How to do a Lifestyle Photo Shoot...

"Lifestyle Photography" is a term that lots of photographers use, and almost no non-photographers.  And the definition probably falls on a spectrum depending on who is using it.

To one photographer "lifestyle" is any portrait photography that isn't done in a studio.  For others, myself included, "lifestyle" is a family photography done in the home, that attempts to convey the the feeling of that family's "lifestyle".  Get it?

Either way, there's a sense of casualness, less prim and proper, more loose and go with the flow.

Any many, many clients adore the idea of a lifestyle shoot:  no finding/deciding on location, no real need for intense styling of all the family members, no drive time to factor in with littles, and best of all, you can do it any time of day, you're not limited to the Golden Hour (read: Witching Hour for anyone under the age of 6.).  Plus your kids feel really comfortable at home and you get to really enjoy family time in your own space.

But then it can also feel intimidating:  letting a professional photographer, who is oftentimes a stranger into your home?!  Your messy, chaotic house?  And what if the toddler throws a massive tantrum?  How much do I really have to clean??

So let's break it down.  First of all, the toddler can throw a tantrum at any time, amiright?  And as far as your messy house, 1. I could care less and 2. We pick out the two rooms with the best light ahead of time and we don't even go in the other rooms during the session, unless we want to.

And lastly, there is something about having someone else document your family in your home.  They see light and angles that you never saw before.  And Mom actually gets to be in the pictures.

Which is exactly how this shoot happened.  Michelle is an amazing photographer in her own right, she has plenty of AWESOME photographs of her children that she has taken, in their home.  But first, she isn't in many of them, and second, she wanted to see her home and their lifestyle through another lens, if you will.

And together, we made a bit of magic...

Mother's Day gift - Shabang!

When a family hasn't had family pictures taken in well over 10 years, giving Mom the gift of family photographs is a freaking home run.  This husband and daughter knocked it out of the park.  I had worked with their daughter Ava on her senior pictures and we had a really great time.

And frankly, kudos to Mom for jumping on it and making it happen.  When it's not something we do regularly, scheduling the photo shoot, coordinating some decent looking clothes, picking a fun location, and even driving quite a ways to work with a photographer you like, it's all a big deal and a bit stressful.

But she made it happen.  And now this time in their lives is recorded.  Smiles and laughter and a memory made and documented.  There aren't too many Mother's Day gifts that can accomplish all that.

Part 2: Best Family Pictures of 2012 {Gilbert, AZ photography}

Continuing on with the highlights of last year, just to make sure I've really whet your appetite for the Fall Family Photo season....

I'm going to be totally honest here.  When this mom told me the colors were going to be green, blue, and peach, I was like...."well, this'll be....fun"  I seriously couldn't envision it.  Then when they showed up!  Styled to the Nines and looking all kinds of awesome!!  I realized I had no clue how fun and fab those colors could look together. 

This mama knocked it out of the park and turned it into one of the best family photo shoots of last season.

Part 1: Best Family Photos of 2012 {Gilbert AZ photographer}

I'm sweating still.  You?  It's October, it's still in the 90s, and it's really hard to think about the holidays and all that they entail.  To get you in the mood (cue music), it's time to take a peek at some of the best family photos of last year. 

 

Some great things about this family photo shoot:  the colors were so fun, a mix of bright and fun with neutral and just the right amount of bling styling.  Just perfect for this urban location. 

 

This family had never had family photos outside of a department store studio and then walked away with some fun memories and some amazing photos to remember this special time.  Too fun!

The Best Beauty Tips for the Best Family Pictures {Gilbert, AZ Photography}

 

 

So excited to announce my fabulous guest bloggers today!!  Courtney and Hillary from the Beauty Mark Girls, based here in Mesa AZ, are here to give us the lowdown on how to look chic and fab for our awesome family photos this year.

 

Fact:  We all want to have amazing family photographs on the wall that make us smile every time we look at them.  This is achievable!!  But that smile ain't gonna happen if we don't make the time to look and feel beautiful the day of the photo shoot.  That's a challenge when we're the only one that's able to make our kiddos and hubbies cute too.  So how do we make it happen?  With some help from the experts, of course!

