I hope you’re as excited about autumn as I am. The fall season is like a breath of fresh, crisp air, filled with warm colors and cozy vibes. 🍂
Now, if you’ve been following my photography journey, you might know that I’m all about capturing those candid moments, the real emotions, and the true essence of each family I work with. Mini sessions have never been my go-to, but sometimes, they’re exactly what a family needs. This time around, I had the pleasure of capturing some beautiful moments with four fantastic families.
Three of them were familiar faces, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their continued trust in my work. It’s always a pleasure to see how the little ones have grown and to catch up with the parents. Plus, working with families I know well always makes the sessions feel effortless, natural, and fun.
One of the families was brand new to me, and I must say, I was thrilled with how well everything turned out. Their little one was an absolute sweetheart and definitely a breeze to work with. It’s a testament to the magic that can happen when the right elements come together – an easygoing baby, fantastic outfits that suit the season, and of course, the picture-perfect autumn backdrop.
Speaking of that backdrop, there’s something truly special about the way the trees transform during fall. Just like I keep an eye on the sun for the best lighting, I’ve also got a pretty good handle on when our area’s foliage is at its most stunning. And let me tell you, it doesn’t last nearly as long as I’d like! The vibrant, fiery colors are such a delight to work with, and the fall season is, without a doubt, my absolute favorite time of the year.
I’m all about capturing the unique beauty and warmth that each family brings to the frame. My approach has always been to create a relaxed and enjoyable experience for everyone.
I hope you enjoy these snapshots of my fall mini-sessions as much as I did taking them. And remember, whether it’s a mini session or a more extended family shoot, I’m here to create beautiful memories for you. 📷🍁
Fall Mini Sessions have come to an end. 🍂 But the excitement doesn’t stop there!
As the holiday season approaches, I want to let you know that I still have a few openings for my Santa Mini Sessions on November 19th. It’s the perfect opportunity to capture some magical moments with Nashville Santa, and the photos are perfect for Holiday Cards. Whether it’s your first time in front of my lens or you’re one of my fantastic returning families, I can’t wait to create some enchanting memories with you. 🎅📷
These sweet girls were the best. We had so much fun at their family photo session in Columbia. Yanahli Park has become one of my favorite locations for portrait sessions. There is a field there where the sun sets in just the right spot.
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you considered following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
It was a gorgeous evening at Marcella Vivrette Smith Park in Franklin for this senior portrait session. And we were able to include a few shots of the family dog. In case you are wondering, I’m always happy to include fur babies in a portrait session, assuming our location is pet friendly (and most are).
I just love the wardrobe choices for this selection. Notice he’s wearing the same jeans throughout, but a few top and jacket changes gave so much variety. I love the colors and textures.
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you considered following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
It was so good to see this family again, after our last family photo session four or five years ago. These twin sisters were so easy to photograph. The family wanted a more urban setting for their session, so we chose to meet in Downtown Columbia.
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you considered following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
Yesterday, I shared with you Emily’s First Communion Photos. We combined those photos with a family portrait session, just like we’ve done in previous years. That meant we had about an hour to do Emily’s pictures inside the church, change her, and do family photos outside the church.
I did not feel we needed extra time to do the session because I’ve been taking photos of these girls all their lives, and they are old enough to follow directions. But even still, after we finished the session, I felt like it was too easy. I wondered to myself, “Did I get enough photos?”
Well, it turns out that I have too many photos. So many that it’s hard to narrow them down to a reasonable level. A big part of why the session feels so effortless is that I’ve been taking photos of these kids literally since they were born, and they know what to expect.
So I thought I would list a few things that make them so easy to photograph in the hopes that it might help others better know what to expect from a family photo session.
Their wardrobe is perfection. The colors are gorgeous. They coordinate without being too matchy-matchy. Everyone seems comfortable in what they are wearing. I love the textures in the corduroy. The little details like Hannah’s belt and bracelet really add interest and bring it together. And Christy looks absolutely stunning in red.
They take direction from me but also understand that I’m not looking for super posed images. They know they are free to be silly. I love the photos below of the three girls hugging and falling to the ground. This is the kind of circumstance where parents who are less used to my style might have been fussing at the children to be serious and stand up straight. But Christy and Brian know my style, and they know that sometimes those photos where the kids are being silly are the best ones.
They weren’t in a hurry. Sometimes people (usually dad) have this idea that we will “get a few photos” and then be done. That mindset makes it really hard to capture candid, authentic images. Brian has been showing up for my family photo sessions for many years and absolutely does his part to be patient and fun.
