Reasons to hire a photographer for your preschool picture day | Spokane Valley, Wa
We all have memories of picture day at school through our years of childhood. School pictures are very deeply meaningful to parents and many parents will hold on to these photos and pass them down for generations. It marks the memory of a child every step of the way through their education. Visual archives matter so so much. There are also reasons for your school to have the pictures done and I’m going go through them below.
Hiring a professional sets your school apart from others and may bring you more business.
While school photos at preschools and daycares are increasing in popularity, many still do not offer yearly pictures. There is also a large number of schools who take their pictures in-house without a professional. By hiring a professional (preferably local) photographer to come to your school for picture day, you are setting your school aside from all of the other schools who do not offer this elevated service to their families. Parents choose schools for a number of reasons, but the benefits that a school offers is probably the biggest one. Parents want to see what their money is doing for their children at their school and a professional picture day is exactly the way for your school to provide that value (and bonus, it actually makes your school money rather than costs it if you hire the right company.) Your school is a business and you will attract higher quality and higher quantity of families by offering a professional school picture day.
Professionals handle all the hassle for you.
Picture day is a lot of work. Organizing the children, communicating with the parents, distributing the pictures, keeping names organized with the picture files, not to mention making the picture look good and how physically demanding it is to sit on your knees to take the pictures. Professional photography companies have systems in place to handle all of this work in an extremely efficient manner. This allows your school to get back to what is important, which is school! Some things in business cost you more in time and money to handle yourself than it would have cost to hire a professional and school photography is a prime example.
Great way to get updated staff photos for no cost.
Offering professional photography isn’t just great for the kids and families that you serve, it’s also great for you and your staff. Hosting an annual picture day often comes with the benefit of complimentary staff photos. This is a great way to keep an updated visual record of your staff members. These images can be used on your website and keep your staff looking sharp and friendly. Iphone pictures are not attractive on websites, so here is a great way to spruce up your website with almost no effort on your part.
Allows your school to have visual records of the children you serve.
These professional photos can be useful in other ways outside of your school system as well. Children do not have state identification cards with pictures. So in the case that the unthinkable happens and authorities need an up to date photo of a child. Your school can step in to help the parents by providing a professional quality portrait of the child. Just another way you are able to serve your parents outside of your school and help keep the children safe.
Provides Access to high quality photography for families of all income levels.
It’s no secret that families of all economic backgrounds use childcare. I am a big believer in putting the cookies on the shelf where everyone can reach them. School picture day is a great way to do this. By offering yearly pictures, you are giving all families at your school access to professional level portraits of their children. It may not seem like a big deal, but for some kids, these are the only pictures that they will have from their childhood that make it into print from and last to their adulthood. It is a big deal. These photos are priced lower than a Mcdonald’s sandwich in some cases, so you are doing a good thing for these families by offering this service.
Acts as a fundraiser for your school.
Here’s where it really gets good for your school. Depending on the company, many professional photographers do not charge your school for offering picture day. That’s right, it’s free for you to offer it. AND many photographers (like Britt Harvey Photography) actually donate a percentage of the money made from the sales at your school, back to your school. So offering picture day, acts as a fundraiser for your school, what’s not to love about that!
HOW TO CAPTURE YOUR FAMILY’s UNIQUENESS IN PHOTOS | Spokane Photographer
CHOOSE A MEANINGFUL LOCATION.
Location matters a ton for family pictures. I often choose locations for the families that I work with, because I know the locations that work really, really well here in Spokane. That being said, I am always open to suggestions and really I can work anywhere. When I take my own family’s photos, I choose locations that mean something to us for one reason or another- our home, a place we like to hike, or somewhere something meaningful happened, like our proposal or wedding. I am always open to my clients suggesting a location that they would love to have pictures taken at, because of the way they light up when they talk about whatever that place may be. So choose a meaningful location for meaningful pictures.
DRESS LIKE YOU.
I am a firm believer that wardrobe will make or break your photos. There are always rules to follow, and always rules to break. If you are an outdoorsy family, it’s okay to wear outdoors clothing as long as the colors work well together and within the environment. See the above photo? That’s my family and we’re wearing outdoors clothes that suit the location, the colors work with the environment. I’m happy to advise on wardrobe for any session that I do, even yours. So if you have a vision, let me know and I’ll help you ensure that it works.
