New Blog | Denver Portrait Photographer

Well, it has finally happened... google's new search algorithm is prioritizing mobile sites, so I finally made the switch from my own, custom designed site and this blog... to...

An ALL NEW SITE with a SEXY new blog ... which will henceforth contain all new posts.

Check it out HERE and let me know what you think!

See you in mobile-ready land!!

Cheers!!

Headshot Tips | Denver Portrait Photographer

I’ve been having so much FUN lately working with people to give them a great experience while we create their headshots! And since I communicate this information quite a bit in emails and over the phone, I thought I’d compile a sort of “Top 10” list of ways to prepare for an awesome session. 

And so... here they are all in one place. 

Top Ten Tips for a GREAT Headshot:

1. When selecting your photographer consider, FIRST: that you resonate with the work you see on his or her website/portfolio. Are the eyes the main focus of the shots? Do you feel personality and connection in the subjects? Is the lighting good? SECOND: do you feel comfortable communicating with your photographer? Is he or she willing to talk with you on the phone? Your comfort level the day of your session is critical to getting great connection in your photos.


2. Wardrobe: You should bring 4-5 different looks to your session. We may not shoot them all, but it’s always great to have options. Think in shades of casual to dressy, but keeping all options in line with your brand. Think about necklines. Think about colors that compliment your skin tones. Nothing flashy or busy that will distract from YOU (so no logos or busy patterns). Jewelry in most cases will distract from you, so unless it’s part of your brand (and you are confident it will stay that way until your next headshot session) leave it at home. NOTE: definitely talk with your agent if you think he/she will have input!!


3. At least a week prior to your session: gather and TRY ON your wardrobe items. If you’re only doing a headshot, no need to worry about pants (I mean, you’ll need to WEAR pants to the session, of course... ). Consider colors that complement your eyes/skintones. Think about different necklines and texture (not pattern -- this can be distracting, but a fabric with texture is often quite lovely). And think about tops that flatter your body and colors that complement your skin tones, and don't forget to include any undergarments needed (i.e. no striped undershirts/black bras under light shirts!!) and... please launder / press as needed.


4. If step number three has left you uninspired, perhaps it’s time for a new shirt or two? (which is why step 3 is NOT the night before your session). No need for anything fancy unless that’s your brand. Your headshot should be a direct reflection of you, as you are. For actors, you want to arrive at your audition looking essentially like your headshot for it to be the most effective tool.


5. A few days prior, make sure you stay hydrated and get plenty of rest. Think of this as you would preparing for an audition. This will help keep your skin clear and eyes bright! But don’t stress if you wake up with blemishes the day of your session (don’t mess with them as it will generally make them worse -- let photoshop do the magic there!) 


6. Exercise the week prior so you feel great (especially if that’s your thing), but there’s no need to put off a headshot or portrait session just so you can “loose a few pounds.” You’d be amazed what good posing can do to flatter every and any body!


7. Day of session: make sure you’ve familiarized yourself with directions to our meeting place and leave yourself time to negotiate traffic and parking. Nothing worse than arriving frazzled, except perhaps arriving late when there might be a session scheduled after yours. Loosing out on session time stinks!


8. If you’re getting professional makeup and/or hair, arrive with your face and hair clean. If you wear makeup normally, feel free to bring a snapshot of how you’d like your makeup to look so your professional makeup artist can compliment your normal look, making it "camera ready" (this is especially important for actors).


9. Trust that you’ve hired a photographer who has experience and will be able to direct you into your most flattering poses (this is critically important since you can’t see yourself, after all!)


10. If you have done your homework on 1-9, the only thing left for you to do is to relax into the session, HAVE FUN and allow your photographer to direct you to project your very best!!

To learn more about my personal approach to studio and/or on location actor, model and professional headshots (for men, women and kids), and to explore investment options, please check out my PORTFOLIO... 

CHEERS!! 

 

Headshots | Denver { Head Shot Photographer }

I'm cranking on a major update to my website (as we photographers know, this is ALWAYS a work in progress!) But I'm realizing how behind I am in posting recent work!

So, in the spirit of playing catch up (I can still call it a year end review post, right?) here are a few favorite headshot pictures from the last few months. I just love these actors, models and professionals of all ages -- they are profoundly inspirational to me!

Class of 2015 | High School Senior Photographer Denver

Thought I'd share just a few shots from this year's incredible senior clients!
I LOVE MY JOB!!

