This holiday time of year is our busiest, but we took a moment to compile some of our favorite holiday portraits from our years and years of Orange County photography. We know you’ve got a lot on your to do list, but we hope you’ll enjoy this little moment of pure holiday joy.
With all the options out there these days it can be hard to decide just what to choose when it comes time to order your new photos. Well, don’t worry, we’ve planned ahead.
We have some great products and packages, but today I just want to give you a sneak peek at just what they look like. It’s hard to show just how high-quality these items are online, but know that when you come to your review session after your photography shoot, you’ll be able to see all of these wonderful options in person.
Professional family photography is an investment–not just some quick prints from Costco–but it’s hard to think of many better investments than high quality images of your family! Your portraits will be adored for years, decades, and generations to come. Let’s take a look at some beautiful ways to showcase your new photography.
Let’s start with folio photo boxes. This is one of my absolute favorite products that we carry, and not just because it is completely hand-crafted in Italy and looks amazing, but because of it’s versatility as well.
One of the challenges you’ll have when you come to view and order photos is that it’s so dang hard to choose between so many amazing shots. Folio Photo boxes are an elegant and practical solution to this problem.
As you can see from this video below (yep that’s me, in studio), you can display one lovely image, framed and matted in the box–maybe on your coffee table, or an entry table, and you can also switch it out whenever you want. Just open the box and view up to 20 matted images or store some of the images while you swap others out into frames you have elsewhere in your home. You can even display the images on a nice photo ledge like I’m doing here in our studio in Laguna Canyon.
Now that you’ve seen an example of one of our folio boxes, let’s talk about just how crazy-amazing the prints inside them are! Printed on luxurious acid-free paper, these ultra high quality prints can be available the very same day as your review session.
Like I said, it’s hard to really show just how gorgeous these super saturated fine art prints are online, but trust me, when you see them during your review session, you’ll know what I mean.
These allow you to easily change up your photos each year, or even throughout the year, since they come in expertly crafted mattes.
We select our very favorite 20 images from your session (before you arrive) to present to you in person and when you purchase, each print includes the fully edited digital file as well!
You can display these luxe prints on an easel, on a photo ledge, or even in a frame. They also make great gifts for loved ones.
We have a variety of framing and matte options to fit your home’s unique decor. We love to go the extra mile for our clients and we’ll even create mockups of your home using real images from your shoot and a picture of the wall(s) in your home. Check out some of the great frame and canvas print collections we’ve mocked up.
Blue Sky’s Studio takes all of the guesswork out of your photo purchasing process by even laying out and installing all of our wall galleries. You can replace the hassle of measuring tapes with gorgeous photo groupings you’ll enjoy for years to come, and I promise there will be lots of laughs at our girl tools, too!
Our Orange County photography sessions include so many special moments that it can be difficult to choose only a few images for your home.
Albums are a perfect solution for the client who loves many (or every) image. We endeavor to create memories to fill the page, and what’s more, we’ll work with you to create a one of a kind album as special as your session.
We’ve been in this business for many years and have tried just about every album out there, but we’ve elected to offer only the highest quality albums for your memories. But we also have different options at different price points. Here is a tiny sampling of our beautifully-crafted photo albums.
The best part about photo albums is that they give us the opportunity to tell the story of your family. From silly faces, to soulful looks, we want to document it all so you have tangible memories just as special as your kiddos!
Our albums also make beautiful gifts, and are timeless and wonderful ways to remember your loved ones’ most precious moments.
We look forward to helping you choose the right images from your Orange County photography session. And remember, if you want the latest news on our best promotions and even tips and tricks on how to get your best photos join the Blue Sky’s Studio email list. We promise we’ll only send good stuff.
Want to see our photography portfolio? Visit our full Orange County Photography website.
These days, we all know the controversy over severely PhotoShopped celebrity magazine covers and images. Most of us are pretty familiar with the fact that while many celebrities are gorgeous to begin with, their images are often altered to make them look even more extremely “ideal.” What we see on the cover of a magazine, or in an ad is often so highly retouched that the person almost doesn’t look like themselves anymore.
At Blue Sky’s Studio we don’t believe in making you look like a perfected-plastic version of yourself.
