It has been a VERY long time since I've done a blog post....to be quite honest, I'm not very good at them and sometimes life just gets in the way.
Something I'm asked about often is what to wear to your session and for good reason! You've finally made the decision to schedule a family photo session and panic sets in. These photos will be framed in your home, sent out on Christmas cards, shared with your friends and family on Facebook...you want to look your best! Let's face it...you are making an investment by having family photos taken so you definitely want to put some thought into your wardrobe.
A great example showing the difference the right clothing makes can be seen here!! Same people, same location, same pose. WOW!
So here we go!!!
WHAT TO WEAR:
I always tell my clients that you don't want everyone to match EXACTLY. Gone are the days of everyone wearing jeans and white shirts (although in certain situations, that might work). First off, you want to be comfortable and you want something that is 'classic' that will look good in your photos for years to come.
For the Moms, I recommend a fun Summer dress such as a maxi dress or a maxi skirt and cute top. Maxi's are comfortable and look so pretty with some movement (whether it's a gentle breeze or you spinning your little one around in circles). Swing dresses are super cute too! I have some favorite colors and looks that I love to recommend and that photograph beautifully. Great colors are mustard, burgundy, cream or ivory, a pale dusty rose or a pale blue. I would try to avoid bright reds, and neon colors, as they don't photograph as nicely. It can be a pretty floral or a solid color. A big must is accessories! I love a big floppy hat (think boho and indie!), some strappy sandals or cute boots, a pretty scarf, a statement necklace and some pretty bracelets. Bring along a little denim jacket or cardigan for chilly nights and for some texture and a mix of fabrics. Now....once Mom has her outfit picked out, the rest is easy!!
For Dad, a nice pair of jeans (classic blue or colored) or khakis. For a shirt, a casual button down or collared shirt in a color that compliments what Mom is wearing. If she has a floral dress, choose a color that is in her dress, or a color that works with it. Avoid 'branded' clothing and 'logo' t-shirts or shirts with graphics. And don't forget about your feet!! Sometimes we forget about this important part. A casual pair of shoes or boots is perfect....avoid sneakers/running shoes if at all possible. (and no white socks!!)
For the little guys, jeans or a casual cotton pant is perfect. Henleys, button down casual shirts, or even a solid colored t-shirt also work well. Choose colors that work with what Mom is wearing. Again, accessories are the perfect finishing touch, even for the little ones. A pair of suspenders, a cute hat, or a vest or cardigan on cooler days. Like Dad, shoes are important. Maybe some casual sandals or boat shoes - avoid running shoes and characters.
For the little miss....a summer dress, even a lace skirt and cute top. Something that has some movement. Classic (vintage or boho) outfits are best....try to avoid trendy clothes. You want something that isn't going to look too dated when you look at these photos 20 years from now. Again, for colors, you'll want to compliment the colors that everyone in the family is wearing, even a creamy neutral with a touch of color is perfect.
I'll say it again....accessories!! Like Mom, maybe a fun floppy hat, denim jacket, sandals and even a floral crown!!!
A little something extra: Does your family enjoy reading together? Maybe Dad plays the guitar? Does your little one have a special 'lovey' that they always bring along everywhere they go? Feel free to bring along something that really shows your family's personality. We can incorporate it into the images...what a great memory to have!
To shop the outfits pictured above and others like them, visit www.shopjule.com or check out their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/shopjuleonline/ These are outfits were picked out by a couple of family photographers that wanted to find affordable clothing that photographs especially well. I love everything about them!
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR SESSION:
Most of my sessions are done outdoors, and I am a very casual photographer - I love a relaxed session, where you can feel at ease and enjoy this time with your family. I want to capture REAL emotion, the laughs, the giggles, the quiet snuggles, the fun, the hugs, the kisses, the tenderness and LOVE your family shares. Although I do take some 'smile and look at the camera' posed images, my favorites are the ones where you are enjoying your time together.