They get that authenticity is the goal. Everyone was encouraged to be themselves, which shows through in the images.
Did I miss anything? What do you think is the key to a fantastic family portrait session?
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you considered following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
I cannot even begin to explain what an honor and privilege it is to be able to capture so many children as they grow. When I look at Emmy, I see so many beautiful moments as photographs in my mind, and I feel pretty lucky to have been a part of those moments with her.
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
When I photograph large family photo sessions, I can’t help but get a little jealous of all the fun that big families seem to have. It’s like a party anytime they get together. I adored this family before I had even met them, thanks to the beautiful things that their dad and grandpa said about them in my client questionnaire.
One of my favorite things is reading what my clients write about their families in that questionnaire. The simple question of “Tell me a little about each of you” can reveal so much. It’s an oddly personal job to capture someone’s portrait, and in a way I can’t quite explain, I like to know something about them before I begin. For example, I knew that the older granddaughter was very serious about taking care of her baby doll. So I definitely wanted to include the doll in photos. And when I saw her squeezing the doll and her cousin at the same time, giving them both all her love, I had to capture that.
The only challenge with such a large group is balancing getting all the different combinations of shots you need and still trying to capture a little of that personality simultaneously. I often leave wishing I could have gotten to know them even better.
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
I’m so in love with this family portrait session in downtown Columbia, and it makes me feel like I’ve made a horrible mistake. You see, I love taking pictures around the square in Columbia. It’s never crowded and it has some of the best old abandoned buildings that have beautiful texture and great light.
But I’ve only ever recommended it for Senior sessions. I’ve hesitated to use a downtown setting for my littlest clients because of the streets and traffic. I love to capture children running and playing. So I usually suggest the parks for them so that they have more space to run free.
But when I was chatting with this client about choosing a location, she said that “outdoorsy” settings didn’t feel like a great fit for their family. And above everything else, I want a client’s session to feel authentic to who they are and reflect their personalities. She also said the kids were likely to want to stay pretty close to mom and dad at a session. So I suggested we give downtown Columbia a try.
And I am SOOOOOO glad. I love them, and I hope she does too. These two sweet kids were FANTASTIC. The family was the kind that I immediately felt connected to and loved photographing.
When dad asked if I would take photographs of them getting ice cream at Hattie Jane’s Creamery at the end of the photo session, I thought that was a fantastic idea! Who doesn’t love photos of adorable kids eating delicious ice cream?
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
“And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.”
Mark Anthony
Family Portrait Session at Winstead Park – capturing the love & joy of Emerson in photos.
I first met this beautiful family two years ago for an extended family portrait session. I was really excited to return and see them again. A lot of people on Instagram have been asking me about this beautiful portrait location. It’s actually the client’s private retreat, and it was a joy to shoot there. So much beauty and lots of love.
And aren’t the clothing choices just fantastic? I love the colors and the textures.
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
It’s always a special treat to photograph Senior Pictures for a family I’ve known forever. So I was really excited when my old friend Ellen booked me for her son Will’s Senior Portrait Session. She wasn’t sure where they wanted to take the pictures but said they loved textures and cool walls. After some discussion, we settled on Downtown Columbia, which is one of my favorites that few people ever pick.
While I was shooting, I didn’t realize that Ellen was taking a few photos of me. She shared them with me, so I thought it might be fun to show you a behind-the-scenes view of a portrait session by sharing her pics side by side with the ones I was taking when she captured me.
I discovered the backside of this strip of buildings the last time I shot in Columbia & wanted to shoot there again. The sky was pretty cool so I got some close-up shots and some wide-angle views. This is not an angle I would use for a grown person, but these young kids can handle it.
I love this big textured wall in Downtown Columbia but wish there weren’t parking spaces right in front of it. It’s a really cool spot to capture a lot of different angles.
I once took photos of a guitar player in front of Variety Record Shop. Since Will plays the Trumpet, I thought it would be fun to photograph him there too.
I just loved how the brown door, trim, and bricks worked with what Will was wearing, and his red hair. The colors were fantastic. Also, you’ll notice I did not include any black & white images in this blog preview. I just couldn’t do it. The colors were too perfect.
This photo, in particular, did a great job of showing how the beauty of a session location really is in the eye of the photographer. This was literally some back alley construction site with garbage all around. But the texture of the stack of bricks, the stone and brick walls, and the ivy growing in the background got my attention. And I thought the colors worked great.
