We all know that Rochester is a great place to raise a family, but it is not a great place for outdoor portraits in February (unless you’re willing to turn a little pink for your family portraits like Kristine and Ken). A very commonly asked question is where to take portraits when the weather is less than optimal. Here are my top 5 recommendations:

1. The Memorial Art Gallery

The Memorial Art Gallery has a sunlit atrium with sculptures, a fountain and foliage, even in the winter. It packs a lot of variety into a small area and even has beautiful outdoor options for weather that’s not completely terrible.  To view more of Melissa’s session, click here.

2. Lamberton Conservatory

Lamberton Conservatory is located in Highland Park and offers a tropical reprieve in the midst of artic winters.  There are a a variety of large leafed plants, hanging vines, cactai, bridges, a waterfall and a small pond with turtles.  It’s open from 10 am to 4 pm every day and has a nominal admission fee.  To view Laurette and Amorette’s session, click here.

3.  The Village Gate

The Village Gate is a veritable photo park with a wide variety of wall colors and textures as well as hanging sculptures and waterfalls in their multiple story atrium.  To view more from this session, click here.

4.  University Campuses

If you’ve had any contact with the academic world you know that running around on a college campus taking photos won’t really phase anyone. It reminds me of when my husband first started teaching and thought he had to go in early so people would see him at work.  He did that twice.  He came home and said no one was there to see him.  In general, college campuses are pretty laid back about that sort of thing.

Matthew wanted his senior photos to reflect his passions, so we visited the Roberts Wesleyan College Campus and took photos in their theater.  We were able to get someone to say it was okay, but we didn’t see a soul the whole time.  To see more images from this session, click here.

Sarah also chose Roberts for their grand piano.

To see more images from this session, click here.

This session is from the University of Rochester library.

5.  Local Museums

We ended up at Strong Museum completely on accident and it’s probably not technically allowed, but you can get away with taking professional photographs at your local children’s museum if your photographer tries to look like an enthusiastic relative.

To see more images from this session, click here.

Some other options are of course heading outside, or having your portraits taken in the comfort of your own home.

Of course, you can also always wait until the weather has improved, but sometimes a little inclement weather can squeeze some creativity into your session and make it more memorable than you imagined.

It would only be too early to plan your newborn session if you’re not yet pregnant.  If you’ve got that covered, today is the day to get some things checked off your preparations-for-baby list!  On the other hand, if you’ve already had the baby, it’s not too late either.  Contact me and we’ll get you set up!

2.  Location.  Most sessions take place in your home since that’s where you’re most comfortable, but I can also set up a studio at my house, or if it’s during the summer months, outside portraits trump inside any day.

Option 1: Outside with a baby sized container.

Option 2: Being held (there are many variations of this).

Option 3: Just the baby on a blanket.

Kara and Robert fell in love writing letters to each other, which they kept.  They named their baby Story.  You can read more here.  The number one image they wanted from their session was Story sleeping with the letters that led to her arrival.

They also love music.

If your stomach is anything like mine, it may soon resemble a deflated air mattress.  Before that happens, be sure to create some photographic memories so that you can relive your taut stomach and perfect skin while forgetting the waddling and grape sized bladder.

When should you schedule?  Maternity sessions are typically scheduled in the third trimester with at least a little wiggle room before your due date.  You can also purchase a Baby Bundle (3 to 5 sessions) for additional savings.

1.  Wear a belly hugging shirt.  Cameras love to imply weight instead of shape, so snug clothes are definitely better to clarify that it’s a baby and not Christmas cookies.

2. Pick a location that’s meaningful to you.  It’s even better if there is some variety with regards to nature and architecture so that you have plenty of options.

 

 3.  Bring a few different clothing combinations.  Similar to the above tip, it can give you quite a lot of variety in your images with minimal effort.

4.  Alternatively, you can also remove some clothing to capture your superhuman capabilities.  This isn’t for everyone, but I know for me personally it’s the only time I’m really captivated by and not particularly self conscious about my body.

