Client Spotlight: Northern Westchester Dental & Esthetics
For many of us, a trip to the dentist ranks pretty low on our “dream destination” list. Cold waiting rooms, sterile surroundings, and a certain level of anxiety seem to always accompany our experience, encouraging us to push off that next appointment for another month (and another and another…).
Northern Westchester Dental Care (NWDC) was created to change the common dentist experience. Located in Yorktown, NY, this modern practice is dedicated to comprehensive, individualized patient care. With a family focus, highly-educated team, in-house specialists, state-of-the-art equipment, and so much more, NW Dentistry has become the best option for all your oral health needs. Comfortable spaces, welcoming staff, and personalized treatment plans await each client, ensuring that your trip to the dentist can be enjoyable and anxiety-free.
Additionally, NWDC has expanded their practice into the esthetic realm. Now also offering botox, laser resurfacing, and filler in-house, say goodbye to outsourcing! The NW team has you covered on all health and cosmetic fronts!
When this practice came to Laurel Creative Agency for social media help, we were so excited about the opportunity. Through several trips to their Yorktown location, we have captured content of their perfectly-curated rooms and modern technology, learned about what sets them apart through conversations with doctors and staff, and expanded our own knowledge surrounding social media presences for medical practices. With this content and newfound education, we have been able to update their Facebook and Instagram page to target a new, family-oriented demographic, better reflect the NW Dental Care Values, and emphasize the exceptional care this practice has to offer. Science and social media don’t have to be separate!
Client Insight: Red Light Therapy
When California-native Adie Horowitz first discovered the renewing and transformative benefits of red light therapy over ten years ago, she knew she needed to bring her passions to the East Coast. Now with 3 locations across New York, Adie’s dreams have been realized as her spas help countless clients lose weight, combat aging effects, smooth cellulite, and find more confident selves through their treatment. Cutting-edge technology, a knowledgeable team, and visible results make Red Light Therapy NY an unskippable stop on the journey to ultimate wellness.
Adie contacted Laurel Creative Agency to spread the benefits of red light therapy even further. Since then, our team has produced innovative photo and video content to boost Instagram growth, transforming Red Light Therapy NY’s page into an immersive and aesthetic educational experience. This includes showcasing the three locations, using models to display the treatments at work, and revealing the friendly faces behind the magic (AKA science), ensuring that the appeal of these spas is conveyed over social media!
The Agency was also able to assist in a press release which covered the opening of a new West Side location, thus expanding our own skill set. We’re more than happy to cater to your individual needs and desires - after all, we love to learn new things! How can we customize your experience today?
Client Spotlight: The Conrad
With two New York locations, the Conrad by Hilton offers comfortable, peaceful stays in the heart of the city. Guests can choose a Midtown residential-style stay, only ten minutes from Central Park and Times Square, or opt for the Downtown luxury hotel in close proximity to bustling neighborhoods like SoHo and Greenwich Village. Regardless of the decision made, all guests enjoy spacious rooms, special packages, arrays of amenities, beautiful views, in-house dining options, and so much more. These hotels are the best way to experience New York living!
We were beyond excited when the Conrad locations came to Laurel Creative for photo and video work in 2019. Since then, we’ve worked hard to produce creative and engaging content that displays each and every attraction of these hotels. As a result, the content can be used multifold, and especially for social media!
For clients who are already customers of their market, taking efforts to appeal to the social media world allows for a platform where an entirely new target audience is reached with the Conrad Hotels. In our personal (and maybe slightly biased) opinion, keeping advertising fun, fresh, and relevant is something of immeasurable value.
Interested in photo and video for your company? Contact us today!
Client Insight: Landscape Solutions
Serving over 20 towns in Somerset, Essex, Union, and Morris County, New Jersey, Landscape Solutions is a leader in the residential and commercial landscaping field. From landscape design and installation to hardscaping and property maintenance, this company provides a wide-range of services without sacrificing craftsmanship and professionalism.
