Tips for Beautiful Fall or Winter Photos {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

There is a special kind of magic that comes with outdoor, winter photo sessions. The snow

lightly falling and icicles hanging from the branches create a lovely backdrop for any photo

session. Here are some tips to make your winter or fall photo sessions go smoothly.

1. Dress warmly. You will be surprised at how often this is overlooked. Since you’ll be

standing outside for a long period of time, short sleeves, thin fabrics, and open toe

shoes will not be comfortable for very long. Shivering makes it hard to look happy

and pose properly.

2. Wear sunscreen. Protecting your skin should be a priority throughout the year, not

just in summer. Use a good moisturizer to protect your skin from chilly winds.

3. Watch the weather. Warmer days may seem more pleasant but melting snow can

change the entire look of your backdrop. If you are looking for light snow flurries,

try and keep an eye on the weather forecast to make sure that you don’t end up with melting or heavy snow.

4. Be flexible. If the weather isn't exactly what you had hoped for, see if you can still

make the photo session work. If you are however scheduling this session in advance,

you may just have to work with the weather on that particular day.

5. Incorporate color. Even though fall and winter have some amazing colors to work

with, why not wear a splash of color to really stand out in your photos? For example,

vibrant shades of blues and greens look amazing amongst crunchy brown leaves.

6. Plan your day. Taking your photos just after the sun rises or just before it sets will

provide you with amazing lighting so try and plan your session around those times.

Take some hot tea or coffee along to make your photo session even more enjoyable and get

ready for some beautiful results.

Surviving a Family Photoshoot {Edmonds Family Photographer}

How to make your next family photo session a stress free one.

Family photos are truly timeless and such a great keepsake for future generations. Getting the

family together to take those perfect portraits can turn into chaos if not approached correctly.

There is usually a lot more to consider when it comes to a family photoshoot since there are

members of all ages, which means that there is some extra coordination involved.

Below are some family photoshoot ideas and tips to keep you and your loved ones calm and smiling the whole way through.

1. Timing is everything. If you have younger children involved in the shoot, try and

arrange the photoshoot at a time when they would be well rested. A rested child makes

for happy photos. On that note, make sure that all family members have gotten enough

sleep the night before as this helps with the fun and relaxation aspects of the session.

2. Dos and don’ts of bribery. Get your family excited about the photoshoot instead of

offering a reward in return for their cooperation. This tends to lead to forced smiles and

an irritated bunch of people. If you do have small children coming along it’s not a bad

idea to give the photographer some bribery options in the form of toys or small food

items to make those difficult moments a little easier

3. Relinquish control. As much as you’ll want to direct your children on where to stand

and how to pose, it’s best to leave that to the photographer as they know what works

best. Not having this pressure will also make you feel more relaxed.

4. It’s not just about the posing. The best photos happen when you’re having fun so joke

and play with your children, hold your partner’s hand and just let the moments happen.

5. Plan ahead. Discuss all of your requirements with your photographer beforehand so

that the family photo session can just flow. Let your photographer know if you want

specific pictures taken.

6. Keep those sugar levels up. If everyone is well fed, the photoshoot will also run a lot

smoother. It’s also not a bad idea to take a few snacks and some water along for those

who might need it.

Enjoy capturing your memories.

Fun Alternatives to Displaying your Photos {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

Amazing photos deserve an equally amazing display but this doesn’t mean you always have to use a traditional frame to showcase them in your home. Below is some inspiration for deciding how to display your favorite memories. If your home décor is very contemporary you might want to consider canvas gallery wraps, image blocks or standout mounts to showcase your photos. Going frameless is also a great option if you’re looking for something truly sleek and modern. If rustic and chic is more your style, then why not turn old pieces of wood into stained photo clipboards, using binder clips to hang the photos against the wood. Another unique option is to hang your photos on a thin cable to make it look like a clothesline. Binder clips also work perfectly for this. If you’re the creative type and have some extra time on your hands then there is the option of creating frames out of washi tape. This way you can incorporate different colors and designs around your photos to really make your walls pop. If you are a fan of frames, why not buy different sizes, colors and styles and create one big photo wall that displays(= a variety of memories. There are so many shapes and designs that you(= can use to create your photo wall and really( make it your own.

Since I work with so many creative vendors who offer a wide variety of traditional and non-traditional framing and display options, I am able to help you pick a unique option that suites your home and style. Whether it’s a traditional frame with hand-cut matting, shadow box or float frames, I will help you pick the right option for your home. No matter which method you choose, get creative. Filling your walls with a lifetime of memories is one of the most special and visual ways to tell the story of your family, so get hanging.

Why I Love What I Do {Seattle family photographer}

If you have ever wondered what spurs on a photographer’s passion, you are about to find

out. Below are just some of the many reasons your photographer wouldn’t change their job

for anything in the world.

1. Photography changes how you see things. You notice colors, textures, flowers,

trees, people, shapes and light in a way most people never see them.

2. You pay more attention to the beauty around you. Even the most mundane

object can become beautiful when you photograph it in a creative way. Many

photographers love their job because they develop a fascination with the world

around them by viewing it through new eyes

3. It's an amazing creative outlet. You get the chance to put a little bit of who you are

into each photo that you take. Anyone can click a camera's buttons but not everyone

can truly make a photo come to life

4. It's a challenge. Creating amazing photos that capture the magic of everyday life

doesn’t come without hard work, dedication and imagination. There is always

something new to explore and a new way to take the same photos. It’s a job that

never gets boring

5. You get to meet new people all the time. A photographer works with people from

all walks of life. Getting to know someone new is a part of the process of bringing

someone’s personality through in a photo. It also makes the job a lot more fun!

