Tips to Help You Prepare for Your Next Beach Photo Session

There is something about the beach that is so life giving that it draws people in from across the country year after year! The beach is one of my favorite places to shoot a session and I never get tired of it! Luckily for me, it looks like there will be plenty of more beach sessions to come! I’ve compiled a few tips that will help you and your loved ones prepare for you upcoming beach session, whether you’re local or traveling to enjoy the beach from afar!

1. Arrive to Your Session EARLY

   Arriving at least 15 minutes early to your session will give you plenty of time to fix or adjust outfits or change a diaper if needed. It will also take the stress off of rushing you and your family to get to your session on time and avoiding any anxious or grumpy moods! Remember, your session is meant to be FUN!

2. Don’t Stress the Wind

   The beach is naturally windy but, trust me, that wind adds beautiful visual movement to your images that will make them come alive! As your photographer, I will be sure to position you where the wind blows your hair away from your face so you can feel confident in how beautiful you’ll look in your images! Wind is our friend and you don’t have to worry that a windy day might ruin your session!

3. Choose a Wardrobe that Complements the Environment

   Choosing outfits that complement the beach will produce the best and most natural images! Choose something flowly that will move with the wind and match the movement of the water. Stick to neutral tones and simple patterns that will highlight the beauty of your surroundings! Don’t stress over your shoes either! Avoid heels or wedges and feel free to go barefoot to enjoy the sand between your toes!

4. Don’t Stress Over Your Hairstyle

   Keep it simple and don’t overthink or over perfect your hairstyle. The beach is windy and a more natural, wavy hairstyle will work beautifully in your images! I would also suggest not spending many hours curling your hair or trying to get your hair perfect, as it will fall rather quickly. Embrace the wind. You know that saying “beach hair, don’t care”, yeah, that applies here!

5. Pack Extra Clothes and Beach Towels

   If you plan to go anywhere after your session, you’ll be glad you prepared ahead of time! With a beach photo session, you will get wet and sandy and it will create some amazing images! But you’ll be glad to get into some dry clothes and get as much sand off of you as possible before getting back into the car.

6. Plan For a Natural, More Candid Style of Shoot

   Part of the fun of shooting at the beach means being yourselves and being playful! I like to capture your family as naturally as possible which is a perfect style of shoot for little ones! Walk along the beach hand in hand, let your kiddos run around, giggle and play! Enjoy making memories with your loved ones and I will capture them in real time!

7. Golden Hour/ Blue Hour Beach Sessions are the BEST

   Trust me on this one! This is an absolutely perfect time of day to capture your images and you’ll enjoy the scenery of the beach at this hour. I am happy to help you plan and coordinate your session time to ensure the lighting for your images is amazing!

8. HAVE FUN

   This is the most obvious tip, but it’s true! Too many mamas worry over their session only to find it wasn’t stressful at all! Follow these tips to prep for your session and let the worry melt away! Enjoy your time at the beach with your family and I promise it’s all you’ll need to get the beautiful images you’re looking for!

I hope that you look forward to your next beach session as much as I do! Use these tips for the most relaxed session possible and trust that your images are going to turn out beautifully! The beach is such a place of peace and wonder, focus on enjoying the magic with your loved ones!

Why You Should Print Your Photos and How ShootProof Makes It Easy!

We live in a new era, where photo albums exist more on our social media than they do tucked away into our homes. Something in our generation has lost the nostalgia of pulling out an old photo album or a dusty box filled with printed photos of the past. Let’s be honest, a lot of this may have to do with time more so than the desire to print your family’s photos. There is something so special about a photo print that can be held in your hand and passed on for loved ones to enjoy down the road when they need that memory the most! Printed photos also make wonderful gifts for grandparents or long distance loved ones and if you fill your home with them, it creates a special, cozy place for your family to celebrate their journey through life!

