5 Tips For Creating An Inspiration Board For Your Photosession

This time of year is extremely popular for folks looking to plan fall or holiday photos in the Boone or Blowing Rock, NC area. Fall is at its peak and the leaves are putting on a splendid show just as winter starts to set in. Photographing couples and families during this changing in yhe season is one of my favorite things to do. 

I think it’s helpful to collaborate with my clients so that the images we create together will be exactly what you’re looking for. Creating an inspiration board before your engagement or family photo shoot can be a big help in visualizing what you want the look and feel of your pictures to have.

Some photographers might not like when clients give them a Pinterest board full of photos that speak to them because the images might not be in-line with their personal style; however, I believe that it’s beneficial because it ensures that everyone is on the same page. My goal is to accomplish what my clients are envisioning in a way that highlights their unique personalities as well as my skill set. I want nothing more than to capture images that you’ll love for years to come!

Here are some tips I put together on how to create an inspiration board for your photoshoot:

» 1. COLLECT YOUR IMAGES: You can find inspiration practically anywhere on the web. Do a google search or visit your favorite blogs. Just begin gathering images you like. Saving photos in one place will be the best way to share with your photographer. To make this process much easier, sign up for a Pinterest account if you don’t already have one. The next step would be to “Create a Board”. Once you create a board you'll be able to “pin” things you like to the corresponding board. Think of boards like a bulletin board that you stick pins in to keep things neat and organized. Your Pinterest board is where you will gather the pictures you have saved. The last image shows a *few* of my Pinterest Boards. 

» 2. ENVISION THE END RESULT: Think about the type of mood you want your wedding, engagement, or family photos to give off. Are you looking for pictures that are more playful, romantic, casual, or etc? Keep this in mind when choosing images for inspiration. Something that clients have trouble with a lot of times is coming up with a location or choosing what to wear for the photo session. Pay attention to the location and posing, but also look at the color combinations that the people are wearing to help with your wardrobe selections later on. Using Pinterest to plan your photoshoot will help you clarify what you like and don’t like. The style of the photographer you choose will certainly play into this as well, so use their website portfolio and blog to select some favorites they've captured to add to your inspiration board along with the other images you may have found elsewhere.

» 3. CONSIDER YOUR LOCATION & TIMEFRAME: The time of day/year, location, and weather will all have a huge impact on the types of images your photographer will be able to create so keep this in mind when selecting images to use for your photoshoot inspiration. If you’re having fall family photos done in the mountains, you don’t want to include pictures that were taken on the beach during the summertime. If you don’t already have a special place picked out for photos, the images you choose can help your photographer find a location that will suit the style you have in mind.

» 4. COLLABORATE WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER: Just because you’re gathering and sharing images that appeal to you doesn’t mean that you’ll want to spend time staging all the various poses that you’ve selected during your photoshoot. This would stifle the flow of the entire photosession if we tried to replicate another photographer's photos the whole time—they are merely a jumping off point. While I like to work closely with my clients to help them prepare for their photos, you also want to allow enough space for creative freedom so that your photographer can do what they do best.

» 5. REFINE YOUR PINTEREST BOARD: After you’ve collected all of your initial images, you will want to narrow down your selections. Questions to ask yourself when refining your inspiration board: Do these photos have the look and feel that you want *your* photos to have? Does your board have an overall theme? Is the grouping of photos cohesive? Which images bring you the most joy when you view them? Dwindle it down to your absolute favorites so that your vision shines through. I recommend a maximum of 20 images as your goal because too many photos might disrupt the cohesiveness of the overall board. Once you're finished be sure to share with your photographer! 

» BONUS TIP: If your shoot embodied one word what would it be?

Know any friends, family, or colleagues that are planning to do photos soon? Please share this post with them! I would greatly appreciate it! :-)

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Hi! My name is Jessica a.k.a. Wayfaring Wanderer and I reside in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains here in Boone, NC. I'm a free-spirited wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photographer who loves working with couples, families, and individuals who are committed to travel, adventure, and laid-back lifestyles. If you think we might be kindreds, I invite you to join the WW tribe by signing up [ HERE ] for weekly updates & get connected to the [ WW Facebook page ] to join the conversation! | Website www.wayfaringwanderer.com

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Wedding Styled Shoot | Boone, NC Photographer

I reach a certain point in the depths of winter when I find myself feeling a little despondent. There's not as much going on because folks are hibernating. The gaps between my weddings and photoshoots feels unusually elongated which causes my creativity to take a hit. That's why I was thrilled when Andi and I decided to collaborate and create a wedding styled shoot before the busy season really begins!

