Olney Studios Blog

Olney Studios blog! Read all the latest happenings around the studio, and with our latest photography sessions and weddings!

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Lifestyle People Portraits

An APB For Parents | Child Portraiture Near Reno Nevada

An APB For Parents| Child Portraiture Near Reno Nevada

SO.

You saw my ad, or someone shared one of my posts on social media. You were amazed by my work, and decided to book a session for your toddler.

We plan for your session; wardrobe is planned and ready, dates/times scheduled. All payments have been made.

Then it’s the day of your session.

WE GET TO THE SESSION LOCATION

And it happens…your child starts screaming. He/she is giving me dirty looks. Every time I talk to your child (lets call him David for the sake of this post) – every time I talk to David he buries his face in your shoulder while you stand there, your eyes pleading with me to have patience.

EVENTUALLY YOU GET FRUSTRATED.

And I get it. It can be hard to have this little person  who should be listening to you, not listening to you. I get it. I really do. You tell him he better be on his best behavior. He better be nice to the photographer lady, and he better smile when she says so.

I get it. I really do.

BUT I NEED YOU TO BACK OFF

There…I said it. I need you to back off.

It isn’t what it sounds like. I totally get that your child should be listening to you. I get it. But every time you raise your voice, your child shuts off further. David retreats further into himself, afraid to do ANYTHING out of fear he is going to get in trouble.

Sound ridiculous?

More than once I have experienced this in sessions with small children. Parents for some reason, despite me educating them, almost always come to the session with a preconceived notion of how the session should go, and when it doesn’t go that way, they get upset.

 

CHILD PORTRAITURE IS ABOUT CHILDREN

This session isn’t about you. It’s about David.

We need David’s little personality to come out, and that is going to mean you, mom and dad, need to let me work. I need David to not worry about getting in trouble for not standing still, or not posing right, or looking the wrong direction. If David wants to go run and climb on rocks (safely), lets give him a chance to do that. I will capture the sparkle in his eyes as he looks up to me over the rock when I say his name.

I will high five him and tell him good job when he successfully (or unsuccessfully haha) throws a stick in the river or creek. If he wants to throw rocks into the river, let him do it.

#SORRYNOTSORRY

I’m really not sorry.

I am asking you to trust me, however. Trust that I know what I am doing, and trust that we are going to get some AMAZING shots that showcase your little David’s personality. Trust that even if little David is very shy with me at first, he will warm up to me. Trust that your session is going to be absolutely amazing.

Trust that I’ve got this. ♥

Check out little Oliver's full session in my portfolio!

Child Portraiture

For Inquiries and Bookings:

BOOK HERE 

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Portraits

Why Asking For Free Photography Is Such An Insult

Why Asking For Free Photography Is Such An Insult

and ways you can avoid being a jerk

Yup, I said it. People looking for free professional photography are jerks.

Every time I see it I cringe. “Looking for a photographer who doesn’t charge an arm or a leg” (which, mind you, are actually REALLY EXPENSIVE. Like, “$150k and up” expensive…each)

OR

“Looking for someone who is building their portfolio to take photos of my wedding/family/children/whatever-type-of-photography-I’m-interested-in who can do this for EXPOSURE (because EXPOSURE pays the bills *insert eye-roll emoji here*). 

Look, I get it. You want photos. Photos are important. Photos are literally moments in time of you and your family captured and printed for you to cherish for your lifetime. I. GET. IT.  

Just because you don’t want to budget for photography, doesn’t mean I should have to work for free.

*BUT*

It is absolutely insulting to ask a professional to work for free. It blows my effing mind that anyone would think this is OK. 

 Let me ask you this:

Question 1 – How much would you charge me if I were to hire you for 50 hours of work in your field?

Then…

Question 2 – How would you feel if I told you that what you charge is too much and I don’t understand why you charge so much?

Then:

Question 3 – What if I try to negotiate your rate to what I think you should be charging based off of my non-existent knowledge of your profession?

If the above scenario happened to you, would you not be insulted? Now imagine this happening to you REGULARLY. (I’d like to thank local pro photographer Jeramie Lu for the above illustration. Feel free to check out his work here: http://www.jeramielu.com/)

I have read a million times over from people who are not photographers that photography is “just pushing a button”. And that “if you get it right in camera you don’t have to edit the photos” (LOL).  People like myself and my colleagues here locally (and elsewhere) are not simply taking a snapshot. We are creating art, of you and your family.  We are capturing memories. We literally make time travel possible.

We take years to “perfect” our skills.  We strive to constantly improve. We continue our education continually. Literally, we never stop learning. We spend TENS of thousands of dollars OR MORE per year to run our businesses. 

