Hi there!
Welcome to my blog. I love to share recent sessions and other information from time to time. Take your time to browse around. If you like what you see, I’d love to visit with you! You can contact me here through my website or via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Photography Basics – Exposure
Digital photography has made it easier to have a fabulous camera! No matter if you are Camp Canon, Nikon, Sony, or fill in the blank, all the same principles apply. Moms and dads (and grandparents) with cameras, I want to help you feel more confident in photographing your family in your everyday moments, so I am starting a series of posts to help you with the basics of photography. This is the first in the series – Photography Basics – Exposure.
Learning a new skill can be overwhelming – the vocabulary, the equipment, etc. The goal of this series is to break down the basics into small, easy to understand posts to help you learn how to advance your skills. Start playing with your camera, and don’t be afraid to try new settings – maybe even MANUAL MODE. {GASP!!!} I feel that understanding the components of exposure is one of the most important topics to learn first!
Let’s Talk About Exposure.
Exposure is the amount of light that is captured when you take a picture. If too little light is captured, then the photograph will be “underexposed” (too dark),and if too much light is captured, then the photograph will be “overexposed” (too bright). The goal is to take a picture that is correctly exposed. To do this, you must choose the proper ISO, SHUTTER SPEED, AND APERTURE.
When you shoot in your camera’s “auto” mode, you have minimal control over your settings and the camera does all the thinking. That’s great for starting out, but trust me, learning to shoot in manual gives you infinitely more control over your exposure. Try it sometime! You won’t hurt anything!
Great graphic from www.virualphotographystudio.com
ISO
ISO determines how much light your camera’s sensor will capture. A higher ISO will capture more light and create a brighter image, and a lower ISO will capture less light and create a darker image. I always suggest using the minimum ISO necessary. Using a higher ISO results in more “noise” (artifacts or “grain”) in your image.
The ISO setting on most digital cameras ranges from 100 ISO to 3200 ISO and higher. On a bright sunny day, you can set your camera’s ISO to around 100 since so much light is available. Inside, or when it is dark outside, you will need to set your camera’s ISO to around 1600 ISO to capture the little light you have available. You might need to use a flash or adjust your shutter speed and aperture.
SHUTTER SPEED
Shutter speed is the amount of time it takes the shutter inside your lens to open and close. You know the “clicking” sound you hear when you take a picture? That click you hear is the sound of the shutter opening and closing to capture the light. When the click is shorter, your shutter speed is faster, and the longer the click, the slower your shutter speed.
Your shutter speed is important because it determines how much light will fall on your sensor. If the shutter opens for a long time (slower shutter speed), more light will fall on your sensor. More light on the sensor means a brighter exposure. If you choose a faster shutter speed, less light will fall on the sensor and your photos will be darker. Additionally, a slower shutter speed – less than 1/80 – can also cause motin blur with any movement! I usually try to keep my shutter speed at 1/80 or better if I’m not using a tripod.
APERTURE
Aperture is the camera setting that determines how wide the shutter inside your lens will open. Aperture can be a little tricky at first because its value is expressed as a fraction called an “f-stop”. The wider the shutter opens, the lower the “f/stop” number and vice versa. I know – it seems backwards! For example, f/2.8 is a large aperture, because the shutter opens very wide and f/22 is a small aperture because the shutter opening is narrow. See below. (I’m now noticing that I should have at least dusted off my little table….)
ISO 250, Aperture f 2.8
ISO 250, Aperture f 6.3
The aperture controls how much light will fall on the sensor and how much “depth-of-field” the photo will have. Depth-of-field is how much of the scene will be in focus around your subject. A photo taken at f/2.8 is going to have a very narrow depth-of-field (less in focus) and a photo taken at f/22 is going to have a very wide depth-of-field (more in focus).
What now?
Got it??? Easy peezy or totally confused?? Comment below with your questions or comments about exposure, or contact me here. I’d love to hear from you. I will be hosting a new camera basics class this summer – stay tuned for details!!
