Archives

off comments

As a portrait photographer, I find that many of my clients plan their yearly portrait sessions around making a Holiday Card. Sending out Holiday Cards plays a large role in their family holiday celebrations. There are endless choices and possibilities so how do you decide what’s best for your family? I have a list of five suggestions that can simplify this process.

1. Choose the photograph: Do you want a photograph of your whole family or just the children? Many cards we design can use two or more photographs. You may want a photograph of the whole family on the front of the card and a photograph of just the children inside. Perhaps there are some active playful photographs of your children where two or three tell a story. Sometimes we create a bar of three small photographs for a mini story.

Designing your holiday photo cards

2. Paper Styles: At my studio, I offer a slightly textured watercolor card in white or ivory, a smooth fine quality white and ivory stock paper, a one-sided extra thick card stock in multiple colors and a coated linen texture. Choosing the color paper depends on the photograph you are using. Is it a warm toned photograph with lots of sunshine? Ivory can be a great choice! Maybe everyone was wearing an outfit that goes better on white stock. Each photograph and card has to be considered on its own terms.

Designing your holiday card, textured papers

3. Holiday Card Greetings: Greetings fall under different categories, religious, non-religious, or the unique use of a favorite quotation. Part of a song or poem that has specific meaning to the family or relates to the photograph can be used. Sometimes you can search the internet or browse through a book store or card shop for a greeting. If you would prefer, email me and I will send you a list I have complied over the years.

“The world is so full of a number of things,

I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.”

Robert Louis Stevenson

4. Names: The woman’s name first, man’s name, then surname. Children’s names should appear below their parents. The word “and” and “&” are interchangeable and a matter of personal preference.

Jane and Robert Smith

John, Kevin and Samantha

Or

The Smith Family

Jane, Robert, John, Kevin & Samantha

If you have a pet, don’t forget to include their name. Sometimes we make paw prints for pets not photographed but a part of the family.

5. Return Address: The home address is written in the same font style as the text inside the card. Either the address is written out or the family’s name may be included like:

The Smith Family

22 Indian Hill Road

East Hampton, NY 11937

 Designing your holiday photo card

Most of all have fun creating your card. Let the professionals help you and do it early so you can have all of your envelopes addressed by Thanksgiving Weekend!!

 

 

 

 

 
off comments

The days are getting shorter, the nights are getting cooler, and fall family portraits can be just as lovely as summer photographs. There are still the same approaches to family portraits in the months of September and October, with a few changes to keep in mind.

Location: This may be a state park with hills, trails, logs and tall grasses, a pumpkin farm with all of its activities, your own backyard and somewhere to include the colorful fall leaves.

Dress: Something warm. Sweaters with natural colors: ivory, tans, browns, deep reds, burgundy, greens, and dark blues. A hat or scarf can add touch of color. Jeans or Khakis give a family portrait a presentable casual appearance.

Time of Day: To take advantage of the best light, fall portraits happen in the late afternoon.Typically I like to start an hour and a half before sunset.

Pets: If you are thinking of making a photograph suitable for a holiday card, bring your pet or pets! They are part of your family too! It helps to have a friend or relative come along to care for your pets when we are making other photographs.

Once all of the above has been decided upon, come to your session relaxed and ready to have fun. I prefer keeping the children active so their smiles happen naturally. My team and I will take care of everything else.

Family portraits in the fall

Family portraits in the Fall.

Book your session soon while the temperatures are still comfortable.

 
off comments

 

Many of my clients want to include their pet in their family portrait. It’s a treat for me because of my love for animals. Sometimes I am fortunate enough to photograph a pet as it matures over the years and that was the case with Boomer.

I met Boomer in 1998. My clients brought him to the beach as a very young pup to be included in their yearly family portraits. That first year, he sat looking at me very inquisitively and then proceeded to lick one of the children’s faces.

In some respect, through the years, he remained the most patient with the whole process of creating a beautiful family portrait for the family’s home and holiday card. The three boys would wiggle and squirm, make the occasional face, and push one another. Boomer was content to remain in their midst, often napping contentedly.

portraits with a family pet

As the boys got older, and spent more time in and on the water at the East Hampton ocean beaches, Boomer enjoyed the surf and happily stuck close by.

portraits with a family pet

With one son in college, another on his way, a third nearing the end of high school years, the photo shoot this year was probably going to be Boomer’s last. His gait had slowed; he needed a lot of help being moved into position. Each of the boys had individual portraits made with their trusty lifelong companion.

portraits with a family pet

September, Boomer passed away peacefully in his sleep September 4, 2012.

I feel privileged to have photographed Boomer over the span of his lifetime.