Category: Client Information

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Gift Prints and Wall Art – Your Collections Guide

After your session is complete and you’ve chosen your favourites it’s time to decide – what exactly will I *do* with them?

Premium Collections include digital images as well as a print credit. What this means is that you have money to spend- and it’s YOUR choice.  So what exactly are “gift prints” and “wall art”?

Gift prints range from 8×12 to wallet size, for your mantle frames and grad announcements.  These are the ones you share with Grandma and preserve in albums.  I offer a set of five as a Gift Print Set for a special price.

Your Collection may also come with mounted Wall Art, or you can use your print credit. “Wall Art” are larger pieces to display in your home or office.
This can be a print you’ll have framed, or you can choose to have mounted and UV protected through me, as a complimentary upgrade. Or perhaps you prefer the elegance of a canvas, or an edgy true metal print, with your image transferred onto protective metal.


Where your final images will be displayed and how you will share them is an important part of the decision process.  Every time you walk by that large canvas on the wall, and see the faces of the ones you love the most, you’ll be glad you did.
For more information about the products you’ll take home, click here to visit my Products Page.

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Family Collections and Prints – The Woodlands Photographer

Add on to your digital Collections for your family and senior sessions with customizable print packages! To get exactly the combination of sizes you need, my clients can purchase sets of prints at a special price.

Choose from several print packages, such as the ever popular set of 5 gift prints. Choose the same 5 sizes or choose 5 different print sizes – sets of wallets,  5×7 or 8×10 — no restrictions on size combinations!

If you need wallet size prints, pick up a value package of wallet prints for senior announcements or for sharing with family. I also offer several  larger family packages that include small prints for framing and sharing, and a larger print for the wall.

When it comes to preserving your family photos, nothing beats a beautiful print framed or mounted, to last generations. #printsareforever

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Senior Collage Wall Canvases – The Woodlands Senior Photographer

One of the most popular wall portrait options for families and seniors is this beautiful set of 4 canvases that fit together on the wall to make one cohesive set. Mix and match outfits, choose black and white or colour, hang them in any pattern you choose to fit your wall space!

Can’t decide which of your favourites from your gallery to hang? These 8×10 canvases are the perfect choice when you want a series of pictures on the wall, instead of one large portrait.

See more of the products I offer clients by clicking this link!

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The 5 Essential Steps to Surviving a Family Photoshoot – The Woodlands Photographer

You are excited to book a photographer. You are crazy excited to get those beautiful portraits of your family. You’re beyond excited to get those prints back to hang on your wall. Then you start to realize … it’s coming soon. And you have no idea how you are going to survive!


You’ve seen beautiful, happy, smiling photos of other families and their kids, and think “That will never be us!”. I’m here to tell you — it *will* be you *if* you follow a few simple steps that lead to success!

TRUST YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER
Straight out of the gate, this is your first step, full stop. From the moment you arrive at the location, let your photographer take the lead. Let her guide you and the kids into natural poses. Let her grab the children’s attention. Let her follow the kids when they start to run. Those make great shots! Trust that she is a pro, and knows how to handle it. Let her make the children laugh, to get real, authentic emotions from them.

TIME IT RIGHT
This starts from the night before the shoot. Have outfits laid out ready, no morning rush. Have kids sleep and wake up on time (no oversleeping!). Have a timely breakfast and lunch, with snacks, to keep the crankiness away. Keep everything normal, so they’re less likely to skip naps. And make sure your photoshoot is scheduled for when the kids are at their happiest – not hungry or tired

ABOUT THOSE SNACKS
Be *very* careful when it comes to snacks and bribes. Do not start out immediately bribing your child with candy or promises of fun later. Let the photographer use her tricks and talent, and save the bribes for truly desperate moments. Your photographer will let you know when it’s time to pull out the big guns. And make sure those snacks don’t leave stains and crumbs – sugar free gummy bears and pretzels are better choices than cheesy crackers and ice cream.

KEEP CLOTHING AND PROPS SIMPLE
You don’t need a lot of props to make a family photoshoot special and unique. In fact, less is definitely better and will look less dated as time goes by. Pick something special to your family, like an heirloom blanket, and ditch the moustaches-on-a-stick/theme-outfits/insert-trend-here for more authentic photos of you as you are. Coordinate your outfits into a colour family (think shades of blue and purple, or everyone in neutrals) instead of matching outfits for everyone.

BE OKAY WITH LESS THAN THEIR BEST BEHAVIOUR
For many parents, the end goal of the session is the frame worthy shot of the family, and children, smiling happily into the camera while everyone hugs in bliss. It’s a gorgeous shot. But it’s not the only, or even the *best* shot, of your family. If the happy posed shot isn’t happening, just let it go. Embrace the beauty of the unposed shots. It’s far better to have happy shots of everyone running or walking together, than stress out the fam and get miserable shots of everyone staring glumly into the camera. This is about YOU too. Just have fun with it, and we’ll naturally get great shots!