How to Order Prints on ShootProof

We are so busy that we often thrive on tasks that are effortless or time efficient, this is often why beloved photos tend to go unprinted or stay downloaded on our devices until the storage has reached its capacity. One of the many reasons I love using ShootProof to share galleries with my clients, is because ShootProof makes printing your memories effortless while guaranteeing professional grade quality that doesn’t diminish the investment you made in having professional photos taken! You can view your gallery, download your photos and order prints all in the same place without cluttering your phone with more apps for printing photos or having to take multiple steps to get them back to you. Getting your prints to your doorstep is as easy as following these steps:

1. Select an Image you are interested in printing

2. Click “Buy Photo”

3. Select the Print or Canvas Size you would like to purchase (Prices are shown next to sizes)

4. Adjust the “Crop” to fit the Size you selected (ShootProof will prompt you to do this)

5. Click “Add to Cart”

6. Continue Shopping or Go to Cart to Checkout

7. Get your Prints delivered right to your door!

Yes, it’s that easy! ShootProof removes all of the guesswork when it comes to ordering your prints. Most orders other than metal or canvas prints ship within two days so you don’t have to wait long to get those beautiful photos in your hands! If you want something a little more than just a print, there are a variety of products you can choose from to display your photos. Anything from magnets, buttons, metal prints or canvases are available for purchase and make gifting your photos to loved ones a breeze!

Printing your photos from a professional lab is key in saving the quality of the printed image. Oftentimes, you love the way your image looks digitally but your pictures may not look the same when you use a third party printing service. The images may look discolored or just not quite right. Printing your images through ShootProof ensures you get a quality image printed on quality material! Preserving that quality when you’ve invested in professional photos is priceless!

I hope that this encourages you to convert your digital gallery into tangible prints that can be cherished by you and your loved ones for a lifetime! I hope that someday, your family comes home to gather around the photo albums to reminisce about their very own “good ol’ days”! As your photographer, it is so important to me to that you fall in love with your images over and over again and that they mean something more to you every time you see them. Time is so fleeting and we should take every opportunity available to hold on to the memories we have!

2020 Reflections and 2021 Intentions

December 31st and January 1st may never look as different as they feel. The Christmas decorations are usually still up and the day to day hustle and bustle of family life doesn’t change. But the way that a new year feels changes the entire tone! A new year feels like hope, potential, momentum and energy. That energy drives and pushes us to get creative; it inspires us and motivates us towards growth!

Why is it that a new year feels this way? Truth be told, I think some of that energy comes from the ending of the previous year and the growth it produced! We could mark 2020 as a hard year, and it was. However, I’m choosing to mark 2020 as a year of growth, a year of blessing and provision in a difficult time. The sessions I shot in 2020 were absolutely amazing despite all the odds! They really solidified my passion for what I do and inspired me to grow more in my art! A pandemic didn’t slow down the connection I found behind my lens, if anything, it made it even stronger. I was able to capture and connect with so many incredible families last year and each new family was a light in the dark! With the support of so many wonderful clients, 2020 was a year I was still able to meet many of my goals for my business! It’s with this energy that I’m striding into 2021 with some new intentions and lessons in mind!

The year 2021 marks a fresh start for both me and my photography business! I have made the difficult decision to no longer offer weddings. I have found my passion in lifestyle photography and capturing raw and beautiful connection! I learned from 2020 to be more selective in my art and truly lean in to my passions in order to be able produce my very best work for my clients!

2020 taught me that when life is trying to get you down, get creative! In 2021, I have a few styled shoots in the works with a focus on creativity! I will be on the hunt for models, so keep your eyes peeled for those! I am not only pouring creativity out of my business this year but into it as well. I am attending not one but TWO amazing photography workshops this year, hosted by some incredibly talented ladies! I can’t wait to pour the inspiration and knowledge I learn from them into my sessions for my clients!

2021 is going to be a BIG year for Dana Tilton Photography and I am grateful to everyone who was a part of my 2020 journey. The lessons and connections I’ve gained have given me the energy to go into a new year feeling excited and inspired! I can’t wait to see what’s in store and I hope you can join in on the journey with me!

