sueogar@yahoo.com – Page 2 – Susan Ogar Photography

Don’t Blink: The Days are Long but the Years are Short…

Time passes more quickly than we realize. Over the past several years, I’ve been writing about my passion for capturing milestones as well as the small moments in time for you. We can’t stop time, but we can preserve the memories.

Our babies become toddlers and preschoolers and our tweens become teen and adults. I’ve been sharing these thoughts from the perspective of both a professional photographer and a mother. Today, my baby (my teeny-tiny premie baby) drove herself to school for the first time…

Children grow taller than their parents, teens go off to college, family dynamics change — I can’t tell you how many families express their gratitude for the Family Portraits they have created along the way.

Preserving memories of childhood for a lifetime of enjoyment brings me so much pleasure. I hope you take many snapshots of your adventures along the way. And contact us today if you’d like to book a portrait session to capture the moments for your family.

Preschool Days….

Through the years…

Your Graduating Senior Checklist Is Almost Complete…

I know you and your high school senior have spent a good part of the past year prepping for graduation in one way or another. These past few years have been like no other and if we can help make graduation time special for you and your senior, please let us know how we can help. Below are some ideas.

Graduation Announcements, Party Invitations & Thank You Notes
We create custom designed Graduation Announcements & Party Invitations. Here are just a few samples. You can choose from templates or custom made, so the sky is the limit. Just let us know what wording you want and we’ll do the rest.

Sample custom grad cards. Click to enlarge.

A small selection of our templates:

Senior Portrait Memory Book
Let us create a perfect memory book of your senior portrait session. These signature keepsake books are the perfect way to commemorate all of the hard work and fun of high school.

Digital Files

Great news. If you want to make your own grad cards, banners and thank you notes, we offer Digital Files. If you didn’t buy the files yet, Email or call us for details.

Banners, Yard Signs & Additional Items
We also create custom banners to show how proud you are of your senior. These vinyl banners come with grommets for easy hanging and in a variety of sizes. Clients display them over front doors and garages etc.

24″ x 36″ Banner

Price List

Other items such as slideshows, signature posters, and more are also available.

Capturing the Moments Feels More Important than Ever…

You only get 18 summers, 18 holiday breaks, 18 years…

I wrote a blog post 2 years ago about the fact that our time with our growing children is not limitless…that we should make time for adventures with our children while they are still young. Then suddenly I found myself (and the world) in the middle of a global pandemic. In the early weeks of Covid, there were days when I felt as if our little family of four was falling all over each other with very limited adventure opportunities. Bored and overwhelmed at the same time.

Then one cold day last March 2020, in the middle of the lockdown, my son declared, “We need to go fly fishing.” After a little research with Mass Wildlife, we decided that fly fishing on a weekday in Western Mass was a good, safe outing. We used the 1 hour ride out to the Swift River as a driving lesson then fished and hiked all day. He fished. I hiked and photographed the terrain. A new tradition was born.

The time spent each week on the banks of the river and even in the car, was time well-spent with my son. We talked endlessly about the world, about the virus, about fishing… It was a luxury to be out in nature watching Spring very slowly arrive. Some days were longer than I would have personally liked, but my photography business was closed and honestly, all I had was time.

At about the same time, we created a consistent “Game Night” tradition with our daughter. We did a good amount of cooking and baking, but games seemed to become the ritual.

Covid and 2020 (and all that came with it) really slowed our family down. With my portrait business closed for months, my husband’s work travel grounded, and the kids sports and activities completely stopped (then abbreviated), we found time to find each other. It’s been an incredibly difficult time for many reasons and truly awful for those who are sick, but we have tried to find the blessings.

Now that my portrait business is back open–with careful safety protocols of course–I find that I have fallen in love with the beauty in portraits all over again. Whether it be a High School Senior navigating through a crazy pandemic senior year or a family finding the beautiful moments of being together–I have a new appreciation of the art of portraits. Life is messy and it’s beautiful. I love to capture those moments.