Are you looking for a family photographer in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area?Please email me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about full sessions CLICK HERE for session info and click to see my FAMILY PORTRAIT and CHILDREN galleries.

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Personal Print Packages – The Woodlands Seniors

Digital images are wonderful for sharing online with friends, and each Collection includes digital files for your archives. However, to preserve your images for future generations, in heirloom form, nothing compares to having beautiful, tangible products in your hands.

Your Senior Collections comes with a choose-your-own-product option, to select beautiful products such as superior color and black and white photographic prints for framing, adding to your albums, or gifting to friends and family. A popular print packages includes gift prints for sharing, and a wall portrait to show off your fave image from your gallery.

 

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What To Look For in a Senior Photographer – The Woodlands Senior Photographer

Are you looking for your senior photographer? Overwhelmed by the choices out there, and wondering how to go about choosing a senior photographer? Here are a few things to look for, when booking your senior pics.

UPFRONT WITH PRICING
Senior photographers have a VERY wide range of quality and pricing. Does the photographer provide *all* the pricing info up front, when you inquire? Is there an online guide where Collections pricing is open and transparent? Walk away from photographers who are shy about providing pricing information, and steer you away from asking questions. When you book with Shannon Stroubakis, you receive access to a complete information guide, with all pricing upfront, so there are no surprises later. I have sessions and pricing for all budgets, just ask!

QUICK AND EASY TURNAROUND
Senior year is fast paced and busy. You need pictures for your grad party, announcements, and to share with family. How long will it take to get your photos back? Is it easy to download, or do you have to mess around with complex systems to get your portraits? Will you have to wait WEEKS to see your gallery? My turn around time is very fast, and you see your senior portrait gallery within 5-10 days. Upon payment, the gallery is yours to download and prints are ordered immediately and back within 10 days. As an experienced photographer, I have the ability to get your amazing gallery in a timely manner.

ALL NATURAL LOOK AND POSING
Your senior pictures should make you look amazing, but still like YOU. You don’t want to be over Photo-shopped, with stiff or awkward posing, and poor angles. Look for a photographer who’s posing looks natural, whose portfolio is full of images with natural skintones, and whose editing is classic with an artistic twist – not over saturated with a too trendy look that will date your photos fast.

BEAUTIFUL FLATTERING LIGHT
The photos should have lovely lighting that doesn’t cause harsh shadows, or splotchy patches on the faces from dappled light. Pretty backlighting or nice overall even light is best. A good photographer knows how to handle the light and gets out of the boring old overcast lighting! Your senior pictures should stand out from the rest, with artistically used light and shadows, and incorporate the natural light of the environment.

GREAT LOCATIONS
Your senior  photographer should pay attention to the background so the focus stays on you. You want pretty flowers, nice trees, or an urban background for a chic look. NO distractions. No boring settings that make for bland photos.  Pick a photographer who knows how to put you in the environment and make you look like you belong in it, so it all comes together organically. The tonal harmony should be balanced, so you don’t stand out awkwardly in the location. Look through the photographer’s gallery to see if you like the types of locations used, and always ASK if you can use your own fave hangout or space.

NOW BOOKING seniors for  Spring, Conroe, Cypress, College Park, Klein, Montgomery and Oak Ridge and all The Woodlands area high schools! Slots are limited, contact me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about senior sessions in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area, CLICK HERE to check out my senior session information and CLICK HERE to see the portrait gallery.

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How To Get Senior Pictures with a Golden Glow – The Woodlands Senior Photographer

Crafting and working with light is what photographers do, and one of my absolute favourite kinds of light to capture on camera for my senior clients is the hazy, mellow glow that only comes at the last vestiges of daylight – the golden hour. Just as the sun is dipping down below the horizon, if you time it right and choose the right location, you get the most amazing golden light across a field or open space, that falls on you like angelic light. Do you want this look for YOUR senior portraits?

Timing is *everything*! This light comes at the very end of the day, so choose a later time for your portraits. The light lasts just minutes, if you’re lucky, so it all builds up this moment!

Choose the right location. You’ll need an open space, like a field or wide open park space.

Some trees work as well, to help filter the light if it’s still bright out.

Get low to the ground. If the sun is setting, but it’s still quite bright, we can get low to the ground so the setting sun peeks out from behind a building or group of trees, to filter that slanted light.

Bring a chair to sit on if you need to, in case the ground is a little wet for getting low to the ground. And to catch those beautiful rays, having your hair loose if it’s long will add drama!

