Where have you been?

Hello my friends!

It has been months since you have heard from me. I am truly sorry. I know that this #coronavirus has disrupted a lot of people’s lives and I am no exception.

The month of January was rather busy for me with corporate events and headshots. I took some time off during the slow month of February and was looking forward to March so I could start marketing and catching up with my photography business.

No one would have ever predicted that within the first few days of March COVID-19 would be declared a pandemic sending the stock markets crashing. Or that schools and businesses would close and countries would limit travelers at their boarders. Or that people would be asked to stay home and cities would go into lockdown virtually bringing the world to a halt. No one would have ever guessed.

So where have I been? For a few days I was paralyzed. I had been contemplating the effects of all this on my small business. I have been thinking of ways to stay afloat. Should I offer online classes or a virtual class? But Im not a teacher. I don’t have anything that can be boxed and packaged and mailed to clients. It’s not that easy when you are a portrait photographer. My career rely’s on photographing groups of people at weddings, office parties, families and new born babies. I need to connect to people and look them in the eye or touch their hands so I can place it in the right location. Keeping social distancing would not work well at all.

I was reminded of my younger days when street photography was a big part of my life. Human interaction as a street photographer was limited for me. I was just a voyeur and I wanted to keep my distance. I think I should go out and do that again, but its not worth the risk.

So where do I go from here? Well, there a two parts of my photography that I have kept mostly to myself. My first is a passion for photographing architecture, landscapes and nature. And another passion is for manipulating photographs in photoshop. And those do not require anything but me, my camera and my computer.

Therefore until the world goes back to some semblance of normalcy and I can once again engage physically with my clients I will use this time to catalogue and categorize my on my own photography and even display some of my previous work to you all on a regular basis.

I hope you enjoy them and that my photos make you smile as you travel vicariously through them.

Stay safe my friends.

Tina Falkenbury

Barns in Rappahannock, Virginia

A Professional Headshot Says a Lot About You

To get or not to get that headshot?

That is the question many of us ask.

Will it really make much of a difference?

Well I’m here to tell you that YES, it does. A headshot says so much about you. Headshots are not only for corporate businesses, they are useful for all types of social media exposure, even dating sites.

If you are going to put yourself out there, then let it be your best self.

Let’s say you are an entrepreneur and you are launching your new business. People want to know that they are dealing with a professional and someone who cares about their business. And YES, all that can be assessed from your head shot.

Professional headshots are quick and easy. They can be taken in a studio or outside for a more casual look.

Some photographers are willing to travel to you and that saves your precious time.

Yes, I know its an expense that you do no need, but look at it as an investment. This small investment will yield more in return. More exposure, more success, more business and more admirers.

Throughout the years I have photographed people for Corporate web sites and other main stream career professionals. Others have been fitness professionals or professional speakers. I have also photographed people who were updating their dating profiles or linkedIn profiles and some were internet bloggers and entrepreneurs. All were looking for a photograph that would represent them and their chosen careers in the best light.

I know I cannot convince everyone, so if you still insist on taking your own photo please try to avoid these portrait faux pas…

1. Never use a photo from which you have cut out the other person. That just looks tacky. 2. Don’t take a selfie in a mirror  3. Do not stand right under a light or you will get all kinds of unflattering shadows. And 4. Unless you work with animals do not post a photo of your pet as your profile pic. Even though they are cute the only tell us that you have a cute pet.

I leave you with a headshot of yours truly. This one is several years old so its time for a new one. LOL

Looking forward to seeing you through my camera lens !

 

Love is in The Air

With the approach of Valentine’s Day we turn our attention to LOVE.

 

We all experience and give love in many different ways. The love I am referring to is the result of Cupid and his arrow. We have come to associate Cupid as this Cherub who can shoot his arrow and make two people fall in love. 

I have had the privilege of photographing several couples over the past few months who are celebration their love.

This adorable couple is celebrating the young man’s start of a wonderful career as a Marine.

 

 

This beautiful couple is celebrating their engagement in our nations capital.

 

This young couple is just celebrating being together. Even in the studio they were able to show their love.

 

 

This young couple is celebrating their 70th Wedding anniversary !!

 

 

These love birds have been married for a couple of years and just wanted to capture their love at that moment

 

 If this triggers the romantic in you then grab your significant other and give me a call !!

703-963-0354

You too can celebrate your love with a photo session.

On January 29, 2018 By tfalkenburyIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Fall Family Portraits

The end of summer is good! It means the colors of fall are just around the corner.

