Newborn Photography Essentials for Photographers

September 18, 2019 Jaine Kershner

Over in our Facebook group, I was asked to share some of my favorite must-have essentials when I photograph my newborn sessions. Be sure to watch our latest IGTV video where I share how I prep my families for their session. I hope my tips help with your next family photography session! xo

Newborn Photoshoot Essentials for Photographers

The Baby Shusher - I could not photograph any newborn session WITHOUT this amazing little device. It does exactly what it says - it creates a “shushing” sound that mimics the sounds that a baby hears inside of the womb. It instantly calms them down and helps any fussy baby start to soothe themselves. It’s a miracle product that after every session, my parents are purchasing for next day delivery from Amazon. I kid you not!

Cat Camera Buddy by Phoxi-Tog - I found this company at WPPI several years ago purchased the Monkey option. That little guy has saved many a photo shoot. You can’t use it for newborns (as they cannot focus or see color after birth) BUT if they have a sibling or siblings that you want to look at the camera, this little guy is going to help you do! I’m going to be getting this cat next - he’s adorable and the bright red is going to be so helpful!

White Swaddles from Aden + Anais - I always recommend to my couples to have white/light/neutral colored swaddles for their sessions. I prefer non-distracting colors so that the baby can really shine in the photos. I love these muslin swaddles from Aden + Anais (a Brooklyn company!). We went through so many of these with my own daughter and they are so comfortable. I recommend keeping a few in your newborn kit so that if the parents forget, you can save the day with your own!

White Baby Bloomers (0-3 Months) - It’s actually very hard to find an all-white diaper. The pampers are white but have a blue line up that changes colors when wet, which, doesn’t make the cutest photo. I recommend white bloomers to my families (some even get them monogrammed, which is adorable!). I keep a pair of white bloomers in my kit (size 0-3) just in case. I love these ruffle butts too!

Portable Heater - I know several newborn photographers who will bring their own portable heater with them to sessions to keep the baby warm. This is such a great idea! I, personally, do not have one only because I don’t have the room in my home/kit but if I had a car, I would just keep in there to come with me to each and every newborn session!

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Smile Brilliant CariPro Toothbrush Review, Coupon Code + GIVEAWAY!!

September 17, 2019 Jaine Kershner

I'm so thrilled to be collaborating with Smile Brilliant again to review their new CariPro electric toothbrush. Last year, I reviewed their in-home teeth whitening system which I absolutely fell in love with. I saw incredible whitening results, and ever since our collaboration, I always recommend their teeth whitening system to all of my clients. I think having whiter teeth is always a good idea for your photos so when Smile Brilliant asked if I would be interested in testing out their brand new electric toothbrush, it was a definite yes from me!

Smile Brilliant CariPRO Automatic Toothbrush

For the last 10 years I have used an electric toothbrush, so I knew I would be able to give their new toothbrush an honest, thoughtful, and thorough review. Over the years, I have used the Oral-B from Braun with rotating brush heads. I loved how it got my teeth really clean but hated the cost of the replacement heads - so expensive! Last year, I purchased the battery operated and portable Quip toothbrush but I wasn't happy with the results. I always felt that I had to re-brush my teeth within a few hours and they never truly felt clean. Ultimately, I went back to Oral-B and put my Quip away.

When the CariPRO arrived, I will admit I was a bit skeptical. The brush head didn't rotate and there were a lot of settings but I set it up in my bathroom and gave it a fair chance. Soon after my first use, I knew that I had found my new electric toothbrush. Yes, it's true, I LOVE the CariPRO!! It gets my teeth unbelievably clean and whiter each time I brush. It vibrates 7x faster than any other electric toothbrush leaving my teeth cleaner for longer amounts of time. It's so fast that when I have to rinse, I actually have to shut off the CariPRO because water ends up all over my mirror. Gah, it's FAST!!

The verdict? I have been using the CariPRO for over a month and I can definitely say that this is the BEST electric toothbrush I have ever used and I will be recommending to to all of my friends, family, and couples. It's an affordable electric toothbrush that truly makes your teeth super clean and whiter. Love that!

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN YOUR OWN CARI PRO TOOTHBRUSH

I’m so excited that one lucky reader has a chance to win their own CariPro Toothbrush ($119 Value)!

Here’s how to enter: Visit this link and enter your email address. Yup, that’s it!

Giveaway Rules: The giveaway is for a $119 Smile Brilliant credit (a free individual toothbrush package). Open to USA, UK, Australia, and Canadian residents. The giveaway winner will be selected by our search engine. You must enter your email to be entered! Giveaway will end on Friday, September 20th, at Midnight EST. Giveaway winner will be contacted directly from Smile Brilliant.