NOW BOOKING seniors for  Spring, Conroe, Cypress, College Park, Klein, Montgomery and Oak Ridge and all The Woodlands area high schools! Slots are limited, contact me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about senior sessions in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area, CLICK HERE to check out my senior session information and CLICK HERE to see the portrait gallery.

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Top 5 Tips To Rock Your Senior Session – The Woodlands Outdoor Senior Photographer

You’ll get all sort of advice on how to make the most of your senior session, and the internet is full of tips, advice columns, Pinterest boards, and “how to’s” with fashion advice and posing tips. The most important thing though, is to have a photographer that you trust to make you look your best, and who will pose you in fun and flattering ways! We’ll meet before our session to go over the session details and get to know each other, so we walk into the shoot with the perfect game plan! There are a few tips, though, to make the whole experience a lot more fun and successful, so dig in to some *real life* tips that you can use and we’ll practice during your session.

ADD COLOUR TO YOUR WARDROBE
The airy white dress is always a senior favourite, and a long black maxi dress is cool and trendy. However, make sure that at least one or two of your (unlimited!) outfit changes are bright and colourful, to add some glam to your senior portraits. Jewel tones translate beautifully on camera, and add visual interest to your pictures.

LET THE MUA DO HER WORK
All my full senior sessions come with an appointment for pro make up application. You can work with the MUA to get the best style for you, and even apply some of it yourself, but the MUA we work with know exactly how to contour and highlight for how the camera “sees” tones and dimensions. You’ll look flawless for closeups, trust! I’ll take care of blemishes in editing, don’t be tempted to go heavy on concealer just to hide flaws.

ADD PERSONAL ITEMS
Along with close up portraits, and emotive shots, we want to mix it up with some more visually interesting pictures of you just as you are. Having a few props along really change the look of the portraits. Imagine yourself on a rooftop playing your violin. Idling in field with your favourite book. Posed with your skateboard in the middle of a busy sidewalk. These props add colour and personalize your gallery.

HAVE A HELPER
You’ll have a lot going on the day of the shoot. Bring someone to help you! Mom, sister, or a favourite aunt can help with wardrobe changes, carry accessories, and keep flyaways tamed. That will free you up to be stress fee and fabulous!

BE INSPIRED, BUT BE YOU
There are some great resources for finding cool senior portrait ideas, like Pinterest and Instagram, but don’t get lost trying to recreate a look that you find inspiring. Incorporate what you love about a certain look, or pose, but in the end these pictures are about YOU.  If you love vintage dresses, wear one and don’t worry about current trends! Embrace your dork, your quirks, your sweet nature, your sass – it’s all about you, baby.

NOW BOOKING seniors for  Spring, Conroe, Cypress, College Park, Klein, Montgomery and Oak Ridge and all The Woodlands area high schools! Slots are limited, contact me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about senior sessions in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area, CLICK HERE to check out my senior session information and CLICK HERE to see the portrait gallery.

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The Perfect Outfit for Fall Family Photos – The Woodlands Photographer

I get this question all the time — what should I wear for my family portraits? What’s the perfect outfit for our pictures? The short answer is – there is no perfect outfit! It all depends on your family and your personal style! However, there are some outfit choices that really take your portraits up a notch, and some colours that translate better on camera than others. These fashion forward clients of mine showed up for their family portrait session with wardrobes that really stood out, and the overall tonality and harmony of their family pictures really shows!

POPS OF COLOUR
These ladies really stole the show with their eye catching colour coordinated outfits, that make use of pretty fall tones. Their outfits blend well together with the environment and each other, without being too tonally matching. Beautiful!

 

FORMAL ELEGANCE
Create wall worthy works of photographic art with a stylish wardrobe emsemble. The little touches here really set them apart – the strings of pearls, lace overlays, and professionally styled hair that really show care and preparation for their family pictures.

 

DELICATE NEUTRALS
Feminine and airy, sweet neutrals blend well into natural locations like parks and fields. The natural colours are earthy and calm, adding an extra layer of beauty and grace to your portraits.

 

BOLD COLOUR AND PATTERNS
This is a popular look for late fall, with Christmas just around the corner! Add a pop of merry cheer to your portraits to make them perfect for the holiday cards. Red is a bold choice that looks beautiful against the fall golden greenery.

 

BLUE IS THE COOLEST COLOUR
Blue just always looks good! No matter what hue or shade, the camera loves, loves, loves the colour blue. It pops against grass but also looks perfectly at home in urban settings. Pair with peach or baby neutrals for a winning combo.

 

ADD SOME WHIMSY
Babies and toddlers are tons of fun to dress up for family photos! When our formal pictures are done, you can bring along some adorable outfits for special individual portraits of children to cherish. This little one sports the iconic tutu, always a popular choice for sweet baby girls! Try a cute fedora, tie, and vest for little lads.

