NAPCP May Newsletter 2016

INSPIRED B Y NA P C P MAY 2016

Featuring Chrystal Cienfuegos of Chrystal Cienfuegos Photography

The

LATEST INSIDE Get a sneak peek at our 2017 NAPCP Retreat Location!

Industry News & Announcements, Workshops, Updates and much more!

N A T I O N A L A S S O C I A T I O N O F P R O F E S S I O N A L CNHAIPLCD HsO P NPe w l e tTt eOr G MR a yA2P0 1H6 E| R1 S

Hello friends!

April showers bring May flowers, but what do May flowers bring? A bustling

summer season for NAPCP, of course!

In this month’s issue, we’re celebrating the winners of our International

Image Competition! Thank you to everyone who participated, and congratulations to those who were selected. The image gallery is now available online for all to ooh and ah.

We’re also recapping our spring Gathering, which happened earlier

this month. Members from across the globe joined together for an inspiring #NAPCPPhotoChallenge, and we have included some of our favorite photos in the following pages. If you missed out this time around, mark your calendar for the fall Gathering happening on September 14.

While you have the calendar out, go ahead and pencil in January 17-20, 2017

because our 2017 NAPCP Retreat is officially booked! If you’re dreaming of warm weather in paradise or hoping to be whisked away to a wintry mountainside, we may have a location hint for you; read on to see if you can guess where we’re headed next year!

One thing is certain – this month’s featured photographer, Chrystal

Cienfuegos, won’t have too much trouble getting there! A self-taught hobbyist living in San Diego, Cienfuegos intertwines her passion for being a mom with her love of photography by capturing “day in the life” memories and portraits of expecting mothers and newborns. When she’s not working, she’s spending time with her husband, three kids and rotating the coffee mug with a good glass of wine!

Until next time, friends!

Cheers!

The NAPCP Team 2 | NAPCP Newsletter May 2016

TAB LE O F CON TE N TS Pg. 4 ..............................NAPCP Gatherings Pg. 5 ..............................News & Announcements

Pg. 6......Featured Photographer: Chrystal Cienfuegos

Pg. 20 ............................Camera Bag Essentials Pg. 26..............Video Interview Series: Emily Ley Pg. 27............................Apply For Membership NAPCP Newsletter May 2016 | 3

#NAPCPGATHERINGS

#NAPCPPHOTOCHALLENGE We had a great time doing our photo challenge this month at the #NAPCPGATHERINGS! Stay tuned to the NAPCP social media pages to see our favorite collages!

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N E WS & A N N OU N CE ME NT S Facebook Community We hope that everyone will continue to partake in our NAPCP Facebook Community page! Join now and get involved with the latest discussions, trending topics, news and updates, and much more! Click here to request to join today!

Napcp Store If you're looking for a custom way to encourage your clients to order prints and photo books for dad, make sure you check out our Spring Postcard Pack.

Each postcard may feature a separate client, and you have plenty of room to hand-write a call-to-action on each one.

Click here to get yours today!

NAPCP Newsletter May 2016 | 5

FEATURED PHOTOGRAPHER C H R Y S TA L C I E N F U E G O S

6 | N A Pby C PChr N e wystal s l e t t e rCienfuegos M a y 2 0 1 6 of Chr ystal Cienfuegos Photography Images

N NAAPPC CPP NNe ewws lsel et ttet er rMMa ay y2 20 01 16 6| |7 7

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H

ailing from the west coast, this month’s featured

photographer is Chrystal Cienfuegos! With no professional photography background, this self-taught hobbyist has been capturing bright smiles and giddy laughs of little ones for the past five years. A mom of three, Cienfuegos specializes in birth stories, newborns and family portraits. In addition to owning her own business, she’s a regular contributor to Sham of the Perfect, an international collective of photographers who are passionate about both family documentary photography and being mothers.

NAPCP Newsletter May 2016 | 9

AT A GLANC BEHIND 1. Started photographing? 2008 2. Officially opened business? 2011 3. Favorite camera? Nikon D800 4. Lens of choice? 50mm 1.4 5. Favorite Lab? RenaissanceÂ

Chrystal Cienfuegos 10 | NAPCP Newsletter May 2016

5. Favorite Framer? Local 6. Favorite subject to photograph?

Children (especially my three crazies)

CE WITH SCENES

CHRYSTAL CIENFUEGOS

7. Favorite musician? Michael Jackson, Adele, Alicia Keys, Garth Brooks, I can't choose one!

8. Favorite movie? Moulin Rouge or Romeo + Juliet 9. Recent Favorite Read? "Steal Like An Artist" by Austin Kleon 10. Favorite Client Product? Albums 11. 3 things you can't live without? Aside from my loved ones...Coffee, iPhone camera, & Cozy Blankets

F L I P T H E PAG E F O R OU R E XC LUS I V E I N T E RV I E W W I T H C H RY STA L !