And then we have people asking us to work for less than minimum wage. It is insulting, and yes: you sound like a jerk. 

I suppose this post is a bit of a rant. And I apologize for that. I haven’t written in a while, so I apologize that this is the first y’all have heard from me. 

It has to stop though….

It really does. 

I want to be clear: photography is a luxury, not a necessity. No one owes anyone photos. No one is entitled to a photographer’s services. I know that sounds harsh, but that is the reality of it.

#SorryNotSorry

What do professional photographers have to do to be respected as an industry? I suppose that is my question for you, the reader.  I want to know your thoughts. Why do people feel they deserve free photos from someone who invests thousands of dollars into their business every year? And has a legitimate business?  

I am blessed by every single client who entrusts me to photograph their big day, or their photo session. Absolutely blessed. All of my clients pay the same rate, depending on what package they choose.

And as promised, here’s how you can avoid being a jerk: stop asking professionals to work for *exposure* or less than minimum wage. It is really as simple as that.

So, let me know your thoughts. I apologize again for the rant-style post, but I don’t apologize for what I’ve said here. ♥

Shameless plug below:

Feel free to check out some of my work here: Olney Studios Portfolio

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Olney Studios Hope Valley Reno tahoe photography
Portraits

Olney Studios | Update For Clients | Gardnerville Photography

Olney Studios | Update for Clients | Gardnerville Photography

Hi everyone! 

I just wanted to post a quick update about some things going on with the studio. As I’m sure at least most of y’all are aware, photography is an ever evolving art form and as the artists, our tastes and styles may change over time. 

I’ve been a photographer over half my life, and a pro for a few years now. I have seen my style evolve and grow throughout this time. For the past year or so, I was really navigating towards more rich and vibrant edits. Recently, I began experimenting with editing in a different way, and the final product spoke to my soul. THIS is what I had been searching for. 

There will be some changes coming to my portfolio in the near future. I am going to be re-editing some of the images that are currently there to reflect the style of editing that I will be using for the foreseeable future. This is *my* style. Not to say that there aren’t similar styles out there, LOL, but for me, this * is * it *. I didn’t realize I had been searching for my style; I thought I had found it already. 

So, over the next however-long-it-takes-me, I will be overhauling the website (again) to reflect these changes. I do not want someone to book me based on the style of images that are currently on my website, as I will not be editing like that in the future. I will make every effort possible to get this update finished ASAP (while also editing current client’s projects).

Included below are some images from my session yesterday to showcase this evolved style of mine 😀 

Enjoy ♥

NOTE: for the latest photos, always check out my Facebook page at: Olney Studios Facebook

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Olney Studios Gardnerville Nevada Spring Mini Session
Fun Mini Sessions People Portraits

Gardnerville Nevada Spring Mini Portrait Sessions

Gardnerville Nevada Spring Mini Portrait Sessions

What: Olney Studios Spring Mini Sessions!

When: April 8, 2018

Time: Must be booked in advance

Where: Olney Studios, 1456 A Industrial Way/ Gardnerville, NV 89410

Booking form is at the end of this article! 🙂

So I decided to do spring minis. Styling mini sessions is something that will really test my creativity, and it will also give me an opportunity to meet new clients that may not normally have booked with me. I’ve decided that these minis will focus on children, so if you are looking for family minis, definitely let me know and I will see what I can do to make that happen.

“So what are the deets??” 

I’ll tell you. 🙂

Each session will be 20 minutes so, pretty fast. Clients will receive 5 images in a password protected online gallery, with downloading and  printing rights. As always, clients can purchase print products directly from their online gallery. I love keeping products available as an added bonus for my clients.

“So, how much will it cost??”

I’m so glad you asked.

I’m proud to say that these mini sessions are reasonably priced at only $99. I priced them this low because I really want to get people into the studio, and I’m super excited about getting my work out into the Carson Valley community.

Gardnerville Nevada Spring Mini Portrait Sessions |

Date and Times

I have decided to schedule these sessions for April 8, 2018. That will give everyone time to plan for them, and will give me time to get everyone scheduled. I will be scheduling each 20 minute session in half hour blocks to give me 10 minutes between sessions to have time to get ready for the next clients coming in. I am super excited to fill my day with these sessions! They are going to be super fun for everyone. 🙂  The image at the top of the page shows how the set will look. I will not be setting up individual sets, as the time will not allow for it. If your child would like to bring a toy, please let me know beforehand (this will not be an issue).

