North Seattle Family Portraits

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For privacy I don’t even put my clients first names on the blog anymore, but I’ve known these wonderful folks we’ll call J, V and M, for many years. I’m posting these as an example of a family session with a 9-year-old in their backyard and on the street in front of their home.

A lot of folks stop doing sessions after the first few years, but why??? Having these special portraits and memories is a better use of your hard-earned dollars than “stuff.” No, it’s not inexpensive, as my skills have taken years and years to develop, but it’s an investment you will not regret!

J, V and M live in the Ballard/Crown Hill area, and we did the photography session in the evening, when the sun had dipped, and the light was soft. We included the grandparents for some shots.

When you get a “disk” from me, now a digital download (most computers don’t even have CD players anymore) or thumb drive, you can expect to get way too many wonderful images to make your own albums, prints, and/or to share on social media.

Speaking of the images. I currently use digital equipment and every image I create for you is therefore available in color and/or black and white. The first image is “Sepia toned” a version of black and white that works really well on selected images.

Lastly, it’s really important to make prints of your favorites. Family heirlooms should not be left on a computer and should be printed on good quality paper and displayed!

Meryl

Welcome to the world baby E!

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Newborn photos taken in the comfort of your own home are one of the most challenging and rewarding things I do.

They might not be perfect in the way of a studio image with nothing in the background, but they will be real, and, they will be perfectly you.

They will depict your life as it was when your baby (or babies) came home with you. Your very first weeks will be documented and never forgotten in the haze of sleepless nights. You will have timeless family heirloom photos to cherish forever.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Newborns at home

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The opportunity to come to your home and document your joy at having a new baby is one of the most special things I do. And, I love it!

Every family is different and I adjust to what you want out of your session. It’s not about me, it’s about you!! For example, not all women want breastfeeding photographs, but many do. They note the way I capture the way the baby looks at them, and are so happy they will get to remember that look and memory when they are no longer breastfeeding.

 

 

Presenting Layla Grace- 11 days old in West Seattle

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Congratulations Ingrid and Aaron! What a beautiful family you have. And to let everyone know, this is a small sample of what an in-home newborn session can look like.

Every family, home and session is different, but this is realistic for you! While these two may look like models, they are real people!

We find a spot or spots in your home that have some natural light (I can do with less than you think) and I spend between 2-3 hours with you documenting anything from your baby alone, to breastfeeding, to the whole family. It’s all about you and what you want!

Not pictured are over 100 other images the family received to have forever as cherished memories of their newborn.

A blog post can only be a small sample of our work together, and while my favorites are usually black and white, and while I think I’m more known for black and white, most of the images are available in color as well. In fact some of Ingrid’s favorites are in color with a beautiful flower crown made by Flower Lab in West Seattle. I’ll  show them in a second post if I can ever find the time!

I hope this will give you an idea of what I can do for you and your family as we create together.

 

Seattle Pregnancy Session

Pregnancy photos, Maternity Photos, West Seattle, Studio photography, Meryl Schenker Photography,

Pregnancy photos, Maternity Photos, West Seattle, Studio photography

Pregnancy photos, Maternity Photos, West Seattle, Studio photography

No, we don’t all look like Ingrid when 32 weeks pregnant. She is stunning. But whatever your body type or level of comfort with nudity, I can make a beautiful portrait of you. These are only three from a studio session that produced hundreds of images. I just want to give you an idea of what’s possible.

At home with Jack

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Oh Jack, you’ve won my heart. What a bundle of joy you are.

I’ve been spending a fair amount of time with 3 month old’s lately. Some parents don’t feel up to being photographed immediately after their baby is born, or they get those images at the hospital. But, they don’t want to wait for a 6 month old photo (which is a really good time for photos). So I’ll go their home and do what I call an in-home documentary photo session, or “a day in the life of..” These can vary in length according to the tolerance of the parents, since the child is just doing what they normally do-breastfeeding, making google eyes, or pooping.. 🙂 It usually works out to photograph between nap times. This age can be a little challenging and more time-consuming because the babies can’t hold themselves up, but the photos can be quite rewarding. I hope you’ll agree!

At home documentary photography-West Seattle

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This is Sullivan. Yes, he is as adorable and good natured as he looks. He takes after his mom! At home documentary sessions are one of my favorite things to do. Especially with newborns, babies and toddlers. There is way more to do with them in their home environment than in a park or studio. We took photographs of him getting a bath, eating, and breastfeeding. This is only a small sample of the hundreds of digital negatives you can choose from in a documentary family photo shoot. Whether you chose to do one “day in the life session” or several over the course of baby’s first year (or their childhood), you will never regret having these “real” photos in your collection.

 

 

At home with the C family-Queen Anne Session

Seattle Family Photography Seattle Family Photography Seattle Family PhotographySeattle Family PhotographySeattle Family Photography Seattle Family Photography Seattle Family Photography Seattle Family PhotographyIt is an honor and a real joy to spend time at home with a family, documenting their real life. While a few set-up shots may work themselves into the photo session, most of what you see is not set-up. The moments are captured on film as they unfold. That is how people feel most at ease allowing their real personality to shine through!

Documentary Family Photography_West Seattle

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What will you remember about your life? Will it be the house with the big backyard where you had tea with mom or picked a poppy for dad? Family photography comes in all types, but I encourage you to consider documenting your real life. It can be at your home, but I can also tag along with you for a day at the beach, a trip to the tulip fields or a pumpkin patch.

Seattle Newborn Photography

Thank you snow for allowing me some time to catch up on my blogging! After doing this families pregnancy portrait, I had the honor of photographing their son at 6-days-old. It is really incredible to see infants as they adapt to their new world. As always, feedback is greatly appreciated. Warmly, Meryl