 

So here's a little Q&A with the Beauty Mark Girls on how to make the most of our family pictures prep time.

 

Q: What is the most important beauty step a Mom should take for family  pictures?

A:  Being prepared. Have everything laid out and start getting ready in  advance. Get yourself ready before the kids. If Mama is in a bad mood, no one is in a good mood! (from Elena:  I suggest hiring a babysitter/friend to get those kiddoes all spiffied up while you take your time getting yourself ready.  They'll probably do the girls' hair cuter than you would anyway.  :)

Q:  Pinterest holds conflicting information. Should makeup be stronger for photos (with a digital camera) or more mild?
A:  I always think that when you do makeup for pictures it should be  stronger than usual. That said, it doesn't necessarily need to be MORE  makeup. Just stronger colors. Focus on doing more on your cheeks and  lips. Peachy-pink is a universally flattering shade that looks great in  pictures.

Q:  Is there a common mistake that you see Moms committing in their family photos?
A:  Being too matchy-matchy in photos is a no-no. Also, choose styles that represent your family. Now is not a time to try something super trendy or out of the box. Also, focus just as much attention on YOUR outfit as your family's!! Pick your outfit first and everyone else's after. You don't want to be stuck with nothing to wear.  (E:  Amen Sista!  Preach on!)

Q:  What products do you recommend to keep my hair from going completely flat before I even get the photo shoot?
A:  First, you need a good blowout using a round brush for volume. Texturizing/mattifying powder  in the roots with a little bit of tease will prolong the volume.


Q:  Can you recommend any tutorials that can help me practice my look beforehand? Good hairstyles or highlighting and contouring makeup application?
A:  On our blog we have several videos that will help you achieve classic
but fun looks! (http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCW_B1COmAK3nSA6e4asMQ7A)

Q:  How do you get lipstick to stay on for awhile?
A:  For lipstick to stay better use a more matte formula and don't use
gloss.

Q:  Can you recommend a good concealer for red blemishes?
A:  I like MAC Studio Finish concealer. It has great coverage while still being creamy and blendable.

Q:  When to use/not use fake eyelashes?
A:  I always recommend fake lashes for pictures. They will make your eyes look big and bright!!

Q:  How can I get my entire family looking cute, while getting myself to look pretty enough for a photograph that will hang on the wall for a long time?
A:  PREPARE everything in advance! Put yourself as the priority. If you don't like how you look in pictures ,you will never be happy with them on  the wall. Lay out clothes, accessories and anything else you will need to get ready for pictures. (Pack snacks and drinks for the kids and candy for bribery if needed!)

Q:  What would it cost (ballpark) to utilize a professional's service, makeup, hair, and/or styling, so that I just don't have to worry about it?
A:  To hire The Beauty Mark girls to beautify for family pictures it is $50 for hair and $50 for makeup (plus $5 for fake lashes). We can also style and pick out the outfits for your family for a fee based on family size. We know how overwhelming family pictures can be and we love to help make the day a little bit more stress free! If mama feels her best, her family will follow suit!

 

 

 

That's what I'm talking about!  Aren't they fabulous?  Hopefully these tips help make your family pictures go even smoother.  If you're going to make the investment into custom family photography, it's worth it to do it right.  The right photographer, the right styling, the right location.  If you're gonna do it, kill it.  Am I right?!

 

If you're interested in utilizing their services, contact the Beauty Mark girls at hello@thebeautymarkgirls.com

If you haven't scheduled your family photographs for the fall yet, hello?!  Email me at ejtcat@hotmail.com, like pronto. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Urban Location Options {Gilbert, AZ}

This is my counterpart to the Natural Locations post.  Those locations seem to be our default choice here in AZ.  I think it has a lot to do with the fact that we are just getting out of a long and hot summer during which we were stuck inside for months.  By the time Fall rolls around, all we want to do is hang out outside and enjoy nature.