We work with a variety of tools like lighting, camera angles, stylists, makeup artists, and the right setting to make you look your absolute personal best. And sometimes we use PhotoShop to achieve that extra bit that cameras sometimes miss out on.
Let me explain…
We all have bad hair and face days, right? And just because you happened to look tired, or have a big pimple on your cheek on the day of your photography session doesn’t mean that’s what you really look like. We know that.
That’s why we use PhotoShop as another tool to tweak your photos so that they are the best representation of who you are.
Here are some examples of how our expert photo editors adjust lighting, blemishes, pose, alignment and sometimes even swap body parts (your own of course, don’t worry you’ll see) in order to create perfect pictures of you and your family.
Sometimes even with the best lighting tools, the raw images could use a little tweaking. In this before and after image, we adjusted the lighting and a few other features to not only lighten up the image, but bring out the brilliance of our client’s features–especially her eyes. Sometimes the camera just isn’t able to fully capture the glow we can see with our natural eyes.
If you’ve ever tried to take a group shot, or a family photo, you know how hard it can be to make sure everyone is looking their best. While we have some awesome tricks up our sleeves–even professional photographers sometimes have trouble making sure everyone looks exactly how they’d like. Not everyone in the shot always looks their best or cooperates–we’re looking at you toddlers. Ha ha.
In those cases we take many variations of the pose and we can then adjust a variety of features to create the perfect group shot. Take this one for example.
In the before image you’ll notice a few subtle adjustments we’ve made, namely we’ve removed the woman in turquoise from the background; we adjusted the awkward angle of the woman on the left’s whose dress made her look larger than she actually was (we know most ladies don’t want that!), and we’ve adjusted several family members poses (just swapped from another version of the same shot, where they looked better), then we even moved the man on the right in just a smidgen closer to his wife. Finally, we tweaked the shadows on the sand to remove the driftwood and make a more uniform, subtle shadow.
J Lo isn’t the only one who gets wardrobe malfunctions and there’s no reason you should have to live with those awkward clothing moments in the family photos you hang on your wall. In this senior photo session, our subject’s dress revealed a little more than she preferred, so we tucked her in a little bit, smoothed the way her dress fell and tweaked the lighting to bring out her beautiful glow. We also smoothed out the tiniest of blemishes and evened out skin tone.
In this before and after, you’ll notice we adjusted lighting as well, but what you may have also noticed right away is that we also slightly moved the model’s pose so that she wasn’t as hunched over. We also tucked the back of her dress where it was pooching out a little bit.
In this before and after, you’ll notice we also adjusted her shoulder slightly to reduce the appearance of a hunch and lightened up her face and removed a few very minor blemishes or uneven skin tone.
In this comparison, you’ll see we adjusted lighting, but we also edited out the house on the hill and the wrinkles on the woman’s beautiful red dress. We also adjusted her arm pose and waist, ever so slightly. What you might not also be able to see is that we retouched her lipstick a bit as well, as it had rubbed off a little bit during the shoot.
We know one of the secrets to getting great shots of children is taking a ton of photos–the more photos, the more likely we’ll capture the perfect moments.
But what if you have a picture with the perfect pose and setting but one of the kids has a better smile in a different photo? No problem.
As crazy as it sounds we can swap out a head as we did in this before and after example, so that both kids have the beautiful, natural smiles that we want, in the perfect setting and pose.
You see, PhotoShop can be a great tool to adjust lighting, pose, wardrobe and even expressions to provide the best combination and photos that you will cherish for generations, not photos that you’ll look at and think “it’s almost perfect except for that….[fill in the blank].”
Nobody wants that when they are hiring a professional photographer.
We’re committed to helping you and your loved ones look like their best, true selves whether that’s in Orange County family photography, high school seniors photography, or even professional headshot photography. We hope you’ve enjoyed learning a little bit more about how we use PhotoShop to achieve stunning results for our clients.
Want more tips and tricks on how to get the most out of your Orange County photography session? Sign up for our email list! Or visit our full Orange County Photography website.
At Blue Sky’s Studio, we’ve always prioritized making every detail perfect for our clients’ photography sessions. That’s why we hire professional stylists to help you select not only the right wardrobe and accessories, but to coif your hair, and create that picture-perfect makeup look. Here are a few of our secret methods to make you look your best on photo day!
