Now Offering: In-Studio Maternity Portraits | Oakland Maternity Portrait Photographer

Ok, yal.

I am sooooo excited to say I can now offer in-studio maternity portraits! This is HUGE because I’ve had mamas request to stay indoors for their shoot, or there have been times when we were rained out of our location, and, since babies come when they please, it’s not always possible to reschedule a maternity shoot before baby makes their grand entrance.

Over the last couple of years, I’ve been working on figuring out how to still give beautiful portraits in-studio without having to ask clients to rent a separate space. And I think I’ve figured it out.

 

This mama had a very specific, yet simple, vision in mind for her shoot, and it worked perfectly in our space. Honestly, I was worried we wouldn’t have many good shots, but I ended up having a hard time deciding which images to edit for her reveal.

Maternity Photography in Oakland, CA

She didn’t want to look at the camera (personal preference of hers), but we still got a ton of great angles with different types of light setups to give her even more diversity in her gallery.

Above, is the simple beauty light setup, and below is her backlight set up.

The best part about in-studio maternity shoots? Mamas not having to be nervous about people watching as they shoot. This mama even got excited about doing a fine-art nude setup (not pictured), along with some drama-ish shots (below).

 

Maternity Photography in Oakland, CA

 

Then there’s the big question: But what if I REALLY want outdoor portraits?

No worries. I got you covered.

There’s a park not too far from our space, and it’s perfect for adding on a quick outdoor segment to your session.

Maternity Photography in Oakland, CA

Maternity Photography in Oakland, CA

Maternity Photography in Oakland, CA

Maternity Photography in Oakland, CA

 

For booking inquiries, please visit www.teairramitchell.com/inquiry. Don’t forget to ask about our Maternity and Newborn Bundles!

Open for 2018

TMP is officially back from Winter Break!

2017 was a pretty good year for us: we had a new baby, I finally began working full-time as a photographer, and I was graced with a many humbling life-lessons, which I’m always grateful for.

One major thing that happened last year was the Revamp. I had planned on keeping everyone updated on the in’s and out’s of everything that was happening as it happened, but, I’m not going to lie, adjusting to full-time momtrepreneur was more than I anticipated. With that said, the Revamp brought many changes internally, that shouldn’t affect you all too much, and some changes that you won’t help but be able to notice.

Ultimately, the Revamp was the first step to turning TMP into a full-service Wedding and Portrait Studio. A larger studio space is in the works, but it was absolutely necessary to establish some new systems to make sure our clients have a portrait experience they’ll never forget.

Refined Booking System
I’m excited to say that we have been booking more and more sessions (you may want to check out our FAQ about how early to book your sessions), which also meant we needed to revisit some things to create a system that allows us to take in more inquiries without them getting lost among the many other emails coming in.

Now, when you’re ready to book your portrait reservation, we have a new client portal system to keep track of all of the details of your session and portrait order. The best part, all you have to do is send the inquiry from our Inquiry Form and you’ll automatically be sent booking information and be added into our studio queue.

 

Custom Styling + Styling Guide
In the past, clients often came to me saying that they didn’t know what to wear to their session, or how to do their hair and makeup, and since this was for their portraits, it could sometimes be stressful. To ensure you get the best experience when planning for your portraits, you will have a one-on-one style consult where we’ll talk about how you want to look in your portraits and go over every detail.

We will discuss everything from basic wardrobe, to hair and makeup, and even any insecurities you may have about your body so that I can plan on how to pose you. The goal for every session is to create beautiful pictures that you love with all of your heart, and the Custom Styling + Styling Guide allows you to truly design the perfect portrait session.

 

In-Person Reveal + Order Session
Ok, so in the past, figuring out how to sell portrait products was tough for me, but there is something so powerful in holding a physical portrait. I cannot begin to describe the joy that wells up in my heart when I hold portraits of my own family. And if I’m truly being transparent, I get the feeling as I’m putting the final touches of my client’s orders. Seriously, printing your portraits is such an important part of your portrait process, and I want all of my clients to have gorgeous heirloom portraits that leave a legacy for their family’s future generations.  

When your portraits are ready, clients are invited to return to see their images and choose their favorites to build their Portrait Order using our simple pricing menu. Being in-person allows whatever questions you have to be answered right then, taking out the hassle of sending emails back and forth, playing phone tag, and putting more time between you and your final product. We want you to get excited about designing your portrait display, and we’re here to help however we can.