I might sit you all down on a blanket, tell you to get close....closer. Lean in, give your little ones a kiss on the head, maybe a gentle tickle. Tell a joke, look at each other, cuddle up. Other times, I will have you all holding hands walking in a field... maybe play ring around the rosie, have Mom and Dad lift the blanket up in the air while the little ones run underneath. Does Dad love to give 'airplane' rides? Maybe Mom loves to lift the little ones up in the air? As the evening ends, the little ones might be getting tired - this is the perfect time for those cuddly shots. The baby resting her head on Dads shoulder, or one of the kids cuddled in moms lap. These are the moments that you will want to have to look back on forever. Trust me when I say, it all goes too quickly. Capture these treasured moments. Don't be afraid to look silly. Just relax, have fun. Trust me, your kids don't care. They are only going to remember a good experience, having fun, playing. They will show these photos to their children someday.
And Mom and Dad? Kids sometimes don't listen, or they get tired. It's okay. If you get stressed out, they will feel it and it will show in your photos. Bring along a little snack that isn't messy and a drink. Take a 5 minute break. That is why I schedule hour sessions, so we have plenty of time. I want you to enjoy your time with me and I want your whole family to enjoy it.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this. I know it's a long one, but it's important! Now....if you haven't booked your session with me yet, what are you waiting for? Your kids are growing and changing every day. Let me capture this moment...the 'sweet moments in time'.
**all images are from JULE. www.shopjule.com
During my time there, I got to get a little peek into their day, which is what I love the most about these sessions. Sometimes these hazy first weeks with a new baby can be a blur and seem to go by so fast. These sessions are a way of documenting your 'real life'. I love to capture the everyday routine, the love and affection and intimate moments your family shares.
Everything from reading books, to snuggling up on Mom & Dad's bed, to baby being fed, to coloring on the back patio with sidewalk chalk....What a fun morning it was!
If you would like to schedule a lifestyle session in your home, please let me know!! These can be for newborns but can also be for families with small children! Let me capture 'a day in your life' for you to cherish for many years to come!
]]>What is more delicate than a teeny, tiny snowflake?? So intricate, so unique, so fascinating. My son noticed snowflakes on my car on the way to the bus stop the other morning, and you could see so much detail to them. He said, "Mom, you have to get pictures of these!!".
He hopped on the bus and off he went. I, of course, grabbed my camera!! So here it is: Pretty, teeny little delicate snowflakes!!
Honesty, I'm a little tired of the snow....it's been a rough month here in Connecticut with frigid temperatures and snow every couple of days, but these little flakes make me happy!!
Please keep the blog love going and check out my friend Brandi from Brandi Williamson Photography to see her 'delicate' image for this week, then check out the link on her page to see another! http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.brandiwilliamsonphotography-theblog.com%2Fdover-new-philadelphia-oh-photographer-project-52-delicate%2F&h=GAQGeeRg3
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So many things mean 'love' to me....my husband, my son, my family, my pets, my photography, music, sunshine, nature, light, and so many more.
As you know, we've had our share of snow and gray gloomy days here in Connecticut. It's been a tough month. We have had probably close to 4 ft. of snow just in the last few weeks and temperatures this week have been -15 to a balmy 20 degrees and we have 60 MPH winds today.
But the other day, the sun came out. It made all of the difference in the world. Even with the snow and cold temperatures, there was something about that glowing ball of orange and yellows in the sky that lifted my spirits. It seemed 'warm'. As I came home that afternoon, I saw the sun setting across the street and it gave everything a warm glow and sparkle. I knew I wanted to use that scene for my LOVE theme photo, but how?.....then it hit me. With candy canes still left over from Christmas, I created a heart. And this is the result....
You can see a little bit of the sparkle in the snow and almost feel the warmth of the sun. Of course, I ended up kneeling in the snow, almost up to my waist to get this shot, but it was worth it. :)
Please take a minute to see what my friend Megan chose as her LOVE image for this week, and keep the blog love going!! She'll have a link to another photograher, then she'll have a link, etc. Check her out here: http://www.megan-edwards-photography.com/week-7-love-52-week-photo-project-delaware-ohio-photographer/
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Peter told me that he wanted the session to be a regular family session, but at the very end, he was going to give me a 'special clue' and then THE BIG SURPRISE! He was going to propose!!!!! He wanted the proposal captured by the camera to be able to have forever to look back on. How romantic is that?!?!
