Happy first birthday Josh! Josh and his mama came by the studio last week for an official first birthday “Smash Cake” portrait session. Josh’s first birthday portraits were all shot using ONLY natural light. The natural light at the new studio is amazing, it’s really a dream come true. Custom portrait natural light “studio” sessions are available all summer by appointment. Call or email the studio to schedule your little one’s first birthday “Smash Cake” portrait session.
Meet Darlene. She is a mom of two adorable children, a devoted wife, an advocate for children with autism, and a focused successful business woman. Darlene is the first of many in a new COP series that features professionals who have taken action and chartered their own course.
Darlene is a rock star with Origami Owl. In just a very short while, Darlene is a team leader and mentor with the company. She leads a team of over 250 business owners and helps them build their own organizations within the company. Origami Owl is an amazing jewelry company that enables us to share and tell stories through customizable jewelry. Over the years, Darlene has become a great friend. She gifted me a locket. Inside it held a small heart, the word “mom”, and a camera. It’s perfect. Get to know Darlene better on her website The Peace to My Puzzle. I’m proud to say that the portraits on her website we’re taken by me. It’s great to be able to collaborate with other creative business women.
Darlene and I spent some time together at the studio to update her professional portrait. Sally, at Smash Beauty Lounge, applied makeup.
Now is the perfect time to update your head shot. Nobody loves a good facebook profile pic more than me. Call the studio for details.
Here is a bit of information about me…I LOVE having my picture taken. I truly enjoy it and I like to think that I am pretty photogenic. That being said, I know that I am definitely in the minority of women. So here’s my one piece of advice to all you ladies out there who are going to be stepping out in front of the camera very soon…
GET YOUR MAKEUP DONE!
Whether you’re coming into the studio for a professional portrait (headshot) session or a mom with her family for custom portraits, photography is all about the experience. Getting your makeup done by a professional makeup artist only adds to your confidence and enhances the entire photography experience. You’ll go into the session feeling great and attractive. That only leads to being more comfortable in front of the camera and in the end, to a better quality final portrait product. I’ve seen it happen, a client who wasn’t 100% happy with her portraits all because she wasn’t feeling or looking her best during the session. Photography, for whatever the reason, is an investment. You owe it to yourself, your family, and or your business to walk into the studio looking and feeling your best.
Lucky for me, Smash Beauty Lounge, owned by the super talented makeup artist Sally Portillo is just a hop, skip and jump away from the studio. I can’t recommend her enough. I’ve had the pleasure of working with her for not only my own headshots but for many of my clients both for professional and family portraits.
Meet Nancy. She and I worked together to create a custom stock photography library of images for her to use in her business. We spent an hour together in and around the studio and she was photographed in 4 very distinct and different looks. Summer is the perfect time to update your website and to give yourself a fresh new look for your business. These days having a strong and professional online presence is muy importante. Your business tells a story and Courtney Ortiz Photography can tell it. Let’s collaborate on your new professional portraits. Call the studio to make your appointment. 954-558-6893
I’ve known these girlies for a long time. Two families each with three daughters and I’ve been shooting them since 2009. Although a lot has changed (2 new additions), their absolute adorableness and spunky personality hasn’t. In fact, they are even more gorgeous than they were 5 years ago.
Voting is on for the South Florida Parenting Magazine “Kids Crown Awards”. Courtney Ortiz Photography is nominated for best photography in Broward County. Voting continues until May 15. To celebrate the nomination I am holding my own contest here in the studio during the length of the Kids Crown Awards. 1. Vote in the South Florida Parenting Magazine “Kids Crown Awards”. 2. Post the link to the contest on your facebook page and tag “I just voted for Courtney Ortiz Photogaphy”. One lucky winner of a downtown Hollywood session and a framed/signed 8×10 print will be announced each Monday during the contest. Monday, April 21’s winner is
Lindsey Anne
Look out in your inbox for more information. Keep voting and we all keep winning.
Jamie is passionate for ponies. They are in her blood. So of course, the barn where Jamie boards her two horses was the perfect location for her lifestyle session. I couldn’t have been luckier, everything about it was perfect; perfect subjects and location. Thank you to Sally from Smash Beauty Lounge for coming out early on Sunday for Jamie’s makeup.
The South Florida Parenting “Kids Crown Awards” is in full swing. Voting for your family favorites is open until May 15. Please share the love and vote for Courtney Ortiz Photography under “Broward: Photography”. To thank you for your time and support in the voting process I’m holding my own contest….”Vote, Share, and Win!”
2. Share the contest link on your facebook page and state “I just voted for Courtney Ortiz Photography.” Make sure you tag either me personally or my business in your post.
3. A winner will be announced each Monday during the length of the Kids Crown Awards, and receive a complimentary downtown Hollywood session and a framed/signed 8×10 print.
I’m honored to be nominated as a favorite Broward County Photographer in the South Florida Parenting Magazine’s “Kid’s Crown Awards”. The voting started on Tuesday and continues until the end of April. I’d really appreciate your support if you’d take a few minutes to vote. Click here to vote for all your family favorites in Broward, Dade, and Palm Beach County or scroll about halfway down to “Broward: Photographer” and place your vote. You can vote up to 50 times a day! Crazy right?!?