 

New Service
Remember how I said clients often were overwhelmed by hair and makeup? Well, now we will have (drumroll please!)….

HAIR AND MAKEUP STYLING WITH SESSION BOOKINGS!

Yes, friends! TMP now has a hair and makeup artist to help ease the stress of achieving that picture-perfect look for  your portraits.

“Who is this artist?” you may ask, well, that is a blog saved for another day, so stay tuned for the big introduction.

 

Well, friends, that’s all I have for you this post. I’ll be back to share some stories from TMP and give more insight into who we are as a company, but for now I just want to say: thank you for reading.

 

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You can find TMP online at www.teairramitchell.com.

Follow me on IG @teairramitchell for day-to-day updates on TMP, quotes, tips, and my life as a Momtrepreneur.

Like us on Facebook for more TMP updates, DIY’s and behind-the-scenes.

 

Best Ways to Contact

Phone calls are by appointment only

Email: info@teairramitchell.com

Inquiries: www.teairramitchell.com/inquiry

Styling Your Fall Family Portraits

One of the most common things I hear from clients is, “I have no idea how we should dress.”

No worries, I’ve got you covered.

Portraits are created to immortalize a moment in time, and often, these portraits are displayed front and center in your home. The pressure to look good is a little heavy, and that’s where I step in with my clients.

During their Style Consult, we talk a lot about the look they are going for. Sometimes clients know exactly what they want, and other times they have no clue. When I sit down to plan a client’s session, here’s what we do:

1. Choose a style. 
   When you submit an inquiry form on our website, we ask how you would like to be photographed, and include some examples to choose from; this is your desired Style (or Styles).
   The mom from this Fall Family Portrait session knew she wanted everyone to dress classically: dressy attire, but not too over the top. So we went from there.

   

2. Decide on colors. 
   How are you planning to display your portraits? If you’re thinking of a room in your home, you may want to consider having a pallet that compliments the room you have in mind. Or maybe there is a holiday card design you’ve been eyeing, think of colors that will look good in that layout.
   We wanted to go for a gold and cream look here, and we knew Burgundy would offer a nice contrast, especially considering our shooting location.

   

3. Book hair and makeup appointments. 
   Even if you feel you can do your own hair and makeup, take it from me, it’s so much better to treat yourself to booking with a stylist and makeup artist. Not only are you guaranteed to look amazing for your shoot, but you’ll also be a lot more relaxed with one less thing to worry about.
   For this shoot, the mom’s hair was styled by @taylordhair and her makeup was done by @allieyamaguchi. Be sure to check out these ladies’ Instagrams, especially if you’re looking for artists for the upcoming holidays.

   

4. Accessorize.
   Accessories will truly make or break your shoot. Sure, “less is more,” but I would love to style a session with many shiny and sparkly pieces. =]
   The dress was our accessory for this shoot. I found it in my studio stash and instantly knew it would be perfect for this style. (Yes, I do look for outfits for my clients, but only if they let me.)
   

   
5. Rock the shoot! 
   Now that you have all the styling components for your shoot, get out there and work it! Even if you’re a bit nervous, your photographer should be able to direct you into poses that flatter you. No need to worry about if you “look good,” your photographer has that under control.
   As I tell my clients, “Relax, and be beautiful!”

   

Just remember, your portrait experience should be enjoyable. And with a little planning and preparation, you will absolutely love them.

To see more images from this session, click here. If you would like more information on booking services with TeAirra Mitchell Photography, please reach out on our website. We’d love to hear from you!

Want inspiration on what to wear for your Fall Family Portraits, check out our board on Pinterest. 

Re-Introduction

Last week, I published a TMP blog for the first times in a long time (since June, I believe), and the one post was an entire ordeal that felt like such a struggle for me.

But first, a bit of an introduction may be in order due to my absence for such a period of time. I’m TeAirra; most people call me TeAirra, or some affectionate name they’ve bestowed upon me. I am a wife, mother, and budding entrepreneur (photography isn’t my only passion). I stay home with my littles, running my business whilst being Mommy. My life can sometimes seem overwhelming, but, oh, how I love every moment of sweet, agonizingly amazing love and chaos– and I mean that with every piece of my soul.

When I first began Light From My Soul– I can only rub my forehead and chuckle– I had no idea what I was doing.

