The Hudson Valley is so full of amazing little boutiques … like the fabulous Black Bird Attic in Beacon. I’m a HUUUUGE lover of consignment stores and thrift stores. But this little spot quickly became a go-to for me here in the Hudson Valley because they are so incredibly good at curating their stuff. It’s a small store … but pretty much every single thing in the place is great.

The other day, I grabbed a fabulous friend, and we went and played dress up at Black Bird Attic. And then we shot some SUPER fun photos all over Beacon.

First up … a retro romper TO DIE FOR. So cute, that our beautiful model decided it had to be hers to keep : ) (Good choice!)

outfit tip: Layering your clothes is always a good thing for photos. It’s easy to really change up a look by adding a coat, and working with it in different ways.

So this shoot was really all about having fun … some good ol’ cross promotion … and a chance for me to just stretch my creative wings. I love photography as a job. Buuut, creativity on demand can take a toll on an artist if she isn’t careful. So this kind of shoot is the perfect way for me to refill my creative cup. No pressure. No deadline. No specific needs. Just … whatever happens.

So, we literally grabbed the outfits, and then just wandered until we found fun spots to shoot in. We didn’t have to go that far for one of the outfits. The store window at Black Bird Attic is SO cute. I always think to myself that I wish my home was like their windows. So, of course, I had to stick Royale in the window : )

outfit tip: think outside the box. The sequin “top” is actually a skirt. We wanted to use it so badly, but it wasn’t working well as a skirt. And as we all know … it doesn’t matter how awesome a piece of clothing is if it doesn’t make you feel FABULOUS when you put it on. But then there was the genius idea to use it as a shirt. And boom. PERFECTION!

That was fun. And so very needed. HUGE thank you to the lovely ladies at Black Bird Attic. They are so fun and a pleasure to work with. Plus, they happen to have THE best clothes. Seriously … go : )

Side note about little boutique shops and your photo session: I often recommend big stores like Old Navy and H&M for clothing for a photo shoot. I like those types of stores because pretty much the whole store coordinates … so you can dress the whole family without worrying if everything “goes”. It really takes the pressure off. But, the thing about going into a little boutique shop is that the sales associates are usually SO helpful and fun. You can let them know that you’ve got a photo shoot, and no doubt they’ll help you look for things that you might never have thought about trying on. They can help you think outside the box and create a look that is really special. That can be really helpful. And fun!!!

XO,
Kate

Kate Callahan is an on-location photographer who LOVES to capture authentic memories for families. She’s available for weddings, senior photos, child photo sessions, and family photography. Kate works with clients throughout the Hudson Valley, NYC,  Delaware (and the tri-state area), and beyond.