Batavia, N.Y. Senior Photographer GIVEAWAY!

My son will be a senior in just 2 short years. I have friends whose children have graduated and gone off to college. It’s such a surreal experience. One day you’re pregnant and you can’t wait to meet this little human that’s growing inside of you (or someone else) and then you’re sending them off to “adult”. You remember those long days and sleepless nights. The constant worry that you’re doing your best (this never goes away). The highs and the lows, and just pure admiration for this human being that was gifted to you……and then they’re gone living an independent(ish) life. You have documented their first days, weeks, smiles, laughs, boo boos, 1st tooth, awards and achievements, 1st days of school, birthdays and holidays, and now it’s time to capture them in their final year of high school. Don’t take this time for granted; it, too, will speed by. Not only have my friends shared with me their emotional response to having a senior, they’ve also shared with me the toll in which it puts on your pocket books. For that, I decided to offer Senior Mini Sessions. But, first, I wanted to give one slot away!

If you would like to win a Senior Mini Session Photoshoot for your 2025 High School Senior, go visit my Facebook Page for details. You can find it HERE. I can’t wait to meet your kiddo!

Batavia, N.Y. Photographer's Spring Mini Sessions

Even though we’ve had a pretty mild winter, I am SO ready for spring. I’ll take all the sneezing and itchy holes in my face if that means my body gets to be warm because, as many of you know, I LOATHE (in my best Jim Carrey from “The Grinch” voice) the snow and cold.

It’s time to get out of the studio and back into nature again so your kiddos can run and play. I like to offer minis during this time because it gets me warmed up for the busy 2024 spring, summer, and fall outdoor family photo sessions, and even though I do shoot through the winter months, it’s just a different style of shooting when I get to be outside.

If you’re looking to update your family portraits, celebrate a birthday, or just grab some milestone shots for your little one(s), Spring minis are a great way to do that.

BOOK SPRING MINI SESSION HERE

There are only 4 spots left!

My Purpose | Batavia NY Photographer

I have always struggled to know what my purpose in this world- how am I serving the world in a way that is bigger than me? How am I helping the greater good?

On Saturday, July 7th, I found my answer to that question. We left for vacation on July 6th, but we didn’t leave until we dropped off our senior pup to be cared for while we were gone. What we didn’t realize was that this would be the last time we’d get to see and hold him.

We were at the zoo with our children when we received the call that our sweet Jake, aka “Jakey” was at the vet struggling the breathe. We knew this day would come, but we thought “what could happen in 5 days?”. As I was talking on the phone with the vet, the world around me fell away. The hustle and bustle of the zoo silenced; It was just me, the vet, and my family facing one of the hardest decisions we had to make.

When I was a child, I vividly remember having stuffed animals and being afraid to get rid of them out of fear that they would feel alone and abandoned. These feelings came rushing right back as our pup, the pup that made us a family, was fighting for his life without us. All I could think was did he wonder if we abandoned him? Was he scared? Was he looking for us? Did he need our final goodbye as much as I needed his? There were options, but none that guaranteed us our sweet pup’s life. He was 16, blind, deaf, and frail; it was time to let him go. My Mother-in-law and Sister-in-law took on a huge role for us -one that I don’t think could’ve been handled better by anyone other than us. They provided him comfort when we couldn’t and held him until his very last breath. My husband bravely took over the arrangements because I couldn’t hold myself together, and our children collapsed to the nearest bench as tears flooded their eyes. That pup of ours was there with each of them when they came home from the hospital after birth, he snuggled up next to them on the couch during movie time, and he would play catch with them, albeit, he never would return the ball, lol. but he loved them and they loved him.

After he was gone, we decided that, as hard as it would be, we needed to do our best to enjoy this vacation. Not only did we enjoy our vacation, we had a lot of conversations about the fun times we had with Jake. So many stories the reminisce over the past 16 years. Some the boys remember and some that happened before they were born or when they were too young to remember.

