Why Book a Portrait Session with a Professional Photographer

Family is a supremely beautiful thing, and any parent will tell you that as their children grow older, they come to appreciate their family photos more than ever. However, while anyone can snap a picture with a digital camera, it really takes a great deal of skill and artistry to make a family photograph something that can be hung on the walls like art for years to come. Many times, a family photo looks stiff, formal and perhaps a little unnatural. However, Gretchen Adams Photography is a studio that's able to provide the on location shooting option where the family has memories of happiness to surround them, and so the photographs actually reflect that. Although there is no doubt that digital photography advancements have made huge inroads with improving the overall quality of family portraits, it still takes a lot more than just snapping a quick shot, editing it and printing it off. A good photographer can ensure that every bit of the photo and setting is perfect and can work with you until you're fully satisfied with the results.

Whether you want to display your family photos on the wall of your home or want digital copies to go onto your family blog or website, you still need to be sure that they're perfect down to the last detail. When you think about your family photos, think about more than today. Picture grandchildren and great grandchildren looking at these tangible memories. To that end, why wouldn’t you want the very best pictures that are humanly possible to help ensure that your future generations and relatives in the future can truly see the loving and totally adoring family they have. Think about tomorrow as well as today and contact Gretchen Adams Photography to begin working with a photographer who's got the same dedication and the same integrity and care for the final results as you. "Picture perfect" is more than just a simple phrase to us here at Gretchen Adams Photography.

What do I wear to a professional photo shoot?

Planning a wardrobe for a photoshoot involves careful consideration of the theme, setting, and mood of the photoshoot. Here are some steps to help you plan a wardrobe for a photoshoot:

1. Understand the theme and setting of the photoshoot: Before you start selecting outfits, it's important to understand the overall theme and setting of the photoshoot. Is it a formal or casual shoot? Will it take place indoors or outdoors? Is there a specific color scheme or style that the photographer wants to achieve?

2. Select outfits that fit the theme: Based on the information you have gathered about the photoshoot, start selecting outfits that fit the theme. For example, if it's a beach shoot, consider flowy dresses, shorts, and light-colored tops. If it's a formal shoot, think about suits, dresses, and heels.

3. Consider the colors: Colors play a crucial role in a photoshoot. Consider the color of the background, the props, and the overall color scheme of the shoot. Select outfits that complement the colors and avoid clashing with them.

4. Accessorize: Accessories can add a lot to an outfit and make it stand out in photos. Consider adding jewelry, hats, belts, and scarves to complete the look.

5. Bring backup outfits: It's always a good idea to bring backup outfits in case the original ones don't work out or get damaged.

Remember, the goal is to choose outfits that will make the subject of the photoshoot stand out while complementing the overall theme and settings. But don’t worry! Careful attire planning is one of the services we provide to our clients. We work hand in hand with our clients to make sure everyone who is being photographed has the right outfit that not only photographs beautifully but is also clothing they feel great wearing.

Pet Portraits

As many of our clients know, the Adams family are HUGE animal lovers. So much, in fact, that we use to have a small retail dog and cat boutique in downtown Benicia for awhile. The shop, Koda & Co., was named after our beloved beagle and was located First Street in downtown Benicia.  But that brings me back to PET PORTRAITS! As you look through the family portraits on this site, you will notice A LOT of dogs in our family portraits. Of course, because dogs are people too :). But did you also know that you can schedule a session JUST for your pet? It really is such a wonderful image to capture and, in my opinion, just as important as any other family member's portrait. Here are some examples of recent pet portraits, but as with any portrait session, keep in mind that these are completely customizable to your taste and style. So while these are done with a very european feel, we can also create some beautiful beach or park images or even portraits right in your own home. If this is something that has been on your to-do list and you would like to chat about the options, give us a call on the studio line at 925-676-7036 or drop an email to gretchen@gretchenadams.com and we can talk about the possibilities.

Has Your Senioritis Set In?

Now that you’re a senior in high school, a lot of big decisions are going to come up fast, if they haven’t already. You have a lot to think about. It’s a big job. This means college considerations, SAT/ACT prep, building up your volunteer hours and sticking them on your resume—which is totally starting to fill up, by the way. And, of course, in the midst of all that, you still have to juggle school and all its demands, the potential prom and homecoming plans, and then, right there at the end are your plans for graduation. Thing is, before you think about graduation, you have to consider your graduation portraits.

Sure, you could just go with whatever service your school is providing. Those get the job done well enough. But the most exciting results come from a photo shoot customized to you and your preferences.