I’m a little obsessed with chasing the sun.
Here we were joking about all the positions photographers find themselves in and how I’m often literally rolling around in the mud. Anything for the shot. It’s a lot more tiring with little kids I’m trying to chase and then diving to the ground. At least the teens follow directions.
I made Will play for me while taking these because authenticity is key. It felt like we were on Bourbon Street. I got a sneak peek of the theme for the Summit High School Marching Band show for this year. I’m not going to give it away, but I am STOKED. I can’t wait to see them perform.
And then here are a few more I don’t have behind-the-scenes shots of, because I am horrible at narrowing down my favorites from a session. Especially one I really enjoyed, like this one.
Thanks so much to Ellen for sharing these pictures with me so I could share a behind-the-scenes perspective of a photo session.
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
This beautiful family traveled from all over the country for a vacation together at A&E Farm in College Grove. I had never been to A&E Farm before. It’s such a beautiful place to book for a vacation or small event! I’m sure wonderful memories were made for all four generations visiting together. I am so thankful they asked me to capture some of those moments.
Looking for a photographer in Spring Hill, Franklin, and Columbia in Middle Tennessee? I photograph families at all stages, from newborns to seniors. See my website for more information or to book a session from my online calendar. I would love it if you would consider following me on Facebook and/or Instagram.
In high school and early college, I dated a Marine. Through hanging with him and his Marine Corp buddies, I learned very quickly that under no circumstances should you ever make the mistake of confusing the marines with the army, navy, etc. It was a mortal sin committed by civilians all the time and they clearly hated it. They knew the person making the mistake meant no harm or disrespect, but it was annoying just the same. So I thought I would make a similar list of what not to say or do to photographers.
I suppose most professions or groups have such things that insiders complain about but are not well known among outsiders. Photographers joke about many of these items often, but many non-photographers are not aware of them. So I made a list of things that I think most photographers say cause them cringe, even though no ill intention was meant on behalf of the transgressor.
I hesitate to write this list because I don’t want anyone to feel like I am calling them out. That is not my intention. Please know that if you have made the mistake of doing one or more of the things on this list, that is perfectly fine! We hear them a lot and we don’t hold it against you. We understand that these cringe-worthy comments are not intentional. This list is not meant to reprimand, but merely to educate.
What not to say or do to Photographers:
#10 – Jump in front of us with your phone camera
I know this one happens most often to Wedding Photographers, but I’ve also experienced it, usually at my annual Santa photo sessions. Some photographers dislike if any photos are taken during their session. I personally don’t mind someone in the background taking a few shots. But I’ve also had several instances where parents were literally right in front of me taking photos, or for long periods telling the child to look at them instead of me, and taking up the few brief minutes available for me to get the shot. Like, what are you paying me for?
#9 – Print your photos at Walgreens
I joke that when you get professional photos printed at Walgreens, a unicorn dies. My portrait clients have a print release allowing them to print their photos wherever they like. But I can’t lie – it hurts my heart if they get crappy prints made. If you aren’t going to purchase from a professional lab, I highly recommend MPix.com.
#8 – Ask us to alter our editing style
The root cause of this one is really hiring the wrong photographer to begin with. Make sure you hire a photographer whose style you love. This may sound obvious but people hire photographers for all kinds of reasons…because a friend recommended them, they showed up first in a google search, etc. It’s fine to have a recommendation, but also browse the photographer’s portfolio and make sure they are a good fit for you. Don’t hire a dark and moody photographer and then be surprised when your photos don’t look light and airy.
Keep in mind that photography is a service, but it’s also an art. Would you hire an impressionistic painter and then complain that the painting looked too impressionistic? It’s fine to ask for some editing changes – like maybe you want that blemish on your face removed. That’s fine. Just don’t ask an artist to change their fundamental style.
Also, don’t ever ask us to make a photo all black and white, except just one splash of color. That’s just not cool.
#7 – Put a filter on it / crop it weird
This happens a lot, despite most of us having clauses in our contracts to prevent altering the photos. Yeah, I get it. I don’t often read the fine print either. But remember what I said about photographers being artists in #8? There is nothing like spending hours and hours editing a session getting the colors just so and perfecting the skin tones, and then going to Instagram and seeing that the client has added a weird filter and now the skin tones are green. Or they’ve totally cropped it weird and now little Johnny is cut off at the knees, which is something a professional photographer avoids like the Coronavirus. (I started to say ‘Plague’ there but do you like how I’ve updated it to have a more modern feel?)
