7 Tips for Preparing for Your Spring Session

 

I’ve gone ahead and given you some tips to ensure your day is stress free and flawless for your spring session. Listen up!

 

1. Wear layers.

Spring can be finicky in the sense that you can go from frigid to over heated in a matter of minutes. I suggest wearing layers — tank top, tee shirt, cardigan, scarf, etc. That way each family member can peel off, or add, a layer as they see fit and remain comfortable throughout the session.

 

2. Location is a big deal.

You better believe I’m going to take advantage of the fresh, warm air and all those bud popping up from the ground and in the trees. If you have any favorite locations, let me know. I have a nice list on hand, myself.

 

3. Play into the colors of the season when choosing your family’s outfits.

Fresh pops of green, blue, pink and yellow are always a hit in the springtime. I recommend choosing a color theme for the whole gang, then slightly deviating from that with accessories to keep things interesting. Keep an eye out for my “what to wear for spring photos” blog post.

 

4. Speaking of accessories: wear them!

Choose jewelry, scarves, or prints that play into the spring theme. Butterflies, flowers, insects, etc, can make for some super adorable family pictures.

 

5. Time it right.

Book a session too early and you may miss out on those spring buds. Book too late and you’ve already wandered into summer territory. Keep an eye on the weather and give me a call when the time is right. I will also be posting spring mini sessions on dates that make for the best images.

 

6. Incorporate props.

Spring offers some beautiful backdrops where props blend in perfectly. For example, old wooden chairs look stunning in a sea of blooming rose bushes, a fresh bouquet of flowers to hold or have the boys had out to the girls is so adorable, and a quilted blanket is lovely on the fresh, green grass.

 

7. Really think about your footwear.

Spring can often mean a soggy ground, so flip-flops or heels are not the best choice. Instead, wear something that’s comfortable and spring appropriate, like loafers, flats or boots.

It can be a headache to get everyone in the family excited about another family photo shoot. Whether it is the traditional holiday shoot or a shoot to update the family photo album planning a family shoot can be a bit stressful. You want your family shoot to go smoothly and be enjoyable for everyone. Consider these tips to get everyone more involved and excited about your next family shoot.

 

4 Ways to Make Your Family Shoot More Fun.

 

1. Choose the right clothes.

Many families choose matching outfits that not all the kids or even their spouse are excited to wear. Instead of choosing matching outfits choose a color palette or a pattern for one family member and work with those colors for the rest of the families outfit. This will allow each family member to choose something they are more comfortable in and gives you more options to add layers and fun textures. You will still get a unified look without everyone wearing the same thing.  Not only will this be more fun for everyone in the photo but the finished product look better as well.

 

2. Location, location, location.

Not only does the right location make for stunning photos it also helps everyone feel more comfortable and relaxed. Choosing a familiar location, especially with younger kids, can keep things light and natural. A location that allows you kids to explore a little and run around freely can be the perfect setting for some precious moments.

 

3. Bring some props.

Props are always a good idea to bring along for your family shoot and can be just about anything. From bubbles to chalkboards to blankets and kites, the right prop can get everyone in the family more involved in the shoot.

 

4. Don’t forget your pets!

Pets are part of the family too, so why not bring them along for your family shoot? Dogs can be very photogenic and your kids will love including their furry family member in their photo shoot. No matter what type of pet you have, animals add a ton of fun not just during the shoot but to the overall images themselves.

If there’s one time when people take hundreds of photos, it’s during the holidays. It’s a time that’s spent with family and friends and there are so many memories to capture, but what can you do with your holiday snaps once it’s all over?

Ideas for what to do with your photos after the holidays

• Turn them into magnets.What better way to remember a fun moment during the holidays than by seeing it on your refrigerator every morning. Magnets also make for fun, inexpensive gifts for your loved ones.
• Add them to a digital frame.Why choose to print one or two of your favorite holiday photos when you can loop through all of them using a digital photo frame. Another option is to create a slideshow of your holiday photos that you can use as a screensaver on your computer or even your television.
• Create a calendar. Pick 12 of your favorite holiday photos so that you can look back on a new memory each month. Calendars also make great gifts for family members.
• Get creative with your prints.Instead of printing your photos out in the usual sizes, why not print them out as Polaroid-sized photos or Instagram strips, which you can hang from clips along a custom wire photo display.
• Add them to custom coasters.Another great way to display a few of your fun holiday snaps is to print them on coasters. This is a great alternative to printing the photos for frames and you can still have them all over your home too.
• Print a photo book.Instead of printing each of your photos individually, why not turn your holiday photos into a fun photo book. It’s so easy to take multiple photos using our digital cameras and smart phones but we often forget to print our photos at all. There are a number of great websites and services available that make it super easy to create a photo book that will be delivered directly to your door.