5.  Include your family.  Big brothers and sisters capitalize on the cute factor.  Having dad participate is also a bonus.  You may also want to think about other people who have supported you – like your own parents or close friends.

6.  Include an object that’s meaningful to you.  You can include an ultrasound picture, a special gift such as a blanket for the baby, shoes for the baby, etc.  Some families even have sessions in the baby’s future nursery.

Will your kids cooperate during your photo shoot?  I’ll let you in on a little known piece of information that should relieve parents everywhere – they are not required to cooperate!  The goal is not to suffer through it like a dentist appointment without overhead TVs, the goal is to play.  The last thing in the world I want is for you to look at your wall and think, “Remember that session?  That was awful!”  

#1: The location is 50% of the photo.  If there’s a place that you think represents you (like a pool if you’re a swimmer) then that’s fantastic.  You don’t have to be wearing a bathing suit in a pool to show that you’re a swimmer.  It could also be a place you love to be, or even just a place with lots of different options.  These photos were shot on the University of Rochester Campus, which has a track, nature, architecture, etc.

#2: Clothing changes are your friend.  Since it’s just you, it’s basically the background, you in different positions (women have more options with this than men), and your clothes.  Two different outfits can go a long way toward variety.

#3: Bring something along that’s important to you.  DJ runs track, and so we met at a track and he brought along his running shoes.  Some people bring musical instruments, other types of sports equipment, etc.

#4: Add an effect.  I’m not a big photoshop person.  I try to avoid it.  I mainly do this by trying to get the image right in the camera and I kick myself if I have to leave Lightroom, but this effect works really well.  If you see some Photoshop type thing you love, let me know and we’ll recreate it.

5.  Have your colors analyzed.  If you’re super hard core about this, I highly recommend Kerry Stitch at Indigo Tones.  I was a skeptic, but I have to say that after having my colors analyzed, it’s something I come back to all the time.

A lot of us wear colors we like, or colors other people wear, or just what’s on sale.  We can’t figure out why we never pick that yellow shirt, or why black seems to wash us out.  It turns out that there is a reason, and knowing what colors look best on you will help you photograph better than ever.  There’s not one magic color – it depends on your complexion.

After my analysis Kerry said, “You get to wear the colors everyone else wears but shouldn’t.”  Meaning black, brown, dark red, etc.  But I can’t wear yellow.  Somehow I knew this but kept buying light colored clothing anyway.  I don’t anymore and it is incredibly liberating!

6.  Bring a friend, or your mom, or someone to make you smile.  Even having someone to challenge you to a staring contest can evoke some great facial expressions.

Have any tips to add?  Leave a comment below!

In fact, I’m actually already old enough to be embarrassed by what I wore in high school, and middle school, and yes elementary school for that matter.  I might be able to blame the late 80s and early 90s on my mom, but the late 90s?  Totally my fault.  The thing is, not all of the pictures of me look totally horrendous.  Some of them I look pretty normal, others look like, well, the 90s.

Generally speaking when you’re spending your hard earned income on professional portraits, you want them to last forever.  The snapshots can be reduced to obscurity, but the photos you paid money for should be a long term non-embarrassing investment.

So what should you wear to your professional photo shoot?  Clothing that is timeless.  If you wouldn’t have worn it 10 years ago, it may be worth reconsidering.

Someone at some point thought this looked great, and I’m pretty sure though that other people were wearing these types of things at the time.  My mom definitely paid money for the clothes, the glasses and my perm. I don’t think I was embarrassed at the time, so it was in style then, right?

This wasn’t a photo shoot but it could have been because that’s pretty much how she dressed me.  She is an awesome mom and I love her to death, I’m just saying perms and sweats used to be really popular.

I just want to ask the question – what was I wearing???  I mean… really?  I apparently thought I looked okay enough to be photographed.  I’m pretty sure other people in my life tried to teach me how to dress, but their efforts were wasted.

But then this picture is from the same year.

