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Gretchen Bell is a wardrobe and prop stylist based in Seattle. Her client list includes Kraft, Levi’s, Target, Chevrolet, Amazon, Omni Resorts and Tommy Bahama. To see more of her work, visit: www.gretchenbell.com

In some ways, I feel I was destined to become a stylist. As a child, I was always wearing fashion trends before anyone else and modeling in local fashion shows. When I was about 13, I remember reading an article in Seventeen Magazine about the woman who was the stylist for The Cosby Show and thinking that would be my dream job, little did I know!

Photograph by: Christopher Bell

In college, my major was television Communications, so my career began working in video production as a production assistant and doing graphics for the news at the NBC station in Minneapolis. I then spent several years working as a modeling agent, before taking a job as a studio manager and producer for a successful advertising photographer, Craig Perman. It was there that I began styling commercial photo shoots for many large national and international clients and really learned about all aspects of production. So my whole career has really been about seeing things in a visual way.

Photograph by: Greg Montijo

In a great photograph everything matters, the color of a shirts, the kind of coffee cup, the style of the shoe, the position of the elements to one another. Everything in a photograph is helping to convey a client’s message or tell a story and that is my job. That is the fun and the challenge of being a stylist. What is going to make a photograph funny or moody or nostalgic and how are my props and wardrobe going to help do that? People don’t realize I might spend hours looking for just the right underwear that will be funny on teenage boys or searching for the perfect feathers for a still life shoot because it all matters. That is why stylists bring so many choices to the set for every shoot, so we can figure out what best helps tell the story.

Photograph by: Christopher Bell

It is very much a collaboration to tell a great story and it’s not always successful. Everyone is bringing something to the table at the shoot and when we all have a clear and concise vision, I think then it makes for a great photograph. As a stylist, I am coming to a shoot with my interpretation of what my client wants, but also run through a filter of my personal style. If a client wants playing cards, there are lots of playing card options out there. It is really fun to see a shoot come together successfully and see how elements from each member of the crew helped create that moment.

To me being a stylist is really about being part of a team; I can’t do my job without the rest of the crew. My props and wardrobe are only as good as the talent booked for the shoot, the lighting, the photographer, the makeup artist, the vision of the client and the layouts. Again, everything matters.

Photograph by: Melissa O’Hearn

There’s something about new music that keeps us motivated and moving forward at liveBooks. We gathered all of the songs that are currently falling under the “Most Played” section of our music libraries and compiled them into one playlist for you.

Whether you’re editing images, updating your liveBooks site or answering emails, we hope there is something on our September playlist that helps to keep you focused, inspired, and hustling. Is there a song that you have on repeat right now? Let us know below!

We are so excited to announce the release of eight brand new templates. At liveBooks, our goal is to give you the best possible jumping point for a custom website and after months of gaining your feedback, brainstorming, and designing, we are excited to announce that we have released redesigned templates for our liveBooks 8 platform. With new, customizable features, we hope that our platform gives you an outstanding place to share your portfolio and services with the world. Check out a brief description of the key features on each template below to decide which one will work best for your site. Keep in mind that each template is just a jumping point and customizing your site is easy using the liveBooks 8 designer. To choose your template and start your free trial, click here!

Not on liveBooks 8 yet and ready to make the switch with one of our new templates? Now is the perfect time to make the switch from Flash to HTML5. Click here to learn more about the migration process and then schedule your website migration today!

Aperture

Share stunning, embedded video modules on your homepage with our Aperture template. This video website template allows you to easily share your best motion work with minimal content on the page. With a sleek design and bottom navigation, this full-bleed video site is sure to highlight your best live-action work. Easily link social media icons to your bottom navigation to allow clients to access anywhere else you may share your work. Additionally, this template comes with a variety of portfolio designs, allowing you to pick your favorite option. If you are a videographer, you are definitely going to want to check out Aperture!

Quick Facts:

• Full bleed homepage with video auto-play
• Dedicated video playback pages
• Portfolio page options, great for highlighting work or showcasing service options
• Contact page with a map to your studio or office

Panorama

Our Panorama template has a sleek and modern design that is perfect for design-oriented creatives. The bold homepage slideshow allows clients to focus on your work from the start, while the minimalist bottom navigation guides them to your portfolio and contact information in an unobtrusive way. Social media is easily integrated into your navigation menu in the Panorama template. Additionally, the clean contact page focuses on what is most important: driving you more business.

Quick Facts:

• Bottom navigation
• Integrated slideshow on homepage
• Thumbnail portfolio navigation option
• Simple and clean contact page

Blowout

The stylish and playful design of our Blowout template is perfect for those hoping to showcase both images and services on their website’s homepage. The updated stacked layout allows you to showcase the most important details for your clients. Additionally, each service block links out to its own individual page, allowing clients to explore and learn more about you and your services. Top navigation allows clients to easily roam around your site, while keeping a stylish and cohesive design. This template is perfect for business owners who want to engage clients with a mixture of images and text content!

Quick Facts:

• Full bleed scaled slideshow on homepage
• Built-in service pages
• Thoughtfully laid out text blocks
• Contact page with a map to your studio or store

Shutter

Our shutter design is sure to give your site a refreshing, new look. This website template allows you to showcase portfolios directly on the homepage. Link to your individual portfolio pages, using bold and eye-catching leading images. Additionally, the prominent logo and top navigation brings attention to your personal brand. Calling all creatives! Shutter is the template for you.