I knew I wanted it to have at least some personal touch. After all, “Light From My Soul” seems a bit deeper than just some marketing pieces here and there, but that’s what happened; the blog slowly began to fill up with TMP marketing pieces here and there. And in a way, I feel like that’s what happened in my business. I began doing the things I thought I was suppose to do, the things that were required of every “professional photographer.”

Which worked pretty well for awhile, but photography began to lose it’s spark with me.

But then, after some soul searching and a many sleepless nights, I realized I still hadn’t accomplished what I set out to do. I’d become stuck in a cycle of “good enough”, and I wanted more. I wanted my clients to have more. I wanted the business to give more. TMP was always designed to be more of a luxury service, but we know the saying, “Rome wasn’t built overnight”

It was time to get back in gear. Thus, the Revamp.

And man, did the Revamp whip me into shape, but that’s a story for another day.

I made a decision, that no matter how many sleepless nights, how many mistakes, how many rejections, how many obstacles, I’m going to put this vision into action. I’m going to put ALL my visions into action. The only difference between those who are successful and those who are not is one put in the work, and one did not.  And I’m here to put in all the work.

Hello, I’m TeAirra, and I am here to live my life apologetically. I invite you to do the same.

Fall Mini-Sessions 2016

It’s been awhile since TeAirra Mitchell Photography has had a Mini-Session event, but I really miss hosting them. The kids are always so full of personality and the galleries are just so adorable to edit! Since the time for holiday cards and personalized gifts are quickly approaching, I figured why not have Fall Mini-Sessions?

Read on to get more info on TMP’s 2016 Fall Minis. Already know you want to reserve your session? Scroll straight to the bottom for booking details =]

What are the 2016 Fall Minis?

2016 Fall Mini-Sessions will be at an outdoor location in Oakland that has a variety of backgrounds perfect for capturing little ones in their fall attire. With trees, tall grass, and a beautiful sky background,  the Fall Mini-Session galleries are sure to have images that you can’t help but swoon over.

All Fall Mini-Sessions are short and sweet at 20-minutes long, and will highlight the personality of the mini-people in your life. For these minis, we’ve done away with props and busy backdrops so that the kiddos are what make the images truly unique. To create a fall feel, each image will be custom edited to bring out the colors of the season, giving your artwork a clean and natural look.

The little model in our test shoot (my darling daughter) was showing off her “pretty dress” from Posh Peanut Children’s Boutique where they have a beautiful variety of gorgeous dresses, rompers, and accessories for any little girl’s photo shoot. For ideas on what your little one can wear to their Fall Mini-Session, check out this fall-inspired style board we put together on Pinterest. As always, remember that you can reach out to us for a complimentary pre-consultation so we can bounce around wardrobe ideas for your mini-session.

When will they be and how can I book?

2016 Fall Mini-Sessions will be held in Oakland on Saturday, October 8th and Sunday, October 9th, with each mini-session including 20-minutes of shooting time, three 5×7″ prints, a 16×20″ frame of your favorite image from your mini-session gallery (a $675 value), and 25% off any custom card holiday order made during 2016 for a sitting fee of $150. You can reserve your mini-session slot with a signed contract and retainer fee of $75, and the remaining balance due the day of your mini-session. We will send the location’s address upon the reservation of your booking.

For more information on the TeAirra Mitchell Photography Mini-Sessions, visit www.teairramitchell.com/minis.

Don’t forget that you can save 15% off your mini-session and receive $100 towards your mini-session portrait order by referring a friend. To see more ways to get the most of your portrait investment, have a look at the TeAirra Mitchell Photography Loyalty Program. 

Beautiful Boudoir Session (Testimonial) | Bay Area Portrait Photographer| Boudoir Photography

Back in January I hosted a small Boudoir event, after helping my friend, Danielle, with her boudoir mini-sessions. The event went better than I could have hoped for, and I was thrilled with the positive feedback I received from the ladies. They all told me after seeing their images, they felt more confident, and couldn’t believe that was them in the photos.

I absolutely adore showing women how beautiful they really are!

Here’s a love note from Jhamaria, one of the ladies who attended the event back in January:

Here’s the full testimonial (I was so teary eyed reading this!):

Let me start off by saying, I LOVE TeAirra! I was recommended by a good friend of mine who actually went to college with her. From the moment we began setting up dates for the boudior mini photoshoot I could tell I was going to really enjoy myself because of her warm spirit she gives off the moment you begin conversation with her!