 

ADD LAYERS FOR INTEREST
If your session date falls on a colder day, you can add layers to avoid the shivers and still look stylish. Overcoats, peacoats, long patterned sweaters, and slim vests look great without adding bulk.

Are you looking for a family photographer in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area?Please email me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about full sessions CLICK HERE for session info and click to see my FAMILY PORTRAIT and CHILDREN galleries.

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Which Season to Take Senior Portraits? – The Woodlands Senior Outdoor Photographer

Your senior portraits should represent you and your own personal style, and one of the big considerations is when and where to take your senior pictures. What do you picture for your senior portraits? An airy summer sundress in a pretty green park? A cuddly warm sweater and boots, on an urban street? When we meet for your in person consult before the session, we’ll talk about all these details, and find the perfect date, location, and wardrobe for your senior portraits, that will compliment your own personal style!

SUMMER PORTRAITS
Do you love summer clothes, and the sultry heat? Summer here in Texas is HOT but September is a great month for senior pictures if you want to have the last glimpses of the glow of summer in your portraits. The light is heavier and more golden late in the day, making for mellow orange and yellow light. Choose an early or late summer session if you want to capture that summer glow, with the last of the summer flowers.

FALL PORTRAITS
One of the most popular seasons for the wonderful cooler weather, autumnal portraits are unique because of the pretty fall foliage and colourful trees. We have a very short fall season, and these dates are in demand, so it’s best to book this season early!

WINTER PORTRAITS
It’s not a season seniors usually think of for their portraits, but winter has a magic all it’s own. With the colder weather, you’ll be able to wear those snuggly sweaters and scarves that would make you swelter in other seasons. Plus, the tones of winter are beautiful – greys, maroons, pine green, and deep blue are gorgeous to photograph and the air is light and silvery, with gorgeous sunsets and rustic shades of burnt sienna and wheat.

SPRING PORTRAITS
The most popular season of all, for good reason! The weather is warm, the flowers are in bloom, the light has a pretty light golden glow, and you can finally pull out those pretty sundresses, rompers, and off the shoulder shirts that have been shoved in the closet all winter. This is the most sought after season, so you’ll have to book as early as you can if you want senior portraits in the flowers!

NOW BOOKING seniors for  Spring, Conroe, Cypress, College Park, Klein, Montgomery and Oak Ridge and all The Woodlands area high schools! Slots are limited, contact me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about senior sessions in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area, CLICK HERE to check out my senior session information and CLICK HERE to see the portrait gallery.

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What To Look For in a Family Photographer – The Woodlands Family Photographer

Are you looking to get some great family pictures done of your family? Overwhelmed by the choices out there, and wondering how to go about choosing your family’s photographer? Here are a few things to look for, when booking your family portraits.

UPFRONT WITH PRICING
Does the photographer provide *all* the pricing info up front, when you inquire? Is there an online guide where Collections pricing is open and transparent? Walk away from photographers who are shy about providing pricing information, and steer you away from asking questions. When you book with Shannon Stroubakis, you receive access to a complete information guide, with all pricing upfront, so there are no surprises later. I have sessions and pricing for all budgets, just ask!

QUICK AND EASY TURNAROUND
How long will it take to get your photos back? Is it easy to download, or do you have to mess around with complex systems to get your portraits? Will you have to wait WEEKS to see your gallery? My turn around time is very fast, and you see your family gallery within the week. Upon payment, the gallery is yours to download and prints are ordered immediately and back within 10 days. As an experienced photographer, I have the ability to get your amazing gallery in a timely manner.

CONNECTION, CONNECTION, CONNECTION
Your family pictures should show the connection of family, and be joyful, soulful, full of light and love. Look for close posing, happy smiles, and warmth and happiness!

BEAUTIFUL FLATTERING LIGHT
The photos should have lovely lighting that doesn’t cause harsh shadows, or splotchy patches on the faces from dappled light. Pretty backlighting or nice overall even light is best. A good photographer knows how to handle the light!

GREAT BACKGROUNDS
Be on the lookout for pictures that have intrusive elements, like bike racks, telephone posts, garbage, and so on. Your family photographer should pay attention to the background so the focus stays on your family. You want pretty flowers, nice trees, or an urban background for a chic look. Nothing distracting!

Are you looking for a family photographer in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area?Please email me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about full sessions CLICK HERE for session info and click to see my FAMILY PORTRAIT and CHILDREN galleries.

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Why Are Senior Portraits Important? The Woodlands Senior Photographer

The life of a high school senior is a very, very busy life! It’s almost hard to imagine you’d want to add another item on your to-do list agenda, after Homecoming, applying to and visiting schools, sorting out scholarships and grants, dreaming about Prom, and getting those grad invitations sent out. However, there is one thing that’s been on a senior’s mind going into the year — those gorgeous senior picture photoshoots! If they’re not on your mind, here is a few reasons why maybe they should be!

