HelloFamilies!
"The love of a family is life's greatest blessing."
I love photographing families and capturing the unique personalities and interactions they share. I always strive to find those magical moments between my clients and bring them to print. As a mom, I am all too aware of how fast our children grow and change. Photography is a wonderful way to freeze them right where they are. I can't tell you how much I enjoy looking back on photos of my children when they were younger. During my family sessions, I always try to have fun and allow the couple or family to be themselves. I especially love getting candid photos of kids running or playing. I think these photos are as important as the posed family or couple pictures. I love to see their personality shine through. It is always a compliment to me when I hear clients say "you captured their personality perfectly!" I shoot in outdoor locations which I find gives the photos a softer and more natural feel. If you have a location in mind I am willing to travel to you or we can work together to find a location to fit your vision. I look forward to working with you and your family soon!
Outfit Tips for Families:
1. Choose a color scheme. I would suggest choosing three main colors to work with. This will give you more flexibility
when it comes to dressing the entire family. It will also really make your pictures pop! You want to coordinate,
NOT match. By this, I mean choose the color(s) you want to work with and find different pieces that incorporate
some or all of the colors you’ve chosen. White tops generally wash people out in photos, so I suggest staying away
from white altogether unless it’s just an accent color. Also, keep in mind that not every person has to have on
every color you have chosen. Split the colors up. It makes the photo more playful and less uniform.
2. Matching is out. Coordinating is in. And anything goes nowadays! We know your family is together. We’re photographing you together! So, wearing the same colored shirt, pants, shoes, etc. looks a bit awkward. Coordinating color is what really brings wardrobe together. Also, mixing stripes with plaids and tweeds is okay! Do not be afraid to mix prints and textures too. Or styles for that matter! Expression is important. We want to see your personality through your wardrobe.
3. Find a focal point. When you begin your shopping, look for a patterned piece that you simply cannot live without! This may be a top that you feel absolutely fabulous in, or a plaid button up for your son that will make your heart melt, or maybe even an adorable little floral print dress for your little princess. Whatever that piece may be, commit to it and work from there. It’s natural for many to find the mother’s outfit first. As moms, we tend to forget about ourselves in the planning and we become an afterthought. Of course you want your kids to look cute, but you deserve to look and FEEL awesome in your pictures! Trust me. Take that time for YOU. You won’t regret it!
4. Layer, layer layer! Layers add dimension and depth. In the summer? Layer your dress with a cute belt and pendant necklace. In the fall and winter? cardigans, belts, statement necklaces, scarves, hats, blazers, etc.When putting together an outfit, layers are what make the outfit look polished and complete! Add a vest, jacket, cardigan, bowtie, hat, scarf, suspenders, belt, jewelry, etc. This also gives the shoot much more depth! Even if it’s just as simple as adding a little fur vest, it adds so much more dimension to your wardrobe. Also, if all else fails in chain stores, search Etsy.com. Etsy has everything!
5. Steer clear of fluorescents. Fluorescent colors tend to color cast on faces, necks and hair. They’re harsh sometimes. I always recommend versions of primary colors. Yellow (mustard), red (maroon, brick), and blue (navy, royal).
6. Stay away from wearing a lot of green when having photos taken in grassy/wooded areas. It’s just too much green. Green as an accent color is great, though! You want to stand out amongst all the greenery you’re surrounded by.
7. Wear what you feel good in! If you aren’t comfortable in what you’ve chosen for pictures, it will show. If you can’t find a dress you feel good in, but you rock a good pair of skinny jeans, do that. If you can barely walk in heels, there’s no harm in doing cute and comfy flat boots or pretty sandals.
8. Purchase clothes to fit. And fit well. I know we all have a hard time buying clothes for our kiddos that don’t leave a lot of room for growth, seeing as they do grow so fast. However, keep in mind that for pictures, too large of a polo shirt, saggy ill-fitting jeans or a jacket that’s falling off the shoulders looks sloppy. You’ll be purchasing outfits specifically for pictures, most likely, so choose something that fits perfectly, or even just a little bit snug. Make it look almost tailored. Go a size smaller in jackets, cardigans or blazers. A too-big jean jacket will not compliment shape. If you typically wear a size medium jacket, try on the small. Even if it’s just a little snug in the shoulders, it should lay nicely around your hips and waist, creating a tailored look.
