Branding Photography

Wondering what the term “Branding Photography is?

Branding photography shows your professional personality and gives the viewer an idea of

what you do without being painstakingly boring.

For example: If you are a bread baker, it would be smart to have some of the photos that you

are getting taken of you with your bread. Most likely at your bread shop, etc.

But some jobs don’t always have an obvious identity from photos.

But part of the fun is telling that story through photos.

May Grey/June gloom…

Every year in Santa Barbara, Ca we experience at least a month of “May grey”, or sometimes “June gloom”… This year we got too much of both.

I can hear you saying: “Oh poor them…”, but people who visit our town are also freezing, and disappointed when they come with summer clothes in their suitcases, and have to buy “Santa Barbara” sweat shirts to keep themselves warm at the shops on the pier.

It is a combination of high pressure, ocean winds, and the temperature difference between the water and land, according to the national weather service.

So if you have a visit to Santa Barbara Ca scheduled in May or June, check the weather, and then still pack layers.

The thing that I do love is doing shoots at this time. Things do tend to pop more in photos when things are foggy around you. So take advantage, and get a shoot done at this time, while it is nowhere near the holidays, and you can come to town being savvy on bringing some extra warm stylish clothes, and throw in a photo shoot along the sea, mountains, or do an urban wine tasting, and let us document your visit to SB.

Top 5 locations in Santa Barbara Ca to photograph at:

Over the past 10 years of coming up with new locations, and also using staple locations that always deliver, here are my top 5 to photograph at.

1. Santa Barbara Marina. Quintessiental Santa Barbara. Boats, the sea. The magestic mountains in the back drop… you can’t go wrong. And then there is always Brophy’s Restaurant to pop into after for dinner…

2. Bridge to nowhere. Aka: San Marcos Preserve. Sprawling fields of flowers, depending on the time of year. April-May yellow mustard explosion. Trees, dirt paths, beautiful Mountains in the back drop, and ocean views. There is a lot of space in this location to find magic.

3. The Funk Zone: Filled with urban backdrops, wine tasting rooms, and lots of artistic murals that are fun, and colorful.

4. Hendries beach: A little bit more rugged, and beautiful… This beach has the most beautiful sunsets ever!

5. The courthouse in Santa Barbara Ca is one of the most beautiful court houses in the world. A clearly must see. White spanish style with spanish tile roof. Plenty of places to take photos inside and out with lots of character. The tower has ocean views also.

We just won some awards…

I like entering my photos in contests…. It keeps me motivated to do better work, and I like to see what the judges and people choose. So yes…we are award winning

I have wanted to enter my photos into “The Portrait Masters” for a while, but finally decided this year was the year.

This isn’t Santa Barbara Photo Style’s first awards, but it feels like we have made a milestone with this one.

The results just came in last week, and it turns out they liked our photos! If you score above 70, then you place bronze, and higher, silver, then gold.

We are pleased that we won 4 bronze total. (3 bronze metals for Portraiture, and 1 for Senior Portraits.)

All this does is really validates my love for pushing to be a better photographer, and motivates me to try more things, learn more, and keep experimenting…

What is Life style Photography?

I get this question a lot.

I thought I would share the some of the photos from one family lifestyle shoot.

Lifestyle Photography has taken on a whole life of its own the past 5 or so years.

It really meets our esthetics at Santa Barbara Photo Style.

We love capturing people in their element just being during these photo sessions.

To start: I told the mom to have her child in his jammies to begin, and then ended up having him change half way through.

At this photo shoot in particular, the little boy was sad when we were done with the shoot.

I had him jumping on his bed, playing with his cat etc, so it didn't feel like a job to him.

Our idea of Life style photography, is telling a story, and documenting a day in the life.

Less posed.

Less stress.

More authentic.

In the moment.

Beautiful

What to wear at a maternity photo shoot.

What to wear for a maternity shoot:

These moments are fleeting, so take the time to buy your self something you love to see your self in for years.

The tighter around the baby bump, the better your tummy will show, and the more pronounced your belly will be.

There are always a lot of choices out there, but  the more simple solid colors the better.

You can start in a more fancy dress to capture a more editorial look to begin the shoot.

Lace is beautiful and very feminine, photographs really well, and looks beautiful just draped over the belly, or over a form fitting slip.

Using a scarf or long piece of flowing fabric over your private parts are also a favorite.

And still allowing to feel covered up, and exposing your beautiful baby belly.

You also could go bare, and cover up accordingly if you feel more comfortable...

Why professional photography matters.

I hear people all of the time, saying that they will just have their son who is in high school do the photos this time, or an uncle who is pretty great with a camera come over...

And that may be all you need, but there is of course the other side of it.

And that is getting beautiful timeless photos, already edited on a gallery for you to download or just "click on buy", where everything is already done for you.   

We have already agonized over which photos are the best.

We have your best angle in mind, and have already gone through all of the photos, and chosen wisely, and edited that smudge of mascara off of your cheek, or photo shopped that stain off of your kids clothes.

We have your back...

We never hear any regret of people hiring us.

What we hear, is "Why didn't we do this sooner?"

We changed our name...

You may have noticed our name has changed... 2 years ago…

Yes!   

For the past 8 years, our business was under my own name, Monica Montigny Photography.

Moving forward I am very excited to be using our new name:  Santa Barbara Photo Style.

The name suits our (my) brand, as there is a lot of styling happening behind the camera on my end.  (Helping pick out clothing, hiring make-up and hair stylists, choosing back grounds, inside and outside for each photo shoot.)

Our business is still in Santa Barbara, Ca.

Nothing has changed, only the name... 

Check us out, and let us know how we can help you.

Cheers,

Monica Montigny

Welcome to Monica Montigny’s Blog

Welcome to my first and only blog.  I am a portrait, and lifestyle photographer, and live in Santa Barbara, Ca. with my husband and our 3 boys.

Photography is a passion of mine, as well as a career.  

I am usually a lot happier if I have a camera in my hands.

During the past 10 years, I have photographed anyone from Musicians, Politicians, family,  people, pregnant women, babies, famous people,  and product.

I do love capturing people's authentic true spirit.

What is so great about repeat clients is that they and their children (if they have any) feel so much more relaxed in photos.