 

Gardnerville Nevada Spring Mini Portrait Sessions | Spring Mini Rules…dun dun dun

So, of course there’s going to be rules. I am going to make them perfectly clear to avoid any confusion:

  • TWO children max to a session. If you have more than two children you would like photographed, I will need you to either book two slots, or book a regularly priced session. Clients who book multiple slots to accommodate more than two children will need to contact me before booking so we can figure out the best session to suit your needs.
  • Your session fee is due immediately to book your time slot. Time slots will not be held unless paid. There is already HUGE interest in these sessions, so I will be unable to hold them based on someone’s word.
  • Arrive at the studio 10 minutes early.
  • Anyone who is more than 5 minutes late will forfeit their time slot. We will not have time to allow for people to make up missed time. Your mini session fee will need to be applied to another session if you are late.
  • Arrive at the studio ready to go. Of course, some primping may be necessary after the car ride to the studio, but you should not need 20 minutes to do your hair/makeup when you get here. We simply will not have time to for that.
  • Be patient with your children while I am working with them. Abusive behavior will not be tolerated and I will ask parents to remove themselves so we can get our shots.

So, who’s ready to book?? 😀 Fill out the form below and we will get the booking process started! I am super excited to host our first EVER mini sessions! ♥

 

Are you interested in seeing some of my previous work with children? Check out my Children’s Portraits portfolio here: Children’s Portraits

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Portraits

Live Animals Are Not Props

I’ll say it again for the peeps in the back: 

Live Animals Are Not Props

They simply aren’t. 

It’s that time of year again. I see it every. single. year. 

Easter is coming. People are going to start offering mini sessions, or regular sessions with live animals. Bunnies, baby chickens, etc. And clients are going to want to sit their 1-year-old, 2-year-old, however old child with these little creatures. There’s a couple of things wrong with doing this, besides the fact that live animals are not props. I will tell you why:

  • Bunnies get stressed very easily. They can easily have a heart attack and die during a session. 
  • Small children and toddlers do not know how to handle small animals. They don’t know how to handle large animals either, but large animals can physically handle the tugs, pulls, etc better than the small animals. A small child is far less likely to injure a Great Dane than it is a baby chicken.
  • Baby chicks are delicate little animals. A child can easily break its neck by simply squeezing it too hard. 
  • Children can also be hurt by the animals. Bunnies bite, so do chicks. Especially when there is a child accosting it. 

Along with it being wrong for the reasons stated above, a photographer must also get a permit to use live animals as props in their photo sessions. The only exception to this rule is if the animals belong to the client. I have personally photographed a bunny with a toddler. HOWEVER, the bunny belonged to the toddler’s family. 

Live Animals Are Not Props. This bunny belonged to this child's family.
Live Animals Are Not Props. This bunny belonged to this child’s family.

Live animals are not props. OK, so what is the solution?

I don’t personally feel it is right to tell people not to do something without giving them alternatives. Offering condemnation without a solution doesn’t sit well with me.

Everyone wants those bunny photos. OK, not everyone. BUT, if you do want those bunny photos, there are some safe-for-everyone alternatives:

  • Hire a photographer that will use bunny/chick overlays. These are relatively inexpensive, and any professional photographer should know how to use them, and make them look real. 
  • Use realistic fake animals. These are also relatively inexpensive, and they are safe for everyone (and much cheaper than either a live animal permit or the fine for not having one). 
  • Forgo the animals altogether and just hire a pro that has an Easter/spring-themed session planned without them. 

I will be offering my first ever mini sessions this coming spring. They are not Easter sessions, as they will be after Easter. I am thinking that they will be on the Sunday after Easter. I am still trying to get my set figured out, but it is going to be super cute haha.  

Also, the people in my Facebook group knew about these mini sessions already. If you want all the latest info about what is coming up with Olney Studios, and you want to know it before anyone else, you should join our group. 

(I have since blogged about the mini sessions! Check out that blog post here: Mini Session Blog Post! and book your mini session today! 

Olney Studios Facebook Group

If you are interested in booking a wedding or a full portrait session, either in studio or on location, reach out to me below. I still have openings available for March and April. 

If you are interested in seeing more of my work, you can check it out here:

Portfolio
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Weddings

Olney Studios | Wedding Photography | Reno/Tahoe Gardnerville

Olney Studios | Wedding Photography | Reno/Tahoe Gardnerville

Who’s newly engaged?? Everybody who is newly engaged please raise your hands! Lets see the people in the back; ah, there you are. 😀 

So, those of you who are newly engaged, have you chose a wedding photographer yet? No? Hmmm…..