Neutral colors and neutral clothing never go out of date.  This photo will not embarrass me ever.  Here are a few photo friendly principles:

1.  Avoid bright patterns such as the Hannah Anderson dress below.  It is adorable and by all means, have your daughter wear it (and buy my daughter one!), but it may not be the best choice for a photo session since it is likely to look outdated in a few years.

Photo from HannahAnderson.com

2.  Avoid trendy colors.  People at the Y are really into neon lately.  Snazzy if you want to stop traffic, but in a photo, it really draws attention away from the person.  You think, “Wow, great shirt!” not, “wow, great smile!”

Photo from Nike.com

3.  Cover up the less desirable parts.  If you weigh 100 lbs wet this probably isn’t an issue, but if you’re like the rest of us, photos flatten and make everyone look a touch wider.  This effect is less noticeable when covered up – so if you don’t love your arms, wear long sleeves or 3/4 sleeves.  I also definitely recommend pants or skirts for results you’ll be happy with.

It always amazes me how I can think someone looks awesome and they’ll say, “Look at my arms!”  But I do the same thing with myself so I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.

Styles are awesome and wonderful.  It is a beautiful thing to be able to express yourself through clothing, but not all great styles photograph well and some clothes may rapidly fall out of fashion like leg warmers and poofy hair, which actually may be making a come back, but then again, what do I know?  I’m good with yoga pants and a pony tail.

To read Part 1: What to Wear to Your Professional Photo Shoot: Colors, click here.

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You want professional portraits now because your baby just started walking or your 6 year old lost his front teeth and you want to remember it forever, but you have a problem.  It’s February and you live in the arctic tundra.  Believe it or not, there are more winter location options than you would think.

Option #1: Corbett’s Glen 

Corbett’s Glen is beautiful year round but breathtaking in the winter.  Bundle up and plan a short little hike to some snow covered streams and waterfalls.

The strategy here is to layer as much as you can and throw your coat off briefly between shots.

On this particular day it was about 15 degrees and it took a few hours to thaw out after, but was totally worth it.  If you can catch snow on a 30 degree day it’s even better.  It’s also worth considering any other park you might visit in the summer – they’re equally beautiful in winter.  To see some ideas, click here.

Option #2: A Christmas Tree Farm

Because what else says winter like evergreen trees?

Greg and Christina did a fantastic job with the theme of this session.  They layered and bundled up in style.  To see more from this session, click here.

This session was also at a Christmas Tree farm but many of the trees had been cut down, so we took more of a farm approach instead.  To see more images from this session, click here.

Option #3: Your Front Yard

Or back yard, it doesn’t matter. This is a great choice because you can have part of the session inside if you want and then step outside for the rest. This is a very common choice in the winter and is the best of all worlds.

To see more images from this session, click here.

Similarly, we lucked out with some falling snow during this winter session, which turned into a snow blowing fight of sorts.

Option #4: Take it Inside

Believe it or not, Rochester has a number of indoor locations that are able to be used for photo sessions, such as the Memorial Art Gallery’s Atrium.

To see more from Melissa and Mike’s session, click here.

We also explored other parts of the building during TJ’s one year photos.

To see more from their session, click here.

To check out the Top 5 Indoor Locations for Rochester by clicking here.

You can also let your imagination explore some other options such as University Campuses, businesses you frequent, libraries, town halls, or any other place that might let you crash their facility.  I’ve found business owners to be very willing to open their doors.

The arctic tundra isn’t so bad in February after all!

First, there are no rules about this.  Lots of families request candid photos and end up ordering the more “posed” pictures.  The nice thing about posing is that 99.9% of professional photography (at least for families) has moved away from 1930s style posing.  Even if you are told to stand here or do that, it’s still going to look awesome.  Some people call it natural posing and it is.  Very few people are so attached to candid photos that they want to look bad.  Minimally saying “turn this way a little” can do tons for the image (or at least it can for pictures of me!).