I love creativity in my work and uniqueness for every family that I photograph. I send a wardrobe guide to every family that books me with general guidelines that work for every family and every location when trying to create a seamless family photography product. When in doubt, defer to my guide. If you’d like to get more creative, let me know and I’ll be there to help.
POSE LIKE YOU.
Lifestyle family photography allows for freedom of movement and uniqueness in posing, this is why I love it. I direct my clients on what I think will look good, but I also allow for freedom so that my clients can express the poses in a way that is natural to them. If your family is intense, and doesn’t like to smile, I love that, just let me know. If your family is a funny, goofy bunch, that’s great too. I may ask a husband to kiss his wife’s neck, if that’s not something they’re into, they can say so and we’ll try something else. I customize everything I do, to fit the family that I’m working with. I ask every family that works with me to give me a little description of the family, this is a great place to tell me what your family likes and what they don’t so that I can prepare for your photos. This is how we get you to pose like you.
Photos with a lot of movement are also something I really enjoy, so if your kids are on the move, just know we can go adventuring to get the pictures just right for your family.
SPOKANE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY | SPOKANE ADVENTURE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY | LIFESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY SPOKANE
How to pose: Tips for mom FROM A FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER
I believe that being photographed is highly vulnerable. Almost everyone feels self-conscious in front of the camera. And I also believe everyone worries about how to pose much more than they should when having their pictures taken. For this blog post, I’m going to focus on mom and offer some fool proof options for posing to help mom look her very best and to feel confident.
Wear your hair down and let it fall in your face.
Some of my best photos are of mothers with their hair in their face, now I’m not saying to do this for every photo, but hear me out for a minute. Typically when we tilt our head down towards out children, our hair does fall down in our face. When the hair falls, our false double chin is concealed. The hair falling causes the photo to look natural and it also conceals something that we all have, but don’t want the world to see. Please wear your hair down for your photos, pulling it back almost always is unflattering in lifestyle photography, because we take squishy, love-y pictures. Just trust me on this one.
Pick up your kiddos.
Pick up your kids and hold them close, snuggle in, breathe them in. We all love the smell of our children’s heads, it’s just being a mom. Picking up your kids shows the intimacy that is the mother-child bond and allows your photographer to see into your world. Your kid will naturally melt into you, creating a natural pose. Holding children can also be concealing if there are some curves you’d prefer to hide. I believe God gave us hips, to hold our babies.
Relax your shoulders, lengthen the neck.
This sounds simple, but it’s everything in photography posing. If your shoulders are up to your ears and your neck is hunched over, you will look tense. Releasing and relaxing will always make better pictures.
The biggest thing about posing is to not stress. Your photographer has your back and is there to do the legwork for you on this. Family photos are a team effort. As photographers, we want you to look and feel great, so just know we will lead the way.
HOW TO COORDINATE OUTFITS FOR FAMILY PHOTOS In Spokane
Coordinate Don’t match.
Coordinating means choosing outfits that are all based out of the same color palette. The best way to do this is to choose one patterned outfit and then pick colors out of the pattern to dress other family members in. The photo above is a great example of this. I never recommend that a family wears all once color like navy blue, or all variations of one color like navy, royal, sky and dusty blues. Everyone should have their own color from a palette of similar tones. The whole family matching is never the way to go.
Dress in neutrals and muted colors.
Dressing in neutrals in muted colors makes it hard to go wrong. The more neutrals in the palette, the more likely the colors are to go well together. Our Spokane landscape has a ton of brown, sage and yellow tones, so earthier tones tend to look best. Keep the palette simple. Avoid, bright, vibrant colors for your family photos, because they often clash with landscapes and distract from the people (your family!) in your family photos.
Put the baby in a contrasting color.
If there’s a baby in the family, be sure that the babies outfit contrasts or stands out from the outfits of family members who may be holding the baby, the outfit should still be within the color palette, just not the same color that anyone holding the baby would be wearing. When mom and baby wear the same color, baby can blend in to moms outfit. If mom is wearing dark gray, put baby in white or something that stands out when being held.
Each kid in a different outfit.