Quick Facts:

• Top navigation and prominent logo branding
• Navigate to portfolios from a homepage grid
• Multiple portfolio layout options, including text blocks to describe your work
• Content and about pages with full bleed image

Speedlight

The bold design of our Speedlight template will really highlight your best images. The homepage design allows for a mixture of both images and content, with a full-bleed slideshow to catch a potential client’s eye. Portfolios are accessed through an entry page with thumbnails. Our Speedlight template is perfect for creatives hoping to display large photos that have a story to tell.

Quick Facts: 

• Top navigation and prominent branding
• Homepage with full-bleed slideshow and prominent branding
• Thumbnail portfolio entry page
• Large text blocks throughout, which is great for SEO!

Filter

Our filter template highlights the best elements of our 10+ years of custom design work. With a unique and memorable layout that showcases images on the homepage, portfolios are able to be linked and embedded to capture your clients’ attention. This website template’s unique team page will allow you to introduce your team and personality to clients in one easy view. Filter is a great choice for larger businesses and those who wish to covey a high-end and aspirational brand image.

Quick Facts:

• Top navigation menu
• Mosaic homepage design
• Thumbnail portfolio entry page
• Built-in team page

Range

This photo-centric website template is sure to leave an impression on your audience. Our Range template has a clean site design with minimal text content, allowing you to showcase your best images with no distractions. This simple website is great for photographers who are looking for a website with a consistent appearance across all devices. Easily get your new site up and running in no time with Range–it has been a top starting point amongst many of our clients!

Quick Facts:

• Top navigation menu
• Full bleed homepage slideshow
• Portfolio drop-down menu
• Mosaic portfolio pages

Pixel

Our Pixel template has a classic design that allows for a great visual impact on your clients. The top anchored menu places your logo on the right and allows for quick navigation with minimal distractions. With a full-bleed homepage slideshow and a clean contact page, the Pixel template is sure to draw attention to the most important aspects of your portfolio.

Quick Facts:

• Top navigation menu
• Full bleed homepage slideshow
• Portfolio drop-down menu
• Clean contact page

Frame

Our Frame template is inspired by galleries and is built to make your best work stand out. A homepage slideshow allows clients to immediately gravitate towards your work. The left rail navigation and subtle frame around your content create a clean and geometric feel for your website. The pre-built portfolio entry page allows for easy and structured navigation.

Quick Facts:

• Left rail navigation menu
• Homepage slideshow
• Thumbnail portfolio entry page
• Content frame for a gallery inspired look

Focus

You are sure to make an immediate impression with this modern yet minimalistic website template. Our Focus template features a full width grid gallery on the homepage that is complimented by several portfolio design options, easily accessed via drop-down navigation. Additionally, a built in about page allows you to tell your personal story in a visually engaging way.

Quick Facts:

• Top navigation menu
• Grid portfolio homepage
• Multiple portfolio options
• Full bleed about and contact pages

Showcase

Our Showcase template is built for big, bold images. As one of our most popular templates, a full-bleed homepage slideshow is sure to immediately grab the attention of your clients, while the portfolio landing page allows you to easily introduce the unique details of your work. Showcase is a great starting point for any creative’s website!

Quick Facts:

• Top navigation menu
• Full bleed homepage slideshow
• Thumbnail portfolio entry page
• Contact page with a map to your studio or office

White Balance

Our White Balance template is a great jumping point for those looking for a content-light start. This clean design features a scaled slideshow on the homepage in addition to several portfolio options. This website is the perfect template if you are looking to get online fast–simply upload your own content and go!

Quick Facts:

• Blank template for a quick start
• Top navigation with left title alignment
• Scaled slideshow homepage
• About and contact pages with full width images

Wide Open

Our Wide Open template is another great starting point, if you are hoping to get online as soon as possible! This clean design displays your portfolio pages through a left-anchored navigation while a slideshow on your homepage works to grab the attention of your clients. Additionally, clients can easily learn more about your business with the pre-built About and Contact pages. Just like in White Balance, upload your content and publish!

Quick Facts:

• Blank template for a quick start
• Left rail navigation menu
• Slideshow homepage
• Direct access to portfolios in navigation

Now is the perfect time to make the switch from Flash to HTML5. Click here to learn more about the migration process and then schedule your website migration today!

Ian Boddy is a top kids fashion and advertising photographer that has worked with clients ranging from Vogue Bambini to Harrods. His works demonstrate an airy-feel and clean colors that pair well with children’s advertising. We are very excited to share his story and how it came together perfectly with the liveBooks 8 platform:

I work with children of all ages from babies to teens. I don’t particularly set out to specialize in that market, I just drifted into it about 15 years ago and realized it suited me better and was a good fit…and I love it!

Q: How would you describe the aesthetic of your website in three words?

IB: Clean, simple, and easy to navigate

Q: How often do you typically update your website?

IB: Whenever I get a break from shooting, which isn’t very often. I must go and update it now!

Q: How do you choose the photos you display on your homepage?

IB: I rotate every now and again…just whatever is my favorite picture at the time.

Q: What is your favorite new feature of liveBooks8?

IB: I love how easy it is to manage my own content so I can update my site anytime from wherever I happen to be.

Q: What’s one piece of advice you’d offer to someone designing their website?

IB: Keep it simple!

See more of Ian Boddy’s amazing images on his liveBooks 8 site at: www.ianboddy.co.uk