Customers can expect quick estimates and completion, personalized attention, state-of-the-art equipment, quality materials, well-trained landscaping teams, and so much more. For New Jersey yards, Landscape Solutions is the perfect choice!
For social media platforms, Laurel Creative Agency was just the right choice for Landscape Solutions! When these guys joined our client roster, our goal was to transform their social pages into engaging, appealing portfolios. We began creating content through monthly shoots at job sites to document progress and display finished jobs, then put this content to use with regular posting on Instagram and Facebook. That’s not all, though! Reels, stories of job details, and strategic engagement now also boost the Landscape Solutions page, and the work has paid off! In August 2021, this company had about 1,329 followers to its Instagram handle! Now, with the help of our management, that number has grown to 2,620. We love to see the growth!
Client Insight: Palmetto Yacht Management
About Palmetto Yacht Management: Founded by Chris Hanna, a South Carolina native and Coastal Carolina graduate, Palmetto Yacht Management was created to fill a noticeable gap in the yacht industry. With its 4 strategic locations in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, and Connecticut, Palmetto services the entire East Coast by providing white-glove transport, crucial haul-outs, secure short and long term storage, and pristine detailing to enthusiastic boaters and boat manufacturers alike. State-of-the-art equipment, knowledgeable employees, and a passion for the maritime field sets Palmetto apart from all the rest.
When Chris contacted Laurel Creative Agency for a social media boost, we knew our job was to widen the gap between Palmetto and its competitors even further. Our social media management has made their page impressive and engaging, allowing it to become a powerful marketing tool. Part of this management has included photographing some of their biggest jobs, videoing their processes, creating promotional content, and documenting the New York Boat Show.
It’s a client unlike any other, and the Agency has learned so much about the industry and Palmetto itself. As a result, we’ve all challenged ourselves and grown our abilities while taking an item off Palmetto’s plate. When we represent your social media, we take every effort to know you and your business, ensuring that your page communicates its values, products, and work authentically for your future clients. How can we help you next?
The Vitality of Branding / Social Media Videos
Hi friends! If you’re anything like me, your Instagram screen time has also increased dramatically since the app released its “Reels” feature. Minutes turn into hours as I scroll through the home decor inspiration, admire the “Get Ready with Me” final products, and laugh at the entertaining skits. From a personal standpoint, these videos are simply entertaining. From a business standpoint, however, the recent boom in video marketing means so much more, and here’s why:
As someone who works constantly with small businesses and their online advertising, I’m always looking for new ways to engage with followers, increase traffic to social media pages, and grow brands. I aim to build online presences which feel personal, appealing, and captivating. Videos help me fulfill this aim, as they allow clients and customers to see and hear the heart behind the businesses with which I work. They go further than frozen moments and 2-D websites, helping you and your business to shine authentically. Now, customers want to invest not only in your business and your product, but also in YOU and what you love to do. Trust me, this connection is effective!
Further, any videos created can be used multifold. If we film for your website, that same content can be posted as an Instagram Reel or on Tik Tok, both of which have become wildly successful marketing platforms in today’s day and age. A Social Insider study even revealed that Instagram Reels produce double the engagement in comparison to other post types. To put it simply, videos are versatile!
Not only are videos versatile, they’re also fun! In both my personal and business opinion, I much prefer watching a video to looking only at a photo (and I take photos for a living ;) ). If given the choice, I think many others would vote for the video option too!
If I haven’t convinced you of the importance of video content for you and your business just yet, take a look at some of our favorite ones we’ve made for brands down below!
Reels
Instagram Reel for Conrad Downtown, NYC
Freshly IG Reel
Product Brand Video for Lime-A-Rita
Wedding Video Reel for Mandy
Branding Videos
Branding Work for Palmetto Yacht Company
Commercial for Osmo featuring Kevin and Danielle Jonas
The Hilton Conrad Downtown NYC
Bloomingdales Ramy Brook Loop
Client Insight: Paper Floral Co
About Paper Floral Co
Founded by Kelly Grace in 2017, Paper Floral Co is a paper-floral studio in lovely Clinton NJ. With a few art supplies at her kitchen table, Kelly blossomed Paper Floral Co into a creative enterprise that fashions beautiful crepe-paper flowers for weddings, other special events, and home décor. They make beautiful, crepe-paper flowers and botanical creations from materials that last!