Tips For Booking A Photo Session While On Vacation

One of the best things about living in a bustling city like St. Augustine, Florida is all of the wonderful out-of-town clients I get to meet! This beautifully vibrant city attracts so many travelers looking to escape life’s harsh realities and trade them in for the salty ocean air! Many of those travelers want to take those memories with them and bring that atmosphere back home; this is what usually leads them to me! I am honored to help capture those memories and I wanted to share some of my thoughts on how to make a session go as smoothly as possible while you’re on vacation!

1. Book Your Session When You Book Your Vacation

   I can’t stress this one enough! If you plan to have your photos taken while you’re on vacation, check the local photographer’s availability for the week to make sure that there is an opening in their calendar that aligns with your planned vacation! Availability can dwindle quickly during those peak times of year where many families are traveling! The sooner your session is secured, the better! On the more extreme side, if you are in the process of planning a vacation and having your photos taken are a high priority, you might consider checking the photographer’s availability before booking the official dates of your vacation!

2. Pack (and Unpack) Accordingly

   I have a lovely Styling Guide that I will send to you that will help you plan the outfits for your booked session! This will walk you through the process of coordinating your outfits so they turn out beautifully in your photos! If at all possible, I recommend reserving the outfits for the last minute before your session to avoid stains or wardrobe malfunctions (especially if you have kiddos). I also recommend removing your outfits out of your luggage and hanging them up upon arriving at your hotel to avoid wrinkles!

3. Keep Your Schedule Simple and Relaxed On the Day of Your Session

   Don’t overbook this day so you don’t feel rushed to get ready for or get to your session! Take it easy and don’t plan to travel far to visit another attraction. This will help you stay relaxed and ensure you can easily make it to your session on time! This is also helpful if you have younger kiddos so you can make sure they get the proper naps throughout the day to feel their best at the session! Try to arrive a few minutes early just in case anyone needs to use the restroom or needs outfit adjustments.

4. HAVE FUN!

   You’re still on vacation and it’s my job to make your session feel like a dream! My style is very natural and relaxed so that it showcases your personalities in this dreamy atmosphere! I want you to feel beautiful and empowered. I want your connections to come through your images. I hope your session is another wonderful memory from your time here in St. Augustine!

It’s my hope that these tips help you feel like you can get the photos of your dreams from the vacation destination of your dreams! Booking a session doesn’t have to feel like a frantic or forced addition to your much needed time away. It can be fun and can create memories that last a lifetime! I hope these tips help you feel confident in booking your session and taking a piece of St. Augustine with you to remind you and your loved ones of the time you spent here together! I can’t wait to meet you! Happy Vacation Planning!!!

Christmas Mini Sessions 2020 A Light in the Darkness

I’ll say 2020 has been one of the biggest curveballs of my photography career. It began as a year so full of uncertainty, unknowns and anxiety. Now, as we’re wrapping up the year in celebration of Christmas, I’m reminded what a LIGHT that my clients are to me. Ever faithful, ever patient and ever full of smiles and memories to bring in front of my camera. What a blessing! This pandemic didn’t stop Thanksgiving or Christmas or memories being made. There is still joy, happiness and the beautiful chaos of life waiting to be captured! I couldn’t think of a better way to wrap up the year than with Christmas Mini Sessions full of fun, laughs, smiles and tradition!

While shooting Christmas Mini Sessions, I can’t help but to imagine the families gathered together on Christmas morning! Do they wear matching Christmas pj’s? Ugly Christmas sweaters? Do they watch a particular movie on Christmas Day? How did the kids’ faces light up as they unwrapped their Christmas deliveries from the elusive Ol’ Saint Nick? Every family has a very individual, unique dynamic. It’s my hope to capture that special magic that only your family possesses each time you’re in front of my camera! It is my personal opinion that Christmas always hold a special kind of magic within your family’s traditions!