This brings me to my purpose. When we got back to the house we were renting, I took to my computer. I was struggling to find comfort at a distance, and the best way I knew how to was photos. I realized then that I’m not just a photographer. I am the creator of your history vault. They aren’t just photos, they’re comfort in moments of grief, laughter in times of happiness, and gratefulness when you’re feeling nostalgic. I quite like that.

Never feel guilty asking to include your pets in your family photos. Shoot, if you just want a photo of your pet by themselves, let me know and I’d be more than happy to capture their sweet face for you! This being our first loss as a family, I didn’t realize how hard it would be. You don’t realize how much your pets impact your life until they’re no longer there. There’s an empty spot by my backdoor where our pup used to lay. His little fur patch is still in-tact because I don’t have the heart to vacuum it up. Some day, but not today. I have walked past that same door and the white daisies in the yard catch the corner of my eye in just the right way that my brain instantly thinks it’s Jake sitting in the back yard. I know all of this emptiness will fade and I his memory will help us heal, but I am thankful for photos of him to help our family on that journey to the future.

The first photo is him when he was at his prime. He was about 2 or 3 in this shot and he just looks so stoic, and it’s the Jake I remember him to be: young, energetic, wild, and a feverish excitement for people. This “big guy”, as I would call him, saved our youngest pup when she first arrived to us. Days into us getting her, she got her head stuck in our son’s soccer net and it was twisted so tight around her neck she nearly hanged herself. Jake rose to save her. While he was little, he sure was mighty! He barked and barked and barked, and barked some more until my husband went out to unravel her. He’s a hero, and I’m going to miss the hell out of that little ankle biter! The 2nd photo is the moment my children found out that we were going to lose him. Even though I was struggling to keep my emotions together, I had to snap this shot. It’s a moment that will never leave us. Life is a roller coaster. It’s filled with laughter and tears; don’t be afraid to capture the good and the bad.

If you made it this far, thank you for taking the time to read it. My emotions were bottled up and I had to put them to paper. You are victims of my sadness, but I thank you for having the heart to stick it out with me. Much love.

~Marie

Mommy & Me Studio Minis | Batavia, N.Y. Photographer

Mom’s are the best! I mean, Dad’s are too, but this post is about Mom’s, so today I’m going to brag on all the Mom’s.

Each family showed up with all the love and snuggles for their sweet, little nuggets. Some of the kiddos were full of the sillies, which I love, but my studio space is pretty tight so it’s constant redirection with the little ones but it gets the job done. Oh, did I mention that Mom’s are amazing? They were great at reigning in their littles for these cute shots.

As a Mom I know all too well how little I show up in photos with my kids. If I am in a photo, it’s often me blinking, talking, sneezing, or the shot is just blurry. We are often the ones making sure all those moments are documented. This forced my hand to start running a special for all my mommies. These “Mommy & Me” sessions are great for yourself, or as a gift for someone in your life.

If you don’t want to miss out on any specials I’m running, please, sign up for my newsletter, as that is where I will be sending any and all specials for my families.

SIGN ME UP!

Monthly Birthday Minis

As a child the one thing I vividly remember were birthday celebrations. We were always made to feel loved and extra special on our big day. Once I became a mom I continued this with my children. It’s not always a big, extravagant party, but it’s most definitely a day where they get to choose their special meal and dessert, and we make sure to surround them with all the people who love them.

This got the wheels spinning. I have decided that I would like to host birthday minis. So, each month, I would love to schedule a day where I can photograph your littles (and bigs) in their birthday month. I probably should have started this in January but I can’t control when my brain decides to develop ideas, but I do want to make this a long term service should it be successful.

I am still working on dates, but I’m planning on doing a weekday/evening during the summer months (July to August) and a weekend date from January to June and again from September to December. Some will be held outside, while others will be in the studio, and each theme may be different from the last. There may even be times where there’s no theme at all. Everything is still up in the air.

