Top 5 Tips for Taking Vacation Photographs

Our summer family vacation is always over the 4th of July.  We enjoy finding new places to watch the awesome firework displays.  Often times we spend this time in the Arlington area and watch the fireworks from the Rangers Ballpark.  In my opinion, baseball on the 4th of July is just about as American as it can get.  Add fireworks to that and you have a PERFECT 4th of July! 

This year we decided to change it up a bit since some of our children are still very small and don't quite enjoy the game yet.  We went to Port Aransas, Texas.  We've never watched a firework display from the beach so that is what we set out to do.  We were definitely not disappointed! 

Our vacation lasted five days and many memories were made during this short time.  Of course I brought my camera and all of the older kids have cell phones with cameras.  Let's just say that several hundred photographs were taken by our family! 

Before we set off for the beach vacation, I did some research about tips for taking vacation photographs.  I found a large array of tips, however one concept in particular stuck with me.  LIVE!  Don't watch your vacation through a lens, but LIVE your vacation!  That was a completely foreign concept for me as a photographer and as a mother.  I have always been the one with my camera ready to capture the kids' cuteness and as I reflected upon this idea I realized that I have thousands upon thousands of photographs of my kids, I only feel that I "lived" a handful of those.  There are so many cute things that I captured in film and/or digital format and many of them do not have a story to go with them.  I was simply pushing a button.  I made a decision at this point and that was to keep the camera handy, but not keep it ready at all times.  However, before I could do this I needed to narrow down instances when I would like to take photographs during our vacation.  I came up with a list of five tips for taking vacation photographs that I'd like to share with you. 

1.  Be prepared.  Before you pack your camera, consider where you are taking it.  We were going to the beach and I know that sand is an enemy to my camera.  For that reason I chose to leave my camera in the house rather than take it to the beach with all the sand. 

The view of the beach dunes from our back door during sunset.

2.  Be creative.  Be creative in how you pose your family members and/or the angles of your shots.  Don't be afraid to experiment.  Lay down on your tummy to get a direct view of someone or something or get up above them to get a bird's eye view.  The sky is the limit! 

Our oldest, William, took this photograph of the two youngest, Lily and Sadie.  The color was very blue due to the lights in the Texas State Aquarium, but he changed it to black and white.  Don't be afraid to experiment and get creative!

3.  Candids.  Candid photographs are real and allow you to feel and see with atmosphere and mood of a particular moment in time.  These are not staged, but instead real photographs without any prompting.  My kids LOVE taking these types of photographs and they are often SUPER close to the subject...usually a person.

Candid photographs of me and my husband, John, eating Oreos while visiting the USS Lexington.

4.  Keep the camera handy.  You never know when the unexpected is going to happen.  Often times these unexpected events are awesome once in a lifetime experiences.  If you can capture them, they will be treasured forever.  Keep the camera handy, but don't keep it in your hands at all times.  It's not the end of the world if you don't capture your daughter petting a sting ray.  Sure, it's cool, but living in the moment is so much more important.

Our youngest making an unexpected kissy face while visiting the Texas State Aquarium.

5.  LIVE!  Do NOT live life through the lens of your camera.  Do not be scared to put the camera down and live life and enjoy your vacation.  You will still have the memories, even if they aren't recorded on your SD card. 

“I’m living inside the moment, not taking pictures to save it.

—Drake, “The Resistance”
”

— http://www.theminimalists.com/photos/

While we were on vacation, I put down the camera.  I took less than ten photographs the entire trip.  I decided to pass the camera to the kids, who enjoyed playing the part of the photographer.  The camera was passed between four children and each has their own style.  The camera was not allowed at the beach.  It only came with us when we visited the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium.  We LIVED our vacation and I wouldn't have it any other way. 

“Didn’t have a camera by my side this time,
hoping I would see the world through both my eyes.

Today I finally overcame,
trying to fit the world inside a picture frame.

Maybe you should have seen that sunrise with your own eyes;
it brought me back to life.

—John Mayer, “3×5”
”

— http://www.theminimalists.com/photos/

Help!! I NEED Inspiration for Our Wall Gallery!!

So...I have this HUGE wall in our living room that is absolutely perfect for displaying photographs of our large family of eleven...yes ELEVEN.  In 2012 I put together a wall display that I loved, however we have since added 3 family members and now it just feels squished with several 8x10 prints in frames.  To see what I mean, check out this Print Size Guide I found on Pinterest.

This guide was found here:  http://blissfullydomestic.com/home-bliss/6-creative-ways-to-display-your-photos/139915/

Now you can see what I'm talking about.  In my opinion, I feel like an 8x10 is not proportionate with the wall and the sofa.  I need photographs that are at least 16x20 for the family portraits and 11x14 for individual portraits.  I could go larger than that, however I have to remember that I have to fit in 9 individual portraits and 2 family portraits.  If I go too big on the prints, I will run out of wall space.

Through photographing other families and seeing the wall art they've ordered in beautiful large canvas, prints, and metals, made me realize that I want those same beautiful large wall art pieces of my family!  I want friends and family to walk into my living room and not have to get close to the wall to look at an 8x10 print, but rather be able to see my family's portraits the minute they walk into the room.