As the week approached to the shoot she was awesome at checking in with me, going over ideas for what to wear, and even the full concept of my vision!  On the day of, she was so welcoming,  offered me a makeup artist and hairstylist,  champagne,  a cute robe to walk around in as she finished prepping everything, and even played my choice of music(so accommodating!)  Typically I am very shy, but the entire vibe (and maybe the champagne&the Beyoncé playing in the background) helped me come out of my shell. TeAirra continously reassured me how great I looked in front of the camera which seriously helped my confidence with being sexy! I would recommend her as a photographer anyday! She even gives you delicious chocolates after the shoot and made sure to remain in touch with me about my photos.

There was a bit of a delay on the photobook I had ordered sowhat did she do to accommodate me? Created an app for me for my phone that had a password that I was able to share with my significant other in the meantime until the arrival of all my book! So thankful for her for doing that because it shows she cares about her clients 🙂

Nevertheless,  I received my little black book of photos and am SO pleased with them. TeAirra brought the beauty out of me through a lens and I honestly cannot thank her enough for doing that for me! Book her for your next photoshoot now!
–Jhamaria M.

 

If Jhamaria’s story spoke to you, maybe it’s time you treated yourself to a boudoir session! 🙂 Visit www.teairramitchell.com, and send me a message, I’d love to talk to you about your boudoir experience!

Baker Beach Nude Maternity Session | Bay Area Portrait Photographer | Maternity Photography

I’ve been wanting to do a nude maternity session ever since I was pregnant. There’s just something extraordinarily beautiful about the pregnant figure, to me. But, I’ve never had a mama that really wanted to. Until now!

I got an email from my website saying “Hey! I have this idea for a shoot that I’m dying to do and I absolutely love your work. Please give me a call.” So I called her, and I almost screamed with excitement when she said “I really want to do a nude shoot outside with my pregnant belly.”

Seriously, I could’ve passed out!

We decided on Baker Beach, because it is a nude beach. And yes, it was very cold, but this mama was determined and so was I!

In between sets, I had her wear my coat and my assistant and I did everything we could to keep her warm. We wrapped up the session in about 45 minutes because I didn’t want the poor girl to suffer any more. But the results were amazing!

This mama was really excited to add her son into the images; it was so adorable watching him enjoy the beach (despite the cold), and talk about the baby in mommy’s belly!

Do I want to shoot more of these sessions? OH YEAH! If you, or someone you know is interested in maternity photography services, please visit my website, and send a message through my contact form. I love working with bellies and babies!

Cheers!

RESTART (and some BTS)

When I started my business, I wanted to give people an experience. I didn’t just want to shoot and burn, but really give my clients something to look forward to, get excited about, and enjoy as much as I did.

I wanted sessions to be booked in person, over tea and coffee, and great conversation.

I wanted to have an amazing time at the sessions; creating portraits, and having fun with my clients.

I wanted to deliver images that made my clients so overcome with joy, they said, “I love it!”

I wanted to build relationships with my clients.

I wanted to send birthday cards to the kids, anniversary gifts to my brides and grooms, and baby gifts to my belly mamas.

I wanted my clients to have a beautiful portrait experience with the images to match.

And somewhere, I lost that vision.

I don’t know if it was the pressure to have outstanding work. Or maybe my desire to make everyone happy. Or even the longing of being recognized in the photography community as a truly great photographer, and not just a “mom with a camera” who shoots and burns.

It’s been a little over a year since I’ve started my portrait business, and although that isn’t much time, I feel like I’ve been around the world with all the experiences I’ve had during this journey.

The more I tried to fit in, the more I lost myself and what I wanted my business to stand for.

Tough times reveal who a person really is. And making it this far has been tough– to say the least. But you know what would have made it easier? Staying true to myself and the vision for my business.

Is my work the greatest out there? I wouldn’t say so, but it’s not too bad for someone who’s only been at it for a year.

Can I make everyone happy? Highly doubtful. In the meantime, I’m going to focus on how I can spread happiness through my photography.

Will I ever be recognized as a great photographer in the photography community? Who knows. But I’ll die trying.

I’ve come to the realization that this is who I really am, and I have no reason to be ashamed or embarrassed. And I’ll never get where I want to be trying to tag along for everyone else’s journey.