I will announce all of the dates and sign ups through my newsletter in the coming weeks, so if you would like to take part in these events, please sign up for my newsletter HERE.

Are You Expecting? | Batavia NY Photographer

I just found out that I am going to be a great aunt, so I thought it only appropriate to talk about when is the best time to book your maternity session.

I have said this many times before but I feel like it’s something that can never be shared enough. As a mom of 3, I never had maternity photos done and I regret it. Even though I felt huge and uncomfortable, I missed an opportunity to document each of my pregnancies. That time of my life is over and, if I could go back in time, I would absolutely book a maternity session for each of my pregnancies. It was hard enough knowing that I would never have that excitement when I saw the positive on each of my pregnancy tests. I would never get to feel those first flutters and kicks ever again, and I will never get to hear that first heartbeat again, but I could have had photos of this season of my life, but I don’t.

No matter how you feel about your body during pregnancy, remember that it is doing amazing things and there will be a point where you can no longer have babies, so don’t miss out on freezing this time in your life. Don’t let your pregnancy be a distant memory.

I typically book my maternity sessions anywhere from 30-36 weeks. The reason for this is because your bump is round enough to show off but you’re not to the point where you’re uncomfortable or swollen from water retention. Each pregnancy is different, and this is where communication with your photographer is going to be crucial. Some people may have early delivery plans due to complications. Talk to your photographer to decide the plan best for you.

I would recommend talking with a photographer to start the booking process once you enter your 2nd trimester (12-weeks). This way you have plenty of time to plan, and you might not think you need that much time to plan, but things are going to start to get a little chaotic the closer you get to your due date, so the earlier you plan the smoother session day will be for you.

If you’re are expecting and ready to book your maternity session with your Batavia, N.Y. Photographer, you can message me HERE. I can’t wait to hear from you!

Newborn Details | Batavia NY Photographer

It’s easy to forget how tiny your newborn was, but having these shots are a good reminder and can take you back, even just for a moment. I will never forget those wrinkly hands and feet each of my boys had when they were placed in my arms. I love photographing newborns for many reason, but my favorite things to photograph are these details, and I always love editing them in b+w because it really forces you to focus on the details like those little wrinkles and dry skin spot that all newborns have. Those tiny fingernails and chubby wrists. Those perfectly aligned toes that shoes have never touched, and those tiny, little lips.

These images are a great addition to a gallery wall showcasing your new little nugget. Don’t skip over these photos when you’re picking images from your gallery.

"Gotcha Day" for E | Batavia NY Photographer

I photographed this adoption last week but have been struggling with what images I wanted to share. This was a really special day for this family, and for this sweet girl. I’m SO happy I got to witness it and document it! The reason for the struggle was because this family really knows how to bring the love. They embraced. They laughed. They celebrated! There are so many photos I wanted to share but can’t, and that brings me to my second reason: This family also has other children still in the foster system and some of their friends have foster children, so sharing photos with other children was not an option.

A little backstory from this family: They started their foster care journey 9 years ago. They knew from the start that the end goal for fostering is always to reunite children with their family, but if that wasn’t possible, they were ready and willing to give these children a forever home, and on this day, they all got their wish! A forever home for their sweet, little girl.

E was placed into their arms right from the hospital as a newborn. It has been 4 years since that day; a long journey that has ended in sheer happiness! What is even more special is that she gets to share her home with an older brother and 2 biologic siblings, and to top this story off with a cherry, she also has 2 more siblings who were adopted as babies (pictured below) by another couple who live nearby and have been friends even before they were born: They celebrate birthdays together, have cookouts and play dates, get their photos taken together, and get to do all the things siblings do.

Finally, this family is really great at recognizing and including all of the people that made this day possible. Not one person was left out in celebrating E’s adoption day. All the people that make fostering and adoption possible don’t receive records or photos of children once they are adopted, so they made a point to print out thank you cards with E’s photo on them to remember them by.

