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Archive for category: Insana Collins

Real Family | Amazing Autumn Portraits

November 29, 2017
29 Nov 2017

Hi again, ladies and gents!

Let me stop for a second to tell you that I am seriously the luckiest photographer in the world. My clients are always so wonderful to work with. That’s true of my session with the Davis family, too!

I met Marilyn and Charles Davis at a gala a few years ago, and after Marilyn had her first baby, a friend recommended me to them to take their first family portraits.

Mike (my new co-tographer, I can’t wait until you meet him!) and I met up with them on a Sunday at one of my favorite shooting locations, Watkins Park in Upper Marlboro, Maryland and, although chilly, the weather was perfect for portraits. We love shooting in the fall, when the leaves are so colorful and nature has so much character. While the weather was fine, it was the Davis family that made this shoot such a treat. Charles and Marilyn arrived color coordinated, and were so sweet to each other as well as naturals in front of the camera.

Marilyn and Chuck Davis Family11

Marilyn and Chuck Davis Family12

 

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As if they weren’t beautiful enough, now comes baby Malia.

Marilyn and Chuck Davis Family18

Malia, Marilyn, and Chuck were awesome together, and it showed. They had awesome things to say about us too.

“We loved working with you and Mike.  You both made the photo shoot really easy and very comfortable for all of us.  You both made us feel like we had known you for years, even though we had just actually met that day. Our daughter usually starts to cry when she is around new people in new environments, but we didn’t have that problem with either you or Mike.  You both have a great eye for pictures and even were easy going enough to let my husband direct some of the poses,” said Marilyn. I am thrilled whenever I receive such glowing reviews from my clients!

Marilyn and Chuck Davis Family20

Marilyn and Chuck Davis Family27

 

Marilyn and Chuck Davis Family28

 

 

Marilyn and Chuck Davis Family26

Wardrobe details of the shoot:

  • Charles – Top: Target & Banana Republic; Jeans: American Eagle; Shoes – Cole Haan
  • Marilyn – Top: Macys; Pants: Stitch Fix; Shoes – Coach
  • Malia – Nordstrom

Marilyn also has terrific advice for parents taking family portraits with small children. “Make sure you feed children before the shoot.  If you have babies, I wouldn’t try any new foods the day of the shoot, just in case it doesn’t agree with them. [Also], try your best to have the photo shoot not coincide with nap time. Bring the toys, props, or people that will get your kids to smile.” After shooting family portraits for over 10 years, believe me, this is top notch advice!

I hope you enjoyed the Davis’ family portrait session! The Davis family is using photos these for their holiday cards, and I’m currently booking more holiday portrait and event sessions every day. Call or email me to book one for yourself!

Until next time,

 

Insana

insana@insanacollins.com

 

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0 Comments/in Collins Photography, Insana Collins, Photographer, Photos /by Insana Collins

Portraits | Madison the Dancer

November 3, 2015
03 Nov 2015

Hey guys!

Today I have a real treat for you, which comes in the form of 8-year-old Madison. She’s a dancer, and her mom wanted to showcase her talent in the best way possible, especially since she’s beginning to dance more competitively.

You can tell from the pictures that this little girl is energetic–an important trait for a young dancer.  She’s a constant performer and seems to enjoy herself…a lot!

Madison Oct 2015-2

We met up at a private studio in Fairfax, which I loved because of the range of indoor scenery. Madison’s mom, Monica, handled Madison’s hair and makeup herself.

Not only is Madison a talented dancer, she’s also received voice training from Shirley Ables, a member of the Grammy-award winning gospel group, Shirley Ables and the Joy Gospel Singers. As you can see, Madison’s parents have a lot to be proud of.

Madison Oct 2015-12

Her parents also did a really wonderful job choosing outfits for our session.

“We wanted her head shots to accent her natural look, and the dance shots to allow the focus on her dancing ability so we chose a bright pink shirt for the head shots, but a more muted color, simple leotard for her dance shots,” said Monica. I second that info!

Okay, moving on to what you’ve been waiting for. For your viewing pleasure, pictures of Madison, the dancer!

Madison Oct 2015-1

Hi Res Madison Oct 2015 8-2

Madison Oct 2015-13

 

This family was just awesome to work with. I totally look forward to shooting with Madison in the future. “Overall, it was a great experience. Insana is very patient and kind and can really capture beauty with the lens,” said mom, Monica. :)

Until next time,

Insana

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0 Comments/in african american, Children, Collins Photography, daughter, event, family, Insana, Insana Collins, Photographer, photography, Photos, portraits, Published, Washington DC /by Insana Collins

The Family Photographer’s Family Reunion

August 5, 2015
05 Aug 2015

Collins Family Reunion Bracelet wm-

I began my career in photography the way many others have. First, I started taking pictures as a hobby, so much so, that people requested that I take their event photos. Then I learned more about photography and purchased the best camera. More people requested photos. Then I wanted to get better, so I read books, took classes, attended conferences and studied on YouTube. Even more people requested photos. Then I practiced, practiced, and practiced. Got better equipment. Upgraded my camera and lenses. And just like many photographers before me, my easiest subjects were none other than my family members, out of sheer availability.

It’s been eight years since I’ve decided to dedicate my time and energy to professional photography, but my family photography experience hasn’t changed one bit. This means that when we have special events like family reunions, I’m the first in line to capture the day. This summer’s Collins Family Reunion was no different.

Collins Family Reunion Bracelet wm-9217

On duty.

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Line dancing at the white party.

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My cousin Monica and uncle Joe.

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My newest niece, Alyssa, and cousin Tameka.

