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    • Linda De Los ReyesLinda De Los Reyes

    Fashion Forward Camera Bags!

    January 25, 2012 | Posted by Linda De Los Reyes

    The holidays are over and now that you have that fancy camera you’d been hoping for or have resolved to take that expensive DSLR out far more often than ever before, where do you keep it? What camera bag will work best for storing it or taking it with you? You know you need a padded bag for protection but which one? And are you really going to have to carry your purse and another bag?

    Well, I’m happy to report that over the last few years, camera bags have evolved. We are no longer limited to carrying around black, non-descript, rectangular, pocket-filled, zipped-up bags or backpacks (aka man bags). The choices for women have grown tremendously and we can now choose bags that not only have exceptional function (i.e., space for everything including a pocketbook, iPhone, lip gloss, keys, checkbooks, extra lens, filters, laptop, and more); they are vibrant, stylish and fashion forward. Camera bags that look like purses. Oh yes.

    Function and flair underlay many of the camera bag designs these days. Here’s what I’ve found and acquired.

    Lola bag by Epiphanie. This is my newest and sweetest acquisition. One look at it and you know what I mean by personality and style. This is the smallest of my camera bags and I anticipate using this one practically everyday. It’s large enough to carry my camera with vertical grip and a 50mm lens mounted, a 24-70mm zoom lens, a lens cloth, cleaning liquid, extra CF cards, camera battery, wallet and an assortment of other necessities (e.g., checkbook, chapstick, pens, iPhone, Digital Elph point-n-shoot camera, business cards, reading glasses). And did I mention that the interior is in lavender, rather than black? So much easier to find things. Epiphanie bags come in many sizes and styles. Check ‘em out.

    IT bag by The Joy Bag collection. My other most used camera bag isn’t really a camera bag at all. It’s a tote bag insert. If you’re not into purses, this is worth a look. Basically, the padded insert can be placed into any tote bag and – voila! A camera bag. This is the ultimate in flexibility. I use this when I carry a few more things like a mini tripod or my laptop or iPad or sweater (you get the idea) than what I normally put in the Lola bag.

    Jill-e Rolling Red Leather Bag is my storage bag. It holds all of my camera gear. It rolls around and saves my back. It is made of red leather. If you didn’t know what was in it, you wouldn’t guess it was a camera bag at all…just a nice red leather travel bag on wheels. In a different color such as black or gray, it appeals to male photographers as well. Jill-e Designs offers several sizes and models.

    Shootsac Lens Bag is my workhorse during shoots. This is the body-hugging bag I wear on-the-shoot that carries my extra lenses, car keys, iPhone, CF cards, etc. It’s lightweight and holds my lenses tightly so that I never worry they’ll fall out. I also have a couple of different covers – one is a solid bright red and the other is a colorful floral one – for a bit of flair. Oh and by the way, lots of guys appreciate this one, too, though probably with the standard black cover.

    Glee Bag from The Joy Bag collection. My other workhorse camera bag on-the-shoot. When I decide to carry two cameras where one is loaded with my 70 mm – 200 mm lens, this is it. With my camera and zoom lens in here, I don’t worry that I’m going to bump my camera into something while I’m shooting with the other.

    Different bags, different needs. There’s a camera bag for every taste, use and activity. In addition to the ones I own, here are a few more designers I checked out: Kelly Moore, Jo Totes, Emera, Ona, and Cheeky Lime.

    Linda De Los ReyesLinda De Los Reyes

    Showing It Off – Clients’ Wall Displays

    May 17, 2011 | Posted by Linda De Los Reyes

    It was such a treat for me to help my client put up all of her gorgeous canvas gallery wraps in her family room a few weeks ago. To see a wall display from concept to digital rendering to reality is so gratifying. Before the photo session, she had mentioned she had a few places in mind to put her new photos but would certainly need help figuring out how. Music to my ears. During our post-shoot consultation, I measured the wall above the couch in the family room so I knew how much space we had to work with. Using the images in her “YES” folder (those images she knew she just had to have), I worked up several ideas.

