Tag: outdoors

What to wear to a family portrait session

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Confession time – I’m not very good at picking clothing for family photos.  I’ve never felt like I was very good at fashion, but I know what I like and what I don’t like to see in family portrait sessions.  And I know that several of my friends are REALLY good at picking family session clothing.  One of those friends is Christy – I am always so impressed with her wardrobe choices for her family photos, so I asked her how she goes about choosing photos for a session for herself, her husband, and their three adorable little girls.  She had some great advice to share:

“I typically start with one outfit I love.  One year I loved this purple sweater that Hannah had, it looked great on her.  That year purple was our color and everyone else’s outfit was picked to match.  Last year I had a floral dress I loved, so I pulled colors out of the dress for each of the girls to wear.  I try not to pick more than one or two patterns, or any pattern that is too small or busy.  Most of the time we have what we need in our closets already.  I usually only buy one or two outfits for a shoot.  Old Navy is a great place to get coordinated outfits. They sell lots of solids which always look great in photos!  Little touches like matching bows or denim jackets helps tie everything together.”

Here are a few more do’s and don’ts I have for choosing clothing for your family photos:

DO:

  • Do pick 2-3 colors & find outfits for those colors. 
  • Do shop your own closet first.  What do you love to wear that is your signature style?  
  • Do be yourself.  If you are a blue jeans kind of mom, then wear blue jeans.  Don’t feel like you have to be fancy.  Be you.
  • Do make sure everyone feels comfortable in what they are wearing.  
  • Do make sure everything fits appropriately….this is not the time for squeezing into something, or for buying clothes big so the kids can grow into them. 
  • Do consider scarves, jackets, accessories and other things that add texture & interest to the outfits.
  • Do avoid graphics and distracting logos.  That “Big Brother” shirt is cute, but unless he’s standing perfectly still, you won’t be able to read it well in photos. 
  • Do expect you child to run, jump and play at the session.

DON’T

  • Don’t force your kids (or husband) to wear something they hate.  We want them to be comfortable at the session. 
  • Don’t wear florescent colors.  They can reflect onto skin tones. (My favorite colors for sessions are jewel tones…blue, plum, teal, burgandy, mustard yellow, etc)
  • Don’t use giant bows…it distracts from your daughter’s beautiful face.  Smaller ones are great, BUT only if she wants to wear it. Let’s not spend the entire session trying to force her to put her bow back on.
  • Don’t be afraid to incorporate patterns, just don’t go overboard.
  • Don’t try to be too matched.  Coordinated (but not matched) looks best. 
  • Don’t wear a shirt that wrinkles super easily (I see this a lot on men’s dress shirts…it’s pretty impossible to photo shop out.)
  • Don’t forget about your nails. (I often see chipped nail polish on little girls.)
  • Don’t forget about shoes…especially for the little ones.  If the weather is appropriate, barefoot is a good option for the kids.
  • Don’t be afraid to ask me if you are unsure about something. 

And didn’t Christy do a fabulous job?  They look like they belong on the cover of a magazine. 

Bonus before and after editing shot below. Can you find it?  I kinda love the before.  😂

Have you booked your family portrait session yet?  There are only a few spots left for spring, so don’t wait to book your session.

More Beautiful Moments

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“You just have to live and life will give you pictures.”~Henri Cartier Bresson

It’s been almost two years since I last photographed this beautiful family.  We were scheduled for a session on Monday, but it was rainy and yucky, so we moved the session until Tuesday, and the day was just gorgeous.  Now, as I’m editing the photos, there has been snow flurries.  That’s Tennessee weather for you.  I’m often asked what happens if weather is poor when a session is planned.  The typical answer is that we will reschedule for a soon after the planned date as possible.  Another option is to have the photos made inside, and I have also done fun rainy day sessions with umbrellas, but the typical action taken is to reschedule.  

I love all my clients and all my sessions are special to me.  But every now and then, I photograph a session that really moves me, and this is one of those sessions.  Just knowing how far this beautiful family has come over the past two years, and to be able to capture sweet Arya playing with her adoring big sister Lucy, dancing the chicken dance and practicing her sign language…it’s just truly beautiful. 

