One way to really make a color pop in the camera is to deliberately chose settings that are relatively monochromatic.  That doesn't mean they're boring: you can find interesting textures, negative space, and other fun design elements (arrows!) that will help the viewer zero in on that blast of color. Here are a few examples of how I used a neutral background to draw your eye to the featured fashion.  

To see more from either one of these shoots check out www.kallieflexman.com for the red maxi dress and www.thatcinderellamoment.com for the stripes.  Kallie & Brittany-- thank you, you are both lovely!

Unexpected things happen at photoshoots All The Time.  In fact, there are very few occasions where we've wrapped it up and I've thought to myself "well that went entirely according to plan."  But honestly, the unplanned moments often lead to some really fun pictures.  None of these shots ended up in a client gallery, but I love each one of them for the honesty of the moment.  Let's get crazy...

Compared with say, every other winter I've ever spent here, this winter seems to have been especially chilly in Pleasanton.  But the fashion bloggers have to stay ahead of the game.  Like magazines, they work a season ahead.  So for this shoot Brittany is wearing a lovely silky top, flowing skirt, and heels.  What you can't see is that I'm wearing a parka and furry boots.  It was really cold.

Up until this point the shoot was going fine (for me!) Brittany, shivering, wanted to know if we "had the shot," and then, out of the blue, it started to hail.  You can't see it in the pictures, but hail started bouncing off the bannister and hitting the front of her.  I kind of love how it turned this portrait into a bit more of an action shot.  

You can see more of Brittany at www.thatcinderellamoment.com

In addition to portraits, I also support several local fashion bloggers.  It really wasn't an area of photography that I sought out, but instead the opportunity presented itself to me and one thing led to another.  I have found it so flattering how quickly someone has seen my work (or even seen me out at a shoot!) and wanted to book their own session.

Fashion is very different from portrait work.  With portraits, the focus is almost always the face or, more specifically, the eyes.  With fashion the focus is (obviously) the clothes.  

Toward that end, it's fun to throw all my normal rules out the window for the bloggers to get their "it" shot.  Crop a person's face from the lips down?  Sure.  A walking shot where the hair obscures the face?  Fine.  Looking down, away, up, whatever! Effortless and carefree are where it's at.

Check out Caroline's blog at www.themintmom.com