Bringing a baby into the world is a wonderful life event that should be captured. It’s a time you are going to want to remember and share with your little one once he or she is a bit older. If you are thinking about or have recently booked a maternity photo session then the below tips should come in handy as your prepare for your session.   Spring is around the corner, and the stores and malls will have plenty of pretty spring clothing that you'll want to have for your maternity portrait session.

The love and happiness is written all over this Dad's face.  This Dad was so excited about having portraits taken with himself and his new son.  We met at Quantico Marine Base in Virginia for their portrait session. 

Regardless of your political beliefs or political party, a valuable statement was made yesterday by Senator Chuck Schumer.  "That's when I learned though that nothing's official until there's a photo of it", and he present Mr. Trump with two wall portrait size portrait of him during the inauguration.

As a photographer, I hear on a continual basis, "I just want the digital(s)".  I understand we live in a digital age, but in the wise words of the Senator, make sure you make your event or portrait session official be having it printed and framed.  

#printwhatmatters #printwhatyoulove #printwhatyouwanttoremember

Which one will you show your grandchildren?

The cyber world is quickly transitioning the way we share and show our friends and family our most prized accomplishment – our family.  We have so many friends and family across the nation and across the world, so the internet has made it so much easier for us to load our images to social media.  The unfortunate irony is we live during a time in history, where we take so many images within a week (sometime a day), but there is little to no visual documentation.  The disastrous outcome is that our children will have no tangible documentation of their childhood, because we’ve uploaded their history to social media or iCloud platforms.

Technology changes so quickly!  It’s the paradox of the time we currently live.  There is a technology shift every 3 to 5 years.  Have you lost your phone or had a technological glitch and had to rush out to get a new phone?  Computers use to have CD and USB drives install as a standard; now it’s an additional fee to have those included.  Or additional hardware has to be obtained to get access to those forums. 

Our children grow up with thousands of photographs being taken during their childhood, yet so few of them will have a copy to look at.  Printed photographs help us fill in the voids of our fading memory. 

I remember growing up as a child, my mom would keep boxes of photographs stashed.  So I could go back and look at how I used to look.  Now those photo boxes have been replaced with social media and our smartphone camera rolls.  Thumbing thru pictures on your phone or social media is vastly different from holding a physical print. 

Today, people don’t value their picture enough to print it out!  One of the biggest resistance, I hear about printing portraits; “What if they catch on fire, and I lose them all?”  The truth is, if there’s a fire, the computer, USBs, and CDs/DVDs are susceptible to be burned as well.  However, with Tamieka Smith Photography, all purchase portrait prints are guaranteed.  If you experience the devastation of a fire, we will happy assist with a replacement. 

If it’s been more than a month since you’ve last printed a part of your history, make it a goal to have a print made today.  This simple action will help to preserve your family’s history.

Our newest portrait box is made of black walnut wood.  Crafted for my clients who wish to show off their family's portraits.  Our walnut portrait box is sanded smooth on each side, and finished off with a clear coat for quality and durability. It can fit 50 or so of your beautiful family portrait prints.  This product comes in sizes that fit 4" x 6" or 5" x 7" portraits.

Each year, I always look for the finest quality and unique products to offer to my clients.  This year is no different; 2017 is off to a wonderful start.  I am excited to announce Tamieka Smith Photography is now offering Curved Metal Portrait Prints.  These prints are eye catching and amazing. 

They are unique and can easily be displayed anywhere in your home or office.  They’re durable and most importantly, there’s no worry of finger prints!

The Curved Metal Prints are printed on a thin metal with a glossy white base for a bright finish that makes them POP with color.  With a curved metal stand design they have the ability to stand on their own, so there’s no need for an easel.

There are several sizes available.  Sizes start at 4x6 and up to 11x14.  If you are interested in installing a wall metal print, we offer Metal Floating Framed Prints.  Wall portrait sizes for metal prints begin at 16x20 up to 20x24.  If you're interested in either of these new products, contact the studio for pricing and scheduling your custom portrait session.

Click here to see more of our product line.

I am always honored when military members or their spouses ask me to photograph their promotion or retirement ceremony at The National Archives.  It's such an overwhelming honor and sense of pride for men and women who serve our nation to be selected for promotion.  In my case, the promotee was happy I was photographing his ceremony, and didn't hold it against me that i'm an Air Force veteran.  It was such a delight to photograph this newly pinned Colonel in the United States Army. 

Being that we're in the Washington D.C. metroplex, many military members choose to have their military ceremonies in the National Archives Rotunda.  The Archives is were the Declaration of Independence, The Constitution, and The Bill of Rights are housed.

Although it's winter, spring is around the corner.  The Cherry Blossoms will be blooming before you know it and many people requesting to have family portraits taken with the cherry blossoms.
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The National Cherry Blossom Festival is scheduled during a three week time frame at the end of March and beginning of April, with the hope the blossoms will bloom at that time.
 
The cherry blossom blooming period lasts approximately 1 to 2 weeks. That means you can get beautiful portraits at (3) times:

• as the blossoms are preparing to bloom (a few days before peak bloom)
• peak bloom
• a few days after peak bloom when the petals turn to pastel pink and white

 
Tamieka Smith Photography is allocating one day in Washington D.C. to schedule portraits.  To reserve one of the 8 sessions available, we request that you book now and then once the peak dates are released by the National Park Service, Tamieka Smith Photography will contact you in the order of who schedule first to choose the desired time.  Please note: sessions are already being booked.  (Update - as of March 3, 2017, there are 4 sessions available)
 
From the National Cherry Blossom Festival website:
 
Update:  The National Park Service projects Peak Bloom Date: March 14 - March 17 ​
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Last week, I began the discussion of Executive Portraits (also known as Headshots) and What Does Your LinkedIn Profile Portrait say about you.  I'm asked often about updating Executive Portraits and what's the best way to upload and display them on LinkedIn.  I thought it would be helpful to create a list of the worst mistakes people make when choosing an image: 

No Picture:  By far, the biggest mistake is not having a profile image loaded.  This gives the impression you are not trustworthy, extremely private, or not looking to connect and interact with people.  When someone visits your profile and notices there isn’t a profile image, most visitors will move to the next profile when they see this.  It’s always a joke people say, “What do they have to hide?”

I'm always honored when I'm asked to photograph a promotion or retirement ceremony, especially at the National Archives.  This promotion ceremony was extremely special to my family.  I was blessed to photograph a family friend's promotion ceremony to Lieutenant Colonel.  We meet over 10 years ago at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City.

Not only was this a promotion ceremony in the beautiful Rotunda of the National Archives Museum, but Lt. Col Ruff was administered the Oath of Office by her Father - a retired Colonel for the United States Air Force.  It was such a special moment that tears and smiles were everywhere in the Rotunda. 

I can't wait to hear all the great adventures she will experience.  I wish her the very best in her career!