Have you booked your family portrait session yet?  There are only a few spots left for spring, so don’t wait to book your session.

The love of a family – extended family portrait session

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“The love of a family is life’s greatest blessing.”

I’ve known this family for many, many years.  I became friends with Shelly in college and am fortunate enough to live in the same town with her now. I’ve always admired Shelly’s parents…they were always so welcoming to our large group of friends and I always really admired how close they were as a family. I’ve been photographing Shelly and her boys for several years now, but when Shelly told me that her entire family was interested in an extended family session, I knew that I really wanted to try to capture that bond between them.  

It was a gorgeous spring day and the weather could not have been better for a portrait session.  Though if I had one complaint, it would be that there are still not leaves on the trees, which I guess is to be expected this early in the spring season. But I do prefer shooting with full trees as a backdrop to let the beautiful light filter through the leaves.  But there was a gorgeous sky and a magical sunset and as I’ve often said, all I really want for a session is beautiful light. 

I don’t think I’ve seen Shelly’s brother Ryan in about 20 years, but it was so much fun to meet his wife and two kids.  They were just the absolute best kids to photograph…so full of personality and so completely adorable and sweet with each other. I enjoyed capturing the children interacting with their cousins and playing together.  I got a kick out of how little KD had this gentle way of keeping the boys on task.  I just couldn’t help smile while editing this session, and had a hard time picking my favorites for the blog preview.

In looking at these photos, I thought this might be a good time to talk about what exactly is “Lifestyle Photography.”  I think it is a good idea for clients to understand what that means coming into a session, and how I approached these images. I think that one of my favorite photographers, Lisa Tichane, explains in well in this article from Clickin Moms (one of my favorite photography resources).

She says “My own take on lifestyle photography is a mix of authentic and staged. What I am shooting could actually happen in real life (this is the core definition of “lifestyle” in my opinion), however I would never have captured such a variety of images in such a short amount of time if I had not interfered. During a session, I create a diversity of opportunities that will generate real-life type of images which might not have spontaneously happened at that specific moment if I hadn’t been there to jump-start them.”

What I wanted to point out about these images, is that it helps me to know a little about my subjects in order for me to guide the session into producing those real-life type images.  Yes, I had the advantage here because I’ve known Shelly’s boys all their lives, but I had never met their cousins KD and Judah before.  But what helped me immensely were the questions that Shelly answered for me before the session. I knew a little about their personalities while I was planning my session, and knew that they would be OK in being close and loving for some images.  That wouldn’t have worked for all siblings and knowing a little about their personalities before hand helps me to know how to guide them before I get to a session. 

Another thing that helps, especially for a session with this many people, is knowing what the client’s priorities are for a session.  Shelly especially wanted a photo of all the kids with their grandparents, so we mades sure to make that a priority. 

Have you booked your family portrait session yet?  There are only a few spots left for spring, so don’t wait to book your session.

Cozy winter moments with a family of four home session

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Y’all, I think I survived the busy season.  It was busy, but beautiful and I just absolutely love all the wonderful families I’ve met and photographed over the past few months, and throughout 2017. While there is no more opportunity for Christmas photos, I am still taking orders for custom photo books for past clients, that make great gifts for the holidays.  I’m also booking January – June of next year on my online booking calendar.  

Please don’t let winter scare you away from scheduling family portraits. Just look at this beautiful family I met yesterday in Chapel Hill at their family home. It was just a gorgeous piece of property with the sun shining just right through the trees on this chilly winter evening. I wanted to take these sweet boys home with me.  Gillan was so much fun showing me around his land and playing hide and seek with me.  I just adore the way three year olds are so in love with exploring the world around them.  And he is obviously such an amazing big brother to little Tucker. And oh my gosh…baby Tucker!  Just look at those adorable cheeks and that smile.  What perfect little boys. 

Let’s be silly – Family Portrait Session at Harlinsdale Farms

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If I had to say what age group is the most challenging for photos, I’d have to say it is big kids / tweens.  Most people with toddlers, assume their toddlers are the hardest.  Some photographers might agree, but not for me.  Toddlers are fast, and always do the unexpected, and will never ever stand in the spot you want them to stand in, but they are always, without fail, 100% authentic. 