The End of an Era
Senior portraits are like time capsules. You put into them everything you want to remember from a certain time period in your life, forever preserved, to enjoy in the future. High school is a unique time in your life, and after you graduate you enter the greater world of college and work life. So go all out for your senior pictures! Get glammed up, be young and carefree! Giggle and wear an outrageous prom dress or beautiful outfit while twirling in a field! Your time is now!

Celebrate Your Talents
You have a lot of hobbies and talents, and when will you ever have the chance again to celebrate that with pictures? Grab this chance, you’ll probably never book a photoshoot just to show that you can play violin or go on pointe.

Advertise Yourself for Sorority Rush
Your head is still in high school, but very soon you’ll be touring college campuses and you might have your sights set on joining a sorority. They’ll want to see portraits of you, and having some amazing portraits to send along with your app will go a LONG way to WOWing them. I offer Sorority Minis, check it out here.

Put a Face to the Invites
You’re probably going to send out grad invites anyway, add something a little extra and slip in a wallet sized photo of you as a keepsake to those you love! You can even have grad cards specially made, on card stock, featuring several of your fave senior pictures. Check out this link to see the options I offer in your Collections.

Give Your Friends Something to Remember You By
While it would be amazing if we could all go to college with our besties, and share our next stage in life together, odds are that you are your BFFs are headed to different cities, maybe even different states. Your senior pictures make special and sentimental keepsakes for your friends to have either in print or digitally, so whenever you miss each other, you can look back on each other’s photos with love.

 

NOW BOOKING seniors for The Woodlands, Spring, Cypress, Conroe, Klein, Montgomery and Oak Ridge high schools! Slots are limited so contact me today directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about senior sessions in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area, CLICK HERE to check out my senior session information and CLICK HERE to see the portrait gallery.

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Top 5 Favorite Senior Poses – The Woodlands Senior Photographer

Photographing seniors is always so much fun just for the sheer variety of outfits and poses we can put together! Narrowing down to your favourite shots can be REALLY hard, but I’ve noticed a definite trend in which poses senior clients tend to choose for their gift prints, wall art, and album covers. Here are the top faves, in no particular order!

1) THE CLASSIC
This is *always* a winner, and the type of shot most usually chosen for gifts for family, announcement cards, and wallet prints.

2) THE CASUAL
When it comes to seated shots, this pose ranks high on the fave list! Cool and casual, but still perfectly posed with careful attention paid to limb placement and the tilt of the head. Sitting pretty!

3) THE EMOTIVE
A shot that elicits the “oohs” and “aahs” and “you look so beautiful!” comments. Seniors and moms both love what I call “the eyelash shot”, and it almost always makes it’s way into the album or wall collage.

4) THE WIDE ANGLE
Seated or standing, that one shot where you get to turn on a little attitude shows off that sassy or dramatic side of your personality. Wide angle shots are more cinematic and include more of the landscape, so your pose has to be killer to stand out in that space!

5) THE LOOKAWAY
A magazine type vibe that takes a break from the usual portraits with eye contact and smiles. Wistful, serene, the perfect “un-posed pose”, like you’ve been snapped walking dreamily through the field or by the seaside.

NOW BOOKING seniors for  Spring, Conroe, Cypress, College Park, Klein, Montgomery and Oak Ridge and all The Woodlands area high schools! Slots are limited, contact me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about senior sessions in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area, CLICK HERE to check out my senior session information and CLICK HERE to see the portrait gallery.

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Tip #2 – How to Take Better Photos of your Kids

With this year long series, I’ll be giving you some helpful tips and advice on how to really get those fun and compelling shots of your own children, in day to day life, that really capture the personality of your children! Learn to *shoot like a pro*, no matter what equipment or skill level you have! See TIP #1 HERE.

TIP #2 – CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIME OF DAY
Often we find ourselves disappointed by our photos because of poor light. We think a beautiful sunny day is great for photos because the kids are happy and usually engaged in some activity we *want* to take photos of them doing! Playing in the park, walking in a flower field, planting a garden. Unfortunately, the sun is directly overhead, casting shadows, so your little one’s gorgeous eyes become “black holes”.  And that bright light shining on skin goes completely nuclear. We call this “blown out”, when the skin no longer has any detail or color, just shiny.

This little man was positioned against a treeline about 30 minutes before sunset, with the light leaking through the treeline creating a filtered light effect. This is what we call the “golden hour”, when the sun looks like it’s melting into a beautiful golden glow across the land. It’s the ideal time for portraits. If it’s not possible, or you’re a morning person, try the “blue hour” in the first hours of the morning! It’s also soft and pretty, and you might catch a pretty sunrise!