Do you ever look at those photos of celebrities and wonder how much is PhotoShop and how much is just great styling and posing? We get it. And while we do perform tastefully subtle PhotoShop enhancements for some clients (wink, wink), we prefer to make you look your best from the start.
When selecting what to wear for your photography shoot we always recommend a few wardrobe changes for variety, but be sure to notice the details.
Ask yourself: how does it fit? Is it flattering to your body type? Does it feel good on you? Do the armholes fit? Is the hem in the right place.
Be sure to test each garment, complete with any accessories, or layers you plan on wearing. Take some time to do a 360 view in the mirror to make sure it looks how you want it to. Try different accessories, shoes, skirts, pants, etc. until you find the right combinations.
If you don’t trust your mirror, take selfies or have a friend snap quick photos of you in your outfits so you have a better idea of how it will look for your professional pictures.
Can’t decide? No problem. Bring your wardrobe options to your shoot and our stylist will give you professional advice on which pieces work best.
Most women apply blush to their cheeks after they’ve finished their foundation, but did you know that if you do the blush first (a little heavier than you usually would) and then apply foundation, you’ll achieve a more blended, natural look?
Niki Metz, of Jouer, also recommends that you apply egg whites to your face, especially around the eyes, a couple hours before you apply makeup. Then just before it’s time for makeup gently rinse off with warm water. The egg whites have a tightening effect on your facial skin.
Of course, if you’re using our stylist, you won’t need to worry about applying makeup after your faux facelift.
Did you know that according to celebrity designer, Rob Zangardi, who styles stars like Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, and Rachel McAdams, that even models wear shape-friendly garments like Spanx?
It’s true! Shapewear helps smooth out your least favorite areas so the camera won’t even know they’re there. Rob also says that the must-have shapewear is the Spanx Short, to tuck in your tummy, hips and thigh areas. Just don’t forget to try it on with your clothing so you know how it will fit.
No matter how great your makeup, it will always look even better when your skin looks its healthiest.
A week before your shoot, be sure to get good sleep and drink plenty of water.
Don’t get any crazy new facial treatments or products that could potentially cause allergic reactions or discoloration. Also be sure to keep up with your normal skincare regime. And don’t forget to moisturize those lips!
The night before your shoot, avoid alcohol. Even a small amount can make your face a little puffy or dehydrated. And be sure you get a good night’s rest.
The day of the shoot, be sure to arrive makeup-free and ready for our stylist to work her magic!
Let’s say you found that almost perfect dress or blouse, or jeans, but they’re not quite right. No problem, if you plan ahead.
Don’t be afraid to take it to a tailor or an alterations place and have them nip and tuck the garment so that it fits your body in the most flattering way. It’s a great way to speed up your shopping process too–as long as it can be altered to fit your unique body or style.
How you feel makes all the difference. In the end it’s important to pick a wardrobe that fits who you are. When it comes to completing your look with makeup and hairstyling, be sure to bring some pictures of the type of looks you like. Our stylist will work with you to create a look that feels natural and expresses your best self. 
Bonus tip: We often use Pinterest to create mood or theme boards for different Orange County photography shoots. Even if you never use Pinterest for anything else, we recommend signing up and using their massive database of images to create your own board with the styles that feel like you! Then you can show us your board prior to, or at your session!
Be sure to schedule your hair color update at least a week before your shoot so that the color has time to mellow to it’s best shade and your roots won’t show!
Avoid getting a new hairstyle just before the shoot. And even if you’re just getting a trim, be sure to do it at least a week in advance, again so your hair settles into it’s usual look.
If your hair is on the dry side consider doing a professional deep conditioning a few days before your photography session.
An often overlooked part of your overall style is your hands and fingernails. Be sure to go get a manicure a few days before your shoot. You don’t have to do color, but trimmed cuticles, nails, and moisturized hands create that beautiful finished look in all of your photos.
We hope you’ve enjoyed these styling tips. It’s always an honor to see the beautiful results our stylists achieve in our Orange County photography sessions.
Learn more about all of our Orange County photography services and book your session today!