Central Mississippi Wedding and Portrait Photography

Over the years, Brian and I have experienced almost all aspects of dual income earnings – whether it be both of us working full-time jobs and running the business, one working full-time while the other worked part-time at one job and part-time at the business, or in our most current format, working part-time at both a day job and the Studio while the other works full-time at the Studio.  Regardless of the scenario, it takes a lot of juice to work and raise a family, no matter what the dynamic!

The role of the working mom is often very vague.  It is a workout juggling motherhood and a career, but somehow we all make it!

With the birth of our last child, I stepped into the role of what I term the Stay-at-Work-Mom.  With the help of our assistant and some skillful shoot scheduling, I have been able to bring my little one, now four-and-a-half months old, to work with me – full time and it’s a blast!

So, if you are in for a shoot and you hear giggles from the back – that’s just our little guy laughing it up!

Ain’t Life Grand?!

Hollie

I just love it when the time “Springs Forward” and we can reclaim our long days and stretch out activities late into the evening!  There is  a sense of renewal that puts energy into everyone and everything!

Spring is also a great time to capture children and families enjoying one of the BEST signs of Spring – flowers blossoming everywhere.  Some photographers prefer to do chick and bunny shots during this time of year.  We lean towards showcasing the beautiful blooms and greenery of Mississippi Spring.  During the Spring months we tend to spend our days shooting outdoors at the historical Mynelle Gardens in Jackson and on parts of the historical Natchez Trace.

Mynelle Gardens is a seven acre collage of several distinct gardens, with winding pathways, cascading pools, and distinctive bridges which lead you across the pond to an island oasis.  It’s Spring blooms are brilliant during the months of March and April.  It is beaming with bright yellows, pinks, purples, and blues!

The 444-mile Natchez Trace Parkway commemorates an ancient trail used by animals and people that connected southern portions of the Mississippi River, through Alabama, to salt licks in today’s central Tennessee.  We like to focus our attention on the area at and around the Reservoir Overlook.  The Natchez trace lends a magnificent earthy beauty to our shots.

We have found that Spring is a time for more formal shots.  If you are thinking about doing Spring Portraits consider dressing your child/family in a light, pastel or muted color so that their outfit does not distract from the vibrance of their surroundings. Cream or white outfits shoot very nicely during the Spring months.

If you prefer less formal outdoor shots consider dressing your child in a simple outfit – shorts and a solid color shirt, overalls, or a simple spring dress.

Helpful hint -

Barefoot pictures are great during the Spring, however, if your child does not like to go barefoot in normal circumstances, you might want to avoid testing the waters during your shoot.  Sometimes something as small as taking their shoes off can cause a child to turn their happy switch off for the rest of the shoot.  If you have a child that does not like to go barefoot but have been dreaming of a shot of their little toesies -  you might want to wait until the very end of the shoot to try to attempt the shot – .

Hollie

Life gets completely flipped upside-down with the arrival of a new little one!  Although Birth Announcements are of high priority, not everyone has the time to devote to scrolling through hundreds of announcements online trying to pick out the perfect one.   Sometimes you only have to go so far as your photographer!  Now that photography has merged with the digital age, most photographers are well equipped with digital editing know how, so don’t forget to lean on them when it is time to talk Birth Announcements!

One of the many benefits to having your photographer design your birth announcement is that you have the option of having a completely custom made announcement.

A couple of things to keep in mind when moving forward with your announcement:

1)  Be sure to be SOLD on the image that you select.  This is where the photographer comes in handy.  Since he/she will be overseeing the design of the announcement, they will help add a critical eye to the selection of the best image for your announcement.   Many of our clients use their favorite shot, but not always.  Although your favorite shot of the session might be the one that holds sentimental value, it might not hold the same.  Be sure to pick a shot that either focuses on the face or the full body of your newborn.

2)  If there is a particular saying/scripture that you would like to use – come prepared!  Don’t worry!   It only takes a moment or two to find the exact/complete saying using the wonderful world wide web, so if you “kind of” know what you are looking for it should only take a few moments to find!

3)  Traditional / Contemporary – Let the photographer know what style you lean towards.  In the announcement we did for our latest arrival, we used an artsy, contemporary style.

Here are a few helpful hints to think about when preparing for Senior Portraits:

Clothing

1)  Bring a variety of clothing options (both casual and semi-dressy) to chose from (between 4-6 outfits) so that the photographer can chose what best fits the surroundings of the shot.  And don’t forget shoes to match!

2)  Stay away from ultra-bright colors and patterns as they take away from the real subject of the shot (YOU!)

3)  If you are in a team or sport bring your outfit and any accessories that might add excitement to the shot (i.e. – shoulderpads, helmet, and football for football players and uniform, trumpet, and case for trumpet player).  Don’t forget your team jacket!

4)  If you are an artist, musician, actor, or have a talent that you would like captured in your shoot, be sure to bring items that can be incorporated into your portrait (i.e. – paintbrushes, paint, and a few paintings for a painter or cameras, a tripod, and some larger prints for a photographer.)

Grooming

1)  Be sure to schedule a hair appointment before your shoot.  Bring any hair products and accessories that you might need to your shoot for quick fixes and up-dos.

2)  Groom your nails.  If you are going to wear a color on your nails, be sure to avoid any ultra-bright colors.  Try to stick with something a little more formal so as to not distract from your face – .  If you are planning to wear sandals, don’t forget your toes!

3)  Don’t forget to bring  your make-up with you to re-apply in the case that you start to “melt”.  For those of you who don’t wear very much make-up (or, if you are like me, none at all) this is one of those times that a little make-up will go a long way.  A little bit of blush and a light brush of gloss helps add life to your portrait.

Most Important – Relax!

Thankfully, the Senior Portrait process is not nearly as long as the Senior Year of High School!  A Senior Session generally lasts around 2 hours including travel from the studio to the outdoor shooting location(s).  If having your Portrait made seems a tad bit intimidating to you, feel free to bring a friend along with you to help coach you along during the shoot!

The best advice that I can give you to get the most out of your shoot is to BE YOURSELF!  Bring that energy and smile that best defines you!

Happy Senior Year, Y’all!

We couldn’t get a lick of anything done around here without our faithful assistant, Alyson.   She watches our sweet brood by night and us by day – .

Her talents are not limited to helping the Hulls.  She is a Biology major with a minor in Sculpture at Mississippi College. She is also a budding musician.  She is an excellent guitarist and vocalist.  You can check out her talents at www.myspace.com/alysonadcox

Needless to say, our sweet Alyson is a very talented young lady and we are very thankful to have her here at Hull Portraits Studio!