This Alice in Wonderland Wedding Inspiration Shoot was the extra oomph I needed to get my foggy brain back into photographer mode where I wanted it to be! Having the opportunity to create for the joy of creating was something that I relished, especially with such a crazy cluster of characters like these Boone, NC wedding vendors!

This enchanted and eclectic shoot that took place in the backwoods at Camp Sky Ranch was inspired by a mash-up of Disney's Alice in Wonderland and Tim Burton's take on the beloved tale, and the wedding photos that were captured was an attempt to take the stimulus in those movies and manufacture something that sparked our collective creativity through the use of unique and colorful accouterments.

Here's what the other organizers had to say about participating in this wedding inspiration shoot.

Andi Gelsthorpe, said, “ I love making a vision come to life and thought that I had a lot to add to the visual aspect of this shoot with our inventory from Miss Match Rental. I also thought it sounded like a good challenge and the product would be really visually intriguing to me.”

Desi Parker, said, “With my degree and background in Theatre and Film, I find myself gravitating more toward projects and events that fall into the category of “a production.” While I have focused mainly on floral and styling of weddings for the past 4 years, I was dying to do something that reminded me of my days working with set design and costume departments. When Andi asked me to come on-board, I knew right away this was something I wanted my hands in! [...]”

Closely working with these two talented laydehs to produce this styled wedding shoot was such a blast and I'm thankful to have been the photographer to document it all!

The shoot started with some adorableness supplied by Hank and Ruby, our ring bearer and flower girl! Hank is Andi's little man and Ruby is Desi's pretty princess. Aren't they precious?! Hank thought it was so hilarious to turn his back toward me as I was shooting and poke his butt out while shouting, “TOOT! TOOT!” hahaha It was pretty comical but Ruby wasn't nearly as amused as the adults were.

'Did Someone Say Party' provided the perfect attire for "Alice" and Zach both. Caitlin looked adorable in this dainty dress. I loved the lacy, flower detail and the fluffy tulle! The wrap she is wearing on the left was supplied by Andi. It didn't do much for keeping her warm but it did tie the whole ensemble together nicely. 

Many thanks to our cute couple, Caitlin and Zach, for being such troopers! It was freezing (35 degrees or so) on the day of our shoot but they endured and modeled for us like champs!

Andi & Desi did such an amazing job designing the 24-foot long table using pieces from Miss Match Rentals' massive collection of vintage treasures along with floral and plant arrangements and an assortment of items too long to list from Desi's private stock.

The beautiful barn wood tables were graciously supplied by Upper Barn here in Boone, NC.

Succulents are some of my favorite plants, so I was delighted to shoot the stunning wedding bouquet and other floral/plant decor that Desi's Floral and Design Studio concocted. Isn't this succulent centerpiece / "living book" magnificent?!

I also loved working with Marion Edwards from Beautiful Bride On Location because she made Caitlin look amazing! Marion knows how to bring the glamorous out of every bride, such a talented laydeh!

Desi created many of the costume pieces and props herself. The Mini Top Hat Fascinator Caitlin wore was adorable! She also made The Mad Hatter's Bow Tie with her remarkable crafting skills. You can see Zach wearing it in a photo if you scroll back up! 

If you'd like to read more details about this shoot, check out this BEHIND-THE-SCENES look with lots of information that I didn't share in this post. CLICK HERE »http://bit.ly/1otIWxy«

I think that I was most excited about the food photography! Wendy, from the Gamekeeper Restaurant & Catering, contributed tea cakes & mini cupcakes that looked so delicious and gorgeous. It took every ounce of restraint I had to not sneak a sweet treat after I saw her putting the finishing touches on these tidbits.

Desi was responsible for making the red velvet cupcakes & Andi made the hand-pressed mints (pictured toward the end of this post).

I immediately started shooting the table décor once our models were done for the day. There was little time to work with before the sun started to set so I had to get shots of all the fascinating details as quickly as I could before we began losing light!

While I loved everything about the table & secretary set-up, my favorite vignette had to be the birdcage in the center of our table that was bursting with blossoms and succulents.

I also loved the moss-lined runner and handmade ceramic mushrooms that Desi cleverly crafted...

Andi also did a stellar job with the selection of dinnerware, vintage books, goblets, tea cups, etc.!

The secretary (or hutch) Andi furnished for the dessert station was such an awesome addition. 

Every nook and cranny was brimming with knickknacks and other curiosities outfitted by Desi & Andi! 

Many thanks to the magnificent team who helped to make this happen! I hope you enjoyed this first look at our styled wedding shoot collaboration! Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Venue: Camp Sky Ranch

Vintage Rentals: Miss Match Rentals

Florals & Styling: Desi's Floral and Design Studio

Teacakes & Mini-Cupcakes: Gamekeeper Restaurant

Makeup: Beautiful Bride on Location (Marion Edwards)

Hair: Desi Parker of Desi's Floral & Design Studio

Bridal Hair Piece & Groom's Bow Tie: Desi Parker

Wedding Attire: Did Someone Say Party?

