I can’t wait to hit my annual convention, to meet other addicts like myself (photography is an addiction for sure), check in with my vendors, find new products and learn, learn, learn! I can’t get enough! This year the convention is in New Orleans. Its been about 13 years since I was there last and I can’t wait! Can’t wait to learn some new skills but also to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Also won’t hurt to hit some of the fabulous restaurants and experience a little bit of Bourbon Street! Won’t be too much though, classes start at 7am and don’t want to miss a thing!

Interested in seeing where I’m going? Check it out…Imaging USA

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Thank you to Jeena Choi, Frank Kwei, Megan Abrahamson, John Schnefke and the one and only Skip “Santa” Heydt for their support and participation in promoting and running the event! Announced only via facebook and a couple of preschool flyers this event was a HUGE SUCCESS! Who would have thought that we could raise $900 in just two hours of pictures!  It was a MAGICAL experience that I enjoyed so  much! You know when you do something that is meant to be “good and selfless” and feel “bad” because you got so much out of it! That was this experience.

Last year I heard about this Secret Santa program through my Mom’s group and made an average donation. This year when I heard that my friends at Babycat Milkbar and Blue Star Bazaar that Santa was donating his time to come and take pictures with kids I jumped at the opportunity to participate so that we could raise money for Secret Santa. It was one of those things that just came together so naturally and coincidentally as we each were at the Milkbar the same day and the idea grew. I recently read a quote “If you work really hard and be kind, amazing things will happen to you!”. Well, here is proof positive. I think raising $900 in TWO HOURS is an amazing thing and I am thrilled!

Parents were welcome to take their own pictures or for a small donation, I would take the pictures and post them for free use via Shutterfly. Suggested donation was $10 but for anyone that donated $20 they would be entered into a raffle for a free session. Thirty two families donated $20 or more and the winner was drawn via a Random selection electronically. The winner was Rosanna Coughlin! Congrats to her! In the end I think we were all winners though. The reactions on the children’s faces to meet what looked like the real Santa in an environment that was so comfortable, nothing like the mall experience, was what made the event so special.

Oh you should have been there when Santa burst into the room at 3pm with a boisterous “Ho Ho Ho”. The looks on the children’s faces and the feeling the little girl inside me got was priceless! The warm cozy home environment of this lovely historical home (now an antique reproduction furniture store) made the experience so unique. Santa “Skips” interpretation of the big man was unbelievable! The expressions we captured on his face when interacting with the children showed how much he truly loves his “job”. The face that he did this UNPAID two hour “gig” in between two very long and paid gigs shows his dedication to the Christmas spirit and to our community! We were so blessed for his participation as of course, this event would not have been possible without him!

The feed back from the parents has been unbelievable.  I loved hearing stories from moms like my friends/clients like  Jen who commented that her six-year old said (on the way out the door) “Mom, was that the REAL Santa?”. THAT is why Skip does what he does, to keep the magic alive! In the days following the event I received several emails and facebook comments expressing what this friend said “It was a wonderful event. So much better than hitting the mall. Thanks a million for organizing!” and from another client/friend “Beautiful setting, wonderful Santa, and we can’t wait to see the photos! Thank you!”. My response.. “Thank YOU for coming and supporting the charity!”. Will we do this next year? I hope so! We’ll see!

Enjoy a few of the sneak peaks from the event. My favorites are the ones with the crying babies and funny looks on faces, just did not feel right posting the really crying ones. Also check out this lovely article written by a talented local freelance write for the Wilton Patch. http://wilton.patch.com/articles/wilton-small-businesses-show-true-ho-ho-holiday-spirit. Thank you Heather for sharing our story with the community!

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I have to say that I LOVE my job but the intensity of September to early November sometimes is so hard that I question my sanity of doing this. Thanks to my AWESOME clients who I adore, I fight through the exhaustion and power on! I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Here are some of my favorite images from the past few weeks.  Some were in my last post but this way you don’t have to look at both. There are many more but these are just the ones that I posted on Facebook as sneak peaks over the last few weeks. Enjoy!