Now that I know I want larger portraits on the wall, the question is how to arrange them in a gallery?  I have been obsessed with looking for ideas!  Every time I look at ideas, I just end up with MORE ideas and this huge task is not any closer to be narrowed down.  So far my favorite article which discusses several ideas can be found here.  This is seriously like the mother ship of wall gallery inspiration articles!

I have the wall.  I have the portraits.  Now what?  I'd love to hear and/or see your ideas!

For further reading, please check out these articles which I included in this blog: 6 Creative Ways to Display Your Photos and Top Ideas to Create a DIY Photo Gallery Wall Layouts

Top 5 Tips for Taking Outdoor Portraits

I recently began scheduling all my sessions during the "Golden Hour," which is an hour after sunrise and an hour before sunset.  The sun during this time is absolutely beautiful!  It is low in the sky and has a beautiful golden color to the light.  However, some families - especially those with little ones - cannot have a session during those times due to sleep schedules.  Those sessions must be held when the sun is high in the sky and honestly, difficult to work with.  For those times I have a few tips that I'd like to share with you so you too can capture beautiful portraits of your family.

1.  Find some shade!  When the sun is very bright and high in the sky, harsh shadows are created on your subject (think "raccoon eyes").  You don't want to photograph someone standing in a dark cave, but rather someone standing in a shadow created by a tree or building.  You want the light to light the image, but not create harsh shadows. 

This senior session was a little bit before "Golden Hour" so the sun was still too high in the sky and it was creating shadows on her face so we found some shade to eliminate the shadows, but kept her in the sun for the natural light.

2.  Find light colored walls to bounce light.  Sometimes the shade makes your subject too dark, especially when there are a lot of buildings around.  Look for a wall or other large object that is white or light in color to reflect the sunlight onto the subject.  Large white objects aren't everywhere so this is somewhat difficult to do unless you know the area well.  

This senior session was held in downtown Groesbeck, Texas in an alley.  While there is plenty of light, the shadows from the buildings do make it a little dark.  This issue is remedied by using the light colored door to serve a reflector and bounce the light back onto the subject.

3.  Golden Hour.  Many clients question me when I suggest photographing during this time because they assume we will run out of sunlight.  I schedule sessions about an hour before sunset so I can utilize the shade, light colored walls, etc. and then take advantage of the beautiful "Golden Hour."  During this time the sunlight is a beautiful golden color since it is lower in the sky.  

This family session was taken during the "Golden Hour."  Notice how the light is a beautiful golden color?

4.  Look for unique locations.  Have you ever heard the phrase, "Don't judge a book by its cover?"  The same holds true for photography locations.  Often times when we think about locations for portraits we think of parks or other scenic locations.  However, there is beauty all around us!  There are so many unique structures that surround us and many of them make beautiful backdrops.  I urge you to think out of the box when looking for the "perfect" location.  

This senior session took place on his family's ranch in Normangee, Texas.  These were the old cattle pens.  They could use some work, but they looked great in this session and provided that rustic feeling to his senior portraits.

5.   Backlighting.  If all else fails, use backlighting - that is place your subject in front of the sun essentially.  Their back will be facing the sun.  This can be tricky to do correctly, but don't be afraid to experiment.  You might get some fun glares or a beautiful light haze in your photographs!  The backlight from the sun will create a rim of light around your subject and this looks especially beautiful when the sunlight is leaking in through the hair.

Backlighting!  The sun is behind this senior and the sunlight is leaking through her hair, which creates a beautiful accent to her image.

Feel free to share your top tips for taking outdoor portraits if you'd like...or ask me any questions you might have about taking outdoor portraits.  The teacher in me likes to share ideas :)

You can find more information about these tips here.

Limited Edition Session Make-Over!

We are always looking for professional products that our clients will adore!  We recently found two products that we just fell in love with - Gallery Stands and Standout Prints.  These products are truly unique and so we decided to make them exclusive to our Limited Edition Sessions as an added bonus.

Limited Edition Sessions will now have the same session fee as our regular sessions, however they will have a theme, such as a Fourth of July theme, Holiday theme, etc.  Sessions will also be extremely limited with only six sessions available per theme, per year.  What sets these sessions apart from regular sessions is the theme obviously, but the two exclusive products that you will be able to choose from will be offered as a complimentary gift.  You will be able to choose a Gallery Stand or a Standout Print as a complimentary gift.  These are ONLY available to clients that book a Limited Edition Session.

So... What is a Gallery Stand?  What is a Standout Print? 

A Gallery Stand is a 5x7 print that is printed on professional grade pearl photographic paper, laminated for protection and mounted on a wood base with an easel.  They can be hung on the wall or displayed on your desk, shelf, or tabletop. 

Gallery Stand

A Standout Print is a print that is mounted on a lightweight foam, which gives it a sleek and contemporary look. 

Standout Print

Our next Limited Edition Sessions are this coming Friday and Saturday, June 24th and June 25th.  They have a Fourth of July theme and will include a firework stand, as well as flags.  We have decided to offer our most popular themed sessions as Limited Edition Sessions with the following schedule:

• April - Cap and Gown AND Bluebonnet Sessions
• June - Fairies and Princesses AND Fourth of July Sessions
• July - Huck Finn AND Cowboys/Cowgirls Sessions
• August - Unicorn Sessions AND Breastfeeding Sessions
• October - Halloween Sessions
• November - Fall/Holiday Sessions

Fourth of July Sessions will be held in Groesbeck on June 24th and 25th.