OK, so, choosing a wedding photographer is probably the most important investment you can make for your big day (if you are curious why, check out this post here). No pressure or anything, BUT you should definitely take finding a photographer seriously. This is the person/team that are going to capture your memories and preserve them forever (again, no pressure).

As a business, I recently branched out into photographing weddings, however that doesn’t mean that I am new to photography. I have had a camera in my hand off and on since I was 13-years-old, and steadily since I started pursuing my degree in photography in 2013 (which I have since graduated). I guess the next question is: what should you consider when hiring a wedding photographer?

Olney Studios | How to Choose Your Photographer

Experience should be a no-brainer. Like I said earlier, I have not been photographing weddings long, but I have been a photographer for quite some time.

Style is another important factor. How do you want your memories to be represented? Every photographer has a different style, and though some photographers have similar styles, each one is

going to put their own spin on it. Everyone is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all mold for who you, as the client, should choose.

Business model: the photographer’s business model should fit your needs. Do they have packages, or do you place your order from an a la carte menu? Which model do you think will work best for you? Olney Studios has pre-designed packages that I offer my clients, however clients can definitely add on items if they wish. My most popular package is my Diamond Wedding Package and it includes: Travel up to 100 miles; up to 6 hours wedding coverage; Professionally edited and retouched images; Online gallery with printing rights.

Honestly, I could keep going down the list of things to look for when searching for a photographer, but I think the most important thing you can do is make a list of what is important to YOU when hiring a photographer. Ultimately, it is your wedding, and what is important to you may not be important to other people. I am not going to say that Olney Studios should be your wedding photographer, but I will say that if you think we are a good fit for each other, reach out to me. 🙂 If after chatting, you think that Olney Studios isn’t the wedding photographer for you, I can definitely recommend some super awesome photographers in the Reno/Tahoe/Gardnerville area. So no matter what, it’s going to be a win-win for you. 😉

 

Hey There!

If you are ready to book your wedding, portrait session, or just get more info, click the button below!

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Reno Weddings

Why Your Photographer Is The Most Important Wedding Investment

Why your photographer is the most important wedding investment

OK, so here’s the deal. You’re planning your wedding. You have ALLLLL these things to get in order. You have to book your venue, your flowers, the caterers. You have to try on and buy a dress. Your groom is going to need a tux (though you may not mind him going nekked *wink wink*). 

The venue will need to be decorated. 

You will need hair and makeup.

It is overwhelming. It can also get out of control for the purse and wallet real quick. 

I see it so often. People invest thousands of dollars on booking a premier venue. They invest thousands of dollars on flowers and they invest hundreds (sometimes thousands) on the cake. What is the one thing that all of these things have in common?? I’ll give you one guess. 

They will be GONE. Most of them will be gone by the next DAY. There’s two things that are guaranteed to last after the wedding. TWO THINGS. And that is only if you want them to (and I can’t imagine why anyone WOULDN’T want them to). 

Your dress, and your photos. This article is going to focus on the photos.

Check out this link here for some great tips on different ways to share your photos: 22 Different Ways for a Bride to Share Her Wedding Photos

Photography is the number one thing that is skimped on or budgeted cheaply in the wedding industry. Yet it is by far, the most important wedding service offered. I’m not just saying that as a wedding photographer, I am saying that as a WIFE and as a BRIDE.

Your photographer should be your most important wedding investment. Lets say it again for the people in the back: 

**YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER SHOULD BE YOUR MOST IMPORTANT WEDDING INVESTMENT**

“Why,” you ask? I’m so glad you asked. 

How often will you be able to revisit the venue you said your “I do’s” in and reminisce? How often will you be able to smell the flowers that created the centerpieces at your tables? How often will you be able to taste your wedding cake? 

The brain is a funny thing. It plays tricks on us and over time, our memories fade and become distorted. Photos ensure your wedding day is remembered as it was, in all its epic glory. It is most certainly possible to look at a photo and see the flowers, and suddenly the visual triggers the scent memory of them almost as if they were right in front of you. Odds are, this won’t happen if you just think of them. 

So, I find it absolutely baffling that people spend so much money on things that are so temporary – so fleeting. At the end of the day, the only thing that will remain of the day are your memories of it. And the photos that were taken to preserve those memories. Even before I was a wedding photographer I would consult clients about this, when they would inquire about wedding photography services through me: 

       “Well, I am not a wedding photographer, but I am so glad you asked. Let me tell you why investing in top-notch photography is the most important investment you can make for your wedding.”

