For one week only, I'm offering a Spring Fling With a Friend promotion. Your friend gets to come along for free! That's a savings of 50%!
What better way to celebrate this spectacular--albeit rainy--season than with sensational photographs that capture your essence?
NO more excuses...you KNOW you want to do this!
If you have been thinking of...
Updating your headshots for your website, brochures, or business cards
OR
Having sexy photographs taken as a gift for your someone special
OR
Giving yourself an extra boost in the confidence arena
Then NOW is the time!
If you keep looking at photos other women have had done, thinking "oh, I really need to do that, but I don't have the money, the time, the clothes, the blah, blah, blah...", well it's time to stop the excuses and just do it!
Listen to what other women are saying:
"Carol has worked with my kids in the past and has always been able to bring out their personalities and capture them on film. I was always impressed by how quickly she got them at ease and comfortably brought out their true selves. These pictures are priceless treasures. When I decided to take my turn in front of the camera, I was a little apprehensive and filled with 40-something self doubt. Mom's are always behind the camera trying to capture life's moments-but I thought it was time to come out from behind and give a gift that I so treasure to my kids and husband. Carol took away all my insecurities and made me feel beautiful. I had fun, laughed and forgot about all those imperfections. The results are better than I ever would have imagined. Thank you Carol for letting me embrace who I am in a beautiful new light. I now have a gift for my family that not only reflects what I look like on the outside but how I feel on the inside". Susan B.
"Carol is an amazing photographer who knows how to capture the perfect headshot. Her creativity and attention to detail produce beautiful, natural photos". Susan S.
"It felt so great having my photo shoot with Carol. She really put me at ease and it shows in the pictures. I was so happy that they came out looking like the "real me"; not as the me who is posing for pictures. Relaxed, friendly and professional. Plus it was alot of fun. I will definitely be using this pictures on my business website". Laura R.
"OMG so much fun today!" Theresa A.
"Thank you for a fun day. You made the photo session really so much more relaxed than I thought it would be". Judy H.
This offer will only be available for one week. (But your shoot can occur anytime between now and Labor Day weekend...it just needs to be booked this week to get the special rate).
If you are ready to invest in yourself and BE SEEN for the beautiful, confident, sexy woman that you are, email me at Carol@CarolGalanty.com or call 631-235-3816 to get all the nitty-gritty details and schedule your Spring Fling!
Remember...power, intelligence and self-confidence are SEXY! You have all of that---get the photos to prove it.
I've always said that all women are beautiful in their own, unique way--but someone needs to let them know that!
Women see flaws everywhere---"my hips are too big, my face is fat, I look so old, my skin is so wrinkly, ohhh that nose, and where are my boobs?" Women typically don't look in the mirror or at a photograph of themselves and say, "Damn, I look hot".
This week, I had the chance to be on the other side of the camera for a change when my photographer friend, the amazingly talented Koren Reyes, photographed me for my new website(s). What I discovered--aside from the fact that I LOVED being in FRONT of the camera for a change, was that I'm no different from all of my clients in that when I saw my pictures I immediately started harping on all of my "flaws"---"OMG my chin is too pointy, look at those crows feet and lines around my eyes, what happened to the 19 year old face I thought I still had, ugh--I'm so flat chested--that's the figure of a 12 year old boy!"...I could go on.
This one is my absolute, hands down fave! LOVE it!
Koren and Natalia, our wonderful makeup artist and stylist, laughed at me when I started complaining because I had just finished lecturing Koren about being too critical of herself when I did her photographs! We're all the same--full of insecurities and looking for some kind of physical perfection that doesn't exist. If we take a step back and really look, we'll realize that we are all beautiful women...the beauty that exists within each one of us, in our soul, is the beauty that shines through our eyes and the expression on our faces. The package it all arrives in may come in different sizes and shapes, but underneath it all, it's the same. Beautiful.
I certainly FELT beautiful having my photos taken. I felt like a rock star! I'm so glad I took the time to get these done, because now, I can speak authentically from my heart when I explain to my clients why they need to make the investment to have their photographs taken NOW. Not when they lose the next ten pounds, not when the kids leave for school, not when they finally find a career they love, NOW. It may be just the boost of confidence they need to get them to that next step. I fully intend to do this every year from here on out, so I can document my ongoing journey through this lifetime. It was such an amazing confidence booster and I had so much fun doing it that receiving the end product, the actual photos, was just icing on the cake.