9. Newborns: Minimal wardrobe for newborn sessions. The times I recommend clients keep wardrobe super simple is during newborn photos. If you have a special blanket or stuffed animal those are good to bring. Also for baby girls, headbands are cute, but be sure they are not too overpowering. For little boys, a small baseball hat or mini football or baseball or even dad's tie are cute props to include. Most of our babies are shot in minimal clothing. In these cases, you don’t want the clothing to overshadow the precious little person that we’re showcasing.
FAQ's
How far in advance should I schedule my session?
If you scheduling a newborn session, please contact me 1-3 months prior to delivery to get something booked. If you are scheduling family photos, the earlier that you can schedule the better, especially if you are coordinating a larger multi-family photo shoot. It's not always easy to juggle various schedules. Also if you are interested in October, you definitely want to schedule early as I book up quickly with Senior picture sessions.
How long does my session last?
Most sessions for newborns last 1.5-3 hours. I take my time and keep the session relaxed for baby! For family sessions, they typically run 1 hour.
Do you charge a travel fee? I will not charge a travel fee for any session within the Akron, Cleveland or Canton area. When choosing your location, think about look and feeling you want from your photographed session (i.e., urban, park, neutral setting, etc.). If you need some ideas for location, we can brainstorm together to come up with a location that fits your personality, style, and preference for your particular session. I am also willing to come to your home or location that you have in mind.
What time of day is best to shoot? Photography is all about light. Soft, ambient light, like the light on an overcast day or photos taken in nice even shade, will almost always give a more pleasing result than direct hard light. Bright sunshine is not a photographer’s friend so having a shaded area is essential for on-location, natural-light photography. The morning and/or evening hours seem to be more conducive to producing softer light as well. I tend to do most photo shoots 1-2 hours before sunset to achieve that soft golden glow.
How long does it take to receive my images?
Depending on the time of the year, about 2-4 weeks following your session. Please be aware I take great time and care in editing and it is not a speedy process.
What should I bring to my shoot?
For newborns, bring any prop items you are interested in using such as a special book, stuffed animal, blanket, sports team item etc. Also if your baby takes a pacifier, please bring it along as soothing baby during position changes is greatly assisted by the use of a pacifier! Be sure to have a back up outfit or two as it's happened that baby spits up on the outfit just before or during a shoot! For families, it's fun sometimes to bring things like bubbles to blow and make them laugh. It's also helpful to bring candy or some type of item you can use as positive reinforcement during the shoot if your children may have trouble sitting still or posing multiple.
What if there is bad weather on the day of my shoot?
Don’t worry, I will work with you for a convenient time to reschedule. It always works out! If the weather looks doubtful, I will stay in close contact with you during that day and we will make a decision together.
Can I get digital copies of my photos?
I know we live in a digital era and we want you to share your beautiful pictures online as much you do! YES, I will provide you with web-ready digital copies of any all your edited images. These images have been fully retouched, hand -edited ready for the world to see. I only release fully edited images. Not only to protect my brand, but to also ensure you are receiving a fully-finished portrait. At the time of your photo session you will need to bring me a digital thumb drive with at least 64 gb of memory. In addition to the edited images, I also give you all your RAW images in case we ever want to look back for additional pictures or re-edit anything.
Do you offer prints or albums?
YES! I am excited to partner with an incredible lab that has hand made beautiful albums! Also some unique and popular items like canvas and metal prints. Their photo prints are also available in traditional and non-traditional sizes on crystal archival quality with vibrant and rich color quality that can only be achieved through a high quality professional lab. Clients are not required to order products through me, but I strongly at least ordering the prints that you want to distribute or hang on your wall. After all you have invested such time and money into this process, why wouldn't you take the final step with the product! Click on the "products" link at the top of the screen for sample videos and pictures.
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