Labor day is officially the end of summer. The public pools close down, and school starts. But most of the time there is still at least a few more weeks of  warm weather.

This year our summer continued well into September.  The passed few days the temperature has finally cooled down sending everyone into fall fever. We find ourselves outdoors more often taking walks and smelling the fresh air.  Always anticipating all the fall colors to come.

I can’t contain my excitement !

As a photographer, this is my favorite time of year. I love to go out with my clients and capture stunning fall portraits. Every year we wait for those few weeks in October (sometimes its still good in early November) so we can enjoy the colors of fall. The myriad of red, yellow, orange and chartreuse.

Here are a few of the family portraits I have captured over the years.

Family portrait relaxing in the park

Another fantastic family on an outdoor photo shoot

peek a boo !

Let’s Stay Standing ( and mix it up a bit )

More Fun in the Leaves

 

New Born Photographer, Fairfax Virgina

New born babies….What precious bundles of joy. As a photographer it is a huge pleasure working with these tiny newborns.

Just knowing that we will never have the chance to replicate these first few days/weeks as they adjust to the world makes my job even more rewarding. I create memories that last a lifetime of this beautiful sleepy stage and the innocence that exudes them.

The way we have to protect these new borns as they slowly discover the vast space around them is so important. And yet we can dress them up and manipulate them to highlight their adorableness.

As a mother of 2 (who have grown into lovely teenagers) I appreciate every moment with these little ones as I know how fast time flies.

These are some examples of an adorable baby boy for you to enjoy…. I will be posting more. I promise.

A Very Special Place – Family Photographer Alexandria,Virginia

 

Many of my family portrait clients ask to be photographed in their own gardens. The reason being that in the future when they look at their photographs they want to remember the feelings that these places elicit for them.

The other day on one of my photo sessions I met a lovely family. During the photo shoot I was shown a fabulous tree that had been their daughters special place. She would sit in a perfect hollow and read for hours. I turned to the college bound daughter and said, “That would be a great photo of you up there now, but I know you are all dressed up and you don’t want to get dirty.” Her reply was “Oh, I would love that.” And proceeded to climb up the tree. We took several photos as well as a few of her on her childhood slide.

This is why I love being a family photographer. I am always meeting many interesting and creative individuals that make my job fun and memorable.

Depicting Life Photography is a Family Photographer based in Fairfax, Virginia. Studio and on location sessions are by appointment only. On location sessions take place within the DC Metro are.  We cover all occasions such as family photography, headshot photography and event photography. Contact Depicting Life Photography to book your session.

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High School Senior Portraits

High School Senior Portraits, Washington D.C , Portrait Photographer

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Had a fun photo shoot with this young man as we took metro to China Town in Washington DC. He is very artist and plans to study Architecture in college. We managed to get a variety of architectural back drops. His high school senior portraits are so unique and fun and I am sure they will be cherished forever.

 

Funny How Time Flies !

I established Depicting Life Photography in 2006 and in all these years I have had several return clients, some who come back every year. I cannot begin to tell you how thrilling it is to watch the children grow and that I am the one who gets to document these memories.

I have had several return families and I have really enjoyed watching them grow, but I would like to share with you a special group of girls; the Girl Scouts. I was honored when they asked me to be the photographer at their annual Father Daughter Dance for the 9th year in a row.

Every year the oldest girl scout troop organizes the Father Daughter Dance event. There are around 60 girls from kindergarten to 6th grade and their dads/chaperones. This is such a special time for the oldest girls because they are off to middle school in the fall. Some may continue with girl scouts and some will not, so this is a time when they get to shine.

Let me share some of the photos of a group of young ladies that I have photographed from kindergarten to 6th grade.

 

AND JUST THE OTHER DAY……

Contact Depicting Life

Portraits of High School Seniors are not what they used to be

High school seniors do not have to settle for the boring school portraits anymore.

Every year the popularity of these custom tailored photo shoots is increasing. Parents want to have photos of their senior framed and hung on a wall to be admired. The seniors have become much more comfortable with being photographed as many of them spend hours snap chatting one another and uploading images to social media.

Many photographers are catering to the growing demand of custom portraits , however the relationship with your photographer has to be comfortable and easy going. Spend time asking questions and chatting before the photo shoot.  Let the photographer know your expectations and your comfort zone. Talk about props and change of outfits.

Remember, this is about you and it should be fun.