With so many fun and creative ways to display and enjoy your holiday photos, there’s no longer any excuse for them to sit in a folder on your computer.

 

Moms always do a fantastic job of documenting the lives of their children all the way from birth to college.

You only have to look at a mother’s social media pages to see how much they cherish the big and small moments in their children’s lives. Every milestone is important to them.

Moms are no strangers to scrapbooking, blogging and documenting their child’s special moments, but the problem is that they often leave themselves out of their collection of photos.

Many times moms will ask to be left out of photos when they bring their children through for a shoot. If they do decide that they want to be in the photos, they’ll usually book the shoot months in advance so that they can lose any extra weight.

Every mom should be in more photos with her children and every mom deserves to feel good about the way she looks in those photos. Here are a few tips to help moms look fabulous in all future photos.

Keep that smile natural. There’s nothing more beautiful than a natural smile or laugh so do what it takes to smile as sincerely as possible. Bring someone along to tell you a few jokes to put you at ease if need be but don’t force that smile.

Angle your body. It’s time to put all those yoga classes to good use. In order to make your hips look narrower and your shoulders wider, aim to position your body at a ninety-degree angle from the photographer. Now, simply turn your hips towards the camera and square your shoulders.

Use your children as props. Many women really can’t stand looking at themselves in photos and if this is the case for you, get your children to stand or sit in front of you to avoid being the main focus in the photos.

Keep that chin down. Unfortunately, sticking your chin in the air doesn’t make for flattering photos. By keeping your chin down, you’ll create shadows and contours that will compliment your face. If you’re worried about having a double chin, lean forward slightly to prevent this from happening.

Tone down your outfit. A busy outfit is not the best route to go if you’re looking to go unnoticed in a photo. Keep your clothing simple in order to hide anything that you don’t want to draw attention to. You can also opt for black and white photos if you really want to take the attention away from specific details.

Use natural lighting. Forget the camera flash and opt to have your photos taken in a room where there’s tons of natural light. It makes for amazing photos.

 

Looking for other helpful ideas for your upcoming session? Check out the tips & tricks section on the blog.

 

You want to look your best on the day of your photo shoot and how you apply your makeup can play a big part in this. When it comes to doing your make up you want to enhance your natural features. Usually the less is more approach is the best way to go about this. To help you create a flawless natural look for your upcoming photo shoot consider these simple steps.

 

1. The base.

• Moisturize-

You always want to make sure you moisturize prior to applying your makeup. This will help keep the makeup looking fresh while keeping your skin hydrated. It also makes it easier to blend and limits creasing.

 

• Foundation-

After moisturizing, you want to apply your foundation over your entire face. Use a brush or blender to ensure you get an even coat over the entire area.

 

• Concealer-

Most women have a few trouble areas that they want to conceal, mainly around the eyes, mouth, and nostrils. Use concealer sparingly and make sure it is well blended in.

 

• Powder-

Applying a translucent powder to the center of the forehead, nose, and chin will reduce any shine you may experience. The camera will pick up any gleam your face gives off so you don’t want to skip this step but you do want to try to avoid any powders with glitter or shimmer as this will only be magnified.

 

2. The eyes.

• Eyebrows-

Many people neglect to use an eyebrow pencil to make their brows a little fuller because this can often be easily overdone. Using an eyebrow pencil, however, can make your eyes look wider and your face look younger. Starting at the bottom of your brow use a pencil to fill the brow in from the bottom up. You want to start off a little darker and lighten the color as you move towards the top to create a more natural look.

 

• Lids-

To help emphasize your eyes with eye shadow you want to use three colors. Start with a natural color that is close to your skin tone and apply it over the lid. Apply a darker color to the crease of the lid and finish with a highlighter color applied to the inner corners of the eye and along the brow bone. You want to ensure everything is well blended to maintain a natural look.

