Two new dates added below!

Well, it’s approaching that time of year already…mini sessions!  The perfect opportunity to update your family photos in time for your holiday cards!  These will be my last mini sessions for the year since I will be rather pregnant and uncomfortable come mid/late fall.  And, since fall is my busiest time of year anyway, I need to take it a bit easier this year.

The 30-minute sessions will be held at Fox Run Park (2110 Stella Drive,  Colorado Springs 80908) on September 15th and 16th from 4-6:30.  Once I receive a $100 deposit (which will then be applied towards either package) via the payment tab below then your session is reserved.  Please email which 30-minute slot works best for you.  The times available are listed below.  Those crossed out are already taken.

Saturday, September 15th

4:00

4:30

5:00

5:30

6:00

Sunday, September 16th

4:00

4:30

5:00

5:30

6:00

Saturday, September 22nd

4:00

4:30

5:00

5:30

6:00

Sunday, September 23rd

4:00

4:30

5:00

5:30

6:00

I decided to try something new this year and offer mini photography sessions for those who either don’t want to pay for a full session or simply don’t have the time for one.  These 30 minute sessions allow for just enough time to capture 15-20 edited images to select from when preparing for holiday cards and gift prints.  I rented a natural light loft space in lower downtown Denver and it was a huge success.  Stay tuned for more mini session information by subscribing to my newsletter HERE.  Enj0y just a small sampling of what I captured that day.

I’m going a bit out of order with this blog post but it’s for a good reason.  Our good friends Tiff and Denny, along with their adorable twin boys, are moving to California to be closer family.  As sad as I am to see them go, I understand the desire to be near family, especially when you’ve got a growing and busy family of your own.  They will be missed dearly but this will simply give us an opportunity and justifiable reason to visit wine country, a place we’d maybe never otherwise travel to.  Enjoy the sneak peek you guys!  I’m so glad we stumbled upon this breathtaking location and that you can leave with fond memories of the beautiful, mountainous state of Colorado.  xoxo

With the holidays approaching and your session on the books, I thought I would get you guys thinking about what to wear!  So many of my clients manage to pull together adorable wardrobes, but there are those of you out there that I know would love a little advice on the subject.

Think of colors other than red & black:

Remember, for most of you a family portrait is only happens annually or bi-annually if your lucky. So, dressing in traditional “holiday” clothing might not be a portrait you want to look at year round. Branching out from red and black will help create a timeless feeling and not bullseye your portrait as a “Christmas Photo.” However, holiday colors still look great if that is the look you are going for. I am a sucker for Christmas time myself, so don’t let me persuade you if you had your mind set! I just wanted you to give thought to how you will be using your photos and where you will be displaying them.

Why NOT to match:

There is one thing I would like you to avoid, and that is MATCHING! Instead, just think of coordinating/complementary colors.  I know for some of you the task of coming up with a creative, complementing look is overwhelming. So you think buying everyone a white top and khakis seems like the perfect solution. WRONG! Don’t do it! Matching your entire family is great for traditional portraiture, but that is most likely not why you are coming to me! Below are some samples that might trigger some ideas.  I want your images to be fun, have life and show your personality so lets think outside of the box a little! For laughs I thought I would link you to AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com so you can see what not to wear….or do for that matter, lol.

Why layering is everything:

I can not stress the importance of layering when trying to bring different colors together. It also adds interest and personality your photo as you can see in some of the sample wardrobes below. It is also a wonderful way to hide “problem” areas that some of us Mom’s think we have.

Think about props:

I love adding props to a session! Not anything that screams at you, but an object that lends itself to the location and surrounding. It is also a great way to get kids (and the family) engaged in something and to naturally smile. Good examples are a kite on the beach, a lolly pop at the park, or milkshakes with a down town setting.

Consider a Make-up Artist:

Some of you may feel that hiring a make-up artist is a bit over-the-top, but I can tell you from experience it can be worth EVERY penny!  They really understand make-up for photography which is most often much different than what you are used to putting on. After all, remember that you are investing a lot into this and photos are forever!  I’m happy to recommend a few great make-up artists in the area if you’re interested.

Thanks to my photographer friend for providing this helpful information.

For more clothing ideas, check out the following links:

Missie Moosie Children’s Clothing

Pipsqueak Couture

Matilda Jane

Mini Boden

Janie and Jack

Gymboree

Old Navy

Hanna Andersson

Ack!  I’ve been super busy this summer and haven’t kept up on my blog posts!  Now it’s August 2nd already, school is about to begin and holiday sessions are already being booked!  What?!  Where has the time gone?  Before the seasons change I should probably post some summer sessions that kept me busy of the last few months.  We’ll start with this family.  They traveled in from out of state the beginning of summer.  They wanted a mountainous view so I just had to take them to one of my favorite spots in town.

Hope all you mommas out there had a wonderful and relaxing Mother’s Day weekend!  Being a mom has been the most amazing yet challenging experience for me but I wouldn’t choose to have it any other way.  The Lord has blessed us beyond measure with two very healthy, smart, joyful and beautiful children.

This past weekend I had the pleasure of meeting a sweet and beautiful family of four.  The weather couldn’t have been more perfect for our outdoor session at Fox Run park.

As always, visit my facebook page to view more from this session.

As I sit at the computer still in my jammies next to a space heater (it’s a bone-chilling 15 below zero day today!!!), I am a bit shocked that these photos were taken in 68-degree weather only days ago.  This beautiful family was a joy to work with.  Lots of playful giggles making for some great candid shots.  Enjoy your rather large sneak peek “D” family.

I had the pleasure of photographing this adorable family at The Broadmoor the other weekend…a weekend that was on the verge of freezing temperatures but we managed to get some beautiful photos and cute smiles anyway.  Enjoy the sneak peek!

I was a little concerned about the weather going into this session because there was zero sunshine, temperatures of like 40 degrees and the threat of rain/snow.  We managed to dodge any snow/rain but it was certainly a chilly afternoon.  This family proved to be quite the bunch of troopers and gave me some amazing smiles anyway.  Enjoy this little sneak peek!