Thursday, July 29, 2010

Meltdowns, tears, detours and other (future) fond memories

There are a few portraits that everyone wants. Usually involving smiles, kisses or a tender moment between Daddy and Baby. But what about the other stuff?

Tantrums, defiance, dirt...while the moment is beyond frustrating, years from now when your little one is all grown up and on his or her way to college won't you look up at the photo in full blown tantrum mode at the park and grow misty? I took the below photo of my daughter at Tyler Aborteum two weeks ago. It was hot and she got very angry because she couldn't play with my camera. In the moment, we were both a little upset. But even now when I look at it, I can see the humor and well, she's just so darn cute when she cries.

Some of the best photos I've taken are those unplanned and agitated moments.

Go with it. They turn out to be life's treasures.




Clothing Optional

Unfortunately, unless you're under the age of two, clothing is not optional. (Atleast for your portraits. With me.)

It's an important decision picking what the wear for a portrait session. In addition to investing your time and money into getting your photo taken, you want a beautiful product that can be used to adorn your home in years to come.

  • Timeless: Photos are meant to be displayed over decades and not subsequently concealed in a covert operation to hide your short-lived affinity for 80s-inspired styles. (Yes, I'm wearing them too, but they will eventually go away.) Stick with classic clothing choices that won't come back to haunt you. Don't stray from your signature-style.
  • Simple: Stay away from busy patterns, bright neon colors and loads of accessories. They can be very distracting. Simple patterns and bold colors photograph well.
  • Comfortable: In the cooler weather, layers looks great. They're very interesting to photography and look fantastic. In the warmer weather dress light. If your toddler is hot and dressed in foofy frilly clothes that make her itch, she will have a meltdown sooner rather than later. Comfy kid=happy kid.
  • Colors: As mentioned before, stay away from ultra-bright colors. I really can't stress this enough. The colors reflect on the skin and can make you look green, orange or pink. The exception for this would be darker skintones. Brighter colors tend to compliment rather than detract from a more tanned subject. Some photographers prefer to stay away from black and white, but I like them both. Black gives a very modern and chic appearance, whereas white is more crisp and classic. Primary colors look great too. And by all means...if your child has beautiful blue or green eyes- match!
  • Coordination: Matching isn't for everyone, but no one is above coordinating. Make sure your colors compliment eachother. Stripes, polka dots and duckies clash. Prior to a photo session, I suggest laying out all the outfits on a bed so you can see how they look together.
Most photographers, myself included, offer a phone consultation. Take advantage of it! Experience gives us a great eye for color and outfit ideas.

Monday, July 19, 2010

Storyboards

I love decorating with photographs. In addition to canvas prints, storyboards are becoming an increasingly popular way to display family portraits.

I think they look especially cute to decorate a child's room. I'm in the process of completing several, but here's one I just completed for my daughter's room. (Twinkle, twinkle is her favorite song.)

Saturday, July 3, 2010

Coluccio Family Portraits



The day was HOT and HUMID with no breeze. You could literally taste the wetness in the air. But to see the relaxed smiles from Christy, Doug and Nate you would've thought it was a cool 70 degrees. With thoughtfully coordinated outfits, the Coluccio Family joined me for portraits at Tyler Arboretum. While it was a few weeks late, we were commemorating Nate's 1st birthday. Nate immediately gave me an easy sweet grin- no stranger anxiety for this kid!

Like me, the Coluccios are also fans of Tyler Arboretum, and there's a pretty cool exhibit going on called "Nature's Enchantment." Every exhibit was created by a local artisan, and the little ones love it. In fact, I have a family membership to take advantage of all the beautiful scenery and neat exhibits- it's been quite a popular spot for portraits this summer.

Ever seen such bright blue eyes?