It can be tempting to dress the kids in matching outfits, but this should be avoided so that when they stand next to each other in photos, they don’t blend together. Let each kid be unique and in their own outfits.
FAMILY PICTURES IN SPOKANE
4 Tips to look slimmer in photos: For mom | SPOKANE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER
Wear Sleeves.
My first tip is no matter what you choose to wear, wear sleeves. I typically recommend dresses for mom, but this tip also applies to blouses and other tops. Sleeves are a great way to conceal curves you don't want to share. You can also choose an outfit with sleeves that have a lot of visual interest in stitching and shape. Visual interest will always create a slimming effect, because it distracts the eye from the body, to the outfit.
Angle towards the camera.
White your photographer is the expert, I’m giving tips that also apply to causal photos. I almost always take photos of mom from an angle, because it is slimming. Angles are everything in photography. The best way to do this is to turn just so that you are at about a 45 degree angle to the camera, bonus points if you pop your hip, because it will create more angles in your body shape, which is slimming and makes you look more relaxed.
Dress in neutrals.
Now, I’m not saying to avoid all colors at all, but choosing colors that are more muted is more slimming than loud, bright colors. Try a Sienna rather than Ruby red. Dusty blue, rather than Royal Blue. Bright colors will reflect more light and create more color casts and shadows, which means curves will stand out more. Mute the colors to slim the figure.
Avoid bold patterns.
Bold patterns are always a no-go in family photos, but especially when you are wishing to look slimmer. I try to keep the focus of my photos on the people and personalities more than the outfits, which helps the slimming and flattering effect. Bold patterns draw the eye to the clothes more than anything, so your best bet is to avoid them entirely.
Wear a dress- Avoid teacup fit.
I always recommend dresses for mom, because they create beautiful movement and are flattering and smoothing. A dress is also much more simple than trying to pair tops and bottoms. Short dresses that are not too tight are wonderful, full length semi casual dresses are my favorite. The only dress I recommend avoiding entirely is teacup style dresses that cut off at mid-calf, they are not flattering in photos, because they create a top-heavy appearance. Pay attention to the overall visual effect of the dress you pick and ask your photographer if you’re unsure. We want you to feel so good in your outfits!
SPOKANE PHOTOGRAPHY | ADVENTURE FAMILY SESSION
I don’t know about you, but I’m kind of tired of traditional family photography. Of course there’s always a place for photos where everyone is dressed perfectly and smiling at the camera, but sometimes it’s good to have fresh ideas and have pictures taken that align with your family.
If you have a family like mine, you are outside all the time, playing in the dirt. Maybe you ruck, or mountain bike, or rock climb with your family instead of going to the movies. It’s time that someone offers photography sessions for families like ours. Families that play outside.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE FAMILY PHOTOS FOR FAMILIES THAT LIVE ON THE WILD SIDE
Reasons to have maternity photos done at home | SPOKANE, WA
Cozy, comfortable wardrobe.
When you have maternity pictures taken within your home, there’s no need for over the top wardrobes or gowns. You can dress in a way that is comfortable and cozy, because this looks natural in a home environment. There’s absolutely ways to dress up your home photos without being over the top. You can choose a sweater with an off the shoulder neck line, choose a pair of cozy knitted socks, or add a pretty cardigan, it’s up to you. Most moms love the idea of ditching the maternity gown, they’re expensive and aren't so timeless.
Preserving the memory of the season.
The season of life that is pregnancy is relatively short in the grand scheme of things, though it may not feel like it when you’re in it. Having your maternity photoshoot done within your home helps to preserve the memory of the season of life. You may not always live in this home. I moved about 3 months after my baby arrived, because the house no longer suited out needs, and I am so glad I took my maternity pictures in my house, because I’ll always remember that time of life when I look back at the pictures. The whole reason to take maternity pictures is to preserve the memory and honor the change of your body and your life. I like to keep this at the top of mind when planning maternity photo sessions.
Intimate photos in a natural location, your home.
In-home maternity photos have an extra level of intimacy that I just love. It’s like inviting people into a little glimpse of your life. Most families feel more comfortable having their pictures taken in their home, because no one is watching. Our homes are where we kick our shoes off and relax, there is no where more comfortable. Comfort always leads to better pictures. The climate control of your home, also makes your maternity pictures more comfortable, no one wants to be over heated or cold for pictures. Plus, there’s many beautiful homes around Spokane, full of character. If you live in one of those homes, take advantage of the built in beauty and have your maternity pictures done at home.