If you're interested in either of these products, they are not available for purchase.  They are only available as a complimentary gift with each Limited Edition Session.  We are looking forward to our new and improved Limited Edition Sessions!

Announcing New Senior Packages!

The Class of 2016 was full of amazing young adults!  I enjoyed my time with each and every one of them and realized that I honestly love working with seniors.  I love working with them so much that I seriously booked all that I could - my entire spring break was spent photographing seniors!  It made for a lot of work on my end, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.  They are so much fun to work with!  So much excitement and no two sessions are the same - each one brings their own talents and personalities.  Needless to say, I am already looking forward to meeting the Class of 2017! 

Class of 2016

This year I am excited to announce that Smith Family Photography will be offering FOUR senior packages!  Last year we offered one senior package and I realized that I'd like to expand the options for seniors.  So without further ado, I'd like to introduce our NEW Senior Packages just in time for the Class of 2017!

For every Senior Session that is booked and secured before August 31, 2016, they will receive a FREE gift (a $75 value)!

Sweet Tooth Custom Baked Goods Cottage Bakery

Smith Family Photography recently partnered with Sweet Tooth Custom Baked Goods Cottage Bakery for a fun, themed cake smash session!  The model was adorable!  The cake was beautiful!  The photographs tell the story.  It is only fitting that this week's blog post is written by the owner of Sweet Tooth Custom Baked Goods Cottage Bakery, Rebecca Kolosci. 

Hello everyone.  My name is Rebecca Kolosci and I am the owner and operator of Sweet Tooth Custom Baked Goods Cottage Bakery.  I do all of my creations from home and have a blast making them.  I especially love making smash cakes for photography sessions because you get to see the pure fun and joy (usually) that kids have with smashing them.  The little rosette cake is one of the most popular designs requested for smash cakes and it isn't hard to see why!  I just love how these pictures turned out and hope you all do too.  If you need anything from smash cakes, cookies, or even wedding cakes please let me know.  You may contact me by clicking here.

The storyboard from the recent cake smash session.

Special thanks to Rebecca at Sweet Tooth Custom Baked Goods Cottage Bakery for providing the beautiful and delicious cake for this custom cake smash session!

Fairy Wonderland

Little girls LOVE fairies!  I do too!  That is why I offer Fairy Imagination Mini-Sessions once a year.  Imagination Sessions take quite a bit more work overall and for that reason I offer them on a very limited basis. 

Planning Imagination Sessions is quite time consuming.  Each pose must be carefully thought out.  You must see the final image in your mind and determine what will be needed to create that particular image.  The client (typically a young child) must be posed in a certain way, which is all relative to their age and development.  You must also arrange for any props that might be needed.  Imagination Sessions are mainly created in post-production (Photoshop) so many of the props used are digital.  With fairy sessions, the wings are not actual wings, but rather wings created in Photoshop.  The same with wands, flowers, castles, mountains, etc.  Almost everything besides the client is added to the image, or rather the client is added to the scene. 

Photographing Imagination Sessions can also be time consuming and as I already mentioned, it pretty much depends on the child(ren).  Most children are very excited and cooperative when it comes to Imagination Sessions.  They can't wait to see themselves as a beautiful fairy with beautiful wings!  Even with the most cooperative child, they must be posed in a very specific way.  In order to accomplish this you must know what the child is capable of at that age and at that stage of their development.  This is where my years of experience as a kindergarten teacher are very useful!

Editing Imagination Sessions is a VERY lengthy process!  All the digital elements must be customized to match the scene.  The digital items need to be proportionate and blend into the scene as well.  The lighting needs to be adjusted to create a certain mood.  All of these things need to match the client's personality. 

There are three more Imagination Mini-Sessions planned for this summer!  Be on the lookout for Huck Finn, Cowboys and Indians, and something so magical I don't want to reveal it just yet!

If you have an idea for an Imagination Session, please let me know!  I always love hearing ideas from my clients.

Fairy Imagination Session with Sisters

Fairy Imagination Session

Fairy Imagination Session - close up

Fairy Imagination Session with Butterflies

You'll Move Mountains!

This past school year I had the pleasure of meeting 25 wonderfully, amazing, talented, brilliant, and gorgeous young adults!  As these young adults say, "Goodbye," to high school, they say, "Hello," to their futures.  Some are going to traditional universities with scholarships, others are going to trade schools, and others will jump into the workplace right away.  Whatever path they decide to take, I know they will do great things.  They have amazing support systems that were there with them at their senior sessions...moms, dads, sisters, brothers, girlfriends, boyfriends, and even best friends!  They are truly blessed in many ways!  I just want to take a moment and say, "CONGRATULATIONS!"  I absolutely cannot wait to hear about how you're doing as the years go by!

“What takes us back to the past are the memories. What brings us forward is our dreams. ”

— Jeremy Irons

Make sure you go to our Facebook page and vote for your favorite senior portrait by "liking" their portrait!  Voting ends on June 5th at midnight. 

Dancing the Night Away

What is a photographer to do when her son goes to prom?  Take prom photos of course!  I want this blog to be just as fun as the photo session was so...I think I'll turn it into a fictional story!

