THE HOWS & WHYS
Why children’s photography?
Blame my kids. Since they were newborns I’ve wanted to capture every special moment and unique quirk of their personalities. A generic studio portrait just wouldn’t do. Ayden curls his hair when he’s deep in thought. Ava daintily lifts her skirt when she runs. These are the things that give my baby, child and family portraits life and evoke wonderful memories.
I want to help you capture the essence of your child’s personality. After a “getting to know you and your child” phone call, your photo session will be tailored to create a fun and playful environment unique to your family.
From portraits to professional headshots?
It happened quite naturally. My son became involved in acting and modeling in Georgia at the age of three and a half. His first agent was so impressed with portraits I had taken of him, that she suggested I become his official headshot photographer. I then became the photographer of several others at my son’s acting school in Buford, and his Atlanta agency. In the process, I quickly learned the difference between a headshot and portrait.
Having a child in the industry, keeps me in the know when it comes to what the agents and casting directors are looking for. I combine that knowledge with a focus on capturing the client’s individual talent, turning photographs into booking tools.
How can I prepare for a session?
Portrait Sessions – If your child has a special security blanket, stuffed animal, or even a favorite article of clothing, bring it! My goal is to capture who they are in this moment of their lives. We don’t want you to forget about that special Superman T-shirt he insists on wearing every day or the bunny with only one ear that she’s had since she was born. These items can also give the child a since of normalcy, encouraging them to be themselves in the session.
When choosing clothes for your child’s portraits, please avoid small plaids or stripes as they are hard on the camera and do not shoot well. Keep it simple. Solid colors are best for any photograph. When planning for family portraits, there is no need to be “matchy-matchy”. After all, would you dress this way normally? You can coordinate colors and styles without matching everyone.
Headshot Sessions – Same theory as portraits when planning your attire. No patterns! Also, keep in mind that jewel tones look best on everyone and are a safe way to go when choosing colors. When it comes to props, do the opposite. Agents and Casting Directors do not care to see props in your headshots. It’s distracting. You want them to look at your face and how you “act” through your photos. With that being said, leave personal items at home.
Hair and Makeup for headshot sessions are not provided, but can be arranged in advance if necessary. Please let me know when booking your session if you need a makeup artist on site. Separate fees will apply.
Both - leave friends, cousins, dogs, and other siblings at home! Unless you are booking a family portrait, no one should be present at your session except a parent and the person being photographed. Extras are distracting and want to give opinions that may cause undue stress to the child or teen being photographed.