Welcome to My Studio! | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer

If you’ve been wondering what to expect when you book a session at my studio, this is the blog post for you. Welcome to my studio!

We are quickly approaching the tenth anniversary of Krista Gantt Photography! One of the aspects of my business that has grown along with the number of clients is my studio. I’ve had this space for as long as I have had my business, but it got a big upgrade a few years later with some fresh paint and flooring. I have continued to add props and other options as the years have gone by. The all white background and minimal props keep the preparation and transition between different types of sessions fairly easy! I find myself using my studio space for more and more sessions each year. It’s just so convenient!

Backdrops

My most commonly used backdrops are a traditional white paper background, white shiplap, and soft white sheer curtains in front of my faux window. If you’re feeling wild I also have gray paper and hot pink paper.

Outfit options

I offer a studio wardrobe for babies from newborn to 18 months old. There are options for boys and girls in a wide variety of colors, textures, and fabrics. You can even use a combination of your own outfits and options from my studio wardrobe. 😍

I also have a few options for moms that I have acquired over the years! I have white lacy dresses in the small to medium range and two more simple stretchy dresses that will fit a variety of sizes and heights, one in black and one in a deep red.

Props

I have baskets, bowls, a bean bag, classic wooden toys, ALL of the swaddle blankets in a variety of colors and textures, and seating that is the perfect size for your mini. I have several fluffy rugs, too.

Seating

I have a light, neutral couch and several stools and wooden chairs. For your little one, I have a mini chair and stool, too. For sitters and 1 year olds, I will even place them right on the floor for a clean and classic look.

Lighting

Don’t worry about the weather, my Lastolite faux window and my dual lighting setup will provide all of the lighting we need for your session! I utilize natural light as well as strobe and continuous lighting to create beautiful images in a variety of styles.

Behind the Scenes

I want you to be able to relax when you are at your session, especially if you’re not in the spotlight. I have a comfortable sofa for you to sit on and a changing table set-up for your diapering needs. There is a restroom right around the corner and you’re welcome to enjoy snacks and drinks during your session.

Sample Albums

During your session downtime, you’ll have the opportunity to preview sample albums. This is a great time to flip through to see layout options, cover options, and album sizes to get a feel for what you’re interested in. You don’t have to make any firm decisions at this point, but it is super helpful to start forming an idea of what your final album will look like. It’s never too soon to start mentally designing the album of your dreams!

Thanks for joining me in the studio! I look forward to adding your name to my welcome board for a session soon.

Huge thanks to the super-talented Demi Mabry for my recent branding session! This session turned out even better than I had imagined and I’ll be showing off these images for years!

Three Reasons to Book a Mini Session | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

There are so many options when it comes to booking a photography session. Some things that factor into your choices are timing, finances, weather, utilization of the images. The list goes on. One great opportunity for both photographers and families is booking mini sessions. There are a number of reasons to choose to book a mini session, but below are three main reasons many families choose to book this particular type of session.

Mini sessions can be a great opportunity to try on your photographer for fit without a huge commitment. You want to ensure you and the photographer are comfortable with one another—if not, the discomfort can lead to images that aren’t of great quality photos that simply don’t feel genuine.

Once you’ve determined the relationship between yourself and your photographer, you will want to examine your budget. If finances are a little tight but you really want to prioritize photos, you can book a mini session, which is typically a less expensive option. Photographers tend to book back-to-back sessions in order to accomodate more families on a particular day. The session will be shorter (around 15 to 30 minutes) and usually does not allow for outfit changes. So they are quick and painless!

Finally, sometimes you’re just not looking for an abundance of images. You may even have a very specific image (e.g., special announcement, Christmas card, pregnancy announcement) that you are looking to capture and you don’t need a gallery of 100+ images. These special situations lend themselves perfectly to mini sessions because they usually yield fewer images in the final gallery.

This sweet girl definitely made the most of her mini session! What kinds of mini sessions would you like to see from me this year?! I have a few ideas in mind but I want to hear from you!

4 Tips for Successful Maternity Boudoir Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

Boudoir photos—while they may not be the first, most traditional item on your pregnancy to-do list, I can assure you a maternity boudoir photography session is a priceless opportunity. When you are growing a baby, it may be challenging to want to bare your bump for more intimate photos, but these photos are an opportunity for me as a photographer to give you a different perspective on your blossoming, maternal beauty. In case you need some more convincing, I’ve put together a few tips for a successful boudoir experience.

First, not all boudoir photographers have the same vision or artistic slant. Search online for a photographer that uses light, poses, and outfits in a way that aligns with your taste. You may want more coverage and less skin or you may want more revealing images. Just make sure your photographer will accommodate that. Your photographer may even have a different level of comfort than you do!

Second, bring outfits that make you feel beautiful. The moment you try to put on something that you think you should be wearing but doesn’t fit your style and make you feel absolutely stunning, you are setting yourself up for an uncomfortable session. Different types of lacy bralettes can be found at places like Anthropologie or Francesca’s. A light kimono or sheer robe like this one is also a nice way to add a little bit of coverage.

