Hummingbird Blog
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Getting ready on the big day is the most memorable time to bond with your bridal party and primp to perfection. It was so amazing that this bride transformed our space into a beauty salon and dressing room to have all of her friends and family nearby while she prepared to walk down the aisle.
From her elegant dress to the beautiful muted pastel flower bouquets, her wedding day was off to a beautiful start at Hummingbird Studios. We love to accommodate for all kinds of unique occasions, whatever your vision is for our space, we are happy to help make it possible!
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 So you've scheduled your headshots, you've got the perfect outfit picked out and you're ready for your big close up, right? Not so fast! Taking a headshot that you can be satisfied with takes some time and a bit of effort, even before you get in front of the camera. To get headshots that represent your personality and your professional goals we've complied a list of tips that will help your picture do all of the talking, in the best ways. Happy shooting! 1. Book US and GO PRO Spend the money. It’s worth it. Go to a professional, who is trained, understands lighting, and takes headshots for a living, not some friend who happens to have a decent camera who “sorta knows a little about photography.” Save those pictures for Instagram, and leave the headshots to the pros 2. All eyes on you Just like with on-camera acting, it’s all about the eyes, and what’s happening behind them. It’s your closeup, your moment. Your eyes should be perfectly in focus, alive, and energized, and not dead and glazed over. Capturing the eyes in a powerful way will draw the viewer into the photo, establishing a strong connection that will speak volumes. 3. Go easy on the cover up Yes, lots can be done with retouching. There is no need to put on tons of makeup. You want to look like yourself on your best day, and not look like you tried too hard. Your main concern is shine so we advise bringing along some translucent powder. 4. It's all about the angles Although a headshot may seem like a glorified selfie, this isn't Instagram. Make sure to practice your pose and look in a mirror to check out your best angles. That way when you get into the studio you'll know just what to do, which will give you that extra confidence that is likely to shine through your pictures! 5. Posing tips! Try locking your shoulders and sticking your forehead out, but careful not that your not sticking your chin out because you’ll end up with you face pointing at the ceiling. Make sure you are not looking down and your eyes don’t move. Just lock your shoulders and stick your forehead out, which is a very simple technique. If you are scared that it looks weird, that means your doing something right.. and remember practice makes perfect! 6. Love what you wear! You have to love it! We don’t want to shoot you in anything that you don’t feel comfortable wearing. If you don’t feel comfortable, it will show and you won’t shoot well in it, so don’t bring it. 7. What is a "squinch"? It's your secret weapon! A squinch describes the action of squinting your eyes in such a way as to portray confidence and self-assurance as opposed to the fear and uncertainty that you project when you stare wide-eyed at the camera. This can be very effective for a more commanding headshot. 8. Do you Be yourself. This is where you can get some of your own personal style into the shot. People always ask what colors are best and we can’t answer that until we see you and your wardrobe. It’s better to get a visual of something. Bring a variety of colors that represent you! It’s amazing how many times something has looked amazing on camera that we didn’t initially think would work. And vice versa. 9. Don't worry about the season Don’t be too selective or seasonal. Bring everything from casual shirts and t-shirts to formal blouses and shirts to sweaters and light jackets can work, depending on the kind of headshot you're going for. Textures and layers can work well, but would generally stay away from crazy patterns. 10. It's all about your jawline The idea that the camera adds ten pounds can be true but there's a way to make your face look thinner, accentuate your jawline! Before you come in to the studio study your face in the mirror with a relaxed pose, then experiment with sticking your forehead towards the mirror and tilting your chin down. You'll notice a difference, and once you've practiced at home, you'll be ready to take the headshots you've dreamed about in the studio. 8. This one is for the boys! We recommend you get your haircut 4 to 5 days prior to the shoot so it doesn’t have that “freshly cut” look. For more tips and tricks to get your best headshot please visit: 7 Tips for a Better Headshot How to Take Perfect Headshots: Six Tips How to prepare for your shoot It's All About the Jaw! Peter Hurley Shares His ‘Most Incredible Tip for Looking Photogenic’: Squinching When I started shooting headshots, I was very good at the math behind it. For a lot of us September marks the very beginning of the fall season. Which is also one of the most festive seasons of the year, from back to school, apple picking, pumpkin patches, halloween all of the way to Thanksgiving! There are so many things to look forward to this season. And of course with each celebration and there is almost always a party or a gathering that follows! So follow our fall party tips for planning a fun fall party in our great studio space! 1. One person's pumpkin is another's... Turn a pumpkin into a festive bowl perfect for chips. Use half of a large hallowed-out pumpkin set on top a bed of twigs and fall berries to make the perfect serving bowl for your fall party.  annca/pixabay.com 2. Pumpkins for days A pile of pumpkins in a rainbow of fall hues is a sweetly seasonal way to greet guests. Pick the shapeliest pumpkin to be the center of attention and paint "welcome" on its side using crafts paint and a small artist's brush. 3. Fall flavors You may want to keep dinner simple, but this is a great party for dessert! Some delicious ideas for dessert are: apple fritters, maple donuts, caramel apples, and of course pumpkin pie.  Cianna/pixabay.com 4. Follow the trail Create a trail mix mixing station. This is a fun way to make a hands on snack for your guests with a strong fall theme. This is also a great way for your guests to mingle and snack at the same time. 5. A theme to remember How about an Oktoberfest party!? If you can’t make it to Oktoberfest in Germany, host a party of your own. The key is to put out an abundant amount of beer, pretzels and Bavarian-themed decorations.
