What's Your Biggest Fear About Having Family Photos Taken?Bradenton, Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota Family PhotographerI bet it's you worrying about whether your children are going to cooperate or not during the photo session.
Don't let that stop you from having family photos taken. I have great tips on how we can prevent total meltdowns and still capture natural smiles and laughter. Here are a few of my tips: 1. Be sure you are relaxed yourself. If you feel stressed and frantic, chances are your children will feel the same way. Your being calm can help your children during the session. 2. Praise your children throughout the session. This is the absolute best thing that can help prevent any meltdowns. Praising your children leaves them wanting more and feeling happy. 3. Pack the snacks! For older babies and toddlers - think baby crackers, cheese, goldfish crackers, apples, gummies - anything that won't leave a mess and dirty their clothes. Let's chat more about how you can have a stress-free family photo session. 4 Tips for a Stress-Free Family Session with Children | Sarasota Family PhotographerIs there such a thing as to have a stress-free family photo session? Are you concerned your children will misbehave or not cooperate during your photoshoot? Not to worry. Really! I love it if the children decide to release a little energy by running or playing - just being themselves. That's natural and creates a true lifestyle session. 1 | ADVANCE PREPARATIONIf your children are of the listening age, it really helps them prepare for the photoshoot if you talk to them about it beforehand. You can explain a little bit about what to expect. Tell them how excited you are to have photos of them and that they will be able to see themselves on your walls or in an album to remember and share with family. 2 | GET THEM INVOLVEDGenerally, little children love to help out. They want to be involved. Let them help you pick out their outfit. Usually, children end up being cranky or grouchy if they are thirsty, hungry or tired. On the day of the photoshoot, have them take an extra nap. We, of course, can take any necessary breaks to hold and comfort your little ones if they are just not having it. These are still wonderful moments - real and worth capturing. 3 | BRING EXTRA SNACKSAnother way to help those cranky, grouchy children - I always suggest to families with little ones to bring snacks and drinks as well as some treats - I believe in bribes. :-) Baby crackers, cheese, crackers, apples make good snacks - anything that won't leave a mess and dirty their clothes. Also, if your little ones aren't potty trained yet, bring extra diapers, wipes and probably a change of clothes, just in case. 4 | RELAX - LET THEM BE THEMI love to capture natural, raw emotions and connection. Sometimes, children do not or aren't going to stand still and do much smiling for a photo. You know what? That's fine with me. I don't force smiles or do awkward, strange poses. Don't worry if they start running around. I'll capture them having fun and they most likely won't even know I'm photographing them.
Now, let's have some fun! Ready to book your family session? Click on the button below and let's get started. 3 Top Reasons Why Framing Your Portraits Is So ImportantMaternity | Newborn | Family Photography | Sarasota, FLI believe your portraits should have purpose and creating framed artwork does just that. Think about the future of your portraits. There are so many benefits of having framed portraits in your home. Here are my top three reasons for framing your artwork: By creating a physical memory of your portraits, you will have something you can pick up, pass down and/or give as a gift. In our current digital age, it is so important, more than ever, to get those images printed. Where will all those photos on your phone or computer go? If you are like most people, they’ll just stay there. Computers crash; phones die. Keep those memories alive in print. Framing will add value to those printed memories. With our professional labs using quality construction and durable materials, framed portraits are great for keeping your favorite images safe. Just having prints can be damaged more easily gone unprotected. By having your most beautiful, favorite portraits framed, you will be preserving your precious memories forever! Oh, how I wish my baby pictures, parents, grandparents photos would have been protected. Instead, several old photos are bent, torn or damaged in some way. Don’t let this happen to you and your future generations. Framed portraits gives that added protection. The best part of having framed portraits in your home – instant home décor! You will be adding a personal touch to any space. When we have our pre-session consultation, I will be able to see the style and colors of your décor, take photos of the walls where you would like to hang your portraits and create sample wall mock-ups to show you at your ordering appointment of how different frames and variations would look on your own walls. Whether you have a modern, neutral space or you are looking for something new and different, we’ll have a frame to fit your style.
