First is Outfits! Good choices in clothing is one of the key elements of a great photo session.
For a senior session I say Bring it all! Casual, Formal, sports and in-between! Remember shoes, jewelry and accessories for each outfit. Don't forget that your images can represent all seasons despite the temperature outside. Try to have a summer, winter and fall clothing to ensure you get a variety of looks and to go with all varied background choices. Choose clothing that you feel comfortable in and flatters your figure. Mare sure to include what you can't live without right now. A favorite t-shirt, hoodie, jeans, hat, sunglasses, uniform, formal dress or sweater. As far as colors to wear almost any color works well. The only colors I think do not photograph well are neon or peach! Now if you are into the whole 80's style and love neon then wear it! Just make sure to bring other colors too! I think layers, texture, and solids are great and some patterns too! I am here to help with picking outfits just ask! Also you will want to make sure you outfits do not have wrinkles! Hang them up or lay them out. Make sure if they are wrinkled to iron them before your session! Don't forget about the shoes for each outfit, and the most overlooked item....Socks!!! Yes, the socks are important..(the color) this will lower your stress level on session day! Depending on the outfit-black or white socks! No bright colors that don't match your outfit! Now I do encourage you to include your own style and props! We can include your hobbies, pets, car/truck/motorcycle, sports, hunting, fishing, water sports, special theme or any thing that makes you happy and is about you! Just remember each session is Custom to you and your style!!! Here are a few other great tips to do before your session! For the ladies: make sure to polish or clean off any nail polish as it will show-don't forget about the toes too if you plan to wear sandals. Lotion if you have dry skin! Hair: Do not go get a big drastic hair cut or color a few days before your session! I say about a week or 2 before your session is a good time to get a fresh cut! For hair styles I know most girls want a few different looks, start with hair down and maybe up at the end. Some want curls and some want straight or both! We can do both looks! Most girls will book 2 sessions so they can have multi looks with their hair! Here is a big one-Tanning!!! Summer time is great but it also messes with your skin! Do not over do the tanning bed if you tan or the sun. Tan lines or sunburned skin is not fun to edit!! So make sure to watch those tan lines! Make sure if you have dry skin to wear lotion before your session. Make up: Rule of thumb, go with your normal day time look to start with, you can always add a little more. I do recommend getting hair and makeup done professionally if you can. It is not something you have to do. But why not get a little extra pampering! If you do not wear make up that is ok. I do recommend that you wear mascara to bring out those eyes and Chapstick! You do not want dry lips. Be careful when applying eyeliner or mascara-the camera magnifies clumps and heavy handed applications! Don't worry if you wake up and have a zit-I can edit skin if you like! Summer shine can be controlled by using a translucent powder that knocks out the shine without adding color. Bring some powder and lip-gloss or Chapstick-chapped lips will show! Drink lots of water before you session-water is great for your body! Please feel free to bring water or a drink with you on your session! Locations is another big one! Where do we go...Honestly we can go anywhere you like! I want it to be about you and the things you like! We can mix it up and do some urban, and nature spots. We can go to the mountain's, the lake, a different town you name it! I am up for pretty much anything! I hope this helps get you prepped and ready for you senior session! I look forward to creating some amazing memories for you! If you have any other questions or concerns I am here to help!
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I get asked lots of questions about the newborn session and what to except. So I thought I would try to answer some of those questions. Please if you have a question and do not see an answer here, don't be afraid to reach out and ask me. I am here to help!
