Limited Edition Spring Sessions! | San Diego Child Photographers
Don’t delay – we only have 12 appointments for this Limited Edition Spring-Time Child Session!
This spring, BlueFlair Photography is pleased to offer a limited edition spring session. Think outdoors, think vintage feeling, spring-y goodness! This session is recommended for children 2 or older. For girls, we suggest a simple white dress, or spring formal, as well as a cute-casual outfit. For boys, a classic or formal look, and/or simple overalls. This $99 special even includes (1) complimentary 8×10 or smaller print of your choice! We only have 12 appointments available at this rate, and sessions will be held on March 14 and March 16th. We do reserve the right to reschedule if the weather does not cooperate.
To make your appointment, give us a call at: (858) 356-5859, or email us at: info@blueflairphotography.com
And feel free to visit us on Facebook, or tag along on Twitter! 
Anytime Sitter | San Diego Preferred Family Service
BlueFlair Photography is pleased to introduce you to Anytime Sitter, and the President/Founder, Samantha Migdal.
Samantha, a San Diego native, graduated with honors from the University of San Francisco. She has over 10 years of experience with children, and worked for a babysitting agency while in college. Now that she is back in San Diego, she has quickly built a unique babysitting service with 30 on-call sitters. Each experienced sitter is background checked, safety trained, and typically is pursuing an education in child development or the nursing field.
Samantha is passionate about her work. She evens works as a babysitter herself, as the need arises! She is dedicated to providing quality child care that parents can count on.
Here’s what Anytime Sitter has to say:
“Anytime Sitter is flexible because its a service to be used ANYday, ANYtime, ANYwhere! They have a network of dynamic sitters who are enthusiastic about children and excited to babysit. Anytime Sitter is reliable because it’s a service that is always available, even in a pinch! Anytime Sitter is trustworthy because the owner Samantha personally screens, interviews and runs a national criminal background check on every sitter referred.
Anytime Sitter’s mission is to become the premier childcare service by providing a network that compliments the lives of caregivers and families while reaching out and giving back to the community. They are currently reaching out to Project Left Behind. For every sitter they refer, $1 is donated to help children in orphanages all over the world: http://projectleftbehind.org/Home_Page.html
In order to qualify as an Anytime Sitter, each applicant must meet specific requirements. Each sitter must have a legal right to work in the U.S., be CPR/First Aid certified, have a clean national criminal background, at least 5 years childcare experience and excellent references. Many of their sitters attend school at UCSD, USD, Point Loma Nazarene & CSU San Marcos majoring in fields such as Child Development, Psychology & Nursing. Many have experience as camp counselors, lifeguards, sport coaches and teaching assistants.”
Anytime Sitter has also added an Anytime Nanny service – short or long term! Need a nanny? Visit Anytime Nanny for ANY short or long-term nanny need. Every nanny placed in a families home is professionally trained by Marla Elliott, Parent Coach and Founder of Familiworks!
Anytime Sitter is your permanent solution for ANY temporary or last minute babysitting need! Become a fan of Anytime Sitter on Facebook.
Anytime Sitter and BlueFlair Photography are holding a model call for children age 2-12 on February 27, 2010,at TRC Gymnastics, Inc in Solana Beach. There is no cost or obligation, and there are free gifts from BlueFlair, TRC Gymnastics, and Anytime Sitter for all participants!!
For details, click here - then call to hold your spot!
Lillian + Wes + {Bliss} 2.0 | San Diego Wedding Photographer
We had a few more images that we had to share with you from Wes and Lillian’s wedding! The beach images were sooo fun!
Proud father of the bride!
Yep, she’s spoken for!
Oooh, lah, lah! What a cool bride – she WANTED to be on the beach in her dress – even BEFORE the reception!
And to get the latest updates and specials, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Little Charmer | San Diego Baby Photographer
We had the best time photographing this little charmer. I think he’s probably the happiest little fellow to grace our studio. He was in the best of spirits, and played great for the camera!
We’re looking forward to working with this baby a couple more times, since he’s our newest Busy Bee. Our Busy Bee baby club program is the perfect way to document your baby’s important milestones during their first year. Receive 3 portrait session for just $250 total! For more information, or to schedule your baby, give us a call: 858-356-5859, or contact us through the website.
And to get the latest updates and specials, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Pigtails & Fuzzyboots | San Diego Child Photographer
How cute are these boots?! And boots! And pigtails! Just about as cute as this little one. This is part one, but we didn’t want to keep these all to ourselves. Enjoy the sneak peeks!
Like what you see – then feel free to leave a little love in the comments below. For the latest updates and specials, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
Sweet Bump | San Diego Maternity Photographer
We enjoyed meeting this cute couple. Mom was just a natural in front of the camera, and had deep brown eyes that just “ate” the lens, and I love the fun interaction between them! These two like a more artistic flair, so we included a few moody black and whites as well.
