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At the beginning of the year I planted a bunch of sunflowers in pots in our yard, thinking I could move them around to use as a backdrop when they finally bloomed. But not only did the pots end up being very heavy and difficult to move around, the deer decided they were a tasty snack and ate most of them before I noticed. I was able to rescue a few by moving them onto our deck. But when blooming season arrived I was left with a severe shortage of sunflowers, but the perfect yellow dress for my daughter to wear. So, I started looking for sunflowers everywhere I drove and finally, I saw a small patch in a park just down the road from our house. I knew this was not a lot of space to shoot, but I had to make it work. And early one evening I cut the remaining flowers I had grown so she could use them for a bouquet, had my daughter get ready, and headed out.
When we got there, I realized the small patch of flowers, coupled with the slope of the terrain that put her above me, would make it obvious in photos that it was just a few flowers. Envisioning final portraits that looked like she was in a flower field, I knew I had to make some adjustments. And then it started to rain. I quickly got us back in the car, drove home to get a small ladder, and returned just as the rain stopped. I was then able to use the ladder to shoot from above her in many photos, changing the angle to make it look like there were more flowers behind her in some of the shots. And because we weren't in a large flower field, I was also able to get some shots that took advantage of the beauty of the surrounding area, as well as her new high school in the background of one.
This was a great reminder that many times conditions aren't ideal, but what you make of them sometimes turns out to be better than what you ever hoped for. Photography lesson, life lesson.
...and the inspiration photo.
Now, I'm not going to lie, conditions definitely were not ideal for this session. I had wanted to do them during "the golden hour" so we could walk down the beach and get some shots with some of Pismo Beach's beautiful rock formations but we had to return the rented surfboard well before we could make this happen. So we stuck around the pier so we could block the harsh sun with the pilings for many shots. Of course the weather also decided it didn't want to work with us and the forecast for 75 degrees turned into the 60's, making it pretty chilly in the shade. For a tween that is not exactly thrilled to do a photo session, a lack of ideal conditions can be disasterous. But I think despite the challenges we got some pretty good shots and I'll definitely be adding a few to the seasonal images I display of her throughout the year in our home.
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As for what type of session to book, I categorize them by time allocated to capture the images and the number of images needed. Need a couple images for personal branding or business cards, it's a headshot session that will take about 15 minutes. Want something more extensive with a full gallery of images to choose from in different poses, on location in a scenic spot, and about an hour of photography time? That's a portrait session. Lots of individuals have portraits taken for a special occasions like a birthday, graduation, or a pregnancy or branding for their business website and social media. The images in this bog post are a mix of headshot sessions and portrait sessions and I bet for some you can't tell what type of session it was. Still not sure what type of session you want or need? Contact me and we can discuss your options!
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Little Noah.. A comparison as a newborn, at six months, and a year. I love photographing these little ones with the same props to show how much they've grown!
For Scout's birthday theme I went simple, using primary colors. But the big accomplishment was baking him a dog friendly birthday cake made of peanut butter, pumpkin, applesuace and other canine approved ingredients. And while I didn't let him devour the entire cake, he did seem to like it. Is that a smile I see? For me, it definitely needed some sugar. Yes, yes... I tasted it. Don't judge. If I'm willing to photography a cake smash session for a dog, I'm willing to taste the cake.
]]>I have a small easel on our entryway table that holds a seasonal photo of Katie. I change it out each time I change my seasonal decor and when decorating this year, I realized the last fall photo session of her was the sunflower session we did, three years ago. It was definitely time for an update, so I took her down to the park near our house and bribed her to take photos... just like a toddler... with the promise of ice cream. Despite this getting her to smile was a bit difficult at times. She wanted to try some serious looks which I was fine with, but most of them made her look a bit miserable. But with lots of shots, you are bound to get some good ones and I think we did. While she isn't a fan of getting her photo taken these days, I know she will appreciate having them when she is older and I definitely appreciate them now.
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I photographed big brother Sean almost five years ago and while he was a doll then, he has grown up into such a handsome young man. I love that I got to capture images of these two brothers together and while sometimes Sean insisted on being serious we did get a few smiles out of him. He is such a sweet big brother who I know will be a big help to Mom and Dad. I also got to capture my favorite pose with Mom who looked amazing as well as some sweet photos with Dad.
This studio session was also a chance to test out my new, but smaller studio space in Parker, CO. In the end we had plenty of room to capture some great images of little Padraic. Welcome to the world sweet boy and congratulations Adam and Erica!
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I did a lot of research to find the perfect dog for our family and we decided on a Cavapoo (Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel / Poodle mix). He is smart, very affectionate, and playful. He is small enough to fly with us on our vacations, adventurous on our Jeep trips (he can even jump into my lifted Jeep with huge tires by himself), and gets along well with people, other dogs and even the deer that visit our fence-line. And of course, he is non-shedding... which was pretty important to me.
Now when you are a newborn photographer and you have a new little puppy, a session like this is bound to happen. I treated this session like any other newborn session, making sure our little Scout was tuckered out before taking him into the studio, wrapping and posing him in the same fashion, and letting my first time "Mom" know what I was doing at all times so she was comfortable during the session. Of course, my daughter is the most nervous new Mom I've ever had, so while Scout was easy to work with, she was a bit of a challenge.
Today he is far from a pup and I am so glad I captured these moments when he was an itty bitty thing. Much like our own little newborn babies, these pups grow up quickly and I can barely remember how different he looked without these images to reflect on. We have several framed prints in our house and I know the entire family will treasure them for years to come.
I started working on this set weeks in advance, creating a replica of the baby stroller/pod from the show with papier mache and my passable painting skills. I also created some fake "sand" out of pillow stuffing and paint in order to blend the planet of Tatooine background with our paper floor drop. Finally, I commissioned a friend who does some really cool 3D printing (details below) to create a replica of the Mandalorian's spaceship, the Razor Crest. It stayed in flight for most of the session but still remained a cute prop after it crash landed just before the bathtub photos... Spoiler alert: it's definitely in way better shape than the "real" Razor Crest.
Jonathan had so much fun as he smashed his cake, played with the stroller pod, and smeared icing over Mando's helmet. Luckily he quickly learned that the cake tasted better than the fake sand and dug in, eventually dumping his cake and getting his feet in the action before bath time.
While we used the Mandalorian theme for the cake smash and bath tub clean up photos, we were sure to get some before and after photos of Jonathan including some classic shots of him in a cute blue and tan outfit and some fun shots with a Super Nintendo theme. And how perfectly it worked out that he had wild hair after his nice warm bubble bath for photos in his "Wild One" outfit! This little guy was so happy and agreeable for the entire session it was difficult to chose the final images but Mom and Dad will be documenting Jonathan's cake smash with a beautiful album they are sure to show his first girlfriend when they reach that milestone! Such a pleasure to work with, I can't wait to see this family again!
Special thanks to Wayne Adams for his 3D Razor Crest print. Wayne is located in Aurora, CO and does commission work!
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As you can see from the images I've included, kids photos topped the list of favorites this year. I love the challenge of photographing children. And those that are parents can attest to the fact that there are definitely ages when children are way more challenging to photograph than others. I feel such a sense of accomplishment when I am able to capture great shots during a child's early life. Whether it is during a family photo session, a cake smash, or annual portraits, when I get those shots that parents can't believe I was able to capture, I'm thrilled.
I think everyone knows I love cake smash sessions and this Western-themed session was so much fun to plan and shoot. This little guy had the best smiles. And how can you not laugh at his shenanigans?
This little guys was just shy of two years old when I photographed him during a family session and he was full of energy and personality. Picking up rocks and exploring nature, he had no time to stop for photos. Needless to say, he gave me a run for my money! But I pulled out all the stops (coming home with pants that were wet up to my knees and hay in my hair) and got some great images of him and his family. And this shot! How can you not just melt when you see this face?
While all the other images that made the list were kids, I just had to include this image. Back in January, before the world got crazy, I took engagement photos for some friends while we were vacationing together near Zion National Park. I loved the images from this session so much, it was difficult to pick just one image for this list. We had lots of shots that focused closely on this gorgeous couple but I just love the epic scenery and the carefree interaction we captured in this one. It's an image that truly deserves to be showcased as artwork in their home... if they ever give up their nomadic RV lifestyle of course!
One of my creative sessions captured this beauty in a replica of Norman Rockwell's "Girl at a Mirror". While the actual session was short, the set up for this was quite detailed as I tried to replicate everything as closely as possible while still giving it a personal touch. Interested in comparing it to the original? Take a look at the blog post! I think it turned out perfectly!
Newborn sessions were definitely a challenge this year and to be quite honest with you, I did very few. These sessions are several hours and they are done inside my studio that is pretty warm to keep babies comfy and sleepy. So as much as I love photographing newborns, I was quite hesitant this year. Not only was I cautious about Covid, but I knew these sessions would take a toll on me. Roasting was an understatement as I got a workout with a mask on and the heater going in the middle of summer. No need for hot yoga! In addition, because of Covid we waited until it seemed a little safer for this "newborn" who was three months old when I captured his photos. With the ideal age to photograph a newborn being 7-14 days, you know I had my work cut out for me. But the photos turned out beautifully and I'm so proud of them.
Separation anxiety is quite common for one year old kiddos and when we did some classic portraits as part of this little one's cake smash session with her twin brother she did not want to leave Mom. So I went to my go-to set up of having Mom lay on the floor and had her sit on Mom's stomach. If I hadn't told you, you'd never know, right? And while she didn't crack a smile, I love this serious look. It reminds me of those old-time photos my grandmother had hanging in little oval frames... when nobody smiled for photos. An instant classic!
I photographed this paint splatter themed cake smash session for a family who had previously had newborn images taken with me and it was so much fun to work with them again this year. This little guy was just adorable and this expression just cracks me up!
I love it when a child shows their personality... and this little one was fiery! She seesawed back and forth between silly and excited to strong and defiant. Exactly how a two year old should be! We captured a lot of great photos during her session but I'm pretty sure this is a favorite for me... and for Mom!
I love this shot so much! I normally capture Mom and baby in this pose and while I did that for this session I just had to include it as one of the poses with big brother. Mom was unable to get newborn photos with him when he was little so it was especially important to capture these two together. It's simple, it's stunning, and I love it.
Of course my favorite photo of the year is going to be of my daughter... I'm biased and I should be! I love seeing a vision come to fruition and while it didn't turn out exactly as I had planned, I truly love this composite image of her that is now on a canvas in her room. She is such a fan of wolves and it was exactly what she needed to complete her room makeover this year! I have a list of photo ideas for her and this was one of them. I definitely need to check a few of these off the list in 2021!
Which image is your favorite? Leave a comment and let me know. Have a Happy New Year! See you in 2021!
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The day of the session it snowed lightly all day and stopped not long before our session, giving it the perfect touch for holiday photos! Their beautiful golden retriever, Rocket, made an appearance for a few photos and we made things a little more festive with some steamy mugs of hot chocolate and antlers for Rocket. I love how these turned out and can't wait to do some more snowy photo sessions!
Interested in family photos? Contact me today for your personalized session!
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I grabbed a few shots before needing to get dinner on the table and although I definitely wanted to get a bit of her outfit in an image for the photo with Santa, my favorite shot is the closeup. I sometimes forget how much I love these shots that I have captured in the past for high-school seniors and I'm glad I didn't this time. I know I'm biased but I love this little face!
This truck was in the perfect setting on their property for holiday portraits, set against pine trees in the snow that lingered on the ground thanks to the shady location. Chatting with Chris before the session, I learned that this wasn't just any truck on their property, it is the truck he inherited from his grandfather so it has very special meaning to the family!
We captured images of the entire family as well as some shots of the kids and some couples photos while the kids played amongst the trees. Despite the very cold temperatures this entire family was so easy to work with and the kiddos not only gave me some great smiles but also some funny faces to show off their personality, which I love. I'm so happy I was able to capture these special photos for the family and can't wait to work with them again!
Interested in family photos? Contact me today to discuss your custom portrait session!
Use your digital download image for holiday cards, social media posts, or prints.
Want your image turned into a beautiful heirloom quality canvas, print, or ornament to display in your home each Christmas? I'm also happy to provide this service (additional fees apply) for my clients.
First image: $20. Each additional: $15
CONTACT ME |
Please note: You may either submit a horizontal image (as shown) or a vertical image (not shown). Final digital image(s) will be provided via electronic transfer without watermark. |
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Interested in portraits for you little one? Contact me today to discuss a customized session!
Interested in family photos? Contact me today to discuss a personalized session!
I'll definitely be adding one of these to the collection of mounted prints I display on an easel in our home... now to decide which one! Which one is your favorite? Leave a comment at the end of this blog post and help me decide!
Interested in a unique, custom photo session for your little one(s)? Contact me today for details!
I got the idea for the farm theme after I picked up a miniature cowboy hat for a cake smash session. I thought... how cute would these little guys be wearing a miniature hat? Our neighbor friends happened to have this amazing little John Deere tractor toy that they kindly let me borrow and I picked up a miniature hay bale from Lowes before heading out to my favorite photo spot with my daughter to act as an assistant.
Of course as a brand ambassador for Great Divide Brewing Co, I had to grab a couple shots with an appropriate beer and my favorite shot is Copper chewing on some hay next to a can of Colette, a farmhouse ale, that was perfect for this session.
Contact me today to discuss professional headshots for all your business needs!