Celebrating Mom
There are so many things you don’t appreciate about your mom until you’re older. I am guilty of that! Not until I was a mom did I understand the sacrifice, dedication, and patience my mom modeled for my siblings and me. So today, I’m Celebrating Mom. My mom, Linda, finished her degree when I was a baby, and went to grad school while working and being a mom my sister and 2 brothers. She worked, volunteered, taxi-ed, cooked dinner most nights, and she was even my language arts teacher and Assistant Principal in middle school.
Awkward.
As I grew up, I have watched her become a fabulous, and sometimes indulgent, grandmother (But what grandmother isn’t?), and I realize what a blessing it is that I still have her around. She is active and healthy and ready to travel on a moment’s notice!
Celebrating Mom
I am thankful for the lessons she has taught me over my lifetime and the strength, faith, and perseverance she has always modeled. In the last year and a half, those characteristics have been magnified.
In January of 2016, Mom was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening, and irreversible kidney disease, and within two months she began daily peritoneal dialysis. She had to do this procedure daily at home, which took 8+ hours, after she had already worked a full day. Because of her otherwise good health, she was a perfect candidate for a kidney transplant. At first, she was not interested in one of her family members being her donor. My sister, my brothers and my dad were all ready and willing to donate. Mom eventually agreed and we all began the workup.
The donor workup through the Texas Transplant Institute took a couple of months, and by May we had a donor (me) and a transplant date. Mom continued to endure daily dialysis, and she and dad even did a little traveling. A little thing like renal disease and dialysis weren’t going to slow mom down! Mom’s kidney transplant was last July and she has done fabulously. As soon as she was given the OK by her transplant team, she and dad were off to Canada on another trip!
Nearly a year after transplant, mom is doing well, still working and globetrotting with dad, and she continues to be a role model that I can only hope to aspire to be like one day.
My Mom’s life example is part of the inspiration I have to be the wife, mom, nurse, and business owner I strive to be daily. Thank you for everything, Mom. I love you and Happy Mothers’s Day.
Blythe’s 39
I’m a proud sister. Last month I cheered Blythe on as she walked in the Avon 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer in Houston. Blythe’s 39 was personal. Blythe was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2016. Thankfully hers was stage 0 and local. She was treated with a lumpectomy, radiation and oral chemo. Nearly two years later, Blythe is in remission and doing great! She is an inspiration to me and much tougher than I ever could be. I thank God daily for her and her health. She did 6 weeks of radiation while working full time, being a mom to her two boys, and wife to a pilot hubby who travels regularly. In addition to training to walk 39 miles in two days, Blythe also raised $3000 for Avon Foundation. She was committed to her training, and toward the end, she was walking 18+ miles on Saturdays. Blythe’s training partner was her friend and neighbor MiLisa, who joined her on her long walks. I can’t imagine doing this walk without having a training partner!
Day one was tough – over 25 miles. It proved very challenging for Blythe to stay hydrated and consume enough calories. She and Milisa pushed through and finished strong. On Day two, I loved watching Blythe’s boys run to her as she approached the finish line and cross with her. Everyone got a little teary! The culmination of the two-day event was watching Blythe help carry the survivor sign at the closing ceremonies. I am so glad I got to be there!
The Power of 39
The Avon 39 walk was such an amazing experience. The families and volunteers at the Houston event followed the route to stay ahead of the walkers to cheer them on. The walk wound through some of central Houston’s oldest and most beautiful neighborhoods. The signs were inspirational and often hilarious. Watching as survivors and women currently in treatment walk mile after mile was inspiring! AVON 39 The Walk to End Breast Cancer is the largest fundraising event for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade. Since its launch by the Avon Foundation for Women in 2003, more than 235,000 participants have raised nearly $620,000,000 in the fight to end breast cancer. Funds raised at each event provide direct impact in the area where the event takes place, and also help make sure that care and research programs nationwide have adequate resources to make the most progress possible.