But by the time they become big kids, children have been conditioned to act in a certain (wrong) way for portrait sessions.  They “behave” and stand wherever you ask them to, with this forced, uncomfortable smile on their faces, talking to me through clenched, smiling teeth when I ask them questions.    

So I’ve had to find ways to overcome this.  

Usually, this means playing and being silly. 

Sometimes I think parents must think I’m nuts to have somehow turned their well-behaved children into giggling, energetic goof balls by the end of the session, but honestly I prefer that to stiff children I see at the beginning of a session.  I am so thankful to the parents in this session because they stood back and let me guide the children in play and silliness instead of trying to force a certain pose or photo that they had in their heads. 

My guidance varies depending on the family, but for this session we discussed what vegetables are gross, embarrassing moments (they preferred to tell me one of a friend’s moments instead of their own, but it still worked), and whether or not Daddy is a good dancer.   We raced, played tag and roughhoused.  It was perfection. These two twins were just so much fun to watch. I loved seeing them interact with each other and trying to capture the connection between them.  And those Freckles!!!  ❤️❤️❤️

Capturing the Moments – Harlinsdale Farms Family Portrait Session

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I just love this session.  The colors, the light, the giggles….and it reminded me of the connection between my own girls.  I hope that my client loves them as much as I do.  I try to capture the kind of images that I want for my own family…not just posed photos of everyone looking at the camera, but those moments between a family….a look, or a giggle, or they way they are naturally holding hands as we move on to our next spot.  In one of the images below of the father and the older daughter…they thought that I was only shooting pics of mom and younger daughter, but I saw them hanging out together and just had to take a moment to capture them too when they weren’t looking. My absolute favorite images are at the very end of the session, when the girls were just playing with each other.  That pure joy that you can see on their faces is just the kind of thing that truly inspires me.  They are absolutely stunning. 

Harlinsdale Farms had no less than 10 other sessions going on while I shot this one…probably more like 15.  It was insane, but it was SUCH a gorgeous December day.  The trick to shooting in such a busy place is to find where you want to shoot that is in the light you want to shoot and try to frame out any unwanted people or elements.  That’s not always possible though, especially when you are trying to capture a real connection between active, moving children, so that is where photoshop comes in, to eliminate unwanted people in the frame when absolutely necessary.

I also want to take a moment to point out that these images were shot when Fall was completely gone.  There is pretty much no more leaves left at Harlinsdale and everything is mostly dead.  This is a winter session for sure, despite the warm weather, but I absolutely adore it.  I point this out because so many people are dead set on shooting “Fall” portraits. Well sadly that really pretty season only lasts for a few weeks, but I 100% believe that beautiful images can be created any time of year.  

One thing you absolutely must tell me before your family portrait session.

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Whenever you book a family portrait session with me through my online calendar, I ask that you answer a few questions to help me prepare for the photo session.  The only question that is not optional is the names and ages of the people being photographed (because I study the names in advance).  I understand that my clients are very busy, so if you don’t have time to give me a detailed description of little Sally’s likes and dislikes, that’s OK.  It’s great for me to know that Johnny loves Dinosaurs or Ann’s favorite TV show is Paw Patrol.  Those things help me to have conversation starters with the children, and sometimes help to get a genuine smile.  But if you don’t have time to put that, it’s OK…I’ll wing it.  

I really love knowing why the photo session is important to you.  I remember one family who told me about the rough year they’d each had individually, but that they wanted this photo session to show how they were always there for each other in the rough times and the good.  I don’t know why knowing these things helps me with a session, but somehow they do.  I guess I feel more connected to the family.  I’ve always loved the quote, “I don’t shoot what it looks like…I shoot how it feels.”  The more I know going into a session, the easier it is to capture the feelings. 

But again, I can get away with not knowing these things if you don’t have time to fill out a detailed survey. But there is one thing that I absolutely NEED to know before your family session.