Stay tuned for more tips on how to photograph your own children!

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Sorority Rush – The Woodlands Portrait Photographer

Are you a graduating senior, considering rushing at a sorority when you enter college or university in the fall? Now is the time to think about getting those sorority recruitment portraits!  You’ll be sending out those packages before you know it, and it’s only going to get busier with prom and grad coming up so soon!

Sorority rush portraits are fun and simple to shoot! They just want to see what you look like, so they recognize you when you show up for events and interviews. So for your portraits, just wear something simple and chic, like you’re attending a garden party or family event. You’ll want to look trendy and classic at the same time, and show your signature style. So what type of portraits are they looking for?

BASIC HEADSHOT
The winning classic is a close up shot of you, professionally taken, that shows you as you are with your beautiful natural smile as you look into the camera. This says so much about you, and who you are, without artifice. You’ll win them over with your genuine smile and lack of pretense.

portraits to rush for sorority at university

THREE QUARTER AND FULL BODY
Show off your personal style with a three quarter and full body shot. It’s best to wear something like you’d wear to recruitment events, rather than an outfit that will seem to clash with who they’re meeting in person. Consistency will help you stand out, as you curate your own personal style recognized by others.

If you have your recruitment portraits in mind when we’re shooting your senior portrait session, we can be sure to get a great set that all coordinates together to include in your recruitment package. And, you’ll be perfectly styled since your hair and make up will already be styled by my preferred make up artist so you’ll be hitting two birds with that perfectly polished stone!

If you choose, you can arrange a special shoot just for your senior rush pictures. These SORORITY RUSH PORTRAIT PACKAGES are short and sweet, and we’ll carefully curate a series of portraits tailored to the sorority you want to rush. With the right planning, sorority rush will be way less stressful since you’ll be confidant and prepared for when you start the process. Let’s take that first step, with your beautiful portraits.

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Do I Need to Order a Collection? – The Woodlands Photographer

You’ve decided the time is now to get some great pictures of your family  or high school senior, or perhaps you’re getting married or having a baby and are getting a photoshoot done to document this momentous event. It’s a great gift to yourself and your loved ones, and there is much to consider! The location, the time, your wardrobe, and what you will do after your pictures are ready.

So after the session you might be thinking…now what? Should I order just digitals or products? Do I have to order a Collection? What if it doesn’t fit into my needs or budget?

There is nothing quite like coming home to see the faces of the people you love most on the wall, where you can walk by it and smile every day! Or maybe you’re considering a family album, that everyone can sit together and look at. Albums are a great way to let your story unfold, and make wonderful keepsakes.

Shown below: a 20×30 fine art canvas

 

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR IMAGES?

Before the session, we’ll talk about how you plan to display your pictures, so when it comes time to do your in person viewing and ordering session we will have a good idea of what types of products you are looking for.  Clients have the option to purchase a Collection, or to choose products a la carte. So which is right for you?

COLLECTIONS: My Collections are for clients who want to have digital copies of their images. There are several Collections, depending on how many digital files you have chosen – all or 25. The top two Collections come with a monetary credit to spend on the a la carte menu, and the third is a digital only Collection. I prefer to give my clients this freedom, rather than create Collections that dictate the exact sizes and types of products my clients receive. This way you get exactly what you want, and your order fills your specific need. Check out some of the products you’ll take home in the PRODUCTS PAGE.

Shown below: mini desktop collages

A LA CARTE: If you do not need a large selection of digital files and would rather purchase products, you do not have to order a Collection. A la Carte ordering allows you to focus directly on the products that interest you,  to build your own perfect order. With the purchase of an album 8×8 or larger, or a wall portrait (canvas, metal or mounted print) 16×20 or larger, you also receive a complimentary copy of that digital file for sharing on social media with friends and family.  There is a minimum $500 a la carte ordering requirement, and lots of options available to maximize your purchasing power, such as print packages.

With my personal guidance during your ordering session, you’re guaranteed to walk away happy!

Are you looking for a family photographer in the Woodlands, Spring, Oak Ridge or Conroe area?Please email me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about full sessions CLICK HERE for session info and click to see my FAMILY PORTRAIT and CHILDREN galleries.

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How to Guide for Wall Portraits – The Woodlands Fine Art Photographer

Hanging family portraits on your wall turns your house into your home, your personal space where love and family reside. Having your family portraits taken and displayed on your wall is not about necessity, but about inviting love and beauty into your life, and celebrating family. It’s about happiness, and bringing joy to your world.

When you book your family, senior, maternity or engagement session, we’ll set a time to go over the most important aspects of your upcoming photo shoot so your pictures not only exceed your expectations but also are a perfect match for your home.