For the past few years, Laurel Creative Agency has been serving all of Paper Floral Co’s marketing needs. This has included strategically posting on Instagram each day, through photo and video, displaying not only Kelly’s precious flowers, but also her sweet personality in order to gain more clients & projects. Kelly is kind and genuine, and we’ve worked hard to capture her personality through the content we post. That’s our goal, showing you and your business exactly how you want it to be displayed, allowing you to authentically speak to your followers.
Fun fact: Laurel Creative Agency’s first social media client was actually Paper Floral Co!
Together, the Agency has grown so much and has been able to learn all about the ins and outs of Instagram all thanks to Paper Floral Co being their first client. Through doing the work, we see how crucial social media is for businesses… it gives them mass exposure and increased revenue through an app.
Instagram is how most people discover businesses today, and has to be a large part of each business’ marketing strategy. We’ve witnessed how helpful it can be to outsource social media to professionals. For Kelly, who’s focused on her business and family, it can be super overwhelming to constantly keep up with social media. That’s exactly why we are here: to take social media off your plate so you can do what you’re best at!
Kevin and Danielle Jonas' New Book: “There’s a Rock Concert in My Bedroom”
There's a Rock Concert in My Bedroom, published by Razorbill, comes out March 29, 2022!
Kevin Jonas, multi-platinum and Grammy award-winning musician, and his wife, TV personality and entrepreneur, Danielle Jonas, worked together to create a children’s book, a written celebration of music and family.
In September 2021, the couple announced There's a Rock Concert in My Bedroom will be published by Razorbill, an imprint Penguin Random House, on March 29, 2022. Their picture book is filled with beautiful illustrations artfully done by Courtney Dawson. The best part? Kevin and Danielle said their book was inspired by their daughters, Alena and Valentina, both rock stars!
In an interview with PEOPLE, the couple said, "Music has always been a foundational creative outlet in our family. Now our daughters, Alena and Valentina, enrich our lives in ways we could have never anticipated. The love and care they show each other on a daily basis inspired this story and we are so proud to share how these girls not only uplift us and each other, but are creative, caring rock stars in their own right."
There's a Rock Concert in My Bedroom follows a young girl, named Emma, who’s passionate about singing and playing guitar, but gets stage fright in the days leading up to her school’s talent show. To ease Emma’s fears, her parents and little sister put on their own rock show at home, and have a blast. This story reminds its audience that music should be fun and there’s a star in everyone!
The inspiration for the story comes from a real event with Alena and Valentina, the two Jonas daughters. Kevin tells Scary Mommy that, “Our girls went through something similar when they had a dance recital. They were nervous and over-practicing. They weren’t having fun anymore. So what we decided to do is Danielle set up a dance party in the living room and danced crazy, and it made it a lot easier for them to cut loose and remember what the point was: to have a good time.”
In many ways, this story was born out of the pandemic, when quality time with family meant a lot to Kevin and Danielle. Danielle opens up about their family experience: "It's been tough and then nice. The tough part would be more that they're not getting to see their friends as much, and the social aspect is a little weird, but having the time being home and spending as a family has been great," Danielle tells PEOPLE. "Kevin's been home and we got to soak in all that time, still soaking it in, so that part has been really great. I've been learning to have more patience through this whole thing, being more patient with each other and especially with the kids."
There's a Rock Concert in My Bedroom is sure to touch the hearts of anyone who dealt with performance anxiety, because the characters show, how through the power of family and the love of music, anyone can conquer their fears and have fun doing what they love!
Thankful that Associate Amanda from The Laurel Creative Team photographed their announcement as well as Videographer Kyle from Laurel Creative Agency filmed their announcement video.
Congratulations Kevin and Danielle!