I absolutely ADORE getting to know and photograph these incredible, talented, brilliant young people.
And I already can't wait to photograph the Class of 2016...
Cheers!!

Fall Family Photo Session Specials! | Denver Portrait Photographer

It's that time of year again... !!

If you've never had a professional family portrait session (or if you've not had one with ME)... this is going to be a blast!

Seriously, not only will you love the artwork celebrating your family for generations, this is a really FUN bonding experience and fun way for your family to spend some time!

NEW THIS YEAR are a variety of packages to fit different needs and budgets, including a special package that will allow you to check off a few holiday gifts from your list... how great is that?!

OK... so here are my 2014 Family Holiday Portrait specials:

FAMILY HOLIDAY CARD SESSION [ first come first serve ]
Session Fee: $350 includes

• 45 minute session (at location of your choice within 40 minutes of Denver)
• viewing session with 20 photographer edits (you will see PRINTED proofs!)
• your favorite (3) high res digital files (printable to 5x7)
• (25) custom designed holiday cards (includes one round of design edits)

HOLIDAY CARDS, WALL PORTRAIT ... and GIFTS!! [ limited sessions ] 
Session Fee: $975 includes

• 1 hour session (at location of your choice within 40 minutes of Denver)
• viewing session with 25 photographer edits (you will see PRINTED proofs!)
• (1) 16x20 archival, mounted family portrait (includes file)
• (3) 8x10 archival, mounted gift prints (including files)
• (50) custom designed holiday cards (includes one round of design edits)
• Shareable personalized app with 15 favorite photos for iphones / ipads / other gadgets

And new for 2014:
LIMITED MINI SESSIONS / 2 DAYS ONLY [ call or email to check availability ]
DAY 1: Sun, Nov 22 location: Cheesman Park
DAY 1: Sat, Dec 6 location: my vintage, urban studio (W Evans and Santa Fe)
Session Fee: $275 includes

• 30 minute session -- (only available on mini session days at location specified above)
• viewing session with 15 photographer selects (you will see PRINTED proofs!)
• (3) of your favorite photo files (printable to 5x7)

Additional prints, products and files are available with every package for purchase!

These special package prices are first come, first serve, through December 31st (because I believe your holiday cards can go out as New Year's Cards... or Happy February cards!).

Book now to grab your spot on the busy season calendar!

Cheers!!

BOOKINGS + INQUIRIES:

Jennifer: (970) 708-2065
jennifer@merrittdesignphoto.com

Portrait Client Experience | Senior & Family Photographer Denver

Confession: I'm a total design / branding / packaging nerd. I love me some strong, compelling lines of graphic design and seeing how people integrate design into their branding (I have a super fun Pinterest board to check out for inspiration if you, too, geek out on the subject).

So it's really no surprise that I've loved every minute of designing, researching and preparing these new materials and products. This is going to be a game changer for the kind of experience I can provide for my clients.

Here's a peek:

[ click to view larger ]

Clockwise starting at the top:
1) Customized crystal USB drives for electronic file delivery, custom designed wax seal, fresh branded stamp, beautiful gift certificates and new streamlined product menu.
2) The Folio Box!!! The beauty, weight and craftsmanship of this box is STUNNING in person!!
3) New re-usable delivery bags for frame and folio box orders - love them!
4) New Proofing System for High School Senior & Family Clients (Modern Women's Portrait clients' presentation will be revealed in another few weeks!)... that's right: we're taking it back to REAL LIVE PROOFS! I've suspected for a while that holding something in your hands would be easier to sort, admire and actually SEE than digital proofs. First session was all I needed to see to convince me how preferable the experience is.

I'm so SO excited!!

Regarding the origin of this new logo, I thought about this for about half a year before putting pen to paper, wanting an image to accompany my branding that I could separate out from text. When I finally felt inspired to sketch one day, I sat down and sketched this in about 90 seconds, drawing my architectural roots into the iconography of a photo-taking device, not quite realizing how powerful an exercise that would turn out to be. Something about putting pen to paper... quite satisfying, indeed!

Family Portraits | Photographer Denver

My son and I recently hopped on board the California Zephyr (yes, the TRAIN!) from Denver to Chicago for a long overdue, low-scheduled, high quality-time visit with family!