Now when you are with an animal as fierce as a wolf, you have to be fierce yourself, so the perfect outfit was necessary. I immediately envisioned a post-apocalyptic warrior type outfit and bought all the components necessary for it, complete with a sword. With her hair wild and messy, we headed out to one of my favorite wooded photography spots. We shot at a couple different spots but when we were about to head home I decided I wanted a few photos by a huge tree that is half dead. Almost at the car, my daughter begrudgingly trudged over for a few more shots and I'm glad she did. I think it was the perfect spot for the photo with the wolf and while I intended to just create one photo image, I ended up with some cool shots of her alone that I thought were keepers. While the wolf shot will be on a unique hanging canvas in her room, all of these images will go into her annual photo album.
Interested in a themed photo session? I love planning and creating unique sessions.
Contact me today to see what we can create together!
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I'm so pleased that despite a few "hurdles" we needed to overcome for this session, we captured some beautiful images. You see, I normally photograph newborns when they are about a week old because they very sleepy and super "squishy" for posing, but as I mentioned Kian was already 3 months old when I photographed him. In addition, health and safety was a huge consideration so the session length was limited. And with a warm room temperature to keep Kian as cozy as possible, I had to take a couple quick breaks outside to cool down since I wore a mask (as did everyone when they weren't being photographed) for the session. While I did concentrate mostly on wrapped shots, you wouldn't be able to tell from the photos that this session was different from other newborn sessions. And the nice thing about a session this "late" was the great smiles and awake shots I photographed as well as the fact that Mom had a little bit longer to bounce back to her pre-pregnancy figure. As you can see she has been working hard and looked fantastic when she arrived at the studio. Because of that I did a little variation on image I normally take with Moms, capturing more of a full body shot. I am so pleased with all the images. Kian and his parents were a dream to work with and I'm happy they will have these newborn images and a beautiful album to treasure for a lifetime!
Interested in a newborn session for your little one? It's not too late! Contact me today to discuss a custom session.
When Ansel's Mom requested a painting theme for this session, ideas immediately started popping into my head. I envisioned one element being a canvas that Ansel actually painted himself, so I dropped off a canvas and some paint for Ansel and got to work creating some custom props, including a backdrop. On the day of the session, Ansel showed up with his masterpiece (he may be the next Picasso!) and the perfect cake.
Ansel was a dream for his newborn photos, but he seemed a little more skeptical about this session. That's not uncommon at this age because kiddos can be a little anxious about being away from Mom... even if she is in sight! But after some coaxing, playing, and being silly in the studio, he warmed up to sitting on his own and we ended up with some great photos. As you will see, the cake portion of the session was definitely a hit but Mom, Dad, and I all love the bathtub photos too! No doubt they will reappear sometime in his teenage years so Mom and Dad can have a little fun with them!
Interested in a custom cake smash session for your little one? Contact me today to discuss what we can create together!
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I'll admit I didn't know what to expect from them because during our consultation these two were a bit quiet and reserved... but it didn't take long for them to come out of their shell when we started capturing their images. In fact, Chase was quite the character as he goofed around and brought out lots of genuine smiles and maybe a couple of eye rolls from Bethany... all in good fun of course! She was such a good sport and even posed for a shot while nibbling a bit of hay with him. They seemed to truly have a good time together as you can see from the images, and I enjoyed hanging out with them and capturing these fun moments. These are the types of clients that make my job so much fun!
Interested in capturing some memories with your significant other?
Contact me today to discuss the perfect session!
For Wyatt's session Mom wanted a rustic mountain theme, which was very different from big brother Liam's construction themed cake smash session I photographed back in 2018. I tend to gravitate towards rustic elements so I was excited to get to work building a custom set that I think turned out perfectly for this family. I quickly got into the garage with my saw and cut some plywood, then painted blue and gray caps of snow as well as a matching number one. I pulled out my Christmas bins for some greenery, miniature evergreen trees, and a rustic garland, grabbed a lantern from our living room and a crate from my stash of props in the studio and put it all together with a wooden cake plate. When Mom showed up with a simple, beautiful cake and this little cutie, everything was complete!
As always I captured some simple timeless "before photos" in addition to photographing the main event and finished up with some playtime in the bath tub.
Contact me today to discuss a custom cake smash session to celebrate your little one's first birthday!
While the one to one ratio of the original photo was likely appropriate for the Saturday Evening Post publication, I recreated the image in an 8x10 (below) ratio that is more appropriate for framing today, while still allowing for both image sizes to contain all the elements of the original.
The Back Story:
The additional time at home that many had due to COVID19 Stay at Home orders prompted a string of recreations of famous paintings. Some of these image recreations were very true to the original while some used fun elements for the situation, including toilet paper and disinfectant. You can see some of the recreations on this Twisted Sifter post. Even school art teachers jumped on this trend which I found out about when my daughter's art teacher sent out an assignment to recreate a Norman Rockwell image. I saw some classmates images that were super cute and funny.... think The Music Man, and was immediately excited to do this as a photographer with time on my hands! I created the image for my daughter (below) in my home studio and posted it on social media which led to being contacted to recreate it for my client after Stay at Home orders were lifted.
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While the original image of my daughter was a pretty good recreation of the painting, it was a quick capture and definitely less exact than the recreation above. For example, she sat on a low table instead of a smaller wooden bench. The image dimensions and cropping were not the same. And since my daughter doesn't like dolls, a bear had to serve a a stand in. I also think she has more of a miserable face than a face of contemplation and sadness as planned... but that's typical for my daughter, asking "are we done yet" in between shots for this project. Kids are way less cooperative for their own parents it seems, but I'm still thrilled I captured this image of her. |
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Contact me today to discuss a personalized first birthday session for your little one!
I ordered a bunny from Amazon, pulled a dress from her closet, and put up a pink backdrop I had in the studio. After getting the bunny (who sat in our garage quarantine for a few days), I set up for a quick photo session with her. During the session she even ended up sitting on the bunny's lap at one point but made up for squishing him with lots of hugs and snuggles. It was a fun time for her and she got to keep the cuddly bunny after the session. I not only got some photos of her with the "Easter Bunny" but some spring photos to show how much she is growing up!
If you are interested in capturing photos of your little ones when the dust settles from the Covid19 pandemic, contact me today!
Recently I was contacted by the nicest couple who asked me to photograph their upcoming newborn shower including the Godh Bharai ceremony. This is the Indian celebration conducted during the 7th month of pregnancy to welcome the unborn baby into the family. In Hindi, the words God Bharai literally mean to fill the lap with abundance and blessings. In addition to this ceremony, additional fun activities that are typically a part of Western showers, included a cake cutting and games that had everyone laughing hysterically.
I was happy to capture images of the shower, as well as lots of photos with family and friends and a few quick outdoor shots of the proud Mom and Dad to be. Congratulations to these expectant parents on the pending arrival of baby boy!
Contact me today to discuss your photography needs!
Congratulations to Mom, Dad, and big brother on the new addition to your family!
Interested in newborn photos that suit your families needs?
Contact me today to discuss your customized session!
Interested in newborn photos? Contact me today to discuss your customized session!
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During the session it took a few minutes for little Michael to warm up but soon he was full of giggles and splashes! He made the cutest little faces and I'm so glad I was able to capture his mischievous little looks that really show his personality. I'm excited to be delivering a beautiful album of favorite images and a canvas for Dad's office soon!
Interested in a cake smash and splash session to celebrate your little one's first birthday? Contact me today to discuss your custom session!
Contact me today to discuss a personalized smash and splash session for your little one!
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Interested in a custom cake smash session for your little one? Contact me today for more information!
Please note: While I really wanted to capture these images, my first consideration was safety and avoiding a choking hazard. Mom ensured me that while her daughter loves playing with her food, she isn't exactly a fan of eating it, which made her perfect for this. Despite Mom's reassurance, I was sure to have both Mom and an assistant standing close by to monitor the session. If you are photographing children of this age, please remember to put safety first.
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For the Labor Day weekend we headed out to Collegiate Peaks campground outside Buena Vista. During our stay, my daughter insisted we go explore the little creek by our campsite. Of course I brought a beer and my camera along and snapped a couple shots. But I have to give credit to my daughter for this one. This location was her idea and it was perfect. Photographer in the making? Maybe so!
Part of the camping trip I spent testing out my new hammock while some of it was spent exploring some Buena Vista, Leadville, and Fairplay. While in the South Park area of Fairplay I noticed these hops growing along a wall and had to stop for a photo opportunity.
A bit later in September I set off on an epic adventure... and the last of my camping excursions for the year. I traveled with a group of friends to spend three days and two nights tackling the infamous Rubicon Trail with my Jeep! This 22 mile trail is where the Jeep Rubicon gets it's name and part of the trail is used as a testing ground by Jeep and many aftermarket Jeep product companies. And while there are lots of trails in California, this one is really a must do for a serious off-road adventurer. Not only are there tough obstacles, but the scenery is beautiful! During the 16 hour drive from Colorado, I stopped at both the Great Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats for some photo opportunities (and a bit of racing on the salt flats)!
Some epic views and gorgeous lily pad ponds were great spots for beer photos while on the Rubicon Trail.
And of course there were some obligatory photos with the Jeeps in our group.
At the end of the trail we celebrated with lunch and amazing views!
When you finish the trail and run into some rangers what do you do? Ask them if you can take beer photos with their vehicle of course!
When I returned home from California fall was definitely upon us! The sunflowers my daughter and I had grown from seed in our raised planter this year were blooming and ready to be used for some beautiful bouquets. I used this bouquet for a fall photo session with her, and afterward a can of Colette provided the perfect "vase". And of course I had to get creative with some Halloween images. Pulling the wings off my daughter's favorite bat did not go over well, but they got sewn back on and she finally forgave me :) And I tested my skills of pumpkin carving... I've learned my limits because that definitely does not look like the cut out of a beer mug like it was supposed to!
Color inspired me for the photo of the Mexican Yeti Stout (which is definitely one of my favorites), during a fall Jeeping trip over Red Cone pass. And of course the Colette gave me the opportunity to show off my fall dining room decor!
Fun events like the Great American Beer Festival and a beertography Meetup were opportunities for a few images.
And when I had the opportunity to pick up some whiskey barrels that were used to age Great Divide's famous Yeti stout, not only did I get a couple photos, I also made lots of fun Christmas gifts and a couple items for our own home (see one of those below) after breaking them down and getting creative.
An early December trip to Philly, Vermont, and New Hampshire resulted in a few photos with iconic locations... Pat's King of Steaks (and a go to for me whenever I'm in the area), the Dartmouth College campus (Animal House!), and one of the many covered bridges in New England.
Finally, some cold weather and holiday decor were the inspiration for my final images of the year!
Thanks to Great Divide for my beer supply as well as lots of fun events! And of course a special thanks to all my models, friends and family who humor me while I take time out of our adventures to snap these images.
]]>These two are always up for anything and their nomadic lifestyle is a true adventure. Although they call the Denver area their home, they have been traveling the country in their motorhome for more than two years. Living in such a small space for that long is truly a testament to their relationship... I'm not sure many couples could do it. So when I heard that Josh had proposed to Ally I honestly thought, i'ts about time :)
Their engagement story was no less of an adventure as Josh popped the question in the perfection location. While skipping rocks on the shores of Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, Josh happened to find the perfect "rock". He had someone there to take photos and a family celebration waiting in the wings unbeknownst to Ally.
For their engagement photos, it was only fitting to photograph them at another epic location. So while they were vacationing with my family and some other friends in Utah, we set out to Zion National Park for an afternoon of hiking and photos. We captured images at the top of the Canyon Overlook Trail and some scenery along the Virgin River for some spectacular backdrops as well as some more intimate photos of the couple.
I couldn't be happier for this fun-loving couple and wish them a lifetime of happiness and adventure!
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NUMBER TEN:
There's just something about a new big brother and his excitement that you can't help but love. I've worked with this family for many years and I love watching their family grow. This past year I photographed maternity and newborn sessions for them and it was awesome to hear that big brother was saying my name as they pulled up to the studio!
NUMBER NINE
I really enjoy working with seniors and while it's always difficult to narrow down my favorite image, I have a new love for these closely framed shots that really showcase their beauty and personality. See more images from this session, including some perfect for her yearbook, here.
NUMBER EIGHT
This little cutie visited me in the studio for newborn images last year and returned for his cake smash and splash birthday session in June. Mom and Dad chose a Rockies theme and I loved coming up with a custom session to capture this milestone and create another beautiful album for their collection!
NUMBER SEVEN
I had such a fun time photographing my beautiful friend and fellow photographer this past November. We got together to take each others headshots at Red Rocks Park which provides great backgrounds no matter what time of year. This wild brush that turns yellow in the fall provided a stunning setting for a few shots and this image was among my favorites for this session. I'm excited she will be featuring many of the images for her branding and social media content!
NUMBER SIX
It's not often that I have the opportunity to photograph twins and this session was especially fun because it was the twins of a good friend. While we had lots of great shots from this session, this aviator themed image is definitely my favorite. Admittedly, it was a bit of work, but it was well worth it to capture this photo for Mom, who is a pilot. We also captured an aviator themed image at their sitter session and while this one is featured on canvas in their home, both will be in the album documenting their first year!
NUMBER FIVE
Here is the beautiful Mom of those cute kids in photograph ten. This dress was just gorgeous on her and it was difficult to decide between this image and one with her smiling older son that we captured during the session.
NUMBER FOUR
Of course my daughter has to make it into my Top 10 each year! She's cute and I'm biased! This year we did lots of sessions together including a spring session in the studio, a summer Coca Cola themed session, a fall sunflower session, and Christmas images in the studio. We had a blast together during this session, possibly because she got to drink her first Coca Cola and she was full of energy! Hmmm.... I wonder why. I've showcased this image in our home as one of the mounted prints I rotate by season.