YOUR HOME DESIGN

Before the family photo shoot, we’ll discuss your home decorating style so that the entire look of the final portrait matches the overall style of your home.  From the colour of your wardrobe to the style you choose – casual, formal or fun and fresh – the overall style of the portraits should be in harmony with the home style you have curated.

MEASUREMENTS

Before your in person ordering session, it’s a good idea to take measurements of your wall space where you intend to hang your wall art. In the home entrance, above the mantle in the living room, or in the master bedroom are usually the most common places to hang your portraits.  After you’ve chosen your favourite image for display, I’ll show you how it will look in your chosen size and ratio. The common gift print size is 8×10 and it’s tempting to choose that size since it’s a popular ratio. However, that is not the size you want on your walls, that size is far too small for details to be seen at a distance. Go bigger! Here is a little article I wrote on the difference between gift prints and wall art.

COLOUR OR BLACK AND WHITE

Along with your home decor, your personal preference for colour or black and white photos is also something to consider. I convert some of the pictures in your gallery to monochrome, when the light is right and the background isn’t too busy to  be a distraction. I personally love black and white photography, and most of the large prints I have of my own children and for my family album have been converted. However, for my walls I just love full colour!  When you purchase a digital file, if there is a black and white copy, you keep them both! So it you are printing, we’ll go over the two options to decide which version is right for you.

 

I look forward to helping you get the perfect piece of wall art for your home!

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Tip #1 – How to Take Better Photos of your Kids

It’s a brand new year, and if you’re like me and many other parents out there, one of your resolutions might be to take better, more engaging photos of your own kids!

Maybe you have a new camera (or smartphone) and want to use it better. Maybe you think your snapshots don’t really show your child’s nature, or lack interest. With this year long series, I’ll be giving you some helpful tips and advice on how to really get those fun and compelling shots of your own children, in day to day life, that really capture the personality of your children! Learn to *shoot like a pro*, no matter what equipment or skill level you have!

TIP #1 –  STOP SHOOTING FROM ABOVE
We tend to shoot from a standing position. When photographing children, this means we end up with a lot of photos of the tops of their heads, and miss their beautiful eyes and expressions! Next time you see your child playing or sitting, get down on the floor. Sit or lay right down in front of them (or to the side or even around the corner, if you want to be stealthy), level your camera so it’s not pointing down at them, and shoot away!

This little guy from a family session was very active! So to really get a great shot of him (ie. not the back of his head as he was running away!) I had him sit down and sing some silly songs! Make sure your little one is facing a light source.  This sweet boy was put down in the shade facing the light, but you could also use a home window. I was laid right out on the pavement in front of him, on my side, with my camera angled directly at his face to make sure I caught the light in his eyes as he giggled.

Get low and capture that twinkle in their eyes! Stay tuned for more tips on how to photograph your own children!

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To Frame or Not to Frame – The Woodlands Photographer

The family portrait is an important investment, so it’s essential to ensure you have carefully considered the overall look, style and proportion for the final piece. When your family, senior, engagement or maternity portrait session is completed, I invite clients for an in person Viewing Appointment so I can personally help you choose the perfect size, ratio and medium for your wall portrait. I’ll show you samples of the products I offer, so you can inspect and touch the products yourself.

For gallery wrapped canvases, these come ready to hang and you do not need to frame them. Metals are designed to be hung without a frame to show off the superior gloss, and the sturdy waterproof and UV resistant design means you don’t have to worry about sun or water damage. For photographic prints I offer complimentary styrene mounting so you can mount your portrait on the wall without a frame, and it’s thin enough to put in wall frames.

WITH FRAMES

OPTION 1:  By using a larger frame, you can highlight your wall portrait with accent matting around a smaller size print. The portrait keeps  it’s original ratio and composition intact with matching coloured mat before being inserted into a  frame. The matted frame means you don’t have to crop the original shot. There is a wide variety of colors and styles to choose from, for custom or traditional matted frames.

OPTION 2: Without matting. This option zooms in larger on the image, and you can choose to crop the image to fit into a smaller frame ratio.

WITHOUT FRAMES

A mounted print, metal or canvas without the frame. The traditional camera ratio for older cameras was 4:5, which created the infamous 8×10 desk print. As a wall portrait, your image could be anything from a 16×20 to a 32×40 or larger. Since the camera shoots at a 2:3 ratio, this crops your image. You can also choose to retain the original ratio and print as a 16×24 or 32×48. This size works well for image of standing subjects, where you want to keep the surrounding environment. For this image, it’s the best choice for this particular image to keep the beautiful trees of the environment around the family.

