stafford virginia photographer

Jaclyn & Brad


Every wedding that I photograph, it's always an honor. I won't pretend that it's not pretty boss to be attached to the bride and groom all day - a position not even their closest friends and wedding guests have. While my time with couples usually ends on the wedding day, we almost always keep in touch on social media and I love following their journey as it goes from the two of them, to fur babies, to multiple babies, new homes, and more. However, it's not every client that I have photographed for years, the proposal, the engagements and ultimately the happy ever after.


















I am always so impressed by the clever ways my clients find ways to incorporate family and friends that have passed. Jaclyn kept her Mom close on her wedding day with a pendant on her bouquet of flowers. 









Bride's Dress - David's Bridal | Groom's Tux - Men's Wearhouse | Flowers and Arrangements by The Enchanted Florist | Cake by Nicole Dixon | Food by The Green's Catering Company

3 Photos, 3 Ways

When you're first starting out as a photographer, even after you've mastered the camera, there's a beast you must tackle before you really hit your stride - your style. Are you a light and airy photographer? Are you a fan of the dark and moody look? Or how hot is the film look right now, am I right??!!

Back in 2011 I wrote an article titled 3 Photos, 3 Ways. In the post I explored the impact processing can have on a photo. I used editing styles that were very popular at the time (and unfortunately also my noob "tilt" in almost every photo...) and applied them to each, including my edit of each image alongside. Looking back at that post now, it's interesting to see how dated those editing trends now look. Yup, just like really big hair or fanny packs, photographers go through trends just like everyone else. 

I thought it would be fun to apply the same idea to images using trends for the past couple of years. Yes, the era of light and airy, dark and moody and film. The edit I delivered to the clients can be seen as the first in each series. 




You know what's really tough? All of these edits work wonderfully on these images. I love the film trend right now with it's bright greens and man, can it really flatter the skin tones! On the flip side, sometimes when I'm editing, it's hard not to pull myself to a dark and moody edit. Some locations and some styling just really call to that look. In the end though, no matter how many times I experiment I always come back to my style that I consider a bold, colorful, classic edit.

Just as the post before this, this article is in no way meant to throw shade (gosh, let's see how this slang dates this in a few years...) on photographers who deliver images in any of the styles I have used. There are clients for every photographer and a photographer for every client. When choosing your photographer, it's important that you book that photographer because you like their work, you like their style and the end product is what you want to hang in your home. While it's possible for me to edit and mimic the style of other photographers, I want my clients to hire me because they love my work and my creative eye. Being on the same page before the session begins is a great way to find success with a photographer!


The Walton Family - Northern Virginia Photographer

This coming December, little Leila will turn two! That will make it two years since I was able to share in the amazing experience of her birth with her parents. I have loved getting watch Mom and Dad go from holding that tiny baby in the delivery room to running after Leila on the beach. Mom Liese was eager to shoot on the beach in the summer months and once again Leesylvania State Park was the perfect backdrop for our evening session. Sitting on the Potomac River, it's just minutes from both of our homes. Can you believe this is in our backyard? With the unseasonably cool weather we have had in the DC area for the month of August, it was a gorgeous night and here are just some of my favorites from their equally gorgeous session!














The Genho Family - Northern Virginia Photographer

A few weeks ago I had a whole day experience shooting with the Genho family. Lynnie is an old friend, and she invited us down to shoot on their farm. Over 7,000 acres, it's a beautiful property. Going somewhere else to shoot her family would have made ZERO sense. I headed down early in the afternoon and into the Shenandoahs (for you locals, you can see Old Rag from her property) to find "Clover Hill", an 18th century farm house and plantation.

We drove around the mountain (literally, in the red Toyota you'll see pictured) to find some of their favorite spots; Lynnie's husband John operates the 7,000 farm. The sky was amazing that night - from a beautiful sunset to bright blue clouds to a dark overcast - there was a little of everything as the session progressed and our amazing backdrops changed.

Following the session, we rode the horses, fed the sheep and chased after the chickens. I got a full tour of the house (including the super creepy basement) and Lynnie and John prepared a delicious breakfast spread for dinner, with the most amazing Pumpkin Pancakes you will ever eat! We sat around the kitchen and laughed, enjoying the night well into the dark. It was such a blast hanging out in their little piece of Heaven. What an amazing place to call home! Thanks so much Lynnie for having me!





