Next Year
This event made a lasting impact on me. The positive spirit, support, and fellowship at the event were beautiful. Blythe and MiLisa are planning to walk again next year and I will be there to cheer them on! Thank you for the inspiration, sister. Love You!
#Fierce is Forever
Adventures in Gluten Free Baking
This post is more personal and has absolutely nothing to do with photography, but I wanted to share a baking win with you guys! I have a love of baking that started when I was little. Some of my early memories are of licking batter off of mixer paddles with my sister when my mom was baking a cake. Mom will tell you she’s a cook and not a baker, but we loved to help her when we were little. As a result, Blythe and I both have enjoyed cooking and baking since. Blythe is much better than me in the kitchen – and more adventurous. She has made crepes, French macarons, doughnuts, etc. I just want to make a decent cake or cookie on occasion! My love of baking has been challenged for the last few years. Teen sons with crazy schedules, Wayne’s schedule, me working and being a small biz owner = less time to play in the kitchen. The major change came 3 years ago when Carson and I were diagnosed with Celiac disease – A.K.A. Gluten allergy. This means we cannot ingest anything containing wheat, barley, rye, or anything else that contains gluten – it will inflame your gut, do major harm to your GI tract, and can even lead to gastric cancers. The list of gluten-containing products is endless. I am constantly checking ingredient lists of everything from condiments to facial moisturizers and lip gloss. Even going out to dinner requires research. Thus began my adventures in gluten free baking and cooking.
Click here for more information on Celiac Disease
Day to day cooking
After we were diagnosed with Celiac, I soon realized that most of my normal cooking was minimally affected. Minor adjustments included the need to find gluten free condiments like soy sauce, gluten free pasta, etc. I usually try to cook from scratch and use fresh foods and ingredients. I learned to tweak sauces and marinades and make acceptable substitutions. For my new celiac 6th grader Carson, the most frustrating thing was trying to find BREAD! Finding bread that either didn’t disintegrate instantly or didn’t taste like cardboard was a nightmare! After months of an exhaustive search, we found a couple of bread brands that had a good texture and tasted as close to gluten-filled normal bread as possible for Carson and me!
My Biggest Challenge
My biggest challenge has been gluten free baking. It was intimidating to me – baking has always been something I’ve done well. All the sudden, I had to learn a new way. For a long time, I even avoided family favorites like our “Breakfast for Dinner” pancakes. I was put off by the cost of alternative flours and other additives, and the research required to decipher what type of flour or blend was best was frustrating and time consuming. The learning curve was high, and I didn’t have time to experiment and make mistakes. Consequently, I didn’t try at all for a long time. I still don’t bake as much as I used to, but I am gradually adding to my GF baking repertoire.
My latest attempt.
I was hosting a meet and greet last Saturday morning for my 2018 PCP Senior Team and needed something yummy to serve. I found a recipe for Gluten Free Coffee Cake from America’s Test Kitchen. America’s Test Kitchen is always a great resource and I have consistently had success with their recipes. I’ll be looking for more GF recipes on their site now.
Click Here for the recipe
The Results
Success! This coffee cake was moist and flavorful, and delicious – not dry and crumbly! The pecan crumble topping was amazing. It would be a great addition to just about anything. Everyone at the meet and greet enjoyed it. Carson loved it. It even got the stamp of approval from my gluten eating son Hudson and my non-carb eating hubby Wayne! The entire cake was gone within hours.
Important Tips I’ve Learned:
- All GF flours are not created equally. For all purpose use, flour blends are best. I’ve tried several, and my favorite is Bob’s Red Mill. I have had the most consistent results.
- Xanthan Gum. I so did not want to make this purchase. It’s pricey, but I’ve learned there’s no way around using it for GF baking. Xanthan gum is an emulsifier and a binder, and adds volume to gluten free baked goods. A little goes a long way, so your supply will last a while!
