I love holidays – Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving.  Even though I believe that to make our loved ones feel special  we don’t have to wait for a holiday, I love Mother’s Day too. It’s very altruistic by nature, just like Mothers are. It’s not about receiving, but about giving, taking care, showing love.

The main thing for a Mom is to be around family, to see her kids, to know everyone is well. And if you are miles away from your Mom, just like me – there’s probably nothing better than a picture and a phone call and… making your mom smile. That’s why right around Mother’s Day I wanted make a post with portraits that bring a smile to a face – blue-eyed adorable brother and sister and their lovely mom. Enjoy, cherish your memories and Happy Mother’s Day!

I feel like we all naturally feel a little intimidated in front of the camera, that’s why I went ahead and wrote an article with some tips on how to pose for portraits and look your best. Nobody says it’s super easy, but great pictures that will last you for generations are so worth it!

I have been on both sides of the camera – have been sore from posing, felt awkward and saw beautiful pictures turn out. I also have done enough portraits as a photographer to learn that a pose can make or break a portrait.

A good portrait is a combination of many factors such as lighting, composition, equipment used, photographer’s expertise and style and many more.

A lot of times however it all comes down to catching a perfect moment just the way it is, where everything becomes secondary to a mood that’s captured.

No doubt we all strive for those moments, but let’s be honest , a lot of times a portrait that catches the eye is a well thought-out creation, where a subject’s pose plays one of the major roles.

In my photography I like to step away from overdone, obviously posed pictures, while striving for the effortless, simple, natural and elegant look.

During portrait photography sessions I give my clients these general guidelines and tips on what to watch while in front of the camera:

1. Good posture is crucial. Spread your shoulders, pull the tummy slightly in, take a deep breath and lift your chest up – I know it sounds like a yoga exercise, but it works!

2. Watch your chin! A dreaded nightmare of many – a second chin – can be avoided or at the very least minimized, but pulling the head straight forward. And slightly down. Straight forward and slightly down are key.

3. Your arms can look bigger than they are if you squeeze them up against your body – keeping your arms a little away from you body will make them look their best (a photographer will point out when exactly you need to do it).

4. I feel like hands are a very important, but a slightly overlooked detail in portraits. Tense and unnatural hands become very obvious once the picture is done – so just keep that in mind.

5. A lot of people have a problem with closing their eyes while posing, especially when taking pictures in bright light – if you cannot stand to look at the camera for a long time – one of the tricks is to close your eyes and wait for the photographer to signal you to open them. The trick here is to relax your facial muscles as much as you can to avoid ‘a deer in the headlights’ look.

6. And the last, but not the least: what in real life looks normal and is unnoticeable to most – will come forward in the pictures. Professional portraits (if they are not candid, photojournalistic shots) are almost always simulating life, but are a little better, a little dressier, a little brighter.

You can also find this article RIGHT HERE or by going to the Blog Menu – Helpful Info – Tips On Posing For Portraits.

There is something magical about these little blue flowers – they are not the brightest, tallest or fanciest, yet every year people try to use a short window between mid-March and mid-April to get some portraits in them – maybe it’s the fact that they grow out in the nature, maybe it’s the spring air and young tender greenery, but those portraits do turn out perfect.

Miss J and family have portraits done every year, however this year is special because it’s their first experience having portraits done in bluebonnets. I felt honored and happy they chose me for the job. Portraits on-location do require some stamina because usually there’s walking, running and dealing with the weather involved, nevertheless the end result is so well worth it. Miss J did wonderfully, so did her sweet mom and dad and of course Mr Chief  The Dog, who alone could easily win “The Cutest Dog On The Block” award.

Fall is without a doubt one of the best times of the year for portrait photography. The light and colors are soft, yet bright, the temperatures are very comfortable (which is especially important here in Texas) and of course the scenery is beautiful. It seems fall fits Natalie so well – with her golden hair, feminine features, dreamy eyes and romantic personality.

If you do not have fall portraits yet, I highly highly recommend doing them – you will have memories preserved wonderfully, plus your portraits will make wonderful gifts for the holidays.

I am so blessed to have Veronika in my life. And even though now we live countries apart, we each have a family of our own and do not get to see each other very often, I never ever forget countless cups of coffee and tea we had together, tennis matches, dancing classes, tons of laughs and tears, movies watched, phone calls and texts, parties, walks and a million other unforgettable experiences. I love you, girl!

I have always liked dancing – gracious, beautiful, mesmerizing. While having tried different dancing styles and trends in the past, I gave my heart to belly dancing a couple of years ago.  Therefore I certainly could not miss the opportunity to do some promo portraits for a stunning belly dancer. A desert-like location, colorful hand-made costumes, dreamy veils and soft light before the sunset helped create a Middle Eastern atmosphere and added to the beauty of the dancer.

I could photograph elopements every day and I don’t know if I would ever get tired. They are filled with romance are all about the bride and groom. And when the bride and groom are as happy, smiley and gorgeous as Mr and Mrs K, they are double joy. Have a look as these and you will know what I am talking about!

I love meadow flowers for their simplicity and elegance. Bluebonnets have become one of my favorites since I moved to Texas. This year I finally got to do a portrait session in bluebonnets. I got triple lucky because I got to do portraits for three beautiful sisters. Cute ladies, peaceful Texas spring afternoon and bluebonnets. What else can a photographer wish for?!

I am so blessed to work with the most incredible people. This family is one of those amazing families that are beautiful, intelligent, friendly to the core, fun and easy to be around. We did some holiday portraits for them last year. Finally on the blog!

Meet little Miss V. She likes to say ‘awesome’ and ‘cool’ a lot, she speaks 3 languages at 3 years old and she made me smile during the entire portrait session. Check these pictures out. I’m sure they will put a smile on your face too.