A few weeks ago “Taylor’s Mom” contacted me about a Holiday Session for her family.  Taylor is my daughter’s BFF.  Sweetest thing ever = Taylor showed up wearing the “Best Friend” bracelet that Claire gave her earlier in the year.  When I showed Claire the photos and pointed out that Taylor was wearing the bracelet she tilted her head to the side and said “Awwwwwwww, I just *love* her.”  Haha!

Here you go, Talyor’s Mom and Dad.  Enjoy your sneak peek. :)

Last year I photographed the lovely Kate, her husband Damian, and their two gorgeous children.  Last year, Kate was a stranger who emailed me about booking a session.  She and her family had just moved here from Australia and she sent me a message explaining she was a photographer, and not “in business” since the move.  She felt my work was really her style and off we went to the hills!  You can see her 2010 session here.

Well, a lot sure happened in one year!  This year, Kate not only attended my wedding, but also photographed the Birth of my daughter, Molly.  Which you can see here.

I am SO happy to have become friends with Kate, and so thankful to have her in my life.  It was a pleasure photographing her family again this year.

Here’s to many many more…

Kate and Damian were celebrating their 10th Anniversary!  Congrats!

It’s an obsession. MUST. FIND. PERFECT. OUTFITS.

As mothers, we all know we can’t *really* control the kids goofy faces, or the number of times the hubby looks at his watch. Can’t control the weather. Can’t control the last 10 pounds we totally meant to lose (hey, it’s baby weight!!!)

But I’ll be damned if my kids look like gypsies.

That brings me to the Spring Edition of “What to Wear”.

Depending on your style, your photographer’s style, and your location there are a ton of ways to go about choosing the perfect outfits. Some times the train of thought is to wear whatever fancies you that day – be yourself.  Some times people are drawn to matching white shirts and jeans, some prefer pageant dresses. Below you’ll find some advice that I give my clients when they ask what to wear. It’s based on what I feel photographs best according to my shooting style, and what I find most of my clients are drawn to.

1. I spent 12 years wearing a Catholic school uniform. I cringe at “matchy”. Instead, think *coordination*. Try to envision your family’s attire as one giant outfit. Shoes, scarves, headbands, and vests are a great way to tie it all together.
2. That leads me to accessories. Sometimes simple is best. Sometimes a bunch of junk thrown together turns out awesome. Grab a few things you think may be fun and we’ll give it a try. We can always choose to not use it.
3. A good place to start is with your own outfit. Find something you love for YOU, then work your way down the food chain.
4. Rules are meant for breaking, but here’s a few you should follow: I don’t recommend solid white shirts and solid black shirts. Be careful of distracting patterns. Cartoons and slogans are a big no-no.
5. Comfort is king.

Here’s a Spring Sample I threw together. Items are from Anthropologie, JCrew and Gap.

Every year multitudes of families book portrait sessions with professional photographers.  After the session the photographers present galleries to their clients.  Each gallery is filled with gorgeous images. The clients spend hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars on portraits of their beautiful families and growing children.  If you’re reading this blog its likely that you are, or would like to be one of these families.

When you send in your session fee you are trusting your photographer to present you with great photos of your family.  But lets say you want to go the extra mile…  You want more than just “great”.  You want MEMORABLE.  You want UNIQUE.

Below are five suggestions and tid-bits of inspiration for things YOU can do to make your family portrait session stand out from all the rest.

1.  {Bring a Little History} Ask for a few photographs of your newborn wrapped in a blanket your grandmother knitted, or pair your six year old’s dress with a necklace your mother gave her.  Do you have any family heirlooms sitting around that would add a little something special to your session?  Bring ‘em along!  Anything you can think of that shows your family’s past and present love for one another.  Even if you don’t have anything tangible, there are ways to get your message across.

2. {Incorporate Nature} One of my favorite props are a simple bunch of flowers from Trader Joes. :)  If you’re feeling crafty you could even bring along a flower crown you made with your daughter.  Not feeling so creative… buy one! Another way to incorporate nature would be to opt for a session in your back yard in front of the giant oak tree and tire swing.  Or how about booking a session during your next camping trip to capture some images of the boys fishing and the kids bundled up around the camp fire.  Anything is doable.

3.  {Tell Me a Bit About You} Lets brainstorm!  Give me a call or send me an email a few weeks before your session and just start talking.  What is your family known for?  Whats your favorite activity? How did you and your husband meet?  What makes YOU unique?

4. {Do Something} Let’s spend a portion of your session photographing the kids running through the sprinklers, making cookies, or taking a walk down to the ice cream shop.   Think outside the box.  What are some activities your family enjoys?  Try to incorporate at least one activity into your session.

5.  {Allow a Little Funky} Even some of the most conservative people have a brightly colored scarf to add a splash of color, a fun pair of shoes that you tell everyone were “a gift”, or even something as simple as a head band with a giant flower on it for your little girl.  Don’t be afraid to BE FUN. If you bring something and it doesn’t work, we’ll move right along.

At the end of the day, what makes your family portrait session unique is YOU.  Be true to yourself and spend a few moments daydreaming of ways for your family’s connection and love shine through in your photographs.   I can suggest clothing, recommend a location, set the stage, get the giggles and snap the shutter… I count on you to bring the one thing your family has that makes you unique: your JOY.

in outfits like these, no one will ever guess they fight like rabid animals at home.

all items can be found at gap.com

what to wear… that is the question. below is a suggestion.  one of many to come.

how absolutely perfect would your little girl look in this?  a bit of frill, a bit of glimmer, yet still subtle enough to let their personality glow.