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BEWARE! This first image is of MY KIDS and my son is THREE! Enough said! Still thinking about if I should redo their session or use this picture! I love personality in pictures and well that is his personality at the moment and  I love HIM!

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Last year's family portrait. Wardrobe selected for the colors in our kitchen!

First question is WHAT WILL WE WEAR? Actually, what will THEY wear! I was in the family portrait last year and LOVED it!Five years of photographing other families and making excuses for myself and I finally just did it! Best thing I ever did for our family. This portrait is something we will treasure forever!

If you are a mom (or dad) that is always taking the pictures and/or is waiting to lose weight (or some other excuse) to be in a family picture, DON’T wait any longer! Just do it! I did not lose weight for mine and I still love it! More importantly my kids will have it forever. Proof that mom really was there!I’ve heard too many stories of families who waited too long and never got that family portrait! Just do it!

OK on to the task at hand! Selecting the wardrobe! Where do we begin? Here is my thought process, maybe it will help you with yours!

1. FIRST I ask myself where will I hang a wall portrait from this session? Going to a professional photographer? You should always get at least one wall portrait! Where will you put it this year? In the past years it was my play room, living room, then it was my studio, then it was my kitchen and NOW… my powder room!! YES, the bathroom that all my friends and clients use!   I bought a Wild Sorbet Frame for it two years ago to match the decor. At the time I did not have a picture for it so I just used the best vertical shot I could find. Problem is that it is not a great picture. It is a fun snapshot but not a wall portrait! It is TIME!

Guest bathroom by the studio. Do NOT love the pic in that frame. Should not be a wall portrait, just used it to fill the frame until...

2. Now that i know the room I select colors that will coordinate with the decor of the room. Of course I could always do black and white but since I am planning ahead I might as well pick colors that really match. Fortunately these are my favorite decorating colors.  Dark grey, light grey, creamy spice color and black. I also love some shades of blue but I did that two years ago.

3. I pick a store that I love where I can buy all the kids clothes (and possibly mine and my husbands if we are going to be in the picture). In this case it is J.Crew!

4. Decide who to dress first! Normally I say, dress yourself first (pick your favorite outfit) and the coordinate the rest of the family with that. In this case since it is just the kids I am picking the girls first since they care what they where! Kylie my middle child loves girly dresses so I pick hers first. Found a lovely dark grey dress! Love that it has some texture in the flower and the skirt part of the dress. Add a head band and done! Now I need my oldest daughter. She likes pretty/cool shirts and skinny pants. Found a lovely peachy cinnamon top with some sparkle, a head band (she may or may not agree to wear) and black skinny pants. Now I need some light grey so I know I need to get Derek a light grey sweater and black pants. Check it all out in the shopping cart and see that it does look nice together!

But…WAIT! Something is missing! That peachy color is only on Olivia! Let’s find a similar color t-shirt to put under Derek’s V-Neck grey sweater! A touch of that color peaking out on Derek is just what this picture needs! Here you go! That is better!

You do NOT have to buy a new wardrobe BUT since it is the beginning of the school year and time that most of us do buy new clothes for the kids, you might as well use the portrait session as part of that new wardrobe selection! I try to pick clothing the kids can also wear to school. These are not fancy outfits they will wear just once, although that is also an option!

If you do not plan on purchasing new clothes this process can also be accomplished by going into your children’s wardrobes and pulling pieces with the colors you selected. Lay them all out on the bed or floor and make sure they coordinate nicely! Add some accessories for interest, possibly one top on one child with some pattern but try to avoid patterns on too many kids. It gets distracting.

DONE, now I just have to order it, plan those hair cuts (at least a week before the session) and schedule a time for the portraits! I always do it on a school day since my weekends are booked solid in the Fall. I also like it because I have the help of my au pair and my mom. Trust me, it is NOT easy being the photographer and the mom. If you are taking the pictures yourself enlist the help of a babysitter or family member to help get the kids to cooperate and to LAUGH and have fun so you can focus on the composition, lighting, posing, etc!

Can’t wait for UPS to show up with this order! I hope the kids like the clothes and I hope the peach color works against the color of the bathroom wall. If not, that portrait will just have to be black and white after all!

