On Photographing a President: Plan, Plan, Plan

Patrick F. Minan portrait by Tracey Attlee of Attlee Photography

Patrick F. Minan is the most recent president Attlee Photography has had the honor of photographing.  Tracey Attlee, a former White House photographer, was entrusted to make an official portrait of Mr. Minan who recently served as president of prestigious Washington Golf and Country Club in Arlington, VA. The black and white portrait will be on permanent display at the Club.

"Mr. Minan was a pleasure to photograph because he is decisive and prompt," says Tracey Attlee.  "He agreed to a consultation in advance of his portrait which gave us time together to plan everything from his choice of backdrop to his wardrobe to logistics of how and where we would handle the location executive portrait shoot," she says. 

"On the day of the assignment Mr. Minan was ready the second we arrived. We knew just where to set up our lighting because we had a strategy in place from his choices the week before.  It could not have gone more smoothly and we had great shots to show him in fifteen minutes.  In fact, the portrait he ultimately selected is the first one I shot!  He nailed a great pose and expression on the very first frame."

VA corporate photographer Tracey Attlee of Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ specializes in DC, MD, NJ, NY and VA corporate photographs and business photography including annual reports, professional head shots and executive portraits.

Attlee Recommended by DC's Key Bridge Marriott

Last night Attlee Weddings and Portraits was the featured photographer at a special evening for brides at DC's Key Bridge Marriott.  The Capitol View ballroom on the rooftop was decorated with tables showing the latest combinations of linens and florals to give brides an idea of popular colors and styles.  The guests enjoyed multiple courses of signature food including rack of lamb and salad with grilled peaches and blue cheese. 

The DC view for New York bride Melissa Kuba's guests at the Key Bridge Marriott -  Photo by Tracey Attlee

The Capitol View Ballroom has windows on three sides from floor to ceiling.  Guests can see from Georgetown all the way down the Potomac to the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol and beyond. And at night these structures are lit, making them especially impressive for the out of town guests.

Tracey Attlee of Attlee Weddings and Portraits is recommended by the Key Bridge Marriott as a local, good DC wedding photographer.  An award-winning professional DC, MD, VA, NJ and NY wedding and portrait photographer with previous White House service, Tracey Attlee has photographed weddings for over 20 years.  Whether your choice is arty or classic wedding photographs Tracey Attlee is available to brides from Virginia to New York.  Her work is seen in bridal magazines and art galleries throughout the mid-Atlantic.

Seasonal Engagement Portraits Add Charm

When planning your engagement portrait session think seasonal for exterior photographs.  Its a great way to add romance and personality to your portraits!  This fall our clients Emily and Mike took advantage of the golden light of autumn in their favorite park in Great Falls,Virginia.  The couple enjoy walks and hikes here so it was an excellent, meaningful location for them.  What added to the success of their session was the thought they put into wardrobe.  They wore colors that harmonized with the backgrounds and they wore long sleeves.  Long sleeves are so important--they help keep the viewer's eye on the faces in a portrait.  Later, when we custom designed their Save the Date magnets, Emily and Mike's careful session planning and color harmony all came together to make a great result.  Take a tip from Emily and Mike when you plan your engagement portrait session!



Tracey Attlee of Attlee Weddings and Portraits is an award-winning professional DC, MD, VA, NJ and NY wedding and portrait photographer with previous White House service.  Whether your choice is good, arty or classic wedding photographs Tracey Attlee is available to brides from Virginia to New York.  Her work is seen in bridal magazines and art galleries throughout the mid-Atlantic.

Tip for the Bride on Makeup

What makeup photographs best on brides?  In Attlee Weddings and Portraits 20 years behind the camera it is makeup that looks natural and is professionally applied.  Even if you're not a lover of makeup, you'll want extra sparkle in your eyes and a finished look on your face and lips on your wedding day.  The best way to get this is to go to a professional who will analyze your skin tones, hair and eye colors and select good quality, long lasting makeup that will enhance you in photographs and in the eyes of your groom and guests.

When Attlee Weddings and Portraits photographed New York City bride Stephanie Garbarino this fall, Rachel Weissman was her choice of New York makeup artists. 

Ms. Weissman said she applies classic art principles of the color wheel when considering what colors will make eyes pop.  "I looked closely at the color of Stephanie's eyes and skin tone and paid close attention to what she wanted.  I brought her vision to life by choosing colors that complimented her as an individual."

Ms. Weissman says she needs about an hour on the wedding day to work her magic and comes prepared with all types of brushes and many different palettes for neutral looks, daytime looks and dramatic looks.  "Some clients need hydration while other clients need oil control," says Ms. Weissman.  "I have gorgeous pigments that add an extra bit of "wow" to a look, even a very natural look."

