As meaningful as it is to have beautiful family photos that paint an authentic picture of your family and the love between you all, it’s common for parents to stress about making sure the pictures are as perfect as they can be. After all, family portraits are a financial investment and you want to make sure you love them! As a Mercer Island family photographer, I take the work and stress off your plate and take care of all the details. But one concern many parents still have is how they can make sure their kids smile well for the camera. Don’t worry, I have plenty of tricks up my sleeves, but here are a few tips on ways you can help.

Spring is such a beautiful time for outdoor photo shoots! The landscape is coming alive all around you and all the spring colors in the flowers and trees create a stunning backdrop for portraits. If you’re planning to take advantage of this gorgeous season for family portraits, maternity photos, or other custom photography, I’m here to plan your dream photo session with you. To give you a head start, here are a few tips for what to wear for spring photo shoots.

Planning outfits for a photo session, whether it’s family photography, maternity photography, or other types of portraits, is an important part of preparing for your session. While some of my fashion-minded clients love the opportunity to go shopping and other clients feel intimidated by styling. That’s why I offer personal styling services in which I visit you for an in-home consultation and actually help you choose the outfits for your family’s session.

This isn’t a service many photographers offer, so why do I include it in my packages? Because I know that outfit planning can be stressful and because your outfits make a powerful difference in your photos in several ways.

No matter how well your kids normally listen to instructions and corporate on family outings, every parent has at least some anxiety before a family photo session about how their kids will handle it. Will they listen to the photographer’s instructions and smile nicely when they need to, or will they be grumpy and have a hard time sitting still?

I can tell you from experience (both as a photographer and as a parent) that there are never any guarantees. It helps if you take some prep steps, though, so try out these tips.

Telling the story of your baby’s first days through newborn photography is a decision you’ll always thank yourself for, and there are two general types of newborn sessions: lifestyle photography or studio photography. In case you’re not familiar, lifestyle newborn photography takes place in your home and captures images that reflect your life with your new baby rather than conventional posed portraits.

Could lifestyle newborn photography be the best choice for you and your family? Consider these benefits.

Maternity portraits are all about capturing and preserving the experience of your pregnancy, and just as every pregnancy is unique, every maternity photo shoot is unique too. I love embracing and highlighting my clients’ personal styles in every maternity session, and one of the ways we’ll customize your session is with your wardrobe…or lack thereof.

Nude maternity photos have always been a popular choice, but many moms-to-be are hesitant about trying them because of how exposed they might feel. I respect every client’s choice of what they’re comfortable with, but I’ve also seen how thrilled so many moms-to-be have been with their nude portraits! If you’re on the fence about nude maternity portraits, here’s why you might want to give them a try.

When I’m doing the honor of creating a beautiful family’s newborn photos, I offer the option to come to you and take portraits of your family and your precious little one in your own home. This type of session is called lifestyle newborn photography. So many of my clients see those in-home portraits and worry, “Does my home look good enough for lifestyle photos? Is that really an option for me?”

I’ve always felt that you can learn a lot about someone by how they choose to spend their time - you can learn what makes them happy, what is most important to them, and what motivates them. In my case, I think that’s true of my profession, too. As I get to know my clients, many of them ask me why I do what I do, so I’ve dedicated this blog to answering that question.

Professional headshots are an excellent investment in your career, whether you’re a small business owner, a salesperson, or any professional who wants to grow in your industry. You can rest assured that I’ll put all my expertise to work to create the best headshot for your personal brand and the look you’re aiming for, but part of your image depends on you and your outfit choice. Check out these tips to nail your headshot wardrobe.

Planning outfits for a photo session, whether it’s family photography, maternity photography, or other types of portraits, is an important part of preparing for your session. While some of my fashion-minded clients love the opportunity to go shopping and other clients feel intimidated by styling. That’s why I offer personal styling services in which I visit you for an in-home consultation and actually help you choose the outfits for your family’s session.

This isn’t a service many photographers offer, so why do I include it in my packages? Because I know that outfit planning can be stressful and because your outfits make a powerful difference in your photos in several ways.