How to Plan a Photoshoot

Nothing will take the place of an image of you.

No stock photography, no flat-lay, no re-post.

As a brand owner, online persona, or digital personality you need to be constantly refreshing your content and investing in high quality photography.

Why?

First impressions are everything. Your client/on looker/person of interest literally will decide how they feel about you within 10 seconds of viewing your profile.

Are you highlighting your true self? I hope so.

Photography is not only essential for social media but think about LinkedIn, headshots, your website, your sales pages, etc… You need to be showing up with an image of you to create likability and trust. If I go to a page and there is no image of a person I am skeptical. Immediately!

So how we can make it happen? Photoshoots!

I like to plan quarterly photoshoots to refresh content with the seasons and ensure I have enough images for a few months.

But what can you do before to make the process go as seamless as possible?

BEFORE THE SHOOT:

1. Find a photographer. Ask around. Look to hashtags on IG (#torontophotographer). I’m sure you have saved images of bloggers or influential people whose photos you admire. Check the tags, and find out who did them.
2. Get in touch and compare prices. Start thinking about how many hours you’d like to shoot, where you’d like to go if they edit the photos, the turn around time, etc. Keep track of your responses from different photographers and think about it. If one photographer charges a bit more but hands you a deck of completely edited photos, think of the time you're saving, and you're leaving it in the hands of the pros.
3. Decide on where you’d like to shoot. I love going to a studio or my home. There are so many amazing studios around that setup corners of the room in different aesthetics and have props on hand. It makes it so much easier! Plus you don’t have to worry about cleaning your house or the pile of laundry in the corner. (I shot these photos at OFT Studio in Burlington!)

PLAN IT OUT:

1. Decide on the look/vibe/aesthetic you are going for. Is this a summer shoot? Is this website photography? For my last photoshoot, I needed professional content that showcased me in a light that was professional, glam and sophisticated (my core GG values!). So I prepped outfits that fit this mold and were so me! Remember when you’re in a studio you have TIME, so bring ALL the outfits! 5-6 is a good number for 2 hours. Even if you’re just swapping out the blouse, or adding on a sweater. It provides more content and will last you so much longer!

TIP: Don’t go out and buy all new clothes! Look to what you have, mix and match and ask indie stores if they’d be interested in loaning the clothes in exchange for high-quality photos!

2. Pull out any props you may want. Is this a website photoshoot? Maybe you want your laptop, or your favourite book, or a chic pillow. Bring it all!

3. Pack your car the night before so you ensure you have nothing left behind. Get your shoes, clothes, props altogether.

4. Have fun! If you chose a photographer that you feel comfortable with (obvi you did) they will make you feel relaxed. Once you build a standing relationship with a photographer it will become so easy, and they may give you a discount!

5. Save your photos to Google Pictures or Dropbox so you have access on your computer and phone.

There you go! Easy peasy! How often do you plan photoshoots? I'd love to know some of your secrets!

 Shop the look:

How to Turn Your Patio Into An Oasis

It's mid August... where did the time go! Soaking in the last bit of summer has been exceptionally sweet now that our little patio space is finally decorated. When Brandon and I moved in last summer we were so focused on the inside of the house that we totally neglected the outdoor space! I know it's a small space, but we just had priorities to get to!  It was a huge goal of ours to turn the space into a little oasis, where we could relax, have some friends over for drinks and BBQ some delicious food. Now that things have slowed down we have been enjoying it more and more. There are definitely a few ways we mastered the patio hang-out, and turned our space into a little oasis.

You don't need much to make it happen! Here's what you need to turn your outdoor space into a mini summer oasis:

1. Comfy seating
We knew we wanted a lounge sofa instead of a dining table and chair set up. It's just so much more conducive to hosting and hanging out! Plus who doesn't love a good cat nap outdoors? We scored our sofa at a great price online, but I knew I wanted to add in a pop of colour with some fun accent pillows so I headed to Target to pick up a few. I love how the colours are bright and fun and they do go with the couch.  Having a large seating area is perfect for hosting friends and family. Just make sure your pillows are weather proof! You don't want the rain to destroy them.

2. Delicious Drinks

To really feel like we're in a mini oasis we serve up some delicious drinks. This summer I was introduced to SoCIAL Lite vodka drinks and they are a serious game changer! Any drink that I can feel good about drinking is a winner in my book. They are crafted cocktails made from vodka, soda and 100% natural flavours. I am OBSESSED with Grapefruit Pomelo and Blood Orange! They are a nice light drink, and since I hate sugary drinks these are perfection. They have 0 g of sugar and 0 carbs. Yeah, summer-time perfection!




3. Music
Is there anything better than cooking and dancing along to good music? Usually we have a Frank Sinatra playlist going, or French bistro music (LOL). Or we go full on Spanish-mode when it's taco night. We always bring out our portable speaker  and connect to a playlist. It set's the tons for the night and livens things up when friends are over!


4. Plants/Decor
To have an oasis you need some greenery or plant life! It just takes the space up a notch and really makes you feel like you are somewhere tropical. We found some tropical plants to place around the perimeter of the deck and on the coffee table. We also hung an antique mirror on the back wall. Call me crazy, I know! But it makes the space look that much bigger and it feels so rustic, yet cool, and very homey! I love how the wall looks larger and adds in some ambiance.




5. Good people
Yup, the icing on the cake? Good friends and family to spend your days with. Summer is short, guys! You don't want to miss out on those special moments and get-togethers. Make time for loved ones this summer and get them over for a SoCIAL Lite! The drinks pair exceptionally well with popcorn or my fave, chips and guac!

That's it! A few key elements and suddenly you'll feel like you're in the tropics! Is there anything I'm missing that you feel makes a patio something special?

Thank you to SoCIAL Lite for sponsoring this post!

Honeymoon Beauty with Drunk Elephant The Littles

We're going to Miami and I am packing light. I am soooo ready to chill out. You will find me poolside, champagne side, and lathered up in SPF. It's just how I roll. I am beyond excited for the wedding but am also so excited to hang with my hunnie for a few days just us two! This summer has flown by with wedding prep, launching GG & CO, and work.

So what's in my skincare bag? Since I'm packing light I am relying on one brand that  I adore. I am obsessed with Drunk Elephant. I started with their Vitamin C serum after I ran out of this one, and from then on I knew I had to try more from the brand. The whole DE range is clean, fragrance-free,  and they focus on using LESS. Which is so important, no filler toxins or strange ingredients. Just

The Littles set is the ultimate and most perfect travel set. It includes everything you need for your skincare collection, all in travel-sized bottles to fit anywhere! I am smitten with this set. It's their most loved goodies all wrapped up into one little blue waterproof bag to take on the go.

So, what's in it? How do you use it?

I'll take you morning and night how I use the products:

AM
*Beste Cleanser (jelly, so light but really cleanses the prores)
*C-Firma (vitamin C serum), mixed with B-Hydra (hydrating serum). I mix these two serums together. You don't have to. Decide if you want to brighten go for the C-Firma if you want hydration go for B-Hydra.
*C-Tango (eye cream to dab in the thin skin below the eyes)
*Umbra Tint (it's a moisturizer with SPF 30 and has a little glow to it)

PM
*Beste Cleanser again
*T.L.C. serum (it's a glycolic serum so it exfoliates and gets rid of dead skin cells)
*Marula Oil (Face oil to rejuvenate the skin, lock in moisture and nourishes the skin)
*Protini Cream (a decadent face cream to seal the deal for the night)

GUYS. THIS SET. It's literally everything. So worth it. Literally made me for to take to Miami, right?!

Let me know if you're drunk in love with DE.

GET IT NOW!