My After Session Workflow

Originally this post started out as part 2 of my "Organizing Your Photos" series. As I started to put together the post in my head, I realized it was becoming (and could double) as more of a "what happens after your session workflow" post. So, if you're wondered what happens to your images following a session - at least here at Kelli Brewer Photography - here we go =)

1. Enjoy an awesome session with an awesome photographer (I think so anyway)

Just recently I detailed what a session is like for me - what order I try to shoot in, how I keep kids happy and basically a rough view of how I like to spend my hour or two with you. Yup, I jump like a fool, contort in crazy positions, and try to make your kids my best friend in the first 10 minutes they meet me. After the session, your work is done.

The waiting begins.



2. Create a folder for the Client

I have a drive where I keep all my clients images. Everyone is organized by their session type (Family, Newborn, Event, Portraits, Wedding) followed by their name. A lot of other photographers often organize by date, which I would personally find really confusing. I identify all my clients by name, and that's the easiest way for me to find them. For multiple sessions by the same client, I simply add the year to their session name or month if they're super awesome frequent clients.

So, let say Marge Simpson emails me about requesting a file. I remember she had a newborn session, immediately scroll down to my newborns and find Newborn - Simpson, Bart and I'm good to go.



3. Upload all the Files

After the session, I immediately come home and download all of the files to my computer. I am absolutely paranoid something will happen to them (and by something I mean my 3 and 1 year olds) if I let them sit on the cards in my camera too long.

I create two folders - Roughs and Finals. All of the files from your session are uploaded into the Roughs folder. I shoot in RAW + JPG, so there are ultimately two copies of your photos.

4. I slice and dice your Files

It's time to look at the files and decide which ones are keepers and which ones are banished to the trash. You're thinking, "what! the trash!" but not every picture I take is a keeper for various reasons. Your husband blinked. I was adjusting the exposure. Aunt Mary wasn't looking. Many reasons. In fact, I've covered at length what happens to your session files and how I decide which images to keep and which ones I toss. This process takes me a few days because I like to kind of let things "marinate".

Now, are the images gone forever? No. Remember how I said I essentially have 2 copies of your photos? When I'm deleting, I'm deleting the JPG files. The RAW file is still there in case I need it when I'm presenting your gallery. But remember - there's a reason it was deleted.

Just ask Beyonce:



5. Edit, Edit, and Edit Some More

Once I've narrowed down all the session images to those I will present to the client, I begin working my magic. This is my favorite part. After the kids are in bed, I am so excited to get to my computer and begin working. My idea of an awesome Friday night is sitting at my computer, Photoshop on one monitor with Netflix or a movie on the other, a coke on the rocks and Facebook when I need a break. I love making the most out of my images.

Take a look at this before the after (hover over the image - may not work on mobile devices)



*During my busy season, it's important to make the most of my time. Once I've culled all the files, sometimes clients are invited to look at the unfinished files and select only the images they intend to order, which will then be edited. However I choose to present the files to the client, they each see the same number of files.

6. Upload - Part Deux

Once all of the best images are edited, it's time to get them ready for the client. All of the images are uploaded to a private gallery, using Zenfolio. It's hands down my favorite gallery software. I have customized it like a boss, and I love it!


From there, I can breathe a sigh of relief. The images have been delivered to the clients and for the most part, my work is done. All of the products I have available to my clients can be purchased from their galleries. Everything is done online so my clients can purchase on their own schedule and browse their gallery without feeling rushed. Prints are automatically fulfilled by a professional lab and in the chance I have to fill an order, an invoice comes in and I'm pushing out orders right and left.

I don't offer packages (everything is a la carte) because I don't want people to buy product they don't need just to fill a package. I also don't require a minimum purchase - again, I want clients to buy what they need and what they love. I don't see the sale number as a reflection of how happy a client was with my work or the experience I provided. Everyone's budget is different.

So there you have it. A behind the scenes look at what you don't see after your session. Did I spoil the magic??