You don’t meet many people like this very often, so when you do you hold on to them. Happy “Gotcha Day, E”! I’m so happy for you and your family!

Sign up to WIN a Minis Session with your Batavia, N.Y. Photographer

Years ago I would answer emails and update my social media on the weekends, but as my children get older and our lives get busier, I vowed that I would stick to my business hours for office work, but I have been receiving emails in regards to my Mommy & Me special I ran yesterday. Unfortunately there were some that missed the chance to book a slot because it sold old so fast. Because of that, I am giving up some time on a Saturday to do some office hours. I decided I would give those people, and anyone else who signs up for my newsletter, a second chance.

For anyone who signs up for my newsletter, I will pick one person at random to receive a slot for any of my mini sessions I run in 2023.

On April 7th I will announce the winner. You can sign up HERE, and be sure to include your first and last name.

Newborn & Family Studio Session by Batavia NY Photographer

Baby A has arrived and she is just the sweetest little nugget there ever could be. A head full of brown hair (unlike big sis) and the sweetest little lips you ever did see. I love seeing this family every year, and they only get better the bigger their family grows. Big sis is a girl after my own heart, though; loves the camera but hates having her photo taken, so I had to work fast when she did give me the time of day but she’s cute so I’ll let it slide….this time.

Have a look at their sweet newborn and family session. So much love for such a tiny human- as it should be.

If you are in your second trimester of pregnancy and are considering having your sweet newborn photographed, message me today so that we can discuss details. You can do that HERE. I can’t wait to chat with you!

Are you an Email Subscriber?

Join the club

Newsletter subscribers is where it’s at. I have been blogging for a couple of months now and I decided that it’s time to build my email list. I will make regular posts here on the blog, but I will no longer be posting model searches, sales, or any mini sessions on my social media or blog posts. I am doing this because I have many families tell me they missed my post. With how social media works, it’s entirely possible that I am missing out on meeting some really awesome people because, algorithms. Ya feel me?!

So, from now on I will be sending out newsletters on these items. If you don’t want to miss out anymore I encourage you to sign up! Don’t worry, I won’t pester your inbox with daily or weekly messages. I get enough crap email, so I get it. You will only receive a newsletter from me if it pertains to, again, model searches, sales, and mini sessions.

The 1st newsletter will be the announcement of my “Mommy & Me” gifted photo event, and there will be limited spots available.

If you don’t want to miss out, sign up here today: http://eepurl.com/cEyyxr

Baby S's Newborn Photo Session with Batavia NY Photographer

Meet Baby S & His Family

You’ve seen this crew on my feed before, but not this little face! I really enjoyed the time I spent with this family. Brother and sister are so sweet, they were happy to love on their newest little family member- after wrestling each other, of course. It’s always a challenge working with kids of this age in the studio because the space is so tight but they were so well behaved they made it a perfect day. Were there a few tears? Sure, but nothing we couldn’t manage. As you can see here, we got plenty of really cute images.

Oh, and tell Grandparents that if they plan to lend a hand during the session that they should be photo ready because I’m going to make sure they get a shot with their grandbabies- especially if there’s a new one!

WAHM struggles, how does one manage?

WAHM Struggles

I am a mom of 3 boys as many of you know- this photo being one of them many years ago. I enjoy the flexibility of being able to go pick up any one of them when they are not feeling well, or allowing them to stay home if they wake-up not feeling so hot- or too hot! Get it? Because they have a fever {it’s so dumb how easily entertained I am}. When I was a kid I always road the bus (or walked if we lived close enough to the school- which was rare). It felt like forever before we finally got to escape the school system. This is another luxury I have as a WAHM- I can drop my kids off in the morning and pick them up after. I have to thank my very hard working husband because he is why I get do this. It’s something I hope my kids look back on and are able to appreciate, but it does come with it’s negatives. When it’s off-season, aka…cold outside (I could have said winter, but we live in N.Y., so…..) I spend a lot of my time in my house doing backend work on my computer. The problem with this is my brain finds it really difficult to focus when the space around me is in shambles: laundry baskets, dishes in the sink and strewn across the counters, blankets and pillows spread throughout the living room, piles of coats and shoes at the backdoor, and the list goes on.