At BlueFlair, your maternity session is now complimentary with the purchase of a newborn session. Our albums that tell the story, “from belly to baby” are a must see, and a wonderful gift to pass down to your child and grandchildren.
To receive special offers and updates, become a fan on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter.
It’s Gonna be a HAUTE! Valentine’s Day this Year!
Special Offer!!! If you’re following us on Twitter, or are/become a fan on Facebook –
we’ll give you a $50 studio credit for any purchases from your session!
Ladies – get your honey the best. present. ever! For a limited time, we’re offering sexy, stylish, sophisticated HAUTE! boudoir packages at a great savings! Build your own packages – pick and choose each element at $99. Complete packages starting at $297 including your choice of a mini-album, music slideshow of your HAUTE! images, or 10 digital files for your honey’s computer! Hurry, tho – this great deal is for a limited time. As an extra special offer, book your session by 1.15.2010, and receive an extra $50 credit to use on any purchases after your session, any way you’d like! AND – if you pass this on, and tell all your girlfriends and they book, you’ll receive a $50 referral credit for each booked referral!
To Retouch or Not to Retouch?
This past week, the new Marie Claire Magazine got attention in the press for the model who appears nude, and not airbrushed or retouched. The model, Jennifer Hawkins, former Miss Universe (2004) and gorgeous model, has a body that would require minimal retouching anyway, when compared to the “regular” woman, which some critics are quick to point out. The subject has been getting a lot of attention recently, as there are concerns as to the type of body image portrayed as “acceptable” in the media, and how that impacts young people regarding their thoughts on body image, and self-esteem. For the full article, click here.
What many do not realize is that photo manipulation has been going on for decades. Here is a link that features notable historical images that have been altered:
The French government is now discussing placing a so-called “warning label” on images that are retouched or enhanced, and the idea is gaining support. Advertisers are concerned, as they want their products to be as appealing as possible, while others are clamoring for “truth in advertising.” To read more about this, click here.
Being a photographer, our job is to make our clients look their best – through lighting, posing, clothing, makeup, and yes, Photoshop. We frequently use a professional makeup artist to bring out the client’s best features, while minimizing other “less desirable” features. When clients view their images, we’re frequently asked to smooth a wrinkle here, slim a curve there. Nikkie and I try not to overdo retouching, because we want our clients to feel comfortable and look like themselves, but we also want them to feel that they look better than ever. We have to strike a balance between cleaning up “imperfections” while also keeping it “real.”
What are your thoughts?
The Smile That Went on Forever | San Diego Senior Photography
Shelly had this smile that just wouldn’t quit! She fell into her poses pretty naturally, and we had a lot of fun photographing her senior portraits in Balboa Park! One of the things we love about Balboa Park is how many backgrounds we can do for different looks. And we always encourage our seniors to bring a few outfit changes to mix it up even more! Enjoy the sneak peeks!
I love the look of fall in this first one!
Just look at those pretty eyes!
Social Media & The New Business Image | San Diego Professional Headshots
Social Media networking is changing the face of business, in many ways. Now, instead of a handing a client a business card with a tiny photo of yourself, your clients are checking your personal website and social media sites, such as FaceBook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. There, they may be able to read reviews on your products or services, and most importantly – they have a chance to get to know you, without the hard sales. Especially in tough economic times, people will choose to do business with people they trust, whom they feel can provide a quality product and a good value.
It is more important than ever to present your “best face” at all times. Your potential clients want to know that they are in the hands of a professional. At the same time, they want to work with someone who is friendly and approachable. To show off your best side, professional portraits are recommended. Good lighting, composition, angles, and professional touch-ups all show that you take yourself and your professional image seriously. Ladies, you won’t regret that visit to the makeup artist who understands photography – it makes such a difference – and we’re happy to refer you!
Here are some recent images from our AMAZING Internet Presence Specialist, Bridget Ayers. Since she spends so much time on her laptop, we incorporated it into her images. She’s fun and funny, yet smart as a whip! She had both her hair and makeup done, and she had a couple of outfits for us to work with. She booked our deluxe session, and we worked up several business portraits, as well as some personal portraits. You can see how we rock the boat for traditional head shots, giving you that fresh, professional, and approachable look your clients will respond to. With our deluxe package, you will receive multiple web-ready images for your graphic-rich websites.