    Following is the final display hanging in her family room. The two anchor portraits on each side are 16″x24″ while the middle squares are each 11″x11″. All canvases are 1.5″ deep with black side edges and a dust cover on the back. Quite the eye-catcher, eh?


    Another client of mine had picked out a prime spot for her session images at the top of the stairs on a  wall that connected the bedrooms.  But once she saw the artwork, she realized she wanted to put them someplace where any visitors could enjoy them as well – downstairs. She had already begun a display that showcased several photos going up the stairs. But there was still a wall that would be a wonderful spot to anchor the existing photo display. All three canvas gallery wraps are 16″x24″ and 1.5″ deep with black side edges and dust covers on the backs.

    Linda De Los ReyesLinda De Los Reyes

    Clients’ Photo Displays

    August 29, 2010 | Posted by Linda De Los Reyes

    Besides the actual photo shoot, one of the things I love doing with my clients is sitting down with them to whittle down the many fabulous images to the favorite few. This is a process that generally takes about one hour, sometimes longer, sometimes less. This particular client knew exactly where she wanted to put her favorite images – on her bedroom wall near the sitting area. This is a space reserved for complete relaxation after a long day at work or running around with her kids. She wanted to be able to look up at her wall, see her children and smile.

    We started with ideas for a mix of portraits and storyboards as there were so many images she wanted to display. But as we filtered through the photos, she realized that what she really wanted was a simple, uncluttered look on her wall. With large portraits of her favorites, she would be able to enjoy each one more fully. Since she has two children, we decided on the best single image each of her daughter, son and the kids together. In the chosen image of her daughter, she loved the gleeful look in her eyes as she shoveled yet another pile of sand into the bucket. In the photo of her son, she loved how the image displayed his natural exuberance and playful spirit. And the middle image of her son and daughter together touched her heart because it shows how close the two of them are. (The side portraits are 16″ x 20″ and the middle portrait is 20″ x 20″)

    In fact, each of her kids really wanted to have a photo of them together in each of their rooms. Since it would be in her kids’ rooms, Mom decided to make them extra special and went with 1.5″ deep canvases. The one in her daughter’s room (left, yellow wall) is 16″ x 16″ and the one in her son’s room is 16″ x 20″ (right, blue wall).

    Another client of mine just happened to be an interior designer. This was obvious when I saw how she set up her twin sons’ nursery. It looked like a room straight out of Pottery Barn. It is beautiful, to say the least. She reserved the wall above the cribs for baby photos. She loved the baby parts storyboard idea but wanted to somehow include her and her husband’s images in there as well since someday, she plans to give her sons their storyboards. I thought it was a fabulous idea (how I would have loved to have photos of my own mom and dad when I was born!). These storyboards are 16″ x 16″.

    I love it when my clients send me photos (or have me come over to take some photos) of how they displayed their images. Not only does it warm my heart to see art I created on their walls, it gives other families ideas to consider when they have their photos done.

    Linda De Los ReyesLinda De Los Reyes

    Working With A Pro Photographer To Capture Baby’s First Year

    August 16, 2010 | Posted by Linda De Los Reyes

    The first year is such a whirlwind of diapers, feeding, sleeping, and strolling (repeat the above several times per day). All the while, baby is growing and changing from a precious little bundle to a small human learning to crawl, sit and stand on her own. As each day flies by, you don’t want to miss capturing the small moments and big milestones…but what ages should you make sure to capture? Which milestones should you watch for? Just as importantly, when should you bring in a professional photographer to help you document baby’s first years?

    That’s right. I said help. Why? Because I think that every family should have a camera that’s as nice as you can afford and one that you know how to work. The point is to make sure you have a camera loaded and ready to go at all times. A professional photographer won’t be there everyday so I’ll give you some ideas on what to capture and when to call in a pro. Got your camera? Great, let’s go.