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My cousin Dennis and Andrea, from Little Rock, Arkansas.

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My beautiful mother (in pink) and her friend, Mary.

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My sister-in-law and two nieces.

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My mom and her 11 brothers and sisters.

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The children and grandchildren of my grandparents, Harvey and Mary. I hope they can see us and are proud that we continue this family tradition.

I’m honored that I can take professional photos of my family. It requires the right equipment, of course, the skill to make people smile, stand up straight, look thinner, and above all, corral large groups of people who are constantly distracted by one another. This is a family reunion after all!

The reunion went off without a hitch and I can’t wait until next time! The smiles of aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters and cousins made it all worthwhile. I hope you cherish your family the way that I cherish mine,

Insana

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1 Comment/in event, Events, family, Insana Collins /by Insana Collins

Career Day at a Bowie Middle School

April 17, 2015
17 Apr 2015

Career Day Square-9336

Today I participated in Career Day at Samuel Ogle Middle School in Bowie, Maryland. As a third-time guest, I’m always excited to share the importance of education to kids, and plus, I get to talk about photography! I brought canvas images of the DC Motobomb and other motorcycle images and shared video of my wedding and portrait sessions. But my favorite part is answering questions from forty 13-year-old 8th graders, and this year was no exception. Here are some of today’s favorites:

“What is your favorite photograph that you’ve ever taken?”

“What’s the hardest part about photography?” [Great question. Answer? People who don’t want to smile.]

“Do you ever take long-exposure images?” [I wanted to high five this kid for asking the question]

“Are you famous? You seem famous.”

“Do you ever take pictures of celebrities?”

“Do you ever have to PhotoShop people?”

[When asked what they like to take pictures of, the whole room chanted:]

“Selfies!”

[When asked what they like to photograph other than selfies:]

“When I go to El Salvador, I like to take pictures of all the cows.”

“I took picture of a monkey once because it was scratching its butt.”

[After learning that I ride a motorcycle:]

“Do you stunt? Do you take pictures while you stunt?”

Career Day-9253

Hands flew up over and over again and they asked questions until the school bell rang. Some of the kids even stuck around after class to ask questions about tripods and equipment.

Career Day Square-9342

It was fantastic, and honestly, it’s ALWAYS fantastic. I truly enjoy doing it and if someone asks you to participate in a Career Day, you should. You never know who is listening and how your visit could positively influence a child.

Until next time,

Insana

Career Day Square-9356-2

With student escorts and WPGC’s Shack Nd Pack.

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0 Comments/in Insana Collins, Uncategorized /by Insana Collins

Real Sexy | Boudoir Photos

March 24, 2015
24 Mar 2015

Cue the sultry music for this post, gang!

Today I’m featuring Rae, a stunning woman I photographed in January at a private home in Bowie, MD. This boudoir session was particularly special, as she’d wanted photos for a long time, but just never had the motivation. Rae told me, “I’ve been wanting to do a boudoir session for years but never had that special someone to do it for. Well I do now, and since Valentine’s Day was right around the corner, I said, why not! I wanted to present pictures for my special guy as well as take some for me. Sometimes “we” women just need a little reminder on how sexy we really are. My pictures will remind me of that for years to come.”

As you can see, Rae is incredibly beautiful, but looks aren’t the only thing she’s got going on. She loves to bake, travel, and host parties too!

low res Rae Mickens Boudoir-40

Even though she was a little nervous before our shoot (who wouldn’t be?), Rae was able to relax pretty quickly and we got some awesome shots.

“I was extremely nervous about how I was going to look in the photos. I’m not a size 4, so I wanted to make sure I was sexy, but didn’t look like I was larger than I am… I was also nervous about my comfort level of the poses. I’m pretty conservative and I didn’t want to do any awkward poses that made me feel uncomfortable or that were to raunchy. Insana put my nerves at ease! She encouraged me,  coached me, made tasteful suggestions and took my thoughts into consideration. She even gave me a few techniques to use while posing to help me get the best shot, as well as make me feel relaxed. It was like two old girlfriends hanging out, instead of a photo shoot. Laughs galore!” said Rae.

She brought 3 different outfits for the session and each looked amazing on her. A white button down with heels, a snow leopard kimono with a bra and panty set, and a gorgeous blue lace gown with matching panties from Victoria’s Secret.

low res Rae Mickens Boudoir-5

Since we had such an amazing shoot, I asked Rae to share a little bit of advice for others who may want to have a boudoir session in the future. Here’s what she had to say:

“I would suggest coming to the photo shoot with an open mind. Insana suggested several poses I never would’ve thought of and they came out looking fabulous!”

That’s definitely solid advice!

No more talking – let’s get to the pictures!

 

low res Rae Mickens Boudoir-20

low res Rae Mickens Boudoir-12

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Rae absolutely rocked her session! She had fantastic energy and it made the shoot so much fun. As for her favorite part of the shoot: “I can’t stress enough how much I loved every single moment of my session!! The side jokes between Insana and I, the excitement I felt after I nailed a pose, the actual posing itself and of course standing in front of a stranger with next to nothing on, while she takes pics of me. Lol!! This session made me feel beautiful and gave me a brief insight on how models must feel on a daily basis. For a shorty like me, that’s probably something I would never experience in the real world. Good times!”

Until next time,

Insana

p.s. Rae took the boudoir surprise a step further and ordered a 12-month color calendar for her honey! Take a look. :)

Calendar-3695

Calendar-3699 Calendar-3701

:)

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2 Comments/in boudoir, Collins Photography, DC, Insana Collins, maryland, Photographer, Photos, portraits, Washington, Washington DC /by Insana Collins
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