Once upon a time, there was a BEAUTIFUL queen that LOVED to dance!  She danced EVERYWHERE...in her house, in the yard, in the school, even in the grocery store!  So naturally when the high school prom arrived, she wanted to go.  But first, she had to find a HANDSOME king to go with her.  She searched high, she searched low, but a king was not anywhere to be found.  Just as she was about to give up on her dream of attending the prom with a king, she had a sudden idea - she could go with her good friend!  After all, he is a king.

The queen found her king - which was her good friend!

The king and queen were making their evening plans, when an evil prince decided to be sneaky and show up.  Hmmm...what is the evil prince planning??

The evil prince is spying on the king and queen!

The evil prince decides to crash the king and queen's evening by inviting some fellow princes and princesses!  However, the plan backfires when he realizes that the king and queen have a motto that they live by, "The more the merrier."  Naturally, the king and queen welcome the other party goers. 

The prom party goers!

Everything was going great until the sky began to change...and the birds stopped chirping...and it seemed as if the world just stopped!  Suddenly, the ground started rumbling!  The thundering sound that accompanied the rumbling was getting louder each second!  What was happening?? 

As the group of friends were discussing this situation, IT suddenly appeared!  A GIANT T-REX!! 

OH NO! 

They ran as fast as they could to try to escape the mighty t-rex!  They tried hiding behind cars and buildings, but the t-rex kept finding them!  The queen suddenly had an idea!  She rallied the king, the evil prince, and one of the princesses into action!

They're going to save the day!

The king and evil prince sprang into action and carried the t-rex away, back to Jurassic World.  They made it back just in time for prom!  It turns out, the evil prince was not evil at all...he's just an anxious superhero who's always looking for his next thrill.

The king and queen heading to prom.

The king, queen, princes, and princesses all went to the prom...and the queen danced all the way there!  And they all lived happily ever after.

THE END

I Love Weddings! Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Weddings

I just love weddings!  Plain and simple.  It seems almost everybody loves weddings and many people have their favorite parts which are their favorites for very different reasons.  Weddings are incredibly emotional and bring out so many emotions in each of us. 

I recently photographed a wedding in Groesbeck, Texas and as I worked through the images I felt an array of emotions which compelled me to write this list...The Top 5 Reasons Why I Love Weddings!

1.  LOVE!  I love weddings because there is so much love and happiness all around!  The bride and groom are happy.  They are filled with a tremendous amount of love.  The family and friends are also happy - happy for their loved ones that will soon be united in marriage.  At this wedding, the venue changed slightly due to flooding in the area.  The wedding was supposed to be outside, however the grounds were very soggy and the weather on March 19th was pretty windy and chilly as well.  This caused the wedding to move inside a small building.  To some this might have caused the bride to become upset, however Courtney had a carefree attitude and was determined to make the small room absolutely beautiful for her wedding day.  When I showed up the day before to look at the venue, she was super calm and just told me, "When you get here tomorrow this room is going to look so different...it's going to be crowded, but it will be beautiful."  When I showed up on the wedding day and saw the small room, I was honestly shocked!  I NEVER would have imagined it would have looked so amazing!  Love kept her calm.

The Visitor's Center at the Historic Old Fort Parker site in Groesbeck, Texas was a wedding venue.  The wedding had to be moved indoors due to recent flooding on the grounds.

2.  THE DRESS!  I love seeing the bride's dress at a wedding!  There are so many beautiful dresses out there that and bride's look absolutely stunning in them!  Courtney wasn't any different!  The look on the groom's face when he sees his bride in the dress is priceless.  Many people don't notice this since they are all looking at the bride as well.  Seriously, how can you not look at her as she's coming down the aisle?

A beautiful bride in a beautiful dress!

3.  DYNAMICS!  I'm a people watcher.  Everywhere I go, I watch people.  I am intrigued by the way they interact with one another.  As a photographer I get to watch people and photograph them interacting with one another.  I can honestly say that in two years of photographing families, I have yet to find two that are the same.  They might look the same at the surface, but their mannerisms and behaviors towards one another are completely different.  This isn't a bad thing at all!  Imagine how boring this world would be if we were all the same?  This wedding was not only a union of a couple, but a union of a young family.  Courtney has two children that Dustin married as well.  Watching him interact with those young boys melted my heart.  They are so lucky to have a man in their lives that cares for them that much.  It is obvious just how much those young boys are loved by their parents, family, and friends. 

The first family photograph!

4.  KIDS' REACTIONS!  Look at the photograph above.  The look on the boy's face says SO much!  Again, I'm a people watcher so I love watching facial expressions.  This image cracks me up because the young man looks like he is telling the world, "This is MY mom and I will ALWAYS be here for her!"  His mouth is clenched and his eyes are almost glaring at me.  Either he really dislikes me (which I doubt because everyone adores me (: ) or he's giving the world a secret message that he protects his mom.  I'm pretty sure she feels the same way about him too!

5.  THERE'S ALWAYS ONE IN EVERY CROWD!  At every wedding that I have attended, there is always one guest that is the entertainer.  I LOVE watching them!  They just have a fun attitude that draws attention.  Well, this wedding there were TWO entertainers!  Courtney is a lucky lady because she both of them as dads!     

