2012 Best of Western Washington | Wow, what an honor!

My business has been involved in the Best of Western Washington contest for 3 years now and I've gotta say, this is just such an honor!   I know many of the photographers in this category and they are not only amazing artists but good friends and great people to know!  I'm really proud of the local quality in this industry.  In fact, if I didn't have this photography business, I would have a hard time choosing who to vote for!
So much of portrait photography can come down to the personal connection between the photographer and the client.  Many of my clients either were friends first or are friends now!  I end up seeing them at my kids' school, at the grocery store, at church and around the neighborhood.  I love that most of the kids are already comfortable with me and that eases them into natural poses and faces.  I'm not a stranger with a giant black machine in front of my face asking them to do funny things.  I'm "AJ's Mom" or "Nickie from down the street" or "my mom's friend."  For some kids this makes a big difference. 
I love knowing the story that preceeds an engagement and a wedding!  I thoroughly enjoy getting to bring a little of that history with me into a session.  For a few folks, I met them in a mom group like MOPS or a playdate group.  I've seen their relationship with their child or husband grow and mature and then we get to express that together in pictures.
Things have changed over the last year from offering discs of the collection exclusively to offering prints that are ready to hang on the wall.  Each print package contains an album now!  Grandma and Great Grandma couldn't enjoy the pictures as much on a digital screen as they could with their hands.  I can bring our family pictures in my purse now and not need to lug my computer or ask Grandma to try and see them on my phone.  I'm really happy with the way things have gone this year.  I believe my clients agree! 
I'm not expecting to make it into the top five.  I know that I have a much smaller client base (about 10% in comparison).  But I also know that my clients are awesome.  They are cool and fun and we enjoy ourselves both during the portrait session and after!
So if you have a minute and haven't done so already, please log in and give it a vote!  One vote per email address each year!

BEST Portrait Photography

Thank you!

Getting to know you | Graham Family Portraits | Full session vs Small Session

I have a lot of people ask me about my two family sessions.  There's a simple breakdown of time, price and quality difference but let me tell you about how I approach the two different sessions.

The Small Session
I enjoy doing this session with families of small children.  It works for individual portraits of young kids, small families or families of small children.  It is only one hour long and most kids are very tired of being told what to do at about 45 minutes.  I can sometimes squeak in another 15 minutes with my little tricks (magic smiling beads, candy, toys, being silly).  And if not, those 15 minutes may be needed at the beginning to let the child warm up to me.  I am not a commercial studio.  You will not be rushed.  I will not hurry your child along and pressure them to do what you want or what I want.  A little light bribery, yes!  Gentle joking, yes!  Strong words?  No.  That's up to the parent and their expectations and also their relationship with that child.  I am on a schedule and so are my clients.  I know that you have snack and naptime on your mind.  I will be respectful and not overstay my time slot.  And my clients are almost always on time and wonderful about helping me stay on my schedule!  The client and photographer team, working together to get great smiles or at the very least, great memories captured for eternity! 
The small session usually takes place in one location but sometimes it can be two if they are near each other.  I don't want to waste time driving if we are in a good groove, but sometimes a child needs a little change of scenery to change their moods.  My favorite locations for small sessions are homes, backyards and nearby parks.  Most of the beautiful parks around Puyallup, Orting and Graham have a variety of looks - fallen trees, weeds in the distance, plush grass, a neighborhood fountain, carefully landscaped hills, a rustic fence, an old bridge. 
If the weather is being extremely uncooperative then a small session is easy to move indoors.  I have a few backdrops and lights I can bring with me to create adequate light and a small change of scenery.  Many kids are most comfortable in their own home anyway, and are eager to show me a great toy or trick.  You may be surprised at the many looks your own home has to offer.  Thanks to the many DIY design shows in the last 10 years, vibrant colors are a normal look!  We can create a quick backdrop with your curtains if necessary, or have someone hold up a blanket behind the subject.  Don't feel limited by our weather.  We can work with it! 

The Full Session
This session is great for a family who needs to capture each person's unique personality or do a very thorough catch up on portraits.  It is a flexible and relaxed session, lasting about 2-3 hours and can include as many locations as we can fit!  As usually, I will work quickly, but in short bursts so that no one gets worn out.  We keep it fun and light.  We can take a break for snack, lunch, driving and of course, a meltdown.  If you are ready to order so many prints that you are practically redecorating your home, this is the session for you!  If you need to update every frame in your living room, this is the one for you! 
Because there is more time and more flexibility, this is a good time to include props, pets and friends.  Do you have a family hobby?  Do you want to do pictures on horseback, on dirt bikes, at a gun range, on bicycles or just playing in the back yard?  We have the ability to do those things here.  We can drive to Eatonville to see Mt. Rainier and stop at random places along the way.  We could begin in Sumner and end in Orting.  We'll be great friends by the end of it and your family will have fun!
The Full Session doesn't convert to indoors very well.  If you have already booked a full session and the weather is just awful, there are many covered outdoor places we can still use, so don't give up hope.  Depending on your preference, we may still do a little shooting in your home and then head off to some other locations. 

Would you like to see some samples?
The Small Session...


The Full Session...


This is about how much do you need?  How much do you need to invest right now? What is driving you to book a family session?  Is it the speed at which the kids are growing?  Did you look around your house & realize no pictures are less than 5 years old?  Did your child have a growth spurt? 
I'm ready to overhaul our frames!  I'm ready to go big & order canvasses!  If you're on the same journey as I am please give me a call!