7 tips to look slimmer in photos: For Dad
Wear clothes that fit comfortably.
It’s important to be comfortable when having family photos taken. Choose clothing that fits comfortably and is not oversized or over tight. When we want to feel slim, we often choose items that are either too tight or too loose and when taking pictures, we want to avoid both of those things. Choose something that fits appropriately. Comfortable is confident.
Wear a collared, button up shirt.
Here are my tips. Wear a collared, button up shirt that is either short sleeved or long sleeved with the sleeves rolled up to expose the forearms. The collar helps to elevate the look of the outfit and adds visual interest above the waist. A top with buttons down the center has a similar effect, in that it draws the eye to the center and breaks up the waistline, creating a slimming appearance. If the weather is chillier, a sweater, thermal, or quarter zip wool pullover is perfect. Thicker fabrics tend to be more flattering and concealing when done correctly and photograph very nicely.
Avoid plaid and stripes.
Plaid and stripes can create visual effects known as moire to photographers which can be unflattering, to avoid this dress in solid colors or fine print patterns. Choosing items with interesting knitting or stitch patterns will add texture to make up for the lack of patterns. Bold patterns should always be avoided in photos, because they are quite distracting from the people and will accentuate curvier figures in the wrong ways.
Full Length Pants.
Full length pants are much more slimming than shorts- here’s why. There is no taper to the eye when looking at shorts, they’re boxy and cut off at areas where a photographer usually wouldn’t crop a photo, which draws the eye to that area. Creating the appearance of an egg on toothpicks, as a general rule, I recommend avoiding shorts for everyone in photos.
No denim. Wear Khakis or Chinos.
Styling Denim in photos can be tricky, no matter who is wearing it. The wrong wash or color of denim can reflect light in unflattering ways, so it’s best to avoid it when trying to look slimmer. Elevate your wardrobe with khakis or chinos in a brown/ tan color.
Wear Nice Shoes.
I bet you weren’t expecting this one. I once was told you can tell everything you need to know about a person, based on the shoes they choose, and frankly it’s subtle, but true. Choosing nice shoes and ditching your sneakers will elevate the look of your wardrobe and create a slimming effect. The shoes don’t have to be expensive, but they do need to look nice. I personally like oxfords, they come in many shapes and colors and also many price points.
Wear a belt.
The last tips I have is to wear a belt. It just adds a finishing touch to an outfit and defines the waistline. A belt gives the eye peace when looking at an outfit, because it clearly defines top and bottom.
Hopefully this helps you dress confidently for your family photos. It’s my goal to make family photoshoots enjoyable for dads. I find that most dads have more fun when they feel like they look good. Who doesn’t like a confidence boost?
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out or leave a comment :)
Where to have Maternity Pictures taken in Spokane?
Where in Spokane to have your Maternity Pictures taken.
Spokane is such a gorgeous and fun place to raise a family. If you’re pregnant and planning your maternity session, here are some locations to consider for gorgeous photos.
River.
Spokane has gorgeous rivers filled with boulders and surrounded by forests. There’s tons of access points to these rivers that would be easy for a pregnant mama to walk into. If your family is feeling playful, there are plenty of slower flowing areas where you all could dip your feet in the cool water while taking some fun pictures.
Field.
There are plenty of wide open fields with pretty views as well. I love the way a field looks at golden hour when the sun hits all the tall grass just right. Fields are great if you have other children that like to run and play. There’s high visibility and they can run their hearts out while you get some extra picture attention for your bump.
Home.
Your home may be the most under utilized photo location. Maternity photos at home are intimate and cozy. If you have a home with character that is stylishly decorated, this can be a really great option. This also has the added perk of your photographer getting to know the light in your home prior to newborn pictures if you choose to go that route.
Urban.
Downtown Spokane has plenty of urban areas to take stylish photos in, you just have to know where to look. Parking garages, clean alley-ways, brick buildings. There is so much to be discovered for photo-ops.
What to wear for in-home Maternity Photos in Spokane?