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Tell us your story. How you started your photography, brand, and how your business has changed since you began. When I purchased my first DSLR, I was engaged (aka wedding obsessed) and childless. Dreams of becoming a wedding photography pro began swirling immediately. However, we got pregnant soon after the wedding and when I became a mother, weddings were old news. The experience of motherhood completely knocked me off my feet and my infatuation with babies and all things parenthood translated into a defining theme for my brand. I worked a corporate financial job during the week and did posed newborn sessions on the weekends. By a stroke of luck (I say luck because I would have never quit), I was let go from my job of 13 years while on maternity leave with our second baby. It was a shock but a great opportunity to get serious about building my business. After about two years of doing many styled and heavily posed sessions, I realized those weren't really my strength. Things finally clicked when I recognized the incredible, raw moments I loved in weddings are also found in our family's everyday and I quickly became fascinated with capturing that magic for my clients. I now offer birth stories and two different types of portrait sessions: 12 | NAPCP Newsletter May 2016

Day in the Life and a more traditional (only slightly posed) newborn/family portrait session. Last year I bought underwater gear and that's been really fun to incorporate.

We love your use of natural light in your work. What advice would you give to someone who is, say, coming from a more traditional studio setting, and wants to learn how to work without artificial light? Make sure to get equipment that works well in low light and practice as much as you can in a variety of situations.

It's also a good idea to familiarize yourself with all the different noise reduction solutions out there and see which fits you best. Lastly, it's important to know your equipment's limits. While I try not to use my flash, it's necessary at times. I'm not a natural light purist by any means. For example, if someone is investing in birth photography, I am sure to get sharp images of the important moments and if that means I need to flash, then I do. Part of being a professional is knowing when to draw lines and make certain technical calls (after discussing it with your client of course). NAPCP Newsletter May 2016 | 13

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Primes or zooms? For me, it's always primes first. I love the way primes look and I'm a sucker for shooting in the shadows and getting creative with ambient light.

I do carry a zoom to births just in case I need the versatility in the room. And now that I'm doing more underwater work, I am looking at getting a wide zoom since it's also hard to move around underwater. The gear chasing is never ending, isn't it?

What is one location that is on your bucket list to photograph? My children's delivery rooms when they grow up and birth my grandchildren. Ha :) Other than that, I don't think there any locations I'm dying to photograph. I'd really love to document a social or humanitarian movement or maybe an awareness campaign.

I'd love to be part of something that has the potential to change a world view for the better. That would be incredible. To see more of Chrystal's work, please visit her site here!

Thank you so much Chrystal!

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NAAPPCCPP N 1178 || N Neewwsslleetttteerr M D ae yc e2m0b1e6r 2 0 1 5

Three Tips F O R D R I V I NG B U S I N E S S | BY C H RY S TA L C I E N F U EG O S

1- Eliminate Competition - Our local women photographers have created a group where we share tons of referrals, locations, tips, funny stories, and advice. It's so nice to break down those uncomfortable walls between you and your "competitor" and instead, build relationships and help each other. No amount of marketing can live up to what this has done for my business.

2- Be Generous - Teaching does wonders for your business. When new photographers ask questions, I answer them. Sometimes they turn into a mentorship and sometimes they don't but it has always proved to be a good idea, tenfold.

3- Be Yourself - Your voice & branding really shines through when you shoot what you're passionate about. I'm happy to offer a mix of documentary and more traditional sessions. I wish I could go back and tell myself it's ok to not be one or the other! Shoot what you love, share why you do it (win those hearts), and do it all with your head held high.

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CAMERA BAG ESSENTIALS W I T H C H R Y S TA L C I E N F U E G O S

BODY: NIKON D800 | LENSES: NIKON 50MM 1.4, 24MM 2 0 | N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r M a y EXTRAS: 2016

IKELITE UNDERWATER HOUSING, IPHONE 6S, BUSINESS CARD

1.4, 105 MACRO, SIGMA 35MM 1.5 | BAG: KELLY MOORE

DS, NOISE MAKER, SNACKS, LIPGLOSS/PERFUME, HAIRTIES, & BATTERIES. NAPCP Newsletter May 2016 | 21

BEHIND

We asked Chrystal to give us a peek into her busy day to day life with a few of her favori

SCENES

WITH CRYSTAL CIENFUEGOS

ite Instagram captures. Enjoy a behind the scenes look at some of her favorite moments!

INTRODUCING OUR

STUDIO C A L C U L AT O R

Did you ever wonder how much money you need to make in order to profit from your business? This in-depth tool has been designed for both the beginning and seasoned professional. The Studio Calculator is divided into four sections, which can be used separately or all together to formulate your business’s bottom line.

C L I C K H E R E TO G I V E I T A T RY !

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2 6 | N A P C P N e w s l e t t e r J a n u aSrAy R2A0 H 1 6P ET T Y

ZACH PREZ

SARAH LANE

(C) Élan Studio

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