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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senior session-Olympic Sculpture Park

 

It’s that time of year, so I thought I’d post Eva’s high school senior photo session at the Seattle Art Museums’ Olympic Sculpture Park. If you haven’t been, it’s a wonderful place to see some modern sculpture and take in a view of Puget Sound. It was a fairly chilly day in March when we did these, but Eva and her moms were great sports. Thanks for a great session Eva, Jennifer and Laureen!

While people do their senior photos throughout the year, you might keep August in mind for a warmer time to do your photos. You’ll have them ready for the yearbook, and it’s the summer, so you’ll be less stressed and busy!

 

High School Senior Portraits

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I love photographing high school seniors because they are so vibrant!

A good match for me are Seattle students who want to look like real people, not fake glamour gals. Take Isabel for example, she is so naturally beautiful, she just showed off that beauty at the Ballard Locks and the backyard of her Ballard home (actually, that’s the neighbors house, a shared dock -:). I digress. The point is, be real!

It’s also interesting that often the clients favorites are not my favorites. I loved the expression in the second one, the black and white one, but she preferred the top. This is the wonderful subjectivity of photography and how we see ourselves.

In the end, she used the one with the shell for her yearbook photo and got the rest framed. Thank you Isabel. I had so much fun with you! Meryl

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.

 

 

High School Senior -West Seattle

Corey, Grady and Macey

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Corey, Grady and Macey

When Macey’s mom called me to photograph her daughter, she didnt tell me how amazing and sweet Macey was until I prodded. Macey is ASB president of a local Seattle high school, placed third in the state for her league in poll vaulting, and apparently can also model if she’d like! After getting the more “expected photos” towards the end of the session the setting sun and the natural beauty combined to turn into the above. Let me know what you like and what you don’t. Thanks! Meryl

A day in the life_Ari

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If I could give any advice to parents taking photos of their children, it is, let the children be themselves. Don’t make them smile for the camera. To me, this makes the best photographs. I hope you’ll agree.

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!

On-location family portraits_Lincoln Park_West Seattle

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I was called by Queen Anne mom Cecile to do an extended family portrait of 10 people-grandparents, two sets of parents and these children. And, we did those more structured pictures. But what I hope to achieve during those sessions as well, is also capturing these moments in between the more formal portraits. I love capturing natural emotion, and don’t want children to “smile for the camera. ” My hope is that you will find these as successful as I feel they are. Thanks for looking.

Family photography_West Seattle

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Sara received a gift certificate for this photo session as a birthday present from her mom. Late Fall provided great light in Lincoln Park in West Seattle, and fabulous parents provided lots of love and tickles so we could get some sweet images. Thank you Sara, Jacobe, Cora, Ryder and Ann!