A Few Reasons Why You Need a Professional Head Shot.....

by: Kristina Rust Photography

I understand that the thought of getting in front of the camera all by yourself can make you cringe but having a professional photo is extremely important and here’s why:

1. A professional headshot conveys a look of professionalism and credibility for you and your company. Your image is your first impression, be sure to make it a strong one.

2. People like to do business with others they know. Having a headshot helps people feel like they already know you.

3. You’ll use it all over the Internet. A polished headshot is necessary for social media. A consistent professional headshot should be used on all your social media channels…LinkedIn, Twitter, Website, etc.

4. You might need a headshot for a speaking engagement, book jacket, or event and you’ll be ready.

5. A professional headshot will show you at your best. Rather than using that selfie or photo where you cropped out your friends, a professional headshot will demonstrate that you made an investment in yourself and that you take yourself seriously.

As you can see from the sample images above, a headshot does not have to be stuffy or in front of a blue backdrop.  Your headshot can reflect your style and personality and still look professional.  If you’d like to learn more about my headshot services, please contact me at kristina.rust@gmail.com or call 408.207.5010.

How to Prepare for Your Head Shot Session | By Kristina Rust Photography

by Kristina Rust Photography

Trying to figure out what to wear for your head shot session?  No need to stress, here are a few tips to help you pull together the perfect look……

• Be timeless…. Try to pick outfits that are not too trendy and that will not look dated in a year.
• No logos or large graphics…these tend to distract from your lovely face and we don’t want you to be walking advertisements.
• Layer…bring a sweater or scarf to add a bit of “texture” to your images as well as variety.
• Accessorize…. add color and interest with accessories but don’t let them overwhelm the outfit.  We don’t want that HUGE chunky necklace to be the center of attention.  Again, think complement.  Headbands, scarves, and cardigans are all great ways to add a little extra pop.
• Patterns are great.  Patterns and prints are terrific but make sure they are not too fine of a print or the pattern will look pixelated.
• Make-up….a little extra make-up is good for the camera but don’t go too heavy handed.  If you feel like you could use a little extra assistance, consider hiring a professional make-up artist (it is more affordable than you think).
• Glasses...f you wear glasses-please note there might be a bit of glare.  Non-glare glasses are ideal.
• The Right Fit….do not wear clothes that are too baggy as they add unwanted pounds and clothes that are too tight never look right.
• Hair…if you highlight your hair do so before the shoot so you don’t have roots.   If you are in need of a haircut do that a week or two before the shoot so you can feel comfortable with your new do.  And one tip that I love and used myself was to go to blow-dry bar and have your hair professionally styled.

And if you are interested in updating your profile picture for your website, LinkedIn, blog or Facebook page, please visit my website to see more examples of my work or email me at kristina.rust@gmail.com.  I'd love to work with you. 

Spider Pro Camera Holster Review

By:  Kristina Rust Photography

When I was at ClickAway last fall, I saw a few photographers using the Spider Pro Holster and was very intrigued.  It looked like a great alternative to wearing your camera around your neck or across your body.  Flash forward a few months and I had the opportunity to try one out myself and I have to say I really love it!

Now I must admit, I have not taken it out on a shoot just yet (I'm really excited to do so) but in just trying it out around my home and neighborhood, I'm very impressed.

What I really like is that the Spider Pro is a comfortable and secure way to carry my camera.  It's a nice change from having a strap digging into my neck.  I also love that I don't have to worry about my camera strap dangling in front of my camera and getting in the way of the lens.

The Spider Pro Holster is a belt system that you wear evenly across your waist, keeping the weight of your gear off your shoulders and back.  A metal plate attaches to the bottom of your camera and the attached pin slides into the holster and locks into place (this is very important...make sure it is locked into place lest you end up with some damaged gear).  The camera then swivels into position (which is upside with the lens pointing behind you) leaving your hands free.

While it felt strange at first (I was reluctant to trust that my camera really was secure hanging from my hip), I quickly got used to having my camera on my waist.  

Here is a video that provides a great overview of this very cool product!


 

The Spider Pro has a variety of accessories you can purchase such as lens pouches and adapter kits so that you can attach your Spider Pro to belts from Think Tank and LowePro.