My question to you is how do you manage this? For me, I have to straighten up everything that’s in my line of sight so that my brain can hone in on the tasks I need to complete for that day. Is there some magic unicorn that helps you put up blinders until you can get to it? Do you retire to the cleanest space in your home, or just bail on the house altogether and escape to the nearest coffee house?

This morning I woke up to some emails that needed to be answered but, instead, I spent it scrubbing toilets, starting laundry, and cleaning the kitchen before we head into the busy weekend. While doing this I thought there must be other photographers (or wahm’s) that struggle with this too. To answer your inner questions: Those emails have been taken care of.

Now, don’t think I have not thought of the silver lining here: I do get to sit on a freshly cleaned toilet before my boys come home and spray their fire hoses all over them. Next house we’re putting in a urinal, I swear, but I digress. Anyway, from one work from home parent to another, let a girl know.

Family Photo Wardrobe Ideas with you Batavia, N.Y. Family Photographer

I have posted a few articles about how to pick your wardrobe, and in those posts I share places to buy clothing and I curate a wardrobe from new clothing. Today I decided that I wanted to share another wardrobe styling blog post, but this time I wanted it to be with this family that I help year-after-year pick clothing starting from their closet. You don’t have to go shopping for new clothes if you don’t want to.

For this family we started with a color palette that would be nice for winter family portraits. Originally we had plans to do them at their home but Mom changed her mind when she saw my Christmas set from 2022 but, because it was a full session, I setup this backdrop for them so they could have images to hang on their walls all year round.

The 1st piece we picked was Mom’s dress, and while it’s not within that cream, brown, and black palette we planned, it still works nicely here. She loves this dress and feels amazing in it so how could we she not wear it?! Then she pulled a number of clothes from her kids’ closets and sent pictures of them to me. I picked out all of the items I felt would work based on the color palette. Sometimes we do one person at a time so that I can help create a balanced palette, but sending multiple options per kid also works. I think the family only had to purchase one item (youngest daughter’s dress) to complete the wardrobe. She sent me 2 dresses she saw in the store and we both loved this one more. Also, it added another texture to the wardrobe creating a more dynamic look.

In short, don’t forget to shop at home before you head out to find clothing for your family portraits. We all have some type of “church clothing’, don’t we? Incorporate your everyday clothing (or work clothing) that makes you feel good and that you love.

Birthday Photos with Batavia, N.Y. Photographer

Happy 3rd birthday, Stephen!

I met Stephen and his family 2 years ago when he was about 9 or 10 months old. He always gives me a run for my money, but he’s the most fun! He loves Peppa Pig and his mommy and daddy- but he’s definitely a mama’s boy! He’s the sweetest, happiest little guy I have ever met. He’s easy to temper but when he’s happy HE’S OH, SO HAPPY, and has a smile that is so infectious.

Over the years working with Stephen I have learned that when he finds something that soothes him, you just go with it. As you can see here he is holding his Mom’s cell phone in one image and a water bottle in the other. The shot with the cell phone was when mom and dad were in the studio with them, but I wasn’t able to connect with Stephen on a personal level while his parents were in sight, so I kicked them out-along with the cell phone, LOL! He did fuss for a minute but, then, found a nearby water bottle that calmed him right down. I decided that I was just going to photograph him with these items because 1- he was able to control his emotions with them and 2- it shows who he is at this stage of life. Is it ideal? No, but I will do whatever I need to do to get the shot, and “the shot” here is him smiling and engaging with me.