    Welcome Baby

    These are the first days of baby’s life and you are overwhelmed with deep emotions. If you haven’t already, hire a professional photographer now, ideally before baby hits 10 days old. Photographing a newborn is not as easy as a pro photographer makes it look. I mean, how many ways do you know to photograph a sleeping newborn while keeping the images interesting and heartwarming? Pro photographers who specialize in babies and newborns have spent countless hours creating images that will tug at your heart using different ways to pose your baby that best show all the soft sweetness of a newborn, capturing the deep emotions running through mom and dad with baby propped in their arms and demonstrating the relationships between mom and baby, dad and baby and mom and dad. Newborn photography is fine art photography and a practiced eye makes all the difference.

    In the Hospital

    Does this mean you should keep your camera in its bag? Not at all. The moment baby is born, start snapping away (within reason, of course). Here are some ideas:

    - mommy staring at her new bundle in the hospital holding baby in her arms,

    - baby sleeping in the hospital bassinet (really close up and further away with the hospital sign on the end),

    - daddy holding his new bundle,

    - kisses from mommy and daddy,

    - holding baby’s tiny hands and tiny feet,

    - mommy sleeping with baby,

    - mommy’s and baby’s and daddy’s wrist bands and,

    - the newly grown family (don’t be afraid to ask the nursing staff to take this one).

    Coming Home

    You’re home now and exhausted. When you do have a lucid moment, keep some of these ideas for photos in mind (you still have your camera ready and loaded, yes?):

    - a photo of baby in your favorite baby outfit or in outfits from your family and friends – snap a photo and include it in their thank you card,

    - a photo of baby surrounded by his/her new stuffed animals,

    - baby’s nursery – capture all the details including the changing table, the cribs, the mobile, the rocking chair and anything else you find extra special,

    - baby sleeping with mommy and/or daddy nose-to-nose,

    - mommy nursing baby,

    - baby bottles filled with milk,

    - the stacks of diapers next to the changing table,

    - baby in her car seat and stroller,

    - baby with grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends.

    These are just some photos that will bring back memories of those first few weeks and months with baby – wonderful images to keep in your scrapbooks.

    Milestones and Moments

    Baby just raised her head and pushed up on her arms – this is a milestone you don’t want to miss documenting. If you aren’t already in a First Year baby plan with a professional photographer whose work you love, now is the time to start. Not only has baby gained strength in her neck and arms, she is gaining significant weight. A professional photographer will not only catch the milestone but those pudgy baby rolls that explicitly define her adorable baby-ness as well. Baby is probably somewhere between 2 ½ to 4 months old at this point.

    Now that baby can push up on her arms and lift her head, her world has just expanded. Some ideas for photos:

    - baby’s big happy smiles,

    - baby reaching for the animals on her mobile,

    - baby capturing and chewing on her favorite toy,

    - baby looking over daddy’s shoulder,

    - baby reaching for mommy while making funny faces.

    The next time you’ll want to have baby photographed by a professional? When he is sitting on his own and/or crawling. This usually occurs some time between 7 to 9 months old. This is another major milestone you’ll want to have documented professionally. But until then, don’t forget these ideas to photograph as baby learns to sit up on his own:

    - put your camera on rapid fire and capture a series of photos as baby attempts to sit up but will often just roll over at first,

    - baby in ready position on his hands and knees,

    - baby’s frustration and triumph written on his face,

    - baby banging on her baby drums,

    - daddy playing peek-a-boo with baby,

    - baby holding his own bottle,

    - mommy showing baby how to clap,

    - daddy reading to baby (and baby “reading” to daddy),

    - mommy singing a lullaby as she rocks baby to sleep.

    And now for the big one – standing and cruising or walking. And yea, make sure you have an appointment with your pro photographer to capture this momentous occasion usually around 11 to 13 months old. Until then, here are a few more shots to keep in mind:

    - baby is quite good (and pretty fast) at crawling. Get on your hands and knees and snap photos of baby crawling right up to you,

    - baby is climbing, so capture a series of photos of her climbing up onto the couch from start to finish. Don’t forget to come in really close to get her expressions of concentration and eventual triumph,

    - baby with favorite large stuffed animal,

    - blow bubbles and snap photos of her as she tries to catch them,

    - big bear hugs from mommy and daddy as baby takes his first steps.


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