You can take what I’ve said here today with a grain of salt. It certainly isn’t gospel (though I may argue a bit that it should be). But I guarantee you, you are not going to be sitting at your 10th, 20th or 30th wedding anniversary talking about how grateful you are that you invested so much money in renting a venue for 10 hours. You are going to be sitting there, flipping through your wedding photo album with the grand kids, telling them about the most amazing day of your life as you remember it exactly how it happened. ♥

 

**Shameless plug**

Want to view more wedding photos by me? Check them out here: 

Wedding Portfolio

Ready to book with Olney Studios??

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Portraits

Olney Studios | Gardnerville NV | Year in Review

Olney Studios | Gardnerville NV Photography | Year in Review

Well, it’s been an interesting year this year! I have had some struggles, some significant changes to my business, and met some super awesome people! All of my clients have been amazing, and super fun to work with! And they put up with some of my shenanigans, HA!

Memorable Moments:

One of the most memorable moments from 2017 was photographing the Walker family. We had not met prior to our session, though we had spoke on the phone. When I arrived, the usual anxiety had kicked in, and I sat waiting for them at the bridge in Hope Valley. I took Matt’s truck because I had some super awesome location ideas, and would need the truck to get to it.

These clients followed me all over tarnation to get the shots. Literally. We drove to two locations, and hiked a bunch at the first. We literally just walked and stopped every so often and took photos. These clients were so completely awesome about following my lead and we managed to get some super awesome photos. You can see them here: 

Hope Valley Fall Photos
Hope Valley Fall Photos
Hope Valley Fall Photos
Hope Valley Fall Photos
Hope Valley Fall Photos
Hope Valley Fall Photos

[Show slideshow]

 

The Doggos

Doggos. Puppers. Pupper Faces. I had a surprising number of sessions this year featuring dogs, especially considering I changed my business style in the beginning of the year to focus on “people portraits”, rather than pet portraits. It’s funny to me that I booked more sessions with dogs this year than I did all of last year when my studio was technically a “pet photography studio”. HA! 

I had so much fun at all these sessions! Here’s a quick peek at the sessions I had this year with doggos:

hettrick20170930-11
hettrick20170930-5
hettrick20170930-3
olneystudios-16
Cole20171102-20
jessie-8-of-8
jessie-6-of-8
jessie-4-of-8
jessie-2-of-8

[Show slideshow]

 

What About Me…?

What about me…. Well, I learned a lot about myself this year. I am an artist who loves to help people save their memories. I also learned that I love photographing people. Like, seriously love it. I love photographing children, and may someday specialize in that. 

I learned that it is a lot, I mean A LOT of work to get to where I want to be, creatively. I have put my heart and soul into this business, but have found that to me, it is more than just a business. It’s my love, my creative freedom, and it’s trust. It is such a huge honor when a client hires me, and trusts me to provide them with images that they can cherish for a lifetime. So, in this post, Olney Studios, Gardnerville NV Photography, Year in Review, I want to share that the biggest changes this year have probably been to me, as a photographer. I am coming into my own in 2018. This will be my third year in business, and I’m branching into weddings, and taking more clients than ever. 

I am excited for this coming year! So excited! I can’t wait to share it with you. ♥ And those of you I haven’t met yet, I can’t wait to meet you. 

WHOOP WHOOP!
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Reno Weddings

Reno Nevada Wedding

Hi there everyone! 

So, I was honored to be hired to second shoot a Reno Nevada wedding for A Wave of the Wand Photography back in September (for those of you who don’t know what “second shooting” is, it is where someone is hired to photograph alongside the main photographer, hired by the photographer. Uncle Bob doesn’t count as a second shooter haha). 

It was an absolutely beautiful wedding. It was a privilege to be hired to photograph alongside Crystal from AWOTW, and I seriously learned so much from her. When I book weddings I plan to use her as well, so I can continue to learn from her. If you get a chance, definitely check out her work in the link I shared above. 

I learned a few things that day. One of them being that two Advil were not going to be enough for my back LOL! I also learned that I love weddings. I mean, I knew I loved weddings before, but this one really showed me that this is what I would like to do. It terrifies me, but this is what I want to do (if anyone knows any tips for getting through a wedding and not having my back feel like there’s a brick on it, I’m all ears haha). 

I’m so excited to share these photos with everyone! I hope y’all enjoy them. I couldn’t pick just a few…but you can definitely see more Reno Nevada wedding photos here: Olney Studios Weddings (there’s also a Tahoe wedding there, and a Gardnerville wedding). 

Enjoy. 😉

 

Interested in Booking?

Interested in booking your wedding with Olney Studios? Interested in booking a portrait session? Follow this link to be taken to my booking form!

Click here!