Ottawa Photographer - Family, Children and Engagement by Danielle Lynn Photography » Danielle Lynn Photography

Ottawa Headshots :: February Two for One headshots SALE!

daniellelynnphotography — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:03:33 +0000

I am VERY excited to share with you some exciting news for the month of February!

Are you an Ottawa area small business owner, blogger, artist or professional in need of some modern professional headshots? Well the time has come! I’m pleased to share with you that for the month of February 2012 I am offering two headshot sessions for the price of one! A bit camera shy? Nervous? This is perfect for you. Team up with a friend/spouse/colleague/fellow small business owner who would also like their headshots done too and get both of your sessions at the same time, for one price!

All sessions will take place on-location within the city of Ottawa. Some possible locations include (but are not limited to):

* Your home

* Your office

* Indoors/Outdoors at your business (could be a great option if you own a local boutique, coffee shop, art studio etc.!)

* Outdoors (lots of areas downtown/Byward Market area are perfect!)

And I am, of course, open to any creative suggestions you may have!

Some very important things to note:

* This exciting promotion is ONLY for the month of February 2012. Sessions must be booked AND take place this month to be eligible.

* $175 session fee is due in full at time of booking to secure your session date.

* Available time slots are limited and booked based on my availability so its best to book early to avoid disappointment.

* Both sessions must take place in the same location, on the same day and will happen consecutively. No exceptions.

* Each of the two sessions taking place are meant for one different individual each. This promotion would not be suitable for anyone seeking large group headshots, or anyone wishing to combine both sessions into one..

* My style is very relaxed and modern and I work primarily with natural light. If you are looking for something more formal with a solid backdrop, this may not be the best option for you.

* To read more about what to expect at your headshots session, more info can be found here!

As always, I look forward to connecting with some new and lovely Ottawa people!

If you would like to book your Two for One Headshot session for the month of February, or if you have any questions, please contact me today!

I would be ever so grateful if you would share this post using the social media icons below!

:: Ottawa Headshots, Ottawa Professional Business Portraits, Ottawa Head Shots, Ottawa Photographer ::

Ottawa Family Photographer :: Just in time for Christmas!

daniellelynnphotography — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:45:55 +0000

This lovely Ottawa family contacted me a couple of weeks ago hoping to squeeze in a photo session to have images ready in time for the holidays and for Christmas cards. Thankfully, I was able to accommodate them because they really were a LOT of fun! We started off their session at their home and then headed down to the Downtown/Byward Market area for a few outdoor family photos. Their sweet little guy Luke was fantastic to hang out with as well – such a ham for the camera and such a cheeky smile. His mom Candace told me that the day before he was actually excited for my arrival to take his pictures! If that doesn’t make me feel like a million bucks, I don’t know what would! I love being an Ottawa Family Photographer!

Thank you SO much Binette-Sherwood Family for welcoming me into your home yesterday!! I thoroughly enjoyed our time together and I’m so pleased with the resulting images of your beautiful little family!! On a side note: Candace is a local real estate agent and while visiting with them we also did a few business headshots! So please keep an eye on the blog as I’ll be posting them here at a later time!

To book your very own in-home our outdoor family photo session with Ottawa’s Award Winning Danielle Lynn Photography, please contact us today! Family Sessions are now booking for Winter 2012 and I look forward to meeting some new Ottawa and Gatineau area Families!

Introducing: Food Photography! ~ Ottawa Food Photographer

daniellelynnphotography — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:00:54 +0000

Every year around this time I get antsy. Well…’antsy’ is the word I’d use if I’m being polite, but the truth is, I really just get anxious, restless, agitated aaaand a few other things. Why? Well…Its the winter blahs. Every year it creeps in…the days get shorter, the weather gets colder, my workload slows down for the season and as a result, so much creativity ends up bottled inside. Every winter for the past 4 or 5 years has been the same. And its so difficult for me to find an outlet that allows me to express myself the way Photography allows me to. So several months ago I began preparing for winter. I couldn’t let it happen again. I couldn’t allow myself to become the anxious, restless Danielle of the past several winters. Its such an awful feeling. I needed a creative outlet. I needed a project. Something to learn, build upon and share with my friends and clients. Then I had an idea….