Second, if you do want candid style pictures, picking an activity is the way to go.  It’s really best if the family picks the activity because if I bring bubbles and your child has a pathological fear of them, it doesn’t work out too well.  You know your kids best.  You know what they love to do, what makes them laugh, what makes them smile, and what will bring out some great expressions.  Here are some ideas to spice it up.

Idea #1 Fingerpainting or something messy.  I would almost pay a family to do this because I think it’s so incredibly cool.  Any takers?

This image is by Laura Winslow, you can check her work out at www.laurawinslowphotography.com

Idea #2 Going somewhere especially fun (with fun things to do) such as a fair or an amusement park.

Images by Ginette Sundin, you can check out her work at www.sundinphotography.com

 Idea #3 Eat Something Really Fun.  Who isn’t happy while eating a waffle cone with sprinkles?

Idea #4 Have a tea party, blow bubbles, throw leaves or play a game you made up (this works really well for younger kids… for teenagers, not so much)

Image by Jane Johnson, you can check out her work at www.janejohnsonphotography.com

Idea #5 Keep your session time even if it’s raining.  Some of my favorite photos of all time were taken in the rain.

Idea #6 Balloons.  Everything is better with balloons (and ice cream).  I love this image!  It’s not really candid, but it has that playful feeling.  Doesn’t it make you happy?

Photo by Michelle Turner.  You can check out her work at www.michelleturner.com

Even if you think you just want candid photos, it’s still always a great idea to keep your options open.  A few semi-posed shots are easy to take and they make grandma happy. 

Over time, you’ll definitely get a sense of which images you gravitate towards and it doesn’t matter whether it’s candid or posed.  The session is yours, so you need images that work for you and bring a smile to your face.  And the great thing about working with the same photographer over the years is that you get to know each other and the images you take together only improve with time.

You may be tempted to reach into your closet for your favorite outfit, but before you do that, it may be worth reading a few tips that could take your photo session from mediocre to outstanding with just the change of a t-shirt.

Color is everything.  Unless you’re expecting black and white photos (which you really shouldn’t be, but that’s another post), color is the single most important consideration when you pick out clothes for your session.  Dressing independently from the other members of your family can reduce the cohesiveness of your images considerably.  In terms of coordinating, you have a few options.

1.  Traditional: Some families go the more traditional route and dress in completely matching clothes such as the lovely family below.

If you’re a more mainstream family this is perfect.  You definitely want your clothing to match your personality as a family and to represent who you are.  The red motif works really well for these guys (and the red bush in their backyard was providential!).

2.  Modern:  Another approach is more of a blending method.  Beth used her son’s plaid shirt as inspiration for the rest of the colors her family wore.  To me, this is inspired.  Straight out of Eddie Bauer.  All seven plus colors go together, but they’re not strictly matching.  This is great for families with this type of personality (and for moms who can pull off this type of thing – I am so impressed!).

4.  Boys & Girls.  Another great option is to have your boys and girls match each other, so you can have two themes going on at the same time.  It’s still important that they don’t clash with each other, but it does give you more liberty.  I don’t know where Deborah gets all of these matching clothes but this is definitely her “go to” approach to family photos and I love it!

5.  The Three Color Approach.  This is usually what I tell families to do because it’s super simple to say over the phone without overwhelming people.  Pick three colors such as blue, white and grey, and everyone wears one or all of those.  It works every single time.  This is especially great with larger groups and extended family pictures.

6.  Color Splash.  It can also be fun to have the adults wear one color and the kids wear something bright and attention grabbing.

I love how the red dresses bring attention to the kids and to Christmas.

Here too Liz and Bernie have a dark black/blue theme and Lexi’s red shirt draws the focus to her.

 7. In the Buff.  And of course, if you’re a baby (and sometimes if you’re a dad), you can wear nothing at all.

That’s it for color.  Coming up next: Part 2: What to Wear to Your Professional Photo Shoot ~ How to Forget What You Wore in 1990 (or 80, or 70, etc.).

Or if you’re interested about what colors make you look awesome, check out “How to Get Free Clothes.”