Have you booked YOUR PORTRAIT SESSION? Whether it is with me or another photographer CALL NOW! This IS the time! Some photographers are h(like me) almost fully booked already!

And here are the outfits fresh out of the box from J.CREW.

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Here is what she put together for her clients. It takes hours to put together images and text like this and Corina has graciously allowed her photographer friends to share it with their clients. No need to reinvent the wheel when someone else has said exactly what you would given time to write! Thanks Corina! Here are some suggestions she has for late summer/early Fall but I think they give you an idea of what to do for late Fall too! Enjoy these wardrobe suggestions for your portrait session.

When you are done reading her tips below, check out a few other images of outfit ideas that I compiled last year from various sources. http://www.blog.momentsbyandrea.com/coordinating-outfits/?gallery_popup=1

• • Coordinate outfits
  Now this doesn’t mean everyone has to 100% match with khaki pants or jeans and a white shirt!  You want to complement each other’s outfits by choosing colors that work well together.  I find that if everyone is wearing the same clothing, people will all tend to blend in together and there won’t be too much pop and life to the images.  Coordinate VS. Matching…. let’s not get cheesy!
  • Use colors & patterns
  Colors are everywhere around us and bring things to life… why not bring your images to life as well!  Again, be sure the colors you use coordinate with each other and you don’t just end up looking like one big rainbow family! When picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t distract attention away from the main subject/s. Use patterns sparingly…. if one person is wearing a print, try to avoid putting someone else in a competing pattern.  When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, etc.  Avoid large logo’s, emblems and graphics like “GAP” and “Old Navy” because again, these will typically distract attention away from the subject.  We want your faces and emotion to show, not promote the clothing company you purchased from!
  • Be timeless

  For some fashionista’s, this may be a difficult concept, however you are going to want these images to stand the test of time.   Pick outfits that aren’t t considered too trendy, but will be able to be enjoyed and displayed for many years to come.  One example of something that is timeless is jeans… classic look and style yet you can still incorporate your own flair into the outfit with your tops and accessories.  Still be YOU, never forget that!
  • Let your personalities SHINE

  Perhaps the most important “rule” in my book.  The purpose of these photos is to hopefully capture each individual as they truly are, to capture the family, the relationships, and people in the photos just as THEY are.  Forcing children to wear outfits that are uncomfortable and unfamiliar to them may cause some anxiety and stress to them which in turn will inhibit really capturing their personalities during the session.  Same goes for adults.  Wear clothing that YOU feel good in and the pictures will emanate those feelings.  If your child wears a pair of rain boots everywhere he goes, it makes the most sense to have him wear them for pictures as well.  Remember, you want to capture everyone as they are NOW.  Capture these moments as they are!

  • Dress for the season & location

  Obviously you want your images to make sense.  One typically wouldn’t be wearing jeans, boots, and a jacket to the beach in the Summer so why would you for pictures?  Dress the part and be aware of your location.  For example, if you are shooting at the beach, ladies wear a pretty dress and sandals, put dad in a short sleeve shirt and shorts OR pants (which you can also roll up), put your little girl in a sweet Spring or Summer dress, etc.  You will want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and coordinates in both colors AND styles.

  • Layering

  One of my favorite “tips” for clothing choices!  In the Summer months, this may be more difficult to pull off but during all of the other seasons, definitely layer your outfits.  Not only will it provide more visual interest in each photo but it will also allow a lot more variety in your shots and poses.  Have a ton of images of yourself in just your dress or cute top and jeans?  Throw on a little  sweater or jacket and a hat and you have entirely different look.

  • Personalize It

  These are YOUR images and of course you want them to speak volumes about you and your family.  Discuss things your family enjoys doing together and bring “props” and accessories that will help compliment who you are.  If your family enjoys playing music together, bring your instruments to your session.  If your family enjoys boating, suggest doing your session on a boat or at the very least near the water.  Bring along items that will represent who each individual is AND who your family is collectively.