When Courtney danced with her dad, they had an upbeat song which was fun to watch them dance too. 

Courtney's dad striking a pose.

Two fathers, both with big personalities!

I am sure you have your own top 5 reasons why you love weddings and I'd love to hear about them!  Feel free to comment below.

More Than A Picture...It's Wall Art! Part Five: Collections

We are going to continue our discussion about wall art in this blog post.  This is the fifth and final part in our five part series on the topic of wall art for your home or office. 

In the first part, we discussed the reasoning and beliefs behind offering our clients professional quality wall art opposed to pictures.  We then began discussing the first type of wall art that we currently offer - collages. 

In the second part, we discussed the differences between print quality with three local retailers in the Central Texas area and compared those prints to a professional lab's prints.  There really is quite a difference!

In the third part, we discussed the differences between a canvas gallery wrap from a professional lab and a local retailer.  As with prints, there really is quite a difference!

In the fourth part, we discussed a new product that we are offering - metal prints!  These prints are actually printed on aluminum and so vivid that you must see it to believe it!

Part Five:  Collections

We are now offering five collections in our online galleries!  And as always, you can choose a collection or choose prints a la carte.  The choice is yours!

• Basic Collection - This collection is included in every portrait session fee.  Clients can upgrade if they'd like or choose other sizes that better meet their specific needs.
• Digital Collection - This collection only includes digital images, no prints. 
• Print Collection - This collection includes several prints in various sizes, including one 11x14 print.
• Canvas Collection - This collection includes several prints in various sizes as well, but it also includes a 16x20 canvas gallery wrap.
• Metal Collection - This collection includes several prints in various sizes as well, but it also includes a 16x20 metal print. 

The Canvas and Metal Collections include a complimentary disc of images!

We LOVE to see your beautiful WALL ART on display in your home and/or office!  If you get a chance, send us a photo of your photos!

More Than A Picture...It's Wall Art! Part Four: Metals

We are going to continue our discussion about wall art in this blog post.  This is the fourth part in our five part series on the topic of wall art for your home or office. 

In the first part, we discussed the reasoning and beliefs behind offering our clients professional quality wall art opposed to pictures.  We then began discussing the first type of wall art that we currently offer - collages. 

In the second part, we discussed the differences between print quality with three local retailers in the Central Texas area and compared those prints to a professional lab's prints.  There really is quite a difference!

In the third part, we discussed the differences between a canvas gallery wrap from a professional lab and a local retailer.  As with prints, there really is quite a difference!

Part Four:  Metals

Metal Prints are a completely new type of wall art!  They are incredibly vibrant and clear and allow you to experience your images in a whole new way!  They are truly a show-stopping conversation piece with an artistic edge and offer contemporary elegance to your portraits in a high gloss piece of wall art. 

I began offering metal prints in February after a fellow photographer was raving about how vibrant and clear they were.  I decided to order two - one in each type of finish - to see what all the fuss was about.  I opened the package and seriously was amazed!  The metal prints were so impressive!  Photographs of them do not do them justice at all!  They must be seen with your own eyes. For this reason, I bring them to each session to show our clients.

Metal Prints are available in two different finishes - a white base or a metal base.  Metal Prints are essentially images printed on a sheet of aluminum.  They can be mounted in three different ways:  magnet mount, float mount, and metal easel.  The magnet mount simply means that there is a magnet on the back so that the metal print will stick to any metal surface, such as a refrigerator.  A float mount means that the metal print has a mount on the back with a hole in it so that it can be hung on a nail or tack directly on your wall.  The metal easel means that there is an easel that is attached to the back of the metal print so the print can sit on a table.

Examples of the Metal Prints in each finish - white base and metal base. 

At Smith Family Photography, we offer metal prints in two popular sizes - 11x14 and 16x20.  If you'd like one in a different size, we can definitely do that as well! 

Check back next week when we discuss Part Five:  Collections.

More Than A Picture...It's Wall Art! Part Three: Canvas

We are going to continue our discussion about wall art in this blog post.  This is the third part in our five part series on the topic of wall art for your home or office. 

In the first part, we discussed the reasoning and beliefs behind offering our clients professional quality wall art opposed to pictures.  We then began discussing the first type of wall art that we currently offer - collages. 

In the second part, we discussed the differences between print quality with three local retailers in the Central Texas area and compared those prints to a professional lab's prints.  There really is quite a difference!

Part Three:  Canvas

Canvas gallery wraps are a classic way to showcase your family portraits!  Just as we discussed in last week's post with regards to print quality, the same is true with canvas gallery wraps.  Simply put, you get what you pay for. 

When I first began my photography career, I had a fellow photographer that helped me with the business side of things.  She ordered a canvas from an online retailer and was horrified when she received it due to the quality of it.  I remember it clearly, she told me that it was "fine," but she did not feel it was professional quality and felt that her client deserved the best.  She promptly ordered the canvas from a professional lab and was so much happier with the results.  Upon hearing about this, I wanted to see the quality for myself so I purchased a few canvases of my own family. 

I ordered one from CVS for less than $20 on a 50% off sale.  Upon first look and having little experience with canvases at this point, I thought it looked alright.  It didn't amaze me, but I wasn't disgusted either. 