What to wear for in-home maternity photos in Spokane
Getting ready to have maternity pictures taken at home in Spokane? Here’s some of my favorite tips to get perfect, timeless maternity pictures in home, and all of it is tips that will help you choose what to wear.
Be comfortable.
Pregnancy is already uncomfortable, so choose to dress comfortably. That doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on style. These photos can be as intimate or conservative as you want as far as how you dress. You could wear leggings with a cute tank top and cardigan, or you could wear undies with a cozy sweater. It’s totally up to you, these are your pictures. Consider wearing a cute bralette with whatever outfit you choose, these add some unique visual interest to the photos if we drape your sweater off the shoulder.
Earthy Tones.
Spokane is in the PNW and many of us who live here like to wear earthy tones. Think muted greens, dusty blues, warm browns. Many of us around the Spokane area live in older homes with gorgeous hardwood floors. Choose colors that will compliment your home on our natural Spokane vibes. Be sure to include plenty of neutral tones
Cozy Vibes.
Now, I know we have pretty hot, dry summers and pregnancy can be any time of year, but I want you to think cozy when choosing what to wear. Cozy is more of a frame of mind, than choosing warm clothing. Adding layers to your outfit will create a cozy vibe. Consider your feet too, if it’s winter, perhaps some cute wool socks. If it’s summer, barefoot can really hone in a summer look.
Textiles.
Now this isn’t what to wear exactly, but don’t forget to consider the elements in your home. Look at your bedding throw pillows, sofa color. Can you choose clothing that compliments those items? Is it worthwhile to invest in a new bedspread in a more neutral or muted tone. Your style is yours, so just be sure to consider how everything plays together for your pictures. We’re going for cool, Spokane, South Hill vibes to create some pretty art in your pictures.
Tips for Classy Breastfeeding Photos | Spokane Newborn Photographer
Breastfeeding photos. We all want them, but we don’t want our goods to be shared with the world, just our baby. I have a handful of tips that keep breastfeeding pictures classy so that you can share pictures of this intimate relationship without sharing your intimates.
Number 1 tip, hire a professional lifestyle newborn photographer to take the pictures for you. Preferably someone with a lot of experience in these types of pictures. We know what you want to share and what you don’t. We can take beautiful nursing pictures for you to cherish that you' won’t mind sharing, because your nips will be covered. We know how to take the angles and keep everything discreet.
Tip number 2, do not make the boob, the center of the focus. The baby should be the focus in these pictures. Focus on the back of the head, the hands, the forehead and eyes, the other family members being around and supporting mom. I like to be very careful to ensure the pictures don’t look like a baby nursing unless you look closely at them. This keeps other viewers from feeling like they’ve seen something they don’t want to see and also keeping the memory for the mom who wants to remember the time when she nursed her babies.
Tip Number 3, wear a nursing friendly top. Everything in photography comes back to wardrobe when you are the one being photographed. Choose a shirt with the right amount of coverage and stretch, with some pretty features. You’ll want your baby to have easy access, but without showing off more than you need to.
Spokane Breastfeeding Pictures | Spokane Newborn Pictures | Spokane Lifestyle Newborn Photography
3 pictures to take of your new baby | Spokane Newborn Pictures
We all take tons of pictures of our new baby with our phones, but I think there are a lot of pictures that parents forget to take of details that they will want to remember later. Straight from a newborn photographer, here are some of my favorite poses or pictures to take of babies and none of them require uncomfortable or unsafe posing.
Mom and Dad together holding their new baby. This is one of my favorites and a good reason to hire a professional to take pictures of your family with your new baby. Mom and Dad together in a picture with their new baby is a priceless keepsake. So many pictures only have one parent in them and babies deserve to see pictures of themselves with both parents together .
Your new baby’s feet. I’ve photographed hundreds of babies and I can say with certainty, no two have feet that are alike. They curve differently, they wrinkle differently. Feet are a huge point of connection with your little one, babies love to have their feet touched. Moms and Dads can’t help but kiss their babies feet. Our feet ground us and connect us. Don’t forget to take pictures of your baby’s feet.
Baby in Dad’s hands. I love pictures of dads holding their babies. Pictures like this serve as a reminder of how tiny our baby once was. Babies just don’t keep and this is an excellent way to remember.
Spokane Newborn Pictures | Newborn Photography | Lifestyle Photographer