If you are looking for an alternative to wearing your camera around your neck or across your body, I would highly recommend giving this a try.  If you have one already, I'd love to hear your thoughts.


Disclosure:  I was provided a Spider Pro Holster in exchange for this review.  The opinions are entirely my own. 

More Top Down Photography

I am loving the The Studio Online group that I am a part of this year.  So much creativity going on and what a supportive nurturing group.

Here are some more images I recently captured.  The prompt was fruit.  Oh and the silverware in these images was so tarnished and not in a good way.  I used a trick for cleaning silver that I found online here where you use foil, boiling water, baking soda and salt and it totally worked.  I couldn't believe how clean and shiny these pieces became.   If you've got some dingy silver or silver-plated pieces, you really got a try it out!

The Studio Online--Top Down Photography

by: Kristina Rust Photography

This year I am participating in a creative group called The Studio taught by the amazing Kim Klassen.  It is a place for creatives to connect, share and learn and I am thrilled to be a part of it. 

Each week we are given a photography prompt as well as access to a variety of Lightroom presets (created by Kim) to try.  There are also loads of tutorials and videos on using Lightroom, setting up still life photos and various photography tips and tricks.   

I love being a part of this group because it encourages me to capture images just for the sake of creating.  It's a different experience than my usual family or event photography.  Which don't get me wrong...I love. 

Anyway, over the past few weeks we've been doing all sorts of fun stuff.  I'm a bit behind (as I usually am when I take online classes) but I'm slowly catching up.  The nice thing about this course is your encouraged to go at your own pace....to enjoy the process and that is what I am doing. 

So here you go... a few examples of what I've been up to these past weeks.  The prompt below was to work on top down photography (or shooting from above).  I really love this style of photography.  It is amazing how little tweaks can really impact an image and the story being told. 

Instantly Framed Review: Framed Photos From Your Smartphone

by Kristina Rust Photography

If you are like me you probably have hundreds thousands of photos on your smartphone.  While it's nice to scroll through them to relive the moments, it's even better to have your favorite images printed and hanging on your wall.

But the fact is it takes some effort to get them off your phone and on your walls. This is why I am a new fan of the app Instantly Framed.  Instantly Framed is a smartphone app that provides a simple process for printing, framing, and shipping your photos from your camera.  Whether you are using Instagram photos, Facebook photos, or photos from your camera roll, all you have to do is upload the image and in 3 days you will have a beautiful print delivered to your door.

Instantly Framed uses archival printing materials and a beautiful walnut framing in a soft black finish.   You can choose from 3 different print sizes that are in an acid-free archival mat which fit a 12" x 12" frame.  And they've made displaying your framed print easy by providing an option for hanging or using the easel backing.

I had the opportunity to try out Instantly Framed and was thrilled with the beautiful framed photo I received.  Ordering was very easy.  All I had to do was download the app, select a photo (which ended up being the hardest part), choose a photo size and hit send.   The print arrived carefully packed in 3 days.   No more waiting for prints to arrive from the printer (or printing it myself only to realize I'm running low on ink), running around hunting for frames and assembling everything once I finally get it all together.  Now I can just Print. Frame and Ship.

The video below shows you just how simple the process is.




Instantly Framed's flat rate is $65 which includes shipping in the United States.  You can receive $10 off your order (through February 15, 2015) by using the code CIMOMSCLICK10.

Disclosure: I received a framed photo from Instantly Framed for the purposes of this post. This does not influence my opinions of the company or the product. 

A New Year-- New Photo Projects

by: Kristina Rust Photography

Happy New Year!  Can you believe we are embarking on another year!  2015!  Wow!

This is the time of year when I think about the various photo projects I'd like to do.  Last year I completed my fourth Project 365.  Although I must admit, I did an "easier" version which was to capture an image a day using my iPhone.  As they say, "the best camera is the one that's with you."  And for a project 365, I found that to be true.

This year, I'm not sure that I am going to commit to another project 365.  So far I have taken a photo every day...because it's a habit and I love taking pictures.  But I'm not going to put a stake in the ground and say "I'm doing a Project 365."  We'll see, maybe it will be the case but for now no pressure.