As a small token of my appreciation for your cooperation I’m holding a contest that will last until voting ends. A new winner will be announced each Monday. For details and prize information (and they’re good ones!) make sure you are signed up for the Courtney Ortiz Photography Newsletter (to the left of your screen) and keep an eye on your inbox. It’s because of your support over the last 6 and a half years that has enabled my business to grow and reach the level of success that it has. I’m forever grateful and humble.
“A friend is someone who gives you total freedom to be yourself.” -Jim Morrison
This especially rings true when you’ve been friends since birth. Which is the case for these colorful adorable young ladies. Their mamas are besties and that relationship has grown and blossomed in their own daughters. I love watching my own kids build relationships with my closest friends’ kiddos. These friendships can lead all the way to adulthood and be just as meaningful as siblings.
For a limited time, we’re offering BFF sessions. Get some of your best friends together, up to six kids, and share a 60 minute custom portrait session at the Downtown Hollywood studio, $250. All studio products are available a la carte. Please call the studio 954-558-6893 or shoot us an email courtney@courtneyortiz.com for more information.
Happy Spring. I’m back in the studio after a week at home with my family for spring break. Definite perks to owning my own business.
We are still waiting on final dates from the builder as to when the new studio will be completed. So in the meantime, I met with interior designer, Leslie Mueller to begin the studio design process. These were my requests…
1. work station
2. shooting space
3. client meeting area
Three distinct but very important aspects to my business that need to be consolidated in 300ish sq ft of space, in a design that is modern, clean, and can showcase the COP brand.
She submitted three different design options. I copied and pasted the descriptions directly from her proposals.
Design Option 1:
Focal wall features logo and sample photography. This plan is more spacious in the client meeting area and the set up of the picture rail and storage cabinet will function well for client consultation. The sofa can be used by family members not in the shoot but then can be easily pulled in as a prop. We will have to double check the final width of the room once the walls are up to make sure there is enough room for everything shown in shoot area- in plan now it is tight! The floor lamp is the tripod style. Are there antique photography lights? If so, maybe we could use one of those as a lamp???
Design Option 2:
The focal wall features your photography!!! Your logo still appears on the focal wall but is set a bit higher on the wall. For fun ( and function) a series of pendants hang from the ceiling in the far corner. The packaging workstation is on the focal wall but the media cabinet is located close so all materials can be stored neatly when clients are expected in the studio. I found a couple counter height tables that have storage built into them, which might be a good option. In this plan, I made the shoot area more spacious by putting the sofa next to the door. I used a smaller meeting table to give some space back.
Design Option 3:
In this design, I pictured a typical office set up, where when a client enters the studio, they are greeted by your smiling face, working on whatever, and behind you is the logo, & a big beautiful photograph! The typical office layout functions well bc everything you need is within reach, whether your packaging, editing, or meeting with clients. To keep it from having the stuffy office feel, we would use a fun table and your mix of fun chairs! This plan is probably the most spacious bc the packaging and client meeting are done in one place, eliminating one piece of furniture. There’s also a lot of open floor space in the shoot are for extra props, chairs, etc. (shoot props are shown in plan as the ‘pouf’ – haha!) Not sure how many props you have??
I definitely have my favorite. Please share in the comments what you are drawn to. I’d love to hear what you think the pros and cons are of each design option. I’ll be making my final decision by the end of the week so we can start to work on the details. I’m really excited to see all of this come to fruition as Courtney Ortiz Photography moves to our new home soon.
At this exact moment two of my favorite things are:
#1. Working outside. The weather in South Florida is amazing this time of year. We have a mid-century mosaic table by the pool which is perfect for morning coffee and preparing for my day with my
The crew from Design Aglow has done it again with what is truly the most powerful and comprehensive document for my photography business. It’s PERFECTION. The Big Picture Planner is a download from the Design Aglow shop and 100% completely “plug and play.” I followed all the recommended directions for use and printed it exactly as is with no customizations because I didn’t have to. I was too eager to dig in and really put it to use from the moment that I downloaded it the first week of January. Regardless of whether it’s January or June, The Big Picture Planner can be started and used as soon as you’re ready to tighten the reins of your photography business. From keeping track of daily tasks, weekly goals, marketing projects, finances, client workflow The Big Picture is all inclusive. 2014 is my year! It can be yours too!
“Her work is distinct and holds a special place in our home.”- Marcy Hirsch -
“Courtney's photographs had a huge impact on NCLR and helped us raise over $1 million in December 2014. Her work is beautiful and engaging and shows the central goal of the fight for marriage equality -love."”- Ace Portis, Major Gifts Officer, NCLR -
“Courtney truly captured the uniqueness of our family and created beautiful, original works of art that we will treasure always.”- Darlene Giol -
I definitely have my favorite. Please share in the comments what you are drawn to. I’d love to hear what you think the pros and cons are of each design option. I’ll be making my final decision by the end of the week so we can start to work on the details. I’m really excited to see all of this come to fruition as Courtney Ortiz Photography moves to our new home soon.
Little brother!