 

Don’t shy away from eyeliner either. Eyeliner will help frame the eyes and this can make them appear brighter. To apply the eyeliner you want to use a skinny makeup brush.

 

• Lashes-

Apply mascara first then the root of the lashes and then work your way out. Do this to both the top and bottom lashes and apply a second coat if necessary.

 

3. Contouring.

• Highlight-

Highlighter should be applied first before blush or bronze. This is the same highlighter you used with your eyes but along with applying it to the brow line and inner corner of the eyes you also want to apply it to the top of the cheekbones and center of the nose.

 

 

 

 

• Bronze-

Lightly apply the bronzer to the jaw line, sides of the nose, under the cheekbones and to the temple area.

 

• Blush-

Keep your blush a natural color and apply it to the checks. Make sure you blend it well with the highlighter and bronzer.

 

4. Lips.

To finish off you natural look you want to stick with a lipstick. There are so many nude colors to choose from so be sure to find one that keeps your _makeupwell balanced.

Why family portrait sessions are one of the best investments you can make.

There’s nothing more important than family; they’re the people you share your home and life’s experiences with, the people you share meals and happy moments with. You create memories with your family, which is why it’s so important to capture moments together as you are now.

It’s rare for you to get your entire family together in one shot but having those photos is truly special. Here’s why you should take the time to hire a professional photographer to shoot a beautiful family portrait session for your home.

1. Portraits are beautiful décor pieces. If you’re looking for something special to hang on your wall at home, a family portrait is the perfect option. Portraits usually work best on a focus wall, which is why it pays to hire a professional photographer. If you’re going to have a photo of your family in a prominent part of your home, it should be beautifully shot.

2. They last a lifetime. The reason why family portraits are seen as investments is because they’ll last for years. Photos like this can be passed down to future generations so that they have something special to remember their family by.

3. Portraits make for wonderful gifts. If you’ve been racking your brain for gift ideas for a family member, a framed family photo is a great option. Even more so if someone is having a milestone birthday and you’re looking for something extra special to give them.

4. It brings the family together. Shooting a family portrait is a great way to bring the family together so why not make a fun day out of it? Get your family members to come up with fun ideas for the shoot if you want to do something a little less traditional and take this opportunity to spend some additional time together afterwards so that you can attach some special memories to the portrait too.

There’s no time like the present to capture the special bond between you and your family.

We suggest contacting us as soon as you know your due date. We can then decide on a time that is best for your photos. We like to schedule your maternity session around the time you are seven to eight months along. This way, you are far enough along to show off your baby bump, but not to the point where you are going to be miserable in your photos.

As you go along your pregnancy, things may change with your due date, or you may start showing sooner and want to do them earlier. Just contact us and we can discuss this and help you find a new date.

If you’d like to add on a gender reveal session, we typically do those photos shortly after your 16 to 20 week ultrasound when the baby’s gender is discovered.

Tips on Preparing for Your Maternity Photo Session

Bringing a baby into the world is a wonderful life event that should be captured. It’s a time you are going to want to remember and share with your little one once they are a bit older. If you are thinking about or have recently booked a maternity photo session then the below tips should come in handy as your prepare for your session.

1. Schedule your session between 31 and 36 weeks as your tummy should have popped and have a beautiful shape. By booking your maternity session during this time you are also past the discomfort and bloating that happens earlier in the pregnancy.
2. We know how important it is to moisturize those knees, elbows and belly but we recommend you do so 1 – 2 hours before the session to avoid any shininess or sticky clothes. You should also avoid wearing any tight fitting watches or bracelets that might leave marks on your skin.
3. Treat yourself to a neutral or light colored manicure 1 – 2 days prior to your maternity session so that you can take some beautiful shots with your hands on your tummy.
4. If you already have some cute baby items such as shoes, hats, toys, blankets or onesies, bring them along as they make for adorable props. The same applies to family heirlooms. If you have a special locket or photo that you would like to use, bring it along too.
5. More and more moms are using their ultrasound photos in their photo sessions. If you aren’t too sure whether you want to use it or not, bring it to the shoot anyway and decide on the day.
6. Take the time to pick the right outfit for the maternity shoot. You should of course be comfortable but make sure that your clothing doesn’t detract from your tummy’s shape and your natural glow. Avoid large, bold patterns or clothing that is too loose. Empire waists, drawstrings, flowing tops and wrap dresses are perfect for enhancing your shape.