If you have a child who is very shy, I absolutely need to know this in advance.  The reason is that when I read that your child is shy, I automatically know I need to approach her differently. While her sister is chatting my head of about school, and vacations, and puppies, I approach her cautiously, quietly, trying not to overwhelm her.  I’ll let her get use to me before I really approach her at all.  Then I’ll maybe ask her a few quiet questions and feel her out.  I might let her see my camera…or whatever it feels like it might take to help her feel more comfortable.  I have all of this in my head before the session, because you’ve told me before hand what your little one needs.  It didn’t take much to tell me this…just a few words, but it makes all the difference in the world because if I approach her the wrong way, she could get overwhelmed and shut down.  And that’s definitely not what I  want. 

So take a look at the pictures below.  Can you tell which one is the shy sister?  No?  Good. 

And I just want to say that all three of these little girls were amazing.  I had so much fun with them.  They are totally my happy place. So much energy, and wonder and joy.  They were just perfect. 

Extended Family Portrait Session at the Factory at Franklin

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Pam contacted me for a portrait session after I had photographed her grand-daughter Lily at Spring Meadows Academy.  She wanted to have photos made with all of her children and grandchildren for Christmas.  We had originally chosen an outdoor location, but then decided to move it to the Factory at Franklin because of the cold.  The Factory is great because it has some outdoor locations, but then if you get cold, you can go inside for some shots to warm up. 

Can I just say that I am falling in love with the color Mustard?  I’ve always loved blues in my photographs, but I’ve had several clients lately who have used mustard in their wardrobe choices, and I just really love the pop of color it brings.  

I’m going to be real here for a minute…groups this large are hard.  Especially with so many young children.  My passion has always been for candid images, but with a group this large, the sheer amount of combinations you want to try to get leaves little room for just letting the children play and capturing what happens, but I do try to fit those in anyway.  Some of my favorites from this session were at the very end of our shoot when the kids were playing on the chairs in the factory. 

But these adorable kids did an awesome job and were so patient.  I think my absolute favorite is the photo of all of them taking a sucker break on a long bench.  All my little clients know that I travel with Yummy Earth Organic Sucker in my bag, and I’ve never minded including suckers in the photos sometimes, but I kind of adore the suckers in that photo.  All the kids are doing their own thing and enjoying their break…not posing at all, just staring at the ceiling or whatever.  And then there is 12 year old Dahne just looking at me like “how did I get stuck with all these little kids?”  LOL  I guess if you know my style, it’s probably not surprising that I love that photo. What about you? What kind of photos are your favorites?

Chelsea & Molly – Mother Daughter portrait session with extended family

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I don’t get to see Chelsea enough these days, so it was so good to hang out with her for her annual family portrait session. For the past two years, I have taken photos of just Chelsea & Molly, but this time, they decided they wanted to include Chelsea’s parents and brother in the session.  Are they just a gorgeous family?  I adore the colors they chose to wear for this session…and Chelsea’s beautiful scarf really brings it all together.  

I cannot get over how old Molly is getting. All my photo babies are growing up.  🙁  Sometimes with tweens, it can be difficult to get real genuine smiles and expressions at photo sessions.  By now, they have begun to get that uncomfortable feeling that we as adults sometimes get when a camera is in our face, and adopt the cheesy fake smile. This is primarily our fault as adults for screaming at them for years to “smile and say cheese.”  But this time, I had a game plan and brought a secret weapon…my 9 year old. Her methods are unconventional as she stood behind me for half the shoot singing ridiculous songs in a loud obnoxious voice for Molly, but she did manage to help me get some genuine smiles and laughs, so I’ll call it a win. 

I just adore these two and love photographing them.  Such a gorgeous mother / daughter combo both inside and out.  <3

Way too easy photo session with Alys & Grayson

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I’ve been taking Grayson’s photos for literally his entire life, since the exact moment he was born, and I always look forward to their annual photo sessions.  It almost didn’t happen this year because Margaret didn’t get on my Fall schedule in time, but I had a cancellation for this past weekend and when I posted the open spot on my booking calendar, she jumped at the chance.  I’m so glad she did because I just adore these kids.  

