Meet Alaric - Newborn Photo Shoot in new home studio!

Speaking of which, these parents were so much fun to get to know. From the way that they picked out this super unique baby name to swapping life stories, our time together flew by.

As for baby Alaric, he was a little angel but only slept peacefully through the a few minutes of our session. I'm not gonna lie. When he showed up bright eyed and active, I thought the session might have turned out a little tricky, but the parents were super helpful and were able to rock him to sleep.

Time for a little aww moment: When Alaric was born, what was your first thought? “How cute his little nose was and how happy I was he was finally here.,” says Sheena. Isn't that precious? Alaric is such a lucky kiddo.

How was your experience having your newborn photographed? Were you nervous or worried before? How did it turn out?

“We were a little nervous since he is our first, but after being there and all of us working together it turned out to be a really good shoot with really great photos.”

NewbornSara BakaySeptember 6, 2021Newborn, Baby, Photography, Photographer, Lexington, Lex, Photos, Photoshoot, KY, Kentucky, Louisville, Home Studio, Winchester, Paris, Richmond, GeorgrtownComment

Graduation Pictures at UK - The Arboretum and Campus

I was contacted by a lovely family from out of state about taking some graduation pictures for them. As the event got closer, they also decided to grab some family pictures while we were out and about. The arboretum has a relatively new policy that you have to pay a $26.50 fee to take pictures there, so we filled out the necessary paperwork and mailed a check to cover that cost. It is well worth the money, as we got some great pictures!

Engagement Pictures at Masterson Station! Interview with Shannon.

In my 5+ years as a photographer, I’ve been extremely lucky to get to work with all kinds of amazing human beings. As you’d expect, every couple is different from the next. Some are all about the PDA, some are all about keeping it sweet and romantic, and some people… well, some people are just downright hysterical!

Meet Adam and Shannon, two of the goofiest people I’ve worked with in a while. The session took place at Masterson Station Park, which was a great backdrop for our time together. The fun they had during the shoot helped us to get some great pictures! The entire time these two were cracking jokes and picking on each other, and I was there to catch it all on camera.

I love asking how people meet. “Adam became friends with my father through being a sales representative for a local parts store and my father had an interest for working on older cars in his free time. Once Adam and my father became friends, we met through my dad at his shop. We had known each other for years before we decided to give dating a shot.”

What is "The Golden Hour" and Why Should I Book My Session During a Sunset?

So you want to learn about golden hour, huh? It’s a pretty popular time of day for photographers to shoot. We’ll tell you what it is and why we prefer this time of day to others.

We prefer to shoot in the hours leading up to sunset. This is called the ‘Golden Hour.’ During this time, the lighting is absolutely perfect.

The perks:

You get yummy light flares and beautiful soft light.
There are no soft shadows or squinty eyes from the blinding sun at high noon.
In the Spring, the weather isn’t too hot, so you’re able to relax a little better knowing there isn’t sweat running down your face or making stains on your shirt.
During Golden Hour, everything is warm and pretty and gives off a magical feeling.
We can also get some sweet silhouette shots as the sun is going down on the horizon.

Sara BakayJuly 30, 2021Cozyshoppe ProductionsGolden Hour, Sunset, Photos, Photographer, Lexington, KY, Kentucky, Photo shoot, Soft LightComment

Campus Love - Engagement Pics Where They Met!

When deciding on a location for a photoshoot, you have to consider so many different aspects. What types of colors are there around me? Will the changing of the season impact the way the location looks? Will there be shelter if it starts raining? When Riley was deciding on a location for her engagement shoot, she realized that she fell in love with her fiancé, Clark, in college and that the pictures would be more special if they could incorporate some of Transy’s campus locations into the shots.

When I met them on campus that day, they told me their love story and walked me through some of the locations they shared memories in. This is a great idea for anyone who wants your story to flow through your pictures! Check out some shots from the shoot below.

How To Book Your Newborn Session

When it comes to booking your session, there are a lot of questions about how the process works. Since your new little peanut isn’t here yet, it’s hard to figure out a schedule. Here is what we suggest:

Contact us during the beginning of your third trimester to set a date for the session. We require a deposit of 50% of the session fee to hold the date for you and we only accept newborn sessions during the first 14 days after birth. This means that we will schedule the session for sometime within two weeks of your due date.

We will also hold a spot for two backup dates – one a week after the original session date, and one a week prior to your due date. This ensures that if your little nugget doesn’t come according to schedule you’ll still be covered.

