Pittsburgh Family Portraiture | Sneak Peek of “The Garden Party” family photos

Pittsburgh Family Portraits | Sneak Peek of “The Garden party” family photos

If I had a flower

for ever time you made me

smile and laugh

I’d have a garden to walk in

forever

I am so excited to finally show a sneak peek of “The garden” party (<<<click link to book your event or session in this beautiful place : Referred to as THE GARDEN ) session

The morning started off with light crashing in through the trees. It was a perfect day for a garden party & that is just what we did.

The set design came simple to me when I found this space.

I draped Spanish Moss from the trees. Lets some pieces fall to the ground. Hung flowers as if they were in bloom.

I rented these beautiful lanterns from Vintage Alley Rentals in Pittsburgh, Pa. ( <<< I use them a lot 😀) .

My friends Sarah loaned me her moss cover chair that she created for our Pittsburgh shootout The Magic Within (<<< Another one coming this fall stay tuned : Fall Into Magic )

The space was already breathtaking & the family was beautiful I didn’t need to do much!

I can not wait to show you more! Make sure to check back to see a handful of the final photos!

xox

Pittsburgh Photographer | Mentoring ! When, Why, & How to find one that fits .

Hey y’all !

So talking to a few friends in the community I noticed that some people are not sure when to get a mentor, why they need a mentor or how to find one.

So I am here to give my own “personal” view on it. I will start by saying I am NOT perfect ( GASP! I know ! ) LOL. I know I thought the same thing … JUST KIDDING !!

It wasn’t long along that I submitted to Clickin moms & was turned down by 7 points 🙁 I was devastated ( like REALLY devastated! )I reached out to the community & to a couple of my favorite photographers & said HELP ME PLEASE! One that I admired was unable to assist this year , another was way out of my price range ( < < < which I will come back to this ). And another was not even in my state & the cost of traveling & the time (<<most importantly) were just not doable this year.

I didn’t understand-I thought I knew what I was doing ? I thought I was good? I was published in Momazine magazine 4 times – didn’t that mean something ??? I was pretty sure I had a small community of photographers that admired me? I mean … isn’t that all you need ?

NO – this isn’t enough! (<<<<I will explain why shortly)

After speaking to a couple good friends who talk me off me down from throwing my camera out the window while driving down a dirt windy road sunlit by the glow of the sun as it set on our side of earth & in my heart (<<< I am being a LITTLE dramatic ... I mean HEY it’s how I felt !) … oh yea .. I was totally there! I was told 1. this was just “1” place that tried out for. This was just their opinion of my work. I mean …yes… However, to me THIS WAS THE PLACE – THIS IS THE PLACE I want to be a part of ( and I will !). It just wasn’t my time. Maybe the photos I selected weren’t my best or maybe I selected some that I shouldn’t have … However, despite all these thoughts & feelings it sounds so cliché … I had an aha moment. I realized that I do need to step back & reevaluate myself & work on things that I “thought” were good. I took my son out that week. I went to spot that I knew the sun casted a beautiful golden hour ( that is my favorite time a day. I feel like it’s the most magical) & a spot that I thought my son would enjoy “sitting” at for a bit while I played with my camera.

I ended up with this (see below)

I was so excited ! When I posted it I had gotten so many nice compliments & a couple photographers I admired reached out to me & said some really nice things that made me feel relevant again. Than, it came to me. OF COURSE I still am learning. I hope to ALWAYS learn & grow & become better & better. Yes, I was sad. I will submit again & I hope you will follow me in that journey.

This photo became symbolic to me. When I looked at it I knew that all my wishes, positive vibes, praying & hard work were finally starting to matter & click.

I have since than. Met with Heather with weddings by heather who offers mentoring, workshops & training ( <<< some in which I still plan to take) . She help me design my website. ( which I LOVE) She mentored me in a few things about life, job & I have turned to her for advice on editing. Which if you do not follow her I really suggest it. She has a group on Facebook & can Skype or talk on the phone so you do not have to be local. Make sure to come back to this post & let me know how much you love her when you are all done with your mentoring …because you will 🙂 She is a jesus loving, beautiful soul & is so much fun. She even has a youtube channel – I mean … really! Check it out! She won’t disappoint.

I have also since than “soul shoot” ( I think I made that up ?) I go out & shoot with no purpose other than I love it & I am hoping to teach myself something new or practice something I just learned. Wow ! It has really taught me a lot. I am still not prefect ( SHOCKER I know! LOL! ) However, I have become comfortable enough to start to share my knowledge. Now, my knowledge as far as styling a session, how I plan for it, how I shoot, the lighting etc… Not business ( Go to Heather for that 🙂 or someone that is better at that stuff than me )

I am also very lucky to have 2 really great friends Lisa & Sarah that are local photographers that we are constantly helping each other. Bouncing ideas off one another, asking for CC (constructive criticism) . Having friends ( <<< I mean real friends) in the community is so important. So this actually leads me into the juice (<<< um you know the stuff that this post was meant to written for : Mentoring ! When, Why, & How to find one that fits .)