Gretchen Adams Photography does whatever we can to:

A) Make you comfortable during your shoot B) Make sure you love love loveee your results C) And key the shoot to your personality and hobbies.

On that thread, we’ll help you figure out what looks go best for the results you probably have in mind, what settings would make the photos exemplify who you are, and more. For example, want results that showcase that awesome new cut and color with the highlights you just got? Not a problem. You’re allowed to want those things. This shoot is totally about you! We’ll figure out what time of day is best for this and shoot at the peak of daylight where the sun can really show you and your new do off.

Another thing we like to do is figure you out. What are your hobbies? Do you love music? Bring your instrument along to the shoot, or if it’s not portable, we’ll come to you. Your baby grand piano doesn’t have to budge an inch. Maybe cheer and dance are your after school activity of choice? Bring your poms along for the shoot. Or we can even do a couple shots of you in your dance gear, all done up. This extends all the way down to football/basketball/baseball lovers, the wood shop pros and even the chess club enthusiasts. Again, when you have your senior portraits taken with the professionals at Gretchen Adams Photography, you’re getting a custom shoot that showcases you in all your Senior glory.

Mothers Day is coming, are you prepared?

Now that Mother’s Day is fast approaching, you and your family may be trying to figure out what to get for Mom. That, of course, is no easy thing to determine. Want the quick tip solution? Family portraits. What’s great about family portraits is that they’re not a gift she’s likely to forget anytime soon. Especially not if these portraits are hanging in your home or placed lovingly on her office work-desk.

Family portraits as a gift to Mom this Mother’s Day also have the added effective of netting you points. You’ve carefully planned this photo session, which can include the kids and even your family’s 4-legged friend. You’ve thought long and hard about what would please Mom most, and now you’re working overtime to keep the session a secret from her. She will definitely understand and appreciate the appeal of that. Women love that sort of thing. Trust us. We know.

After you’ve had a chance to coordinate looks between you and your family, decided on either an in-studio or on-location destination for the shoot, all you’ll have to do is await the completed project. From there you can decide what type of frames work best, if you’d like to display them in certain sizes, which poses she would appreciate most, etc.

You might even consider personalizing the photos further by planning to have the shoot at one of her favorite spots. Maybe she has a favorite tree at the park. We could have your family’s shoot there; or maybe she has a favorite shirt that you wear. Sport that in the shoot and prepare yourself to see her eyes light up when she opens her gift. Bonus points if she gets a little teary-eyed. Those moments are so special. We love helping you arrive at them.

Now, do remember, the important thing here is that Mother’s Day is coming up a lot quicker than you think. And all this planning and deciding and coordinating may take a little time. How much time will depend on the specifics of your shoot. What you have to do now is contact Gretchen Adams Photography for your consultation. If you’re in or around the San Francisco Bay area, we could be planning your family’s Mother’s Day gift in no time at all.

And if you don't have time to pull it off before Mother's Day, we also offer beautifully packaged gift certificates that you can easily present your awesome mom with and then she can plan the session for this summer!

Making memories with family portraits

Family is important and that's no surprise. Another thing that's no surprise? One of the best ways to make memories with your family is to have family portraits taken each year. Hanging these photographs on the wall is a great way to see how your family changes over the years, with new additions, children growing up, and even pets included. We offer you extensive family portrait services with a personal touch. It's the Gretchen Adams touch that makes us so great at what we do. Before you head to any studio, check their qualifications. If they have a portfolio, take a look and see if the photographs match your expectations for your own family pictures. Gretchen Adams Photography has an extensive portfolio, so you can see our experience with family portraits. It surely speaks for itself. Deciding how you want your photos to look can be one of the biggest challenges, but we make sure that we take the time during our personal design consultation to really get to know your family's style so we can design a session that will truly reflect YOU. Remember that your photos will be displayed in your home, and you might even send them to family and friends. You want to make sure it shows the essence of your family and that it’s something you will be proud to show off. We work closely with our clients to make sure that all the details, from outfits to location, have been expertly planned out.

Speaking of location...that is another big consideration! Many big photography studios only offer in-studio shots, which will use a colored backdop. However, you may decide on a more natural aesthetic with us. We're more than happy to travel for photo shoots, including to your own home, the beach, or a park. This can be a convenient time to have your portrait done and spend some time together, especially if you're doing a family portrait that involves family members who don’t live together. Everyone can meet up at a special place, which will make taking the actual picture more memorable and a less stressful experience for everyone.