So what do you think? Which are your favorite shots? (The ones below are unedited, untouched up versions--wrinkles and all-- because I haven't had time to touch them up yet..the final versions will be a little more polished looking).
Here's me before Natalia has worked her magic. (I'm thinking lots of critical thoughts looking at these photos, but I will refrain from sharing any of them).
This is the "serious" headshot series.
And these were us being silly and having fun at the end.
And these I just had to share--Koren and Natalia were trying to get me to bring forth my inner super-model...I couldn't help but crack up. I guess I just don't have the sultry, pouty thing going.
SO much fun!! So much in fact that I will be coming up with a Spring Fling With a Friend Package...email me if you want the details!
Investing in photographs of yourself will make you money.
It’s simple, really.
A photograph that captures your essence and shows that you aren’t afraid to put yourself out there and be yourself, speaks volumes.It makes people want to connect with you.People are naturally drawn to women who are strong, intelligent and self-confident. They want a piece of whatever it is you have that makes you so self assured and confident, and they are willing to pay you for it.
Your website and Internet presence is the equivalent of having a storefront.First impressions count…ALOT.Make sure yours is sending the message you want to get out there.
So throw out your stale, boring headshots…they’ve served their purpose, but it’s time to move on.If you are really ready to shine and start bringing in the types of clients you want to be working with, make an investment in yourself.Consider out newest package, a Zen Spot Photo Shoot.It’s more than a photography session; it’s a transformational experience!
Our first Zen Spot Photo Shoot was in Montauk in near frigid temperatures at the ocean.Susan and Laura were a couple of brave women who have a newfound respect for all the models out there. We started the day with some delicious green smoothies followed by an invigorating yoga class at my studio, power walk around town and a freshly prepared, organic, natural foods brunch.When we went out to shoot, we had to work quickly against fading light, frozen fingers and toes, and windblown hair, but we had a blast.We ended the day with a waterside dinner (in a thankfully heated restaurant!) and spent a relaxing evening in the very sleepy, quaint town of Montauk.It was a mini-retreat of sorts.Much needed for all three of us.
If the price tag of your own shoot is a bit too much right now, consider splitting it with a friend, like Susan and Laura did.You’ll get the same amount of time and photos, the same individualized attention, with the added value of having a friend there to make you feel more relaxed, to coax those smiles and expressions out from hiding, and to give you the occasional break from being the subject of all the attention.It’s a win-win!
The $500 off is being extended through the end of May, so if you’re on the fence, now is the time to act!
Travel half way across the world for a beach?No, thank you.
That was my attitude for many years about the prospect of vacationing in Hawaii.It’s hard for me to admit when I am wrong, but I am without a doubt eating my words now.Hawaii offers so much more than beaches and proved to be a trip very much worth making.
This was the first time we decided as a family to skip the Christmas craziness at home.After a busy summer and fall shooting portraits, I was looking forward to decompressing and the idea of warm sunshine seeping into my pasty white New York skin instead of racing around like a lunatic Christmas shopping was a very welcome thought.
The first week of our trip we spent on Kauai, which is known—for good reason-- as the most picturesque of the Hawaiian islands.Despite a couple of rainy days at the start of the week, our efforts in traveling across the globe were rewarded with spectacular scenery, a wealth of natural diversity and a never-ending choice of activities (an important factor for a family with three active kids).
I have an array of images engrained in my mind from this special place: a Catamaran cruise with dolphins swimming alongside the boat, performing for us with an amusing array of jumps, twists and turns; whales gracefully arching in and out of the water; a helicoptor ride over volcanoes, hidden waterfalls and the infamous Napoli coast; roosters and hens boldly wandering around the island as if they owned the place; snorkeling the rough waters with sea turtles close enough to touch; and breathtaking scenery at every turn.