I then decided to order one through Shutterfly for about $90 full price.  Again, it looked alright.  It was pretty much just like the CVS canvas.  I honestly expected a difference in quality due to the increase in price.  I did not find that to be true in this case. 

I then decided to order a canvas of our daughters for my husband on Father's Day from a professional lab.  Yes, there was an even larger price difference, but when I received it I was AMAZED!  The quality was substantially different and worth every penny!  The professional canvas felt much more sturdy and looked vivid, whereas the other canvases looked dull.

Advantages of Professional Quality Canvas Gallery Wraps

*  A solid wood base creates a very durable, no-sag surface

*  The tightest, cleanest canvas corners in the industry

*  A thick, black backing that comes standard with hanging hardware and wall bumpers

*  UV-free protective coating allows the product to be wiped clean with a damp cloth

An example of a canvas gallery wrap printed from a professional printing lab.

At Smith Family Photography, we offer canvas gallery wraps in two popular sizes - 11x14 and 16x20.  If you'd like one in a different size, we can definitely do that as well! 

Check back next week when we discuss Part Four:  Vivid Metals.

More Than A Picture...It's Wall Art! Part Two: Prints

We are going to continue our discussion about wall art in this blog post.  This is the second part in our five part series on the topic of wall art for your home or office. 

In the first part, we discussed the reasoning and beliefs behind offering our clients professional quality wall art opposed to pictures.  We then began discussing the first type of wall art that we currently offer - collages.  In case you missed it, you can find that here.

Part Two - Prints

In our area of Central Texas, clients typically say that they use one of three places to print their photographs - CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart.   Each of these places have their strong points.  CVS and Walgreens are drug stores and are typically known for their pharmacies.  Walmart is a big box retailer that sells just about anything and everything at fair prices.  I have never heard of anyone say that any of these places are known for their photo department.  They might have friendly staff.  They might get the printing job done.  However, they do not specialize in printing high quality, professional photographs that will last a lifetime.  The biggest issue with these store photo departments is the calibration, or lack of, within their machines.  All Walmart stores prints turn out differently.  All CVS stores prints turn out differently.  All Walgreens stores prints turn out differently. This can be very frustrating when trying to order prints!  I know!  I have been in that exact situation before! 

I can explain this until I am blue in the face, but the truth of the matter is that you must experience it to fully believe it. I recently put together a "test" if you will.  I sent the same file to these three stores, as well as the professional lab that I order my client's prints from.  The variation was shocking!  Have a look for yourself.

The same image, printed at four different places.  Can you tell which one is from CVS?  Walgreens? Walmart?  Professional lab?  Whether you can or not is only part of the issue.  The real issue is the lack of quality and consistency.  Answers:  1 - CVS2 - Walgreens3 - Professional Lab4 - Walmart

You can see the difference above, however it is much more visible in person.  That is why I will be bringing them to every session that way you can actually see the different, but you can also feel the difference.  I will attest that the professional print feels sturdier.  Walmart was in second place.  Third place was a tie between CVS and Walgreens.  Their paper felt extremely inexpensive and I honestly question how long those prints last. 

When I ordered these prints from CVS, I received a warning saying that the resolution was so low that the image would be pixelated. Needless to say, I received the print and did not see any pixilation.  I did send this same file to the professional lab to make a 16x20 canvas and it was not pixelated either, nor did I receive a warning.  If I was a client and I received this warning, I'd be a little upset at the photographer for giving me such low quality work! 

The only way to keep this situation from happening again is by ordering your prints through a professional lab, typically through a photographer.  You should get prints that match what you saw during the viewing of your photographs each and every time. 

At Smith Family Photography, we offer prints in a variety of sizes from wallets to 16x20 prints.  If you'd like something larger, we can definitely do that as well! 

Check back next week when we discuss Part Three:  Canvas.

CARDS for GRADS!

It's almost that time if you have a senior...time for graduation!  I can tell you that this school year has FLOWN by!  Graduation is a few months away and I promise you, it will be here before you know it! 

At Smith Family Photography we can help you with Graduation Cards/Invitations!  Throughout the entire month of March, mention this blog post and you will receive a 10% discount off your card/invitation order...whether we took the photographs or not.

We offer four types of cards/invitations - Slim Line Cards, Foil Pressed Cards, Flat Cards, and Folded Cards.  Each type of card will be customized for your senior and presented to you for approval before ordering.

Slim Line Cards

Slim Line cards are single sided 4x8 cards that are printed either vertically or horizontally on photo paper.  They typically contain 1-3 photos with details about the event.  Slim Line Cards are sold in sets of 25 and envelopes are included. 

4x8 Slim Line Card

Foil Pressed Cards

Foil Pressed Cards are 5x7 cards that are printed on photographic card paper.  The front side has foil lettering available in gold, opal, red, silver, and black.  The back side is blank for you to customize with details of the event.  They are sold in sets of 25 and include envelopes. 

5x7 Foil Pressed Card

Flat Cards

Flat cards aresimilar to Foil Pressed Cards with the exception of no foil lettering.  They are two sided and typically include a photo on the front with the details of the event on the back.  They are sold in sets of 25 and include envelopes. 

5x7 Flat Card

Folded Cards

Folded Cards are the "normal" card with a front cover, back cover, and inside panels.  All four panels (front cover, inside panels, and back cover) can be customized or left blank for you to write your own personal message. 