#6 – Share without Credit
It’s always best to tag the photographer when you share an image on Social Media. Most of our business comes from word of mouth, so it’s very much appreciated. I often see posts on Facebook where someone has seen a pretty photo on Instagram, maybe a landscape or a local landmark. They liked the photo so much that they screenshot it to share on Facebook – maybe even making it their header photo. But because they screen-shotted the photo instead of sharing directly from the photographer’s Instagram page, then the photographer loses all connection to that photo. So just be mindful to give credit when you admire someone’s work.
#5 – Stealing Photos
Ok, this one is much more intentional than #6 (and all the other items on this list) and is really not cool. Most of my portrait sessions include digital images so this isn’t usually an issue for me. But I do shoot some things where that isn’t the case, such as my annual preschool graduation photos. You may notice for those events that I put a giant watermark in the middle of the gallery images. I HATE putting that watermark there, but if I don’t, people will inevitably steal the images. Typically for these shoots, I’ve not been paid at all upfront. So I only get paid for all my hard work if people purchase the images. I’ve seen people posting on social media asking if someone can remove the watermark for them from professional images they don’t own so they can print them. Don’t do this. It’s theft. You wouldn’t steal items from a store, so why are you stealing from hardworking artists?
#4 – Be completely silent after we deliver your gallery
OK, I’m revealing my own insecurities here but I know I’m not the only one who is super paranoid after delivering a gallery. Even after all these years, I’m still always nervous that someone won’t love their photos. I sooooo appreciate the clients who comment or reply immediately that they are happy. Getting radio silence after delivering a gallery makes me imagine the worst and convince myself that the client hates them, even if I was originally very happy with the session. It pretty much never means that and generally, the client just didn’t think to comment or reply. So mostly I admit that I just need to work on myself with this one. But what can I say – words of affirmation are my love language.
#3 – Tell us that you “just need a couple pictures”
This is a favorite line of the price shoppers. This phrase immediately says to me that you don’t really value my work but are looking for a deal.
I do occasionally offer mini sessions but the value of these for me is that they are offered at a location of my choosing and are scheduled back to back with multiple clients. This way, I can shoot 4 families all in one day at the same location. I’m able to offer families a discount over a regular session because I save time having shorter sessions back to back, and the editing time is usually less than four individual sessions because the lighting & location is usually similar for the back to back sessions. But if you want to schedule a “mini-session” outside of one of my scheduled dates, then I’m still doing almost the same amount of work but for less pay. And I’m taking up a spot that could have gone to someone paying full price. So while the request may seem reasonable to you, it’s not beneficial to me.
Think of it this way…would you go to a steak house and ask if you could just have a couple bites of the steak because you didn’t want to pay for the entire dinner?
#2 – Tell us that our prices are too high
Pretty much all of us got into this business because we love the art, and we loved capturing memories. We generally do not love the business side of things. Many of us started shooting for friends for free or for very little money. Things evolved and we realize we were working our booties off for almost nothing, so we had to raise our prices.
We spend a ridiculous amount of money on gear, web fees, Adobe subscriptions, etc. We work many hours where we aren’t directly getting paid at all – writing blog posts, marketing, budgeting, taxes, social media, etc. You see us work for an hour at your session, but then we spend hours and hours editing. Believe me when I say that almost all the photographers aren’t in this for the money.
But also, it’s very personal work. So when you question a photographer’s prices, it can feel like you are questioning our worth. There is already this constant battle inside most of us between wanting to get paid a fair wage and wanting to be able to share our passion with everyone.
I know this is probably a matter of semantics, but saying “That’s not in my budget right now” is totally fine. Please use that line instead of “Wow, that’s a lot for an hour” or something similar.
#1 – Give all the credit to our camera
Ok, this is definitely not the worst offense in this list (#5 definitely is the worst) but this one probably happens the most often. Most people who say it intend for it to be a compliment, but they don’t realize they are giving all the credit to the gear instead of to the photographer.
Please do not tell a photographer “That’s a great photo – you must have a really nice camera.”
I do have a really nice camera (two of them in fact). I taught them everything they know. Would you eat a delicious dinner and then complement the chef’s cookware?
“It’s not the wand, it’s the wizard.”
