Business Head Shots on location

Your company's professional brand is created in the public arena by a number of factors, including, reputation, past referrals, community involvement, etc.  All those meritorious efforts can be spoiled by the visuals you present on your website and social media profiles, such as, Linked In and Facebook. Images of Sommer works hard to be a partner in your branding your company's image as one of professionalism and expertise in your field. 

We  Come to you!

For your convenience, we will come to your office of 5 or more associates to create your new business head shots!  In a few minutes, your company will elevate it's image and maintain the fresh professional image you need to capture your client's attention.  Call us at 410-893-3620 or email Robin Sommer at info@robinsommer.com to discuss your company needs.

High School Senior Portraits

High School Senior Portraits

There are times in one's life that photography marks a transition

 from one era to another.  Leaving high school for the world and a future beyond is one of those times!

I often  photograph really young children, right down to babies only a few days old, but you might not know I am just as happy to photograph high school seniors! 

 I loved my college experience at Towson University and University of Virginia and it is exciting to me to find out where my H.S. Seniors are heading!  I have photographed many of my seniors since they were babies and it has been truly an honor and a pleasure, as well as, a professional accomplishment to work with a young person that long!

 

Many high schools today permit outside photographers to submit portraits for the yearbook, often including additional casual portraits for pages in the yearbook reserved for the seniors.  

 

Here's a time line for high school seniors to consider! 

Formal Yearbook Portrait:

 Have your formal portrait taken in school generally in the spring of your junior year, with make ups often in the fall of senior year.  If you like the result, great!  If not, or if you want more personalized attention during this important session, consider scheduling your high school session during the summer and we will include the formal drape shot (black and midnight blue drapes are supplied).  Please be aware that the guys have to supply their own tux or suit.   

  

Your Portrait Session 

 

Most area schools need all photography for the yearbook in by Thanksgiving break, so you have time through out the summer and early fall for your portrait session!

  

Where?  At your home or any location in the area!  We have beautiful natural resources and cool urban settings which could make your portrait session a reflection of what you like to do and where you like to be!

Clothing?  You can choose to wear several outfits during your session.  We will discuss this during our initial consultation.

Props?  Yes!  Cars, sports gear, your guitar, etc.  We will discuss this at your initial consultation as well.

Style of Photography?  I use my artistry to reflect your personality; who the real "you" might be.  That is my goal and I work to get to know you during our time together.  I photograph in color, but often create images in black and white or use other photo art techniques in final production.

 

 

 

 

Business Head Shots are a new "must have" for your business!

How long do you have to catch a potential customer's attention?  30 seconds or is it 2 seconds?  In our fast paced world, I would bet you have approximately 3 seconds to capture enough interest from your new customer to keep them on your website page.  If your business has a Facebook page, LinkedIn profile or one of the hundreds of networking sites available today, are you using just an anonymous shadow figure for your profile picture?  How can anyone start a relationship with that!

You work hard every day to generate new business, capture a piece of your market share and turn first time clients into lifelong customers.  If you present yourself in a non-professional manner (ever seen the pictures on Facebook with someone's arm around the shoulder?), how can your customer see you as a professional, especially if they are new to your business?  I have made it my business as a professional photographer to educate business owners of the importance of a professionally created business portrait, more commonly known as a "head shot".  Let me introduce you to just a few of the savvy business owners I have recently photographed for print publication, press releases, websites and social media pages.  I create approximately 20 images from which one to three images are selected for full retouching, proper cropping, color balance, lighting and posing.  All these images are delivered electronically and can be used as often as needed.

Pam Klahr, CEO, Harford County Chamber of Commerce

Don't be a shadow figure!  Project the professional image your business deserves!

Brooks Grasso, Fulton Mortgage Company

Angel Dunn, Keller Williams Realty

Nancy Brown, Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees

Dwayne Adams, Harford County Public Library Board of Trustees

Bill Rettberg Jr., Cruise One and Positive Images by Rettberg

Dr. Ravikumar, Upper Chesapeake Health

Kellar Williams Realty

Claudia Holman, APGFCU

John Depman, Coffee Coffee

Lisa Baldino, Turn of Phrase

Winnie Roche, Office of Tourism

Liriodendrin Mansion goes Hawaiian this summer!

