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No BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shop Talk
Today's Guest: Jennifer Brasnick of Jennifer Brasnick Photography in Keller, Texas
Today's Host: John Bentley

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ANNOUNCER: Welcome to No BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shop Talk brought to you by NO BS Photo Success Photography Forum. Dedicated to the portrait and wedding photographer who has the passion and desire to grow. Now here's your host, John Bentley.

JOHN: Today on the No BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shop Talk, we have photographer, Jennifer Brasnick, of Jennifer Brasnick Photography, joining us via the telephone. Welcome to the program, Jennifer.

JENNIFER: Thank you. Good morning.

JOHN: Where are you located, Jennifer?

JENNIFER: I am in Keller, Texas, which is a suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

JOHN: Ok. Well let's talk a little bit about your photography business. Why don't you give us a little overview of what you're up to down there in Texas.

JENNIFER: Sure. Right now primarily my business is a lot of maternity and newborns and baby's first year. I do some children as well, but that is the bulk of my business right now.

JOHN: Let's talk a little bit about that. How do you prepare an expectant mother to do a photo session?

JENNIFER: You know, a lot of expectant mothers when they call me are a little nervous. It's something that they've thought about doing. I think maternity photography is semi-relatively new. But they don't quite know what to bring or what to wear or whether or not they want to just be fully clothed or partially clothed to really show the belly. But we just kind of talk through and I tell them that we'll start with something that you're mother, your grandmother, and your kids can see. And we'll go from there. We'll do something a little bit for me, a little bit for you, something a little romantic, and I also tell them to not worry about what they look like. I do a lot of shadows and everything to hide some of the little bit of extra weight that women gain when we get pregnant so, you know, they seem to be pretty pleased with that. And they kind of just leave it all in my hands. I think that I also tell them that my studio is in my home so I have a separate area set up and so it's just me and them and possibly their husband and so it's more of an intimate environment. They feel a little more comfortable, relaxed if we play some music.

JOHN: And that's a really special session to have as a parent to be able to have something like that. And you have some very beautiful photographs on your website.

JENNIFER: Thank you.

JOHN: Let's go to the next step then, ok. Well actually are you taking steps with some women? Are they going like maybe in the fourth month, you know, six month, eighth month, something like that? Are you doing anything like that with anyone?

JENNIFER: I don't do the steps with the women yet. I've never had anyone contact me about that. I usually tell them, and it's not necessarily a set month. I usually when somebody calls I say, whenever your belly is starting to come over top of your chest, or coming, you know, just beyond your chest. That varies from woman to woman. That's when we want you in here. I don't want them in here necessarily two weeks before they deliver, but just when the belly is starting to really round out and look really nice.

JOHN: Let's talk about the newborns then. I absolutely love newborn photography. There's something special to have such a tiny little baby in your hands, and you have a couple really nice photographs of the fathers with the babies. How is the interaction with the fathers with the babies?

JENNIFER: I love the interaction with the fathers with the baby. I almost require that in a way when I do a newborn session for the fathers to come. A lot of times, believe it or not, the fathers seem to be much more natural holing the child than the mothers. Which is kind of weird. You would think it would be the exact opposite, but they tend to be a little bit more comfortable. I don't know if it's because they have bigger arms, and they feel like they can hold the baby a little bit better, but it's just to see that sense of awe and wonderment and such a small child and such a large human being, you know, a daddy's arms, it just makes an amazing photograph. It's something that as well when the child looks back, it's something that they can treasure.

JOHN: Yeah, for sure. And some of the shadows you're using in some of your photographs really lend to a really beautiful contrast, black and white photos, those kind of things. You do a really nice job with that.

JENNIFER: Thank you.

JOHN: Let's talk about maybe some other things that you do. You are doing some senior photography, correct?

JENNIFER: Yeah, I've done a few senior photography. It's something that I really want to get into I think in the spring of 2009. It's a totally different direction than, obviously, than maternity, newborns, and kids, but it's something that I think is challenging. It's a lot of fun. It's a good time for a person's life, because they are transitioning from being a kid to an adult. It's a good place to take a photograph and take a memory shot so to speak.

JOHN: Now do you do a lot of outdoor photography with the seniors?


JENNIFER: I am so much more comfortable in the studio than outdoors, and I know that sounds a bit odd, but in the summer time a lot of times when kids will take pictures for their senior photography its so stinkin hot down here, and everything is not as pretty as it should be that we do a lot of studio type work, but we will go out in the spring and go out into different areas just looking for good lighting areas and some urban type scenes.

JOHN: Great. Now we're going to have to take a break at this moment, Jennifer, but if you would kindly share your website address and contact information, we'd appreciate that.