If your family includes some four-legged friends, a photographer who travels—that's us!—can be useful. Some of the bigger studios don't allow for the inclusion of pets. A photographer who is willing to travel can meet you on location and include your four-legged family member in the photo. We're happy to travel to accommodate your furry little friend. Because we are animal lovers ourselves, we know exactly what items to have on hand to make sure we get the perfect shot and our time together is a blast for your pets as well!

Gretchen Adams Photography offers convenient family photography for people living in Walnut Creek or Pleasant Hill, as well as the East Bay area. As a small boutique studio, we'll travel to your desired location to provide you and your family with truly stunning results.

Planning your high school senior portrait

High school is one of the most memorable stages of life, and it can be bittersweet to leave this stage behind. Capture the memory of your senior year with high school senior portraits. Whether you decide to display it proudly or keep it safe in a photo album, these pictures can evoke fond memories as you move on to the next stage, whether it’s college, a career, or traveling. While you may get a yearbook photo taken by your school’s photographer, you'll probably want a more personal touch. Small studios are able to focus on you so that you are represented in the best possible way. At Gretchen Adams Photography, we can take your photo whether it’s for your yearbook or for a memento. Instead of relying on the typical solid background, we'll have a bit of fun with some travel so that you can get your photograph taken at your school, outdoors, or even at your home. All the details will be considered so that you will look your best in your high school senior portrait.

One of the best things about working with a smaller studio like us is the ability to take your time to get the perfect shot. In a typical school photography shoot, you are rushed and this shows in the final result. At the school, you are also typically limited to headshots, with no flexibility in poses. With Gretchen Adams Photography, you’ll have the time to try out different poses and the fun of different photo touches and lighting. Full body shots are really big, too, so be sure to consider those as one of your potential options. The hard part comes when you have to select the ones you like best, but don't worry, we actually make that a snap with our private in-person preview appointments. We're here to help guide you towards the very best images and the best ways to package them together. Although every family is unique in their portrait needs, most of our clients decide on one of our gorgeous folio box collections so they can have a set of beautifully matted prints with matching digital files.

If you find yourself in the SF bay area, consider consulting Gretchen Adams Photography to learn more about our senior portraits. Instead of waiting to see if you get a photograph you like from a typical school photography session, know that you’ll get excellent results you can be proud of by working with our studio.

High school senior portraits are important in every way

High school senior portraits are a long-standing tradition—a tradition that represents a step taken toward the adult world. This milestone deserves to be marked, and for many decades now, senior students have been getting their own personal photographs to help mark this milestone.

The trick to getting that absolutely spot-on high school senior portraits is to be sure that the personality and character of the student shows through. Many times, shooting on location is the best way to do this. On location shooting helps reflect the interests, habits and loves of the student while still ensuring quality photos. Whether the senior wants good head shots or wants pictures on the hood of their classic car, a high-quality photographer can ensure that the final results are more than worth the effort.

We know that you and your high school seniors are in the midst and chaos of one of the busiest times of the new adult's life, so Gretchen Adams Photography does everything within our power to snap a great shot with minimal fuss. What this means is that it's up to you to contact us and set up a time when we can begin this fun process. We'll all plan the shoot from the top of A to the bottom of Z, coordinating locations, poses, looks—all of it. That's one of the incredibly enjoyable parts, we've found, for everyone involved.

Students who've spent their high school lives playing a sport or instrument might like to don their letterman jackets, poms, or use their saxophones and violins as props. Some students really like to be photographed doing a certain activity, like drawing or playing with a pet. Others really enjoy straight on, face-forward headshots. Either way, it's important that you, at the end of the day, be happy with the final product.

To all you seniors out there, these photographs are an important part of senior year, and are the pictures that parents will send out to family and friends and with graduation announcements as well. To that end, it's pretty crucial that you get the very best photographs possible. Many times these headshots are the treasured mementos of this time of life and are those that will be kept for many years to come.

If the student is looking for a photographer who can generate something creative or of a certain quality for them, we at Gretchen Adams Photography, in combination with the student, can work together until that quest for awesome senior portraits is realized.