BE INVOLVED! Meet people, make friends . Found out who is who in the community. How ? There are so many local groups in your area. You need to get on social media & ask around. Found groups that “fit you”. What is awesome for me …might not be your awesome. Go find your awesome! When ? NOW what are you waiting for -them to find you ? No, go find them. Go to meet ups once a month or as often as you can. Reach out to photographers you follow. They might be involved in groups that they are willing to share with you.

Why? um, because this is how you will find people that are like you. Maybe, you will even find someone that will take you under their wing or is willing to help or lead you in the right direction.

Ok, so… it might cost you some money. Good! (<<< Yes ! GOOD I said) . INVEST IN YOURSELF! If you don’t invest in yourself. Who is going to invest in you ?

So remember I said one mentor was out of my price range. Well, I am saving up to take a mentor session with her. I might even actually hire her to take my family photos instead just to see her magic unfold with my own family. It might not happen tomorrow. It will happen though because I want it to & I honestly am not someone that gives up easy.

So why wasn’t it good enough that I was published, had followers & likes on my page. Because I didn’t believe in myself. I wasn’t shooting with a purpose & an end in sight. Now, I make sure to take my time. Make sure my lighting is on point, my composition. I have my highlights & blacks in my post processing… these things made a HUGE difference in my shooting.

So do I want you all to call me & hire me for mentoring. NO! I want you to find someone that you admire & love & feel that they can teach you what you need to learn. It might be me. It might be my best friend. It might be someone I don’t know. Whoever it is -reach out to them. Let them know you admire them. Ask if they offer mentoring services ( some do not).

Don’t wait ! Why wait ?

So because I am hyping up this mentoring thing so much … I am offering 50% the whole month of August! That is correct my pixie dust collection is 50% off. Contact me pamelasalaiphoto@gmail.com for full details!

(*Mentoring must be held in 2016)

P.S. Just a reminder that the Fall into magic | Pittsburgh styled shootout dates are released & details are coming soon ( PROMISE!)

Do you shoot newborns ? If so you might want to check out this limited exclusive watch & learn * with an option to shoot . This is happening August 10th & 14th so don’t delay!

THANK YOU ALL !

xox

~ Comment with any positive vibes or feedback ~

Children, Family, Styled

Pittsburgh Family Portraiture | Flower Child Soul

Pittsburgh Family Portraiture | Flower Child Soul

Sneak Peek !

Here is just a tiny glimpse in to this A-MAZ-ING session I had with this beautiful little girl <3

I had to grab a few photos with her & mama. So glad I did – I mean look at these 2!!

“Let us dance in the sun wearing wild flowers in our hair”

Stay tuned for this session . You will not want to miss it 😉

Family, Mini, Styled

Magical golden hour in Pine township during my mommy & me session

That magical light !

I am so lucky to watch this beautiful little girl grow through the past couple years & now I am so lucky to photograph her mommy & her.

It’s so important mom’s to get in front of that camera! These magical moments that come & go so quickly are ones that you will want to cherish.

I kept this session pretty simple styling all around . Yes , I personally style all of my sessions. I love watching my dreams come to reality. Very seldom I will hire a clothing stylist. However, all my sets are dreamt up & created by me. I do take pride & joy to say that. It takes a lot of time & energy & I want to make EACH session I do special. I styled mom in this beautiful Free People dress in a deep purple & mom rented the tutu du monde dress from borrowed boutique. The settee…I wish I could say was mine. However, I rented that from Trish over at Vintage Alley Rentals in Pittsburgh Pa.

I found this beautiful field that was backlit & had incredible grasses waist high. I knew that it was a perfect fit for these special moments .

Now, don’t wait to contact me to book your session ! I only have a few open spots left between August – October !

email me at pamelasalaiphoto@gmail.com

~xox~

Children, Styled

How to create magical memories.

OK. Lets face it kids can be tough. Sometimes the adults can be just as tough or not harder than the little ones. Not everyone loves to “pose” in front of the camera-or in front of strangers.

1. Don’t be a stranger. Get to know your family. Ask questions find out what makes them who they are. Make a questionnaire & use it. Make sure to really get to know them.

2. Blend their clothing colors to match their home. Wait- you mean don’t just tell them to wear a basic color that you tell everyone to wear? That is right. Find out what colors are in their rooms that they plan on hanging these memories. After all you do want these hanging up in their home right ? Trust me- they will second guess hanging a large canvas if they decided to wear all blue’s because it makes the kids eyes stand out. Than come to find out her home is beige & creams with a hints of blush and blue doesn’t match on the giant blank wall that needed a gallery on it.

3. Help them. The only way they are going to feel good & look good is if you guide them. Don’t be afraid of this. Practice with friends first. Practice makes perfect after all – right ?

I personally do stylized|concept sessions. So I make pinterest boards for all my sessions. I create a theme based off the family. Basically, every session has a purpose and a reason I chose that prop or that color or that location. Pinterest is a great way for me to lay it all out & see what looks the best together from clothes, colors to props. I start with a sketch pad & than take it digital.

I always suggest to the mum to hire a makeup artist ( which I can provide for an additional fee). Show her places she can buy/rent clothes for herself or the kids. Why spend all that extra money on an outfit you might not wear again.

Come back often for more tips & ideas!