I can’t believe we’re coming up on my first full month working as Heidi Hope’s new photographer! It’s gone by so fast. I’ve been busy learning the process at the studio, meeting our fabulous clients, and building our new senior division.
Heidi has been all-out with sessions and projects, so I’m taking over the “Ask me Anything” series for March. We accept these questions via the Heidi Hope Photography Facebook wall. Questions that get the most “likes” and are asked the most frequently get answered from month to month. You can see all of our past Ask Me Anything posts by clicking on “categories” and then the FAQ section!
Onto your questions…
From Meg: Mariah, what are you most excited about in working for hhp? Do you have a favorite photo of Heidi’s and why?
There are so many things to be excited about. Aside from watching our new senior division grow, I feel very lucky to be working with a team of people that I highly respect. As artists and business owners, everyone here at Heidi Hope rocks, and I’m so psyched to be creating art with them!
I love all of Heidi’s work, and have followed it since she first started. I think my favorite has to be this one, though:
I remember seeing this photo before I joined the team and thinking ‘if I get the chance to photograph clients this cute, I’m in’. 🙂
From Bree: Do you guys at HH use a backdrop system or a simple backdrop stand for all of your lovely rolls of seamless?
We have a backdrop system in the studio that we use for larger rolls of basic paper (white, black, etc). The majority of our shoots use different colors of paper, so we put these smaller rolls on portable backdrop stands. It’s easier to switch them for each session that way. The portable stands are always weighted with sandbags for safety.
From Megan: Are little kids naturally more, well, natural in front of the camera because of their age, or are they harder to cajole into a non-posed picture?
Little kids are less self-conscious in front of the camera, which is really fun! They’re so genuine, and simple activities show true personality. It’s funny you mention ‘non-posed’ pictures, because truthfully, most pictures with little kids are technically non-posed. Staying still and posing isn’t something a 4-year-old wants to do, so we make everything into a game or a fun activity to get them into the right spots.
My favorite trick (especially with boys) is to ask them to jump as high as they can with their hands in their pockets. When they land, I click, and they’re usually laughing and posed just how we want them! Shh 😉
From Meg: What’s your favorite color?
Blue 🙂
From Stephanie: Will you still be working on the North Shore (Massachusetts)? I also noticed that your blog said on-location…Will you be using the studio at all? Do you have a favorite location for shoots in RI?
Yes, I’ll be serving all of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. The locations on the North Shore are too good not to use for shoots! For Heidi Hope, I’ll be shooting mostly on-location (when weather allows), but I’ll be doing studio sessions as well. One of our senior packages includes an indoor session, and I can’t wait to start designing studio backdrops and sets for it.
I love Roger Williams Park. It’s gorgeous, and has a great variety of backdrops in a small space. I parked my car at the carousel the other day, and was able to quickly walk to the Temple of Music, the Japanese Gardens, and the Boathouse! Other favorites are Narragansett State Beach, Bristol, and the vineyards in East Bay.
From Meg: If you had a cake smash what would your set look like?
I’d love to have an entire Sweet Indulgence cake to myself, haha. Getting frosting in my hair doesn’t thrill me, so I think I’ll take a cue from one of our recent clients and have a ‘cake smash tea party’ instead. With a blue, nautical theme! The whole Heidi Hope team will be invited.
From Kristen: Would you ever consider any Boston locations? Do you like to shoot in studio or on location? What do some of your favorite shots look like???
Yes, we currently serve the Boston area for on-location shoots. Faneuil Hall and the Public Gardens are my favorite locations there! My business was built on outdoor photography, and I still get excited about discovering new locations and finding beautiful backdrops and light in them. But, I have used a studio throughout the years, and do appreciate the controlled lighting and ability to use a lot of props.
Here are a few of my favorite images:
From Meg: Do you have a funny photog story to share with us?
A lot of my photographer stories come from the funny things kids say to me! I remember certain quotes from an adorable 8-year-old boy, who was such a ham:
MG: So, why do you want to be an actor and model?
“I want girls to scream at me like they do at the Jonas Brothers!”
MG: Can you tilt your head for me? (I say this a LOT to kids during a session)
“Mariah, shouldn’t we be trying some different poses?”
His Mom: So, how do you think you did?
“I think she got some money shots.”
🙂
-Mariah