What are five essential ingredients for a successful portrait session?

Obviously, good light is critical –but the child being photographed should have a comfort level and a trust built with the photographer. This is why it’s so difficult to get a really good portrait at a “1-2-3 say cheese!” kind of portrait session you’re likely to get at the mall, or from a hit-and-run photo at school. Getting a family ready for portraits is a big project –and Moms usually get the worst of it. A child will definitely pick up on those stress vibes if you throw everyone in the car at the last moment. So, like most things, it will pay off if you’re able to plan ahead.

Here are some suggestions for preparing your child:

1. Start talking about it in advance. “What should we wear for our pictures this year?” or “let’s pick our favorite shirt –because we get to go to the photo studio next week” “Should we get a new haircut? We want to look good for our pictures! It’s going to be so much fun!”  In other words, let your child know you’re anticipating an important appointment and involve him/her in the planning.

2. Set it up to be fun! If you hate being photographed, then you haven’t been to my studio. It’s not a chore, it’s a fun annual family event – like picking out a Christmas tree, or carving the pumpkin.  If you’re truly uncomfortable, don’t share your fear with the kids. From the minute a family walks in my door, I’m learning names, making jokes and sizing up everyone’s comfort level. We simply don’t give in to bad moods around here. Show up in a bad mood and I’ll make it my mission to tease you out of it!

3. Dads. Okay they’re the ones that want to hate me the most. I make them SIT and SMILE when they’d rather be at home  –AND I cost them money. It’s a dangerous combination for me.  But over and over, I see how much their family portraits mean to them –and how they display them with pride.  Whether it’s a cell phone or the wall above the fireplace, they make room for what I do and love it.  I’ve had Dads show up complaining loudly about how much I charge and then come to the order session and want to buy one of everything. So the best plan is to schedule with them way in advance and remind them it’s only one hour out of their year.

4. Make the photographer your partner.  Send me clues! Tell me (I’m fluent in parent code) “Johnny just lost a tooth!” or “Look at Sarah’s new haircut” or even “somebody wouldn’t brush his teeth for us this morning and didn’t get a snack!”  Anything that is front and center in their minds needs to be on my radar. I can tease them, joke with them or even commiserate — but it helps to know.

5. Make an idea list. Have a few ideas or make note of a few things by scanning the website before you arrive. We can put our heads together and come up with a plan. Things change a lot in a portrait studio from one year to the next. New sets, new props, new ideas – we like to keep it fresh! If you have questions about how to dress, just ask –we can help with that, too!

The biggest payoff for me is when I hear a child ask Mom or Dad “when can we come back here?” or “I like it here!” …and sometimes I even get a hug.

Photographers love Matilda Jane! Their beautiful clothes are fun and colorful and beautifully put together — and they’re clothes the girls just love to wear. When I saw how special they were, I was actually surprised they weren’t more expensive. I recently contacted the local Trunk Keeper and was lucky enough to get on the calendar for the first week of the fall line! Their sizes range from 18 months to 12 years and they have lots of fun accessories and mix and match possibilities — and they’re not available in stores. AND they also have some cute clothes for Moms!

So if you want to come and have some girl fun and try on outfits, have some refreshments and beat the heat – come see us on August 15th from 2-4pm. We’ll going to have a blast!

I had a great session with my nephew Bo and his new puppy ( yes, a 65 lb. puppy!) Kelly. The two of them are made for each other! This is a great example of what’s possible with the gentle natural light in the front shooting area of the studio. The light floods in and gives the feel of a softly lit room at home. Thanks Bo and Kelly for being such great models!

It’s finally spring and each year we do a very special two day event called Tulips & Tutus!  We have a gorgeous one of a kind hand painted canvas that we spread out for the little ballerinas to pose on. I am always amazed at the look on their faces when they walk in and see all the tutus spread out everywhere. They LOVE picking out their outfits!  Moms have fun, too –creating memories for the girls and lots of fun for all of us!  Don’t miss this annual event — mini sessions are quick and easy, but the availability is limited. All you need to bring is the ballerina!

This is Eryn and her dachshund Elvis — they were amazing! People often ask me why I choose to photograph two subjects that most photographers consider difficult, but there is a special kind of magic that happens when we put kids and dogs together that makes it worth the extra effort. It’s a combination of their wisdom and their innocence I think…

My calendar is filling up so fast! The minute the weather finally cooled off everyone wanted to go outdoors for their annual family portraits. We will have ONE fall portrait special event  - details coming out later this week – but until then, I just wanted to share a recent portrait of  the beautiful children of local morning show host, Rebecca Carrell and her wonderful husband, Mike.  You can hear Rebecca on The Big 96.3 KSCS, from 5 to 9am, and read her blog “Musings of a Christian Mom”  at http://rebeccacarrell-christianmom.blogspot.com/

Wow! I can tell it’s fall – the Saturdays on my calendar are filling up fast -so please call at least 2-3 weeks in advance. We’ve also got a move planned! Our new location is being remodeled for us so the exact moving date is uncertain – but hopefully early in October! You’ll find us on Preston Road at Campbell and I’m sure we’ll have some interesting photos of the construction work as it progresses.

One other change as of September 1 – our online proofs will be posted for 7 days instead of 14. This also means that after you view the proofs in the studio you have 7 days (not 14) to add to your order before the price increases 25%. By shortening the proofing time we’ll be able to better keep up with our outstanding orders and keep our print deliveries on schedule during our busy season. And don’t forget – holiday cards are still only $40 per set of 25 during the month of September. October 1st they go up to $50 per set. Now for some of our cute August babies…

It’s spring –so you know what that means!

One of the best features of my studio location is the little “urban jungle” right outside my door. Lots of cool old buildings, railroad tracks, weeds and grunge. It really works for senior portraits and now it’s catching on with the kids, too! We had a lot of fun in the weeds and concrete last week and I LOVE the results! And because it’s right here, we don’t have to charge a location fee… so if your kids are ready for some outdoor fun (and you don’t mind if they get a little dirty) Let’s schedule your next session outdoors – or at least some of it? It’s easy to do a little of both.

I just discovered a quick and easy way to show what a portrait will look like on canvas…pretty cool, huh?