On a sunny, warm summer day at Liriodendrin Mansion, Peggy and Mark brought the charm of the islands to Bel Air!  Peggy's dress was handmade in Hawaii, perfect for the summertime tone of their wedding. Mark wore a beautiful Kukui Nut Lei, the first prayer beads of the Hawaiian people, and often worn during wedding ceremonies.  The bride and groom were meticulous in their planning, from the amazing flowers by Nancy Smith to the food selected and created by Dean and Brown caterers. The couple exchanged vows at the two centuries old St. Ignatius Church.  The guests were encouraged to join in with light and summery beach attire.  Mark created wonderful table cards, a lava rock display, among many other touches that brought Hawaii to Bel Air in July!

 

Babies are going to the dogs!

Every portrait session I am challenged to expand  my vision and creativity, but when a parent recently threw done a major challenge,  had to step up!  The goal was a portrait of their "first child", a beautiful and sweet Rhodesian Ridgeback family pet, mom and dad's cowboy boots and their 11 day old baby.  The dog (sorry, I forgot her name!) essentially cooperated with a firm hand which was retouched out, but she gave a lovely, soulful look into the camera!  It was a beautiful portrait session and baby mostly slept through the whole thing!  Thank you to mom and dad and welcome Anna Mae!

Teddy Bear is my new best friend

 I actually want this teddy bear!  He looks so comfy, so I guess that is why Finn is sleeping away his first portrait session!  I love this portrait, but I took many of him and his proud big sisters!  You would think newborn portraits would be the easiest to create, but if the baby is not inclined to sleep soundly, then this session can easily spiral away into a several hour photo shoot!  A soundly sleeping baby is very easy to move around within the session, but it does not always happen.

Here are some pointer for your newborn's portrait session.

First, remember that your baby's first portrait is really while you are pregnant!  Don't forget Maternity portraits since they are the first and last portraits of a time when you and your baby are the closest you can be.

Don't decide to have your baby photographed AFTER the baby is born!  Schedule this session while you are pregnant,,,read on!

Try to have your baby photographed within the first 2 weeks if possible.  If you are having maternity portraits made, schedule a flexible session date with your photographer.  I typically have my portrait clients put me on their email list to be notified when they have the baby.  I then call mom to firm up our date.  You could also assign this email task to the baby's godparent or one of your friends.

Keep your environment as warm as possible.  Babies don't sweat, so you probably can't have the room too warm for baby.

A white noise machine is great for keeping baby asleep during the session.  This is also a great idea for babies who are light sleepers.

Have your portraits created at home so that you can take all the time you need to feed, change and soothe your baby.  Remember that this is a truly special session, so you should be as relaxed as possible, enjoying this time with your child.

Buy some interesting hats, head bands, soft blankets, etc. ready for your shoot.  Your photographer will have props, but the items you buy will be in your style, colors, etc. and can be kept as a keepsake for your baby.

Be ready to be photographed!  I know you are not feeling your prettiest after giving birth, but THIS IS IMPORTANT and your child will not care if you need highlights in your hair!

One last thought.  Babies are one of life's most precious gifts and I handle babies as the precious, fragile little humans that they are.  I think the images of babies hanging out of slings and off of tree branches, etc. are interesting and pretty, and I know that the baby was safe while being  photographed, however, I don't view babies as props.  The portrait is about this small new human, and I always focus on the child and not the background or the things that are in the picture.  This is not to say that I don't photograph babies in as many poses as possible because I do!  I just like to make sure my babies look safe, snug and contented.  Just my idea about newborns!

These are just a few suggestions and your photographer will have more.  Relax and enjoy this special time.  They will not look like a newborn after about 3 weeks, so make plans while you are still pregnant and have a flexible appointment time scheduled with your photographer!

Robin

Welcome to Images of Sommer!

This is my first blog post!  I know, I know,,,,long overdue, but I would love to invite you to follow my blog as I post images from  my portrait sessions, weddings and travel.  I specialize in photography of children and their families created at home or in the beauty of  nature.  Newborns and young children are my hearts desire as a professional photographer, but I have grown to really love high school senior photography as well.  My wedding style is documentary or photojournalistic as I work alongside my husband and professional photographer, Bill Rettberg Jr. of Positive Images by Rettberg.  We are partners in life and in business and have found that our styles have a great synergy when we shoot weddings together.  Here's some of my Children's photography.  Stay tuned!

Thanks for joining me!