Contact us today for your customized graduation cards/invitations!  And remember, during the entire month of March you will save 10%!

More Than A Picture...It's Wall ART!

It's more than a picture, it's wall ART!  That sounds fascinating to me, but what does that actually mean?  This topic is going to be a five part series, with each part focusing on a certain product that we are offering our clients.  If you visit the "About Me" page of our website you will find a lot of information about us and our beliefs.  We believe that if you are putting in all this effort for photographs, you want products that are quality - you want products that will last a lifetime. 

“We strive to provide you with the service that you and your loved ones deserve. With that being said, typically a great amount of planning and preparation goes into a photography session - everything from deciding on a photographer, choosing coordinating outfits, choosing a location, etc. All of those factors take a great deal of time and energy! We want that time, effort, and energy to shine in your portraits! For that reason we have a large selection of print products to offer you in your personal online gallery - everything from standard professional prints that will last a lifetime to beautiful canvas gallery wraps and vivid metals. The products that we offer are professional quality and will last a lifetime. They will become cherished memories for generations. They will be beautiful pieces of art that are displayed on your walls for years to come. ”

— Anna Johnson-Smith at Smith Family Photography

Part One - Collages

Collages are a popular item that we began offering last July.  I personally have always loved collages, however I wasn't sure that others shared this same love until one client received her online gallery and adored her family photographs, but asked if I could create a collage for her with certain images.  I told her that I'd love to put something like that together for her and she loved it!  After that I began contemplating the inclusion of collages in each online gallery.  I began planning and finally decided to include at least one pre-made collage in each and every online gallery and provide the option for building a personalized collage if the pre-made ones do not meet your needs and/or wants. 

Since the introduction of collages in the online galleries, nearly every client chooses at least one collage!  They have become THAT popular!  They are a great way to display your favorite photographs on one print.  This makes them a perfect addition to your wall of photographs, as well as a perfect gift for friends and family. 

An example of a customized collage that was ordered as an 11x14 print.

Most collages are ordered in print form, however sometimes they are also ordered as a canvas gallery wrap.  I had a client show me a wall display of various canvas gallery wraps to make an art piece for a wall in their home.  She wanted a large canvas gallery wrap, 30x30.  I put together a customized collage that was very similar to what she was looking for with separate canvas gallery wraps. 

An example of a customized collage that was ordered as a 30x30 canvas gallery wrap.

As you can see, collages are a creative way to display your favorite photographs from your session!  The sky is the limit and I love creating one of a kind pieces of art that are printed at professional printing labs so you know you are receiving a quality product that will last a lifetime plus some. 

In two weeks we will continue this topic with Part Two:  Prints. 

Love Is In the Air!

Valentine's Day is just a few days away!  I am reminded of this fact every single time I walk into a store and my three year old sees cute teddy bears, flowers, candy, and other novelty items.  Love is in the air!

Valentine's Day might not be as significant as a birthday, Easter, Thanksgiving, or Christmas, but nonetheless Valentine's Day is a holiday - a fun holiday.  As with all holidays, there is a history behind the day.  I'll be the first to admit, I don't know much about its history.  To me, Valentine's Day has just been a day to exchange cute cards and fun candies!  If you're interested in learning more about the history, you can find an article here. 

This year I only have one child that is young enough to exchange Valentine's with her classmates.  This year I decided to make them really personalized! 

The finished Valentine.

My daughter is super excited to hand out her Valentine's tomorrow at the party at school!  We just took a photograph of her sitting and holding her hand up like she was holding a big lollipop.  We then cut a slit at the top of her fist and the bottom of her fist so we could slide the lollipop through her hand to give it the appearance that she was holding the lollipop.

This is the Valentine before the lollipop was added.

I have been asked numerous times if we are offering Valentine's Day Sessions this year.  We have decided not to offer them this year and instead offer a FREE Valentine's Day photograph for attendees of the My Little Play Place Valentine's Party on Friday, February 12th from 10am to 2pm.  Come join the fun!  There will be cookie decorating, crafts, coloring, photographs in the kissing booth and plenty of time to PLAY!  More information can be found here. 

Whatever you do to celebrate Valentine's Day, make memories! 

New Product! Custom Mobile Albums!!

We are SO excited about our latest product - Custom Mobile Albums! 

What is a Custom Mobile Album?  Custom Mobile Albums are a unique way to share your favorite photographs with your friends and family in a truly social way!  They are customized digital photo albums that are put together in an app for your mobile device.  

Each order includes a Custom Mobile Album which will include your favorite photographs.  A link will either be sent to your email or to your phone as a text.  You just click the link using your mobile device and the app will be installed on your homescreen so you can easily share your photographs. 

Hunter, a senior from Valley Mills, has his own Custom Mobile Album!

Custom Mobile Albums have many benefits!

*After you place your order, you will receive your Custom Mobile Album within 24 hours.  This gives you quick access to your favorite photos while you are waiting for your prints to arrive!

*Your Custom Mobile Album is at your fingertips - you can download it to your phone, your spouse's phone, your tablet, etc.

*The app will be placed on your homescreen and can even be viewed offline.

*Your OWN photograph will be the app icon!