Duff Goldman
Hopefully, my fellow photographers will relate to this list and get a little chuckle out of it. For those of you who are not photographers, I would love to know if you have a similar list. What kind of things do outsiders say or do to you all the time that make you a little crazy? I’d love to hear about them. I’m sure I’ve often said all the wrong things.
This is the time in the year when I start giving up on words, keeping blog posts short and sweet, because who has time for writing when there is all this shooting and editing to do? But I do want to say how much I loved hanging out with this adorable family during their family photo session at Country Cove Farms in Murfreesboro. It was so clear how much love there is between them and I felt blessed to be able to capture it in photos.
OK, now back to editing. Happy Fall, yall!
Are you following me on Instagram? That’s a great place to keep up to date on future openings. I have a couple spots left for my Holiday Family Mini Sessions. Or are you looking for a senior photographer? Either way, you can book a session directly from my online booking calendar, or contact me if you have questions.
We ALWAYS go to the Williamson County Fair on my birthday (or at least within a day or two). I love taking photos of all the beautiful lights and the atmosphere. It’s been a special tradition since Megan was a baby. Last year I still made them go through the little farming exhibit for photos.
As you can imagine, there is no county fair this year. I miss it but also decided that the absolute BEST thing about our trips to the fair is that no one complains. They let me take all the photos I want because it’s my birthday.
I often say that my toughest family portrait session all year is when I take family photos of my own family.
I think the best thing we can do to get through all of this crazy year is to modify traditions and make the best of what we can. For example, my family has chosen not to eat inside restaurants. But last weekend, my husband and I went on a date where we picked up food from Costa Vida and took it to a picnic shelter at Evans park to have a quiet meal together. Honestly, it was better than eating in a crowded restaurant.
So even though the fair was canceled, I didn’t let that opportunity pass me by to take advantage of my birthday to get family photos I wanted. They cooperated better than they usually do and I’m pleased with the results.
What kind of traditions have you altered for 2020?
Now that I’ve managed to get some family photos of my own family, I’m ready to book Fall family portrait sessions for everyone else!
You can book a session directly from my online booking calendar or contact me if you have any questions. Don’t wait to book because I can only fit in so many portrait sessions in the Fall. I always hate turning people away.
“The laughter, the fun, the hand-holding, the love.”
Things get pretty boring and lonely for a mostly outdoor family portrait photographer in the south in the month of July. For some reason, most people don’t think first of July as the best time to book family portrait sessions. I get it. It’s hot. SO HOT. And there are only so many clothes you can take off before it’s a different kind of photography all together. But it was perfect for this family session combined with a One-Year Cake Smash birthday session. ☀️😉
But this portrait session shows how perfect a July photo session can be, and I am so excited about sharing it with you. I generally love all my sessions, but once in a while, I get one that just feels like magic.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you can probably guess that those sessions almost always involve young children. It’s no secret that the 1 – 6-year-old crowd is my favorite to photograph and this beautiful family had an (almost) one-year-old, a four-year-old and a six-year-old. I had taken their photo with Santa last year at Spring Station Middle School’s Holiday Marketplace, and they loved the Santa photos so they booked a family session. (Yes, Santa and I plan to be back at Holiday Market this year.) July was chosen in order to celebrate sweet baby Reya’s first birthday with One-Year Cake Smash photos.
It is so important for me to get to know my clients because taking photos is such a personal thing for me. The first step of getting to know a client is an online questionnaire they fill out when they book a session with me. Casey did a fantastic job of giving me a head start in getting to know her beautiful family. The answers don’t have to be too long…just enough information to give me a feel for each family member and to help me envision how to capture them for who they are. Before each session, I study those answers and make notes for myself as I plan out the session in my head. I note things like the fact that Monroe is very outgoing and loves soccer and dancing, while Everly can be shy and loves unicorns and all things pink and glittery. These little things may not sound like a lot, but they help me get a feel for the girls, and to guide how I connect with them at the session.
But the thing I loved the most about Casey’s answers, is that when asked what she wants to remember about her family right now, she said “the laughter, the fun, the hand-holding, the love.” I wrote that at the top of my notes because it just seemed to perfectly sum up my desire for every family session. I hope that she can see all those things in the photos below. ❤️
Watermelon instead of cake for a one-year cake smash? Yes, Please!