You guys know that toddlers and preschoolers are my favorite age to photograph.  I love everything about them, and especially their wonder with the world around them and their straight up inability to be anything but 100% authentic.  They are always amazing, and adorable and full of life.  They are not, however, usually cooperative.  And that is completely OK with me.  I try to alleviate parents fears about little ones “mis-behaving” and let them know that I do not expect, nor need, cooperation.  My goal is to capture them being themselves, and exploring the world around them.  To get family shots, sometimes that takes a ton of shots just to get one good one.  Siblings shots are also challenging, so I guide them to play games together in order to get them in the same frame, having fun.

But I swear, Alys and Grayson just don’t require any of that.  For the second year in a row, 10 seconds into shooting, they give me a beautiful, adorable hug where no one seems to be choking anyone (seriously…95% of the time when I ask siblings to hug, someone gets choked.)  They would even stand in the pretty light for me so I could get portraits in the exact spot that I wanted. I feel like these two maybe should go into modeling. Like for real.  I know I could just photograph them all day long. 

Yes to Puppies at family portrait sessions

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I am often asked, sometimes hesitantly, if it’s ok to bring the family dog to a photo session.  The answer is always, one million times, yes.  Unless your dog is a terrifying, savage beast who is going to maul me, then perhaps not.  But for cute, adorable puppies, always yes.  

Here are my top 10 reasons to bring your puppy to a photo session:

1.  They are adorable. 

2 They help to get for real, not fake smiles from your children.

3. Puppy kisses.

4. They are part of the family, so why wouldn’t you?

5. Tiny kids holding puppies is adorable.

6. Tweens & teens holding puppies is adorable.

7. Grown ups holding puppies is adorable.  

8. Puppy kisses.

9. Taking the puppy for a walk is a great photo op, and a real moment.

10. Puppy kisses

It’s only reasonable that I’m going to Disney World

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I just love working with repeat clients.  It’s so much to see the children grow from year to year at their annual family portrait sessions. Scarlett & Jackson are two of my favorite repeat clients.  The two of them are just so full of life, and wonder and energy.  We have so much fun playing & exploring together.  I just love the dynamic the two of them have together, and they always keep me on my toes. I find myself smiling as I’m editing their photos because of their adorable faces and their beautiful spirit. These two definitely embody what I love about children’s photography.

In addition to their family portrait sessions, I have also regularly shot birthday parties for this beautiful family.  You may remember Scarlett’s gorgeous Fairy Birthday Party, or her adorable Strawberry Shortcake Birthday Party.  Or big brother Jackson’s amazing Star Wars Birthday Party a few months ago.  Nicole throws the most amazing children’s parties, but I imagine they are a LOT of work.  While chatting at their family session, I learned that this year, instead of a birthday party, Scarlett has chosen to go to Disney World instead!! 

So, I think it’s only reasonable to assume that I’m going to Disney World to photograph Scarlett on her birthday, right?

(Good thing we are already planning a family trip to Disney ourselves, otherwise Nicole might find me hiding in her trunk.)  😉

Family portrait session for a survivor

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Elizabeth Yancey is one of the strongest women I’ve known. Exactly one year ago from the date of this session, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Over the past year, I have watched her kick cancer’s butt, all while being an amazing teacher, mother, wife and human being. She is such an example of faith and grace and courage.

I chose the date of the session for her but didn’t know at the time that I had chosen this anniversary. But what an honor it was to be able to capture this milestone for her and to photograph a true survivor.

I had such a fun time photographing the ‘Yancey Clan.’  I always marvel at how beautifully different each sibling in a family can be, and these are four amazing and unique children. 

Whenever someone books a session with me, I ask a series of questions.  Clients do not have to answer most of them, but it does make it so much easier for me.  My goal when I photograph a session is to capture your family in a way that really highlights who they are as individuals and as a family.  It really makes it easier on me if I know a little about them before I try to do that.  Elizabeth thoughtfully answered each question, and that really gave me an advantage at the session.  I knew the kids a little beforehand, but her answers helped me to know how to approach them.  I knew that Wylie would be the easy one.  I knew that Moses would have to be coaxed out of his fake smile, but that being silly and letting him be active would be a good strategy.  I knew not to overwhelm Nonie, as she is shyer than the others so I approached her quietly.  I knew Wesley would warm up as the session went on (and boy did she!! Peekaboo!).  