Barnwood Tables: Upper Barn

Models/Couple: Caitlin & Zach

Photography: Wayfaring Wanderer

Photography Assistant: Raejan Dunn

If you'd like to read more details about this shoot, here is a BEHIND-THE-SCENES look with lots of information that I didn't share in this post. CLICK HERE »http://bit.ly/1otIWxy«

COMING SOON! Interviews with Desi & Andi, so be on the lookout for their behind-the-scenes insights! Also, next week I'll be sharing a post with TIPS ON PLANNING A STYLED SHOOT because we learned quite a bit during this experience that we want to share with others! To be notified when new posts are available, sign-up for weekly updates HERE and “LIKE” the Wayfaring Wanderer Facebook page to get connected!

Behind-the-Scenes: Adventures in a Wooded Wonderland | Boone, NC Photographer

“You know, falling from anything higher than 6-ft. is considered a DEATH FALL, right?!,” Jack, the owner of Camp Sky Ranch, said. Suddenly, that 8-ft. tall ladder I was staring at leaned up against the wall looked more like a skyscraper to me. “Did you seriously just use the word DEATH FALL?!,” I exclaimed, as I quickly laughed it off. I only entertained the thought of a DEATH FALL for a second or so before deciding to bring it to the shoot despite his friendly warning. There was no way I was going to let my unfounded anxiety about heights deter my desire to shoot from above! After all, I had a vision and I was on a mission!

CREATIVES GO CUCKOO FOR A QUIRKY COLLABORATION

From the moment I introduced the idea of doing an Alice in Wonderland wedding themed shoot to Andi of Miss Match Rentals, we began planning with reckless abandon! I've been hording all sorts of Alice in Wonderland inspiration on a Pinterest board for the past few years which helped move things along swiftly. By the time Andi asked Desi of Desi's Floral and Design Studio to join us, a whirlwind of wacky ideas started to storm in and a foundation was soon forged.

From left to right: Raejan: Diverse Accomplice & Finger Fire Fighter // Rob: King of the Handsome Lemmy & Hardworking American // Andi: Psychedelic Queen & Plate Peddler // Jessica: High Ladder Climber & Soulful Image Collector  // Jack: Maple Tree Syrup Tapper & Chief Camp Ranger // Desi: Handmade Prop Goddess & Freestyle Florist // Wendy: Sugar Whisperer & Master Snow Globe Maker

IDEAS OVERFLOW WHEN YOU JOIN FORCES W/ KINDRED SPIRITS

Andi, Desi, and I had a beer-infused brainstorming session at the Appalachian Mountain Brewery here in Boone a month or so before the shoot to get our creative juices flowing and to solidify our intentions. The frenzy of inspiration resulted in an intoxicating exchange. Ideas were the easy part. Corralling our concepts was the biggest challenge! Getting other vendors involved who were as elated as we were required a lot less effort than I thought thanks to the awesome network of wedding vendors here in Boone, NC. We gained momentum pretty rapidly after that.

Location scouting for Alice in Wonderland Styled Shoot @ Camp Sky Ranch

ECLECTIC MEETS ENCHANTED

While scouting locations at Camp Sky Ranch we wanted something that felt magical and mesmerizing for our backdrop, so when Jack took us up to this special spot that was once an apple orchard, we were enraptured by the beauty of the bare forest and windy, gravel road. The woodland scene he shuttled us to was more perfect than we could have imagined, we thought that it would set the whole tone for the shoot nicely. I'll admit, it was a HUGE pain in the butt to get everyone and everything to our secret hideaway because it required a 4x4 vehicle to access, but it was definitely worth it for this secluded spread!

Raejan, Photography Assistant Extraordinaire 

Paparazzi getting their shots in before we lose light!

ADVENTURE AWAITS ON SHOOT DAY

Once our barn wood table(s) were delivered and put into place, everything started taking shape. It was impressive to witness a big ol' pile of stuff transform into a storybook scene from one of my/our favorite childhood fantasies. The thoughtfully decorated 24-foot table(s) supplied by Upper Barn were situated in the middle of the road to act as the center-stage for the entire production. It took nearly 3-hours to put all of the details in place before the set was perfected and photo-ready.

Everything starting to transform @ the Alice in Wonderland Wedding Inspiration Shoot (iPhone Pics)

I had, roughly, two hours—not including the many warm up breaks our freezing models needed—to shoot everything before we started losing light. Things ran smoothly due to some extensive pre-planning, thankfully, only a few hiccups were encountered throughout the day. I knew from my experience as a wedding photographer that not everything would go according to plan, but we managed just fine no matter what was flung our way!