New York City bride Stephanie Garbarino Treanor by makeup artist Rachel Weissman

New York makeup artist Rachel Weissman can be reached at 917-280-1277 and online at www.facebook.com/beautifulfacesbyrachel

Tracey Attlee of Attlee Weddings and Portraits is an award-winning professional DC, MD, VA, NJ and NY wedding and portrait photographer with previous White House service.  Whether your choice is good, arty or classic wedding photographs Tracey Attlee has pleased brides from Virginia to New York  for over 20 years.

Tip for the Bride: Introduce your Vendor Team

When our recent New York City bride Stephanie Garbarino decided she wanted her vows on the Linden Terrace in Fort Tryon Park, New York, Attlee Weddings and Portraits visited the site in advance to plan the photography.  We found a charming spot for Stephanie's portrait but the problem was, with all the rain this past summer, it was a bit overgrown and home to some very large spider webs.  When we shared our vision with Fiori Bella Designs, the florist, they gallantly came to the rescue and immediately went in with broom and clippers to neaten up the area.  The result is this lovely portrait of Stephanie.  Our tip to brides and grooms:   make sure, as Stephanie did, to introduce your vendor team in advance.  When everyone works together you'll get the most beautiful memories!

Tracey Attlee is a professional DC and NYC wedding photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ.  Fiori Bella Designs is in Freehold, NJ at 732-845-0008.

Attlee Offers Outdoor Portrait Special in Alexandria, VA

Former White House photographer Tracey Attlee is offering Mini Portrait Sessions outdoors this fall in Ben Brenman Park, Alexandria, VA.  The 15 minute sessions are $75 and include four wallet images and one 8x10.  This special offer will continue until Thanksgiving and is great for holiday gifts.  Attlee's popular digital pastel portraits all start from her original photographs.  "A Mini Portrait Session is a great way for clients to get that starting photograph that I can later use as inspiration for a digital pastel portrait." she says.

Tracey Attlee is a professional NY wedding photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ.  Attlee Weddings and Portraits handles VA family, high school senior and business pictures, location baby, pet and DC business photos in addition to weddding and engagement work.

Underwood Typewriter Still Life Wins Attlee Honorable Mention

A still life photograph of an Underwood typewriter just won Tracey Attlee of Attlee Weddings and Portraits, Alexandria, VA, an Honorable Mention in this month's show at the Art League in Alexandria, VA. "Journalists and novelists lived by this tool," she says. "I thought of my father and my colleagues at the National Press Club and named the piece "Dream Maker."

Attlee Weddings and Portraits handles VA family and business pictures and location baby and DC business photos in addition to wedding and engagement work.  Tracey Attlee is a professional NY wedding photographer with offices in Alexandria, VA and Spring Lake, NJ.  Currently Tracey Attlee is offering a special on Mini Portrait Sessions of 15 minutes in Ben Brenman Park, Alexandria, VA for $75, including four wallet images and one 8x10.  This special offer will continue until Thanksgiving.

Mini Portrait Sessions for Families, Seniors, Business and Pets in Alexandria, VA

Announcing: Mini Portrait Sessions with former White House photographer Tracey Attlee in Alexandria, VA at Ben Brenman Park. Perfect for family, high school senior, business, child and pet portraits in a natural setting. Fifteen minute session is $75 and includes four wallets and one 8x10. Appointments daily between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. now through Thanksgiving. Call 703-751-1778 to schedule. Makes a wonderful holiday gift! We accept Visa, MasterCard and AMEX.

Color Harmony Rocks Senior Portraits

What fun we had with Jessica Ehret who chose the Jersey shore as the setting for her senior portrait.  Jessica selected a wardrobe of blues and whites for her location portrait on the beach.  Her colors harmonized well with the sky, sand and surf, and her fabulous blue eyes.

The colors you choose for an environmental portrait are so important.  They help direct the portrait viewer's eye to your face.  Select just two main colors so as not to confuse the viewer's eye.  Play off smaller touches of an accent color.  Jessica did this with yellow.

Tap into the power of color and you'll have a senior portrait that will please for generations.

Attlee Weddings and Portraits owner Tracey Attlee is a location senior portrait photographer in VA, DC, MD and NJ.  She specializes in photographing portraits and weddings from VA to NY on a full time basis.

Attlee Interviews with CBS News Business Network

Nell Minow of Bnet, the CBS Interactive Business Network, has just released a compelling article "How to Avoid Humiliatingly Awkward Business Portraits."  She asked a series of questions about our business portraiture approach and developed her article from our responses.  Thanks for your interesting article, Nell!  Read it in full here:   http://www.bnet.com/blog/corporate-governance/how-to-avoid-humiliatingly-awkward-business-portraits/774?tag=content;drawer-container

Tracey Attlee is known for her DC corporate photographs on location.  An Alexandria, Virginia commercial photographer who has photographed DC, VA and MD executive portraits for over 20 years, Tracey Attlee is a former White House photographer.  With a second office in Spring Lake, NJ, Tracey Attlee also photographs weddings from Virginia to New York on a full time basis.  Please visit http://www.traceyattlee.com/ for further wedding information.