Watching my kids grow still takes my breath away. And it’s crazy to even say, but my son will be 18 at the end of this summer… “in the blink of an eye.” It gives another saying new meaning: “The days are long but the years are short.” These Covid days are sometimes very long, but believe me, the years are short. Although delayed by the lockdown, my son got his drivers license. He is on the road and doesn’t need me to drive him to his fishing spots anymore…

Life is too short not to enjoy these moments and document them along the way.
Preserving memories of childhood for a lifetime of enjoyment brings me so much pleasure. I hope you take many snapshots of your adventures along the way.

Class of 2022 Senior Portrait FAQ… Booking Sessions Now.

– One of my Greatest Joys is Telling Your Life Story… –

I love capturing moments for families to treasure for years to come. My business has reached this completely amazing stage where the toddlers that I photographed when I first opened my doors are now coming of age. If you know me well, you know that I’m a sucker for looking back and reminiscing. It’s in my bones. I’m also obsessed with the time we have with our children while they are still children. My own son is about to turn 17 and as we get closer to him becoming an adult, well, let’s just say my heart skips a beat each time I see him tower over me at 6 feet tall.

Since I have yet to figure out how to stop the clock… Let me capture “childhood” for you and your family. I am currently booking Senior Portraits for early Summer and Fall. To book a session email me at info@susanogarphotography.com or call or text me at 508.277.6140.

We offer a variety of options for Seniors to suit different styles and preferences, ranging from a 20 to 30 minute “mini session” for $150 in my Garden Studio in Northborough, to a $1550 premier session which includes a half day location shoot, multiple wardrobe changes, a beautifully designed 20-page Senior book, a custom video slideshow, $150 print credit and 5 fully retouched digital files. View a full gallery of our High School Seniors. .

Here are some common questions that we get about Senior Portraits.

How long do senior sessions typically last?

The length of the session depends on which session you have booked. We offer super basic sessions called minis for those seniors who really just want a short and sweet session all the way to half-day (3+ hours), on-location dream sessions. Something for everyone. Our most popular session is about 90 minutes long, but it varies from Senior to Senior.

Where do you shoot Senior portraits?

I photograph seniors in several local locations including my Garden Studio in Northborough, Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough, Davidian Farm in Northborough and the Wayside Inn in Sudbury. I can travel to your home or a location of your choosing as well. For the Signature Session, we often travel to a unique location to suit your personality–whether that be an urban cityscape of a field of wildflowers.

How many wardrobe changes can we bring?

Your wardrobe changes are partially based on the session you have selected. I personally recommend that Seniors bring at least two outfit changes. Once you book your session, I will send you clothing suggestions and tips. I am also available for a pre-session clothing consultation at no charge.

What is the cost and session options?

Mini Garden Studio Session $150 — Short & Sweet

Basic Garden Studio or Location Session $295

Signature Session $899 — Most Popular

Ultimate Session $1559 — Enjoy the Luxury

You will pay for the session at the time of booking, so you can focus on beautiful portraits on the day of. In person selection & consultation meetings take place between 1 and 3 weeks after your session. The image you select as your Senior Portrait will be delivered to your school for the yearbook

How many Seniors do you photograph each year and when do we book you?

I open Senior Session Booking on March 1. I photograph a maximum of 35 Senior a year. I start photographing senior sessions in late May through late October. If you would like a late senior year portrait for the current graduation year–2021 (outside of yearbook needs) I can accommodate that as well.

SCHOOL DEADLINES ARE AS EARLY AS OCTOBER 3RD!

How long to you keep portraits from the session?

A year! I keep the portraits that you have purchased on file for 1 year. I remove all images not ordered from my systems after our selection meeting to make space for other seniors. After that I am no longer responsible for holding onto your portraits.

Who sends your senior portrait to the school for the yearbook?

I do. My goal is to make your life easier. I will send a beautifully retouched portrait that you selected to your high school.

Can we book a family session and a senior portrait session at the same time?

Absolutely. Reach out and we’ll touch base on the timing of everything. Some families like to do combined sessions and I can explain how that works.

What if I have additional questions?

I’m here to help. Call, text, email or schedule a time to come to the studio and we can discuss any questions you might have. Senior year is an exciting time and a precious milestone. Let me capture this time for you and your family.