Preorder There's a Rock Concert in My Bedroom on Amazon now!
Laurel Creative is currently booking for 2022 and 2023!
Reviewing the Nikon z7ii Camera: Why I Switched to Mirrorless
When mirrorless started making its entrance into the SLR camera space many years ago, I was reluctant! Sony was the only brand that was really doing mirrorless at the time and I’m a Nikon girl. I’ve always have had Nikon cameras and I certainly didn’t want to switch. I already had so many lenses in flashes that were compatible with Nikon, so I looked the other way even though many photographer friends of mine were switching over to Sony. I began the long wait of trying to be patient when I heard rumors that Nikon was going to be releasing a mirrorless camera.
A few years ago, when Nikon officially released their first mirrorless camera, the Z5 and the Z6, I went to a camera store in New York City to check it out. It was cool, modern and a lot lighter than what I currently was shooting on my Nikon D4S. Although those features intrigued me, the price point was very high. I didn’t feel like it was right for me at the time. I waited one more year while they made some changes, releasing another version of the D6, and it started to peak my interest again. I went to a different camera store in the city and ended up buying the D6. Although I did buy it a bit reluctantly - one thing that didn’t sit well with me was that there was only one memory card slot. As a wedding photographer, photographing moments that can never be redone, having only one memory card slot was very alarming to me. Nonetheless, I was very eager to make the switch as I had heard some good things.
After using the camera for one photoshoot, I already knew that the switch to mirrorless was not for me. I couldn’t get the one memory card slot factor out of my head. Things felt so different, so many settings were off ,and I was having trouble getting everything tax sharp and in focus. Granted, it was my first time using it - no one taught me how to use this specific camera so I chalk a lot of my dislike up to user error. I decided to return the camera and continue one more year with my faithful, but heavy, Nikon D4s.
When Nikon made the announcement that they were coming out with the D7ii, and that this new model would have two memory card slots, I had a feeling that this was my moment to finally switch to mirrorless. I ended up renting this camera first just to be 100% sure that I would make the switch. Much to my surprise, I ended up loving it! Yes, there was a bit of a learning curve and some differences from my previous camera, but in using the adapter with my sigma 35 mm 1.4 lens, I was very happy with the results of my images! I slept well at night knowing that there were two memory card slots and my neck felt a lot better because the camera is much lighter than what I was a custom to. Also being able to see my settings showing on the miniature screen inside of the viewing Port was an absolute game changer.
I’m still able to use my old lenses while using the adapter that comes with the Nikon ZII. Although as I’ve heard on the Internet, photos taken with this combination are not always as sharp as if you make the splurge and buy the mirrorless lenses that might come put out. I waited a while before investing in mirrorless lenses, but when I did, goodness, it was the best decision I ever made. My photos were instantly sharper, my camera set up was a lot lighter without an adapter, and although new lenses are very expensive, I was able to sell all my old stuff to Adorama in New York City and broke even.
So what are my top three favorite things are about my new camera after owning it for almost a year? (I’ll be making a separate blog post about my least favorite things about this camera as well.)
1. Hands-down my favorite thing about the Nikon Z7ii is that I can use the screen to shoot. With all of my previous Nikon cameras, I wasn’t able to use live view on my screen and take pictures very well. It always had a little bit of lag and it didn’t feel like the right way to shoot. But now with this new camera, I can utilize the touchscreen, click on my clients face, and it will focus. I can see exactly what my final result will be with my manual settings on the screen. I also don’t always have to put my eye up to the view finder, which relieves pressure from my neck and helps my posture!