Next, talk to me! Be an open book with your photographer. The more we can chat during your session, the better I can capture your vision and make you feel (and in turn, look) as comfortable as possible. Sometimes I am inspired by my client’s vision, so it doesn’t hurt to share your ideas.

Finally, print and enjoy theses photos! Pregnancy, while it can sometimes feel achingly long, is such a fleeting time. We don’t always take time to reflect on the beauty of it all. Plus, your husband might enjoy looking at these more than you!

Speaking of beauty, here are a few boudoir images from this stunning mama-to-be who has already introduced her new baby boy into the world!

Evan is ONE | Charlotte, North Carolina Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Just like that, our baby boy is one!

The progress over these last 12 months is amazing! Our sweet baby boy came into this world a little small for his gestational age, but he plumped up. He’s meeting all of his developmental milestones, talking, walking, and doing so many fun things. We are having fun with him and can’t wait to see what the rest of our time with him holds.

When I was trying to come up with ideas of monthly photos, I honestly had a lot of options in mind. Too many to choose from! I settled on these three because I liked the crib view, but I also wanted us to be a part of the photos too. You know, to show his size compared to ours. Some months we were a little behind, but looking at all of these together is just amazing! It also makes me a little sad to see how fast he’s growing.

Now, I need to come up with an idea of yearly photos that we can maintain but also show his growth. What have you done for annual photos of your baby? Share your ideas with me in the comments below!

The Secret & Awesome Features of Your iPhones Camera

Your iPhone is with you at all times, right? It’s like your right hand — always there, always ready to help you muddle your way through the day and kill boredom when the need arises. But that phone of yours can be oh-so-frustrating when your darling child chooses a particular moment to do something photo-worthy and your phone chooses that time to revolt.

Well, when you learn the inner and secret features of your I-phone camera, your days of being “slow on the draw” will be over. On top of that, your camera skills will improve 10-fold and your images will too, making your memories print and wall worthy.

So let’s look at some of the tricks and features inside your iPhone that will make you shine at the next family get together!

Open Your Camera App FAST

Don’t miss ANY moment. To get to your camera lickety-split do one of two things depending on if your iPhone is locked or not.

            LOCKED:

                        1. Hit the home button

                        2. Locate the camera icon on the lower right corner of the screen.

                        3. Swipe up & the camera will open.

            UNLOCKED:

                        1. Swipe Up

                        2. Tap the camera icon & the camera will open.

Turn on your Grid

Activating the grid will place a “tick-tac-toe” box on your screen as you shoot. What’s the benefit? Where the lines cross is called a “power point.” When you place your subject on of the four points you create images with a little negative space and better, more artistic composition. A little pro tip that will make your images that much prettier!

            TO ACTIVATE:

                        1. Go to Settings > Photos&Camera > Grid > Turn it On

Adjust Exposure and Focus at Your Will

Professional photographer know light like the back of your hand, and every lighting situation poses different issues, especially of you camera. A camera cannot see light and adjust the way the human eye can. So, it’s important to be able to tell your camera how to behave when you need it to in order to get a good “exposure.” The classic scenario that may drive you crazy is shooting a darker subject on a bright background. Your camera will want to make the background look good and your subject will be dark and ugly! ARGH! The way mourn this? Use the hidden feature in your iPhone that lets YOU control how bright an image is.           

            CUSTOM SET YOUR EXPOSURE

                        1. Open the camera

                        2. Compose your shot

                        3. Tap and HOLD on the screen where you want to focus. The yellow box will blink and set focus.

                        4.  Swipe up or down to make the camera brighten or darken the exposure

                        5. When you’re happy with how it looks, take the shot!

Turn off your Auto Flash

Flash from your camera almost never looks good. It produces a harsh, flat light that doesn’t always need to be there, yet the camera seems to want to use it all the time. Turn it off when you can for more pleasing light in your images.

            TURN OFF YOUR FLASH    

                        1.  In the camera app, tap the lighting bolt icon in the upper left corner.

                        2. Choose and tap “Off.”

                        3. Shoot as you like!

Use Burst Mode For Fast Action

Did you know your I-phone can shoot 10 frames per second in burst mode? WHAT? My iPhone has burst mode? Yes it does! And it’s great for catching your toddler on the run.

            TO ACTIVATE:

                        1. Press and HOLD the shutter release button on your camera app.

                        2. Voila! 10 frames per second.

Edit Like a Pro

Taking the picture is just half the process in the Pro world. Editing and enhancing the image is 50% of the process. Yes, even when you shoot with your iPhone you can make your images stand out even more by using a good editing app.

Here are a few fun suggestions to try out:

Photogene

hipstamatic

Rhonna Designs

snapseed

pic-tap-go

wood camera

camera+

mextures

after focus

tiltshift generator

procamera