NUMBER THREE
This wonderful family came to me for portraits because they had never had professional photos taken and said it was time! I'm so glad they did I because we had a fantastic session and they now have some beautiful canvases hanging in their home. I loved everything about this image... the background, the foreground, the well coordinated outfits, the adorable kids, the genuine smiles. What's not to love?
NUMBER TWO
Six week olds are a bit more challenging to photograph than newborns at the one or two week mark, but this gorgeous little one made it well worth it. So many beautiful images from her session but this one is just sooo sweet and is definitely being featured prominently in this family's home in both an album and one of the canvases in the nursery!
NUMBER ONE
Cute, cute, cute is all I can say about this little guy with a little felted teddy, miniature bed and those cute little pants. We got several shots in this set up but this one with his dangling leg is definitely my favorite and my number one photo of this year! It's one of the many images that was included in this family's beautiful newborn album.
I met Kelly when I hired her to photograph my daughter's birthday party, something I try to do every year so I can enjoy the festivities and still get great photos for an album. I liked her right away and we stayed in touch, meeting up for drinks and dinner and talking for hours. Our headshot session was no different as afterwards we stopped by a neighborhood watering hole for some great food and conversation.
I'll admit, I'm always a bit nervous when I photograph other photographers and their families but Kelly is easy going (just one of the reasons she is such an awesome wedding photographer) and we were soon just hanging out again, chatting and experimenting with our images.
We spent most of our time down by a little bridge that had some beautiful brush... perfect for bringing out the yellow in Kelly's outfit. We chatted and played around with poses a bit longer than planned. Despite this, we still had time for a short walk to a different spot where the red rocks were still visible despite the sinking sun. The rusty colored background was another perfect setting for photos and I'm so glad we didn't skip this stop.
It was fun to do a bit of experimenting with no pressure and we are definitely going to make it a habit!
Thanks Kelly for such a fun "session"! Can't wait for the next one!
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Happy Holidays to Everyone! May Your Images be Merry and Bright and Your Christmases Be White!
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And I just have to include this beautiful shot of Mom almost a year ago before these littles arrived.
Charlotte was a bit particular about the positions she wanted to be in, which is pretty typical of a newborn at six weeks, and while we kept her wrapped and cozy for most of her images featured in pink for Mom's requested girly images, we still had the opportunity to capture some images with a travel theme and a scale photo, at Dad's request, as well as a Christmas image since it is so close to the holidays!
I just love how little Charlotte's images turned out and I can't wait to deliver a beautiful album, canvases, prints and gift items to this wonderful family. It was such a pleasure working with them and I'm looking forward to seeing Charlotte and the rest of the family in the studio for her first birthday cake smash and splash session next year!
Wishing her the best for an amazing senior year and everything that follows!
Interested in senior photos? Contact me today to discuss your personalized session and available products!
Interested in senior photos? Contact me today to discuss your personalized session and available products!
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I'm sure many of you have seen photos taken in sunflower fields and I myself have always wanted to do a session like this but found it is way more difficult than you might think. Not only do these amazing flowers have a short bloom time, the greatest problem is finding a field that allows the public (and photographers) to wander through these rows of sunlight on a stem. Most of these fields are private property and trespassing is strictly enforced (even though you may not see no trespassing signs). It's understandable because those gorgeous sunflowers are very fragile and damaging them is financially detrimental to these hard working farmers. With that in mind, this year my daughter and I decided to grow our own little sunflower field. While not a large field of flowers, we planted enough seeds in our raised garden early this year to yield some beautiful bouquets.
With the short bloom time and our crazy schedules I had very little time for a sunflower session with her. So late one afternoon I borrowed a dress from my studio that I use for princess sessions, cut some flowers for a bouquet and headed out to a small park about a mile from our house. With storm clouds rolling in (as well as a Girl Scout meeting to get to), we had a short opportunity to grab some photos. While my daughter is very used to being behind the camera, she is not always the most cooperative model despite the finished images everyone sees... and this session was a reminder. The pending storm made for hurried conditions. The wind forced us to do a quick hairstyle change. The sunlight was too bright for her despite the cloudy conditions. There were bugs, "pokey" grasses, a small snake (harmless and thankfully unnoticed by her), and of course "prickly" sunflower stems she was determined not to touch. Needless to say, things did not start well but I was determined and 8 minutes ended up being all I needed to grab a few shots I think are keepers. If you think your little one(s) are difficult to photograph, you are not alone. Just know it is worth the effort (and sometimes pain) to have photos of them that will last a lifetime.
Interest in capturing images of your little one? Contact me today to discuss a personalized session!
]]>This is the fourth year I have photographed these awesome kids and it is so great to catch up with them and watch them grow up! Every year I make sure to change things up a big with the location and props to ensure they have unique photos. This year I used a simple set up but wanted the personalization of them writing their own names on a chalkboard I picked up. A few apples and a cool stool I had in the studio finished out the prop selection and we headed to 17 Mile House Farm Park for a quick session just after school started. While we took themed back to school photos we also captured some classic portraits in the fields.
Best wishes to these kiddos for a fun and productive school year!
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Occasionally you come across an opportunity that was made for you and that's what happened to me early this summer. I was talking with a friend and learned she is an Ambassador for Great Divide Brewing. After chatting about it for a while I knew it was something I wanted to do. Why? It incorporated three things that I love... adventure, photography, and great beer!
It's goes without saying that I'm passionate about photography. I love creating images that are unique and memorable for my clients and I get so much satisfaction knowing their photos are hanging in their home where they can enjoy them everyday. I avidly take photos of my own daughter and I love capturing landscape and nature photos, some of which are featured in galleries. But this new venture allowed me the opportunity to do some creative and fun work on my own time.
Those who know me know that I am frequently off on an adventure, whether it's exploring a new location or taking part in some adrenaline filled experience... I rock climb, hike, camp and have been know to fish (although I don't catch too much). I like getting off the beaten path and I drive a modified Jeep that allows me to travel to locations most can't... where I find old mines, beautiful lakes and pristine waterfalls. I like watersports... tubing, white water rafting, and waterskiing. And I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie who has been skydiving, bungee jumping, spelunking, and rappeling.
As for beer I'll admit that before I moved to Colorado I was more of a wine fan. We lived in Virginia's Loudoun County wine country where our home was within 5 miles of 5 wineries. But after moving to the land of amazing craft beer, things can change quickly. I started dabbling in wheat beers, found I love porters, and even like a nice low key sour or a citrus-y IPA.
Now Great Divide Ambassadors have a very simple task... take great photos of their beer incorporated with journeys and adventures. So obviously this is is a perfect fit for me. Below are some of the images I captured for Great Divide on my summer adventures (June, July, and August). Stay tuned to see what photo opportunities the colder months afford.
When I heard Medano Creek at Great Sand Dunes National Monument was running at epic levels I had to take my husband and our daughter down for some beach time, Colorado style. We took a picnic and some beach chairs, a tube for her to cruise down the river, and of course my camera. What's more refreshing than some snow melt and a couple cold brews on a hot day?
The view of the Collegiate Peaks from Buena Vista is stunning and the perfect spot to relax with a brew... and take a photo of course.
While many times I have a vision for the images I'm planning on taking, occasionally an opportunity just presents itself. While vacationing in Buena Vista I spotted these tractors and knew I had to photograph Great Divide's Colette (a saison that pays homage to Belgian farm workers) with it's depiction of a female farmhand holding a pitchfork on the can. And while grabbing some pizza with family at High Mountain Pies in Leadville, I noticed Colette was on the menu, so I grabbed one for this shot with their signature pizza... the Crocodile.
Beer and camping go hand in hand and, so....
I've been know to get my Jeep up on three wheels more frequently than I would like... which is why I named it "Tipsy". Of course now the name can definitely hold a double meaning, although never while driving... I enjoyed this beer when we got home from our Jeep outing.
I had an the idea for this shot from the very beginning and just had to create the opportunity to get up on three wheels while I had the time for a photograph. Normally when I'm on three wheels it's WAY more precarious and I want to remedy the situation as quickly as possible. LOL.
And can I just say how much I love the can on the Heyday... a girl in a Jeep with her hair blowing in the wind. Thank you Great Divide! I feel like it was made for me... although it should have been a four door ;)
Great Divide's Lager came out just before the 4th of July and this can was perfect for some shots with red, white, and blue!
It takes a strong beer to hold up a falling mine so I think Great Divide's 25th Anniversary Big Yeti was the perfect beer for this shot at 13.5% ABV. Actually the Allie Belle Mine has been falling for many years and every year I'm shocked to see that it is still standing. If you are ever near St Elmo, Colorado you can drive right past this mine on the way to the old Hancock town site. This shot was more difficult than I imagined... getting the angle right was tough and I ended up laying in a big puddle of mud to do it... not the first time I've ever done that for a photo though.
If you live in Colorado you may have heard of Rails and Ales... many of the scenic railways have an annual journey that couples gorgeous views with great local beers.
This growler of Great Divide's Maple Pecan Yeti was perfect for an afternoon by the Arkansas River. This is probably one of my favorite beers to date... unfortunately it was brewed in limited distribution for Great Divide's 25th Anniversary Party. Please bring this one back soon!!!
Speaking of the 25th anniversary party, I had the pleasure of helping out at this event and had such a great time! Checking guests in and patrolling for empty beer cans and cups might not sound exciting, but I loved making the rounds and chatting with all the guests. And of course, I got to drink some great beer while doing so!
Apparently even chipmunks love a cold Colette! LOL
Actually this is another concept shot I had in mind from the beginning. Every year while Jeeping out in the Collegiate Peaks area we stop at the chipmunk pile in the "ghost" town of St Elmo. Here you can buy a bag of sunflower seeds from the general store and feed these cute little critters. My daughter loves it and it has become an annual tradition. So this year I took a can of Colette and enticed a few to pose. I mean, who doesn't love a Chuggin' Chipmunk?
The Yeti hunting shot was another concept I had and I just needed to find the right location, while the shot on the left was spur of the moment while on a hiking trail near Steamboat Springs, Co.
Sometimes something as simple as can color inspires me. As much as I'm out on hiking trails, it was difficult not to photograph the Titan more... I just love how it looks with lots of greenery around it. And Great Divide's Lager was a perfect match for this yummy treat...
One of these things is not like the others... While hiking with friends who are expert mushroom hunters (don't eat wild mushrooms unless you know exactly what you are doing!) I got this idea. We brought the mushrooms back to camp and before cooking them up for dinner, I set them up in a line with a Big Yeti and took this shot.
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Sometimes when I know a hike is going to be difficult or I just want to pack light, I only take one beer to photograph. And because I really love photographing a beer that "fits" in the surroundings I'm sometimes kicking my self when an opportunity for a photograph happens and I feel a different beer would have been a better choice. Not with this photo! While hiking in Aspen we discovered some Ice Caves we didn't know would be in our travels. So photographing the Hazy with "Fresh, COLD, Friends" was perfect sandwiched between two pieces of ice that were still melting in this cave in mid-August! You have to love the diversity of Colorado's nature! |
While on a trip to Glenwood Springs, my friend John took us out fly fishing. I didn't know if we would catch anything but I had a back-up plan with a net and some empty cans I had been saving. John actually caught one while I got one on the line but lost it before bringing it to shore. Despite that, it was an awesome afternoon on the river!
I took a photo of Lizard Lake years ago to add to my landscape photography collection and on a trip back to the location, just outside Marble, I decided to add beer. See the beerless image, entitled "Lazy Lizard" on my landscape photography page (image 18)!
It's not always possible to photograph beer with people, but when I'm traveling with friends I always take advantage of it. It's easy when I bribe them with free beer :)
Of course sometimes I ask random strangers to be beer models. You can't be shy about it and luckily I've never been turned down!
Waterfalls are definitely plentiful here in Colorado and make it into my images frequently. The image on the left is Adrenaline Falls just outside of Durango and the image on the right is Devils Punchbowl located just outside Aspen.
While not exactly an adventure, I couldn't leave out images from our daughter's end of summer birthday bash. We had a variety of Great Divide beer for adults at the party and had fun creating these shots.
(Photo credit - Kelly Vann Calaway Photography).
So after all the adventures and all the beer this summer, what was my favorite?
For beer?
I'd have to say the Roadie, Grapefruit Radler... an easy drinking summer beer with a little tartness and the Maple Pecan Yeti, an imperial stout which was available in limited quantities for Great Divide's 25th Anniversary party.
For adventure?
Definitely the trip to Great Sand Dunes with our daughter. It was such a unique and amazing experience to be there with Medano Creek was running at full flow. It's an amazing ecosystem that is absolutely one of a kind and should be experienced at least once. And it was so fun to watch our daughter have such a blast tubing in the creek! When it comes down to it, that's the ultimate adventure!
Thanks for stopping by the blog. May your beer be cold and your adventures be epic! And don't forget to revisit the blog to see my my fall beer adventures later this year!
Special thanks to all my beer holders... Ainslee, Jen, Jenny, John, Julia, Kayla, Kim, Laurel, Mark, Tera, Tiffany, and of course all the Great Divide 25th Anniversary Party guests!
And of course, thank you Great Divide for this fun opportunity and lots of great beer!
]]>With a name befitting of a photographer's son, Ansel was perfect for his session even when he decided he'd had enough sleep and was going to check out the studio. Of course we took advantage of this for a wide awake shot. We captured so many great images in this session it's difficult for me to chose a favorite! I just love him posed on the little bed, holding a felted teddy, with his head perched on his hands, swaddled up nice and cozy on a comfy gray blanket, and of course those shots with Mom!