Framing your portraits will truly be works of art for your home. Ready to book and create gorgeous artwork for your home? Get in touch today. I would love to capture your story and create your legacy. Newborn Family Session | Lakewood Ranch, FL Newborn PhotographerMaternity | Newborn | Family Photography | Lakewood Ranch, FLI had the privilege recently of photographing one of my neighbors in Lakewood Ranch who just added a third baby to their growing family. Baby Emma has two adoring older brothers. I think she's going to get spoiled. Baby Emma was so easy to photograph. The boys were very active and hard to keep still, but they were just being themselves and that's what I love to capture. Boys being boys and having fun. Some of my favorite photos I captured were when mom had to nurse Emma. While I was waiting for her in the family room to finish, I heard the boys in the nursery and it sounded like mom was reading to them while she was nursing. I quickly grabbed my camera and just stood in the doorway taking photos. These are the moments that are so natural. Not posed, not even directed to sit a certain way. I loved capturing these special moments with mom taking care of her baby while also connecting with her two boys. That's what it's all about and why I love my job so much! Thank you for letting me be a part of your family, even just for a little while. Can't wait to see the wall art! If you are ready to have a baby or know someone who is, contact me. I would love to capture your story and create your legacy.
High School Senior Portraits | Sarasota Family PhotographerSenior portraits are not my normal genre. However, when a neighbor is looking for a photographer to take some senior photos of her son, I was happy to oblige. I had the pleasure of photographing Chase in June. Such a pleasant young man. We met at the Bradenton Riverwalk along the Manatee River during the golden hour. It was a perfect, beautiful day to capture these images. He was very easy-going and followed my prompts very well. Chase plays hockey and follows the Tampa Bay Lightning team. He was very happy they won the Stanley Cup this year. I asked if he wanted to bring along his hockey stick to use as a prop in some of the photos, but he didn't really want to. He just wanted nice, casual shots. I wish you well in all of your future endeavors, Chase. Congratulations! Class of 2021! Let's chat about your next photo session. I would love to capture your story and create your legacy.
Why Golden Hour is the Best Time of Day for Photographs | Sarasota Family PhotographerI think I can speak for most photographers in saying that we love to shoot during the golden hour because that time of day, an hour after sunrise or an hour before sunset and even shortly after sunset, creates a naturally diffused, pinkish or golden light that is absolutely gorgeous in creating beautiful portraits. Golden hour produces that warm and soft glow which makes it perfect for outdoor maternity or family portraits. Since the sun is low in the sky, this enables me to block harsh sunlight on you to avoid shadows on your face as well as prevents you from that awful squinting. The mood the golden hour provokes is happy and comforting. It allows beautiful blurred backgrounds or beautiful highlights where light may filter through foliage. ...and when the sun has just set, who doesn't love a beautiful silhouette? So, when is the best time of the year to take golden hour photos for you and your family? Well, here on the central west coast of Florida, all year! However, if you have very young children who usually go to bed by 7 p.m. or even 7:30 p.m.., then you will want to avoid certain times of the year so as to not interrupt their bedtimes. Upon special request, we could do a sunrise session because your little one gets up at 5 a.m. anyway, right? I have created a Golden Hour Sunset Time Chart, by season, for the sunset times in 2022 for my area on the central west coast of Florida. Sunset times shown are from the beginning of the month to the end of the last month of each season. For sessions with DreamWorld Photography: WINTER - we will meet between 4:45 p.m. & 6:45 p.m. These months could work for young families. SPRING - in early April, shoots will start around 6:30 p.m. In late May and June, shoots will start around 7 - 7:30 p.m. SUMMER - long summer months mean later sunsets. These sessions are best for families who have older children with later bedtimes. FALL - the time changes considerably. We may start your shoot at 6 p.m. in the beginning of fall and by the end, we will start around 4:30 p.m. The fall months would work best for young families with early bedtimes. All these shooting start times are approximate. It will depend upon the month and day you choose. All sessions will begin approximately one hour before the time of the sunset. So, when will be the best time for your family to have golden hour photographs taken? Well, according to the times listed above, if you have small children with early bedtimes, fall and winter would work the best for you. Otherwise, any time of the year will work depending upon what type of portrait session you are having. Are you ready to have your beautiful portraits taken during the golden hour? Let's chat and get you on the schedule.