What’s one thing I do ALL winter long? Something I’m passionate about, that I love experimenting with, yet something I don’t share or photograph nearly enough of (or ever?!)…so being the foodie I am, food photography seemed like the natural choice. In whatever spare moments I had to myself this past Summer and Fall I began devouring photography books, recipe books, websites and blogs – anything I could read relating to food photography and styling. I’ve spent many hours experimenting with lighting, composition, angles, styling techniques, collecting props, painting and finishing my own backdrops/surfaces, grocery shopping, cooking – you name it, its been happening over here. And I’m LOVING it!!! So much so that I will be adding the images to a new section of my portfolio and will be offering and advertising this as a service of Danielle Lynn Photography in 2012!!! That’s also why I’ve kept it on the down-low for so long. Up till now I’ve been ‘portfolio building’ if you will. So if you are an Ottawa restaurant, bakery or cafe owner and are in need of some fab images of your delicious treats, I’d love to help you out!

So please enjoy! Along with my regular client work, I plan to spend the winter sharing with you all of my yummy creations! In fact, I’ve got about 5 or 6 back-logged posts complete with recipes to share with you all very soon!

Here’s a little taste of what I’ve been working on!

Ottawa Headshot Photographer: Professional Business Portraits

daniellelynnphotography — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 10:00:38 +0000

Getting in front of the camera is not an easy thing to do. Even for me it can be a daunting thing to think about! But if you are a professional, an artist, a business owner or are even in the beginning stages of starting your own business, headshots are vital. Why? Its your first impression. Having a nice, clean, impactful, professional quality image of yourself tells people a lot about you. And in a business portrait, you need something that conveys the message that you would like to convey to a potential client. This will, of course, be different for everyone depending on your personality and business type. But as long as it represents you, that’s what’s most important!

Once upon a time, headshots were all done in a studio. Artificial lights, plain backgrounds, suit and tie, and enough hairspray to choke out the ozone layer. While there is still very much a time and purpose for these types of headshots, I’ve been quickly discovering through talking with friends, clients and the other business owners around me, that is not what Ottawa’s modern creatives, professionals and small business owners want. Social Media and the big push for authenticity has really made people strive for being more ‘real’ for their audience. People want to be seen as trustworthy, relatable, approachable and as THEMSELVES. This, and this reason alone is why I’ve decided to offer the type of lifestyle head shots (or business portraits as I prefer to call them) that I do. I want to step outside of the box and give other Ottawa professionals a set of images that they can be proud of! I want them to feel confident, and as though they are putting their best face forward.

Have I convinced you yet? I thought I’d put together a list of some of the commonly asked questions when it comes to headshots. If you have any questions that have not addressed here, please feel free to email me!

As a natural introvert, I like to think of myself as a laid back kinda gal. And I feel that my work reflects this. So when I am out doing headshots with a client, that is the experience you can expect to have. Most of the poses I choose are decided on the spot, and are decided based on the message you wish to convey with your portrait and also taking into account things like your body type (since I always want the poses to be flattering!), the location and what looks comfortable and natural. So please don’t expect a formal, stuffy experience! It will be very relaxed, fun and chit-chatty. Its the best way I know how to make my clients feel comfortable in front of the camera!

Dress for the way that you would like your clients, and the general public to see you. Are you fun, laid back artist type? Maybe Jeans and a lose fitting top with some fun accessories would work with your style. Or are you offering professional services and wish to convey an image of prestige, power or success? Perhaps something more formal and tailored will work better. Regardless, you need to be comfortable too. So choose something that fits well, compliments your body shape and that you are prepared to wear for the duration of the session. Having a hard time deciding what to wear? Bring a couple of outfits along and I’d be happy to help you choose!

For make-up and hair – I always recommend to my clients that they keep it simple and to not do anything drastically different than your normal hair/make-up regime. Yes folks, this means its probably not the best time to book yourself in for that mega-orange spray tan you’ve been thinking about. If you are like me and do not normally wear much make-up, it might be beneficial to seek out the services of a make-up artist. Remember, the focus of these portraits is your face. So keep it natural looking and let the real you shine though.