But most of all, I knew what these pictures would mean to Elizabeth, as a way to mark this milestone and show that they “not only survived but are thriving.”  

Please take a moment to vote for Elizabeth’s favorite charity and read her story on MyGivingStory.com.  

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

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The entire time I’ve been editing this session, I keep thinking about Christmas.  The lovely reds in the clothing they wore for their family portrait session just put me in the holiday spirit.  Can’t you imagine how beautiful they will look on a Christmas card??

I know this is going to be a controversial statement, but when it comes to Christmas, I say bring it on!  I have a friend who put up her Christmas tree this week.  She wouldn’t normally do that, but when her three year old begged her to go ahead and put it up, she couldn’t say no to his sweet little face.  She posted about it on Facebook and got a lot of crap for it from some sad, scroogy people (Y’all know I love you anyway.)  We need more joy in this world, and if a Christmas tree brings some of that, then just go ahead and put it up.  And if it’s not a source of joy for you, then don’t put it up.  To each her own, but stop scrooging other people.  And yes, I made up that word. LOL

Ok so back to my beautiful friends here….I’ve been photographing them for years and years. They have been through so much lately as a family and I’m so glad that they could take some time to be together and create these memories.  I think that it’s important even during the rough times to stop for a moment and capture what matters most to you. 

My sweet friend Zaffer is autistic, which can lead to some unique challenges in taking family photographs.  Over the years I have learned more and more about what works for him, and we are sure to take his needs into consideration for the session. It’s always worked out well enough, but I was so blown away with how wonderfully he AND his sisters did for this session. It’s ALWAYS an adventure photographing three young children, even without special needs, but they all just knocked it out of the park this time. Looking at his beautiful smile just makes me all teary eyed. 

Love these pictures?  I would love it if you would leave a comment below and consider sharing this post with friends!

Please take a minute follow me on Facebook , Instagram, Google+ or Pinterest and share with your friends who might be interested, or sign up for my monthly newsletter! Schedule your own session now from my online calendar. 

Fall Family Portrait Session at Harlinsdale Farms

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This is one of my favorite families to photograph, so I was so happy to be able to meet their newest sweet family member, baby Mia.  She is just perfect, and her big brother Jude is so obviously enamored with his baby sister.

I was happy to see some pretty color in Harlinsdale Farms and it was a perfect cool afternoon for a family photo session. I just love the beautiful fall colors in the clothing that Sarah & Josh chose.  They just look gorgeous against the back drop of Harlinsdale Farms in October.  

It’s been a little while since I’ve been to Harlinsdale, and was surprised to see the coolest tractor set up there.  It was so colorful and cool and perfect for photos. It was so fun to get Jude’s photograph sitting on the fun tractor. 

Love these pictures?  I would love it if you would leave a comment below and consider sharing this post with friends!

Please take a minute follow me on Facebook , Instagram, Google+ or Pinterest and share with your friends who might be interested, or sign up for my monthly newsletter! Schedule your own session now from my online calendar. 

A Little Bit of Autumn- Family Portrait Session

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It is so hard trying to predict the exact right time for a Fall family portrait session when clients really want that “autumn color.”  I have to admit that I am a bit disappointed in the leaves this year.  I’m hoping that we get some beautiful color soon, but I’m a little afraid that they are just going to blow away before we really get a full-on change.  This time last year, it was a lot prettier, but I guess there are no guarantees when it comes to mother nature. 

Lucky for us, we can still get that beautiful fall feeling with just a little bit of color and a collection of pretty leaves.  Four-year-old Jaylyn was so good at finding the most beautiful leaves on our walk! And there was just enough color on one of the trees above the walking trail to provide a nice backdrop for a giggling Kolesyn who love being thrown into the air by his daddy. 