It would be hard to top Kauai…but then we arrived on Maui.We chose to avoid the glitzy, glamorous mega-resorts where the rest of the tourists would be, and opted instead, at the advice of a friend who is a local, to stay on the North side of the island in a sleepy little surfer town called Paia. The Paia Inn, located in the heart of the town, is a quaint little place with the friendliest, most beautiful staff I’ve ever met.We had two adjacent suites, which were set up like mini-houses, complete with our own private patio, yard, and outdoor shower and a private path to the ocean.The town itself was paradise to a health nut like me…an Ashtanga yoga studio was a block away, juice and smoothie bars were everywhere and the best health food store I’ve ever been to was steps away.
After our non-stop touring on Kauai, I wanted nothing more than to stay put in this little piece of heaven and never leave.Much of the island went unseen this trip…we’ll have to return to experience some of the touristy “musts”.We were quite content to spend our days walking through town, eating out, enjoying afternoon cocktails, and watching the kids boogie boarding in the much-too-rough-for-my-taste surf.The swimming and splashing around in the surf ended rather abruptly towards the end of the week when a teen was attacked by a shark minutes from where we were swimming…after that we forced ourselves back into the car to explore.
And I’m glad we did, or we never would have discovered the Bamboo Forest, a breathtakingly beautiful hike through 30 foot high bamboo, to a series of four waterfalls, the hike increasing in difficulty as it progressed.We only made it to waterfall number three and that was treacherous enough. Scaling wet, slippery rock walls deep in the jungle, far from emergency care, was starting to raise the hair on the back of my neck, so we forced our fearless children to halt the journey before they could lay eyes on waterfall number four.
They didn’t pout for long…instead they swam across to the waterfall, climbed up to the ledge and starting doing cannonballs into the cold water below.It was a day they won’t soon forget. (And thankfully, they never developed any waterborne diseases from the god-knows-what-bacteria that lurked in the depths of that murky water).
All in all, it was a trip to remember.There were downsides of course…the length of time involved in getting there, the annoying charges airlines tack on for bringing luggage, and how expensive Hawaii is.But if I ever find myself with a couple of months to kill, I could easily be persuaded to hop on over to Maui to whittle away my days in Paia, rum punch in one hand, book in the other, not a care in the world.
These are some of my favorite photos from shoots done this past year...plus a few random oldies thrown in that I just couldn't resist including! These videos are now included with some of the new packages being offered this year. They are such a fun way to share the best photos from your session with friends and family. You can post the videos on your Facebook page, email them to friends and play them on your computer. They're so much fun!
There’s nothing like working with one of the nation’s top photographers. Well, okay, I wasn’t actually “working” with him, but meeting David Alan Harvey, seeing his work and being able to get both shooting and career advice from him was just way more than I could ask for in one weekend. I have been an admirer of his work for a long time, but hearing the stories behind the photos and seeing him in action really brought it to another level.
National Geographic Expeditions hosts a variety of workshops for aspiring photographers in locations all around the world each year. This latest one was held over a long weekend in New York City. Mother Nature was nice enough to cooperate and provide us with summer like weather in the midst of April. Despite the large size of our class, David was able to identify with individual members of the group and provide them with the one on one experience they needed. He intuitively knew which student needed what type of instruction.
For myself, he taught me to be more patient and wait for the picture to happen, not to go out looking for it. All too often, when I am out doing travel photography, I find myself wandering around, almost panic stricken, looking for “the” photo, the one that will be the book cover. It doesn’t happen that way. You’re better off picking a spot, staying put, and waiting for the photo to come to you.
This is of course easier said than done. It takes both patience and confidence to conduct oneself like this in the field. We all feel like we have to rush out and make a cover photo the first day—the first hour---we are there when in reality it may take weeks or even months. It will come, but you have to be ready for it. Ready and waiting.
One key thing I took away from my weekend with David is how it serves one best to be as unobtrusive and non-intimidating as possible. David walks around with a small Leica or Panasonic camera fitted with a prime lens. He looks like Joe Schmoe from Kansas out taking some family photos. Nobody would ever suspect that he is one of the nation’s top photographers. This is why he gains access. People let him in…they trust him and they welcome him into their most private moments. If he showed up with one of the big ass lenses most wedding photographers carry around, he wouldn’t get half of the photos he manages to get.