- Room temperature ingredients. This tip isn’t just for GF baking. Room Temperature eggs, butter, and other dairy ingredients form an emulsion which traps air. While baking in the oven, that trapped air expands and produces fluffy baked goods. In addition, room temperature ingredients bond together very easily since they’re warmer, creating an evenly textured batter.
- My fave secret ingredient – Sour Cream! I often add a dollop to boxed brownie and cake mixes to add extra moisture to the batter.
- Be precise. Follow the directions carefully. Measure and mix exactly. Again, this is important in all baking, but even more so in GF baked goods. You don’t want to end up with dry and crumbly baked goods!
And thus, my adventures in Gluten Fee baking continue. Carson is asking me to try GF biscuits next. We will see about that!
Do you cook and bake gluten free? Leave a comment with your best tip!
The ONE Question
The ONE question that I hear from nearly every client – “WHAT DO WE WEAR FOR OUR SESSION???” Choosing what to wear for your session is often the most stressful part of the entire photography process! Your clothing choices for your session help to convey the mood of your session – casual and relaxed or more formal. In my experience with my clients, most prefer a casual feel, but there’s a way to do casual that still is coordinated and “put together”.
Part of what I do as your photographer in your pre-session consultation is to help you with all the planning – including clothing! Often my clients will text me pictures of outfits they are considering. Communication with your photographer and NOT STRESSING about what you will wear are the keys to feeling perfectly styled and ready for your moment in front of the camera. Here are some simple tips will help you chose the perfect outfits for your session with ease!
Don’t forget to check your closet first!
SESSION STYLING TIPS
DO – Consider your location. A session in a downtown or urban location may mean different choices clothing choices and/or colors than a country or park-like setting. Also consider the primary colors of your location. A setting that is primarily bright white rocks or buildings may be the wrong place to wear primarily white clothing.
DO – Start with mom (for family sessions). If mom’s happy, everyone is happy! I have found that if mom gets her outfit together, the rest of the family comes together pretty quickly.
DO – Choose a color scheme based on where you’d like to display your artwork. For Example – If you’re planning on a living room wall display and your living room is decorated in earth tones choose colors that will coordinate.
DO – Choose flattering colors. What colors work well on you and your family? Start there. Do you look better in warmer or cooler colors? Flattering colors ultimately make your pictures better! Once you know what colors are best for you, you can then use a color wheel to find what colors you can use to get everyone coordinated.
DON’T – Match. Leave the jeans and white t-shirts at home and instead choose a color scheme and coordinate.
DO – Layer. The more layers the better. Sweaters, scarves, jewelry, blazers layers create visual interest and add texture throughout your pictures. They’re a great addition.
DON’T- Be afraid of patterns. Plaids, polka-dot, florals, and stripes can be overwhelming when all used together but mixing in a few patterns here and there are another great way to add some interest to you photo session.
DO – Pay attention to your shoes. Shoes matter! A pair of Nike sneakers mixed in with cute boots and dress shoes can be an eye sore in your photos. Try to stick with neutral shoes for the whole family.
DON’T – Wear logos. As much as shoes can be an eye sore so can a big logo across a t-shirt. Try to steer clear of sports or brand logos or sayings across the front of your shirt. Again, this takes the attention away from the family and brings the eye right to the t-shirt.
DO – Stay comfortable! Wear something you’re comfortable sitting, standing, running and playing in! You’ll thank me later!
DON’T – Over think it! You want your family to look like your family, so don’t stress too much about the outfits. Be sure to have fun with it!
DO – Consider Pinterest for collecting ideas!
Want to Learn More?
If you’d like my entire client guide which has all this clothing information, plus everything you need to know about a PCP Family Session, click the image below to sign up for the PCP Family Guide or HERE. I would love to visit with you about planning your next session. When you book with PCP, I will be with you from the scheduling and planning of your session (including wardrobe!) all the way to the delivery of your heirloom quality prints and products!