Ultimately, I’ve always said that the most important thing about the photos is the people in them…not the backdrop.  Just look at these adorable faces…wouldn’t you agree that they would be perfect in front of any backdrop?  

Love these pictures?  I would love it if you would leave a comment below and consider sharing this post with friends!

Please take a minute to follow me on Facebook , Instagram, Google+ or Pinterest and share with your friends who might be interested, or sign up for my monthly newsletter! Schedule your own session now from my online calendar. 

Bridgette’s Senior Portrait Session at Thompson Station Park

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“Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path then by all means you should follow that.” – Ellen Degeneres

It’s so much fun to take a break from photographing little kids sometimes and instead photograph seniors.  This beautiful young woman was a joy to meet, as was her mother.  One of my most favorite parts of my job is getting to know new people.  Bridget reminded me a little of my oldest daughter with her passion for writng and love of books..  She was so sweet to my younger daughter, Kayla, who accompanied me on the shoot as my “assistant.”  

One of the great things about photographing seniors is that they will stand in whatever beautiful light that I want them to stand in….which is not always the case for toddlers.  And Thompson Station Park was really showing off some gorgeous light last night.  The autumn color isn’t really there yet, thought I think it’s coming soon (I hope). But the weather could not have been more perfect for Bridget’s senior portrait session.  

I keep hitting the jackpot with these senior girls who are just naturals in front of the camera.  Also, I loved her clothing choices. I am often asked if it is OK to change clothes during a photo session.  My answer depends a little on the type of session and ages of the subjects.  For senior or couples portrait sessions, you may absolutely bring a few different outfits.  For family sessions, I don’t normally recommend it just because having to change clothes can sometimes upset little ones and disrupt the momentum of our session. Ultimately, I leave it up to parents but just caution you to consider the value of wardrobe changes verses timing and keeping little ones happy during a session.  But for teens and adults, there is plenty of time during a session for a few wardrobe changes, and it adds some variety in a senior session gallery.

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The Schafran Family

Posted in Chapmans Retreat Walking Trail, Family, Little Kids, Portrait Sessions, The Gold Hope ProjectTagged , , , , , , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Last night was actually the first time I had met Brandilee and & Dan, but I’ve known their oldest son, Gavin, for several years from my daughter’s school.   I’m at school quite a bit volunteering with the PTO and have gotten to know Gavin through my time there and he is such a sweet boy.  My first experience with the rest of Gavin’s family was this past May at the Special Olympics.  Gavin has Cerebral Palsey and was competing in one of the races.  I had been asked to photograph the event as a whole, but was of course drawn to events where our own Cheetah’s were competing, so I was focused on Gavin’s race.  As he started getting closer to the finish line, Gavin started having a little trouble when his two little brothers came in to give him a hand.  It was the sweetest moment, and the three of them just won my heart right then and there.  

It wasn’t until after the race that I learned that Gavin’s two-year-old little brother Finn was battling a rare form of bladder cancer.  I have followed their story since then through posts from mutual friends and through their blog.  You can read more about their journey on their blog, “Finn’s Fans”.


In the past, I had photographed a few other families dealing with childhood cancer, and it was good to feel like I could do something for them, no matter how small.  (If you remember those sessions, you may want to know that little Arya is doing great and Katelyn is about to finish up her last chemo treatment!)  So I was really excited about the opportunity to finally meet Gavin’s little brothers and his sweet parents.


Finn recently had surgery to remove his bladder and the surgery was a great success, but his fight is not over.  He will be starting chemo again soon to fight any remaining cancer cells that might still be there. I am glad we were able to fit in a session before chemo started for him again. 


It was a perfect evening for a session and it’s finally starting to feel like Autumn. We played with the leaves and the boys were particularly fond of gathering sticks. Four-year-old Everett even made a really cool fire pit with his sticks.  I think he’s probably on his way to a position in the boy scouts.  My favorite moment was when I asked the three boys to race towards me for a photo, and when we said go, Finn took off in the opposite direction.  Gavin thought it was pretty funny too.  


The courage & faith with which this family fights their battle has been very inspiring to me, and to many others who have been praying for them. Please keep praying for Finn and his family as they continue on this journey.