I am participating in Xanthe Berkeley's a Year of Creating Time Capsules and I'm also enrolled in Kim Klassen's The Studio and I'm very excited to be a part of both of these projects.  I adore Xanthe and Kim and know that I will be super inspired by not only their work but the other participants.  Registration is still open if you are interested. 

I'm also starting my third year of a 10 on 10 project. A 10 on 10 project is where you take 10 photos on the 10th of each month.  I am in a blog circle (on my business site....kristinarustphotography.com) and we each link to one another's posts.  It's a great way to capture every day moments of my family and also connect with a group of amazing photographers.   Click here to see my last post from 2014.

What photo projects are you up to this year?  I'd love to hear about them.

In case you are curious, here is's a recap of my Project 365.  I used the Project 365 app to organize my photos and make these calendars...you should check it out!

In addition to writing about photography tips, tricks and a good craft project here at Moms Who Click, you can also find me musing about my latest photography projects and client work on my website Kristina Rust Photography, Facebook Page and Google+.

Creating Time Capsules with Xanthe Berkeley

By Kristina Rust Photography

I adore Xanthe Berkeley.  If you have not checked out her amazing Time Capsule videos, you should!   Her films are so fantastic and she will inspire you to want to make these types of videos too.   Videos that capture the magical moments of your everyday life.

I've taken several of her classes before and can't wait to join her again in her newest e-course offering,  A Year of Creating Time Capsules.  It is a year long course that will provide participants with tips and inspiration to create films throughout 2015.  If you have not taken one of her courses, I really encourage you to do so.  Xanthe is a fabulous teacher and her work will really motivate you to go out and shoot more films.

Below is a film she created from the Gather retreat that she co-hosted with Kim Klassen.  I was fortunate enough to attend this magical event and love that I have this memory to hold on to.



Hope to see you in class!

Cyber Monday Shopping Round-Up!

By:  Kristina Rust Photography

It seems like the holiday shopping extravaganza starts earlier and earlier every year. This year the Black Friday sales started on Thursday (if not earlier) and the Cyber Monday were more like Cyber Friday sales.  If you have not done any shopping yet you still have time to snap up some great deals.

Here are a few of my favorites.....

Photobucket:  Yes, I've been writing about them a lot lately but have you checked out all the great products they now carry? They have been running some fabulous deals which I have personally scooped up including:

• Get 70% off your canvas order using the code CANVAS70
• Get 75% off holiday cards with the code FBCARDS75  (their cards are great....nice, thick card stock and rich colors with a satin finish).

Minted:  Minted is another great card company.  All of their designs are from independent artists, illustrators and painters from all over the world.  I wrote about them last week and gave a sneak peek of my family Christmas card.   For Cyber Monday they have a 15% off + Free Shipping on holiday cards using the code 15CM or 25% off everything else using the code 25CM.   

Tiny Prints:  I love Tiny Prints too.  They have a fantastic selection of cards and photo gifts.  I'm a big fan of their very cute notebooks.  As a Tiny Prints affiliate, I have a 40% off coupon that I can email you (sorry I can't publish it).  If interested, leave a comment below with your email address and I will send it to you.  

Bay Photo:  Bay Photo is my go to lab for printing.  The quality of their prints is top notch and their customer service is outstanding.  I am fortunate to be on their pro-delivery route and have all my goodies delivered right to my door.    Here are the specials they are running through Cyber Monday:

• 30% Off Fine Art Canvas Prints
• 30% Off Prints on Photo Paper 16x16 & Larger
• 35% Off NEW Mid-Gloss Surface MetalPrints in 8x12 & 12x18 Sizes

Here are the additional details:  http://www.bayphoto.com/pro-products/specials.htm

Artifact Uprising:  If you are looking for beautifully designed products with a simple, modern aesthetic you should definitely check out Artifact Uprising.  I am a big fan of their 5x5 books...perfect for all those gorgeous Instagram photos you've been snapping.  Save 10% through Cyber Monday with the code MERRY.

Moo:  We love Moo's awesome business cards.  They really allow you to show off your work in a beautiful way.  Their thick card stock and unique sized cards are sure to make you stand out.  Today they are offering 25% off no code necessary!

