago, when I photographed her son as part of the Hamilton-Wenham Youth Soccer League. Since then, we have had several sessions together including a mommy and me session, a family beach photo shoot, professional headshots, and more soccer photos.
More photos from our session:
Grit & Grace: Ariana McDonough
“I have always enjoyed working with my hands. Growing up in Hawaii, this manifested itself in sewing, cooking, photography and other “hands on” hobbies. I was involved in 4-H growing up and always curious as to how things worked. For me, being an engineer is an extension of who I am and what I love to do. Engineers essentially create things to help others around the world. For me, this is helping to design, build and test jet and helicopter engines. I heard that every two seconds an aircraft powered by my company’s technology takes off somewhere in the world. It is amazing that I can be a part of that.
It is sometimes hard to be in a “man’s world”. Currently less than 15% of engineers are women. I am almost always the only woman sitting at the table at my work meetings. I am proud to be a woman in my field and to help forge the way for upcoming women engineers. I know I am fortunate to have stepped out of the engineering workforce for 13 years to raise my 4 children (now ages 23, 21, 19 and 16), live overseas and return to a fulfilling, challenging job, and to do be able to do it part-time! I make it a point to share my story with younger women engineers and mentor them to show that they do not necessarily have to follow the traditional career path. They just need to find what fits for them, be creative and forge their own way.
Ultimately, my worth is in who God made me. It is not in what I do. We are not defined by our outward accomplishments but who we are inside and have been created to be.”
Ariana is the Senior Engineer, Engine Systems Design and Integration; Future Affordable Turbine Engine (FATE) Program Lead, Military Technology Programs, GE Aviation
Grit & Grace: Olivia Rugo
“I have been an avid fisherwoman and scuba diver for many years. After receiving my masters’ degree, my first job was helping address the listing of an endangered species (Chinook Salmon) under the Endangered Species Act. It was the first time that a major metropolitan area (Seattle) had to address such a listing, and it was very interesting work that involved a wide variety of stakeholders that ranged from fishermen to farmers, to Native American tribes. I now work for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service, which is the federal agency that manages commercial and recreational fishing in federal waters (3-200 miles off shore). There, I coordinate communications with the commercial and recreational fishing industries to make sure that they have the most up to date information (where, when, what, how and how much they can harvest throughout the year) to fish in compliance.
This work is important to me because it promotes the protection and sustainability of fish, marine mammals and ocean habitat in our regional waters. I feel good about encouraging marine stewardship while enabling others to provide low fat, high protein seafood to consumers near and far. However, it is challenging to balance the needs of the many users of our sea, who include fishermen, boaters, whale watchers, aquaculturists, shipping industries, and families. For example, in the fall of 2012, the Department of Commerce declared a federal fishery disaster since catch quotas were reduced on nine stocks of cod, haddock, and flounder that were an important part of fishermen’s revenue streams. The cuts were necessary to enable these stocks to reach sustainable levels. It was a difficult time for fishermen, and we took steps, like implementing an increase in quota for healthier stocks such as redfish, white hake, and pollock, to help mitigate impacts and maintain the long-standing culture of fishing in our local communities. Finding ways to support both communities and environmental health often requires hard decisions, but ultimately, we want our kids and future generations to use and enjoy a healthy marine environment.
The ocean is a diverse and beautiful environment and I enjoy learning new things about it that I can share with others. For instance, did you know that an octopus has three hearts, nine brains, and blue blood? Two hearts pump blood to the gills, while a third circulates it to the rest of the body. The nervous system includes a central brain and a small “brain” at the base of each tentacle which control movement. Amazing!”
Olivia Rugo is the Fisheries Outreach Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries
Grit & Grace: Devan Tyack
“I’ve always had a love for animals. I knew from a very young age that I wanted to do something with horses and dogs. I adopted my first horse when I was 18, and have now adopted 5 more.
My passion in life is saving equines. So many people simply just don’t know that our American horses get slaughtered. Although they may not be slaughtered here in the United States, they are packed on hot trailers with no food or water and sent out of the country. I honestly can’t explain the feeling and relief when you have saved a horse from going to slaughter. I am most motivated by watching their progression, them learning to trust humans, and most importantly knowing that they will never have to be let down again.
My horses and their health and happiness are the most important things to me. Each and everyone of my horses have gone through something horrible in their past; I promised everyone of them that they will always only be shown love and care for the rest of their lives.”
Devan is the owner of Devan’s Canine and Equine Services .
For more information about Devan’s Canine and Equine Services, email her at: devantyack@yahoo.com
*Devan Tyack is Alison Standley’s daughter, another Grit & Grace woman
Grit & Grace: Melinda Walsh
“I have always loved food. I think about it a lot... every night before going to bed I think about my morni"ng coffee and what I am going to eat for breakfast. While eating breakfast, I’m usually planning lunch and dinner. I love not only the taste of coffee but also the daily ritual that it adds to my day.
Ever since I met my husband, we have dreamed about opening a coffee shop. The first thing we do when traveling is to locate the coffee shops to visit and take notes on what we like, and what we would do differently. After our son, Finlay, was born, we decided to stop dreaming, share our love of coffee, and live out our passions. We dove deep into the world of coffee to learn everything we could and began the journey by building a coffee cart in our backyard and served our first coffee at the Swampscott Farmers Market. After an amazing summer we were hooked and knew we wanted to continue to share coffee.
At the time, I was struggling at a job I didn’t love. I found myself constantly thinking about and dreading work and this took away from the time that I did have with my family. I knew I wanted to work outside the home, but I just couldn’t justify giving up time with my family to be at a job I did not enjoy. This prompted me to seriously consider our “coffee shop dream” and make it a reality. All of our experiences tasting coffee and visiting coffee shops around the world helped us create our shop that I now get to share with others.
Now, when I leave for work, I am excited for my day. I come feeling content knowing that I am living out my passion, which has made me a better wife and mother. It is so important to me that my children don’t grow up thinking work is something to be dreaded on a daily basis but something to be passionate about and take pride in.
Nothing makes my heart happier than serving friends and family food that makes them smile.
I’m so humbled by the fact that everyday I get to serve people a perfect latte and a warm blueberry muffin, knowing that it is going to put a smile on their face. It definitely makes it worth the craziness of small business ownership!”
Grit & Grace: Katie Vandi
“Being among the plants, flowers, and the earth I feel like I belong to something bigger than myself. It’s home, and it always will be. I someday hope to use agriculture and the farm as a place for healing. I hope that it can be a place for learning, growth (in all forms), and a pillar of hope for younger generations to come.
I have so much pride to be a woman in agriculture! Farming and agriculture historically have been occupations held mostly by men. I’m honored to be in a position to lead by example and show other women and school age kids that you can grow up to be ANYTHING you want, make money, and most importantly be happy all at the same time.
I find worth in being able to feed people good nutritious food and be able to show them where it comes from, and how to grow it! Food connects all of us. I also believe one of the most important things we can do for our children, and humanity in general, is preserve the sanctity of our food system.
All I can truly hope for is to be a light in this world and to teach my kids how to be a light for others and for themselves. You don’t have to be famous or have a ton of money to be able to make an impact, you just have to be kind. As long as you’re doing your job with loving kindness then you will have made a difference...there is no question.”
Katie is a farmer at Meadowbrook Farms in Hamilton, MA. For more information, visit: www.meadowbrookfarmstand.com