That particular lesson hit home for me. As a portrait photographer in the Hamptons, I often feel compelled to have the latest and greatest when it comes to equipment. If I walk into one of my clients’ homes and they own better equipment than I do, I feel they are looking at me like I am inadequate as a photographer. (The fact that they have no idea how to use their overpriced toy means nothing, but alas it still makes me feel inadequate). If I walked into a job with the gear David Alan Harvey typically brings along, I’d be looked upon as a rank amateur and my clients would doubt my photographic ability. After all, they haven’t been taught that it is the eye of the photographer, not the camera, that makes the photo.
So I will continue to carry the big guns for the sake of my portrait clients, but out on the street, I’m stripping down. It’s bare bones from here on out. Me, my trusty Nikon and my new prime lens….with maybe an occasional panicked call to David for help.
In a matter of ten days we went from horseback riding up a volcano to soaring on ziplines at dizzying heights above the rainforest floor to basking in the sun on a beach adjacent wild monkeys and iguanas.We had come to Costa Rica looking for adventure and the country did not disappoint.
As novices to Central America and non-Spanish speakers, we opted to take a friends advice and hire a driver to take us around; getting lost on rough roads in the countryside with three young children just didn’t seem too appealing.The private driver was fairly inexpensive and proved to be a wealth of local knowledge, so all in all it proved to be a good decision.
Our first stop was Arenal, an active volcano and popular tourist destination about 3 1/2 hours north of San Jose. The weather was cool and drizzly which came as quite a surprise to my family despite the fact that I had told them repeatedly prior to the trip that we were headed to the rainforest. Across the street from the hotel, we were able to saddle up and head out for a couple hours of magnificent horseback riding through the countryside.
Although the thick fog prevented us from seeing too much at the top, getting there was quite memorable.I cast aside the pangs of worry that kept creeping into the pit of my stomach as I watched my 10 year old novice horseback rider gallop away across an open field and guide his horse down slippery pathways through the dense forest, thrilled to pieces with himself.We even came away with a great family photo our guide took of us, our horses standing in a pond, the five of us proudly perched in our saddles, unaware of how ridiculous we all looked in our Bob the Builder head safety gear.
It was about this time that I began to realize Costa Rican safety standards were slightly different than those of the United States.My husband kept looking at me in a state of shock as I allowed my children to do things I never would allow back home.I felt we were invincible…what could possibly go wrong in Costa Rica?
The day after horseback riding, I reluctantly agreed to rent quads.I am NOT a fan of quads and won’t let my kids near them at home, but since all of my common sense seemed to have left me on this trip, I said sure, why not.My 10 year old rode his own, my daughter rode with my husband and my 8 year old son rode with me.It seemed safe enough as we followed behind our guide along some dirt roads through the countryside. I was even beginning to enjoy it.Until, that is, my son, who was steering our quad, hit a very large rock causing our vehicle to go out of control and nearly veer off a cliff.The look on my husband’s face as he saw how close we came to going over the edge quickly put an end to our little joy ride.
Back at the hotel, we were pleasantly surprised to discover some beautiful hiking trails through the rainforest a short stroll from the pool.Aside from the aggressive red ants that managed to find their way into my daughter’s shoes and sting her feet, thus beginning what looks to be like a life long fear of ants of any size or color, the hikes were a nice introduction of what was to come in the Monteverde Region.Close-toed hiking shoes will surely be packed for the next visit.
We had heard all kinds of stories about how bad the roads were between Arenal and the Monteverde Region, but I didn’t quite believe them until we were actually driving on these pseudo-roads.I still don’t really understand why they don’t just fix them.In other parts of Costa Rica, we traveled on smooth, well-maintained highways, but up in this northern part of the country, it was like stepping back in time.We would have had an easier time getting through on horseback.Fortunately, the scenery made up for the lack of comfort.
Eventually we found our way to the one and only El Sol. Walking up the path to our log cabin, the panoramic mountain views stopped us dead in our tracks…not a home or light to be seen as far as the eye could see. The explosion of colors that overtook the sky each night as the sun was setting was spectacular beyond words.We rallied for position on the deck, snacks and cocktails in hand, determined not to miss a second of the days end unfolding.