Authentic, Simple, Timeless

What to Wear to Look Your Best at Your Professional Portrait Session

Being well prepared for you portrait session can make the difference between average and fabulous. Keep it simple and make sure you feel good in the clothes you select. Have your clothes and accessories ready the night before your session. Choose clothes that reflect your style and are appropriate for your ages. Make sure they are clean and free of wrinkles.

Colors

Simple, classic clothes and colors look best. We recommend that you avoid stripes and plaid (unless small and classic). Solid colors photograph much better than busy patterns. A deep fall color palette will complement the nature around you and create a timeless portrait. Browns, maroons, plum, hunter green, and navy are excellent fall colors. Knit sweaters, leather jackets, jeans, khakis and riding boots are all nice choices. You can also add a pop of color like the berry in the sample color palettes below. You will want to avoid logos and large, busy patterns.

Hair

A little curl cream or pomade can help prevent frizz and fly-aways. Do not make drastic changes to your hairstyle right before your photo session.

Makeup

Makeup that is well done is one of the best preparations you can make for your session. It will even out skin tones and help give your photos that extra pop for a model-like look. Even if you don’t normally wear makeup or wear very little, take the time to do it well and your portraits will look their best. Mascara should be clean and not clumpy. Please don’t be concerned about minor (or major) breakouts. We can touch all that up. Make sure that your face make-up is blended into your neck so that when you look in the mirror your neck is not too white.

Jewelry

Keep it simple. The proper jewelry can really complement your outfit. Select items that don’t distract from your face.

Glasses

Most lenses have a glare. The safest option is to check with your eye doctor and ask if they’ll loan you a similar pair without lenses.

Weather

Sun and/or clouds are great (clouds even out the light and can make for ideal shooting conditions). If it’s actually raining or hurricane winds are blowing, we will have to reschedule.

Undergarments

Please make sure the colors of your undergarment coordinate well with your outfits and don’t show through your clothing. Try on your clothing with the undergarments and make sure all is good.

Relax and Have Fun!

I strive to make the portrait sessions fun. If you are enjoying the session, it will show through and the result will be better images. Follow these easy tips and you’ll be well on your way to looking your absolute best. If you have any additional questions, feel free to call, text, or email.

Class of 2021 Senior Portrait FAQ… Booking Sessions Now.

– One of my Greatest Joys is Telling Your Life Story… –

Here are some common questions that we get about Senior Portraits.

How long do senior sessions typically last?

Where do you shoot Senior portraits?

How many wardrobe changes can we bring?

What is the cost and session options?

Mini Garden Studio Session $150 — Short & Sweet

Northborough Garden Studio
20 to 30 minutes of photography time
In person selection and consultation meeting
No wardrobe changes.

Classic Garden Studio or Location Session $295

On location within 8 miles of Northborough or in our Garden Studio
45 to 60 minutes of photography time
In person selection and consultation meeting
2-3 wardrobe changes

Signature Session $795 — Most Popular

1.5 to 2 hour location shoot (can include Garden Studio & Location)
In person selection and consultation meeting
Multiple wardrobe changes (up to 4)
Custom video slideshow for viewing
Choice of 20-Page Senior Book or 5 fully retouched digital files

Ultimate Session $1550 — Enjoy the Luxury

Half day location shoot
In person selection and consultation meeting
Unlimited wardrobe changes
A beautifully designed 20-page Senior book
Custom video slideshow to keep
$150 print credit and 7 fully retouched digital files

In person selection & consultation meetings take place between 1 and 3 weeks after your session. The image you select as your Senior Portrait will be delivered to your school for the yearbook

How many Seniors do you photograph each year and when do we book you?

I open Senior Session Booking on March 1. I photograph 30 Senior a year. I start photographing senior sessions in late May through late October. If you would like a late senior year portrait for the current graduation year–2020 (outside of yearbook needs) I can accommodate that as well.

SCHOOL DEADLINES ARE AS EARLY AS OCTOBER 3RD!

How long to you keep portraits from the session?

Who sends your senior portrait to the school for the yearbook?

