Allie Siarto

Branding, headshot, and product photographer ( Instructor in MSU's ADV dept. Lover of dessert.

[Gavin Newsom @GavinNewsom]

At the hospital meeting with victims of a mass shooting when I get pulled away to be briefed about another shooting. This time in Half Moon Bay.

Tragedy upon tragedy.

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

While traditional headshots are definitely still a thing, I think it's so impactful to also get photos of a person in their natural work environment. A scientist in a lab in front of her microscope? So much cooler than a gray backdrop, don't you think? It's especially fun for me

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

Yes, outdoor headshots are absolutely a thing. There are a few reasons that teams lean toward this option 1) The outdoor environment creates a warm, approachable look for your team 2) It's Covid-safe, especially if you want group photos together.

The drawback, of course, is that

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

The weather can really stress me out when it comes to photo scheduling, but boy do I love a good outdoor photo with that nice depth of field behind.

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

You'll see this photo from me a lot when I'm on MSU's campus. I love that I can climb up high and get that nice angle and give seniors a photo that they can use for LinkedIn, profiles, or anywhere else where they need a simple, clean headshot.

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

Roommate grad pictures are still one of my favorite things to photograph. My Spring calendar is officially open - and the extended session (90 minutes) can have a group of up to eight seniors to get a mix of solo photos and group photos around campus (DM me for details if you hav

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

When I moved to Chicago right after graduating from MSU, I was looking for that big city vibe - cool restaurants, social gatherings, etc.

Chicago was awesome as a young adult, but as a family, we wanted to be closer to family. I was delightfully surprised to see how much the La

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

I wish college grad photos had been a thing when I graduated. I have one crappy little photo printed out on regular printer paper from the day I graduated (I lost most of my college photos when my college laptop crashed soon after graduation).

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

If you're getting senior grad photos, listen up. I personally think it's so important to get a mix of photos with your cap and gown and without. You won't want a profile photo in your graduation gown six months after graduation, but a few nice photos of yourself will get a lot of

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

People always ask what it was like being a wedding photographer in 2020. It was bananas. I lost so much business. But I also got a glimpse at what it was like to have most of my weekends back in the summer.

We sailed, we swam in Lake Michigan, we had family campfires, and I exp

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

I hated Mackinac Island when I went as a kid. I realized later that it was because that trip was the first that my sheltered little self realized that there were uber wealthy people out there who had exclusive access to stuff that the rest of us could only dream of (this was obvi

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

Becca and Tannor's wedding album from their @planterraconservatory wedding was small and simple - 8", 10 spreads (20 pages) and a charcoal linen cover with their wedding date on it.

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

I just added new layflat books to the online shop. These have smooth matte paper that are great for wedding guest books, senior books, or for a family album. They're a great option for those who want a beautiful hard cover book without the spend of a full album with thick lustre

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

This is always a fun sequence to put into an album - the first look plus first portrait together on the wedding day.

[Allie Siarto @allieo]

Leaning frames on an entry table or shelf is a great way to create laying and texture in your room. This look could be finished off with a newborn photo leaning to the left in a different frame style (I'd choose gold).