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Guest Post from Brooke Mayo: How to Prepare for an Outer Banks Photo Shoot

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Outer Banks Photography: Brooke Mayo

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.

Outer Banks Infographic: How to Forecast the Weather

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The other day I posted the first installment in our new blog series, Outer Banks Infographic. It is a nifty little picture of the benefits of renting an Outer Banks vacation home vs. hotels.

As a quick refresher, here’s how wikipedia defines an infographic:

Information graphics or infographics are graphic visual representations of information, data or knowledge. These graphics present complex information quickly and clearly.

Basically, it’s a lot of information boiled down into a pretty picture so knuckle-heads like me can understand it.

As I mentioned in the previous post, we are going to create a whole bunch of original Outer Banks infographics to share with you, but in addition, we’re going to share some great one’s that we come across in our online hunting.

Today’s Outer Banks infographic is one that I found while hunting. So we can’t take credit for creating it, but we’ll take credit for sharing it. :)

It focuses on how to forecast the weather without gadgets, and I have to say that I am super excited about this one.

The Outer Banks has some awesome weather, and being fortunate to call the OBX home gives me the opportunity to experience these often mystifying weather patterns on a daily basis.

I’ve promised myself numerous times that I would become better at understanding the daily OBX weather. It’s fun to understand nature and the world around us, but it will also give me a chance to get a jump on great surf conditions.

Unfortunately, as many times as I’ve made this promise to myself, I’ve never really followed through on it. Sure, I can tell you what direction the wind is blowing, but how hard is that when you’re standing on the beach – i.e. the furthest point east?

So, today’s Outer Banks infographic is right up my alley. I’ve been looking for something like this for a long time. Thank you inforgraphic gods (and DailyInfographic.com).

Let’s get to some weather forecasting! Enjoy…

PS – If this one is a little small to read, you can use the above link to see an enlarged version.

Outer Banks Infographic: How to Forecast Weather

Outer Banks Infographic: How to Forecast Weather

How to Drive in the Sand

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If there is one thing someone visiting the Outer Banks NEEDS to know, its how to drive in the sand. The first time I came to the Outer Banks to visit I was staying in a friends beach house up in Carova and got stuck in the sand pulling onto her “street” a.k.a sand path right near the house. I have found that the single most important thing to remember is to air down your tires but here are some additional tips straight from OBX local and pro surfer Jesse Hines, to make sure you can get where you are going without getting stuck!

Drive with Confidence: Make sure you have a truck with 4 wheel drive! When you’re driving in the sand, keep the truck in 4 Low. Other than that, the best thing you can do is to be confident, and sometimes slightly crazy, depending on where you are. The best sand is closer to the water because it tends to be more packed down. At the same time don’t get too close because people have gone in the ocean. Try to maintain a steady speed and try not to be a nervous braker.

Keep the Pressure Low: The most common mistake that will get you stuck in the sand is not lowering the pressure in your tires. I think the best pressure is around 20 psi. It’ll make your truck feel like a pirate ship sailing through seas of sand.

Stay on Track: Another common mistake is trying to make your own tracks in the sand. People tend to roam around the beach trying to carve their own path. You want to drive in the tracks that are already there. It’s almost impossible to get stuck in another vehicles tracks because the sand has already been packed.

Start Digging: If you do get stuck in the sand, start digging. I would recommend digging out the under carriage area first because if it gets too hot under there you could have a fire hazard. Be careful though because that sand will be hot! And if you haven’t already let the pressure out of your tires, do that. It’s also a good idea to look for any driftwood or washed-up lumber. Put them under the tires for traction. If all else fails, you can start accosting other folks with a rope or a bigger, unstuck truck.

Overgunning: The absolute worse thing you can do is to start gunning it over and over again. Once you’re stuck, gunning it will only dig you deeper until the vehicle is resting on the axles. That’s pretty much the worst thing that can happen.

These are all great tips but I am going to have to add that you have to make sure you understand the tides. You don’t want to be out driving on the beach in high tide because sometimes the water goes right up to some of the houses and you will have nowhere to go. Grab a tide chart from TW’s Bait and Tackle or Google it before you make any plans to head out or into a 4×4 area.

If you need any additional advice or end up getting stuck please feel free to give our office a call and we would be glad to help any way we can. If you follow these “rules of the sand” you should be good to go and have a great time out on the beach!

This is what you DON’T want to happen!