Feel free to congratulate Mom and Dad and let them know which one is your favorite image in the comment section below!
Interested in a personalized newborn session? It's never to early to start planning! Contact me today to discuss how we can capture beautiful images of your little one and how to best to display them in your home!
Contact me today to schedule a complimentary, no obligation consultation for a newborn session.
Felted Teddy - Enchanted Baybee Designs
Miniature Metal Bed - Honey and Me
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Contact me today to schedule a complimentary consultation to discuss how we can capture your familiy's memories!
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While Katie is always pretty good during her photo sessions it was apparent she did not want this one to end, despite her initial reluctance. I'm pretty sure it's because this was her first taste of Coke and obviously she liked it! She kept picking out additional spots to take photos and tried out different poses while sipping her soda and chewing on her straw (Do all kids do this? LOL). We had a super fun time together and she must have had a bit of energy from the soda because she wanted me to take pictures while she was running. Of course I was happy to oblige.
This location turned out to be the perfect setting with an old white house with a porch and a path down to the treeline with fields along the way. With the barn and tractor equipment, some of the photos took on more of a farm feel than a Coca Cola but I love how they all turned out!
Interested in themed portraits? Contact me today to discuss a customized session!
Which image is your favorite? Let me know in the comment section below!
Contact me today to discuss a customized session for your little one or family!
]]>Contact me today to schedule a no obligation consultation to discuss your senior portrait session!
Contact me today to schedule a no obligation consultation to discuss your senior portrait session!
Contact me today for more information on senior portrait sessions.
]]>This time around, the family asked for something a little rustic and mentioned a camping theme. So when Mom told me she had crocheted a buffalo plaid blanket for their new little one I got a vision of just what to do. I had the perfect little buffalo plaid romper made for the session and set up a little camper scene. And as I normally do, I planned some neutral toned set-ups with a classic, but rustic look. We captured some family images and of course sibling shots during the session as well as some beautiful shots with Mom.
Finally, I knew I had to put Wyatt in this set-up not only because it's one of my favorites, but also because big brother was photographed in the same little chair. See his photo here!
I can't wait to watch both Wyatt and Liam grow and I'm already excited about a cake smash session for Wyatt when he turns one... maybe a camping theme??? Stay tuned!
Interested in a newborn session for your little one? Contact me today!
]]>Interested in a family session in the perfect setting? Contact me today to discuss family portrait location options!
]]>So when Joel and Alexis contacted me this year for their son Callahan's first birthday photos I was thrilled but I must say, a bit surprised. I photographed their little one as a newborn, but I knew they had moved out of state on a big adventure. Luckily, they were coming back to town to visit family and have a birthday party for little Callahan and they wanted to get some cake smash photos during their trip. So I got to work creating a Colorado Rockies baseball theme for them as they said it was one of the things they were still passionate about after moving out of state and wanted that to be the birthday theme. I had such a great time catching up with them and capturing this little cutie and his amazing smile!
Go Callahan and Go Rockies!
Interested in a smash and splash session for your little one's birthday? Contact me today for details!
]]>These days you can create gift registries for your new little one from a multitude of websites and stores, so why should newborn photography be any different? The gift of portraits is one that expectant parents will cherish long after their bundle of joy has outgrown yet another cute outfit or toy! This is why I now offer a photography registry service for my clients! Portraits, whether they are of your newborn, yourself, or your family are sure to be cherished forever and I am happy to provide not only beautiful images, but high-quality heirloom artwork such as wall art, albums and prints that can be passed down throughout the generations. And now friends and family can contribute!
The gift registry is a complimentary service offered to all newborn clients (registries for other types of sessions are available upon request). Each client has their own unique registry page with personalized URL that allows friends and family to purchase gift certificates in various denominations. Loved ones can chose to have the gift certificate sent to them so they can hand deliver at the shower, hospital, or another convenient time or have the gift certificate sent directly to the recipient. In addition, I will provide beautiful mini baby registry cards to be included in shower invitations or to hand out as needed.
Purchasing a gift certificate can be done online and only takes a few minutes. For those clients scheduling multiple session for baby's first year, the registry can be kept active so that family and friends can contribute for your little ones first birthday.
Simply book your session by paying your retainer fee and let me know that you would like a registry. Then send one of your favorite photos via email (or I can chose one if you have had a previous session with me) and I will create your personalized registry.
If you are having a shower I will send you (or your shower hostess) registry cards to send out with your shower invitations. I'll also email you with a link to your registry so that you may share the information with friends and family.
After your session, bring the gift certificates to your reveal and ordering appointment and apply them to your product purchase. Unused gift certificate amounts can be used for future sessions.
Visit the online gift registry and chose the dollar amount you would like to gift. Certificates are available in denominations of $25, $50, $75, $100, $200, $300, $400, and $500. Then chose whether you would like to have the gift certificate sent to the recipient or sent directly to you so that you may personally deliver it at the shower, hospital, etc. Then click purchase! It's that simple. Payments are made via Paypal, however if you don't have an account, just click on Pay by Credit Card and you can make a payment as a guest. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me! Remember gift certificates also make wonderful first birthday gifts for those fun smash and splash sessions!
View a sample registry page that will be personalized for each client.
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Accompanied by her husband and little one, we headed out to 17 Mile House Farm Park for some Spring photos. We captured some casual family shots as well as some gorgeous images of Mom in this beautiful maternity gown I have from Silk Fairies. And of course I had to give big brother his moment in the spotlight to show off his cute little smile! Just look how happy he is with Mom! Can I just say... Heart! Melting!
Contact me today for more information about newborn, maternity, and family photography sessions and please feel free to leave a comment below and congratulate this adorable family!
]]>As these girls grow and accomplish their goals, they rise through the ranks to the next level... Daisy to Brownie, Brownie to Junior, Junior to Cadette, Cadette to Senior, and Senior to Ambassador. Part of Girl Scout tradition is holding a "bridging" ceremony for troops as they transition to the next level as a way for troops to celebrate and honor their accomplishments. One of the ceremonial elements for this troop, which my daughter is a part of, is a ceremonial walk across a bridge wearing their current uniform and then receiving their new uniform. This year, as they bridged from Brownie to Junior, our girls and our troop leaders wanted to capture these memories and I was happy to help. Congratulations Troop 67285 on becoming Junior Girl Scouts and thank you to our amazing troop leaders and assistants for everything they do!
Subscribe to the blog to view upcoming posts of all the seniors from this session!
Contact me to discuss a fun senior session to capture your personality as you head into your senior year!
Contact me today to book your senior portrait session!
She had a great time trying out different poses and even threw on one of the headbands I have for my princess sessions. I can't believe how fast she is growing up and I'm so glad to capture her becoming a big girl!
Leave a comment below and let me know which photo is your favorite!
Interested in a portrait session for your little one? Contact me today for more information!
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Interested in a session or multiple sessions to document your little one growing up? Contact me today for information on a custom package!
Here is this handsome guy at about a week, 6 months, and one year. Oh how time flies and these little ones change!
Contact me today to schedule your session!
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Contact me today to discuss your customized maternity session!
Which image is your favorite? Comment below and let me know!
Click here to see more newborn images!
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Contact me today to for more information about sitter sessions for your little one!
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I'm so happy you clicked to get a glimpse of where the magic happens!
CONTACT ME to schedule your in-person tour of the studio!
I have had a dedicated studio for two years and I love it! It is ideal for client consultations, reveal/ordering appointments, and of course photo sessions! I typically use the studio for all my newborn, sitter, and first birthday smash and splash sessions. This allows me to take advantage of state of the art lighting, newborn posers, props and of course all those adorable hats, wraps, and headbands!
The sitting area of the studio is where I hold my consultations as well as reveal and ordering appointments. Here clients can relax with refreshments while we plan a customized session, view their images, and discuss which heirloom products are ideal for their home and family. For client convenience there is a refrigerator, microwave and coffee maker... and of course, a comfortable couch. More than one new Mom and Dad has caught a few zzz's here while I photograph their newborn. The studio is also equipped with a full bathroom that is not only convenient for clients, but is an ideal place for filing up those miniature bathtubs for smash and splash sessions!
During newborn sessions I can quickly access outfits, headbands, hats, props and backdrops.
Three different areas are available for capturing images. One is a dedicated area for posing newborns, the second is a large area ideal for cake smash sessions, newborn prop shots and family images with newborns and the third is a flexible space I use when I want to have a quick transition between multiple set-ups.
Want to learn more about the studio, custom sessions, and heirloom products I offer?
Contact me today to set up a convenient time to chat!
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NUMBER TEN |
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What an adorable kiddo! He looks so grown up sporting those glasses. Of course they were really only on his face for about two seconds. Fortunately that is just enough time to capture a cute photo like this. One reason I love this photo is because it was taken in one of the same set-ups I used to photographed him as a newborn and I love comparing the difference of a year. See his newborn photo in the same chair here! |
NUMBER NINE |
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While I had lots of favorite images from this family session, I love this one of Mom and Dad! So often we are focused on our children but parents need some time in the spotlight too. I love the depth of this one and how their happiness shines through! |
NUMBER EIGHT |
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This is one of my favorite newborn wrapping methods, the potato sack, and babies love it. I love how versatile it is as you can move little ones to a variety of different set-ups (a bucket, a basket, a bed) while they sleep peacefully. I chose a rustic metal bucket for this sweet guy since Mom and Dad have grey tones in their home. You can see more from his session here. And oh those dimples!!! |
NUMBER SEVEN |
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I love how this sheer dress and the beautiful light passing through it shows off this beautiful Mom's bump while being very classic and tasteful. |
NUMBER SIX |
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Of course our own family Christmas card had to make the list. I love coming up with a holiday card every year since it gives me the freedom to be creative and experimental. See how I created it in this blog post and stay tuned for next year's creation (I already have a couple of ideas)! |
NUMBER FIVE |
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Just in time for Christmas, this gorgeous mom-to-be visited the studio for some images to document her twin bump and we got to be a bit festive with this holiday background. |
NUMBER FOUR |
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Well isn't this just the cutest kid you've ever seen? Okay, okay... I'm biased. She's ours! I have to admit that I neglected photos of her in the beginning of the year, which is unusual for me, but I did come through with a fall session as well as some beautiful Princess Christmas images. |
NUMBER THREE |
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Another one of my favorite newborn poses... "bum up". While this was just one great image from her session, I love how this showcases all the little features of a newborn in a simple, classic pose. |
NUMBER TWO |
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I captured so many beautiful images of this six week old that I love! But I just love the colors in this one and oh my... those cheeks! |
NUMBER ONE |
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I now use this pose for all my newborn sessions including this one, because it is so sweet and Mom and baby look so beautiful together. Mom's love it, Dad's love it and I love it. I had so many beautiful images using this pose this year it was difficult to decide on just one for the top ten! |
Of course, this year I just had to do something equally as creative. Those who know me know I'm a bit competitive... even with myself. That competitiveness helps me grow as a photographer as I figure out new ways to create images, practice Photoshop techniques, and think creatively. This year it prompted me to try to outdo myself on our holiday image! Now being creative doesn't mean I'm above checking out Pinterest for ideas every once in a while and ultimately this is where I came up with the general image idea. But I definitely put my own spin on it!
After deciding on the concept, I set out to gather everything I needed for the image. Originally I purchased some buffalo plaid print PJs on Amazon. It was easy to find something for everyone to wear since this print is very popular this year. But a few hours later I walked into TJ Maxx and saw some kids PJs that said "Dear Santa, Define Good" and PJs for me that said, "Dear Santa, Bring Me WINE" and I knew these would be perfect! So I quickly cancelled my Amazon order and bought these as well as some coordinating PJs for my husband. I returned to Amazon to find coordinating wrapping paper, ribbon, and Santa ornaments for the tree that matched my daughter's PJs. On to the liquor store to pick up some wine, which of course also needed to coordinate. Ugly Sweater Red? Perfect!!! I grabbed the Christmas tree we put in our daughter's room and an antique workbox I bought ages ago. Finally, I pulled down the seamless paper I have in the studio to use as the background and grabbed a panel I use for flooring.
With everything set-up, we donned our PJs and I set up my camera on a tripod. I focused on my husband, jumped into the picture and had our daughter press the shutter button... several times. As expected, giving up the element of control when I'm on the other side of the camera is a bit difficult for me as I can't see how everything looks. Ultimately this is why we ended up doing this twice (wine was a good bribe for my husband) and I Photoshopped the left two images you see below together to achieve the look I wanted... including the angle of my face. Let's admit it... some angles are just not flattering!
After these two images were merged, and I did a wee bit of Photoshopping to my waist (it was just after Thanksgiving... who wouldn't?), I realized I needed to capture another image. While my studio is great for capturing a closeup of an entire family, it's not quite large enough for full length family images, especially when one family member is not grouped closely to the others. With more space needed on the left side to place our daughter "on the wall" I pulled out another floor panel and took a photo of the "extended" set-up (above right). As you may notice, this image was taken at a different angle. This is because the family photo was taken from the stairway to the studio in order to get further back and ultimately I couldn't move to the left for the additional shot. Again, with a little Photoshop magic I was able to modify how the angle looked as well as extend the tan background.
Finally it was time for the most important family member's close-up! I got our daughter dressed and ready to go. Then I told her I was going to tape her to the floor. Her response? "Ummm... I am NOT doing that!" LOL. Of course she then happily complied and told me she deserved ice cream.