Do you have any other deals that shouldn't be missed?  If so, please let us know in the comments below! 

Holiday Cards from @Photobucket

by:  Kristina Rust Photography

Last week I wrote about the new holiday card offering from Photobucket.  Yes, Photobucket, the photo hosting site that many of us know and love is now offering a variety of different photo products.  You can now find calendars, canvases, phone cases, holiday cards and more in their new online shop.

I had the opportunity to try out their cards and have to say I am quite impressed.  The card stock is nice and thick, the colors are rich and I really love the finish.  It is not glossy but not matte...I'd call it a satin finish.  These cards are a great value at only 99 cents each (introductory offer).   While the card design selection is not as robust as their competitors, the options they do offer are very cute.  You can see their various designs here.

Here is an example of the card I created to send to my clients.  It's of a photo I took last year while visiting my parents in Illinois (here in Silicon Valley we don't get any snow).  I love the simple design and that the focus is on the photo.

Give them a try and let us know what you think!

Holiday Cards From Minted

By: Kristina Rust Photography

It is that time of year again...time to order your holiday cards.  I am often asked for recommendations on card companies and one of my favorites is Minted.  I love their designs, the quality of their card stock and how easy they make it to help you decide on a card....well maybe not that easy because there are so many beautiful choices!  I also love how Minted is a marketplace of independent artists.  All of their designs are from independent artists, illustrators and painters from all over the world.

So now, let me tell you about my Minted experience......

I ordered my cards earlier this month and love the results.  As I mentioned above, ordering was easy.  Once I decided on the photo I was going to use and uploaded it, I narrowed down the choices by choosing the format and clicking the "number of photos" selection.  I then used the "see more filters" drop down menu to choose a color scheme, which helped me find a design that complimented the outfits my kids were wearing.

I love how the site auto populated the designs with my image so that I could see a preview right away of the cards with my photo.   As you can see, I was able to tell right away what layouts wouldn't work given my photo (I have four kids, not three and the first option cropped out my son).  :)

I ended up choosing a foil pressed design....decided I need a little bling this year, since I was picking a simple format....and I love the results!  Oh and one thing I tried this year that I have not done before, is their FREE offer to address your envelopes (for a limited time)!  All I had to do was upload my spreadsheet and that was it!  SOOO easy.  My beautiful cards arrived and my envelopes are ready to go.  All I need is a stamp!

A little close up shot of the foil circles...so shiny and cute!

If you are interested in trying Minted, let me know.  I have a limited number of 20% discount codes.  Just leave a comment with your email address below and I will send you the code (while they last).



Disclaimer:  I was provided holiday cards by Minted in exchange for this review.  The opinions are entirely my own and I truly love this company.  

Photography Mini-Session Form Created with Google Docs

By:  Kristina Rust Photography

Last spring I held a Wine Tasting & Portrait Party.  I talked about it a lot on my own business blog here and here.

In a nutshell, it was SUPER fun and my guests and I had a fabulous time.  I photographed 17 women at a beautiful winery located near my home (one of the perks of living in Northern California).   I have to say that having a glass of wine before getting your headshot taken is a great way to feel relaxed and at ease in front of the camera.  :)

Anyway, I created a sign up form using Google Docs which worked out great and I thought I'd share it with you.  I was able to link this form to my invitation, embed it it in blog posts and share the form online, making it very easy for guests to sign up.  And the best part is, it is free!  Oh and when you use Google Docs, a response spreadsheet is automatically set up for you.

Here is the form I created....



To create a form like this, all you have to do log into your Google account and go to drive.google.com.  Next, click Create (located on the left hand side) and then choose Form. From there it is pretty easy. You can choose different options in terms of the type of questions, i.e. multiple choice, text, paragraph text etc. Once you've finished creating it, you can share the link or embed the form (like I did above) using iFrame. I am also going to use Google Docs to create a model release to send out to my families. Let me know if you try it and how you decide to use it.

Photo Slide Lampshade Tutorial--DIY Photo Crafts

by Kristina Rust Photography

Summer is here and if you enjoy crafting then you will love this project......