Keep in contact with us as your pregnancy comes to a close so we can be prepared. After the baby is born, give us a call or shoot us a message so we can make sure that one of the dates we have set will work out.

Making the Time For Updated Pictures.

I had been mentioning to my partner, Brad, that he needed some new headshots. We created three new companies during the COVID-19 pandemic (Lex Get Married, Cozy Home, and Growth Stage Operations), and we were in the process of starting a non-profit for the community, called Good Ground. He was still using the same pictures he had taken from many years before and his look had changed since they were taken. He wasn’t opposed to the idea of getting new pictures taken, but we just never seemed to have the time to jump out and grab some new shots.

Finally, we found an extra hour between an engagement photo shoot and an engagement party and made the plan to take pictures no. matter. what.

When Should I Book My Maternity Session?

We suggest contacting us as soon as you know your due date. We can then decide on a time that is best for your photos. We like to schedule your maternity session around the time you are seven to eight months along. This way, you are far enough along to show off your baby bump, but not to the point where you are going to be miserable in your photos.

As you go along your pregnancy, things may change with your due date, or you may start showing sooner and want to do them earlier. Just contact us and we can discuss this and help you find a new date.

If you’d like to add on a gender reveal session, we typically do those photos shortly after your 16 to 20 week ultrasound when the baby’s gender is discovered.

Group Discount For Student Headshots!

As a photographer, I am hired for many different types of photo needs. Weddings, family pictures, engagement pictures, and senior pictures are my typical bookings, but with a city full of talented people, I sometimes get hired to capture acting headshots and portfolio pictures. As an actress myself, I have been in front of the camera for these types of pictures many times.

In Lexington, we have a great children’s arts academy, InnOvation. They teach acting, dance, and voice lessons, have summer camps, put on theatrical shows of their own, and even giving kids the chance to compete in competitions, like JTF. Mary Joy, who is the leader of InnOvation, asked me a few years ago if I was interested in taking headshots for a group of her students. I asked a few more questions and found out that each student only needed a couple of headshots, which would be a much quicker shoot.

7 Tips For Preparing For Your Summer Photo Session

Are you ready for this hot summer? Here are seven ways you can make sure your summer portrait session goes off without a hitch.

1. Dress appropriately. Summer means hot and humid weather, which can lead to sticky bodies. Choose breathable, lightweight fabrics that don't weigh you down. As for shoes, sweet flats or loafers are a great option.

2. Think about your hair. If you or a family member's hair reacts to humidity in a negative way, opt for a hairstyle that won't leave you feeling insecure. For example, a pretty braid or an updo is a good choice. Or you can wear a headscarf, or use a little extra product to keep frizz at bay.

Sometimes You Just Need New Photos

I had worked with Kenny on a short film, Tick, before he had mentioned to me that he needed new pictures. Because we already had a new friendship, it was pretty easy to get some fun shots on the day of his session.

He had mentioned that he wanted a headshot, so we made sure to get some close up shots.

I asked if he wanted/needed any other types of pictures, and he said that he would love to try some creative full body shots. We went to the park next to the place I lived at the time and used the resources we could find to make some interesting shots. The curve of the trees, benches we found, and even railroad tracks were used.

ActingSara BakayJuly 9, 2021Cozyshoppe ProductionsHeadshots, Portfolio, New, Pictures, Photoshoot, Lexington, Shillito Park, KY, KentuckyComment

What Do You Mean? Photographer Wedding Terminology 101

Traditional – Traditional wedding photos are the standard portraits, poses, and events taken at weddings. These are the images that we get at every wedding, no matter what. For example, bride and groom standing side by side looking at the camera, or the exchanging of rings and kiss during the ceremony.

Candid – Candid images are photos that are not planned, but are taken as they happen. They are very much in the moment and are different for every single wedding. They aren’t posed or forced.

Pinterest – This is when a photo is posed via a style that can be found on the popular website, Pinterest. We often have clients show us Pinterest boards they’ve created of different images they like.

Romantic – These are images that are based on the couple and shows them interacting with one another and being lovey toward each other. They are sweet and more natural poses.

Fun – Fun photos are spontaneous, in the moment photos where the couple or bridal party acts silly and loosens up as opposed to the sometimes stiff feeling of formal photos.

WeddingSara BakayJuly 6, 2021Cozyshoppe ProductionsPhotography, Terms, Tips, Tricks, Kentucky, Lexington, Richmond, Versailles, Winchester, KY, Lex, LouisvilleComment

So Why Should I Book Cozyshoppe?

