Outer Banks Photography: Brooke Mayo

Yesterday, I threw out some virtual high-fives to Brooke Mayo for her brand spanking new book, and in that post I mentioned that Brooke has graciously agreed to join us once again for Club Seaside in 2012.

We are super duper excited to have Brooke back for our 4th year together…has it already been 4 years?! Wow.

To help y’all prepare for your fabulous OBX photo shoot with Ms. Brooke, we asked the famed photog if she would whip up a guest blog post for us, and ta da!

Here we go, Brooke’s tips on How to Prepare for an Outer Banks Photo Shoot. Enjoy…

 “Photo Tips for the Modern Family” – Brooke Mayo

We are Brooke Mayo Photographers and have been photographing families on the beach since 2001.  Brooke Mayo Photographers consists of three photographers, Brooke Mayo Carrie Roen and Candace Owens.  We are photographers who LOVE, LOVE, LOVE what we do!

We want to capture you and your family as you are, each relationship is dynamic and we want to show all the expressions you know and some you may not!  We will have everyone play, build sandcastles, run through the ocean, pick up shells and make memories! Our style is more photojournalistic, meaning we value candid shots and unposed actions as much as posing – we think you will appreciate the subtle emotions of a family when nobody has to say “cheese”.

Got a big family? Great – we will take shots of the larger group, and break into individual families and the combinations of your choice, to make sure everybody gets that picture with great-uncle Bob.  Looking to break away from the traditional beachside portrait?  Sure – we can recommend sand dunes, old oak forests, quaint harbors, vineyards, farms and more – the backdrops are endless.  It’s the Outer Banks!

When dressing for your family beach portrait, show your personality!  Have everyone coordinate but don’t “match.”  We want to show who you are as a family!

Wear what shows your personality! We love sundresses, pastels, polka dots and fun props! Try to avoid short skirts (as we often have you jumping in the air or laying in the sand), solid blacks, reds, hot pink/green or bright orange. If one person wears a pattern, have everyone else be in solid colors. We’re happy to help you decide on outfits!

We know you have seen the beach portraits of everyone in khacki and white or jeans and white.  In everyday life you don’t all dress the same and you shouldn’t do that for your family portraits either.  The white tends to wash most people out and it along with the khacki blends into the sand.  Try having one or two people in patterns and the others in solid colors, pastels are gorgeous on the beach!

Also, I know the best times for photos aren’t the best times for kiddos… 630 or 7am or 7pm in the summer on the beach, but it’s the best light.  If the photos are done much earlier or later, unless it’s overcast, your faces will be shiny and your eyes squinty and the beaches are much less crowded. If it is overcast, we can schedule throughout the day.  Don’t worry that it’s not sunny – direct light is great for sunbathing, but not for pictures!

Bring props, if your kids like playing in the sand and using a shovel and bucket, go for it!  We want them to have fun and for it to feel more like a play date rather than a stiff family portrait where they don’t get to enjoy themselves.  You can even bring ice cream for the end of the shoot, make sundaes on the beach, or just eat a cone… it doesn’t get much more summery than that!

We come to frolick with you and your family at your rental home or any other location you’d like!  Some of our favorite locations such as local parks and vineyards are clearly marked with ample parking.