*You can easily share your favorite images from your photo session with friends and family via text, email, Facebook, AND face to face!

*You will always have our contact information handy and can quickly access that through the links in the app.

*Stay up to date with new offers, discounts, and promotions with automatic updates!

*Earn a FREE session by referring us to your friends and family!

We are looking forward to our clients receiving their Custom Mobile Albums!

Top 5 Reasons To Hire a Birth Photographer

The birth of a baby is truly amazing!  There are so many emotions - nervous, scared, anxious, excited, happy, and overjoyed are just a few that come to mind.  Each doctor's visit means you are one month, week, or day closer to meeting your new baby.  The emotions continue to build.  The big day FINALLY arrives!  Every labor and delivery is different.  Some progress quickly, while others progress slowly...and at any moment things can change.  This is such a big day for your family as a whole!  Your lives will be completely changed forever. 

What will you remember from this day in a year?  5 years?  20 years?

Technology has made it possible for so many of us to own a smartphone with a decent camera built in to it.  This makes is so easy for us to take photos of all sorts of things that happen in our lives each and every day.  What about all the "big" things?  Weddings, senior years, first birthdays, and family photographs?  We usually hire a photographer to photograph those big things in our lives for obvious reasons. 

What's more live changing than a birth of a child?  Looking back on all of the events within my own family, I can say that the birth of my children has been the most life changing event in my life - even more so than marrying my husband!  Our entire family as a whole changed at the moment a new baby entered our lives.  For this reason, I have compiled a list of the Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Birth Photographer.

1.  To document the birth of your child.  This is probably the most obvious reason that anyone would want a camera in the delivery room.  After all, this is the ONLY time this child will be born.  When they ask about the day they were born, what details will you remember?  What would it be like if you could show them what it was like when they were born?  After each birth session, the moms cry when they see the photographs.  The emotions are captured and it truly is amazing to SEE and FEEL the emotions from that day.  Words cannot begin to describe the day.

Dad holding mom's hand, supporting her during the birth of their baby.

2.  To remember more than bits and pieces.  During the labor and delivery of your child, you are focused on one thing - bringing your baby into this world.  There are so many details that you do not see and comprehend at that moment because of the task at hand.  The look on your husband's face while you are laboring and the look on the face of other family members as they meet the new addition.  You spend the majority of the time in the delivery room in pain and often times your eyes are closed.  How can you possibly notice all the details from the day?

The beautiful baby girl!

3.  A professional photographer knows how to get quality photographs.  Delivery rooms have poor lighting that can negatively impact the quality of photographs.  As a professional, I have studied and practiced various conditions with my camera.  I know what settings to use to produce photographs that are of professional quality. 

Proud parents are SO in love with her!

4.  Let me take photographs so dad can help you.  You will need your husband's support during the birth of your child.  You will more than likely want his hand to hold and comfort you during the labor process rather than him standing next to you with the camera.  I'm sure dad would rather experience the birth with you rather than trying to figure out the camera settings and checking to make sure that the photograph turned out.  A birth photographer allows dad to be 100% present in the birth of the child.

Precious baby girl holding her daddy's thumb.

5.  This is an experience for BOTH of you.  Are you going to remember, or even notice, the look on dad's face the first time he sees your baby?  You obviously won't remember the look on your own face since you can't see yourself.  What about the look on dad's face when he holds his child for the very first time?  When you hold your baby for the first time?  Hiring a birth photographer allows you both focus on the entire experience AND have the details documented.  Looking back on those photographs will be priceless!

Mom and daughter bonding.

I have had five children and I never had a photographer in the room.  My oldest child is 17.  I remember very few details other than the "big" ones.  The one memory from that day is a photograph that was taken after our son was born by my mother-in-law.  This photograph was of my husband holding our son for the very first time.  The look on his face, the love in his eyes, cannot be described by words.  My youngest child is 2 and again, I seemed to have only remembered the "big" details.  In just two short years, those tid bits of memories are gone. I'm scared to ask, "What will I remember in the next 10 years?" 

Looking for 2017 Seniors!

Model Call!! 

Smith Family Photography is currently looking for guys and gals that are currently JUNIORS in high school! 

When:  Saturday, February 20th, 2016 around 4:00pm to 5:30pm

Where:  The location has yet to be determined, but it will be in the Mart/Groesbeck area

What Will the Modeling Session Look Like:  All juniors that have secured their spots will meet at the location on February 20th around 4:00pm.  We will take several individual photographs of each junior.  My hopes are that every junior will begin their senior year of high school with some senior portraits and that they will also meet some new friends through this experience.

What Will You Receive:  Each participating junior will receive a FREE modeling session/experience and they will have access to the private online gallery where they will have a credit of $25 to use towards their choice of prints and/or digital images.  If they'd like to purchase more, they may certainly do so, however it is not expected.  Each participant will also receive a coupon for 20% off a FULL senior session - a $30 savings!   

Cost:  Participation in this event is FREE, however we do require a $25 commitment fee to secure your spot.  This fee will be returned to you in the form of a credit to use towards the purchase of prints and/or digital images of your choice in the private online gallery from the session.

How Do You Apply:  If you are interested in applying for this once in a lifetime opportunity, please message me at ajsmithfamilyphotography@gmail.com or contact us through the form on our website.