Jaimié Birtel's photography blog

Portrait photography Jenny Pitcher Portrait photography Jenny Pitcher

Is a Mini Session Really the Best Choice for Your Portraits?

If you’ve been shopping for photographers, you’ve probably seen some photographers advertising mini-sessions. A mini session is a very short photo session - usually 15-20 minutes - that’s just bare bones: you get in front of the camera, get a handful of photos, and that’s it. These sessions are lower-cost than a traditional photo session, and from that standpoint, they might seem like a great deal. But from one parent to another, I advise caution about mini-sessions. Here’s why.

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Ways to Include Your Partner in Maternity Photos

For so many moms-to-be, a maternity photo shoot is a treasured part of their pregnancy experience. You deserve to enjoy this exciting milestone however you choose, and for some, that includes having their spouse or partner in their maternity photos. Should you include them, and what’s the best way to do this?

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Headshots for Online Dating Profiles? It’s a Better Idea Than You Think

When you think of headshots, you probably think of photos for a professional setting, like business websites, LinkedIn, business cards, and so on. And yes, that is the typical purpose. But in our modern era, more and more people are discovering that headshot photographers can also take knock-out photos for online dating profiles, and it’s true! Here’s what you need to know.

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How to Choose a Color Scheme for Your Newborn Photos

Your newborn photos are so much more than pictures of your cute little baby. They should be sentimental heirlooms that bring your mind back to this amazing time in your life as well as stunning custom artwork that you’re eager to display in your home. As a photographer, what I provide is art as much as it is a service for your family. With that in mind, let’s talk about the color scheme for your newborn photos, why it matters, and how to find the perfect color scheme for your newborn photo shoot.

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How to Use Your Professional Headshot

Maybe you’re looking at your beautiful new headshot or you have your headshot photo session planned. Maybe you’re considering booking a headshot photo shoot and want to know whether it’s worth it. Either way, it’s natural to wonder what comes next after you have that high-quality, on-brand headshot in hand. How do you put it to good use to grow your career and your brand?

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What to Wear for a Winter Family Photo Session

Winter in the Seattle area is absolutely stunning, and it can create the perfect backdrop for a lovely family photography session. If family portraits are in your winter plans this year, it’s never too early to start thinking about what to wear. I’ll help you plan your wardrobe, but here are a few tips to get you started.

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Why Hiring a Family Photographer is Worth It

Let’s be honest, professional photography isn’t cheap. Some parents ask themselves, is the cost of a family photographer really worth it when I have a camera in my hand every day in the form of my phone? We all have to be mindful of our budgets, of course, but the fact is that professional family photography offers so much more value than the price tag alone. Here’s why you’ll thank yourself for investing in family photography.

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Newborn Jaimie Birtel Newborn Jaimie Birtel

Cute x2! Special Considerations for Newborn Photos with Twins

I love newborn photography for several reasons, but the fact that I get to spend the day with an adorable little baby might be the biggest one. So when I get the opportunity to take newborn photos for twins, it’s double the cuteness and double the joy! Ever wondered what goes into a twin newborn photo session and how it’s different from a newborn session with one baby? Here’s a peek

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The Beauty of One Great Photo

They say that a photo is worth a thousand words, and that can certainly be true, but not all photos are equal. These days, nearly everyone has a smartphone which means that you probably have a camera at your side for almost all of your waking hours. But does that mean that you can use that camera to get all the photos your family will ever want? What role does professional photography have in a world where cameras are everywhere?

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Getting Your Baby to Sleep in Newborn Photos: What You Need to Know

There are two reasons why, in every newborn photo session, my goal is to get the baby to sleep for most of the session.

The first reason is the portraits. We all love those precious sleeping baby portraits! These newborn photos capture just how tiny and new your little one is, and for most parents, those sleepy photos are the dream.

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