End of Summer Limited Edition Session Now Open to the Public!End the summer with a bang by having gorgeous portraits taken of you and your family!
Now, open to the public! End of Summer Limited Edition sessions will be offered during the week of August 3 - 7 with limited times to book your session. Ideally, these will take place on one of our local beautiful beaches, at a park, or your own backyard within Manatee or Sarasota counties during the golden hour. Details: ~ Sign up for a date between August 3 - 7 ~ Up to 5 family members - two months & older ($25 for each additional member) ~ Spaces are limited and booked on a first come, first served basis with paid session fee ~ By appointment only. Promotion only available during dates listed. ~ Must be willing to sign model release for the images to be used on social media, my website and for any other marketing materials $250 What's included: ~ 20-minute session ~ Five professionally edited digital images - your choice ~ 1 - 8 x 10 metal print of your favorite image ~ Digital images delivered via beautiful private online gallery ~ Style Guide ~ Print Release Option to purchase additional images. ♥ RETURNING CLIENT PROGRAM! ♥ If you have had a paid session with me previously, you'll receive 5% off this special limited edition session. If interested, please fill out the contact form on my website by clicking the button below. Once received, I will set up a time to have a quick chat to go over the details. Please feel free to share with your friends who may also be interested in the End of Summer limited edition session. 4 Top Tips for What to Wear to Your Outdoor Family Session, Sarasota Family PhotographerTip 4: CONSIDER ACCESSORIZING. You may want to think about how you want your outdoor photos to look. Would your man look good in a hat or a tie; would your outfit look great with a scarf added or a great belt? Don’t be afraid to do a little accessorizing that brings out your style and personality. Remember, just think of when and where your photo session is taking place, dress accordingly in colors that look and feel best for you and your family. You won’t go wrong. Thanks for following along and when you are ready to book your session, please contact me. I would love to capture your story and create your legacy. 4 Top Tips for What to Wear to Your Outdoor Family Session, Sarasota Family PhotographerTip 3. PLAN AHEAD FOR YOUR OUTDOOR FAMILY PHOTO CLOTHES. After you book your session, you can now start thinking about what everyone is going to wear. Look through your closets and your children’s closets. They may have already outgrown the clothes you were thinking of having them wear or they aren’t clean. Don’t wait until the day before or day of to think about what you and your family are going to wear. Check in tomorrow, same place, same time for my final Tip #4! Let's plan ahead now for your next outdoor family photo session. Click on the button below to begin the plan now.
4 Top Tips for What to Wear to Your Outdoor Family Session, Sarasota Family PhotographerTip 2. WEAR CLOTHES THAT ARE CLASSIC AND COMFORTABLE. Stay away from reds, all black and busy patterns. No graphic tees, character shirts or neon colors. Keep in mind, short dresses or skirts can be hard to move around in during the session, as you may be walking around, sitting down, laying down, etc. Therefore, wearing a longer dress/skirt or pants will work the best. The most important thing is that the clothes will make you feel relaxed and comfortable. Wear something you feel beautiful in and coordinate around that. Wear “you.” Simple, yet classic comfortable clothes will give your images a timeless feel. Check in tomorrow, same place, same time for Tip #3!
Let's have a chat about how you and your family can have beautiful outdoor family portraits that will last a lifetime.
|