I’m always searching for new locations to use for portrait sessions and it’s a necessary part of my job as a photographer. Sometimes I stumble upon them when I’m just riding around Columbus. Once in awhile I see a photo that another photographer took and ask them if they would let me know where it was at. And then there are other times when I start Googling away to find new places that I’ve never been to before.

I love to offer my clients multiple choices for locations for their portraits, depending on their needs. Prior to their photos,  I work with my clients to find out what their location preferences are (park, urban, etc.) to figure out the best location, for the look they want. I have a list of places where I enjoy working and that continues to grow for each client’s needs. There are a lot of benefits to location scouting for both myself and my clients. I like to know what I’m getting into at each location before the session. I can find out the best spots with great lighting. It allows me to be more creative instead of worrying about where the next photo will be.

The other weekend I was in Youngstown for a bridesmaid dress fitting and decided to scout out a few locations for when I’m there again in the spring. Most of my Youngstown clients request their portrait session at Fellows Riverside Gardens. While I do love it there, I decided to venture around Mill Creek Park searching for some other great session location. Because the park is so beautiful, I was able to find a lot of different spots for next year, including the Lily Pond, which I don’t think I was ever at in all my years of visiting the park.

When I returned to Columbus I jumped in the car and headed to Newark to an area that I had heard about last year but never made it to. Oh my goodness, I’m kicking myself for not going there sooner! Wow – it was so beautiful and had such a vast area of trees and fields. I could photograph there 10 or 20 times and never have the same background for each session. I cannot wait till I can take a client here for their portraits. While it’s not in Columbus, Newark is so close that it’s worth the drive once you see this location!

Here are some snapshots I captured with my point and shoot camera while out scouting around. I’m excited to see what I can create at these beautiful spots!

I love Mill Creek Park - if I was closer, I would photograph there every week

 

I can't wait to shoot at this location in Newark!

The holidays are approaching quickly! Consider the gift of meaningful photography for your families. Or you could even suggest a great gift for yourself. If you are planning on giving portraits as gifts for this year, fall is the most beautiful time to have them done.

Holiday Schedule:
November: The office will be closed November 20th-27th for the Thanksgiving holiday (and because I’ll also be a bridesmaid that weekend!).
December: The office will be closed December 14th-18th as well as the 23rd-25th. All holiday sessions must be completed by Monday, December 5th to have your orders in time for the holidays!

Available Sessions:
I am currently scheduling for November sessions, both during the week and on Saturdays. These sessions will go fast with the holidays right around the corner. Contact me today to schedule your pet or child’s session!

Contact me via email at info@danielleneil.com or use the online contact form for more information about scheduling your fall portrait session.

The office will be closed from Saturday, September 24th through Friday, September 30th. All calls and emails will be returned on 9/30 and 10/1. I will have extremely limited access to email while I am gone, so please know I’m not ignoring you! I’ll be leaving good old Columbus for a few days and heading to Charlotte, North Carolina for After Dark and not a moment too soon!

After Dark isn’t a conference or workshop – it’s a little bit of both. Over 35 mentors give instruction and feedback in small groups for hands on learning. There’s numerous topics and opportunities going on at the same time. Photographers pick which mentor they want to learn from and head over to that group, if it’s not a good fit, you move on to the next group. I’ve heard amazing things about After Dark and I’m very excited to be attending! I’ll be learning about digital workflow, posing, lighting, products and marketing. And the mentors will be covering all aspects of photography – from newborn to children to families to weddings and a lot more!

Images for a Cure 2011 Sessions Still Available!
I also wanted to remind everyone that October is fast approaching and it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I will be offering a fantastic deal on headshots, pet and children’s portraits in partnership with Images for a Cure. All the details can be found on this blog post. Make sure you book your session quickly – this offer is only good through the end of October and all sessions must be booked by October 15th!

Yep, you read that title correctly, I’m a social media junkie. There, I’ve admitted it. I’m on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and even Google+ (not sure how I feel about Google+ just yet). I’m always checking in and checking updates on all the sites. I have many “friends” and “followers” all across the country and the world that I feel like I know, but I’ve never met in person … well not yet. At my last graphic design job, I was the go-to person whenever anyone had a social media question. Wonder where I’m going with this? Well, I was honored when Zach Prez emailed me to see if I would like to contribute to his latest ebook.

A few months back, Zach had me write a guest blog post for his blog: Photography Web Marketing Guide. He then featured me in his Photography Blog Success ebook and his 6 Tips for Photography Facebook Pages guide. Most recently, he asked if I would be interested in contributing to an ebook he was working with on Design Aglow. If you’re a photographer and you aren’t familiar with Design Aglow, you need to head over there! They are a great resource of information and products for professional photographers.