When Lauren’s dad contacted me and said, “My daughter is in high school, she’s in all the musicals and also plays Disney princesses,” I was like SIGN ME UP. He was speaking right to my high-school-theatre-heart! If you don’t know, I was a theatre gal all growing up, all in high school and it’s what I studied at USC (go, Trojans) in college. So, a next-generation gal needed some headshots? I knew it would be a blast.

Lauren could not have been sweeter. It was awesome to talk to her about auditions and callbacks (a world I left about 10 years ago now) and being on stage. It was like seeing the theatre life cycle! haha! I was at the backend and she at the front. Just starting out on local stages, seeing what calls her and what doesn’t. It was wild to look at her and think of all the years in between her age and mine and how much carving of her own path she has in front of her.

Now, I typically don’t do actor headshots. I did a ton when I lived in Los Angeles, but that was at a different point in my life, and at a place where everyone wanted to be on TV and in movies! Because of that, I didn’t have any go-to packages ready to offer Lauren and her dad, but it was really easy to create something custom for them. I tell all my clients that I don’t mind creating custom packages - I want people to be able to use what they get from me! :)

The final package consisted of 15 final images, chosen by them, for a flat fee. Definitely tons of great options to use locally or give to an agent! Thanks, Lauren, for trusting me and being so awesome that day!

Ooooh, I had so much fun with Jen in her session!  When I shoot females (grads, 20-somethings, moms, women), I love to start with the look that is the most "them."  Something they might wear at home or out to dinner with friends.  In this case, we went with the "just threw this on while I sip coffee and work on my laptop, but am ready to head out the door at a moment's notice" look.  Haha!  

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It's always best to show up with no makeup so that my stellar makeup artist can do her magic! First looks are usually nice and clean and bright.

Pretty sure we kept laughing here because we were all talking about having babies and our husbands' reactions when in the delivery room.  I have photos of my husband with his head in his hand and a very "I can't handle" vibe happening.  Because, you know, it was all sunshine and rainbows for me. Ha!

Moving on!

From there, we dial it up.  I really love to get to know my clients and understand what they have hidden in their personalities and in their souls and try to bring that out.  Feminine?  Edgy?  A love of old Hollywood or Elizabethan times?  Maybe they're always in charge and outgoing in life, but they have a soft side they want represented.  With my four-look sessions, we can do both - plus two more!

Jen was really excited about the tulle skirt I have in my studio for her portrait session (I have many lovely things for my clients!).  We wanted to get a little sexy, but still keep it soft and feminine.  I simply love creating some artistic lighting for this kind of look.  

Then, we kind of cheated and added half a look.  I mean, when you have a shirt that fabulous and there just aren't a TON of places to wear it around the honky tonks of Nashville, what's a girl to do except use it for a portrat photoshoot?! AMIRIGHT?

Then we went into her third look, which I think we all had the most fun with.  Brittany (my hair & makeup artist) and I put this look together with the clothes that Jen brought for her shoot - and she brought these because we talked about a boho look - and Jen was so excited and said her mom always calls her Janis for Janis Joplin!  

Once she was all done up and had her hair and makeup fixed up for this look and I looked at her through my lens I said, "I know what I want to do!"  I often get inspired right there on the spot and will make last-minute adjustments based on the vibe I'm getting.  I wanted her to look a little like papparazzi were shooting her and flashing their flashes in her face.  Makes me so happy. 

The order in which we shoot the four looks really depends on what Brittany has to say about hair and makeup.  We want a good flow of hair up, down, curls, braids, whatever, and we don't want to have to go from a really heavy makeup look all the way BACK to something simpler.  Because of that, we had the Old Hollywood look last.  Although I have a similar dress in my in-home photography studio, Jen happened to have this from a wedding!  The mink was my grandmother's (thanks, grandma).

Isn't she FAB?  Here's a little behind-the-scenes peek, too!  Like I said, my studio is in my house - and it's through the playroom (ha!), but I just love the princess vanity right outside the door where we're doing real-life dress up.

Ladies, rarely is there a "right" time to do a portrait session.  For many, it can feel indulgent and selfish, but for every woman who has stepped into my studio and come out with beautiful images of themselves, it has been completely worth it.  And, think of it this way, you'll now have gorgeous portraits to pass down in your family for generations to come.

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Liza Hippler is a lifestyle and portrait photographer located in Franklin, TN.  She serves the Middle TN and surrounding areas including Brentwood, Nashville and Spring Hill.  She would love to talk with you about how you want to be photographed.  

I have been shooting this stunning mama's older two children for a couple years now.  She's always ready capture those two in photos, but it took a little convincing get her in front of my lens!  She did a portrait session, which meant is was in my studio and I had my amazing hair & makeup gal, Brittany, there to take her elegantly from look-to-look.  

Like a lot of women, my pregnant mommy felt a little awkward and wasn't sure how the maternity photos would turn out, but she was totally game and did all the things I asked!  When she finally saw her photos, she said, "Oh, wow!"  I LOVE when that happens!

Personally, I think she puts Beyonce to shame in that last black and white shot!

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