2. The second thing that I’m absolutely obsessed with with my new camera is how light it is. Since I shoot clients out and about in New York City, and carry my own gear in a backpack every single day, carrying heavy equipment is the absolute worst. When I used to shoot with a Nikon D4S, it was extremely heavy. Having to carry that along with my Godox speedlight, and potentially another lens, water bottle, lunch, and anything else I needed, caused a lot of back pain for me. This might sound dramatic but you have to feel it to believe it. This new camera is seriously so much lighter than what I’m used to - sometimes I think my backpack is missing an item because of how light it is! Honestly, one of the biggest reasons people make the switch to mirrorless cameras is because of their weight. It wasn’t my main reason, but it certainly is a blessing! Also, as I mentioned above, if you invest in the mirrorless Nikon lenses, your whole entire set up will be so much lighter, less weight on your camera strap on your shoulders, and your arms probably won’t be sore at the end of a wedding or a long shooting day!
3. My third and final favorite thing about this new camera sounds kind of obvious, but frankly, it’s the fact that it is literally mirrorless. I do a lot of studio photography, and with my previous cameras that had physical mirrors and shutter mechanisms on the inside, I struggled a lot with dust getting inside the sensor and mirror. In traditional SLR cameras, there are about three different mirror/sensor areas that have to be cleaned in order to get a perfectly dust free image. But now that I have a mirrorless camera, there is only one sensor on the inside that I can quickly use some compressed air, blow off of the dust, and my photos are come out a lot clearer in the studio. This leads to a lot less photoshopping! On the same note, another benefit of it physically being mirrorless, is it’s actually so much quieter than my other cameras! I always felt like I was firing a gun during quiet ceremonies with my old cameras, but this time I feel a lot more discrete. And even this new camera has a silent mode! It will take a photo and be 100% silent. This comes in handy a lot when I am shooting alongside my videographer who is filming audio and I still need to take some photos.
If you have any questions about this camera, please do not hesitate to reach out! I am a huge fan and love talking camera stuff… Obviously! Stay tuned for a blog post about my least favorite things about making the switch to the Nikon Zii.
Shooting Fashion in NYC
There is just something awesome about shooting someone on the streets of New York City right?!
The hustle and bustle of the cars, the interested glances from passerby‘s, and the energy that you get between your client and yourself while shooting on a dirty cobblestone street or in front of a taxi. I wouldn’t have it any other way! New York City is the perfect backdrop for basically any type of photo shoot whether it’s wedding portraits, engagement shoots, fashion photography, or even product photography.
Whenever I photograph clients on the streets of New York City, I always ask them to send me some inspiration. I usually encourage them to go on Pinterest and send me screenshots of photos that were taken in New York City so that I can analyze what location in the city they want to shoot in.
If they send me a lot of taxicab shots, then I’ll take them to the West Village or Soho. There are a lot of taxi cabs on quieter streets, making it easier to shoot in front of them and not accidentally get hit by a car. Safety first! If they send me pictures with the New York City skyline, then I prefer to shoot in Dumbo Brooklyn or Jersey City, to get the New York City skyline behind my subject in the photos. If they send me nature photos, then I usually opt for Washington Square Park, or Central Park! Both of those parks are right next to great intersections and streets, so I am able to give the client a little bit of what they want but also incorporate some iconic street style shots.
The biggest hardship in New York City is finding places for your clients to change. I have mitigated that by discovering the pop-up pod. My favorite pop-up pod is by the brand Gig A Tent, sold on Amazon for relatively inexpensive. It’s so handy because I can carry around the city to all of my shoots, pop it up when needed, and easily collapse it for when I’m not using it. It has saved so much time on shoots and has allowed my clients to shoot more than one outfit without having to search for a bathroom. Even if we find a bathroom, it’s usually really disgusting!
Another thing to keep in mind when shooting on the streets of New York City is the weather! If the forecast shows rain but you’d like to take advantage of the cloudy day, be sure to shoot near somewhere where you can take refuge if it starts raining. Certain streets in New York City can also become very windy due to the placement of the buildings. Due to some of the shiny reflective buildings made of glass, the usual shady spots can become very sunny at certain points of the day. I would give you similar advice if it would be very hot or very cold. It’s always good to place yourself near indoor places of refuge for a break for your client! You don’t want your client to become too cold that their hands get super red, or too hot where they are showing sweat in the photos.