I rolled the paper used for our background down so it would cover the floor and then positioned her on the paper. I took some test shots and re-positioned her several times because I knew the angle of the lighting needed to be consistent for everyone in the image to make it look realistic. Once I settled on her position I taped her arms and legs. I also tried to position her hair so it looked like it was hanging and pulled her PJs to the side for the same reason. Of course with a squirming 8 year old this was not the easiest thing to do. Ultimately I did a bit more Photoshop work on her hair for the final image.
Capturing the image was a bit awkward and I'm pretty sure I pulled a muscle in my lower back. LOL. If you take a look at the photo on the left you will see a ladder. I was standing on that ladder to take that picture. Standing, leaning significantly, bracing myself against the ceiling and holding my camera out while I shot on live mode. This setting on my Canon 5d Mark iii's allowed me to see the image on my camera's LCD screen and focus while my camera was at arms length... and while I rarely use this feature, it was great to have for this capture.
After the image was taken it was back to Photoshop to
add our daughter into our image. Because the lighting wasn't exactly the same, this took a bit of work to make the image look seamless. After that was done I realized something was missing. She just looked a bit too happy to be "tapped to a wall" so I decided she needed a bit of tape on her mouth. Back down to the studio we went and I took another picture of her with the tape. I then took just the tape portion of her faced and over-layed it on the image and carefully blended it together. Finally I added text about having a peaceful holiday to pull it all together and the image was complete! I had it made into an ornament for our tree and because my husband laughs every time he sees it I'm planning on putting it on canvas so I can hang it up every Christmas.
What will I do next year to top this? I've already got some ideas! SUBSCRIBE to my RSS feed below to ensure you don't miss it.
Let me know what you think of this image (and the process) by leaving a comment!
Interested in capturing some unique images of your family? Contact me today to discuss your own personalized photo session!
PS - No wine or children were harmed during the creation of this images... well, maybe some wine ;)
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Contact me today for more information about family photo sessions!
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Contact me today for more information about family, newborn, maternity and children's photography!
Off we went to a little park in the Denver Tech Center where we found plenty of great spots to play and pose for photos... although she really only has one pose. You can probably guess her "signature pose" from these images, but she has fun with it and I can't complain as she says "Mommy, take a photo of me here... and here". LOL. When I told her I was also scouting the location for an upcoming family session, she pointed out lots of great spots and definitely recommended photos in front of the lake. She's such a little helper. She also had a great time chasing the local wildlife and eventually tromping through the stream in her boots. What can I say? Kids will be kids!
Contact me today to discuss your personalized newborn session!
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Contact me today for more information about family, child, newborn, and maternity photo sessions!
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I hold a limited number of mini-sessions each year... back-to-school, Christmas, and Easter.
Contact me today for more information!
Contact me today to book your customized photo session or for additional information!
Little Jacob is as sweet as can be and was a rock star for his newborn session... even when he was wide awake and ready to check out the world around him. Congratulations Patty and Chad on your new addition!!!
Interested in a newborn session? Contact me today to schedule your complimentary, no-obligation consultation!
Felted Bear: Enchanted Baybee Designs
Teal Drop Fabric: Roses and Ruffles
Tan Mohair Hat: LeAnge
Antique Trough: The Emporium
]]>We captured some classic poses using a grey palette to match the colors in the family home and added some accents of blue here and there. Knowing the nursery was a fox theme, I picked up a felted fox for a few of the photos that will match the decor and look great hanging on the nursery wall. We also captured a great family photo and some shots of Callahan with his gorgeous Mom... definitely some of my favorites!
Congratulations Joel and Alexis on your handsome baby boy! It was a pleasure having you all in the studio!
a
Interested in newborn photos? Contact me today to schedule your complimentary, obligation-free consultation so we can discuss the perfect custom session for you and your little one.
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Little baby Jasmine is the newest addition to Sierra family and her Mom is one of my closest friends. I photographed both of Jasmine's older brothers when they were born and even though we now live more than 1700 miles apart, I had to photograph this sweet baby girl! So I packed up my camera equipment, lighting, space heater, posing pillows, props, wraps, headbands, and a change of clothes (LOL) and jumped on a plane!
While I normally photograph newborns exclusively in my studio to ensure optimal conditions, I couldn't be happier about how this session turned out. And of course it was great to catch up with a dear friend and spend time with her family including her new little one. Below are some highlights of our photos session.
One of my favorite poses... I just love seeing those little baby back wrinkles!
Mom is looking absolutely gorgeous!
Pinks and grays were used throughout the session for a cohesive look that not only makes the images look great side by side, but also coordinates with the family's home.
"Paupau" was visiting while I was there for the session and she stepped in for a few photos.
Jasmine's nursery is a grey bunny theme so we had to get a shot in this little outfit!
Congratulations on your beautiful new baby girl!!!
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Even the 16x24 image on the left feels lost over a large couch while the 30x40 image on the right is more appropriately sized for the room.
There are three main considerations when choosing a size for your images. Room size, viewing distance, and subject face size. Is your room a small 8'x8' office or a grand family room that is 20' deep? How far away will you be viewing the image? How large will the subjects faces look at a distance? Will you be able to see their expressions? Thankfully, these factors all work hand in hand making these considerations easy to address with the appropriate tools and guidance. You simply need to hang portraits that are appropriate for the size of your room, and subsequently the furniture. This will ensure faces are at minimum size that they can be seen at various viewing distances and the portraits don't get lost in the room. In looking at the overall wall space dimensions your artwork should take up two-thirds to three-fourths of the area.
You should also consider the orientation of the wall you are placing your portrait on. Tall, narrow walls lend themselves to images in a vertical, portrait orientation, while horizontal wall spaces, such as over a couch work best with landscape-oriented artwork. Of course if you are using gallery (or grouping) of photos, you only need to consider the orientation of the outside edge of the entire gallery.
A gallery of images also works well in large spaces and provides flexibility in selecting different image orientations.
Splitting an image in two is also a unique option for some images.
Because it is sometimes difficult to visual what any particular size image would look like in your ideal space, make sure you measure the space before you make a decision on size. I also recommend using something like painters tape to mark the outline on a wall and then take a few steps back to see how it looks. While there are standard sizes such as 16x20, 20x24, 24x36 and 30x40, custom sizes are also available and may be more appropriate depending on the amount of space you have, coupled with how each size will crop your image (more on how cropping will affect your image in a future blog post).
To make this entire process easier, I have the ability to show my clients their images in different sizes in both stock rooms AND in their own personal space. That's right, with a simple photo taken on a cellphone of your ideal space, combined with a measurement of something in the room, I can show you what your images would look like in any room of your home in different sizes, taking the guess work out of everything!
Multiple stock images including bedrooms, living areas, offices, hallways, and entryways make it easy to visualize photo size even without your own room image.
A gallery of two 16x24's with a 30x30 vice a 30x40
If you are interested in having family photos as well as professional design service for home, please contact me for a free consultation!
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Little Liam's first interaction with the cake seemed to go well.
But soon it was clear that he was not exactly wild about cake... as you can see from the extent of the cake damage (or rather lack thereof) below.
It happens! Some kids love digging into their cake and others don't really care for it. But splash sessions are a different story! I will admit, we were a bit worried at the start of his bath, as Liam seemed to dislike it as much as the cake. But after a few minutes he warmed up to it and had a blast.
While drying off we had a little more fun playing with rubber duckies. Liam couldn't seem to find the one on his head for a while. But I sent him home with one so he could practice his ducky finding skills.
Thanks for stopping by the studio and celebrating your first birthday with me Liam!
Interested in a Smash and Splash Session? Contact me to discuss your customized session!
]]>One of my favorite images to capture for newborns who return to the studio at 3, 6, 9, and/or 12 months is in a prop I used for their newborn session. Whether it is a bowl or a crate, a newborn bed, etc. It's such a fun way to document how much they have grown!
When I had this little cutie back in the studio for a cake smash session, I just had to photograph him in the custom chair I posed him in during his newborn session! I can't tell you how much I love this image and the comparison of him in the chair at one week and one year.
I had the pleasure of photographing the little one below several times throughout his first year with a first year session package. I used the crate from his newborn session at six months and at one year. He barely fit back into it at six months and we didn't even try for his one year photo but we still incorporated it into the photo to show how much he has grown!
Think this is a fun idea? Leave a comment!
Custom Chair and Table: Gorecki Lucas Handcrafted
Crocheted Pants and Hat: KB Handcrafted
Backdrop: HSD Backdrops
Headbands: Pinkytinks and Girlologie
Drop and Wrap: Roses and Ruffles
Felted Hearts: Enchanted Baybee Designs
Creating beautiful images is a passion of mine and if you book a photography session, capturing these moments is obviously important to you. You took the time to have photos of yourself or your family taken, you probably spent time choosing outfits, you may have coordinated with extended family members to find the perfect time and location, or you fought off the sleepiness of being a new parent to come to the studio and have images taken when your new addition was sleepy and squishy! But you selected and received your digital images and your family and friends still aren't enjoying them. It's unfortunate, yet so common because of a variety of reasons... and I want to eliminate those reasons. That's why I now offer finished art work for my photography clients. I want to ensure your beautiful images are presentation ready when you receive them so you can enjoy them immediately.
The 8x10 Heritage Folio Box Beautifully Displays and Stores Up to 20 Matted or Mounted Prints
and is a Great Way to "Collect" Images From Multiple Sessions.
I understand the reasons clients aren't enjoying their images. Many find it difficult to find the time to sit down and order prints, canvases and albums. It's no wonder. Most of us are busy with work and family and the countless other responsibilities we juggle. Even if you get a few minutes to sit down and take on this task, chances are you don't know where to begin... how do you want to display your images, what products are available, what is the best size for display, where is the best place to purchase, how do you know you what suppliers have quality products? This is a bit overwhelming, which leads many to put it off... indefinitely.
This Wooden Tri-Fold Trio is a Unique Way to Display a Selection of Your Images on a Table or Shelf and is Available in Two Sizes.
There are also things many clients don't consider. Did you know that some mats will yellow over time or that images should not be placed directly against glass (without a mat or spacers) because they will eventually adhere to the glass? How will certain crops (aspect ratios) affect what is contained in your finished image? Did you know that you can have images mounted beautifully on wood? Have you heard of deckled prints? What type of finish do you need on your canvas so that it is not easily susceptible to scratching and corner damage? Do you know the most appropriate image size for over your couch?
This Torn Edge Framed Print is Offered as a Trio or Single Image.
Wall Art Options Include Wood (left), Stand Out Metal (middle), Canvas (right), and Framed Prints (not pictured).
Chances are you can't answer most of these questions because it's just not your field of expertise. This is why I'm here to help! As a photographer offering finished art, I'm not just the expert on how to capture and edit your photos, but also how to showcase them. I've spent hours and hours researching products online, ordering samples from dozens of professional labs (and discarding many of them because they just weren't up to par), and attending virtual and in-person trade shows. This is time consuming (and expensive) and just not feasible for clients to do themselves. And there's nothing worse than taking the time to order something and being disappointed in the quality when you receive it. If it's that shirt on Amazon you can probably return it for a full refund but when it comes to images of your family that will not be the case. In addition, most of the products I offer are not even available to the general public. Most professional labs only allow photographers with verified credentials to order and these labs tend to have the highest quality, not to mention the most unique and amazing products.
Additional Table Display Options Include the Classic Folio Box, Mounted Prints, and Acrylic Blocks.
My service (in addition to pre-session consults) includes sitting down with my clients after their session to preview their images and help them select the images and products that work best for them and their lifestyle. This is a relaxed, no-obligation session because I don't believe in having a minimum order for products and I offer a la carte items to ensure clients purchase only what they truly love. After selection I take care of ordering all products, inspecting them for quality, and personally delivering them to to your home where you can begin to enjoy them immediately. I'm please to offer a variety of products to meet my clients personal style including albums, folio boxes, framed prints, canvas, metal, and wood products. I also offer products suitable as gifts for family and friends and digital images for your archives.
You are encouraged to visit the studio to take a look at the amazing products I offer and discuss full pricing or you are welcome to contact me for some general price guidelines.
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The time you spend waiting to meet your new little one may seem endless or it may speed by but regardless, you'll want to cherish it forever. A maternity photo shoot will help you capture the anticipation of exciting times to come as well as your adorable baby bump! You'll look back on these photos for years to come, so it's important to choose great outfits. What you wear for photos may be challenging any time, but even moreso for a maternity session, so here are some helpful tips on what to wear as well as a look at some of the gowns I provide clients for use during maternity sessions.
1. Choose clothing that will accentuate your bump: Wear a form fitting dress or top. Anything with a waistband that sits above your bump gives you the waist you're missing due to pregnancy. If you are wearing something more flowing, poses using your hands to accentuate your belly can be done. You can also add a scarf or belt to help do this.
2. Dress for the weather and season: You may want to be more cozy during fall and winter months with stylish boots, jeans, and sweaters while in the summer you may choose something more light and bright. The seasons will also give you a great starting point for picking out what colors of clothing you will wear for your photos. Look to the colors of the seasons and the variety of landscapes each month offers you. For example, during fall there will be plenty of bright autumn leaves and during the winter there may be snow.
3. Consider the location of the session. Will you be in a meadow or surrounded by trees? Or will you be standing on marble steps surrounded by pillars? This will help determine how casual or formal your clothing selection is.
4. Avoid trendy outfits: Give your photos a timeless feel with clothing that won't go out of style. Solids are a great idea however if you have a pattern you love and want to wear, ensure that others having photos taken are not wearing something that will clash. Keep in mind patterns can be very distracting and you want the focus to be on your baby belly.
5. Keep accessories to a minimum: Photos should be focused on you and your bump so either keep jewelry and accessories simple or use them to accentuate your bump. A belt or scarf above your bump will help if your outfit does not have a high waistline.