Good Luck to all our entries and I can’t wait for you to enjoy your CariPro Toothbrush!! xo - Jainé

EXCLUSIVE COUPON CODES

Can’t wait to get your hands on one? I'm so excited to share that Smile Brilliant has graciously offered to give my readers 20% your purchase of the CariPRO. Just use the code brooklyn20 at check out. HOORAY!!

PSSST - If you want to get their amazing in-home teeth-whitening system, you can still use my code BRKLYNVIEW20 to save 20% at checkout. Enjoy!!

* I received a complimentary CariPRO electric toothbrush in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you Smile Brilliant for partnering with me! *

electric toothbrush

Podcast Interview with Jose Rolon Events

September 10, 2019 Jaine Kershner

We are chatting with New York City luxury wedding planner José Rolon of José Rolon Events. Jose gives his insider advice how to work with luxury wedding planners in your market, how to break into the next industry level, and a full recap of ENGAGE! conference. Jose Rolon is known for his chill vibe and his unique design aesthetic is quickly making him one of the top rising wedding planners in NYC.

You can listen to Tea with Jainé on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all other major podcasting platforms. We’d love for you to leave us a review to help other listeners find out about us. Want to support Tea with Jainé? You can make a monthly contribution by using the Support this Podcast button in our profile.

Thank you so much for all of your kind support!! xo

Jose Rolon Events - NYC Luxury Wedding Planner

Podcast Interview with Sage Wedding Pros

August 27, 2019 Jaine Kershner

We are chatting with Michelle Loretta of Sage Wedding Pros all about how to create and easy business plan for your wedding photography business. Michelle is a business consultant and financial strategist for wedding and event professionals. She gives us a clear guide how to create our own business plan and how to use it in our own business.

How to Pump On-The-Go and Photograph a Wedding AFTER Baby

August 20, 2019 Jaine Kershner

At the end of my IGTV Instagram video about “How to Photograph a Wedding While Expecting”, I asked if anyone wanted me to record the follow up email sharing my tips about what to do AFTER your baby arrives. I received so many comments and requests for the follow up information and I’m so happy to share my tips with you. You can always watch my latest IGTV video where I go more in-depth on this topic as well. Enjoy!

How to Pump on the Go While Photographing A Wedding After Baby

No - 1 - Figure Out Your Pumping Schedule - I think the biggest tip and most important is to figure out when you need to pump and how long you can go (comfortably) without pumping during the day. You will then need to figure out when you can take your pump breaks during the wedding. Be open and communicate with your couples that you need to take a break x’s per day to pump and let them know you have your second photographer or assistant taking over while you are pumping.

No. 2 - Create a Portable Pumping Station - The best advice I can give you is to create your own portable pumping station so when you are “On-the-Go” you are 100% self-sufficient and do not require any additional gear. Here’s what I did and purchased:

Medela Pump In Style - I purchased an extra small portable breast pump to fit neatly into my bag. I loved the Medela Pump In Style because it was a great pump and super small, lightweight, and you could purchase the battery pack for this pump.
Medela Pump In Style Battery Pack - I purchased the battery powered Pump In Style battery pack to be 100% self powered on the go. You never know where and when you can pump so if you end up in a bathroom or broom closet (yes!) you might not have access to an outlet which, if you are totally engorged, could be the worst thing possible. You want to be able to pump anywhere on the go, and avoid Mastitis whenever possible. Believe me, it’s so painful!
Swell Insulate Bottle - After you’ve pumped your breastmilk, you are going to need a place to store it so it doesn’t go bad over the next several hours. You probably will NOT have access to a refrigerator, so I got a little creative. I purchased a insulated water bottle or thermos and put my breastmilk in there once I was done. I found that the biggest bottle was able to hold all of my breastmilk for the day but if you are a big producer of milk, you might want to bring another bottle as back up.
Packit Freezable Wine Bag - After I pumped and put my milk in the swell bottle, I put the bottle in a freezable tote bag. This bag is great because the entire bag is insulated with the ice pack material and will keep cool for several hours. This is the single wine bag which is tall enough for the Swell bottle, and they also have a double wine bag for two bottles. In my own research, I found that breastmilk can be outside of the fridge for up to 8 hours so keeping it cool in the insulated bottle along with this cooler bag, I knew it would be still good by the time I got home and put it in the freezer.
Johnson & Johnson Hand and Face Portable Wipes - After you’ve been pumping for a while, you become very fast and proficient in the entire process (isn’t that with everything?) so I would just wipe off my flanges with these antibacterial wipes and get back to photographing the wedding. Once I got home, I’d do a full boiling of my gear to disinfect my breast pumping equipment for the next day.