But when you've done the pretty nature family photographs thing for a few years in a row, you're ready for something new.  Something modern and fresh and a little different.  That's when it's time to try some Urban family picture locations.

Many times the best part of the urban photography location is that you can get so many different looks in one small area. 

 

The senior boy above and the family below are in the same location.  In fact, just around the corner from each other.  But you'd never guess.  When variety is paramount (mostly senior photos) an urban location is just the ticket.

 

Sometimes all you need is a great wall.  It can be any solid color you want.  Or if your photographer is really tricky, it can even be a totally different material.  Hello brick!

 

One my favorite family photo locations, super popular as well.  But so many fun, modern looks in one spot.

 

Vintage meets modern.  One downtown location.  It can really make your family and their styling POP!

When modern for you is a mid-century look, this location can steal the show.  Love this spot for some fun family photography!

 

Using a single prop, an awesome fedora, as the inspiration for your family pictures is an excellent idea!  It can lead you to such a fun and memorable location.

 

So what do you think?  Which location will it be for your family pictures this year?

The best kind of newborn photography {Gilbert AZ}

Does this story sound familiar?  The pregnancy which you thought would take forever, went by in a blink of an eye and all the sudden she's here.  And then all the sudden, she's three weeks old and the photos of her only exist on a cell phone, because hello?!  There's three other kiddos running around and their world has been rocked too!

That's where lifestyle newborn photography comes in.  A super nice photographer comes to your home.  She plays with your kids while Baby finishes her nap and eats her next meal.  Instead of growls from the three year old, you hear "Take my picture too!".  Everyone has fun for an hour and then she leaves, and you wonder "Was that really family pictures?  That was too easy." 

Even better.  Those are photographs that you wish you could take while you're busy living life.  You try to burn them in your brain:  how your son looks with his favorite Superman cape on, how your daughter looks twirling in the sunlight, how your oldest boy scrunches his eyebrows when he's playing Star Wars on the piano.  Those are the scenes that you feel slipping through your fingers as time marches on.

But now they're caught.  Now you have them forever and ever.  You know, teenage blackmail if needed.  But more likely, that wedding video when Superman is all grown up and wearing a much different kind of suit.

 

 

 

 This photo shoot was done as assignment for an awesome class I took through Chic Critique forum with the amazing Lindsay Silsby (Pied Piper Photography) and Summer Murdock Photography. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published? Check!

I am so excited to check one thing off my bucket list this year.  I have been published in Denim & Grace magazine.  It's a publication for other photographers, and frankly pretty small.  Also, mine is one of the "filler" images, used in between the real articles about much better photographers than me. 

But I was included nonetheless, and I'm pretty dang excited!  My name is up there with Freshly Wed and Lisa Holloway, see?!

What image was it, you ask?  Pretty much my best photo of my entire year. 

 

 

Thank you so much Palfreeman family.  You brought the magic and you made my year a success! 

 

 

The M Family - Mesa Family Photography

Three boys came, boom, boom, BOOM.  (That's Briggie Joe, there's nothing mild about that boy).  Smart as a whip, all of them.  I've known Mom since she was 19.  She always wanted to be a mother and we all knew she would be amazing.  And somehow with every baby boy, her Supermom powers grew. 

She got more organized, not more frenzied like the rest of us.  I watched her grow into herself, settled and centered and really dang successful raising boys.  I'm sure it had a lot to do with Dad.  I went on a double date with them, a month or two before he proposed.  I had never seen Mama smile like that.  She might have glowed just a little. 

The Hubs and I looked at each other with eyes wide and watched as she laughed and teased and just smiled.  True love can do that kind of thing.  But after three boys, you could tell she really, really wanted that baby girl.

Baby Girl 1 came exactly how Mama wanted, calm and sweet and LOVING everything girlie.  The more pink and bling, the better!  And then to top off the clan, Baby Girl 2.  A little spit fire just like her brothers, maybe even with a little more fire.  That girl is giving Mama a run for her money. 

And it is so fun to watch!!  You can't be gorgeous, organized, calm, AND have 5 angel kids.  SOMEONE's gotta make you sweat!  :)