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

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.”

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.

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.

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

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 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.

8 Clothing Ideas For Maternity Sessions

Not sure what to wear for your maternity session? Check out these great tips to help you prepare:

Remember, the main purpose of this session is to show off your baby bump, so be sure to wear more clingy clothing to your session. It doesn’t necessarily have to be tight, but you want it to be more form fitting so you can see the bump. Just be sure that it’s still comfortable for you.
We suggest wearing shirts with some kind of sleeve on them – they are more flattering for photos. Things like a dress with 3/4 length sleeves, or a form fitting tank top with a sweater/cardigan over it are always a good idea.

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

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!

How Many Hours Should I Book My Photographer For? How about Videographer?

What do you want covered?

First, you need to decide what important details you want covered. Do you want a lot of getting ready shots prior to the ceremony? Do you want us to stay for the entire reception? These details will affect the length of time you will need us there. If you want us to stay until your reception exit, and you want a lot of candid, getting ready shots, you will need full day coverage. If you just want a few getting ready shots, that will knock off some time. If you want us to stay for just the main events in the reception and not until the last guest leaves, then this will also shorten the day. By deciding on a start and/or end time, this is the first step to booking your package.

Photography and Videography