*Q: When is the best time to do maternity photos? *A: I like to photograph you around 32-34 weeks along. *Q: What do I wear for a maternity session? *A: I have a client closet with dress/gowns that you may wear for your session, or you can bring your own outfit. You can wear a dress/gown or jeans. Whatever you are comfy in. I can help you pick an outfit out. If you buy an outfit online and want to sell it to me after the session I may purchase it from you or take it off your bill if you have the receipt. *Q: Can my hubby or other children be in the photos with me? *A: Yes they sure can! *Q: Where do you do the maternity sessions? *A: Most times I have locations outside that I use. I can also do them in my studio or your home, depending on the look you want. *Q: When should I book the Newborn session? *A: Some photographers like you to book early and before baby is here. But for me that is not easy. I make room for my newborns as they are only little for a short time. If you know when you are having baby (if you are going in for a induction) you can call and book. If not I normally ask my parents to shoot me a message/text/call the day after or day off to get on my books. I know that sounds crazy as I am sure you will be tired. Yu can always have your hubby, friend, or parent message as well. You can book before baby is here as well. I just right you down for around your due date and we keep in touch. *Q: Where is your studio? *A: My studio is located in my home now. I use a spare room in my home. Once you book and pay your retainer fee I will give you my address. *Q: What if we don't want to come to the studio, Would you come to our home? *A: Yes! I can come to your home to do the newborn session. I do charge travel fees to come to you. *Q: What do I need to bring to my session? *A: The only things you really need to bring is baby, extra milk, pacifier, and anything special you want photographed with baby. I do ask that you put baby in a button down or zipper outfit-no onesie. It makes getting them undressed for photos much easier.*baby has diaper on and no parts are showing* You are also welcome to get ready at my home studio while I work with baby. That way you are not rushed to get ready and get here. You may bring a drink and snack with you as well. *Q: Can my other children come to the session? Cn they be in the photos as well? *A: I prefer that siblings stay home or with sitter until it is time for sibling photos. Because I work with baby first and do sibling/family last they will be board. Plus it is less stressful for you and me if they are not in the studio while working with baby. Now I do understand that some are traveling a ways to come to me and need the siblings with. That is ok. I do ask that you bring snacks, drinks and things for them to do, or bring someone with you that can help with them or take them outside or to the park. *I live across the street from a park :) As far as siblings being in the photos yes they can. It is an ad on in the smaller and middle collection. Comes with in the big collection. *Q: Do I need to pay before the session? *A: Yes! I do ask for a $50 non refundable retainer fee to hold your spot. The remaining balance is due the day of. Now some of my clients who are doing the big collection with the maternity session normally pay half day of the maternity session and the rest on the day of newborn session. *Q: Can I make payments? *A: YES! I will work with you on making a payment plan. The only thing I ask is that it is paid in full by the day of the newborn session. *Q: What do we wear? *A: For baby nothing, unless you are wanting baby in a special outfit for the family photos. Most times I wrap baby and I do have some outfits here for the baby. As far as you, hubby and siblings, I prefer neutrals, like creams, browns, grey, black, whites. I also love burnt orange, mustard yellow, dark greens, maroon, tan, lighter colors. No Bright or neon colors. I do also have a few dresses you can wear for your session as well. Most times when doing the family, sibling photos you only see waist up. Also I recommend bringing the outfit you want to wear for photos and putting it on right before your photos. Why you may ask... well you never know if baby may spit up or pee/poop on you, and it would suck if it were on the outfit you are going to wear for photos. So you can put the outfit on just before it is your time to take photos. *Q: What happens during the session? What do we need to do during the session? *A: When you first get to the studio I have you sit back and relax, feed baby if baby needs fed. Then I will take baby and go straight into photos. For the most part you just sit back and relax. I have even had a few moms laydown and take nap on my couch while I worked with baby. Some moms do their hair and make up. I want it to be very relaxed. *Q: What happens after the session? When do we get our photos and how do we get them? Do we get to pick the photos? *A: After your session I will load and edit your images. Depending on the collection you chose will depend on how things will go. So if you purchased the big package I will edit all images and get them ready to send to you on a online downloadable gallery, order your 20 complementary 4x6 prints. I will text or call you to let you know when I send your gallery and when your prints come in I will contact you to make a plan on pick up or if I need to mail them. Now if you chose one of the smaller collections I will do a light edit on the photos and send a proofing gallery for you to pick your images. Once you pick the images you want I will do a full edit and get them back to you. You can also purchase the whole gallery as well. *Q: Will you share my photos online? *A: Only if you want me to! I Only share if you say I can! *Q: Can I order Prints? *A: Yes you can! You can order prints from me or elsewhere. But I do not guarantee to quality from other photo labs. I do Not recommend Walmart, Walgreens, Costco, and cheap labs like that. I do have a few print labs I recommend. I will give that info to you after your session. *Q: How long do you hold on to our photos? *A: I do make a back up copy, and try to hold onto them forever. But I have had times where I have had a hard drive fail and lost some images. So I highly recommend getting your image that you want, making a back up copies and store then online if you can. I do try to keep them but I do warn that I can't guarantee that I will have them 5 to 15 years down the road. *Q: Do you have everything for the newborn photos? *A: Yes I sure do. I have a wide range of color backdrops/fabrics, wraps, props, hair ties for the girls, and some