 

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Wall and Desk Collages for Families – The Woodlands Photographer

When it comes to decorating your home and office with your family pictures from your family photo portrait session, I offer many ways to display your final images. With beautiful print and product options, you can choose to display  your family or  senior portraits on the wall as canvases or framed portraits, on your coffee table as beautiful leather albums, or around the house as framed prints for desks and mantles. One very popular option for senior or family portrait display is the 10×20 collage. This collage can be printed onto white polystyrene which makes it easy to put onto an easel for table display. It’s also thin enough to be put into a frame for hanging on the wall.

With several collage arrangement options, we can choose the best design for your fave photos, or make one customized just for you.

CLICK HERE to see some of the great products I offer clients. From gift prints, to albums, to wall canvases – there is something for everyone’s decorating style and needs.

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Family Portrait Print Packages – The Woodlands Family Photographer

Add on to your digital Collections for your family and senior sessions with all new print packages! Now you can purchase sets of prints at a special price. Choose from several print packages, such as the ever popular set of 5 gift prints. Choose the same 5 sizes or choose 5 different print sizes – sets of wallets,  5×7 or 8×10 — no restrictions on size combinations! If you need wallet size prints, pick up a value package of wallet prints for senior announcements or for sharing with family. I also offer several  larger family packages that include small prints for framing and sharing, and a larger print for the wall.

When it comes to preserving your family photos, nothing beats a beautiful print framed or mounted, to last generations. #printsareforever

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Seniors – Thinking About Sorority Rush?

Are you a graduating senior, considering rushing at a sorority when you enter college or university in the fall? It might seem very far away, but it’s not too early to start preparing and setting up a date for your sorority recruitment portraits.  You’ll be sending out those packages before you know it, and summer comes faster than you think, especially during the busy senior year!

Don’t be nervous about your portraits! Sororities aren’t looking for a certain “type” of girl or a certain look or style. They just want to see what you look like, so they recognize you when you show up for events and interviews. So for your portraits, just wear something simple and chic, like you’re attending a garden party or family event. Trendy, but classy!  So what type of portraits are they looking for?

BASIC HEADSHOT
The winning classic is a close up shot of you, professionally taken, that shows you as you are with your beautiful natural smile as you look into the camera. This says so much about you, and who you are, without artifice. You’ll win them over with your genuine smile and lack of pretense.

 

THREE QUARTER AND FULL BODY
Show off your personal style with a three quarter and full body shot. It’s best to wear something like you’d wear to recruitment events, rather than an outfit that will seem to clash with who they’re meeting in person. Consistency will help you stand out, as you curate your own personal style recognized by others.

If you have your recruitment portraits in mind when we’re shooting your senior portrait session, we can be sure to get a great set that all coordinates together and has the attitude, style and posing that is right for your recruitment package. And, you’ll be perfectly styled since your hair and make up will already be styled by my preferred make up artist!

If you choose, you can arrange a special shoot just for your senior rush pictures. These SORORITY RUSH PORTRAIT PACKAGES are short and sweet, and we’ll carefully curate a series of portraits tailored to the sorority you want to rush. With the right planning, sorority rush will be way less stressful since you’ll be confidant and prepared for when you start the process. Let’s take that first step, with your beautiful portraits.

 

 

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How Do Family Collections Work? – The Woodlands Family Photographer

If you’re looking for a family photographer,  you might be finding it hard to decipher what various photographers offer and how their sessions and Collections work. So let’s take a look at Family Portrait Collections!

STEP ONE: CHOOSE A SESSION
Choose either a mini session or a full session. Mini sessions are one hour,  all inclusive, paid up front, and include a smaller number of digital photos and no products.
With full sessions, you pay a sitting fee retainer up front, which covers up to two hours of shooting. You purchase your Collection separately, at a Viewing Session. You will have many more photos to choose from, at least 30+.

 

STEP TWO: CHOOSE A COLLECTION
If you chose a mini session, your images will be made available for download so you don’t have to choose a Collection.
If you chose a full session, you’ll meet with me for a Viewing appointment or you can choose an online option,  to see your 30+ image gallery and make selections. There are 4 Collections to choose from, and we’ll go over the differences. The top Collection  includes all the digitals in your gallery and a mobile app. The second and  third have a small number of digital images, and the fourth is a print Collection.
The minimum order for full Family Collections is $500.

 

STEP THREE: SPEND YOUR PRINT CREDITS
On top of digital images, each Collection comes with a print credit for you to spend on the a la carte menu to fill out your Collection. All my prices are listed so you can easily see how much the products cost — plus I offer some great print packages that help you save money on popular print sizes!

With my Family Portrait Collections, you’ll never have to worry about spending money on products that you are not interested in. You walk away with exactly what you want and need!

Are you looking for a maternity and/or family photographer in the Woodlands, Spring, Tomball, Montgomery, Oak Ridge or Conroe area? Contact me directly with this CONTACT FORM.

To learn more about full sessions CLICK HERE for session info and click to see my FAMILY PORTRAIT and CHILDREN galleries.