Fall Family Portrait Mini Sessions 2017

A family portrait session is something that many of us regularly consider; and yet, that critical moment –– picking up the phone or sitting down the send the email –– never happens. Our lives in today’s world seem to fly by at an ever increasing rate, and before we have time to reflect, our children are grown, our hair has betrayed us (either making a full and silent departure or turning a shade we never thought we would ever rock), and the moments we reflect on with nostalgia –– Eddie’s awkward phase; Susan’s blonde stage; Dad’s dad-jean nightmare –– are gone forever.

Think for a moment about these transitions; think of them like the subtle growth of hair: the change is unrecognizable day-day, and yet profoundly different when compared over time. We may have albums of iPhone photos buried deep in the depths of our Photos app (or, even worse, gone forever after that “accident” at the beach), but how often do we really seek out these buried moments? How often do we have friends over for dinner and dig out our phones, search for a random photo taken on vacation five years ago by that elderly couple who cropped off little Eddie’s feet, positioned the sun in such a way that Mom has a halo around her head, and Dad is in what appears to be the throws of a sneeze? Never.

What is much more likely is that Grandma comes over for a birthday party and comments on that (beautiful) portrait hanging over the fireplace (no cropped feet, no awkward sun angle, nobody mid-sneeze); Liz from high-school stops by for a visit while she is in town and gushes over the perfect family you have.

In all seriousness, it’s those portraits that you take with you through life. They may help you through a bad day; they may become the center of conversation at dinner; and they will be the link your children have to their past (perhaps with laughs and grunts, but solid and never-changing). Catch the hair as it is; memorialize the dad-jeans; capture Eddie’s uninhibited, joyful awkward grin. We can say one thing with certainty, based upon our decade-long relationship with returning clients: It’s one thing you will never regret doing.

We are offering a limited number of fall mini-portrait sessions on October 29, November 5, and November 12 at our convenient and scenic Lothian, MD location. No procrastinating! This is the perfect time to start preserving your family memories!  Follow this link to schedule now: https://fallminisession2017.acuityscheduling.com/

Tips for a Successful Family Session

Everyone wants their family photography session to go as smoothly as possible—including your family photographers. Because we want your day to go well, we’ve come up with a list of our top four best tips for making your family session successful. 

Family Photography Tip 1: Shoot During the Golden Hour

The “golden hour” is the hour after sunrise or the hour just before sunset. These two times of day create warm, perfect light that will illuminate you in the photos we take throughout your portrait session. This warm light, along with the rims of light that outline the subjects of the photo can create stunning images when your portrait session takes place in an open field or wooded area. 

Family Photography Tip 2: Be Comfortable and Confident

When picking out your clothes for the session, err on the side of comfort. You want to be confident in your clothing styles, but choose something flattering and timeless that will make you want to keep that family portrait up for years to come. Try to avoid trendy patterns and styles that might be outdated in a year. After all, you don’t want to run to the mantle to hide those family portraits taken when shoulder pads and yellow stripes were in vogue when friends come to visit five years down the road. 

Family Photography Tip 3: Listen to Your Photographers

This is especially true for families with small children. Often, photographers have methods of calming children and getting them to participate in the family shoot without a fight. These tried and true methods have been honed by plenty of years of experience. After all, Grandma might think little John’s crying portrait is adorable, but you might not want it framed. Trust your family photographer to get the perfect portrait of your little one for your wallet.

Family Photography Tip 4: Choose Your Location Carefully

When choosing a location for your family session, you may want to go with a place that fits your family style perfectly or has a significant story behind it. That’s a good idea, because it will make you more comfortable on the day of the shoot. With that said, it’s important to be flexible to changes. Many unforeseen circumstances can make a beautiful location less than ideal for pictures. Whether it’s the wind blowing your hair, or the sun shining in the wrong direction, it’s important to trust your photographer. We will work closely on the day of the session to find the best spot for your portraits. After all, our job is to deliver the best possible pictures to you. We might even surprise you and find a location better than the one you had in mind.

Family portraits can sometimes be stressful things as you plan and herd your family—but we want you to be as relaxed and happy as possible. Tips like these can save you time and stress down the line!