Last summer,  I made this awesome lampshade while visiting my mom in the Midwest.  She got the idea after visiting a local craft fair.

Thankfully, my mom had boxes full of slides from when she and my dad first got married and I loved looking through the slides and picking out various images for this project.  It was so fun to see my parents as newlyweds....they were and are such a good looking couple!

Anyway, this craft looks easy at first glance, however the original idea involved using jump rings to attach the slides together which was extremely time consuming (and a bit frustrating).  We improved on the idea by using lanyard clasps to attach the slides together....which made this so much easier and I was able to whip one out in an afternoon.

So here is what you need to make one of these cool shades.....

• An old lampshade---you'll want to tear off the shade portion and just use the wiring.  Try and find one that is not too big or this project will require more slides.  The one I used measures 7 inches across.
• Hole punch.  Get a heavy duty one.  One that can punch through the thickness of the cardboard slide.  My mom picked hers up at Michaels.
• Slides--of course it is more meaningful if they are of your own family but you could probably find some at the Goodwill or flea market.  For the lampshade I made, I used 36 slides.  
• Lanyard clasps.  I bought a pack of 60 at Michaels for $3.00
• Crystals to hang on the last row of slides or any other decorative element.  You can also attach the slides to the wire base from your lampshade but I preferred using the decorative crystals.

Assembling the lampshade is pretty simple (if you use the lanyards).  Basically, all you have to do is  punch a hole in the middle of each side of your slide and use the lanyard clasp to attach them.  Note:  in order for the images to be right side up, your slide will actually face upside down.  I made all the rows and attached them all together before hanging them onto the lampshade wire.  

The project took my mom and I about 3 hours.  She punched holes, while I attached the slides.  It was such a fun project to make together.   

I absolutely love this lampshade and have it proudly displayed in my family room.   If you decide to make one, we'd love to see it!  Please share a link in the comments below. 

In addition to writing about photography tips, tricks and a good craft project here at Moms Who Click, you can also find me musing about my latest photography projects and client work on my website Kristina Rust Photography, Facebook Page and Google+.

The Phone Photography Project 2 from Big Picture Class---Are You In?

by Kristina Rust Photography

I love the classes offered at Big Picture Classes.  They have a wide variety of online courses that are fantastic.  If you are looking to get your creative juices flowing this is the place for you!

On July 17th I will be participating in  The Phone Photography Project 2 and I am so excited.  I signed up for the Phone Photography Project:  Summer Challenge last year and had so much fun (it was the biggest class they ever had and is still being offered as a stand alone class this year and is worth checking out).

The Phone Photography Project 2 is perfect for those of you who are ready to transform your mobile photography.  You will be guided by twenty expert iPhoneographers (several of whom are women I am thrilled to know personally) who will share their tips and tricks on mastering lighting, composition, editing and more.

Plus you will be able to participate in a private posting gallery where you can share photos and gain valuable insights from fellow photographers.  It really is a great way to connect and become inspired.

I hope you will join me and sign up for this very inspiring class.

Photography Packaging Ideas--Keeping it Simple & Affordable

by: Kristina Rust Photography

I love packaging my photo orders for my clients.  I like to present them in such a way that they really feel like a gift.  There is something so exciting about unwrapping a present, wouldn't you agree? 

But I also believe in keeping it inexpensive and simple and for me my go to look is white boxes or craft bags adorned with ribbon and tissue paper in my brand colors.  I like to scour the after Christmas sales to stock up on your basic white boxes and Michael's is always a great place to go for a variety or ribbons and Kraft bags.  I also add a printed sticky label to the box or bag from Moo as a way to include my contact information.

We'd love to hear your ideas for presenting your photos to your clients.  And if you want to see more ideas, check out my Pinterest board for inspiration.


In addition to writing about photography tips and tricks here at Moms Who Click, you can also find me musing about my latest photography projects and client work on my website Kristina Rust Photography, Facebook Page and Google+.

Wanting That Film Look? Try Replichrome II Slide Film Presets (Lightroom)

by Kristina Rust Photography

I am a huge fan of Totally Rad!  I love their Pic Tap Go App and have used the original Replichrome Lightroom presets when editing my photos.  When I was asked if I would like to try out their new Replichrome II Slide Film Presets, I was excited to check them out.