What you won’t find at El Sol are some of the more refined comforts of home such as hot water and animal-hair-free bedding. It is advisable to get yourself on friendly terms with a whole variety of creepy critters before you arrive. I joke not when I say a crumb dropped to the floor and a cartoon like army of ants appeared out of nowhere, hoisted the crumb and marched it off into the walls of the cabin. Spiders the size of quarters were on our dining table when we flipped the light on, quickly scattering to places unknown, resulting in two very sleepless nights huddled together with my children as they cried and I assured them, not too confidently, that the spiders would not bite them as they slept.Myself, I slept with one eye open, certain there were spiders crawling all over me.I had nightmares for weeks.
Between my panic over the spiders and my highly allergic reaction to Cat Stevens, the resident cat who took a liking to us and decided to sleep in our cabin, I didn’t exactly get a lot of restful slumber during our stay, but I left El Sol with images I won’t soon forget…bullfrogs the size of Frisbees who came out at night in our pool; the friendly albeit strange owner who we were convinced was an outlaw avoiding capture by setting up shop in the most remote area she could find; the local family down the road who graciously fed dinner to a bunch of strangers; the incredibly comfortable hammocks; and of course the breath taking mountain views.
When we could pry ourselves away from watching the sunset and playing with Cat Stevens at El Sol, we ventured down to the rainforest to try our hand at the ziplines, since a trip to the Monteverde Region would not be complete without this famous activity under our belts.For someone who has a slight (ok not-so-slight) fear of heights, this was no small feat.There were a series of 17 different ziplines to cross, starting out with short distances only a few feet off the ground and climaxing with a breath taking 600 foot traverse 400 feet over the rainforest ground.If I had known about that last one before we set out, I’m not so sure I would have signed us all up so enthusiastically, especially as my husband and I stood by helplessly watching all three of our children being strapped together with a guide for their final flight. That wire just looked like an awfully small thing to be standing between the lives of my children and the forest floor.Not to worry though…they all had their Bob the Builder helmets securely strapped on (I’m convinced everyone in Costa Rica must buy their safety gear from the same toy company). I must admit though, the feeling of flying across that rainforest strapped to a thin cable wire was the closest I will ever get to feeling what it is like to be a bird.It was amazing.Not that I’d ever want to do it again, but amazing nonetheless.
By this point, we had had our fill of adventure.We were all looking forward to relaxing at the beach, which is how we decided to spend the last few days of our trip.The drive to Manuel Antonio took about 4 hours, all on modern roadways.The town is a typical beach town complete with flea market vendors along the sidewalks, en pleine air restaurants and bars lining the street, and lots of local flavor.
I initially reacted with shock when I saw a three foot long iguana basking in the sun just steps away from me at our villa, but by the end of the first day, the sight was so commonplace I barely even stirred.I even sat at breakfast one morning feeding slices of tomato off my plate to a hungry iguana sitting on the ledge. The water at the public beaches here look deceivingly calm, but the combination of dangerous riptides and a severe lack of lifeguards, led us to the Manual Antonio park just a short walk away from the public beach. We found much safer swimming alcoves there that were quite beautiful and very private if you go early in the day.
Walking through the park we met an array of monkeys, some friendly and some a bit aggressive, but all entertaining.If you’re lucky you may catch a glimpse of some Toucans or even a sloth.We even had an entertaining run in with a raccoon, who boldly came up to us as we sat on the beach and rifled through our bag looking for snacks, undeterred by our presence.
In a nutshell, Costa Rica is magical. The people, the scenery, the wildlife, the incredible natural beauty…all result in a place that beckons you to return.I’m already dreaming of a way I can go back and explore some of the more off the beaten patch gems this surprisingly diverse little country has to offer.My kids and I are finally in agreement about something; Costa Rica was the best family vacation we’ve ever taken.
Welcome to Carol Galanty Photography's blog! Carol is a portrait photographer and wellness entrepreneur whose business is ever evolving. She has specialized in children amd family portraits on the east end of Long Island for the past ten years, but as she continues to expand and grow as an individual, so does her business. Most recently, Carol has been enjoying working with other female entrepreneurs, stay at home moms, and women re-entering the work force, helping them to capture their true essence in photographs that showcase their natural beauty, self-confidence and sensual side! Be sure to visit www.CarolGalanty.com to view additional samples of her work and connect with Carol on Facebook to stay up to date about upcoming shows, events, news and promotions. Things change fast around here...you won't want to miss a beat!
