At a recent family session, I started thinking about how educating families on what to expect at their family photo sessions would be helpful as well, so I decided to put together some tips for the whole family AND family photographers to help create as stress-free of a family portrait session as possible. And like any good teacher, I love an acronym to make things easier to remember! So, I am going to teach you how to PLAY at your family sessions.
Read MoreBabies change so much in the first year, and those first several weeks are often a blur…so document those sweet newborn moments, from the scrunchy stretches, yawns, little fingers and toes, and even the little pouty faces! While some families prefer more posed portraits that can be captured in a studio, others prefer in-home newborn sessions, also called lifestyle newborn sessions. These are best for providing a more relaxed and intimate setting, allowing photographers to capture genuine moments that reflect the love and joy of your growing family in your own, comfortable space. To ensure that your session is a success, here are some tips to help you prepare…
Read MoreOne of the first questions I ask my clients while we are in the planning process for portrait sessions is if they have any ideas for locations. A few of my clients know exactly where they want their photos taken, but most do not have a clue where they would like to go! There are so many unique ideas for photo locations: open landscapes, greenhouses, botanical gardens, parks, parking garages, coffee shops, playgrounds, bookstores, beaches, lakes, bridges, downtown areas, campgrounds, riversides, hiking trails, alleyways, painted murals, abandoned buildings, sports fields, museums, restaurants, favorite stores, docks, your own neighborhood, yard, or home, etc. I definitely have my favorite spots, but I also love exploring new locations!
Read MoreOne of the main reasons I wanted to learn how to work my camera was so that I could take good pictures of my children. And as Murphy’s law would have it, I have the most difficult children to photograph! I don’t often pull out my “big camera,” but when I do, my kids seem to run in the opposite direction or throw up their hands and yell, “STOP!” Or, even worse, they make ridiculous faces or stick out their tongues (see sidebar for some of the funniest). I swear it’s wired into their brains to do that! I tell my families all the time that I have more, better photos of other people’s children than my own! But on occasion, they do cooperate, and I have been able to capture some treasures! If you’re trying to get good photographs of your own children, here are some suggestions that might help!
Read MoreSpring one of my busiest times of year as a photographer, and senior, engagement, and family portraits are a huge reason. Read the tips below to help you plan your outfits for your portrait session, and then take a look at some of my favorite Spring portrait color palettes from some of my previous sessions!
Read MoreI didn’t meet Maura until the day of, but I immediately fell in love with her and Robert and their families. They were some of the kindest, friendliest people I met and welcomed me as one of the family into the AirBnB they had rented for their big weekend. And this AirBnB was the perfect location for an afternoon, mountaintop wedding! The inside was bright and airy, and the porch had just the right amount of space for the 14 people in attendance to sit or stand and a gorgeous view of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Read MoreEmily and Austin were married at Grace Church in Harrisburg, Emily’s home church, and their officiant was a close family friend and the church’s associate pastor. His entire family helped with the wedding, including his daughter, who played the harp during the ceremony! One of the most beautiful details of their ceremony was a cross covered in gorgeous flowers. I remember Emily’s dad telling us that he didn’t want it to look too pretty—the cross itself was not a pretty thing. He knows his theology! But what happened on the cross was beautiful and represents the sacrificial love of Christ, and I loved that it was a centerpiece to Emily and Austin’s wedding ceremony. The ceremony was appropriately full of music, from the harpist to the songs that the wedding party and guests joined in singing together. Even in the midst of a global pandemic, there were many friends and family members who were able to attend.
Read MoreI rode my bike up to the house and hid behind her dad’s truck while Willow’s friends and family lined up their parade of cars, minivans, trucks, and golf carts down the street. Some of the cars were decorated with streamers, balloons, and posters, and occasionally, I saw an excited little head poke up out of a sun roof. Willow was playing in the driveway with her sister and had no idea what was getting ready to happen. At 1:05, the party “guests” started driving by Willow’s house, honking and waving! Many handed a very surprised little girl birthday gifts through car windows. Willow’s face registered her complete and utter joy and excitement at seeing all of her friends and family in such a special parade! It was definitely a birthday to remember!
Read MoreEveryone LOVES Fall…Pumpkin Spice, cooler temperatures, Fall colors…not to mention CHRISTMAS IS COMING! Fall is one of my busiest times of year as a photographer, and family portraits are a huge part of this season for me. Read the tips below to help you plan your family’s outfits for your portrait session, and then take a look at some of my favorite Fall Family portrait sessions and the outfits these awesome families picked!
Read MoreMy little family has found a summer refuge at Carolina Beach, NC. A couple of years ago I found out that one of my friend-clients has a vacation/work home in Kure Beach, just five minutes up the road, and this summer, the stars aligned and her whole family was there while we were, so she asked me to do some family portraits on the beach! Of course I said yes—even though photography is a second job for me, it doesn’t always feel like “work!” (Plus it was a nice little break from all the boy-wildness that is my family!)
Read MoreWhen Becky asked me if I would be willing to do some photos of her family when the sunflowers bloomed near Brattonsville , I was immediately intrigued! I have seen photos of these gorgeous sunflower fields, but I had never seen them in person nor photographed them.
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