The Replichrome II Slide Film Presets are great for those of you who love the look of film.  I love that by using these presets I can easily edit my photos.  The hardest part for me, is choosing which type of film look I want.  Honestly, I do not know that much about the various film types, but for those of you who do you can see their full list of film types here.

Replichrome II Slide Film basically gives you the ability to have the look of film with the flexibility of digital.  You can control the grain, color, tone and density through these easy to use presets.  I have only scratched the surface on all that it can do but I'm excited to try these presets out on more of my images.

For now, here are a few before and after samples from my recent Memorial Day Camping Trip.....

Before

After:  Provia 400x Calibrated

Before

After:  Fuji-Noritsu

Before

After: EPL Panther 400X Noritsu

In addition to writing about photography tips and tricks here at Moms Who Click, you can also find me musing about my latest photography projects and client work on my website Kristina Rust Photography, Facebook Page and Google+.

Silhouette Shot--Manchester Beach, California

Oh my goodness....how is it that we are nearly at the end of May?  It has been one busy month for us and unfortunately we have been a little behind in posting here.

While we play catch-up, I wanted to share a fun photo I captured at our recent Memorial Day camping trip.  Every year we head up to the North Coast and go camping with a group of friends.  This year we had around 40 people in attendance and as you can imagine, it was a ton of fun!

On one of the evenings, we headed to the very windy beach to watch the sunset and I saw the opportunity for an epic silhouette shot.  Thankfully this group is game for anything, so when directed them to line up and strike a pose they all did so without any grumbling (unlike what my teenagers usually do).

And this is the fantastic shot we captured!

P.S.  That's my daughter on the end holding the camera.  :) 

GrooveBook--A Fun Way to Print Your Photos

By Kristina Rust Photography

I found a groovy way to print your photos.....GrooveBook!  

Some of you may be familiar with this company already as they were featured on Shark Tank earlier this year.   I actually have not watched that show and stumbled up on them on my own while doing some late night photography web-surfing.  In any case, GrooveBook is a free app available for mobile phones that prints up to 100 photos each month and creates a 4.5″ x 6.5″ book is mailed to you monthly.  

And get this, each book costs only $2.99 (it is subscription based, so you will receive a new book each month..however you can cancel any time).

I received my first book this week and was impressed with the color quality and sharpness of the images.  The paper however is very thin about the thickness of a regular sheet of paper and I’m not a big fan of glossy images, but for $2.99 it is an inexpensive way to get those photos off your phone and  into your hands.  For those of you who enjoy scrapbooking or journaling, this would be a great way to incorporate images without spending a lot of money.

What I like most about my GrooveBook is I now have a little keepsake of what I’ve been up to over the past month in a “brag book” type of format.  I also appreciate that each image contains the date, time and place stamped on the perforated edge.  And speaking of the perforated edge, sharing photos is easy, just gently tear them out of the book and pass them out to friends and family.

Here is a little look at my GrooveBook and a few photos from my trip to New Zealand.  You can try Groovebook for free using the code RUST79.  Yep try it out and let me know what you think.  You can cancel your subscription after the first month so don’t worry... you are not locked in….

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from Minted

by Kristina Rust Photography

I am a huge fan of Minted.  If you are not familiar with Minted, Minted crowd-sources design and art from a global community of independent designers and then sells their designs as products such as stationery, home decor, wall art, etc.  If you love indie design, then you will love Minted.

And for those of you looking for a unique gift for your mom (or yourself) for Mother's Day this year, you should definitely check out Minted's Mother's Day Shop.  Here are a few of my favorite items...(I think I might need to forward this post to my husband).

For the mom who likes to be organized in style or enjoys journaling, these notebooks are the perfect gift. 

This custom Heart Snapshot Mix Photo Art is a unique way to display some of your favorite photos.  

Personalized stationery is always a big hit.  

And how about customized wrapping paper?  I LOVE this idea!

Disclaimer:  The links in this post are affiliate links meaning I will receive a small commission from the company at no extra cost to you. Thanks in advance if you decide to make a purchase.