After a year of trying to figure this whole photography business thing out, I still don’t have all the answers (and trust me, I’ve searched high and low), and I probably never will.

I will, however, get better with time. I can promise that.

I’m done trying to do this to please everyone.

I started this because I had a vision. A vision to make time standstill in 1/250th of a second, so that one moment could last forever.

So that someday, a child could sit in their grandparent’s lap, point to a photo and say, “Who is this?” and hear story after story of all the amazing things accomplished in their family.

I fell in love with photography because it was the easiest way to share a specific moment in time with people.

Everyone knows it: a picture speaks a thousand words. And those words can be anything the photographer wants them to be, all with one click: BOOM. Magic.

It’s that simple to me. And I never should have complicated its simplicity.

Temporarily, I lost touch with myself. But after some reflection, I’m pleased to say I’m back– and I don’t plan to let anyone tell me what I see ever again.

Enjoy these behind the scenes snapshots of me doing some of what I really love: BEACH MATERNITY SESSION!

Behind the scenes snapshot of a beach maternity session by Bay Area Portrait photographer TeAirra Mitchell

Behind the scenes snapshot of a beach maternity session by Bay Area Portrait photographer TeAirra Mitchell

Behind the scenes snapshot of a beach maternity session by Bay Area Portrait photographer TeAirra Mitchell

Behind the scenes snapshot of a beach maternity session by Bay Area Portrait photographer TeAirra Mitchell

Behind the scenes snapshot of a beach maternity session by Bay Area Portrait photographer TeAirra Mitchell

Children Photography – Bay Area Portrait Photographer [Making the Shot]

Whenever I show my husband “before and after” images of my edits, he says something along the lines of, “Oh that’s great babe! Lies…” then walks away and chuckles.

“Why is her husband calling her work ‘lies’?” you might be thinking. Well, it’s pretty much because I will go to great lengths in Photoshop to save an image. And I’ll give you a peek into my process, both during the session, and in post-production.

Just bare with me =]

For Easter, I posted a greeting using an image of an adorable little boy I get to work with every so often.

If you saw the Easter greeting, you know: this kid is really super adorable!

Just as adorable as the little guy is, is just as much as he wanted nothing to do with a portrait session.
He cried, and cried…

…and cried some more.

He didn’t like any of the little toys I bring along to children’s sessions, and he really just wanted to cuddle and play with his dad. But since this session was all about the kids, I had to find a way to make him happy without being in Daddy’s arms.

Knowing that Easter was coming soon, I brought along some Easter props in case their parents (the little adorable guy also has a bigger adorable brother) wanted some Easter pictures. Luckily, the little guy really liked the eggs. So, naturally, I took what ever shots I could get.

And it worked out beautifully! He was happy, I got some shots, Mom was happy, and Dad got to take a break.

Then I get home, and see this:

a gorgeous shot ruined by grass. *face palm*

The shot was just too beautiful not to attempt to save it, which is where my husband’s “lies” accusation comes into play.

Sure, it took a bit of time to remove the grass, but it was totally worth it!

Thanks for reading this far! I hope you enjoyed the cuteness!

Baby Photography – Bay Area Portrait Photographer [3 month session]

My love for photography grew the moment I was able to start snapping pictures of my newborn daughter. It was as if I instantly felt my calling to become a professional portrait photographer as soon as I took that first snapshot of her.

Of course, I needed a portfolio, so I did a few free sessions, and held a couple model calls.

One of my maternity models also won a newborn session, and from that newborn session, she told me how she wanted to be able to document the first year of her daughter’s life.

“That’s perfect!” I was so excited, I probably literally yelled at her!

I’d been wanting to do milestone sessions for awhile, I just hadn’t met a parent that was interested yet.

But now, the journey has begun, and I get to keep seeing this adorable little girl every 3 months to capture all the adorable new things she can do as she grows! Then, for her 1st Birthday, we’ll have a cake smash!

Take a moment to enjoy the adorable-ness!

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

It was this little one’s first Valentine’s Day, and Mommy and Daddy brought in this adorable red tutu set!

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

an image from a TeAirra Mitchell Photography 3 month portrait session.

Loved the adorable-ness? Curious if your baby would sit through a portrait session? Stay tuned for a post on knowing if your baby is ready for their close up!

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