Celebrating Mothers at PCP
We are celebrating motherhood this spring at PCP! We know how much you love your children, and with all you do for them, maybe you aren’t in the actual pictures as much as you’d like to be. Here is your opportunity to get in the frame with your babies – no matter their age! This is a chance for you to play, snuggle, laugh, smooch, and hug while I capture those precious moments through my lens.
Celebrating Mothers at PCP with Motherhood Special Edition Sessions
Friday, April 28 & Saturday, April 29, 2017
4 PM – 7 PM
(FIVE- 30 minute slots available each day)
Landa Library
233 Bushnell Ave, San Antonio, TX 78212
Because of the unique nature and subject matter of these sessions, I am offering only ten sessions that are 30 minutes each in length. Sessions are back to back, so please plan to be on time for your spot!
Our Charity Partner
Help us give a little towards a great cause. It is our honor to partner with Alpha Home here in San Antonio. $25 of your collection purchase will be donated directly to this important 501C organization. For 50 years, Alpha Home has been committed to treating the whole person—not just the addiction— by caring, qualified professionals. By incorporating our core values of spirituality, integrity, discipline, dedication and productivity into our treatment approach, we focus on the whole person and give those we serve the best tools for responsible, long-term sobriety. Throughout their long history, Alpha Home has helped countless mothers return to their families to lead healthy lives.
Special Edition Collections
The Collections are designed to provide you with beautiful, heirloom quality products for your walls as well as items for sharing with your family and friends. Frames from The Organic Bloom are the perfect addition to your home. They are available in multiple styles and colors, and come ready to hang. Color and shape are your choice, and the frame size is determined by the collection you choose. Additional sizes are available a la carte. In addition, each session includes gift prints for framing or sharing, as well as a custom slideshow of your session images. Upgraded Collections are also available and include larger Organic Bloom Frames and Accordion Mini-Albums. The Mini Albums are perfect for sharing your session images with your family and friends! At 3×3 inches, they fit easily into your bag and hold multiple images from your session. Each Mini-Album is custom designed for you.
After Your Session
Your images will be ready to view approximately 2 weeks after your session. At that time you will choose the image you would like framed in your Organic Bloom Frame, as well as the images you’d like for your gift print. You can also Upgrade your collection to include additional gift prints, Accordion Mini-Albums, and larger Organic Bloom Frames. All collection products will be delivered to you approximately 3 weeks after ordering.
Reserve your spot today. Choose your collection and book online. Instantly.
Visit our Special Edition Page to book your preferred session date and time in the store. The 3 collection choices will be available there for purchase. If you prefer, you can contact me directly for booking and payment via HERE. All sessions are first come/ first served and are nonrefundable once booked.
We Can’t Wait to Celebrate YOU!!
Kesteren’s 13th Birthday Session – San Antonio Teen Photographer
As a San Antonio Teen Photographer, Kesteren’s 13th Birthday session was a treat for me! Kesteren, her mom, and her friends spent the weekend in San Antonio. They played in the hotel water park, ate tons of junk food, enjoyed the hotel campfire and even ate great Italian food and birthday cake! That sounds like a pretty fab 13th birthday to me, already!
A13th Birthday Session is the Icing on the Cake!
Kesteren’s mom, Lori, made the weekend even better by scheduling a photo session for Kesteren and her friends. How cool is that?? There aren’t many teen girls I know who don’t love to take pictures. I had so much fun, and I think the girls did, too. Kes and her friends laughed, jumped, and danced around. Kes and her friend, Julia, even brought their ballet pointe shoes! All in all, they just celebrated being young teens and tweens.
Celebrating your tween’s or teen’s milestone events with either an individual or group session is a great way to document their middle school years. Teens/tweens love to express their style and hang out with their friends. Birthday sessions, 8th grade graduation sessions, and “just for fun” sessions give them alternatives to their sometimes awkward middle school “school” photos!
When you have a professional session for your teen – with or without their friends – you get beautifully crafted wall art and albums for your home. Additionally, your teen gets images that they feel good about, and an experience they will remember.
Let’s Talk Teen/Tween Sessions!
