9 Things I Learned From My Studio Photo Shoot

Join me backstage as I share 9 things I learned from my studio photo shoot that might help next time you are in front of the camera!

9 Things I Learned From a Studio Photo Shoot

Happy Wednesday! If you are visiting from What’s up Wednesday with Sheaffer and Shay, then welcome!

Today we are chatting all about #4. What I’ve Been Up To.

Over the last several months I have had the privilege to be featured in several publications and magazines, and I discovered that a standard expectation is to provide 4-5 professionally branded studio photos.

Ummmm…here is a nice selfie from my cell phone?

Yeah, those do not make the cut.

Needless to say it was time to put my big girl pants on and invest in some high quality footage that would professionally represent my brand.

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A post shared by Ahna Fulmer // Hammers N Hugs (@ahna_hammersnhugs)

Hair: Tiffany @139BeautyCo
Makeup Consult: Leena @LeenaPhoenix
Spray Tan: Erin @bronzed_by_erin
Photography: Lindsay @lindsayrossmanphotography
Studio: SUPPLY @supplymanheim
Video: Aubrey @aubreyfulmer

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9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

1. modeling is all about the “other hand.”

For real. Figuring out what on earth to do with the “other hand” is no joke in posing for a pic.

Put this arm on the back of the bench, got it. Ok, wait. Now, what in the world am I supposed to do with the other hand?

Thankfully Lindsay @lindsayrossmanphotography is fabulous and would frequently direct the “other hand,” but more often than not my solution was to put them behind my head.

Take them both out of the equation in one fell swoop. Boom. Haha.

9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

2. learning how to use makeup brushes was more challenging than using power tools.

I did my own makeup for this shoot because I wanted it to look like me and not someone I couldn’t even recognize.

There was NO beauty filter used for my shoot pics, BTW. More to come on that another day. #unfilteredbeauty

My sweet friend and A-lister celebrity makeup artist, Leena @LeenaPhoenix, has been graciously coaching me through the very complicated world of makeup, and she has been teaching me how to create the “cat-eye.”

I wish I had a video of how that went the first time. Major fail.

People often seem shocked to know that I am incredibly ignorant when it comes to makeup.

I was first introduced to makeup in 9th grade when I started performing with a vocal/dance ensemble, and the volunteer moms would apply our stage makeup.

My mom was never into makeup, herself, and to this day I think she still only wears eyeliner and mascara.

I have maintained the same simple 3 product makeup routine for 15 years, and then when I got into the blogging space and started following these fashion influencers my eyes were opened to a whole new world.

There is such a thing as primer for makeup?

What in the world is a bronzer?

Why is she drawing on her eyebrows?

Put it this way – I bought my very first traditional twist-up lipstick EVER 3 months ago (this one). I am 34 years old. Yup.

Watch out world here she comes. Twisty lipstick and all.

I would still rather work with power tools than makeup brushes any day, but it has been fun to learn and explore other products.

I never did get a hang of the cat eye, and Leena is currently on lockdown in the UK, but next time she is flying here to help a girl out (right Leena?! XO).

9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

3. Celebrities must spend years of their lives sitting in a chair.

Speaking of makeup and celebrities, it has occurred to me that after hair, makeup, set changes etc, celebrities must spend years of their lives sitting in a chair.

I feel antsy sitting for 2 hours having simple hair and makeup done.

Can you imagine how long it must take for a makeup artist to transform your face into a hobbit covered in the soot, sweat, and dirt of Mordor only to then sit around waiting for your scene on set? #lordoftheringsreference

What do they do all that time? Read? Listen to music? Scroll through Instagram under a fake account name? I am legitimately curious. If you have heard an actor or actress talk about this tell me in the comments.

9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

4. Spray tanning is not for the faint of heart.

9 things I Learned From My Studio Photo Shoot — **Halter top**. **Leather leaf drop earrings**. **SPANX faux leather leggings**. **Pumps**.

Have you ever gotten a spray tan?

If you are looking for a little color before a shoot or big event, then spray tanning is infinitely preferable to the UV light of a tanning bed in terms of overall skin health.

I had never gotten one done, and of all the things I was least prepared for, this was it.

I was under the impression you stand in a private machine with your arms above your head (like when you go through security at the airport) and then magically walk out with an even, natural sunny glow.

Au contraire, mon amie.

You strip naked only to don an undergarment of questionable cut and quality and then stand in a tent that has been sliced in half to get sprayed down by a freezing cold solution in places that have never seen a stranger in such close proximity let alone one holding a spray gun.

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A post shared by Erin C (@bronzed_by_erin)

That being said if you are local I cannot recommend Erin @bronzed_by_erin enough. She did an incredible job and put this newbie at ease and was willing to laugh along with me and my spray tanning naivete.

My tan didn’t turn out as dark because I showered before my appointment (rookie mistake) and Erin felt so bad for not clarifying that she gave me the session for free. Now that is customer service.

9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

5. Pop the leg closest to the camera.

I learned this tip from the lovely photographer, Anne Zirkle, who I met this past summer when I was in Texas for the Social Gathering Retreat.

Frankly, I can’t even remember why this is a thing, but it does make for a more natural photo.

9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

6. “Casually” dangling a pair of glasses takes more coordination than a multi-layer suture repair.

I can perform a multi-layer wound closure and tie dozens of suture knots with my eyes closed, but ask me to “casually dangle the glasses” and we’re in trouble. Apparently.

9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

7. Keep your tongue on the roof of your mouth when you smile.

After 8 years of vocal training where I was taught to keep my tongue down and behind my bottom teeth when singing this took significant effort on my part, but in the pictures above you can see the difference!

It makes your smile clearer and more natural appearing.

So I was told.

9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

8. studio owners must see some crazy things.

I am sure studio owners see some crazy things, but at one point the owner and the manager of SUPPLY @supplymanheim popped in and said, “If you don’t mind us asking we are so curious to know what your shoot is for? We have seen food prep in the kitchen, old ladders, weights, and you in everything from high heels to workout clothes.”

Haha. Welcome to Hammers N Hugs!

SUPPLY’s studio was amazing. They offered a full self-service coffee/espresso bar with full use of the kitchen. Their all-white studio lighting was INCREDIBLE, and as I mentioned earlier there are no beauty filters on these pictures nor was there any extra lighting used. Just the all-natural light inherent to the studio. I highly recommend SUPPLY to those of you local!

9 THINGS I LEARNED FROM A STUDIO PHOTO SHOOT

9. Music is the difference between cheesy and cool.

Has it ever occurred to you that the difference between a cheesy commercial and that of a cool one is often the music? Or lack thereof?

Well, I kind of felt like the cheesy commercial lady posing for a photo shoot.

Walking around wearing a black leotard would have felt a whole lot cooler if the theme song from Charlie’s Angels had been playing in the background instead of the screeching whirl of a power drill from the construction happening down the hall.

Next time, if there is a next time, I am definitely bringing my own theme music.

Although I am happy to leave modeling to the professionals, I did have a great time with an amazing team that helped me get camera ready, and now I have 437 professional photos instead of one phone selfie.

Have you ever had a photo shoot done? What is your best photography tip?!

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