No. 3 - Outsource and Time Block - I’ve said this before but outsourcing my editing to an professional editor is worth every single penny. After baby, you really have NO time and I couldn’t find the extra 8-10 hours it takes me to edit an entire wedding consecutively. We had a part-time nanny but in those hours she was watching my daughter, I had to get everything else done. So, I would highly recommending looking for outside help where ever you can to help you stay on track and meet your deadlines.

Also, Time Blocking is such a powerful tool that I’m really only NOW getting the hang of. I time block everything I do from editing, blogging, instagram planning, and so much more. Being hyper focused for 1-2 hours has really allowed me to get my photography work done on time as well as keep Tea with Jainé going at full speed.

I hope these tips were helpful and I’d love to hear your favorite tips and takeaways below. Please leave us a comment and share with the community!! xo

Podcast Interview with Sandra Coan

August 13, 2019 Jaine Kershner

We are chatting with Sandra Coan of Sandra Coan Photography all about how to confidently use flash for film and digital photography to look like natural light. Sandra teaches thousands of photographers around the world about film photography, lighting techniques, studio workflow and posing, and the fundamentals of building a successful brand and business.

Here is a cheat sheet to some of Sandra’s Favorite Camera Gear she recommends in the show:

Profoto B2 Light - One Light
Profoto B2 Light - On Location - 2 Light Kit
Photoflex 60” Umbrella
Westcott 7’ Parabolic Umbrella - Black / White
Westcott Parabolic White Diffuser
Profoto Air Remote
Pocket Wizard - Triggers

Surprise and Delight Your Couples with Greetabl

August 6, 2019 Jaine Kershner

Greetabl Insider Pro Brklyn View Photography

One of my goals for this year was to find a way to easily and quickly send my clients a little something special to let them know I appreciate them. In the past, I would send holiday gifts or gifts leading up to the wedding but I realized that maybe that wasn’t always the best for me. So, I thought long and hard and decided that sending my wedding couples a gift for their 1st wedding anniversary would be perfect but how was I going to do this?

Well, first off, I created a client anniversary calendar in my 17 Hats Client Management Software and added all of my last years wedding couples to the calendar. I setup reminders 3 weeks before their actual anniversary giving me plenty of time to send them a little surprise in the mail. But what would I send?

I knew that I don’t have time to create my own DIY gifts so when Greetabl reached out to me to try one of their custom gift boxes, I knew it was fate! I’ve used Greetabl in the past or have received my own box in the mail so I already liked the product and had a good experience with the company already.

I joined the Greetabl Insider Pro program (and upgrade feature of the site) to create my own custom design for my Greetabl boxes. I used my signature watercolor design created by Paper Cup Design and included my Brklyn View Photography logo to be used on the outside of the box. If I was going to use Greetabl, I wanted it to be as personalized as possible so the upgraded feature was the best option for me. Once the template was uploaded, I easily created my starter box to see how it would look before sending it out to my couples.

The verdict? It’s awesome! I LOVE that it’s so easy and simply to create. I get to upload three images of my clients for the inside of the box which they can tear off and keep if they choose too. I love that this is a “throw away” item and will not clutter up their home or worse, give them something they will not use or don’t even like. I love that you can customize the contents inside for each and every couple and tailor it specifically to them. Are they foodies? Maybe send them the caramels. Do they like to relax and unwind? Maybe send them a bath bomb to share together? The great part is that Greetabl is always adding new items to their shop so it’s never stale and always fresh!

And the best part? I thrilled to be a Greetabl Partner which means that you get a cool savings exclusively from me - YAY!

You can use the code BRKLYNVIEW at check out to save 20% ANY Greetabl order. And if you decide that you LOVE Greetabl as much as I do and want to join their Insider Pro program, you can use the same code BRLYNVIEW to save 20% off the annual subscription price. How amazing is that?

I’m really happy to be working and partnering with Greetabl for my clients and couples!

Podcast Interview with Fallon Carter Weddings + Events

July 30, 2019 Jaine Kershner

Destination weddings sound like they are so much fun but traveling across the pond, might not be all that’s its cracked up to be. We chat with destination wedding planner Fallon of Fallon Carter Weddings and Events about how wedding photographers can be prepared to photograph a destination wedding.