The 24-foot table getting set-up on the day of the shoot (iPhone Pics)

THE FREEDOM TO EXERCISE OUR OFF-BEAT CREATIVITY

To say that everyone took this theme and ran with it would be an understatement. We all had our “jobs to do” but it was the group effort that made this shoot run so seamlessly from idea to conception! With every meeting, email, text, and phone call our plans morphed and cemented with great ease. Before we knew it the time flashed by as we feverishly neared the finish line.

One thing that made this whole production a success was that everyone was eager to see what we envisioned come to fruition. We were all chomping at the bit to unleash our creativity and bring this shoot to life! What an incredible experience it was to have the opportunity to work with some of the most esteemed professionals in the wedding industry here in (and around) Boone, NC. 

I spy Wayfaring Wanderer!

I am so honored and grateful to have been a part of this styled shoot. Thank you for taking a look at this behind-the-scenes peek at our Alice in Wonderland Wedding Inspiration collaboration. I'll be sharing the actual images from the shoot soon so stay tuned! 

< -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >

Photographer: Wayfaring Wanderer // Rentals: Miss Match Rentals // Florals + Styling: Desi's Floral and Design Studio // Venue: Camp Sky Ranch Events // Teacakes & Mini-cupcakes:The Gamekeeper Restaurant and Bar // Farm Tables: Upper Barn// Make up: Beautiful Bride on Location (Marion Edwards) // Dress: Did Someone Say Party? // Model: Caitlin Lovell // Photography Assistant: Raejan Danger Dunn

Want to see more of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland? Be sure to "like" the Wayfaring Wanderer FB page to get connected! I would also encourage you to visit the pages of the other vendors listed above and show them some love, too!

Animating Inspiration

Isn't this the most enchanting video EVAR! An example of creative genius at its finest.
I haven't heard of Oren Lavie before, but if all his songs are as whimsical as this one,
I might be inclined to have a listen to the rest of the album.
Either way, I had to share this video with you today.

Posted in Tuesday's Tribute

Also, I just wanted to mention that as of yesterday I have sold 6 mini print trios, which means that $4.20 is what will currently go to NAPPC to fund research for Colony Collapse Disorder.
If you missed the post on CCD, I urge you to read more about the deadly epidemic that
is killing our honeybees. BEE INVOLVED!

• Honeybee Campaign - Post
• Mini Print Trios - Etsy
  

~Juxtapose~

VS.

+ Not exactly the same scene but the concept is comparable. I didn't particularly care for the strictly digital shot of the exact scene so I chose a different frame. Would that then make the comparison irrelevant since it's not a photo of the same exact scene? Hmmmm, oh well.......I don't usually discriminate, except for when it comes to my photos, but I can do that! Anyhoo, I took these photos about a week and a half ago, while on my way to Acupuncture. One day as I was leaving a treatment I "saw" this abandoned building off to the side of the gas station in Valle Crucis; before I started the TtV I never really noticed it before. The people pumping gas were staring at me, and it was quite uncomfortable for the first 5 minutes I was there........after that I stopped paying attention to what was going on behind me so that I could make the most of what time I had before my appointment.

+ I try to make mental notes of things I see along the road so that I can stop when I'm better prepared, and sometimes I forget........I've gotten into the habit of writing EVERYTHING down though, otherwise ideas would be lost. I have lots of scrap paper laying around with random notes that need to be transcribed so I can categorize them so I can make sense of it all.....I love when I come across old lists or notes that I haven't seen in months, especially when I can check something off of it!.........It's like "hey, I did that"......Check!........That happens to me quite often actually, I guess the act of writing it down will still allow me to recall and complete what needs to be done even if the list is no where to be found.

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I would like to share what's inspiring me today:

• Timecatcher.com: Here you will find a grouping of the most wondrous images I've ever seen. Photographs beautiful enough to make my heart ache, and to ignite a lust that runs so deep it makes me want to cry........

  WARNING: Numerous scientific research has proven this site to be a real feast for the eyes. You may experience the will to quit your day job and travel. We cannot be held responsible for such actions. Viewer discretion is advised.

• Louis Vuitton ~ Core Values Movie: Normally, I would automatically delete an email from them as I am not currently nor will I ever carry a Louis Vuitton bag.....that being said they are running a new campaign that really struck a cord with me. This link will take you to their website, my suggestion would be to just check out the 'Core Values' film. Photos accompanied with instrumental music in a slideshow form is what you should expect, but their is also a message or campaign slogan that speaks volumes to someone who desires to travel and see the world......as I do........these words were very powerful.......if you have 5 minutes.....check it out!

*Louis Vuitton did not pay me to post this and I am in no way endorsing Louis Vuitton with this message*