The day we had scheduled for the session was very cold and their was snow on the ground, but it was a beautiful clear day, with the sun starting to set. When I got to Peters house, I knew I would love shooting in his backyard....a pretty, open area with some large pine trees....and he even had a fire going to keep warm!
I hope you enjoy a few of the photos from this session as much as I enjoyed being a part of this special day! What an honor!!
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Another great thing about this group is the weekly photo project we do. This weeks theme is Imagination.
After getting another couple of feet of snow dumped on us here in Connecticut, we've spent way too much time indoors. The temperatures have been near zero, with wind chills well below that. While sitting here one morning, drinking a hot cup of coffee and looking out the window at the snow falling, all I could think of was warm breezes, the ocean, the sun. It seems like forever since it was warm outside.
Imagination.....hmmm.....water.....warm weather....then it hit me! Why not use my dream of warmer weather and put it to use for my imagination theme. Since my son was home from school anyway, I borrowed him for a little fun.
A newspaper boat, pirate hat and spyscope and we were on our journey of imagination. Sailing the high seas, looking for treasure on a tropical island. (Well, I might have been looking for a pina colada, but that's besides the point.)
I hope you enjoy the fun little photo my son and I put together for you this week! Be sure to check out another take on the 'Imagination' theme by one of the amazing photographers in my group, Sarah, here: http://sarahjastrephotography.com/2015/02/09/52-week-photo-challenge-week-6-imagination/
]]>To be honest, I like to be behind the camera, not in front of it. Age is catching up to me, and so have the pounds, so getting in front of the camera wasn't really my idea of fun. But, I know that I want my son to know that I actually exist....if you looked at our photos, you'd see my son, my husband, and our dog. I'm always behind the camera.
The other day, my son and I headed out to do some shoveling after a blizzard dumped 2 feet of snow. We ended up having a snow ball fight and he made a snow angel or two. Afterwards, I grabbed my camera and took some photos of him next to snow piles that were a foot taller than he is and then said, "Let's take a picture of us together!" Now, taking a 'selfie' with a big, full-sized camera 'hand-held' out in front of me is not an easy feat. I had no idea if we were in the frame, let alone in focus.
This is what we ended up with, and I have to say, I am so thrilled with it. What I see is a 'happy-as-can-be' Mom, with rosy cheeks, who just enjoyed an hour of fun with the most adorable, sweet, 8 year old around. I hope he looks at this photo some day and remembers the fun that day, and can see just how much I love him.
Please take a few minutes and visit another photographer doing this 52 week project as well....her work is amazing!! http://www.leannrehmphotography.com/blog/52-week-finding-me-photo-challenge-week-5-selfie
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I recently saw a sign that said, "Cousins are those childhood playmates that grow up to be forever friends". It couldn't possibly fit these kiddos any better. My son and my niece and nephew have lived next door to each other for the last 5 years. We share a beautiful stone wall, with an opening in the middle for the kids to pass through. My sister-in-law and I always help each other out, whether it's needing someone to watch the kids while making a quick run to the store, borrowing something, grabbing the kids at the bus stop, or to just hang out together while the kids play.
Today, the kids wanted to play for a little bit while my sister-in-law ran to the store. They quickly plopped themselves down on the couch and played on my sons Kindle. They were making silly faces and taking photos of each other, laughing hysterically the whole time. I grabbed my camera and just started snapping away. I'll always cherish these images and the friendship our families share.
I hope you enjoy these images as much as I do!
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Newborns are wonderful, aren't they? So tiny, so new....and Mmmm....that sweet baby scent!!!! I love babies! I've had the joy of photographing many newborns over the last few years. There is nothing better than being able to get to know your little one in his or her first few weeks.
I've always loved getting to hold these little ones, rocking them to sleep, so that I could get those adorable 'all curled up' poses that you've seen me post. But recently, I've starting incorporating 'lifestyle photos' into the session. You know what? I've really enjoyed doing them....they are REAL!