Do you have a tween or teen who’d love a session with their friends? Contact me today and let’s plan it! We will begin with a pre-session consultation to decide on date and location, outfits, and accessories. About two weeks after the session we will have your Reveal session where you can see a slideshow of all your teen’s images for the first time. The Reveal is also where I can help you in choosing the perfect wall art and albums to order from the session.
2018 PCP Senior Team – San Antonio Senior Photographer
The 2018 PCP Senior Team search is on! As a San Antonio Senior Photographer, one of the greatest things I get to do is work with great students! One way I do this is through my PCP Senior Team. The PCP Senior Team gives seniors the opportunity to get the most value out of their senior photography experience while at the same time helping me! I am looking for motivated and outgoing juniors to serve on our team for 2017 through May 2018. As a Senior Team member, you will serve as an ambassador for Pagette Callender Photography from the spring of your junior year through your senior year. I am looking for high energy, highly motivated, involved Juniors in San Antonio and surrounding communities who are very active in their high schools, clubs, sports, churches, and communities. I need students who want to spread the word about PCP through their social media posts and refer their friends to me for their senior photography needs.
What’s in it for you??
PCP Senior Team Member Benefits:
- Exclusive discounts!!! Team members pay a discounted Creative Fee of $150 at sign up (regularly $225), receive a $100 print credit off their session session purchase, and a credit for a Family Session Creative Fee ($200 Value). ** Prints and products are not included in the Creative Fee but will be available at a special rate during your reveal night. My clients typically budget between $700-$1600 for their orders. **
- Mini session. We will do a quick 20 min session when we meet for you to sign up, pay your creative fee, and sign agreements. You will quickly have images to share with your friends.
- Complimentary Group Session. The group session is in addition to your full senior session. You will receive shareable images from the group session to use on social media so that you can invite your friends to use Pagette Callender Photography for their senior sessions!
- Individual Senior Session. You and I will work together to plan your session. From location, to wardrobe, to posing ideas, I will help you with all your session details! It’s YOUR DAY, and it should be a fabulous experience.
- Rewards! 2018 PCP Senior Team members earn rewards for referrals who have their sessions with PCP, social media sharing, participation in group events if planned, and more!
Sign Up Today!
Fill out the application (click here) to be considered. Your answers give me an idea about your personality, your interests and activities, and what you share on social media. Additionally, the application gives me contact information for both you and your parents so that I can plan an in person meeting with you and send you important information. Once I review your application and determine that you will be a great fit for the 2018 PCP Senior Team, I will schedule a time to meet with you and your parent. This meeting will give us an opportunity to meet in person, sign contracts, and a do your mini shoot. A few days later, you will receive your social media share files from your mini session to start sharing immediately! Once our team is assembled, we will schedule a social event for everyone, as well as plan the complimentary 2018 Team Shoot!
Still need more info??
Contact me (click here)! I would love to visit with you and your parents and answer whatever questions you might have. Your senior year should be one to remember, and I’d like to help you make it that way!
You Are Your Brand: The Importance of Your Head Shot – San Antonio Professional Photographer
YOU ARE YOUR BRAND!
As a San Antonio Photographer, I enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with other local businesses and owners. One way I do this every year is by taking professional head shots for clients. My fellow business owners and business professionals, YOU ARE YOUR BRAND. Your smile is the center of your business. It is often the first image of you your potential clients see when they visit your website or are handed your business card. Your clients need to recognize you when they meet you. If you took your last head shots 5-10 years ago, or you have never had a professional head shot taken, you need an update!
Build Your Visual Brand
In a blog post last year for the Huffington Post, “Small Biz Lady”, Melinda Emerson, discusses the importance of your Visual Brand. Have you thought about the fact that you have a Visual Brand? YOU are part of the package of your business and the services you offer your clients. Getting professional head shots taken gives you an opportunity to put your best face forward to your clients. Your cell phone pic isn’t going to suffice! Professional head shots give you high quality images to use for all your marketing needs – website, business cards, flyers, etc. Having an up to date look is important for your Visual Brand.