outfits for baby! All you need to bring is baby and any special item you want photographed with baby. *Q: Do we get to pick the colors and props for the session? *A: Yes, when you call to book your session we will make a plan for colors, theme and props you would like to use in the session. Depending on the collection you chose will depend on how many props we use during the session. With the sweet and simple collection it is done on creams, white or grey only and no props but hair ties for girls. The other 2 collections you can pick colors and props. *Q: What kind of props and colors do you have? *A: I have so many different props such as the mini beds *I have 4 different ones* I have bowls, baskets, buckets, chairs, teddy bears, fishing stuff, mini boat, flowers, greenery, some camping stuff, boxes/crates, hair bows/tiebacks, hats, outfits, blankets, a moon pillow, mini swing and I am sure I forgetting something. I DO NOT HAVE ANTLERS: If you want antlers you need to bring them. As far as colors I have pretty much every color: creams, white, browns, tans, blues, greys, pinks, purples, yellows, oranges, greens, teal, some red, floral print fabrics, rainbow wraps, a fabric with stars on it, one galaxy print fabric. So if there is a special color you want just ask! *Q: What is the difference between the simple and sweet and posed sessions? *A: The simple and sweet collection is just baby, less posed, or more wrapped up. This type of session is done on creams, white or grey. No props are used in this collection. Just baby and some wraps. The posed sessions are the middle and top collection. We can go into more detail on these to see what collection fits for what you are wanting during the planning booking call. I do some simple poses in all sessions as well. So if you want a mix of these 2 types it can be done in the middle and top collection. there are samples of the sweet and simple vs the posed at the end! *Q: What is a lifestyle session? *A: A lifestyle session is done in your home and is less posed. I do not do any props unless it is an item from your home. I capture moments in your home as a family and I do some photos of baby. We use different rooms in your home. I will guide you on what to do. I hope this helps answers some of your questions! If you have other questions Please feel free to reach out! I am here to help and want this to be a relaxed fun session! A few months back my sweet girl Sunny hurt her leg. We went to many vets, called lots more and we are struggling to get the money to get her surgery done. I really hate reaching out and asking for help, but my baby needs help! The vet will not allow payments-wants the full amount upfront. So I have a few ways I am trying to raise the money!
I have a raffle going to win a full deluxe photo session of your choice-Newborn, Family or senior. Each entry is $50 I also have a go fund me which you can find on my personal Facebook page. I am doing Pet minis as well! If you would like to help us out we would greatly appreciate it! Feel free to email me or give me a call. Thank you Wow I suck at this blog thing! Work and life get busy. It is hard to keep up with all the social media, posting, sharing, marketing, shooting sessions, editing and some days you just forget. Sometimes it gets to be overwhelming on all the media you need to post on to stay fresh! I am so sorry for being behind! I so wish I could hire someone to do all the media and posting for me sometimes. There are times I feel like it sucks the life out of you! Anyone else feel that way?
Well so many things have happened since I made a blog post! So here goes I will try to update it all here: *First of all this summer and fall was full of lots of great sessions! So blessed to have so many amazing clients *My grandma was diagnosed with lung cancer. She went down hill fast! She was good this summer but got really bad this fall. My cousins and I took turns staying with her and helping her to the end. I sadly lost my grandma Oct 8th and honestly it has been super hard for me. I lost my mom 4.5yrs ago and now my grams. I did fall into a little dark hole and I am slowly crawling out of it. Some days are good and some are lots harder. I get it, that is the circle of life. But dang it is so hard. I have had a lot of lose in the last 5yrs. I also lost my grandpa 5yrs ago as well. Moved a few times in the last 5yrs. There is so much more I could go into but won't. *We moved to a new house about 2 weeks ago. I have my studio in my home as well, so the studio moved too. I went from natural light to having to go back to studio light. I prefer natural light :) We have had some little hick ups along the move but it is a good move! I am Loving my new space! Not totally finished setting it up yet, but close! *Now my pup Sunny girl is 4yr and is having some issues with her legs/hips. We have been to 3 vets and are having to go see a specialist next week and hope to have some answers. So life has been crazy. I have been shooting sessions during this time as well. I am Truly Grateful for each one of my clients! If it weren't for you all I wouldn't have a job and be able to support my family. I love what I do and I love capturing your special moments and making art from your moments! It makes my heart happy! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support through out the years. I am looking forward to the new year and all the good things coming! (Praying all good things coming my way) I know this wasn't a super happy post. But guess what, life is not perfect and I don't want to put on a fake front. I want to be honest and upfront! There is so much fake out there. Ya sometimes life knocks us down, but we have to get back up and move on! It is ok to talk about the bad too. I have been knocked down many times and I get back up-sometimes not as fast but I am up! I am praying that 2024 is Way Better then 2023 was for everyone! If you want to stay more up to date with what is going on at Sunshine Photography or with me lol check out my Facebook or Instagram post. I try hard to stay up to date on those. I post about the mini session specials coming up, session sneak peeks and more! If you are not following my pages go give me a follow! <3 *I am running a couple specials for Jan and Feb! Go to my Facebook to check those out! Thank you again to all my amazing clients, future, past and present clients for all your love and support! You guys are amazing!!! The senior season has began and they are bringing it! Your senior year is here and it is your time to tell your story! Time for you to shine! Let me help capture your story and who you are in this special time of your life!