I can’t talk about these sessions without highlighting this very special business who provided our perfect Christmas backdrop! The Honey Truck Co. is such a fun small business. 2020 has certainly been the year of promoting, preserving and praising small businesses! Nothing is more essential than saving a small business that provides directly to their family! Thank you so much to The Honey Truck Co. for allowing us to capture our magic in this perfectly vintage and unique Honey Truck!

Most importantly, thank you to my clients! You all are truly my light in the darkness. I can’t wish you and your families a Merrier Christmas! We all deserve it this year. Don’t let the uncertain times steal your joy this Holiday Season! Hold fast to your traditions, let go of that idea of “Pinterest Perfection” and embrace your loved ones tighter than ever before! Merry Christmas, from my family to yours!

Why is Professional Photography so expensive?

Why is Professional Photography expensive? It is a question that comes up from time to time and one that I have even asked in the past before I understood why. Maybe you are considering investing in a photo session but you are hit with sticker shock when you reach out to the photographer. Well, I am here to help shed some light on it for you! There are a few main reasons as to why. For one, if you are having your photos done by a legit professional, they have many business costs that they are covering. The cost of getting licensed and insured, equipment costs, editing software subscriptions, website host costs, and gallery delivery services to just name a few. We also pay taxes, which is anywhere from 20-30 percent of every dollar that we make! As business professionals, we do not want to cut corners, but rather we want to deliver quality in our services.

Photographers also have to consider the cost of gas to travel to and from the session. Sometimes we also have to pay entrance fees or parking fees to get into the location or event. Certain locations require a permit to be pulled in order to shoot there. Permits can range anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars depending on the event and the venue. The cost of all of the little things in photography just add up as well. You need a bag or two to carry your equipment, you may need a tripod, cleaning equipment, flashes, extra batteries for your camera, SD cards, external hard drives, computer and a cell phone. The list could go on and on!!! When you book with a Professional photographer, remember that you are also booking their time and their equipment as well as their creative talent and artistic abilities.

One more thing to consider when you book a photographer. When a photographer says “yes” to you and your session, it means they are saying “no” to other things. Saying no to spending time at home with family. So that time is valuable. Time spent editing is valuable as well. Photographers spend hours uploading, editing, then exporting, saving and backing up images. Editing is one of the most time consuming parts of our job! So when you look at the cost of that photo shoot that you are booking…my hope is that after reading this you will realize that you are actually supporting a business. You are paying for a lot more than you realize! You, the client, the consumer are why we remain a sustainable business!

Meet Your Photographer

If you stumbled upon my little corner of the World Wide Web, you are likely looking to book a Photo shoot with me. It is important to me that my clients get a better idea of who I am and what my story is, so that we can build that mutual trust with each other that will enable you to relax at your shoot. So, here ya go!

Meet your Photographer:

My name is Dana Tilton, and I was born and raised in St. Augustine, Florida. I married my high school sweetheart one year after we graduated High School. We have been married for 18 years, and we have 3 children, two boys and a girl. We also have a dog named Lola who is 3. In my spare time, you can find me cuddled up watching Netflix and hanging out with my family. I love to travel, and enjoy planning our family vacations each summer.

My family this past Easter

So, how did I become interested in Photography? I have always felt that it was important to document our family’s story, but professional photography to me was always a luxury that we often could not afford. We had professional photos taken a handful of times, but for the most I was taking our own. I was always interested in how to make them better. I started researching how to take better photos. When I was pregnant with our last Baby, my husband gifted me a brand new fancy DSLR camera for Christmas. I had no idea how to use it but I was determined that I would learn! So I watched countless hours of YouTube tutorials to learn how to shoot in Manual. I practiced every single day during maternity leave. I was totally hooked and have picked up my camera almost daily since then! I have since upgraded that DSLR and added multiple lenses to my camera bag as well.

Baby Aria, 4 months old. I was learning to shoot in manual, still had no clue how to edit though!

Fast forward a few years and looooots of practice later, I had so many people asking me to take photos for them, so I decided to take the leap. I had never intended on starting a photography business when I began my photography journey, but It has turned out to be the best decision! I love it!

