Monmouth County: Family Portrait: New Jersey Fine Art Photography

Family portraits make a great Father's Day gift! I loved working with Cara, Brandon, and their beautiful baby boy.

I met Cara & Brandon last spring at her sister's wedding at the Manasquan River Golf Club.  When we discussed where Cara might want her family portraits taken, we decided that their historical 1920s home would be the perfect location. With very young children,  I recommend having your session at your home. Staying home means that you are protected from the elements but still have the option of going both inside and out.

Cara and Brandon have done an amazing job decorating their craftsmen home - traditional with a modern twist. I loved their bright yellow front door. Cara did a great job coordinating their outfits to fit their style.  Photographing at someone's home is an honor that allows you to capture even more of a family's taste and personality.

Summer is coming! Take the time to capture life's precious moments - sign up for your family portrait session today!

Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis: Family Portrait: New Jersey Fine Art Photography

I love getting to photograph the children of my former wedding clients. How time flies, nine years and two kids later. Lori and Gavin have the most handsome, boisterous boys.  I have found with photographing kids, especially boys, it is best to let them run around and have fun. Happy kids make the best pictures!

Lori and I worked on choosing just the right outfits to coordinate with their living room, where the images will be displayed in a collection. I love designing beautiful custom wall galleries!

Call or email the studio to set up your summer family session - weekends are filling up fast!

Dressing for Success: Portrait Attire: NJ Portrait Photography

When it comes to attire, many clients aren’t sure what to wear.  What you wear is key for a successful session! The clothing you choose should complement who you are as a family and speak to the environment in which the session is taking place.  Additionally, you’ll want to coordinate with your home where the final images will be displayed, so your style should be as unique as your family!  With this in mind, we have a few tips for putting together the perfect style for a creative yet comfortable session.

• Adults:

Remember to coordinate well with the rest of the group in addition to these four tips…

1. Select solid colors (they tend to photograph best).
2. Choose clothes that flatter your body type.
3. Men will want to get a haircut a week or so before the session and arrive to the shoot clean-shaven.
4. Women should style their hair the day of and wear natural makeup that is slightly heavier than usual.

Sleeveless shirts and short shorts tend to be unflattering.  Large logos and bold patterns can be overwhelming and should be worn with caution. Furthermore, you’ll want to avoid dressy clothing unless the session is specifically for a formal event.

• Babies and Kids:

Newborns are sweet sleepy bundles, so keep things simple with these four tips…

1. Solid onsies, simple cloth diapers or plain swaddling blankets are perfect.
2. Accessories such as a knitted cap can be adorable for a few shots.
3. Sentimental objects like an heirloom silver rattle can add a special touch.
4. Additional blankets help add variety.

Adult clothing with collars and buttons should be avoided with young babies.  Socks, shoes, and large bows are unnecessary.  However, toddlers and children can be bolder with color and style…

1. Choose light layers to show off their fun style.
2. Comfortable, casual, but fitted clothing is best in order to capture natural expressions and personalities.

Kids are best when they’re allowed to be kids.  Avoid makeup and hairspray as well was overly baggy clothing.  We want this to be a great experience for everyone, so come prepared to have a bit of fun to not only capture real smiles, but also create positive memories.

• The Whole Family:

You will want to coordinate and plan your complete outfits a few days prior to the session.  Follow these tips and you can’t go wrong…

1. Make sure all clothing and clean and pressed a few days before the scheduled shoot.
2. When coordinating outfits, don’t forget about the importance of accessories!
3. Layers are a portrait session’s best friend, so choose a color palette of 3 or 4 colors and mix it up.  You want a consistent theme, but avoid anything to “matchy.”
4. Depending on the location of the shoot, keep in mind that light clothes look best on a lighter background while dark clothes look best on darker backgrounds.
5. Don’t forget about shoes! They should be stylish and clean!

If you need ideas for colors or coordinating the whole group without matching, just look through magazines and adds.  Our favorite stores include GAP, J. Crew Crewcuts, Janie n Jack, and Brooks Brothers!

Follow these tips and your session is destined for success!  And if you need more help, never be afraid to go directly to the photographer with questions!

Spring Lake: Summer Portraits: New Jersey Fine Art Photography

The most treasured portraits tend to be filled with smiles of the moment.  When planning portraits with a young child, the key is not to restrict them.  Let them have fun and their personalities will shine through, creating beautiful candid works of art that will be cherished for a lifetime.  Engage kids in whatever they're doing and the love you share will make for one-of-a-kind images.