I usually tell parents that showing a child their favorite cartoon on their phone over my head is not ideal because it makes them zone-out. In turn they look like a zombie for their photos. It also doesn’t allow me to get that connection that every parent wants from their photos. However, I make an exception for Stephen because the phone actually helps calm and center him, but I can still get that connection and keep him in the area of the studio I need him in. I rarely get eye contact from him but when I do it’s magical. His sweet little face, big brown eyes, and adorable smile make all the work worth it when I can capture it.

Portrait photography is not always about getting the most perfectly posed shot. It’s about meeting people where they’re at and photographing them as they are. It’s about pulling out their personality and showing it to the world. You’re a storyteller.

Fall is Coming- Batavia, N.Y. Photographer is ready for Fall Sessions

As I was chatting with a client yesterday, we were trying to find a date for her fall family session. It took us a minute to get her a date that would work. This had me thinking….I should probably let other families know that fall bookings are already starting. In years past my Fall calendar would fill up around August/September. However, this year, before the snow has even melted, clients are reaching out for those fall sessions.

From about Fall to Christmas photographers are in over-drive shooting, culling, and editing; we all start to go a little zombie-like by the holidays and start to quote longer turn around times to play catch-up. This is the reason why I don’t offer Fall mini sessions; I’m far too busy to add that option to my calendar, so if you’re waiting for me to announce fall minis before you book, you are waiting on the wrong photographer. But, if you’re just waiting because you’re not exactly sure when the best time to book your fall family session, now’s the time! Get on my calendar before there are no spots left.

You can get in touch with me HERE.

Family Photo Wardrobe Ideas- Spring Edition

Spring 2023 Wardrobe Ideas

March 1st has finally arrived, so I thought it would be a perfect time to discuss clothing ideas for the upcoming Spring Photo Season. We are at the point now where we will begin to get more warm days than cold…..I know I might be overly optimistic here because….N.Y., but I’m ready for the great thaw.

In the Spring you’re going to start to see more softer color palettes; think pastels and neutrals! While the color palette will shift from season-to-season, you’re still going to follow the basics: Dress for the weather (if you have an outdoor session), incorporate layers, and don’t forget about patterns and textures. In the winter you’re typically looking for heavier textures such as knit, wool, and fur, but in the spring you want to find something a little lighter (weather dependent, of course). Linen and lace are great ways to add light weight textures to your wardrobe, but you may need to add knit if the temps are a little on the chilly side.

Below is a sample wardrobe I put together based on my own family. I have 3 boys: 15, 11, and 7. Now, this dress is not something I would choose for myself, but it works for the purpose of my post. The dress would be considered the “hero piece” here since it holds all of the colors I wish to use. Doing this takes a lot of the guess work out of picking colors for everyone. For my oldest, who only wears joggers and hoodies because…teenagers, I picked something that would be super simple with bit of texture to add interest. For my middle son, I picked a blazer because it’s something he likes to wear; he’s a total gentleman sometimes, but I also paired it with a simple button down linen shirt to contrast the green in the blazer. I chose a crew neck for added comfort. For my youngest son I chose pink shorts because he’s still at an age where he isn’t overly opinionated about what her wears. The top I chose because I thought it was fun, but I probably wouldn’t choose this specific green as it looks more like a lime green over a soft, moss green but, by choosing this shirt, I have opened up an opportunity to teach you something. I always tell clients to take a couple of pieces that they plan to use for their wardrobe with them so that they can compare the colors side-by-side with potential pieces. Even a small color shift like this can make or break your wardrobe. Finally, for my husband I chose a soft blue sweater and paired it with a button down flannel. He can wear just the flannel like the man in the photo, or he can layer it under the sweater and just have the color showing. This is a nice way to be fully prepared for any weather you might get because he can layer it if it’s going to be a little chilly or just do one or the other if the temps are warmer.

Below I did another wardrobe sample, but I did a family of 4 with 2 girls.

