We believe that because our photos are so ubiquitous that we are doing a good job documenting our lives, creating little bookmarks in our lives that we can later revisit. The problem with this line of thinking is that we aren’t really interacting with these photos in the way we used to, or more importantly, the way that would most benefit us.

Too often we don’t believe ourselves to be good enough, or attractive enough, or smart enough. Being critical within reason is something I applaud, it’s how we get better after all but when these thoughts go too far they begin to wreak havoc on our lives. These overly critical thoughts prevent us from getting the most out of life and can even negatively affect our love life, our social life, and our work life.

We’ve all seen the photos of the family in a field of tall grass, bluebonnets if you’re in Texas, or those sunlit, bright beach session photos with the family walking hand in hand (ahem - our first family and maternity photos). So why is it that there is a growing demand for studio portraits?

Personal branding is at the forefront of small and local business marketing. It can help make or break a business struggling to compete in a competitive market. A key aspect of personal branding is making it personal with a branding photoshoot.

In an increasingly competitive job market it's not only important to show you at your best (which is what a headshot should do!) it's equally important to show that you understand what a company values. Even better, show that you share their values!

A professional photographer will help make you more engaging and add a level of authenticity to your brand as well as ensure that quality and style is something that comes to mind when people think about you or your brand.

Natalie Shelby is not only a photographer, assistant, and baby wrangler, she is also a world-class retouch artist. She has been commissioned for several book publications as well as local and international magazines. Over a decade of professional retouch experience in Houston and Los Angeles has taught Natalie a few things that everyone working with a retouch artist should know.