  • Remember where you came from

  Typically, not something everyone will keep in mind before their session.  However, I always encourage clients to think about their home, their decor,colors, and style of their homes.  Chances are, at some point after your session, you will be ordering prints or digital files.  Why not keep your your decor in mind and ensure that it all blends into your home.  This will ensure that any large portraits will coordinate beautifully.

  • Plan ahead

  Make sure you have given yourself enough time to think about all of the details of your session.  Plan ahead so that #1 you can truly think about your photos and everything you want out of the session, #2 you aren’t rushing and stressing out right before your session, and #3 if you have decided to go for a new look for your session or someone gets a bad haircut, you still have time to fix things if you need to.

  • Keep make up natural, but still have some on

  You will want to avoid using very heavy makeup, but a bit of color on your lips, eyes, and cheeks will help bring you to life in photos.  Be sure to bring some lip gloss with you as well.

  • Outfit changes

  If time allows it, bring another set of outfits.  Again, you will get a lot more variety in your shots so why not capitalize on the opportunity and get the most bang for your buck!

  • Ladies & their shoes

  Im all for a sassy pair of shoes, however they may make for a very long and painful session.  If you plan on wearing heels, be sure to bring a pair of flats or flip flops that can help you get from point A to point B without any pain.  You can just swap them out as you need to.

  If I were building outfits for my family this is how I would do it:

  1. Keeping your location and season in mind, start with one person.  Don’t try and think of everyone at the same time.  I find that mom or a little girl makes the most sense since they would typically be the ones wearing a print.  So mom will be wearing a floral print dress (small pretty pattern that is).
  2. Now move on to the next person.  You will be pulling colors from mom’s dress so begin to think about who in the family would look good in what colors.  Dad doesn’t look so good in XYZ since it tends to drown out the tone in his skin.  Let’s pick ABC for him instead.  And so on.
  3. Then start to come up with ideas to personalize the session.  A little boy may have a security blanket or teddy bear he never parts with…. be sure to bring that with you.  The little girl may like crafting so have her make a cute matching headband or clip for her hair.  Mom loves tulips… on your way to the session pick some up.  Make thoughtful choices and be sure to discuss the ideas with your photographer!  Believe me, most are full of ideas however, it’s always nice when the family helps and truly ensures a “custom” session.

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Here are some of the images from my sessions at the farm. You can find me here with clients on different days at all hours of the day. Some of my fellow Wilton photographers also enjoy shooting here. As a resident of the town we are thrilled to have this location to photograph families. The Wilton Public Schools also hold their Family Photo Day here with another photographer in the Fall when I am busy with my Family Photo Days in New Canaan.

I am offering mini sessions here the afternoons of July 31st (sold out) and August 21st (one spot left). I have added the  morning of August 13th due to how fast the other dates booked! Email me andrea@momentsbyandrea.com. My fall family photo day dates may be here, not sure, depends on my availability and the schedule of events at the farm. To be announced!

Thank you to everyone involved with the preservation and growth of Ambler Farm! It is a gift to our community!

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Sometimes they have me come to their home the day of the Communion to capture the special day and include members of the family in the celebratory images. I always say that I don’t do events and that is true BUT I greatly enjoy pre-event portrait sessions for occasions such as First Communions and Bar Mitzvahs. There is no better time for family portraits because all of the relatives are in town and everyone is dressed up already!

Here is a session from yesterday of a family celebrating their oldest child’s first communion! A special occasion indeed! Images of the mother helping her daughter get dressed immediately make me think of fast forwarding 20 or so years to the wedding today and what that will be like.

In these images you will see the mom, dad, three little brothers, grandmothers and then the God Mother adjusting the girls dress as she laughs (one of my favorite images). There were more family members present and a lot more beautiful images but these are some of my favorites.

Congratulation O family on this joyous and very special occasion!

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I hope my New Canaan clients and other parents that read it got something from it! Thinking of doing another article with tips for photographing children another day.

Click here to view my article in the New Canaan Patch: Tips & Tricks for Photographing your Children like a PRO!

In the meantime stay tuned for another article about me in the Wilton Bulletin, hopefully coming out next week!

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