6. The flexibility is great. Being a full time photographer means you get to work your

own hours. This doesn’t mean it’s a laid back profession though. A photographer is

always aiming to perfect their craft, taking on new challenges and helping their clients achieve the perfect pictures.

When you decide to pay for a professional photo session, know that you are hiring an

individual who is passionate about what they do and is willing to go the extra mile to help

you create beautiful photos that you can treasure forever.

If you’re ready to schedule your own session, let’s connect.

A Summer Wrap Up {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

Every year as school goes back, I feel sadness creeping in. Did we do enough? Did we make enough memories? Will my kids look back at the images I took of them and still smell the salty air at the beach? Will they remember late nights roasting marshmallows around a fire? Will they remember how the cool summer breeze felt as the sun dipped below the horizon? Will they remember the first time they conquered the diving board. Will this be a summer to remember?

The whole “18 summers” thing seems to be drilled into us. We are faced with such an enormous pressure to make every summer memorable and momentous. I’ve thought about this a lot lately and the unnecessary expectations we place on ourselves as parents. Should summers be laid back and fun and a time to make memories? Of course. But there are 9 others months each year that we can make memories with our kids too. Think back to your own favorite childhood memories. Were they all from the summer? Can you even remember what season they happened? And does it really matter? We really don’t have just “18 summers” with our kids. We have 18 years. And although we know those 18 years will pass by way quicker than we wish, it is still plenty of time to enjoy making memories.

So while I am still a little sad for summer to be over, it’s now time to move onto fall and start creating fall memories. There is still so much to look forward to. Enjoy those 18 years parents.

And because this wouldn’t be a post without pictures, here are some of the memories we made this summer.

A Beautiful Sunset Session {Seattle Lifestyle Photographer}

It is always such an honor to be asked to come back to photograph a family time and time again. This was my fifth session with this gorgeous family. It’s been so fun to see their family grow over the years. They own a great piece of land in a beautiful spot outside of Seattle and this was our second time shooting there. We also did their newborn session there, but that was indoors of course. Go check out that sweet session here.

This session was one of the smoothest we’ve had. The kids were all in great spirits and everyone seemed to be having a good time just being with one another. We were able to shoot quickly and still get a great variety of images.

If you’re ready to schedule your own family session, let’s connect.

Introducing Baby Dez {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

The summer has been so busy and one of the sweetest sessions I’ve done has been this one with baby Dez. This session was scheduled after baby had already made his appearance and we were able to fit it in last minute. While it’s always a good idea to schedule your newborn session while you are still pregnant, please don’t hesitate to reach out once your baby is here. I would hate for you to miss out on newborn photos, so I will always try to squeeze you in!

This family welcomed their first baby a few weeks ago. He was about two weeks old for his newborn session and was as sweet as can be. I loved including their first fur baby in the images too. He seemed to handle adjusting to the new baby so well and it was so sweet to capture it. One of the best parts of my job is getting to know the families. One of the first things I noticed when I entered their home was a dish towel from New Zealand. Being from New Zealand, this caught my attention. They had honeymooned there a couple of years earlier and it was so nice being able to talk with them about my beautiful homeland.

I loved this session so much and I hope you do too. It was an honor to capture you as you transition to parenthood with that sweet little boy.

If you are wanting to book your own newborn session, please make sure you check out my portfolio to make sure I’m the right photographer for you, then get in touch so we can get you on the calendar. I’m currently booking newborns, both in home lifestyle sessions and Fresh 48 sessions through March 2020.

Introducing Baby Session Packages {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

That first year in your baby’s life goes by so fast. Your baby is going to change so much and you’re never going to want to forget how they were when they were little. Because of this, I have decided to start offering a baby milestone package. This package includes:

• an in home lifestyle newborn session including the whole family

• a 6 month mini session featuring just the baby

• an in home or outdoor family session around baby’s first birthday.

You will receive a minimum of forty digital images for both the newborn and one year session, as well as a minimum of 20 images for the mini 6 month session. The price for these three sessions is $1300. I do have payment plans available.

I have a beautiful collection of classic, timeless baby clothes that you are welcome to use for your images. Let me know if that’s something you’d be interested in.

If you are looking to have your baby’s first year documented, please reach out.

At Home With a Family of Five {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

I met this strong mama though a workout program and I felt so honored when she asked me to photograph their latest little addition, Willow. Willow is adored by her big brother and big sister. It’s always so fun to see everyone step into their new roles once the new baby arrives. Little Willow has the most perfect dark brown hair, the opposite of her two big siblings. Despite her looking different, she fits in so well with her family. That third little baby is always such a blessing. They grow up just managing to fit in and they often seem to have such a laid back easy personality. Welcome to the world little Willow. You are so loved.

Welcoming Violet & Carter {Seattle Newborn Photographer}

I can’t imagine what it’s like to go from two to four children overnight, but this family makes it look easy. This was the first twin newborn session I have photographed and it was such an honor to be invited into their space and document their morning as they adjust to being a family of six. It’s amazing to see how different their little personalities are at only a few days old. Their two big sisters are so in love with them and it was so sweet to hear them cooing "Oh baby boy, baby boy. Oh baby girl, baby girl”.

I’m now booking newborns though December so if you’re thinking about a session, get in touch so I can get you on the calendar.