Breaking My Comfort Zone - Photo Shoot Away from the White Wall

 Belle (my lovely model) and I have been talking about doing a photo shoot at a beach that recently had a wild fire. I had been putting it off because I wasn't sure if I could do it with my amateur skills.  We do photo shoots all of the time in front of my white fence at my house and I have it down to a science and we can crank out Etsy photos.  We've done it so much we're like a maching and I don't even have to tell her how to pose or when to turn. It's easy and very time efficient, which is very important for my shop. You wouldn't believe how much time goes into each listing! First I have to buy my inventory, then wash and repair it,  then photograph it, edit photos, take measurements, write a description, list it, tag it,  and then promote it....  Mass production stores like Free People or Anthropologie have it made because they do the work once and then can thousands of the item. I have one of each item!

Here is graphic for an "Sponsor Spotlight" I have coming up on an awesome blog: Message on a Napkin. This is a good example of my white fence (sometimes garage door depending on the lighting). Be sure to check the blog out, she'll be hosting a giveaway for a $30 credit for Anthropolotique! 

Anyhow back to our photo shoot.  Belle wanted some photos for tumblr and wanted to try some new poses and I wanted to style some vintage items for a Anthropolotique Lookbook.  As I said before, I'm  not a  photographer. In fact I'm below average and I told Belle I wasn't sure how the photos would turn out away from my comfort zone of the white fence. Whenever I have problems I have to call my husband and he tells me to adjust something and I'm like "What the heck is an aperture????"

Well this week we found the time and did the photo shoot!  It was fun, but I was right and it was wayyyyyy more work than the white fence.  I had to pack all of the clothes, styling items, clips, props... Then poor Belle and her friend who came with us had to change in the back of my hot cramped Honda Element.  The lighting wasn't great in the beginning and it took us a while to figure out how to pose with rocks and trees, but in the end it was worth it and we learned lots. Time ran out and we didn't get as many outfits as we had hoped, but we plan on going again soon. Hopefully I'll be able to finish my first Anthropolotique Lookbook before fall.

Advance apologies for the weird layout, I can't figure out this blogging stuff! 

Here is Belle modeling a jacket from my shop.

Typical Belle being a goof.  

Meet Chloe. She is totally photogenic and was so fun to photograph.
She's modeling a dress and vest from my shop.

Belle wanted to do this shot. Here is where my
photography skills failed and she has glowing
feet.

More of the lovely Chloe's great smile!                     

Chloe looking a little tougher in a army jacket
that will be in my shop this fall.

They were being way to serious...

So I did something dumb to get them to crack
a smile:-)

But she does serious so well that sometimes we
have to let her do a pouty face. 

Rocking a velvet vest.

There was ash everywhere and right before we
called it a day the girls decided to decorate
each other.

Last photo of the day! Thanks gals!