How to Travel to the Outer Banks Using Vacation Rentals

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Seaside Vacations - www.OuterBanksVacations.com

Seaside Vacations - www.OuterBanksVacations.com

Kitty Hawk, NC – (February 8, 2010) – With a TV commercial highlighting vacation rentals having aired in Sunday’s big game, the demand for vacation rental homes on the Outer Banks has soared.  Football fans are discovering why renting vacation homes, condos, villas and cabins is a favorite choice for many versus hotels. Beyond the experiences families and friends build by staying in a home-away-from-home on the Outer Banks, there are numerous benefits to choosing vacation rentals – sometimes in ways you’d least expect.  Don’t miss out on your chance to enjoy an affordable vacation in an Outer Banks vacation rental.

Whether trying vacation rentals for the first time or if you’re one of the nearly nine in 10 travelers who plan to rent again, Seaside Vacations Marketing Director, Adam Norko, offers the following planning tips and insights as a post-game update for visiting the Outer Banks: 

  • CONSIDER BOOKING EARLY:  Vacation rental homes can fill up months in advance, especially during busy vacation seasons.  Summer on the Outer Banks is very busy, and many reservations are made months, if not a year, in advance.  If you have your heart set on a particular house, a particular area, or particular amenities, you may want to consider making your reservation early.  Please call Seaside Vacations at 877.219.3794 to book an affordable vacation for this summer. 
     
  • KNOW YOUR DESTINATION: Whether you are a first-time traveler to the Outer Banks or not, it’s recommended that you become familiar with our special events, seasons and offerings. Here are some activities that guests find most enjoyable:
  • LOOK FOR SPECIAL VALUES: During certain seasons, vacation rental specials can provide even more value, some with homes starting at just $30 per person, per night, with all of the typical amenities of a resort and more. Visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com to become familiar with various vacation rental types, reservation rates as well as exclusive promotions.
  • AVOID AIRLINE BAGGAGE FEES: Most Outer Banks vacation rentals come equipped with washers and dryers.  Travelers may choose to use these perks to pack less clothing, avoiding commercial airlines’ baggage fees and restrictions.
  • USE SPACE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE:  Outer Banks vacation homes and condos can range from 1 to more than 14 bedrooms, often costing less than a single hotel room by sleeping up to 30 guests versus just a few.
  • SAVE ON DINING OUT: With full kitchens, dining rooms, breakfast bars and outdoor grills, Outer Banks vacation rental travelers often make and store meals and snacks for less, including football favorites like homemade nachos during post-season trips. Use our famous fresh-caught local seafood for more memorable mealtimes. This also provides healthy travel options, cutting the amount of calories typically consumed while on vacation.
  • ASK ABOUT AFTER-HOURS SERVICE: When looking into any vacation rental accommodations, check to see if there is an accessible customer service number for emergency needs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and for after-hour requests.
  • ENTERTAIN FOR FREE: Most of Seaside Vacations’ homes and condos include amenities not found in hotels – including private pools, hot tubs, recreation rooms, fireplaces, DVD players, WiFi, and book and movie libraries. Many are also in communities with access to community pools, tennis, fitness centers, the beach, etc.
  • ASK ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS: A vacation should be more than just a house at the beach. It should be time with friends and family, a chance to relax and unwind and an opportunity to experience the local culture. Seaside Vacations is redefining the Outer Banks vacation experience by combining the best things about staying in a private vacation home with the best things about staying in a luxury resort.  Welcome to the exclusive Club Seaside.
  • REMEMBER BIG EVENTS: Whether it’s for football championships or national Bowl games, concerts, baseball series’, basketball or other events, vacation rentals can save fans from the hassle of finding multiple hotel rooms during big events, and on the cost of multiple reservations.

For more information, visit http://www.OuterBanksVacations.com as an official Outer Banks resource. Also connect with Outer Banks travelers and experts in the Facebook vacation rental community at http://www.facebook.com/seaside.vacations and join the conversation on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SeasideVacation. 

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 About Seaside Vacations: 

Founded in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in 1990, Seaside Vacations is a full-service vacation rental management company representing homes from Corolla to Nags Head.  

Seaside Vacations offers a complete selection of Outer Banks vacation rentals. Guests can choose from 1 – 14-bedroom private vacation rental homes, condominiums, townhomes and villas.  Explore our homes in Duck and Corolla as well as numerous vacation rentals in Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills and Nags Head. 

For more information on Seaside Vacations and their wide selection of vacation rentals, visit www.OuterBanksVacations.com or call a Vacation Specialist at 877.219.3794.