For more information about fall party planning follow these links: Throw a Fall Harvest Party 17 Fall Party Theme Ideas to Help You Host Up Until the Holidays Fall Harvest Party CAMPING PARTY IDEAS 6" Painted Pie Pumpkin Welcome Silhouette Tasty Tuesdays: Candy Apple Bar Hummingbird Studios was quickly transformed into a jungle adventure for Jensen's birthday bash! Themed parties really make the space exciting and can be very easily done in our dynamic venue. We'd love for you to throw an effortless and fun themed party with us for your next event so we've complied some tips that will help you create the perfect event on a budget! And don't forget to book The Kidographer Chicago for some great photos to commemorate the event.
Enjoy, and we hope to see you very soon! 1. Be on the hunt for themed supplies: The earlier the better! This will give you time to comparison shop. Plus, you’ll save yourself from running out at the last minute to buy overpriced things you’ve forgotten. 2. You've got mail: Send your guests a free electronic themed invitation; you’ll save what you’d normally spend on paper invites. 3. Double up: If your kid’s birthday falls close to a buddy’s, consider a dual party. You and the other child’s parents will split the cost—and responsibilities. Just make sure each kid gets her own cake. 4. Order online: Prices aren’t always better if you shop online, but hitting the Web for your themed favors and decorations may help you avoid impulse purchases. 5. Make a semi-homemade cake: Buy an inexpensive box mix, and substitute buttermilk for the water for a firmer, less-sweet cake. Serve it up! 6. Elevate the everyday: Take advantage of kids’ vivid imagination to tie in with your theme. Make a safari adventure out of hidden stuffed animals around the venue! 7. Lean on your friends and family: Someone you know owns a festive tablecloth, punch bowl, party decorations and other essentials you can use for your child's party, and actually we do too! 8. Giving thanks: Encourage your kids to write thank you notes, it teaches them to be appreciative and, at the same time, thanks your child's friends for gifts and attending the party. Homemade cards are a good project for kids and cut down on costs! 9. Catering: Don't worry about creating an elaborate menu for your child's birthday party—their friends are likely to be just as impressed with a few basic, fun items to munch on. For instance, if you're having an outdoor party, simply throw some hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill and whip up a few of your child's favorite side dishes and call it a jungle feast. Remember to be creative to stay on theme! 10. Special Guests: Kid's parties need a lot of extra hands, but you don't necessarily have to pay for help. You can even ask a friend or family member to dress up as your child's favorite character to fit the theme instead of hiring someone to do it. For more fun party tips please visit: https://www.thestreet.com/story/13018351/4/how-to-plan-an-awesome-kids-birthday-party-on-a-budget-10-tips-for-cost-conscious-parents.html https://www.thespruce.com/throw-an-inexpensive-party-for-kids-3129317 http://www.parents.com/fun/birthdays/ideas/tips-to-throw-a-kids-birthday-party-on-a-budget/ The first ever Brews & Bows event was hosted at Hummingbird Studios, and by the way it was a major success! The lovely ladies at Lili Marie Parties and Lyfe Style Win put on an amazing event for daddy's and daughters to spend some quality time learning a valuable skill - how to do hair!
The event generated tons of positive feedback for the fellas learning how to style and the lovely little ladies who got their hair done. The event included mock-tail mimosas and of course actual brews for all of the dedicated fathers sponsored by Vice District Brewing. Each dad was able to learn a braiding style and help their daughters decorate a bow to match it. So cute! At Hummingbird Studios we appreciate these special events that not only are a ton of fun, but also help to bring families together. We were also happy to have images to commemorate this experience with The Kidographer Chicago who was able to capture all of these great photos. We would love to see more of these kind of events happening in our space and we hope these little ladies are enjoying their fresh do's from dad. Happy 1st Birthday! We love to see how these celebratory events transform our space! This little man's first birthday party was such a good time and we're glad he got to have his cake and eat it too. Remember to book us for all of your Chicago area birthday parties or for any event!
We know that hosting an event is not always a piece of cake, so we've complied a couple of tips and tricks that we know will make hosting more fun and a little easier so you can get back to enjoying the celebration! 1. Make a guest list, and check it twice. Scale back the guest list to avoid overwhelming your birthday boy or girl, and as an added plus it will help keep costs down. 3. HELP PLEASE Consider hiring a babysitter or asking a family member to help you balance your hosting duties with enjoying your baby's big day. Or book a photographer to take all of the best shots of the event for you. 4. Balloons, balloons, balloons Opt for foil, or Mylar, balloons instead of latex to avoid choking hazards for kids under 8. Remember to cut the ties of the ballon to avoid loud pops that will disturb your baby or any lingering guests! 5. Utilize our kids room! Many of the babies in this age range are still on all fours, our baby-proof a play zone is filled with age-appropriate toys for your little guests and can be easily closed off by a baby gate. Feel free to place chairs near by for parents to relax and watch. 6. Help yourself Once the party is underway, you won’t have time to personally serve your guests so do yourself a favor and set up self-serve stations. Everything from drinks, to dessert can be set up in advance and it’s such a great feeling to be able to say, “go ahead and help yourself.” It’s also easier to serve finger food or snacks for this age group, rather than worrying about a full lunch or dinner. Cut up fruit, apple sauce pouches and cups of Cheerios or snack crackers are always a safe bet. 7. Don't stress It won't matter to baby whether you throw the party of the season or just celebrate at home with your immediate family. As long as your guest of honor is with you and feels love all around, that's all that matters. For more tips and tricks please view the following articles: 20 Fun Baby's 1st Birthday Party Ideas Baby Turns One! 10 Tips for an Epic First Birthday Party |
Birdy BlogAt Hummingbird Studios we love to talk all things, events, celebrations, and anything in between. We hope we can spark your interest and give you ideas for your next Hummingbird gathering! |
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