Oh, and I just LOVE Watermelon as a replacement for a one-year cake smash. Reya seemed to dig it too because she was LOVING every single bite of it. There is just nothing cuter than a naked baby eating watermelon. I enjoyed getting big sisters in on the watermelon eating fun as well. Do you think it would be weird to bring along a cooler full of watermelon to every summer family session from now on and hand them out instead of my usual suckers? 🍉
If you’d like to schedule your own summer fun family session, you can book online now (and feel free to bring watermelon!!). I can usually fit in a summer session pretty last minute. But please note, if you are like the other hundreds of people that really want Fall instead, those are selling out fast so don’t wait toFamily Portrait Session at Winstead Park with Epic One-Year birthday Watermelon “Smash”If you’d like to schedule your own summer fun family session, you can book online now (and feel free to bring watermelon!!). I can usually fit in a summer session pretty last minute. But please note, if you are like the other hundreds of people that really want Fall instead, those are selling out fast so don’t wait to
Isn’t it funny how a smell can take you back to a time 30 years ago? That’s how I felt at this session at Aspen Grove Park in Franklin, TN this week when I arrived early (like I always do) to take a walk before my clients arrived. It was an absolutely perfect spring day, and as I walked down the trail, I was overwhemed with the scent of honeysuckle. Honeysuckle is one of my favorite smells (I even use this in my kitchen), and it takes me back to my childhood in the mountains of East Tennessee when me and a neighborhood friend use to spend hours and hours walking through the hollows and back roads just talking and enjoying the sunshine.
It was the perfect day for a family session for this handsome family. Dad had purchased the session as a gift for mom this past Christmas, after she had hinted strongly that what she wanted was to capture her families special memories in a portrait session. This was especially important now, because her oldest, Porter, is graduating from high school this week.
We all know how quickly time flies. A portrait session gift certificate is a perfect gift for moms who want to freeze time forever, if only in photographs.
Every client is unique, and it’s important to me to capture that uniqueness in my portrait sessions.
If you’ve ever booked a session with me, and you’re the type of person who actually does read a contract before you signed it, you may have noticed this paragraph in my client agreement:
Each session is as different and unique as the beautiful families being photographed and I do not aim to copy or recreate Pinterest images. Before booking a session with me, I want to make sure that you are familiar with my style, and that my style is what you are wanting for your images.
This statement isn’t just arbitrarily in my contract. It’s there because I want you to understand that our goal with a session is not to recreate some scene that you saw on Pinterest, or even to copy a photo you saw on my website that I took. Our goal is to create images that are as unique and beautiful as your family.
Finding what makes families special and unique is especially fun when I get to photograph clients in their home. Details like a baby’s nursery, knick-knacks or books displayed throughout the house, cherished toys, and a family’s pets are all items that can be photographed that tell part of a family’s story. I look for those types of things as I am photographing. For example, both of Evie’s parents are Chemistry professors at Vanderbilt. So when I saw a set of Science Board Books sitting on the nursery table, I knew I wanted to include one in the photos. Mom and Dad said “Quantum Physics for Babies” was their family favorite, so I asked them to read to baby Evie for a few shots.
Other things I made sure to include in photos were the cat and dog (who Lauren had said were a huge part of the family), a blanket made by Grandma, & the stuffed Bunny Evie got for her first Easter.
And I’m convinced that in 20 years when families look back on these photos, they will be glad to have those details captured instead of someone else’s idea of a pretty Pinterest scene. 😍
I welcome clients including their pets in family portrait sessions. After all, they are a part of the family too.
Robin & Miles wanted to include their dogs Harley & Cassie in their portrait session, and the Park at Harlinsdale Farms was the perfect spot for including pets. Robin is originally from Kentucky and wanted a location with a rustic feel, so Harlinsdale was perfect and a welcome spot to bring dogs.
One reason I love to include dogs in a session, is I think it helps the clients to feel more relaxed. It’s easier to capture candid moments when there are sweet doggies to play with during the session. Some clients worry that the dogs will be a distraction. I haven’t really found this to be an issue. Assuming the dogs are friendly, I am generally able to include photos both with and without the dogs. For this session, my 10-year-old “assistant” actually joined me at the shoot was able to help with the dogs when they were not being included in photos. If you would like to include your family dogs in a session, just let me know ahead of time and we can choose an appropriate place, and I can even bring my young assistant if you think that will be helpful.
Harley and Cassie were the sweetest dogs and I really enjoyed getting to know them and their lovely owners on this gorgeous day.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I’m going to be honest and say that I booked a lot of sessions this past week and have tons of editing to do, so instead of spending lots of time writing this post, I’m just going to let these gorgeous photos of Haley speak for themselves.