JENNIFER: Sure. My business name is Jennifer Brasnick Photography and my website address is www.4lifephotography.com.

JOHN: Great. We are talking to Jennifer Brasnick of Jennifer Brasnick Photography, and you're listening to the No BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shop Talk. I'm your host, John Bentley, we're going to take a break, we'll be right back after these important messages.

ANNOUNCER: This program is sponsored by NO BS Photo Success Photography Forum. Visit them on the web at www.nobsphotosuccess.com. NO BS Photo Success dedicated to the portrait and wedding photographer who has the passion and desire to grow.

ANNOUNCER: VTalk Radio.

ANNOUNCER: www.morephotos.com helps professional photographers manage their digital images online in over 20 countries. They can help you with domain names, websites, shopping carts, and online proofing solutions. Please visit them at www.morephotos.com. www.morephotos.com the online sales solution for professional photographers worldwide. We now return you to the NO BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shop Talk show with your host, John Bentley.

JOHN: Welcome back to the NO BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shop Talk. I am your host, John Bentley. Today in the studio by telephone, we are speaking with Jennifer Brasnick of Jennifer Brasnick Photography out of the Keller, Texas. Welcome back to the program, Jennifer.

JENNIFER: Thank you.

JOHN: Now we've been talking about your photography business, and I did want to ask you how long have you been in the photography business?

JENNIFER: I started my business actually in August of last year, believe it or not. So I haven't been official business for very long, but I have hobbied with photography for about 10 years. I've been in film and didn't really go into business because of film, but when digital came around there was some circumstances and series of events that happened that just kind of propelled me into starting my business finally.

JOHN: Great. Now, obviously, you're a part of the No BS Photo Success family. How were you introduced to No BS?

JENNIFER: Well when I was given my first digital camera, my dad told me...he sent a note that it was a just because gift. He said, you know, you've been wanting to do this, go see what you can do with it. And so I started doing some research online of where I could gain more knowledge with digital and just how to go about the whole big thing that it is of doing a photography business, and online I happen to run across different forums and No BS was one of the forums that I ran across. I did some research on it, and just went ahead and signed up and went for it. It was one of the best things that I could have done. That's for sure.

JOHN: Now how has No BS Photo Success helped your photography business?

JENNIFER: No BS took me from knowing absolutely nothing about a photography business or studio lighting, for example, to where I am right now. I do belong to one other forum, but No BS has really took me from nothing to where I am. Everything from what type of equipment to buy to critiquing my work to helping me understand and see lighting. Where to buy backgrounds, everything. Everything is right there for us.

JOHN: Now they do a lot of things with video don't they?

JENNIFER: They do, and video has really helped me. I'm very much a visual learner. So both Rob and James put together a lot of videos on different types of sessions and shoots and that has been really helpful.

JOHN: Now being primarily a studio type photographer, I would imagine they have lots of tips to help you get the best possible shot from lighting to maybe backdrops too?

JENNIFER: Excuse me?

JOHN: Backdrops?

JENNIFER: Yes, even how to hang a backdrop for example. I know that sounds stupid, but there are different ways that you can put backdrops up, and where to buy certain backdrops, to even wrapping of maternity clients. There's even a video on how they do their wrappings of the upper body and the lower body to really showcase the belly and make the fabric look really pretty.

JOHN: Wow. That's very detailed and I think what I like about the No BS Photo Success is that it doesn't matter what your question is. First of all, as little or as big of a thing it is for you, it doesn't matter to them. It can sound like a silly question, but they're more than happy to tackle it for you and someone is always going to have an answer aren't they?

JENNIFER: That is very true. I've asked the most stupidest questions I feel like, but they are right there to give you the answer and it's nice. And it's not just even them. It's the whole family of No BS.

JOHN: They have photographers from all over the country that can respond to any one of your questions. Isn't that true?

JENNIFER: Yes, and the other thing that I really like about it too is it's photographers in different areas, not just geographically, but we have primarily some senior photographers who are maybe newborn photographers or even commercial work. So you can get different viewpoints and see what different people see in your work.

JOHN: Well we want to thank you for joining us on the No BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shoptalk today, Jennifer. I'm afraid we're out of time. I do want to give you a chance to give your website and contact information one more time please.

JENNIFER: Sure you can contact me on my website at www.4lifephotography.com and thank you so much, I appreciate it.

 JOHN: We've been speaking with Jennifer Brasnick of Jennifer Brasnick Photography out of Keller, Texas, and you've been listening to the No BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shop Talk. I'm your host, John Bentley. Thank you for joining us. Have a great afternoon.

ANNOUNCER: No BS Photo Success Digital Photography Shop Talk is powered by www.vtalkradio.com . Radio for the 21st Century.



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