 

What you need to consider before you pay that photography deposit.

If you’ve started the search for a photographer then you’ll know just how many options there are. Before you go ahead and book a professional photographer for a shoot though, there are a couple important things to consider.

What style are you looking for?

Photographers have different styles so you need to decide on someone who can help you achieve the end result you are looking for. This applies to everything from wedding and maternity shoots to family and corporate shoots. Ask the photographer for some examples of their latest work to evaluate whether they can cater to your needs.

Research and review.

Before you invest in a professional photographer you need to do your homework. Get online to find a few customer reviews, browse around their website to view their latest work and have a look around their social media pages to find out what others are saying about them. These platforms will also give you a good idea of their personality and style. Some other important points to consider when researching photographers are:

1. Do their services fall within your price range?
2. Are they experienced enough to give you the results you are looking for?
3. Are they based in your area and are they willing to travel to a specific location if need be?
4. Is the quality of their photos good enough? Look at aspects such as sharpness, exposure and saturation.

Create a short list.

Once you have done your research, create a short list of professional photographers that stand out for you. Get in touch with each of them to discuss your needs and to ask any questions that you might have. It’s important that you chat with the photographer over the phone if not in person as this is the best way to get to know them and find out whether you’ll be able to work with them. Feeling uncomfortable or stressed out around your photographer makes for bad photos.

It’s important that you pick a photographer that you have confidence in. Your photos are there to last you a lifetime so while there is nothing wrong with helping out your photographer friend who has just started out, it’s best to choose an experienced photographer for important events and occasions that you can’t relive.

Your session is right around the corner! Are you ready? We’ve prepared a checklist of things for you to remember in order tomake sure your child is prepared for their big day!

 

1. Don’t forget to feed your child before the session. Also, pack snacks just in case hunger strikes again while we’re shooting.
2. Bring more than one outfit. Make sure you always have backup clothes just in case. And we suggest that you don’t change your child into their session clothing until after you have fed them but waiting until you drive to your session location is even better. Also, be very careful with drinks, as well – only clear liquids in a safe cup.
3. Let your child help when picking out their clothes for the session. By letting your child wear his favorite shirt or shoes, etc. this will help him feel more comfortable. If their choice of clothing is awful or doesn’t match, see if you can use that shirt as an undershirt or tell him hecan put it on for a couple of shots at the end of the session.
4. If you have a young child, try to schedule the session around her nap times so they will be well rested and happy for photos.
5. Have a bribe in place. Bring fruit snacks, candy, a toy, etc. and let him know that if they cooperate they will get said bribery. Some parents have bribed their children by telling them if they are good, they can have ice cream, McDonald’s, their favorite toy from the store, etc. whatever you think will work for your child to motivate him to cooperate.
6. Bring along her favorite toy or blanket. This will help your child be comfortable in a new, unfamiliar surrounding. Just be aware that this will probably become a prop in some of the photos, so bring something that is pleasing to the eyes or has sentimental value and you’d be okay with photos of it.
7. Talk to your child about the session and explain what’s going to happen. If your child is informed about the situation, it will be less scary for her when she comesto the session. Tell them that they are going to meet a new friend who is going to take some pictures of them. Let them know that you’ll be there and that we are going to have lots of fun. We might change there clothes once or twice and ask them to sit a certain way. During the session, we can show them a couple of the photos so she can put two and two together. My favorite is asking them to help take a photo of mommy and daddy. They always get a kick out of that! Check out our blog post on the importance of photographer – child interaction.
8. Bring Grandma (or someone else your child loves). Bringing along reinforcements is always a good plan. If grandma lives close by,or if your child’s favorite uncle has the day off of work, bring him or her with you. You can use this family member to help get your child to relax and laugh.
9. Wear sturdy shoes. It is a good idea to wear good, sturdy shoes to a session like this, asit’schallenging to chase a little one around in flip-flops or heels. During the session, I may ask you to grab your child if he keepsrunning out of the frame. OrI mayhave us walking around exploring, so we need to be prepared to keep our feet safe and comfortable.