I do. My goal is to make your life easier. I will send a beautifully retouched portrait that you selected to your high school.

Can we book a family session and a senior portrait session at the same time?

Absolutely. Reach out and we’ll touch base on the timing of everything. Some families like to do combined sessions and I can explain how that works.

What if I have additional questions?

Authentic, Simple, Timeless

Your Graduating High School Senior Check List Is Almost Complete…

You have already checked off SO many items on your Senior Year checklist, now it’s ALMOST time to party!

It’s not over, but it’s certainly getting close. Most likely you and your high school senior have spent a good part of the past 4 years prepping for graduation in one way or another. Visiting colleges and exploring other post-graduation pursuits, taking ACTs or SATs, senior nights for varsity sports, proms and balls, musical and dramatic performances, college applications & financial aide paperwork… The list is long! You have worked hard. You (and your Senior) deserve a party…

Graduation Invitations and Announcements
Let us create your custom-designed Graduation Party Invitations and Announcements. Just reach out and we’ll create one for you. Here are just a few samples:

Signature Senior Portrait Albums & Memory Books
We also create perfect memory books of your senior portrait session. These keepsake albums and books are the perfect way to commemorate all of the hard work and fun of high school.

Banners & Additional Items
We also create custom banners to create the ideal party vibe. These vinyl banners come with grommets for easy hanging and in a variety of sizes.

Other items such as thank you notes, slideshows, and more are also available.

The Year Of Giving: 12 in 12

As many of you know, 2019 was The Year of Giving at Susan Ogar Photography. Last January, we announced that we would give away 12 sessions during the year. We photographed lucky families who won sessions at events and some who were nominated for our special drawings. We met so many beautiful and interesting people (and animals) through the year. It was truly a joy to photograph each and every one of them…

It was such an amazing experience highlighted by 9 Pet Portraits (and Their People) Sessions which allowed us to donate $675 to Baypath Humane in Hopkinton.

Below is a little gallery from our Year of Giving…

Making Your Mark: Personal Branding & Headshots…

What is Personal Branding and Why is it Important?

I love working with other business owners, capturing images that bring extra impact and personality to entrepreneurial marketing projects. As a Board member of my own local business non-profit, I work with small and large businesses who want to stand out in the crowd.

You want a headshot or personal branding image that communicates with your audience. It should help tell the story of who you are and what feeling you want your business to evoke. Do you want to portray a confident, traditional vibe or a warm and friendly feeling? There is no wrong answer–it just depends on how YOU want your clients to feel when they engage with you and your business…and your brand.

Through our Image Concept Consultation, we will help you determine what poses, expressions, locations and backdrops are best suited to tell your story. We will also determine what the images will be used for and therefore, how the portraits should be created. For example, do you need square crops for social media such as Linked In? Do you have a format needed for publication or speaking engagements or a long vertical banner for the Web? We can accommodate business partner and teams as well.

What To Wear and How to Prep for A Personal Brand ing Professional Photoshoot

Clothing selection for your personal brand photography has a huge impact on the perception of you and your brand. Below are some tips and guidelines .

How would you dress if you had the chance to meet hundreds or thousands of potential clients, customers, or your online audience members?
That answer is different for every single one of you reading this. For example, a tattoo artist may want to convey a different look than a business coach who may want to convey a different look than a pastry chef who needs a different look than a banker. All of them are professionals.
There are a handful of guidelines that I give to every client that will ensure you make the best possible decisions when deciding what to wear.
Unlike a simple portrait shoot, a personal branding session needs to have a specific purpose or goal. Everything you do needs to be planned to advance that goal.
Some of the most common goals could be to update your website content, strengthen your visual online brand, engage with your clients.

When you are planning a personal brand session, don’t start with the clothes… start with the goal you want to achieve for your brand and then determine what clothing will advance that goal.

Think about casual vs. formal, choosing a color scheme that matches your brand, and the style of clothes that relate to the story you are telling.

Be Comfortable

Your personal comfort level is going to show in the photos. If you feel stiff and uncomfortable in whatever you’re wearing, then you’re going to look stiff and uncomfortable in your portraits.

