Tag Archive for: lifestyle

In-Home Newborn Portraits: Baby Tyler

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Boy is this little babe a cutie! I am just getting caught up on some blogging from last year when I had the pleasure of photographing baby Tyler and his first family portrait. This on-location session took place in Cranberry, Pa., in the family’s living room. During our pre-session consultation, Tyler’s mom, Lisa, and I discussed the best location for shooting this session, and when I heard about the French doors in their living room, I knew we’d have plenty of natural light in the afternoon.

Thoughtful Details Made by Grandma
It was important to Lisa to incorporate some of the handmade items her mother had knitted for her new grandson. So we laid the blanket on the giant bean bag that I use for posing and dressed Tyler in his matching hat and sweater. I know I’ve mentioned before how I love to incorporate some of the baby’s blankets and accessories, but I can only imagine how Tyler’s grandma loves having this photo with her grandson dressed in the clothes she took so much time to knit for him.

Pittsburgh newborn photo

Getting Newborns to Smile
If I knew how to make newborn babies smile, I’d be a lucky lady. But when it spontaneously happens in front of my camera, you can bet I’ll be clicking away. I think it was Lisa’s voice that made him smile like this. But I consider this a special treat, because a smile by a newborn is a rarity!

baby dressed as an apple

Telling Your Story in Natural Light (When Possible…)
I always come to my sessions equipped with studio strobes and other lighting gear, but when there is gorgeous natural light like this, I go for it because it’s the most beautiful light if you ask me. If this family were any bigger, I’d need to add more light with studio strobes to ensure the right depth of focus so that everyone’s eyes are sharp. So I’d never define myself as a natural light photographer solely, because there are certain situations that really call for additional lighting and I think that’s one of the things that separates professional photographers from amateurs.

baby's first family portrait

Lifestyle Portraits Can Be The Most Meaningful
This image of Tyler with his dad is one of my favorites from the session. I knew it was important to capture as this was one of the images Lisa had mentioned wanting during our pre-session consultation and we went about it in a few different ways as far as posing and lighting goes. But this image is the most natural and I think it really shows the bond of father and son.

father and son newborn photo

If you or someone you know is looking for meaningful newborn photography, here’s another post that gives a great overview of custom newborn photography by Captivating Imagery.

Part One: What’s Your Style?

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Photojournalism is a big buzzword in wedding photography and has been for quite a while.  In this discipline, the photographer should blend into the scene while capturing candid memories of the day’s events.  A photojournalist may use a flash, but would never bring along additional lighting.  This is the type of photographer that will not interfere with your guests or tell your wedding party how to pose.  The result is natural and honest images.  Some may find this style to be a little too honest and prefer more interaction from the photographer in order to present themselves in the best light.

Other newer takes on wedding photography styles are fashion or lifestyle.  This involves a great deal of interaction from the photographer to achieve the desired results.  If you’re hoping your wedding photography will look like it belongs in a magazine, this may be the choice for you.  A word of caution though, this type of wedding photography may require additional coordination with your photographer in terms of scheduling and determining locations for post-ceremony shoots, etc.  To some in your bridal party, the extra attention involved in this style of photography will be a treat.  However, for the camera-shy, it may involve a little coaxing. This style also tends to come with a bigger price tag, as there is more planning, time, and photographic equipment involved.

Many photographers define themselves as portrait journalists, with a hybrid style of photojournalism and creative photography.  This may be a happy medium for those who are looking for something in between photojournalism and fashion/lifestyle wedding photography.  A portrait journalist is typically a photographer who does not want to commit to being defined by one style or another.  And in turn, this style of photography is more difficult to define, as one photographer may be more involved with setting up “the perfect shot” than the next.  If this is the type of wedding photography you’re interested in, the photographer’s personality and willingness to cater to your preferences should be factored into making your decision.

And last, but not least, there are the traditional wedding photographers.  In this style, the photographer typically works on a print-sales based model.  The fee for coverage may be lower up front, but considerable costs can be incurred when purchasing prints or albums after the wedding.  This style ensures attention to detail as crooked bowties or stray hairs deter print sales.  Traditional wedding photographers may prefer to work from a shot list and are a safe bet for those who prefer a no-nonsense approach to their wedding photography. 

Each style has its place, but what appeals most to you?

Once you’ve determined your preferred style, you could narrow the selection of your photographer based on personality, pricing and packaging options.  For instance, there is a benefit to hiring a traditional wedding photographer when you’re looking for standard coverage with the option of only purchasing the essential prints.  If you want your photographer to share every detail of the day, you should look for one with a creative fee structure.  The creative fee is payment to the photographer for their time and talent in return for a disc of images from the day.  In most cases, the disc comes with the rights to print the images as you see fit.  If you are looking to get prints and/or album/s as part of the package, this is yet one more way to decide what makes the most sense for your needs.

Did I mention the film vs. digital consideration?  Many wedding photographers nowadays prefer to work in digital photography.  The benefits of digital photography include faster turnaround and the ability to share your photos digitally.  Also, one clarification on digital photography – the photos still require editing in a “digital darkroom” as they are not ready to print straight out of the camera.  This process is much like processing film and making adjustments.  If you prefer the aesthetic of film, don’t fret—there is still a dedicated group of wedding photographers out there who choose to work in film.  Although it is sad to note that their resources are not in abundance as they once were.  Makers of film and emulsion-based photo paper have discontinued some of their products as there is less demand.