Since I am an on-location photographer and typically work outdoors, I love to (and encourage!) sessions outdoors, year round. Having said that though, I realize that certain times of year can pose a challenge, particularly if you are sensitive to the heat or cold, or prefer the look and feel of a specific season. For this reason I am always open to sessions taking place indoors. Ottawa has some fabulous options! Contact me to discuss location possibilities!
I’d recommend updating every 2 years, or more often if there are any drastic changes in your look (ie. Weight loss, major hairstyle changes etc.). Headshots are meant to be timeless but styles and your over-all look do change over time. Updating them at least every 2 years will keep things fresh and looking recognizable to your clients.

First and foremost: Choose your photographer based on the quality of their work. I can’t stress that point enough! Headshots themselves aren’t usually terribly costly, but like professional portraits of any kind, this is an investment. An investment in your brand, an investment in your image and therefor, an investment in your business as a whole. It’s important to remember that A crisp, clean, high quality image helps create the impression that you care about a high standard of quality in the products or services you offer. So if you choose your photographer based on the lowest price alone, you may find that you are not getting a professional standard of work. Its also possible that they are not using professional grade equipment or editing/re-touching software. How can you tell a professional quality photo from a non-professional? Aside from price, look for things like the clarity of the image (Is it blurry? Out of focus? Not sharp?), Composition (Does it look like a snap-shot? Is the placement of the subject appealing to the eye? Is the image cropped in a flattering way?), and Exposure (Is the image WAY too bright or WAY too dark? Does the skin look true to colour?). Those are just the basics of course, but its the simple things that can often make or break a photo!

So take some time to browse portfolios and find someone who’s style you love, and that you think will best capture you. And if my style isn’t for you, I’d be more than happy to refer you to another Ottawa Photographer who’s style will suit the look you want!

I hope this information helps you decide how to proceed with your own professional headshots, or that I have at least convinced you about the importance of having one! If this is something you are considering, please contact me to book yours today! As always, I look forward to meeting some of Ottawa’s most fabulous creatives and business people! It’s truly one of the best perks of being an Ottawa Photographer.

Ottawa Family Photographer: Zoe and Amelia

daniellelynnphotography — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 10:00:54 +0000

Being a Family Photographer in Ottawa comes with many perks. TONS, really. One of the biggest ones is getting to meet all sorts of families. Each and every one is unique and I love coming away from a session feeling as though my clients and I made a connection. Its important for me. I really want them to be happy and to be at ease with their choice in trusting me with their family memories. As an adoptive mom, I find it a little extra exciting when I’m contacted by a fellow adoptive family for photos. Maybe because I can relate to the joy, excitement, challenges and triumphs an adoptive family goes through – it just has that extra element of emotion for me. So when Zoe and Amelia’s Mom contacted me about fall family photos for her girls, I was thrilled. The subject of Amelia’s adoption from China and my own family’s adoptions from Ethiopia and here in Ontario gave us tons to talk about.

Things I loved about this session:

~ The perfect weather we had. Not too hot and not too cool. Thanks Mother Nature.

~ Little Zoe’s boundless energy. This little girl could RUN!

~ Amelia’s quick wit and hilarious questions. At many points during the session I COMPLETELY forgot I was talking to a 4 year old.

~ Mom’s bag of props. I love when parents come prepared with bribes, props and distraction tactics. With two young children its ALWAYS appreciated!

~ Both girl’s sweet, kind nature. Amelia (who looooved the camera) was a fantastic sport and is such a wonderful, patient big sister. Sweet sibling relationships are hands down, one of my absolute favorite things to see.

Thank you SO much Jodi, for choosing me to photograph your two adorable girls. I had a lot of fun on the weekend and sincerely hope I have the opportunity to see them (and you!) again!

If this blog post receives at least 15 unique comments (that’s 15 comments from 15 different people!), these guys will earn a little surprise when they place their order!!! So please take a moment and leave them a little love in the comment section at the bottom of this page!

To schedule your very own Fall family session with Ottawa’s Danielle Lynn Photography, please contact us today! Spaces for the remainder of 2011 are filling up quickly!