You can listen to Tea with Jainé on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all other major podcasting platforms. We’d love for you to leave us a review to help other listeners find out about us. Want to support Tea with Jainé? You can make a monthly contribution by using the Support this Podcast button in our profile. Thank you so much for all of your kind support!! xo

Easy Posing Tips for Wedding Photographers

July 23, 2019 Jaine Kershner

Over in our Facebook Group, I asked what should the next topic of Tea with Jainé should be and everyone voted for posing tips and tricks for wedding photographers. I’m excited to share my top three tips all about how to pose your couples naturally and with confidence. Posing people does not come easily and I truly believe the more prepared you are, the better photos and photo session you and your couples will have.

Also, you can watch my video about the same topic on my IGTV Instagram Channel and get a bit more Tea time with me!

Here are my three favorite tips for posing…

No. 1 - Create a Posing Flow - When I was first starting to work with couples and clients, I realized pretty quickly that posing people did not come naturally to me. I need a way to lead the session and create some pretty amazing photos in the process. What I started to do was create a Pinterest board with all of my favorite posing inspiration to help me in my process and what I discovered was that the photos I like, were just different variations of the same pose. A little tweak here, and there, a new lens, a different expression and boom - we had a brand new photo that felt totally new. It was a big light bulb moment for me!

I started to create my own posing flow for my couples moving from a few standard poses and then having several derivative of that pose. For example, let’s say the couple is standing looking at me with both shoulders, well, I could start with them walking towards me, than away, and then have the bride (or groom) look back at me, then at their partner, then give a give a kiss, and then make them laugh. Each of these actions are just one set of “poses” in a single standard pose.

By creating your own Standard or Base Poses and talking out loud the flow to yourself as practice will help you do this when you are with your couples during their engagement session or wedding day.

No. 2 - Do Your Homework - Yes, folks, you have to do a little bit of homework here to understand why a pose, or poses, is successful or not. You need to understand how the brain interpret an expression, a hand gesture, how the feet are placed, etc… to truly understand how to create great poses for your couples. As I mentioned before, posing isn’t something that comes “naturally” to most people and we all need to be taught how to pose. How to look for things that might make our photo more successful than others and I truly believe you need to do some homework and read few books to get a better understanding on how to pose properly.

One of my all time favorite books is Picture Perfect Posing from Roberto Valenzuela. I’ve read two of his books and watched his Creative Live courses and they have helped me so much in my own posing evolution. I love that he can create beauty out of nothing all from knowing the “WHY” behind making beautiful photos. He teaches you about how the hands should be posed and positioned, facial expressions, body language, and so much more. I would highly recommend picking up a copy!

No. 3 - ALWAYS Be Positive Behind the Camera - Want to know the key to making your client or couple confident and relaxed in front of the camera? You have to always talk to them giving them positiver affirmations and encourage from the moment you take your very first photo till the very last photo in the session. I am always talking, encouraging laughing, telling a silly joke, and letting my couples know that they are doing great - even if I need to tweak a few things here and there.

If a pose isn’t going well, never say “this isn’t good” or “let’s not do that” or “this isn’t working you guys”. They DO NOT want hear that and boy, watch their confidence go down the drain in two second flat. Instead, you need to use positive terms to correct any situation or pose that isn’t working they way you would like. I always say “hey, let’s try this” or “you know, can you move over here for second?” or “why don’t we move your hand this way instead?”… i’m correcting but in a softer tone that is still has positive inflections.

I hope these tips were helpful and give you a bit of insight into how I create my Posing Flow and use positive feedback to encourage my couples. Do you have any tips or tricks you’d like to share with our community? Please leave us a comment below - we’d LOVE to hear from you! xo

Podcast Interview with Brittny Drye of Love Inc.

July 16, 2019 Jaine Kershner

Are you struggling with getting your wedding photography picked up for publication? Ever wonder how to submit your work to be featured online? I’m so excited to chat with Brittny Drye of Love Inc. all about the in's and out's of Publishing. Brittny shares her do's, don't, and must-haves when submitting your wedding to an online or print publication.

Learn how to curate, export, and submit your wedding photography to online and print publications with An Insider’s Guide to Wedding Submissions e-guide which is available at our store. Visit the shop here.

You can listen to Tea with Jainé on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and all other major podcasting platforms. We’d love for you to leave us a review to help other listeners find out about us. Want to support Tea with Jainé? You can make a monthly contribution by using the Support this Podcast button in our profile. Thank you so much for all of your kind support!! xo