Practical Tips
- Hire a professional. (Duh) This may seem obvious, but I see lots of cell phone pics out there! A professional will guide you with wardrobe planning and choosing flattering colors, location planning (if outdoors), and will choose flattering posing and lighting to suit you best.
- Plan on using two different looks. A suit and tie for men (be colorful – no black and white, please!) or colorful suit for the ladies. Choose a second look that is just as polished, but slightly more casual. Use colors that are flattering to your skin tone and silhouettes that are flattering for you.
- Consider having both full length and head shot images done. This gives you ultimate flexibility for your marketing.
- Make sure to get high resolution JPEG images with print release permission from your photographer. Large jpeg files will allow you maximum flexibility for image printing up to very large sizes. Remember, YOU are Your Brand.
New Year, New Look
The beginning of a new year is a great time to update your visual brand. Here is how I can help you.
First, you and I will have a pre-session consultation in person or by phone, discussing location, clothing, your needs and budget. You can contact me HERE. Second, we will meet for a 20-30 minute session, shoot multiple poses and looks with 1-2 outfits. Next, I edit the images, paying attention to detail, and present you with the best 5-10 images to choose from. My goal is for you to have your new head shot image files within 2 weeks of your session to use for all your needs. Head shot appointments can be booked anytime of year, and can be done anywhere – outdoors, your office, your home. I would love to help you with your head shots, whether it is just you or your entire office! Let’s update your look for 2017. Why? Because
YOU ARE YOUR BRAND
The Ballard’s – San Antonio Family Photographer
The Ballard’s are some of our oldest friends. We have known Dave and Ginna from our pre-children, early married days. Over the years we’ve taught Sunday school together, done play groups together, and {occasionally} lamented about the fun and stress of raising teens. Ginna and I visit often, swapping parenting wins and mom fails. Watching Dave and Ginna’s daughters grow and become lovely young ladies over the last 16 years has been a treat! Hailey and Emma are close to the ages of my boys, and their friendships have evolved over the years. In preschool they were buddies, late elementary through most of middle school they didn’t exist to one another, and now that they are teens, they are forming friendships that hopefully will last for a lifetime.
Relationships Matter
Photographing the same family multiple times over the years is special for me. I am a relationship person. I believe that’s what led me to spend 20 years of my nursing career in Pediatric Oncology. Creating special friendships with my patients and their families was very important for me. I value cultivating a relationship as a photographer with my clients and seeing how they change over time. I am always excited to have new clients, but having families return to me because they see the value in the experience and portraits I provide is incredibly rewarding! Looking back at at the Ballard’s earlier family portraits reminds me how quickly time flies and how much the girls have changed from when they were little to now as teenagers.
The Challenges of Teens and Tweens
Having older kids – tweens and teens – is challenging on many fronts. Time is so limited because of multiple activities, school and church functions, etc. Additionally, daily interactions can be emotionally exhausting! There are times you want to wring their necks and moments where you couldn’t be prouder of the humans they are becoming. I understand finding time to schedule a family session is challenging! In my opinion, teen years are one of the most important times to capture your family. Your children change so much in their teen years. THAT NEEDS TO BE DOCUMENTED! Middle school is often an especially awkward time for kids, consequently, that is why you need more than just the school photo of your kids! Senior portraits are years away, and the changes in 12-16 years olds can be dramatic! I know that has been true for my boys.
Hailey and Emma are beautiful inside and out! They are both smart and talented, and I look forward to what’s in store for each of them. In the meantime, Dave, Ginna, Wayne, and I will continue to celebrate and lament together as we weather these teenager days!
Let’s update your wall portraits!
When was your last family session? Are the latest pictures on your walls and in your frames of your kids in elementary school? Is the dreaded middle school picture the best you’ve got? Call me and let’s update your wall portraits and embrace the teen years! Click here to contact me to schedule your family portrait consultation.