6. Choose a couple of outfits for a variety of looks. Select a couple of different styles for your maternity session. I always encourage my clients to wear a casual outfit and then change into a dress. Long or mid-length maxi dresses are a great option that is comfortable and also may cover up anything you feel are "problem" areas during pregnancy. If you keep a great shape during your pregnancy, a form fitting dress works well.
7. Select appropriate colors: Look at the colors in your home. You may want to consider colors that would compliment your walls and decor if you are planning on hanging large photos in your home. Think about colors you like. These are your photos so make sure that you love the colors you wear. Also consider your complexion... does white make you washed out? Keep in mind the location of the shoot and the background colors. For example, mint might look great on a beach but may not look as nice with fall leaves in the background.
8. Undergarmets: I recommend wearing skin tone undergarmets and wearing (or bringing) a strapless bra. Many of the maternity gowns I provide are off the shoulder and photograph much better without having to pull bra straps down (which sometime creates unnecessary bulges). Some of my gowns are light in color (and some are a bit sheer) so it's important not wear something underneath that will be seen through the dress.
9. Shoes: Shoes are something that are often overlooked during photo sessions. You'll want to appropriately coordinate shoes with what you are wearing and be mindful that they will likely be seen in many of the photos. I recommend wearing stylish but comfortable shoes. I don't know too many pregnant women who want to walk around in heels and for most of my photos sessions we will do a little bit of walking to get from spot to spot. If you are brave enough to bring heels to your session, I recommend also bringing some comfortable slip-ons or flip flops to wear in between locations. Most of the dresses I provide reach the ground and your shoes will be covered so I recommend something low profile and comfortable. At times, it may be appropriate for you to go without shoes once we get to a location and start photographing.
10. Find Inspiration Online: There is a lot of great inspiration on the Internet for photos... including maternity photos. Search Pinterest for color palette boards or maternity clothing ideas.
You may already have a great dress, or you many want to rent one from somewhere like Rent the Runway or Borrow For your Bump but you can always opt to wear one or two gowns I have on hand. I realize purchasing (and even renting) a maternity gown for photos can be quite expensive with some costing hundreds of dollars, so I have a collection of maternity gowns chosen specifically for client use during photo sessions as part of my service. Below are SOME of the gowns I have available... and I'm always adding more!
This blue dress has a beautiful halter top feature that can be tied in a variety of ways.
The mustard-colored skirt has a matching tie and goes well with this white lace top with a halter top lining.
This maroon dress has a full skirt and is ground length.
From the designer Sew Trendy, this white dress is a fitted tube style at the top while the bottom is flowing and a bit sheer. It has a split front but can also be photographed with the split brought together, depending on what you prefer.
This white dress on the left is lace with a built-in underlayer. There is a small ruffle at the bottom for added detail. It can be worn alone or paired with a ribbon to accentuate your baby bump and add a bit of color. The white dress on the right is flowing and when photographed at the right angle can provide a dramatic silhouette of your baby bump while still being tastefully covered.
The black and the blue dresses above are the exact same style. They have small trains, a "v" wrap bodice and elastic fitting at the shoulders. Moms tell me they are also made from a very comfortable material.
The above dress is a bit fitted from the waist to just above the knee, has beautiful bell sleeves and an extended train.
This beautiful flowing gown looks amazing on any expectant Mom.
I also have additional gowns in my studio in a variety of colors just waiting for the perfect model! If you are in the Aurora / Parker / Denver area and expecting, please contact me to discuss options for your customized photo session!
Most of my dresses will fit a range of sizes as they have some stretch to them. If you are one of those lucky mommas who has a small shape even during pregnancy, larger dresses can be pinned or clipped in the back if a dress is a bit loose.
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After we finished, I asked Angie and Kris if they had any special requests for their upcoming newborn session. Angie's answer? I'd love something that says "U.S." Ohhh... I love it! And I definitely have a few ideas for their upcoming session. Until then, here are a few of my favorites from our wintery maternity session.
I'm very excited about my plans for 2018 but before I bid adieu to 2017, here are my favorite photos for the year. It was difficult to narrow it down this year... I had so many favorites!
While visiting from California, this family of four got together with other family members in the local area to have some photos taken all together. I've taken lots of "extended" family photos this year, especially around the holidays, but this was one of my favorite sessions. They were a fun-loving group and so happy to finally have photos of everyone together. While I loved many of the images from this session, this image with a family of four along the fence was at the top of my list.
It's difficult to take a bad photo of this beautiful girl but I'm going to take a little credit :)
This was shot in the Georgetown neighborhood of D.C. on a trip back to the area for some photo sessions and visits with friends. The light early in the morning was gorgeous and Georgetown has a ton of great spots for photos. We got so many great shots during this session but this one has to be my favorite!
I'll admit, I'm a bit partial to newborn poses
that incorporate military items to
honor Mom or Dad's service.
(I'm a bit patriotic and I served in the Air Force.)
I was so pleased about the way this photo turned
out and I'm sure it's one this family will treasure!
More images from this little guy's session can be seen here.
(NOTE: I am pleased to offer a 10% discount to
active duty military members as well
as teachers, firefighters and police officers!)
As I delve into taking more maternity photos I have started offering the use of maternity gowns to my clients and this one from Sew Trendy was perfect for this gorgeous momma (more images from her session here). The setting and lighting were perfect and I was so happy to capture this special quiet time before baby arrived!
What can I say? This sweet little boy! This chair! This set-up! I have started focusing on simpler poses and set-ups for my newborns (see more images from his session here) but I still love to get one image that's a little bit unique. I love this one!
Black and white photos are so classic and timeless.
This image was a new pose for me and
I love how it incorporates Dad in the image.
It turned out to be a little piece of art.
See more of this little one's images here.
I don't think I need to say much
about this one. Just... sweet, sweet, sweet!
I just love this image of this little guy...
who doesn't love some baby chunk?
I've photographed him since before he was born
(announcement and maternity photos for Mom),
as well as newborn, sitter, and first birthday cake smash photos.
Can't wait to watch this little one continue to grow up!
Sometimes I fall in love a photo because of the "technical" aspects behind it. I know Mom and Dad love their newborn images because it's their baby and I appreciate that, but I also try to meet the "standards" of the newborn photography community (for this image it is angle, lighting, leg position, hand position, body curve, etc) that make newborn images the most flattering. This "bum-up" pose is definitely my best to date and how I was able to transform it during the editing stage is a testament to how much I've learned about Photoshop this year. Of course, it doesn't hurt that this little girl is simply adorable.
I'm sure I've never spent so much time on one photo, but it was well worth it! For this image I had to set up specialized lighting, hang a black canvas outside our window (yes, those are actually our window panes), prep my daughter on how to pose (yes, that's our gorgeous girl!), and do a lot of post-production editing. This photo came together by using including 3 different overlays (night sky, Santa and his sleigh passing the moon, and light coming from the book) and then editing to merge them just right. View how it was done here. I know I'm partial to this one because this is my daughter, but I just love how it turned out and I was pretty happy with my use of Photoshop, especially since I only started using it earlier this year. This one went out on Christmas cards and is getting printed on canvas!
I wish you all health, happiness, and good luck in the new year. May the journey you take be filled with growth and fulfillment! And should you need photos of your newborn, growing children, or entire family, please contact me!
]]>At my most recent cake smash session, Mom and I had nothing to worry about. This little guy loved everything! He played for a bit while I took some portraits, he splashed around with some rubber duckies in my miniature bathtub, and best of all... he could not wait to get his hands on the cake. He devoured it and didn't even need to use his hands at times! When Mom sat him down in front of it, she could barely get out of the way before he dove in. We had fun watching the show and it resulted in some great photos.
The Set-Up:
I set up a spot in our dining room for this shot. My daughter is actually sitting on our buffet surrounded by some fake Christmas presents I used for recent Holiday mini session. I chose the buffet because it was the right height for the window and I didn't want anything between her and the window like the back of a couch. I've seen this type of shot also set in a window seat which would be a great option if you have one... if not, you just need to use a little creativity. I hung a black piece of fabric inside the window. I also affixed a red blanket to one side of the window by clamping it to our blinds that I had raised. I did this to create a "curtain" that would made it look a little more like a window (since our window only has a valance).
The Lighting:
I decided to take this photo during the day in order to take advantage of at least a little bit of ambient light and therefore not have to raise the ISO on my camera. This created a bit more post production work but I thought it was worth it to reduce the level of unnecessary "noise" in the image... some might opt to capture an image like this closer to dusk but that's a matter of preference. Despite the ambient light I was working with, after a few test shots I decided to use a soft box to add some light to the scene. I was careful not to make it to bright and to position it just right... making it look like it was more of a nighttime shot and a lamp nearby was partially illuminating my daughter's face. Inside the book she held, I placed my cellphone with the light turned on and positioned it toward her face. While a post production addition of the light coming out of the book was great, it wouldn't actually change the lighting on her face so this was necessary to make it more realistic. We struggled a bit with the cellphone slipping out of position as she moved around but eventually got a shot where it was directly towards her face and worked well.
The First Attempt:
After taking a few shots I uploaded them to my computer and started tinkering with them in Photoshop. I quickly realized that although the black backdrop was perfect for creating the night sky where I would later add an overlay, it didn't look very much like a window because I was covering the panes of the window with the black fabric (unfortunately I don't have an example of this since I immediately knew it wouldn't work and trashed the image). So outside I went to hang the fabric behind the window.
The Second Attempt:
After uploading some shots with the black fabric outside, I realized that it wasn't quite dark enough to have the effect I wanted. It was a bit thin and the sun was shinning through it (see photo at right). I had created a layer in Photoshop in which I had raised the black in the photo, but when the black was dark enough for the sky portion it had become too dark for the rest of the photo. I may have been able to mask off a portion of the photo to get it to work but I decided to make one more attempt to make it work better by changing the setup. So I headed back outside with a big thick semi canvas material to hang behind the black fabric I had already hung. It took some work to get this hung up and I eventually got the help of a nice neighbor after a minor incident with my ladder (please remember to be safe)!
The Third Attempt:
Back inside I put my daughter back up on the buffet and well, as they say, the third time's a charm! By this time I had settled on the angle I wanted to shoot, how I wanted to frame the photo, how I wanted her to sit, the lighting, and corrected the setup. I brushed my daughter's hair back from her face, positioned my cellphone light correctly, and bribed her to smile (as a photographer's daughter, she is my guinea pig for lots of photos and it is very "trying" work...lol).
Post Production Work:
I uploaded my new images, selected one I liked and went back to work in Photoshop. First, I realized that the book had dropped slightly in the image, revealing my cellphone (complete with purple case), so I cloned it out a bit. Then, I used an action that I am fond of from Greater Than Gatsby's Radiance Collection, "Clean Edit Color Base" (actions are series of steps that have been recorded by their creator and can be reapplied at any time without having to go through each individual step every time... they are a real time saver). I also added an action called Bold Vignette, then I created a duplicate layer of the image, placed it on top and increased the blacks. This basically created the solid black "sky" between the window panes and helped to blend my daughter and the surrounding scene into the background a bit. I did end up erasing some of the darker portions off the layer so that it didn't make the buffet and other items too dark. And I erased the layer off of the window panes so they didn't become too dark either.
Next, I added the book light to image. I had purchased a set of these light overlays on Etsy.com for a few dollars and tested several before settling on the right one. I carefully sized and rotated it, then erased the portion that fell on the binding of the book and beyond so that it looked like it was coming from inside the book, as opposed to laying on top of it. This overlay also helped hide my cellphone cloning.
I added the starry sky overlay (also purchased on Etsy in a combination with the Santa/Moon overlay). I placed it over the entire image because sizing it like this gave me the desired look I wanted. This however meant I needed to erase the stars from everything in the image that was not the night sky, including the window panes. It took some careful, tedious work and there may be better ways to do this but I went with what I knew. Once satisfied with the look, I added the moon with Santa's sleigh to the image. I needed to put this layer in front of my daughter but behind the starry sky overlay and that required me to erase the stars from on top of the moon too.
Finally I played around with a paint on vignette action in Photoshop to blend everything together a bit until I was happy with the results and brightened the exposure just a tad.
There were a couple other small edits in there as you can see..
. for example I used a selective darken on a portion of my daughter's hair that looked really bright, selective sharpen a bit around her face, and a deblotch action to remove a mark on her face as well as bit of a vignette before adding the brush on vignette. Many of these edits are subtle, but contribute to the overall final image. In addition, you can see that there was quite a bit of editing within the layers to ensure stars, increased blacks, etc were masked off for a more realistic affect.
Here is the succession of edits:
The entire process took about two hours between setup, shooting, and post production work but I'm thrilled with how it turned out. I'm planning on using it for both our Christmas cards as well as a canvas I will bring out every Holiday season to decorate our home.
This is my first time creating an image like this and I'd love to hear your thoughts, questions, or tips/tricks/better ways to create this type of composite! So please feel free to leave a comment or a question!
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While visiting the East Coast back in September, I headed up to Pennsylvania, where I grew up, to meet up with a high-school friend and take senior pictures for her daughter, Brynn. Wait... senior pictures for her daughter? We are old enough to have kids in high school? How did that happen?!?
Brynn works at a golf course that has some beautiful old buildings, including a barn, and very picturesque countryside, so her Mom suggested the location for the shoot. I left Virginia in the early morning rain on our scheduled date, worrying about the weather. The rain persisted right up until I arrived then dwindled to a mist for most of our session. We did end up hiding under some trees when it got a little heavier but got some great photos.