Check out these images, leave a comment if you please, and then if you’re ready to boost your social media presence, check out Bridget’s sites:
* Twitter * Facebook * The Get Smart Blog * Get Smart Web Consulting *
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Legacy of Love
This is a great story of a legacy of love! Grandma-to-be is just so incredibly excited about the upcoming birth of her grandchild that she decided to spoil baby, mommy, and daddy by investing in our Chrysalis Collection. This collection focuses on telling that special story of each new belly to baby. Mom and Dad were absolutely awesome to work with and let’s face it mom’s belly is just so beautiful and tiny! Mom disagreed with the “tiny” part so of course we had to tell her to invest in glasses and a good mirror because…just look at her…she’s only sporting a basket ball when I was sporting an over-sized watermelon when I was in my eighth month!
Anyway…here are a few sneak peaks for grandma, mom and dad of a few of the “less revealing” images from the day. We’ll see you soon so you can check out the rest of the images from the session! Let us know what you think by leaving comments bellow!
Stacks of Love!
This couple has to be one of the funnest couples around. We were in stitches at their consultation, and as we got to know them, we learned that she’s a librarian and he’s a chef. So, we started percolating ideas for a fun and creative engagement session. I’m always online, admiring talented photographers, and getting fresh inspiration. I had seen a wonderful classroom engagement session, by the fabulous @millieholloman. We ran the idea past our couple to see if we could get access to the library. They loved the idea! Our groom here is a bit of a prankster, so we played up on his mischief . . . and so the story unfolds. It’s a tale of love in the “stacks” (a library term, if you’re not familiar).
He was totally complaining about the “acting”, since the book was illustrated!
Thanks you two! You were wonderful sports!! See you soon!
(Comment love appreciated.)
J Loves L!!
Jessica and Lewis are such a fun-loving couple! They had a great time during their engagement session, and so did we. We headed down to our favorite spot at La Jolla Beach, and then did a little “up-town” shooting.
The clouds are water were just amazing that morning!
We love feedback – comments are welcome below!
The Sooner the Better
So many of our expectant parents ask us when they should come in for their newborn portraits and we always reply the same way…”Meet us on your way home from the hospital.” There’s usually a long pause as they wait for us to say we’re kidding, but guess what?…for the most part we’re really not joking!
The absolute BEST time to photograph a newborn is within the first week of their precious lives, under two weeks is acceptable but is starting to push it. You see…newborn’s under one week of age still sleep like the dead (not mine unfortunately, she’s NEVER slept like the dead a day in her life…not even in the womb, but MOST do).
They also haven’t had time to realize that they’re not crammed into a tight little space anymore, so they still curl up in that adorable fetal pose. But after day ten (give or take a few days)?… you can just forget about getting that amazingly classic newborn pose without your little one putting up a fight. The secret is out and every time you try to curl them up they just can’t wait to pop those tiny limbs back out again.
Also two to three weeks is about the time a lovely case of baby acne can rears it’s ugly head…no pun intended. Of course we still photograph newborns that have passed the two week mark, and we still capture amazing images of these tiny new beings, it’s just that the longer you wait the harder it is on both the baby and the parents.
So to summarize the answer to the question “when should we schedule our newborn session?”…the sooner the better!!!
This tiny little guy was only 10 days old, and both he and big brother did a great job in front of the camera! Mom and Dad love sepia toned images, so we put the finishing touches on a few of our favorites and here they are as a little sneak peak. Hope you love them as much as we do!
Your input is REALLY IMPORTANT to us so let us know what you think of our images by posting your comments at the bottom of each posting.
Brides Against Breast Cancer 2009
Hello to all our beautiful brides!!! I know you all have been anxiously and patiently waiting to view the images we photographed of all of you at this years Brides Against Breast Cancer 2009 San Diego Event. Well they are all ready to be viewed, but to keep prying, soon to be husbands’ eyes, from sneaking any peaks of you before the big day, we have posted them to a username and passcode protected site. Obviously posting the login info here kinda defeats the purpose of this covert operation, so we ask that each of you email us at info@blueflairphotography.com to receive this top secret information. We’ll email you back a link and the login info for you to see yourselves in all your breathtaking glory. From the event site you’ll be able to email links to your pics to anyone and everyone you want to, just be sure they know not to let the cat out of the bag to you know who.
We want to make sure and thank the vendors that helped make you look like the beautiful brides-to-be that you are:
Our first BIG THANKS goes to Allison Stevens of Magnolia Flowers who’s generous donation of this unique bouquet, which turned out to be the brides’ favorite, was much appreciated. Allison is one of our preferred vendors and has become a really good friend. She was trained in France and thrives on creating unique and dynamic arrangements that stretch the imagination…kinda like our photography, so it’s a match made in heaven. Thanks Alli, you rock!!!