So far this years seniors have been a blast to work with! Looking forward to many more sessions this year. It is best to book and do your senior session during the summer. Why you may ask? Well there are many reasons. For one once school starts you will be busy with school works, sports, a job, ect. The daylight gets darker earlier and their are deadlines for yearbook photos to be in. Plus my books fill up fast! I only take on a few seniors are year. If you are wanting in don't wait! So much planning goes into your custom session. Such as outfits, location, special things you want to do in your session, are we traveling for your session, so much more! I am here to help with that! I look forward to your senior sessions! Here are a few favorites from this year so far! I can't wait to meet more of you and have some fun creating your senior portraits. It's your story, let me help capture your senior year! This is a fun exciting time in your life. You have worked so hard to get here! lets Celebrate YOU! Each session is custom! We can travel where ever you like for your photos. You can include whatever you like such as hobbies, sports, friends, cars, trucks, pets you name it! Lets go create something amazing! Need help with what to wear? I can help with that too! ![]() Baby smiles can be tricky and we may not always catch one. I have been photographing babies for many years. Since 2007 when I opened my studio I didn't know right off the bat that I would want to photograph newborns, but when I did, I just knew it was one of those types of session I wanted to specialize in. I love photographing many things and many different types of sessions. High school seniors are my 2nd favorite! Newborns just hold a special place in my heart. I have had some ask me how do you catch that smile. Well sometimes it is just luck, others it is watching for the cues and waiting. Lots of patience as well. Babies take a lot of work at times. You know that deep sleep where their eyes start to flutter, ya watch and you will get a smile. Sometimes if you touch or rub their forehead and down along their cheek they will smile too. I have sat and watched a baby for many minutes waiting and watching for those cues, rubbing their forehead. I do love when I can catch a baby smiling! Just melts the heart and brings a smile to your face! The last couple weeks I have had many babies in the studio and a lot of them have smiles during their sessions. Some have not. Babies run the show and you just never know. Here are a few of the ones I can share from the last couple weeks. The baby with the Biggest smile is from a couple years ago that I added to the end of these photos. The baby on the pillow. He happened to open his eyes and give the biggest smile ever! That is one of my favorite photos of a baby smiling. I know how scary it can be to be in front of the camera and top it off not wear much of anything! But ladies it is such a confidence builder too! I know we look into the mirror and see all our flaws-well ladies everyone has flaws and God made each one of us different and unique! Love yourself in all your beauty! You are Beautiful!
I have had so many beauties in the studio and they are on fire! I am not allowed to share everyone's images but these beautiful ladies have given me permission to share a few from there sessions. I still have a few sessions coming up and I have a few spots open if anyone is wanting in for a session! I am planning on new set-bubble bath/shower set! So if anyone is up for that plus the type showed here give me a call to set your session up today! These sessions can also be couples! It is not just for the ladies! I used to offer these sessions years ago and stop doing them but I have decided to bring them back. For so many women it can be scary and you may think you can't do them. Guess what, you can do this! It is a hugh confidence builder. I got you girl! Do it for You! Do it for you special someone! But most of all do it for YOU!
*Now Booking Boudoir Minis! Special offer good through Feb 2023-after Feb the prices goes up to my normal pricing! I have said many times I love working with couples! I am not into weddings at all but couples heck yes! I love it! So when Jazmyne came to me and asked if we could do a special session with her and her hubby-I was all for it! They never really had engagement photos and she wanted something a little different! Gosh it had been in the 100's all week and the day of their session it was chilly, rainy and way cool at 50 degrees. They wanted to be in the water! These 2 sure didn't mind the chill in the air or the cooler water! This session was fire! There are some sessions just light my creative mind and it makes it so much more! Thank you guys for choosing me to be your photographer throughout the years.
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AuthorI love to create art from your memories from newborn, HS Seniors, families and so much more. Capturing the little moments in your life for your to cherish for a lifetime. Archives
March 2024
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