The message your business headshot is sending about your brand

Headshots have become a unique marketing tool in online and print advertising. Although this type of photography was once primarily considered to be the kingdom of models and actors, many business professionals are finding that clients consider it very comforting to know who they're doing business with. These professional pictures give your prospective customers an insight not only into your services but also into your personality, as a lot of information is conveyed by just seeing your facial expression and stance.

the science of facial reading

Although we don't always note it consciously, we make judgments about people from impressions that can last as short as 100 milliseconds. These quickly formed opinions are a combination of your upbringing, environment, and also the way the brain fires off messages. What’s important to remember here, is that the brain registers certain features and expressions in order to evoke an emotional response. From an artistic standpoint, we refer to this as "aesthetic." From the standard perspective, it's simply the way you achieve a greater openness and sense of empathy from your clients. Subtle aspects, such as how deeply your mouth is turned upwards or how widely your eyes are open, will evoke different emotions from the people you're trying to reach.

At Gretchen Adams Photography, we can help you achieve professional headshots that will really speak to your audience. Not only can we take flattering pictures to promote you and your business, but we can also guide you when it comes to achieving your most honest expressions. We understand that simply smiling isn't always the answer to attracting new people.

the nature of realism

Another aspect that your customers will tap into very quickly is how real a visual appears. Although headshots are posed, our trick is that they are naturally posed. We often take a series of shots so nothing in the photo seems strained or forced. Your forehead, neck, and jaw line are all places where this concentration is most obvious, but when you have your photographs taken in a relaxed environment, you let go of that stress and let the real you shine through.

flow

A frequent problem that people have when they try to take their own headshots is when it comes to understanding that a static picture can still have flow. You may notice that do-it-yourself photographs can sometimes look like a moment frozen in time, rather than an instant that has simply been candidly captured on film. A photo that "flows" will give you the impression that there is activity happening both before and after that picture. Your clients will interpret that impression as a result of your personality showing through the picture. From there, trust is built.

If you'd like your customers to get a real sense of the relaxed and vivacious you, then a call to Gretchen Adams Photography can do the trick. We can take your headshots at our studio, in your office, or even outdoors. This way, your professional image is also your true image.

picture personality

As a representative of your business, you want to convey your personality and the purpose of your work. A headshot can effectively show this to your customers. You're basically giving people a brief, but vibrant, insight into who you are and how you can help them. When that first impression is made in as short as 100 milliseconds, you want to make sure your customers get the right message.

Authentic family portraits at your own home

You're probably pretty familiar with the traditionally posed family portrait. You may have even tried variations on poses to make the picture appear more fun, and to convey the personality of you and your family. After all, you want this to be something you can share with other. You want them to get a sense of how vibrant your family is from those images. But when you attempt to take these portraits yourself, do you ever feel rigid while posing? Are you the one responsible for the auto-timer, which leaves you having to rush back into position before the timer runs down? You have to admit that these shots are probably not the best representation of you and your family. Even studio portraits can be less than ideal, since this involves packing your family up and bringing them to an unfamiliar environment. Whether you're keeping these images to chronicle the growth of your children over the years, or sending pictures as gifts to your loved ones who aren’t nearby, you really want to be able to capture the essence of your family life. The ideal family portrait, then, should project a natural comfort that truly shows the joy and bonds of all the members in your household.

You know how lively, comedic and loving your family is. You want others to know that too.

a place of inspiration

At Gretchen Adams Photography, we like to step away from the classic studio image for family portraits. We realize that they don’t always capture the real interaction between family members, and even in a still shot, the dynamic that you all share is what really makes the portrait shine. You’ll find that you can get a more satisfying result when we're able to come to your home for a series of shots in a space that's natural for your family. We can take pictures indoors, in your backyard, or even at an outdoor location that your whole family loves and adores. Taking pictures in a space where you feel comfortable will let everyone’s personality and exuberance show.

We also understand that a studio can be difficult if you have younger children. When we bring all the equipment to you, it lets you be at ease. This makes the whole photography session a good experience for everyone in the family.

the art of not putting on airs

Stress is an emotion that isn’t easily hidden in pictures. Your self-portraits of the family and studio outings can generate a lot of what we like to call "performance tension." While we at Gretchen Adams photography pride ourselves for having an eye for balance within the image, we also do our best to coach you and put you at ease. Our ability to guide and comfort you and your family is part of what allows us to capture a memorable and honest shot. Basically, we're not only balancing the physical composition of your family portrait, but also balancing your personalities within the portrait.

four-legged family members

You may also have loved pets who are seen as members of your family. Studio portraits totally exclude your pups and kitty friends from the picture. When you contact Gretchen Adams Photography, you’ll find that we have extensive experience in making sure that everyone in the household, four-legged or otherwise, gets their time in the spotlight.

If you want your next family portrait to be a fun experience with stunning results, contact us today for an in-home photography session. We can help you not only capture the essence of your family, but also the fullness of the love that you share.