Why book with Cozyshoppe:

If I were a salesman, I'd have an entire pitch ready to throw your way complete with facts, data and impressive information to sway you in my direction. But I'm not Sara the salesman; I'm Sara the friendly photographer!

So here's what I'll tell you: photography is my thing. I've been doing it for years and not only am I good at it, I have a great time working with clients and delivering pictures on a regular basis.

Sara BakayJune 22, 2021Cozyshoppe ProductionsCozyshoppe, Lexington, KY, Kentucky, Photography, Videography, Photographer, Wedding, EngagementComment

The Benefits of Having an Uplugged Wedding

An unplugged wedding is where you ask your guests to turn off their phones, cameras, tablets, and other mobile devices during your ceremony.

When guests use their own cameras, there are many ways that this affects the photography that you’re actually paying for. Guests often times are taking photos at the same time we are, and their flashes interfere with our cameras, leaving you blown out completely (and unsalvageable) or having weird shadows or lighting throughout the photos.

New Company, Who Dis?

I was contacted by Jimmy on Alignable (check out my link here). He had started his own computer repair company and he was in need of some good headshots for his website and social media presence. He expressed to me that he would feel a little uncomfortable and he was hoping to find a reasonably priced photographer that would be non-judgmental and hopefully friendly enough to help his comfort level. I assured him that my assistant and I would help to make sure he had an enjoyable photo shoot.

We met in the downtown area of Lexington to try to capture a more corporate look. I could tell he was a little nervous, but it wasn’t very long until we were laughing and Jimmy was camera ready. The sun didn’t always cooperate with us during the shoot, but Jimmy showed great patience as we walked around and looked for appropriate backgrounds. Throughout the shoot, I could see his confidence growing and his smile showing more as well. He left a glowing review (below). All in all, I think we got some great shots that he will be able to use for his company!

Photographers Get Hungry, Too! Feed Your Team.

A wedding typically lasts 10 to 12 hours. As your photography/videography team, we are scheduled to be there between 4-10 hours of that. If we take getting ready shots and are there all day, we try to eat a big breakfast before we get there, but that only lasts so long. We are often running around like crazy all day trying to cover the whole wedding, and don’t have time to snack or take a break. We’ve literally been known to run to the bathroom to cram down a sandwich or pretzels that we packed in three minutes and then get back to it.

WeddingSara BakayJune 16, 2021Cozyshoppe ProductionsWedding, Food, Lexington, KY, Kentucky, Versailles, Catering, Vendor, Paris, Louisville, Hamburg, Cupcakes, Pizza BarComment

New Puppy Family Photos

Family pictures are usually very high energy, but not quite as high energy as a new puppy! When Nicole asked me if we could do a shoot for her brand new family member, there was no hesitation. I love animals! They had previously used me for their engagement pictures, and eventually, their wedding photos as well. Naturally, when they got Blue (yes, named because of his beautiful blue eyes), they wanted me to capture the joy and love they had for him.

Marriage, Christmas, and COVID!

WeddingSara BakayJune 10, 2021Wedding, Highlight reel, Photo shoot, Photographer, videographer, video, videography, Photo, Photography, Lexington, Richmond, Kentucky, KY, Versailles, Paris, Louisville, LexComment

Do I Really Need a Professional Makeup Artist? 5 Reasons We Say "Yes!"

You’ve made a big investment in photography (and possibly videography as well) to help capture your big day. You want to make sure you absolutely look your best. Although, I’m sure you do a very nice job on your everyday makeup, I strongly recommend looking into hiring a makeup artist. At the end of this article, I will give you a link to a site where you can find quality Kentucky hair and makeup artists for your special day.

Here are 5 reasons why having a pro artist is important:

Surprise During the Maternity Shoot!

Maternity pictures are a fun way to remember the beauty of pregnancy without remembering the aches and pains that come along with it. Typically, a shoot lasts 45 minutes to an hour and the mother is anywhere between 28 and 36 weeks pregnant. During that stage, the mother usually has a very visible baby bump, but isn’t too uncomfortable to participate in the shoot.

When Beverly arrived for our scheduled Maternity shoot, she was running a little behind. I definitely have grace for pregnant women in these situations because they are taking on a major life change. It’s worth noting that this is going to be the FIFTH child for this couple and she deserved extra grace on that particular day… because she was in active labor!

Photography and Videography