My style of photography is very casual, relaxed, and fun mixed with a lot of connection. I like to have my clients do playful things and just hang out and have fun together. This style of Photography is called “Lifestyle” Photography, and it focuses less on posed images and more on the natural, candid, in between moments. This style of photography aims to capture your family’s personality and connection.

I love working with families and getting to meet new people. Photography has given me the opportunity to meet so many awesome people! I love being able to capture special memories for families that they will cherish and want to hang on the walls of their homes. I am so thankful that I decided to open my business and look forward to many many more years to come!

It’s me! Photo taken by my hubby and edited by me

5 Tips for a smooth Family Photo Session

The Fall season is the busiest time of the year for photographers. It is the time of year that everyone wants updated family photos! So you’ve booked your Family's session and now you’re wondering what to do next. Getting professional photos taken is absolutely an investment of time and money and it is important……so with that can come pressure. It is normal to be a little bit nervous, especially if you have never had professional photos taken before. Well, have no fear, because I am here to make sure that you are comfortable! I want you to enjoy your shoot. It should feel more like a hangout sesh than a stressful event. So I decided to give you a few tips. Here are 5 things that you can do to help it go as smooth as possible!

1. Book early! Don’t wait until like 2 weeks before Christmas and try to get that last minute session in so you can hurry and print some Christmas cards. Trust me on this. It will only stress you out. It will also stress the photographer out. You can literally save yourself so much stress by just booking early! One of the advantages of this is that you get the cream of the crop as far as picking a date. You get to pick whichever date is best for you. Those precious weekend dates…guess what…they fill up the absolute fastest! So by booking early you are ensuring you get the date you need. It also allows you plenty of time to plan outfits and styling of the session. That brings me to the second tip.

2. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan and shop for outfits. This is another great way to stress yourself out. I am going to write a whole blog post on how to style your session but for now, let's just keep it at this. If you wait until the week of the shoot…you are going to be running around like a crazy person going in and out of 13 different stores and returning things and buying too many items. It is best to start early! Like right after you book. Start thinking of what color scheme you would like. Do you want bold color or do you prefer more earthy and neutral tones? Do you want a more casual feel or something more dressy. I will send you a list of great places to shop if you need help with that. The clothing you choose for your session has a huge impact on the overall aesthetic of your photos. It is super important so shop early!

3. Do some Prep-work for your shoot: if you have little ones……be sure they are fed before the shoot. If they are young, don’t dress them in their outfit until you arrive at the location! Bring non messy snacks for the ride over to ensure they have full tummies! A hungry babe is a cranky babe. Lol. Also, bring wet wipes for wiping faces down right before the shoot. Another thing you can do if your child or children are still very young is adjust their nap on the day of the shoot. If the shoot is in the evening close to bedtime, putting them down for a later than normal nap that day might be helpful. Try to keep activities to a minimum on the day of the shoot as not to make them overly tired. One other thing to help prep your family: tell them you are going on an adventure, do not speak negatively about the photo shoot because kiddos pick up on that. Have a positive attitude about it and they will too! We will have lots of activities to keep them busy during the shoot, so it will feel more like an adventure to them than a sit down and be still and smile type of session.

4. Arrive early! Even if just 5 to 10 minutes. It helps to minimize stress and just gives you a few minutes to breathe and collect your thoughts. If you are unfamiliar with the location I always suggest going even earlier, just in case it is difficult to find. Use GPS if possible to help you find the location. Time is very precious during golden hour as light fades rather quickly, so even being 15 minutes late could affect the amount of images we get! Arriving early also allows your family time to do last minute things like comb hair, change into outfits, go to the bathroom, tie shoes, etc.

5. Go with the flow! Take a deep breath. Try to relax and just enjoy your family! Parents, try to let go of every other responsibility and just be IN the moment with your children. Don’t be afraid to show your love for them. Laugh with them, dance with them, play with them, snuggle them, walk with them, explore with them. I promise you that getting family photos can be a fun thing! I will encourage you and prompt you, but the connection……and the emotion that comes with that connection……..that’s all you.