One of the afternoons, after a dramatic, Lake Michigan-style storm rolled through, we gathered for a few rather impromptu portraits in my sister's garden. There's nothing quite like the soft light of overcast skies, combined with a bunch of people you love to create a memorable, beloved set of photos!

Here's to celebrating the ones we love!

Union Station Photo Shoot | Senior Pictures, Denver

I'm so excited to share this!

My assistant (who happens to also be my 14 year old son) shot a bit of behind the scenes video footage on one of our recent high school senior photo shoots. And THIS is what he edited together in just a few minutes this morning. I hope he does more of this because I'm really impressed with what he got in his FIRST attempt!!

Thank you, Gabe!

Behind the Scenes | Senior Pictures Denver

It's busy season for high school seniors! So many ridiculously fun photo shoots coming back to back these days I can hardly keep up with sharing, but another senior session at Union Station was worth a few new kinds of behind the scenes shots (this place is SO great!!!) I can't WAIT to share Anna's session -- we had a wonderful time exploring, and her photos are going to be absolutely stunning.

Enjoy the teasers!

When the back of the camera looks THIS good ... when photographed by an iPhone ... let's just say I get pretty darn excited! This edit is going to be fun...

Cover Girl Magazines! | Senior Photographer, Denver

I just LOVE designing things like this to offer to my clients! Here's a peek at a new product in my lineup for high school seniors this year... I loved so many from this session it was impossible to pick just one!

Eileen is one of my senior models this year and I just love her beautiful soul. Her session was magical -- one of those that makes me feel indescribable joy for the honor of celebrating high school seniors at this exciting time of their lives. Yep, I am a lucky girl to get to do this!!

Portrait Session in Denver's Newest Treasure! { Senior Pictures Denver }

The former architect in me has been beside myself with excitement watching the renovation of Union Station in Denver this year. I photographed it from above while it was under construction; my son and I did walking tours with urban infill groups; we visited when it first opened to the public and then again for the official Grand Opening.

Upon seeing the AMAZING new space, furnishings and light, the photographer in me took over and became beside myself with excitement at the prospect of portrait sessions in the great interior! It has absolutely incredible light -- even, lovely, flattering -- beautiful. The furnishings and textures are incredible. I am in love.

And for my very first session: the amazing Madison!! I can't wait to edit her photos (I mean truly, I am CRAZY excited for these). In the meantime, here are a few teasers from behind the scenes.
Enjoy!

Yes... we had A LOT of fun!! (and that back of camera shot. I mean, seriously: how absolutely adorable is this girl??)

Also worth mentioning: Everyone from bar tenders to shop owners to security guards seemed excited that we were in there photographing their space. I'll keep saying this: Denver is SO LUCKY to have this unique, beautiful and welcoming urban space.

And one more notable perk to photographing in Union Station: SO many options for wonderful treats after the shoot!

Sneak Peek | Modern Women's Portraiture in Denver!

Just a little something I'm working on...

I'm ridiculously excited to be launching empowering women's portrait sessions in Denver in just a few weeks!

In fact, I'm now looking to portfolio build, so if you are, or if you know a FABULOUS woman 40, 50 or 60+ who deserves to be treated to an incredible, once in a lifetime experience, please contact me now!

YOU DESERVE -- in fact you NEED -- to exist in photographs. For yourself, and for your family.

Denver's Union Station!

Denver's Union Station is apparently home to the largest rail expansion project in the nation right now, and the quality and design of this gorgeous accompanying urban renewal project is absolutely STUNNING.

I did a few walking tours during the construction phases, but walked around this morning with my jaw hanging open at how impressed I was! The fine detailing, the design elements, the quality of materials and the beautiful light everywhere all made me positively GIDDY. Inside and out, this is truly a crown jewel for Denver!!

I'll surely go back many times with my real camera, but for now, here are a few iPhone shots from this morning. Opens officially on July 26th!

 the already iconic overlook...

my apologies, but we couldn't resist an on-site selfie...

Family Pictures Make Me HAPPY! | Denver Family Photographer

I smile throughout these family photo sessions, I smile stupidly at my monitor as I edit them. How can you NOT smile looking at these bright, loving faces?

This was a particularly fun cross-section for me of my love of architecture and portraiture, as this amazing husband and wife team are architects (originally architectural photography clients). We photographed the session on location at the house which they designed for their family (right after a quick spring storm in Denver). Check out Kung Architecture to see their work!