Ever wonder what you should wear to a photoshoot? Or how to do your hair or make-up? You're not alone. Getting ready to look your best in front of the camera can seem daunting and confusing but it doesn't have to be. I'd like to share 5 ways you can look, and act your best to get the most out of your session, whether with me (Blaine) or another photographer.



1. Clothes. Avoid clothes that could date the pictures. Logos and trendy brand labels on clothes may not be in style in a few years. Instead, choose items that are comfortable and stylish but are free of logos. Solid colors or neutral patterns work great. Most importantly, choose clothes that make you feel your best. It's okay to go a little more edgy than normal because it will look great in a photo. Bring that extra scarf or accessory for something creative.

2. Hair and make-up. For your photo session, apply make-up a little heavier than normal around eyes to help them really stand out in pictures. Hair can be styled loosely or left down for more posing options. Guys, try to use natural, low shine products. Girls, styling your hair down is generally better for intimate, playful and creative poses but even a messy bun can have great results too. Above all, be yourself!

3. Get there early. Showing up on time is important. Not only does it help you be relaxed, it helps ensure you're ready to look your best and will have time for any last minute changes. Many sessions are planned around the sun and the fleeting golden hour of light which can be short during spring and fall in Alaska. This makes it important to be ready to start on time. Being on time also helps you feel more relaxed, which of course makes for better pictures of you!

4. Be expressive and relaxed. Your photographer is going to only be able to capture you as you are during the session. Go that extra mile to laugh and smile, interact with your significant other, be extra cuddly and take the moment to just enjoy the experience. The more comfortable you can be with your photographer, the better your pictures will turn out. I always work really hard to help people feel comfortable in front of the lens. Sometimes if I have to back off with a longer lens I will until I can move in to get a closer shot or pose. I always notice towards the end of a session the pictures and expressions always get more natural. Likewise, a lot of my favorites are often the last pictures I take because everyone is the most relaxed. The more relaxed and fun we can make it, the better the final images.

5. Be open. I always want to meet and exceed my client's expectations. But if I don't know what they are, I won't know how to arrange and tailor the session to your needs. I always try to ask a lot of questions, but that isn't always enough.

Tell your photographer if you have specific requirements for the session/photos, or if you had a certain idea that you really wanted to try. I'm always open to trying new things and love being creative with my sessions. Being open with your photographer will help make the session more relaxed and will help ensure you are happy with the results.

www.blaineWshillington.com

Mini Engagement session with my great friends Bijay and Hazel at Beach Lake.  We headed out to birchwood for some great photos at the lake.  Beach Lake was where Bijay proposed to Hazel, so it was awesome to get to do their engagement session at this special location.  Wish them all the best!

As always,  if you like this post, you might like my other work as well.  Check out the rest on the website galleries and other blog posts!
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Had the chance to do one more maternity shoot with Lindee before our little baby arrives!  I had some creative ideas that I wanted to do and she had a couple poses that she wanted also.  I wanted to stick with the vintage, bright feel, but the room we were using was a little dim, so I had to set up a ton of lighting to get the feel just right.  Love the look of these.  Consistent with my fusion of modern and vintage, I really feel like these look great and captured the moment perfectly.  Lindee also did a great job of looking a lot more comfortable than she felt at 38 weeks!  He'll be here any time!  Expect some newborn baby photo blog posts soon!  If you're looking for Alaska maternity photos around your area, or an Anchorage maternity photographer, please do let me know!

As always,  if you like this post, you might like my other work as well.  Check out the rest on the website galleries and other blog posts!
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Had the great opportunity to shoot some maternity photos of my lovely wife Lindee with my little baby who will come to live with us sometime next month!  We're so excited, and really happy to be able to capture these fleeting moments.  I don't do a lot of maternity photography, but I loved the lighting coming through the window and how these turned out.

This past weekend, I had the honor to get to be a part of the Love Alaska festival with Luis Palau.  I was asked by media guru and friend Adam Legg to help out with media for the event, building a buzz in the community through instagram and Facebook.  

first, a side note. If you need any social media help, Adam is your guy!  go to www.adamlegg.com

Anchorage doesn't often have big events like this, so I was looking for a way to get involved.  It was approaching quickly and I still hadn't found my niche when Adam asked me to help out.  I was really stoked to do photography at this huge alaskan event.   Admitedly, event photography at live music and shows isn't my normal thing but hey, I love shooting people and showing expressive moments, so this was right up my alley after all.  I had tons of fun and will hopefully get a chance to do something like this next time, or maybe be in the band next time!  Either way, this event was awesome for our city, and it was so much fun getting to be a part of it!  Also, if you're not sure what it was all about, leave a comment at the bottom with your question.  The short answer, is that many people left that place changed, with hope and excitement, all while having a blast and enjoying free concerts.

You can see all of my pictures from saturday and sunday on the Luis Palau Love Alaska Facebook page. 

Go tag yourself and your friends!

Now on to some of my favorites!

Sunday was a blast too.  I got there while it was still the calm before the storm.  Before it even officially started at 3pm, the park was getting packed.  A lot of people came back with tents and camp chairs to hang out all evening and listen to the main stage events.  Of course, again, there was lots to do for the kids, and even more awesome live music and speaking, culminating with an extended concert by toby mac.  Special thanks to all the hard working volunteers who kept the sound running and helped the artists perform well.

I covered the children's events first, and then headed over to the bmx and motocross demos.

If you're wondering what's next, find a church to get involved in.  There is so much to do and more exciting things happening around our state daily!  Get involved!

As always,  if you like my event photography, you might like my other work as well.  Check out the rest on the website galleries and other blog posts!
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Cory and Cathy's Engagement session at Beluga Point and Girdwood.

I recently met Cory and Cathy at Beluga Point for their engagement session, wanting to take advantage of some of our great weather we had been having.  We then planned to head down to Girdwood to get some photos with a different feel and mood.  I had in mind to create a vintage feel with some of their pictures and the lighting was great!  We started out at the windy point and then found some purple flowers to shoot around. 

I love hearing people's stories, and i'm excited for Cory and Cathy as they plan their life together! 

After Beluga point we headed down to Girdwood to the ice cream shop before going to the ski area.  I always make it my goal to show couples as they react with one another and to represent their relationship and love through my images.  These two made it so easy to capture their love and to show the fun they have together.  

Next we headed down toward the Winner Creek hiking trail for some engagement photos in the woods for a more moody feel but I got a little side-tracked for a moment at the chairlift that was shut down for the summer. 

Winner Creek Trail, Girdwood Alaska

As always, if you like what you see here, please check out the main page.
www.blaineWshillington.com | couples gallery

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Also please follow me on Instagram!  My personal account is @bwshillington and my photography account is @blaineshillingtonphotography. Thanks!

Had a fun time tonight getting to meet some awesome new people and make some new friends.  Thanks to Instagram, I was able to hang out with some amazing creative people.  Here are some of the photos.

touch or click to enlarge photos!

As always, if you like what you see here, please check out the main page at www.blaineWshillington.com

Please follow me on Instagram!  My personal account is @bwshillington and my photography account is @blaineshillingtonphotography. Thanks!

Christian and Megan, an Alaska wedding at Otter Lake Chalet.  

My first wedding this season was with Christian and Megan.  I met Christian while earning my undergrad, and it was so great to get to be a part of their day.  I wish them all the best starting married life out together!  

The wedding was on base at the otter lake chalet. We had fun exploring the boat house after the wedding and getting some great shots!

As always, if you like what you see here, please check out the main page at www.blaineWshillington.com