There are a few things that factor into comfort…

First, you want the clothes to fit well. To tight and you’ll look stiff in the photos and be self-conscious about the fit. Too loose and you’ll just look sloppy. Neither of those looks is very flattering and neither inspire confidence or authority. The best clothes are relatively form fitting but with enough flexibility to move around.

Pay Attention To Colors

If you’re ready to invest in a personal branding photo session, then you’ve already spent some time planning your brand. That probably includes certain color palettes for your website or even a certain “look” for social media posts.

Plan Your Changes

A lot of personal brand shoots occur on location. So opportunities to change outfits may be limited. In these circumstances, you need to plan ahead for ways to easily change your look without having to get completely undressed.

A great way to accomplish this is by creating layers in your outfits. Camis are great for quick changes or you can add a jacket, a cardigan, a scarf, or other accessories to give you a completely different look without having to take anything off.

What To Avoid

Most of these are things that can distract the focus from you and decrease the effectiveness of the photo. Some are just things that look bad on camera.

Avoid Small Patterns And Prints–Small patterns and small prints are extremely distracting in photos. They will draw all the attention away from you and onto your clothing, and not in a good way. Larger patterns can work though.

Whenever possible, stick to solid colors. Use accessories for style rather than prints.

Avoid Branded Clothing–If you don’t work for Vineyard Vines, don’t sport the logo. Or…I can edit out small logos if needed.

Select Newer, Fresher Pieces–Things like worn out spots, rips, pilling, missing buttons, or other tiny imperfections tend to get really magnified when they are on camera.

Don’t worry at all about blemishes. I can edit those with no trouble.

Relax and just spend a little time prepping ahead and your images will shine. When in doubt, ask your photographer… I’m happy to help.

Contact us today if you’d like to book a headshot or personal branding portrait session to capture the you and who you are today.

Senior Portraits: Your Time to Shine…

We want you to shine! Pinterest Boards, Instagram, and even the well-meaning Mom might make you a little crazy when selecting the perfect Senior Portrait outfits. Don’t stress… Check out the suggestions below. Be yourself. And you will ROCK your portrait session…

Being well prepared for you senior photo session can make the difference between average and fabulous portraits. Follow these easy tips and you’ll be well on your way to looking your absolute best. If you have any additional questions, feel free to call, text or email.

Clothing Tips

Keep it simple and make sure you feel good in the clothes you select. Have your clothes and accessories ready the night before your session. Choose clothes that reflect your style and are appropriate for the event. Make sure they are clean and free of wrinkles. Plan on changing fairly quickly. The faster you change, the more time we have to photograph and the more portrait choices you’ll have later. Bring more or less clothing options depending on which session type you selected. It’s okay to bring extra that you may not wear. If you’re self-conscious about your arms, avoid sleeveless shirts and tank tops, as they tend to make arms look fuller. Also, for girls, sleeveless is usually more flattering than spaghetti straps. Please be aware of your bra straps as well. Avoid stripes and plaid. Solid colors photograph much better than busy patterns. Bring a variety of colors and mix the level of styles. Some should be dressy, some dressy casual, and some casual. If you’re comfortable in a dress and boots, bring them! A jean jacket, scarf or cardigan can quickly change up an outfit and can be added even in the Mini Sessions. Overall, if you feel good in an outfit, chances are, you look good too. Dress like yourself. Be authentic.

Many of our Senior Portrait Sessions occur on location. Opportunities to change outfits may be somewhat limited. In these circumstances, please plan ahead for ways to easily change your look without having to get completely undressed. Camis are great for quick changes.

Shoes

Heels and boots are always flattering and glamorous. Flats or bare feet can also work if you mix them with the right outfit. Not every portrait will show your feet, but some will.

Hair

Bring hair spray, clips, pins, and whatever else is needed to keep your hair out of your eyes if it’s windy. Bring a brush and mirror for quick hair touch-ups. A little curl cream or pomade can go a long way to help prevent frizz and fly-aways. (Young men, don’t get a haircut right before the session as it may cause tan lines.) Do not make drastic changes to your hairstyle right before your photo session. This could add unneeded drama to your life.