We’d also like to give a big THANK YOU to Willem-Aidan who provided not just one, but THREE different bouquets for our lovely brides to pose with for their portraits. This florist went out of his way to make sure each bouquet was elegant and perfect. Stefanie and I haven’t had the pleasure of working with him directly, but we can’t wait to get the chance! Here’s just one of the lovelies he provided…
And last but certainly NOT LEAST, we’d like to thank Teresa Skeen and Maggie Meredith from Mary Jane Salon for doing up all the fancy up-do’s that gave each of our brides that special wedding day look. You both were AMAZING, and fast too…something we photographers REALLY appreciate from stylists on the day of the wedding. It is a true sign of professionalism. Here’s a quick capture of the action reflected in a mirror…this bride (who was a personal favorite of mine) didn’t end up getting this particular dress so I feel o.k. showing this image as it’s not really giving anything away to you know who…
Just Say NO to Traditional Headshots!
Headshots have always been associated with boring…I mean traditional, poses and processing. The need to look professional, composed, and appropriately removed from your potential client was the common mode of operation, especially in fields such as insurance, corporate business, finance, and law…but common is just how it made you look.
That’s not to say that looking professional and poised isn’t important, it’s just not enough anymore. There are plethoras of service professionals out there available to each and every consumer, and let’s face it, looking like each other isn’t going to get them to go with you rather than the other guy. So what will get them to go with you instead of him (or her, whatever the case may be)? I’ve got two words for you…approachability and relate-ability (which I’m pretty sure isn’t really a word to begin with, but for the sake of argument let’s go with it). This leads us to another question…how do you portray yourself to a potential client as approachable and relatable? Well with the advent of social media sites such as Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Link’d In, and many others like them, professionals like ourselves are able to personalize not only our content, but our headshots as well. Posting images that show you as warm, caring, approachable and relatable are a critical step towards connecting with your potential clients. The things that set you apart from other providers or make your prospective clients emotionally connect with you will be what get’s them to stay a little longer on your site, so they get to know you a little more, trust you a little more and therefore consider working with you a little more. As examples we’re showing you some of our favorite non-traditional headshots from a few of our recent professional headshot clients.
Let us know what you think of our client’s contribution to the revolution of social media networking and marketing by leaving us some of your comments. What would you like to set you apart in your headshots?
The Best of Both Worlds
La Jolla Cove is one of the most beautiful beaches to photograph at in San Diego. The incredible blues and greens of the water, mixed with the fascinating rock formations and cliffs makes for a dramatic scene. So it was an obvious choice for us when this gorgeous family requested their portraits be photographed at the beach.
Another wonderful feature of the Cove is that it borders the urban beauty of downtown La Jolla. This close proximity allows us to dramatically change the feel of our images by driving just a few blocks up from the beach to the beautiful brick buildings and chic sidewalks of La Jolla. The art and fashion district of La Jolla makes the perfect setting for a precious little girl to dance down the street in her purple tutu and jean jacket. These are a few of our favorites from the session. Hope you love them as much as we do mom and dad!
We are always looking for locations like this where we can get the best of both worlds without having to travel very far between the two. Do you have any favorite locations that you’d like to suggest we use for our portraits? Please let us know by leaving your comments here. Thanks! Nikkie of BlueFlair Photography
Using High Pass in Photoshop for Stand Out Eyes
The eyes have it! Big, bright eyes will draw the viewer into the photo – afterall, the eyes are the windows to the soul. So how do we get such crisp, sparkly eyes? We perform a High Pass in Photoshop. Although there are various ways to sharpen an image, here is how we do a High Pass:
Create a duplicate layer.
Choose Filter, select High Pass. Choose a number that will outline the eye area.
Create a Mask Layer, and hit Control + Backspace to turn the mark layer black.
Select Overlay.
Choose a brush, and adjust the size. Brush over the eye.
Voila!!
– big, bright, beautiful eyes!
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Pictures Tell a Story
As child and family photographers, we get plenty of requests for the obligatory posed images. With San Diego as a backdrop, people often want that “perfect smile” from their child at the beach or the park. The parents request them, often not realizing how much more personal and “real” images are when we let them tell a story. It doesn’t take a perfect smile, or even looking at the camera. It’s those special little moments, the ones that moms and dads see everyday – those endearing little curiousities and “looks” their young ones have. Things that make that child THEIR child. Nikkie and I love capturing these special moments, and they’re always a favorite.
What is a special moment that was captured for you or a loved one, that now holds a special memory for you?
- Stefanie
www.blueflairphotography.com
Mr. Lucky Charm!
Jake here was our lucky charm the other day for another fabulous photo shoot at Leo Carillo Ranch in Carlsbad. Nikkie and I have been shooting there for portrait sessions, and a wedding for the last year, and we’ve always heard rumors of an albino peacock. I know – who knew? Well, we finally saw the elusive albino peacock – it’s white from head to toe to feathery tail!! A lot of the males were in full plume, trying to impress their lady-folk, but this white peacock kept everyone in their place – he knows he’s special.
So, thanks, Jake – we had a great time working with you and your mom!