It was great to visit with an old friend (no pun intended?) and see how her beautiful daughter has grown up!
Which photo is your favorite? Please feel free to leave a comment letting Brynn know!
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Recently I was approached by Sleeklens, a company that sells “professional workflows to photographers who are looking to cut down time editing their photos and get better results” via “actions”. Stating they liked my portraits, they asked if they could send me their portrait workflow product, Portrait Perfection Collection, (either in Lightroom or Photoshop) for free in return for testing and providing an honest review and a mention of where the product is available (see links).
I took a look at the Sleeklens website and immediately liked what I saw. Before and after examples were provided (one example of before and after shown above), and I knew I wanted to test these actions out. I chose the Photoshop set since I’ve been using Photoshop more and more. Photoshop can be overwhelming at first (which is why I hadn’t been using it much until this year) but one of the easiest ways to start using it is with actions. As soon as I got my actions, I installed them in Photoshop and got to work.
Since this is a set of portrait actions I choose an image from a recent portrait session I shot in Georgetown, DC.
The session took place early in the morning, the light was amazing and all the photos looked great SOOC (straight out of camera). But with any photo, a little tweaking can provide that little "pop" it needs and the Sleeklens video overview of these actions stated they are intended to “retouch subjects” and “enhance natural light and color.”
I chose this specific image (left) because it was relatively close up and focused on the subject’s face but also provided a little view of her torso to see how the actions were affecting physical features, clothing, and the background/foreground.
I’m pretty familiar with using Photoshop actions so I dove right in without watching the introduction video. I started by running one of the “all in one” actions. These are meant for easy, one click overall modifications of photos. I chose the “Teddy Bear” (shown below in comparison to SOOC) all in one action (the first one in the list) and immediately didn’t like it. It just wasn’t my style… at least not for this photo.
Since I didn't like this version I decided to delete the edit (which is essentially a layer containing a folder with individual edits), but quickly realized I couldn’t. I had just discovered the first drawback of this product. It flattens your image when applying all in one actions.
A note on image flattening: Here’s a great article on the advantages and disadvantages of flattening an image but to put it simply:
The disadvantage of flattening an image is that it makes it impossible to adjust the individual layers (or edits) in a photo, eliminating one of the benefits of Photoshop... the fact that you can modify particular aspects of your image and then return to make changes to these particular edits once you have applied more.
The advantage of flattening an image is that it reduces the file size.
For the above reasons, I make all my Photoshop edits and save a copy without flattening it, then I flatten it to export it for clients and discard the flattening before closing. If for some reason I need to make additional edits later, I can because the image I saved has not been flattened.
Below are a couple of other all in one actions I tested and the SOOC for comparison (I'm big on visual side-by-side comparisons).
I think I would have liked the “Bright and Subtle” all in one action if I lowered the opacity (intensity of edit) because my editing style tends to be a bit more bold and rich but again, because the image was flattened this was not an option.
Thinking I must have used the action incorrectly (this is not how actions from other companies work… and I own several) I turned to the Youtube video link they provided for guidance. The video started with a base action so I decided to use one of those instead. Base actions are as they say… a base that you can add additional actions to. I ran a base action and decided I wanted to compare it to a different base action so I hid the layer containing the first action and ran a different one. I immediately realized that using a second action flattens your image, therefore making it impossible to unhide your previous base action for comparison purposes... and as I said before I'm big on side-by side comparisons so this was definitely a drawback for me. I tried several different ways to use these actions without flattening but it was impossible.
Hoping that flattening only occurred for “all in one” and “base” actions (when attempting to compare multiple ones), I moved on to some individual actions. This set has actions for retouching such as glossy lips, brightening eyes, retouching skin, etc. The skin retouch was easy to use but I had issues getting the brighten eyes to work correctly. I found that I did like some of the other individual actions like the “light glow” and “Yogi Brown Vignette” and I’ll probably use these as supplements to actions I previously owned.
Above left: Sleeklens actions - "From Scratch" (100% opacity), "Darken" (20% opacity) and Yogi Brown Vignette (20% opacity)
Above right: SOOC
My conclusion:
All in One Actions: It’s a shame that many of these actions automatically flatten your images because I feel while good, they would be way more beneficial if you could have more control over the layers, both in opacity and in deleting individual edits contained within the folder of the over all action. Other actions I currently own are far more helpful due to their flexibility of use. If you are just starting out with Photoshop these actions might be very attractive or if you love the look of these actions exactly as they are they might be perfect for you, but why limit yourself by not being able to modify the edits that are being placed on your images?
Base Actions: I might use some of the base actions but they would be more useful (at least when testing them out) if they did not flatten your image when you try to run a different base action and you could therefore compare these individual actions against each other.
Individual Actions: I will definitely use some of the individual actions (I love the brown vignette) and look forward to testing more of them out.
Final note: Sleeklens currently has these portrait actions available for $39. That's a great deal in comparison to the prices of many actions on the market so this might be worth the investment for many. They also offer many other Photoshop actions that look interesting including their Newborn Peakaboos Collection and various overlays... which I'd love to try, as well as free trial actions! Finally, they have a pretty useful blog worth checking out!
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We decided to meet early one morning in Georgetown. I always do research before shooting in a new location and I knew Georgetown would be a great setting with a variety of backdrops but it was more than I hoped for! We visited spots with greenery in the background, brick and stone walls, pretty doorways and steps, views across the Potomac River, and even some graffiti!
As we explored the area, we got to catch up with each other, have some Georgetown Cupcakes and of course get a ton of great shots! These are a few of my favorites!!! Which one is your favorite? Let Sara know in the comment section below!
I was very excited that this little guy was on the way as soon as I learned Mom and Dad were expecting! I met them on a Jeep trail in Moab a couple years ago and we have become great friends. We hoped to do some photos before Sean made his arrival to announce the news but Mom didn't have the easiest pregnancy and wasn't up for it. She ended up having Sean a bit early and while his photo session was at 17 days (I normally like to shoot somewhere between 5 and 12 days) it went very well and we got tons of great shots! Mom even brought in her Dad's flannel shirt for a couple photos with Sean... so sweet.
I'm so happy for these brand new parents (and glad there is a new little Jeeper out there)! Congratulations, he is beautiful!
Olive Posing Fabric and Wrap: Roses and Ruffles
Brown Flokati Stuffer: LeAnge
Green Romper and Matching Hat: Because of Crochet
Cream Hat with Button: Because of Crochet
Tan Wrap and Matching Hat: LeAnge
]]>I am so excited to have a dedicated studio space for newborn sessions in my Aurora, Colorado home. Not only does it provide a comfortable space for my clients and allows me to ensure optimal conditions such as temperature and lighting, but it gives me quick access to all of my props!
(I also use the studio for indoor headshots, sitter sessions, cake smashes, and kids mini sessions.)
While parents sometimes bring small sentimental items to incorporate into the shoot, I always provide everything needed for a unique session to create images that families will cherish forever. This includes beds, bowls and baskets, newborn wraps and blankets in an assortment of colors and textures, backdrops for baby as well as a large one for family photos, headbands for little girls, rompers in a variety of colors, etc.
I have 3 different locations to photograph newborns in the studio and this allows me to move between set-ups quickly in order to make the most of our time together. I put a lot of thought and preparation into each session to plan for poses, outfits, and set-ups in advance to ensure the easiest transition between them. I always ask parents about their preferences on colors, props and poses but often parents are happy to let me plan everything.
Below is a sampling of my props and accessories as well as what the studio looks like.
BEDS, BEDS, BEDS...
I have a variety of beds that I use for poses. The one on the left I made myself out of barnwood. It's classic and simple and definitely one of a kind! I also made this little white bed and night stand set on the right with the help of my husband.
I found a child's toybox and modified and painted it to make this bed on the left.
And I made the bed on the right from branches from a tree we cut down in our yard.
This miniature chair and matching table were handmade in Europe and I've used it for both newborn and sitter sessions. This is one of my favorite sets!
BUCKETS, CRATES, & BOWLS
As you can see, I have a variety of buckets and bowls for newborns. I love scouring antique shops and fairs for unique pieces for newborns.
ROMPERS
I have a collection of rompers for both boys and girls and I'm always picking up new ones.
HATS & HEADBANDS
Newborn headbands and tiebacks are a small addiction of mine.
I have everything from dainty tiebacks to more elaborate headbands.
I also have a variety of colors from neutrals to pinks, purples, blues and greens!
Hats for both boys and girls include slouchy caps, fitted mohair hats, and bonnets.
WRAPS AND BLANKETS
I have lots of wraps to coordinate with hats, blankets, and headbands in both neutral colors as well as pinks, purples, blues, and greens.
BACKDROPS
The photos above shows the large backdrop I use for family photos during newborn sessions.
I also have many additional backdrops for newborns (and other sessions)
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The ceremony was sweet, the guests were fun-loving and the personal touches were something to remember. Handmade items included banners for their Celtic astrological signs, table decorations, and even the veil and shoes the bride wore. The ceremony included a binding of the hands ritual and Dad, who is a chef, prepared the dinner meal for guests.
A beautiful wedding, for a beautiful couple. Congratulations to the bride and groom!!!
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While I always photograph expectant moms in more causual outfits they bring to a session, I think they deserve to feel special in a beautiful gown designed specifically for photography sessions. Since these gowns can be expensive and most aren't for "every day wear", I feel it's important to provide them as part of my photography services. Gowns are available in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors.
Contact me for more information about maternity sessions and available dresses!
What do you think of this candid approach? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
If you are expecting, contact me to book your newborn (and maternity) session!
Crocheted Pink Blanket: K&B Handcrafted Hats
Tan Romper with Matching Headband: K&B Handcrafted Hats
Mauve & Lavender Headband: Bailey's Blossoms
White & Tan Headband: Girlologie Photo Props
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A look into the photo session of little Luke.
I was honored to capture photos of this precious little one (8 days old when I photographed him) as well as his family. And what a beautiful family they are! Dad is in the military, so I just had to incorporate some military items and a patriotic shot with a flag scarf.
Luke's newborn session was captured in my studio in Aurora, Colorado.
For booking information and availability, please email me via the contact page under the details tab.
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My husband and I made this stand for some Chirstmas minis last year and it is perfect for lemonade. So I set out picking up a few items that would coordinate with my lemonade theme. I found some colored straws and candies and a few flowers to make it a bit more girly for her (she's a bit of a girly girl). Then I made a lemonade sign and started scouring Etsy for the perfect headband and necklace for our mini session. And finally... lemons. I purchased bags and bags of lemons!
I set it all up in our backyard and my daughter could not wait to get her hands (and her straw) on the lemonade. I couldn't get her to take a bite of a lemon though...she's a bit too old for that trick. So no funny sour faces for this session. But we captured some great shots and she had a ton of fun!
I also have some cute light turquoise props for boys lemonade sessions and of course I can also make the set-up neutral for both boys and girls!
Thanks to DiddlebugsAndMe for the awesome necklace and FlourishingCreations for the beautiful headband! And of course my husband for making and carrying the stand!
It was a beautiful ceremony, fitting for a beautiful love story. Brought together by the groom's brother and the bride's sister, who have been lifelong friends, this celebration was definitely a family affair. Personal touches at the ceremony and reception reflected this couple's journey and their unique personalities.
Here are a few highlights...
Congratulations! May the road ahead be filled with happiness.
]]>Little Liam was the first newborn I photographed in my new studio and he was an angel! I had the pleasure of photographing Mom and Dad during an extended family session and then doing some maternity photos for them before this little one arrived. They are such a nice family and I can't wait to have Liam back in the studio. Six-month sessions and one-year cake smashes are among my favorites!
Here are some of the highlights from our session!
The "potato sack" pose above is becoming very popular. I personally love it and babies love it because they are warm and cozy.
In this one Liam is wrapped in 3 different layers.
From the Potato Sack wrap it's pretty easy to peel a layer off and have a different look. I got to use my new antique crate and some "fluff" that I made out of thick yarn. I love making session props when I can!
I peeled another layer off and we get to see Liam's cute little hands and feet!
I also used this little chair and table that an artisan in Europe made for me. Between making it and transit time, it took a couple months to get but it was well worth it because this has got to be one of my faorite setups of all time! Lots of planning and prep went into it. I searched everywhere for miniature books that I liked and finally ended up making my own by cutting 1X4 wood and gluing on some book images I purchased on Etsy (one of my favorite places for buying unique items). I also purchased the miniature antique candle holder on Etsy and found a coordinating globe at Homegoods. Another place I love to prop shop (it's an addiction).
Of course I had to capture some newborn wrinkles...
And photos with proud Mom and Dad!
I incorporated some grays into the photos since it's one of the colors in Liam's nursery.
Finally, I added a little military set-up to honor Dad. I love the way this one turned out in a combat helmet replica I got on Amazon.
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If you are expecting and interested in newborn photos, please contact me! I'd love to create a personalized session for you and your little one!
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Subscribe to my BLOG for information on other upcoming mini-sessions this year including Northern Virginia!
Let's face it... kids of this age are often very difficult to photograph. You have to do anything and everything to get them to look at the camera and getting a smile out of them is a whole different story. I am willing to do anything I can think of to get a child to look at me and smile... which is why I often leave a session looking like I just wrestled a pig. If I have to roll around on the ground, jump in a creek, drop pebbles and grass in my hair... I'll do it. It's worth it to get a great, memorable shot like Number 10 that parents will treasure forever.
I love the fall colors in this photo, the setting in the hay, and the perfect natural sun-flare. Of course it doesn't hurt that this was such a wonderful family to work with, which is why I selected this photo for my Number 9.
