Lifestyle Newborn Photography

As 2017 begins, a few changes have been implemented.  One of which is the type of newborn photography that we will now offer.  Rather than posed newborn photography sessions, we will instead do lifestyle newborn photography sessions.  What does this mean?  Well, the sessions typically take place at the home of the client and the images are simply images of one's real life.

“Lifestyle photography is a kind of photography which mainly aims to capture portrait/people in situations, real-life events or milestones in an artistic manner and the art of the everyday. The primary goal is to tell stories about people’s life or to inspire people in different times.”

— https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifestyle_photography

I love capturing the love a family has for one another!  My number one goal is to provide families with a portrait that shows everyone that views that portrait the love that family has for one another.  If I don't provide this for my clients, I don't feel that I've done my job very well.  I find it extremely rewarding when clients specifically tell me that I captured the personalities of their family perfectly.  THAT is why I do what I do!  

More Than A Picture...It's Wall ART!

It's more than a picture, it's wall ART!  That sounds fascinating to me, but what does that actually mean?  This topic is going to be a five part series, with each part focusing on a certain product that we are offering our clients.  If you visit the "About Me" page of our website you will find a lot of information about us and our beliefs.  We believe that if you are putting in all this effort for photographs, you want products that are quality - you want products that will last a lifetime. 

“We strive to provide you with the service that you and your loved ones deserve. With that being said, typically a great amount of planning and preparation goes into a photography session - everything from deciding on a photographer, choosing coordinating outfits, choosing a location, etc. All of those factors take a great deal of time and energy! We want that time, effort, and energy to shine in your portraits! For that reason we have a large selection of print products to offer you in your personal online gallery - everything from standard professional prints that will last a lifetime to beautiful canvas gallery wraps and vivid metals. The products that we offer are professional quality and will last a lifetime. They will become cherished memories for generations. They will be beautiful pieces of art that are displayed on your walls for years to come. ”

— Anna Johnson-Smith at Smith Family Photography

Part One - Collages

Collages are a popular item that we began offering last July.  I personally have always loved collages, however I wasn't sure that others shared this same love until one client received her online gallery and adored her family photographs, but asked if I could create a collage for her with certain images.  I told her that I'd love to put something like that together for her and she loved it!  After that I began contemplating the inclusion of collages in each online gallery.  I began planning and finally decided to include at least one pre-made collage in each and every online gallery and provide the option for building a personalized collage if the pre-made ones do not meet your needs and/or wants. 

Since the introduction of collages in the online galleries, nearly every client chooses at least one collage!  They have become THAT popular!  They are a great way to display your favorite photographs on one print.  This makes them a perfect addition to your wall of photographs, as well as a perfect gift for friends and family. 

An example of a customized collage that was ordered as an 11x14 print.

Most collages are ordered in print form, however sometimes they are also ordered as a canvas gallery wrap.  I had a client show me a wall display of various canvas gallery wraps to make an art piece for a wall in their home.  She wanted a large canvas gallery wrap, 30x30.  I put together a customized collage that was very similar to what she was looking for with separate canvas gallery wraps. 

An example of a customized collage that was ordered as a 30x30 canvas gallery wrap.

As you can see, collages are a creative way to display your favorite photographs from your session!  The sky is the limit and I love creating one of a kind pieces of art that are printed at professional printing labs so you know you are receiving a quality product that will last a lifetime plus some. 

In two weeks we will continue this topic with Part Two:  Prints. 

Halloween/Fall Mini-Session Success!

The weekend of October 17th and 18th was a FABULOUS weekend for Smith Family Photography's Halloween/Fall Mini-Sessions!  The weather was nice and dry...and warm and sunny.  By all accounts it was a perfect weekend for the sessions! 

The sessions on Saturday were held in Groesbeck at Old Fort Parker.  We only had three available time slots for this location and they filled up quickly!  I was SO incredibly happy when the Wier Family booked the first time slot!  Last Halloween was the first time I met them at our very first Halloween Mini-Session.  They kiddos have grown a lot!  It really is amazing to watch them grow in front of the camera and know that I am helping their family capture their memories. 

Princess Anna and the Gnome, 2015

The difference a year makes!  Here is one of their Halloween/Fall Mini-Session images from last year.

Wier Family, 2014

It's always so much fun spending time with these cuties!  They have so much personality and we all feel so comfortable around each other, which really makes the photographs just that much better because they are genuine.  With Kayson walking this year, we were definitely moving around much more trying to keep up with him!  These siblings have so much love for one another :)

Sibling Love!  Isn't this the sweetest??

Another family I have had the pleasure of watching grow in front of my camera is the Craven Family.  They were also clients from the first Halloween/Fall Mini-Session last year.  They are also becoming more and more comfortable each time we have a session.  This year, the youngest three participated in the session.  The older ones all had somewhere else to be...as older kiddos typically do. 

The three youngest Craven children...all smiles this year, 2015

Miss Emma really came out of her shell for this year's session!  She was ALL smiles!  Last year she absolutely refused to be in the group photo with her brothers.

The Craven Clan (minus Emma), 2014

We have recently started adding collages into galleries due to the amount of clients that have been requesting them.  Collages are a great way to showcase your favorite photographs from the session in one frame! 

A collage for the Craven Family

We had one more client for the Halloween/Fall Mini-Sessions in Groesbeck, Miss Dixie...I mean, Wolfie.  This young lady is very energetic, spunky, and full of personality all the way down to her toes!  She would howl like Wolfie one minute and then want to show me how fast her horse could run the next! 

Dixie was in character as Wolfie...and howled!

As we ran from area to area, posing in various positions and acting the part of many different things, her mom stated that she would like one nice photograph with her daughter.  They got into position for the one photograph that mom requested and then this happened....

Dixie gave her mom a surprise when she asked for one nice photograph!

Mom finally got all she wanted...one nice photograph!

The last session on the Halloween/Fall Mini-Session weekend was held at Hewitt Park with the Senn Family.  They had to have an early time due to some obligations at church that morning.  I was honestly a bit worried when I was driving to the location because the sun really wasn't in the position that I hoped it would be for the session.  I arrived and began setting up.  As I was getting everything set up, I stood back and watched the sunrise.  I realized at that moment that this session was going to be amazing!  The light was going to be absolutely beautiful!  I was even more blown away when I began working with the family and realized how cooperative all of them were...even the three young children! 

Look at that light...and those cooperative kids!

This session went so smoothly from beginning to end!  The kids cooperated so well and much to my surprise, one of the first photographs that we captured had every single member of the family looking at the camera with a happy face!  Absolutely stunning! 

For their session I decided to make them a fun collage which would showcase each of the children with a family photograph.  Again, collages are great to showcase favorites in one frame.  I personally love them! 

Senn Family Collage

We have recently started creating one or two collages per gallery.  However, beginning today you will now be able to customize your own collage within the gallery by choosing the photos you'd like!  You will simply choose the number of images you'd like on your collage and then you will choose the photos.  I will arrange them in a collage and email you the "proof" for your approval prior to ordering from the professional lab.  If you have a different size in mind, or a different amount of photographs, just let me know and I will do my best to build a product that you would like.