I could go on and on about this topic! I will certainly be writing future blogs regarding my favorite places to use the restroom in New York City, best places for refuge if your client needs a break, and also blogs written entirely about my favorite shooting locations. This blog was just a little sneak peek into my thoughts and opinions about shooting on the streets of New York City!
Client Insight: Lady Black Tie
Laurel Creative Agency has loved having Lady Black Tie on our client roster for almost one year now. Lady Black Tie is a formal wear dress store based up in Hudson Massachusetts. They have significantly grown over the past few years using the power of social media, the demand for wedding and party dresses, in the variety of dresses in so many colors and fabrics.
Laurel Creative Agency runs Lady Black Tie’s Instagram and also their Tiktok! The dresses are all so gorgeous, very beautifully designed, and photographs so well.
A few months ago, Lauren, the owner and lead photographer a Laurel Creative Agency, had the opportunity to fly over to California along with Marisa, the owner of Lady Black Tie, to complete a campaign photo shoot for some new dresses that were being added to the website.
We came across this gorgeous location near Beverly Hills on peerspace.com to host the photo shoot. A beautiful Spanish style house with a gorgeous, well-kept, and lush backyard. We were drawn to this location because of the white walls and flowers which really give a luxurious vibe to the photos of the dresses. Not only did we take photos for the website, we also took the opportunity to film a lot of video content of the dresses for marketing and social media purposes! We have found that videos of the dresses perform so well because their customers love to see the product in action before purchasing.
See below to view some of our favorite images from the shoot. We are so excited to continue to be working with Lady Black Tie on their Content and are very excited for year two with them!
Brand Work with Sarah Flint
This photo shoot for Sarah Flint was one of my favorites last year. The locations, the amazing model, and of course the shoes!!
This photo shoot was a long time in the works because not only were they releasing some new shoe styles, they were also releasing some additional items from their brand. The vibe on Saturday was amazing - all of us collaborating to create a stylish and beautiful final product. The goal of this photo shoot was to create some updated marketing materials to show off the new products, shoot some new social media imagery that was styled, and also film some video footage which you can watch down below.
Regarding equipment for this shoot, I chose my classic favorites… My Nikon Z seven I I, my 35 mm lens, and my large Godox soft box strobe light. We were shooting in some gorgeous apartments that had very high ceilings; it was imperative that I bring my strobe soft box to be able to light the client and model properly and not just rely on one single speed light on top of my camera.
Whenever I do photo shoots for brands, I always make sure to get as much variety of shots as possible. As a photographer or content creator, it is always in our best interest to try to set our clients up for success… Adding lots of variety with the shots ensures that they will have enough content to last them until the next photo shoot.
Shooting in the Studio with Flutter Habit
Flutter Habit is a lash brand I’ve been working with for quite some time, and boy oh boy has it been a joy shooting for them! They specialize in luxe faux mink lashes that last for 5 days or more – very DIY friendly. I particularly love the book-like structure of their packaging, as well as all the cute prints and color stories they use. From a photographer’s perspective, there’s so much room to play around with these products in the studio and get creative with photoshoots.
To capture social and marketing images, I shoot on tan or white paper, incorporating a modern yet classic aesthetic. A lot of that entails having plenty of props on hand in my studio – you honestly never know what might inspire you in the moment. I like to use ribbons, concrete blocks, marble trays, anything that accentuates Flutter Habit’s branding and brings it to life.
Not every product image needs a prop, however. When shooting anything involving e-commerce, versatility is key. There are two different categories of studio photography, lifestyle photography and e-commerce photography.
Lifestyle photography usually includes props, different settings, or maybe even a hand in the shot. The point of lifestyle is to capture a product in a realistic way, a believable way that would inspire the customer to imagine that product in their daily life. It also creates a desirable aesthetic that ultimately adds different textures to a brand product.
On the other hand, e-commerce photography is usually just the product on a white or neutral colored surface. This is mostly for website use, so the requirements involve very simplistic backdrops and settings. Most of the time, these photos are shot to then have the products photoshopped out of the background in a way that will work best on a website.