I get to photograph Mom feeding baby in the rocking chair, or Dad tenderly kissing baby on the forehead. I get to capture the tiniest details of the nursery...a special stuffed animal, a wall hanging, and then baby in his crib. Remember how teeny-tiny baby looked in his crib, but before the blink of an eye, he was in a toddler bed? I want to capture that moment, those first weeks of babies life. How about big brother or big sister? Maybe they are peeking into the crib to check on baby, or they are helping you get them changed. These are the moments I want to capture. It goes by too fast....I know all too well. My son will be 8 next month, and it seems like just yesterday we were taking him home from the hospital.
Don't worry...I'll still take photos of just the baby...maybe on a special blanket (did Great Grandma crochet one?), capturing the little details, those tiny toes, perfect lips, a little wisp of hair on the top of their head. I'll also take some photos on the parents bed, if that is okay. Sometimes those are the cutest shots....picture Sunday morning in bed, the kids all snuggled up with you.
I want to capture all of it....the sweet, amazing, tiring, chaotic, beautiful moments you are experiencing those first few weeks.
You think you'll remember all of the details, but trust me....as life moves on, and more and more memories are created, you start to lose some of the details from these first few weeks.
Don't forget....it's never too early to book your newborn session. If you or someone you know is expecting, please contact me for more information on booking a session.
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What a beautiful morning. I met this family at their waterfront home for their family session. The sun was just starting to burn away the mist and fog of the morning, and the weather was perfect! We took a walk around the property, enjoying the wonderful colors of Fall. The leaves were just starting to turn and the kids even had a chance to play in the leaves for some fun shots at the end of the session!]]>
I had to opportunity to spend a gorgeous evening with this adorable little guy! I just love his curly hair and sweet smile! We took a walk all around the Essex Steam Train Station, checking out the different trains, and even got a chance to go on a few of them! What a perfect spot for a little guys photos!! I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed taking them!
The Kancamagus Highway is a 34 mile stretch of highway that runs through the White Mountain National Forest. It has been designated as an American Scenic Byway. It reaches an altitude of just under 3,000 ft. at its highest highest point. It is considered one of the best Fall foliage viewing areas in the country.
The drive along the Kancamagus Highway takes you back in time as you drive through a forest that offers no comforts of the modern day world; no gas stations, no restaurants, hotels or other businesses have pierced their way into the heart of the Kancamagus Highway. Those luxuries are left behind at both ends of the scenic byway but well within reach when needed.
There are 6 campgrounds and numerous trails along the highway. The highway dates back to the Indian tribes of the 1600's.
Finding one tree along a 34 mile stretch of highway (filled with trees!) wasn't easy, especially since the only way you'd notice the heart shape was if you happened to be looking at it from a particular direction. But at the end of our day, just before we were about to head back to
Connecticut, we found it. I think it was well worth the search, as it really it amazingly beautiful!
I was so excited to finally be able to do a Spring outdoor session!! It wasn't quite as warm this day as we had hoped, but the sun was so pretty, the grass was green and the flowers were blooming!
These two kiddos were so adorable. Miss C was so excited to show me some moves from ballet and was such a great big sister and her little brother was so sweet. Shy at first, but his personality really shined after a little while!!
These are a couple of the beautiful images we captured that evening....
I decided to try something I've been thinking about for a while....Christmas mini sessions. I've had the idea to have them at a local Christmas tree farm that I have always admired. It is so gorgeous there, trees as far as you can see, barns and stone walls.
I finally got the nerve up to call the owners and they agreed to let me use a little spot for an afternoon! I asked if I could take my son out that week just to get a feel for the layout and to take some test photos, and he didn't mind at all. I was so excited at the thought of getting my little guy all done up in his flannel shirt, vest and cap!!
These are some of the shots that we took, I really like them! And considering it was just a quick little set up, I really love how they came out.
About a month ago, we had the family all together for a maternity family session down at Harkness Park and we had a great time. Her boys are so adorable and we enjoyed a beautiful sunset while getting some really great shots. Then just a few days ago, I invited her to my house to try something out. She was a good sport and let me get a few shots of her, and quite honestly, I am ecstatic about how they came out!
Be sure to scroll through to see!