While I have lots of props for newborns, I love when families bring something meaningful to incorporate into their newborn session. Military gear (If you are a military member please inquire about a military discount), sports memorabilia, family heirlooms, etc. How cute is Number 8 with some of Dad's military items?
Backdrops like this (and gorgeous models) are hard to find... But while I was in San Francisco visiting a close friend, we happened upon one of the painted stairs in the city and took advantage of it for some impromptu photos. I love the artwork on the steps set against the artwork on her arm... and of course her beautiful smile. This colorful setting fits her personality perfectly! And if you look at the steps closely it says "Educate, Encourage, and Empower Girls." How fitting for my Number 7.
I just love a newborn in a hat! And this one is a great accent to this simple, classic pose. That and the adorable little folds on this cutie's back make this photo my Number 6.
While I find photographing newborns very rewarding, it's always nice to make Mom feel special with maternity photos. I've been taking maternity photos for a while, but I just recently splurged on this maternity gown for my Moms. I think it paid off because stunning is all I can say about Number 5.
I had such a great time photographing this family... they had attitude and weren't afraid to show it in their photos. I got lots of great shots of Mom, Dad, and their adult children but this is one of Dad and son is one of my favorites and will surely be cherished by them both. The lighting and setting were ideal for me to do a fun edit for my Number 4 capturing these two showing a little attitude.
This photo is a composite, and while I've done composites for both newborns and families in the past, I used several photos for this one which made it my most complicated composite to date. I was only able to get one good shot of the baby as Dad held the cocoon at the top and Mom supported the baby at the bottom. The rest of the photos were taken with the help of my husband after the session ended and merged together with the original. It's done this way so baby stays safe (please note - this should only be done by experienced newborn photographers using a composite method... don't try something like this yourself!) I think it turned out pretty well and I'm proud for it to be my Number 3.
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE how this photo turned out. I really wanted to do something a bit different like this and was so excited when this Mom happily braved the cold to do some tummy shots. Since it was taken in December, it seemed appropriate to add the red ribbon, which I think adds a nice finishing touch. Probably one of my favorite maternity photos ever... Number 2 is a little bit of art.
I'll admit, I'm biased because this is my daughter, but I love everything about this photo. The setting, the lighting, and of course that little face. This was the first time I had done an urban photo shoot and there were so many great spots within a small radius. The session was at the end of the day and the lighting was fantastic. My daughter had so much fun she didn't want to go home, even when I told her pizza was waiting. This is definitely my Number 1 this year!
Which one is your favorite? Please leave a comment and let me know. I'd love to hear from you!
Happy New Year!
]]>I love the fact that this family of four invited their loved ones, including a sister and parents, to take part in their family portraits. It was a great opportunity to spend a little time together and capture some photographs that are sure to be treasured keepsakes for years to come. Grandparents were able to get photos with their grandchildren, sisters and couples got photos together, and we also got some single portraits and large group photos. Here are a few of my favorites!
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Here are a few highlights from our session!
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I love this shot, but it is one that should ONLY be done in a SAFE manner. That means it should be a composite of at least two photos in rapid succession, merged together in "post production" with software like Photoshop. This ensures that the baby's head is always supported. While some photographers may try this pose without support, they shouldn't! You never know when a sleeping baby will twitch or move and this could lead to a fall and injury.
Safety should always be the first priority when working with newborns!
The two photos above were merged together to create the final photo. On the left Mom supports the baby's head from the top and on the right Dad supports the baby's head from the bottom. (NOTE: Two people don't have to attend the newborn session for this type of shot... consecutive shots can just occur a bit quicker with two people.) These photos were taken within a second or so of each other.
Even using this safe composite method is not always easy. Babies need to be very sleepy and young (I like to photograph newborns in the first 10 days for best results) for many "posed" shots.
Before newborn sessions I tell my clients that I allow baby to be in control. While I try to create poses that Mom and Dad will like, I want to make sure that baby is not only safe but happy. The studio is warm... baby is fed, and fed, and fed... sometimes I use heartbeat or other soothing sounds... and I always pay attention to when a baby starts to get fussy. Babies are very "posable" at this age but most newborns still have positions that they prefer and some they just don't like. It's part of their personality from the moment they are born.
And their personality (okay... AND their squishy, soft, itty bitty cuteness) is ultimately want I want to capture.
You can view more of my newborn poses in my newborn and maternity portfolio!
Interested in having maternity or newborn photos taken?
It's never too early to contact me at [email protected] to schedule a session!
So off I went with my daughter to see what I could come up with. She is frequently my guinea pig for photo session... my first cake smash, first "chicks and ducks" spring session and now my first "urban" photo session. And I can't tell you how pleased I am with the results! Here's why:
1 - Year Round Opportunities
Many people wait until spring or fall to have photos taken. Why? Mainly because this is when natural backdrops are at their peak... spring flowers, fall leaves. Who wants photos taken in front of a dreary scenery? Trees with no leaves? Grey skies? While Colorado often provides beautiful winter backdrops, you have to time it just right. Photos taken with city backgrounds can be taken at any time of the year! And many people need this flexibility for engagement photos, birthday photos, etc. I took these photos in very early April when the the trees were just beginning to bloom and not very picturesque.
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2 - Lighting
Ever hear a photographer say they prefer to take photos early in the morning or late in the afternoon? This is the preference because of lighting considerations. Light during the middle of the day is harsh and unflattering, which is why photographers tend to avoid shooting during these times. But structures in urban settings provide shade, and therefore flexibility in when to take photos.
3 - Variety
Find a great location in an urban area and you've found 10! There is such a variety of scenery in urban settings that you don't have to go far to get a totally different look. During this session I used a couple of interesting wood back drops, a deteriorating brick wall, stairs, railroad "remnants" and a salvaged railroad car in the local park. All of these locations were within 2 blocks of each other... making the session quick and easy. With 81% of the U.S. population living in urban areas, these locations are closer than you think. Remember, you don't need a big city... just interesting streets and buildings.
4 - Fun!
Sometimes it's hard to hold the interest of young kids (and well, let's face it... men) when you are taking photos. Settings like this provide locations to explore and have fun. While I don't forget safety, it's always nice to get those genuine smiles from little kids (and big kids) who are exploring their surroundings. My daughter loved checking out these old railroad remnants!
5 - Interesting "Props"
"Props" are great for adding interest to poses. These steps for instance served as a way to change up the poses for my daughter and she loved hanging out on them! Benches, door frames, and other structural items can also be used for unique poses.
Urban photo sessions are great for kids, high-school seniors, families, and engagement photos.
Contact me at [email protected] to schedule your an urban portrait session!
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Chad and Patty had an evening wedding and not much time for photos between the wedding and the reception,
so we took advantage of the natural light before the ceremony for some photos at
George Washington's Grist Mill, just a few minutes away from their ceremony site.
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This spot served as a perfect backdrop for their photos with a natural setting and architectural interest.
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Patty and her brother beamed as he walked her down the aisle.
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The sweet ceremony took place in a little white gazebo, as friends and loved ones looked on.
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Introducing Mr and Mrs....
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Purple flowers and lights adorned the tables while cupcakes served as yummy favors to take home.
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The groom not only got some affection from the bride, he also got a high five from the bride's approving grandmother.
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There were plenty of touching moments as speeches were made and glasses clinked.
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The wedding cakes were traditional Colombian cakes, flown in for the reception.
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And then the party started! Not a "sole" was left off the dance floor as the bride and groom
provided fun props and the DJ rocked the reception hall!
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Of course the fun didn't stop with the adults.
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Wishing the newlyweds many years of happiness!
Coordinate, but don't match.
For photos with more than one person, I recommend wear coordinating, but not matching clothing.
Choose several colors...such as two complimentary colors and an accent color.
Pastels are always a great choice and so are neutral colors.
Wearing the same color in different shades also works.
Here's some examples from some past sessions:
Of course there are exceptions to every rule. Well, except for rule #1... ALWAYS follow rule #1 :)
Below is an example where breaking the matching "rule" works because it's a classic beach shot and...
let's face it, coordinating outfits for 9 people can be a little overwhelming, especially when they live far
away from each other and want some family photos while vacationing together!
Avoid solid black.
If you are wearing a solid black shirt, pants, or dress it is very easy to lose detail in the photos.
Again, there are exceptions to this "rule." If you are getting family photos with a newborn where you want
the main focus on the baby, all black can have a nice affect but for the most part, you should avoid solid black.
I strong recommend against wearing tennis shoes for photos. Stylish boots, dress shoes, or flats can tie a look
together whether it's a group shot or photos by yourself. Sometimes going shoeless is great too, especially
if you are going to be sitting for photos and the bottoms of your shoes may be seen.
Think about backdrops that may be used if indoors. If your session will take place outside
consider the setting. If there will be a lot of trees and grass behind you, it's best to avoid dressing in greens
and dark blues that will make you blend in to the background. Will your photos be taken against a field of flowers?
If so floral prints may be overwhelming and you may want to consider wearing solid colors.
Also, consider the feel of the location... Will your photos be taken in a field with a rustic barn, at the beach,
on the grounds of a museum, on a city street? This may determine if you want to wear something vintage,
dress up in your finest, or wear a casual top and jeans.
Consider the purpose of the photos.
Will this photo be displayed prominently on the mantle above your fireplace? If so, you may want to choose outfits
that won't look out of place with the décor in the room. Is the photo for Christmas cards? Consider classic wintery looks.
You can choose classic red but you may also want to consider fun bulky sweaters and scarves in neutral colors.
Plan ahead.
Once you book your session, start thinking about your clothing right away. You may think certain clothes will fit
your children or that one dress is clean. If you wait until the day of or day before you may run into an
issue of clothes not fitting, being dirty, needing to be dry cleaned or ironed.
Finally, if you are still out of ideas, Pinterest is a great resource!
Mom brought this adorable little orange hat to the session
as well as her own little bunny hat that a friend had given her.
I used a little turquoise blanket on the miniature bed to match this little guy's new nursery colors.
I guess he approved because he gave us this precious smile!
He fought sleep most of the day, wanting to see everything that was going on around him!
Such a precious little face. I love this sweet close-up!
All tuckered out...
My daughter Katie loves Spring... and what child doesn't? Blooming flowers, warming temperatures,
Easter egg hunts, and baby animals! Last year I had some baby chicks in the studio for
mini sessions but when our neighbor offered to let me borrow their baby ducks this year I just couldn't resist.
I decorated the studio in a Spring theme, put Katie in her favorite color dress, and let her
play with the eggs, flowers, and ducklings while I took some photos.
She was as patient as could be expected from a 4 and 1/2 year old as I asked her
to sit for a few photos before bringing out the ducklings.
We started with one duck...
Then we added two more. And things got exciting...
The ducks seemed to really like the flowers.
Katie was able to save a few (because a girl needs at least one for behind her ear).
She was a bit concerned that these little guys would destroy the place at first!
But we had lots of fun and captured some memorable moments for Katie's annual photo album.
Happy Spring!
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What a fun time I had photographing this baby shower brunch at a restaurant in downtown Denver.
This lucky Mom was surrounded by wonderful friends who clearly adore her
as she celebrated the upcoming arrival of her first baby, a little boy to be named Holden.
Thanks to a good friend who has a background in event planning,
a little alcove of the restaurant was completely transformed with an adorable nautical theme!
Mom received some great gifts, including a few things from her Mom, who is an interior designer,
to complete this little boy's new nursery.
Dad arrive at the end of the shower...
And a bit of silliness ensued...
These two had their hands full... but thankfully they had a photo-bombing helper.
Proud Mom's Proud Mom!
The beautiful Mom to be!
And her guests....
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I love to capture newborns in timeless "poses" with simple props and neutral colors. These portraits are tasteful, lasting pieces of art that can be treasured in a photo album, shared as prints with family and friends, or turned into framed photos or canvases that compliment the décor in any room of your home.
The poses above are "standard" photographs taken during my newborn sessions.
They are simple and showcases babies in a natural pose without any distractions.
The "Froggy" pose above is a composite of two separate photos.
It's taken this way to ensure baby's head is always supported and SAFE.
I'll discuss this pose more in a later post.
Offset photo's like the one above are not only great for albums, canvases, and prints....
they work well for birth announcements since there is room to insert text on one side.
Once I get baby sleeping soundly and posed properly,
I take shots from several different angles and distances for different effects.
These types of photos allow you to frame several complimentary prints or create collages in photo albums.
I also like to take close-ups of baby "bits" like tiny toes.
This is one of my favorite shots. I love incorporating Mom and Dad into a photo, but I understand
that sometimes they don't want to be photographed... I was a blurry-eyed new Mom once too :)
This is a happy compromise that parents love.
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While I do love these simple photos, I also enjoy taking some fun photos of newborns in "staged" set-ups.
Think a little one may be a Book Worm someday? Is the family wild about Football?
I'm happy to incorporate fun props into my sessions so that families may have a mixture of simple photos
and those that reflect their family and lifestyle. I'm always willing to incorporate special items
such as family heirlooms, hand-made quilts, etc. into a session at the request of a family.
Bookworms and Football Lovers!
I am always looking for little baby props, like this tiny red flyer!
My husband and I also spent a weekend building this little white baby bed
with matching nightstand to showcase sleeping little ones :)
I picked up this stool and got a matching pink feather headband and diaper cover for
a client who wanted a pink and gray theme to match their new nursery.
And I couldn't resist putting this little flower into a gardening set-up.
And who can resist a baby in a hat? Whether it's a simple sleeping cap or he's "gone fishing"!
Finally, it's always nice to get a few photos with parents or siblings, even if the focus is still on baby...
Or have the families in focus.
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