In this wardrobe selection I kept a similar color palette as above but omitted the green, but you could totally add green in here if you wanted to and it would still work. First I saw this adorable scalloped sweater and built the colors around that, so don’t think that your hero piece has to be the one with all the colors. It just has to be a piece you absolutely love and have to use for your wardrobe. Also, I opted for an outfit for Mom that wasn’t a dress. So often I have people ask what they can wear instead of a dress, and this is a great option! I love the textures on the top and to warm it up I added a brown flat. Flats are a great choice for a lifestyle session. They are comfortable and easy to walk in. For Dad I wanted to bring back some of that pink, but I paired it with a darker blue slack. By adding the dark blue here instead of the same light blue on the top, it adds another level of contrast to the wardrobe. You can absolutely add in other shades of colors so long as the tone is similar.

And that’s it! If you’re still needing to book your Spring Mini Session with your Batavia, N.Y. Photographer, you can do that HERE.

Let’s summarize what we did here for preparing a great Spring Family Session Wardrobe

1. Soft Color palette

2. lightweight fabrics: linen, lace, and tulle. Cotton + knit should you need a little warmth on a chilly spring day.

3. Layers are a great way to add interest to your wardrobe, but it also serves as an extra layer if you need clothing for a cold day.

4. Pick clothing that fits your child’s personality and will make them feel comfortable and confident for photo day.

5. Wear clothing and fabrics that are comfortable.

Client Interview by Batavia, N.Y. Photographer

I’m not exactly sure when I met this family, as the timeline has been a little fuzzy, but I definitely remember how I met mom. She used to take care of my kiddos when they were in the childcare center at the YMCA as I worked out. We used to chat a lot about cloth diapering, as I was new to the whole process, and she also was my youngest son’s swim teacher. We hit it off immediately. She’s so easy to talk to and is super laid back, and she was exactly this same way when I photographed her family for the very 1st time. She keeps low expectations (because, kids) and is grateful for those images that just capture her kiddos just being kids. Of course she enjoys those shots of them smiling at the camera, but if that doesn’t happen, she’s happy just having an image of them being them. Having her on the sidelines during a family session is just such a calming experience. She’s very good at communicating with her children in a calm manor and allows her children to feel their feelings. As a person who can get over-stimulated very easily, this approach works well for me. Plus, she comes in with a positive attitude and has approachable vibes. I’ve never seen this woman without a smile on her face.

She’s a dream client. Because we’ve worked with each other in the past, she was a perfect candidate for my interviewing process. Here’s what I know and what I learned…..

The Klatt’s are a family of 5- 3 children who are 7, 5, and almost 2.

3 children who all have different needs during a photo session because of age differences but, also, individuality. Mom was really great at communicating (which is also something she appreciates in hiring a photographer) with me the needs of each of her children. When I started photographing children, I kind of approached them all in a similar way- with the exception of age. I would come in which high energy and silly voices. I quickly learned that this was an ineffective way to capture the uniqueness of each child. I learned that some kids thrive on high energy and some just need someone who can give them a calm and relaxing voice. Some are shy and need more time, and others are ready to go straight out of the gate. Some need more breaks, while others have no issue performing for the duration of the session. It’s important to learn as much as you can about the children you’re about to work with before meeting them so as to give the family the best experience.

The Klatt’s are a hardworking pair who have to save for professional photos when they want them. While they wish they could get them done more frequently, they value the time when they can. I asked mom if they had unlimited funds, how often would she want to have her family photographed. Her response (and I’m sure this is a shared feeling): “All the time; Christmas, Family vacations, or just family adventures on a regular day.” How fun would that be?! To have all the amazing moments in your life documented AND you wouldn’t have to do it. You could be fully present and in the moment with your family. As a photographer, this is something I don’t do enough of. 2 Christmas’s (is that even spelled correctly?!LOL) ago I promised myself that instead of photographing every gift opening experience, I would only do one and then put my camera down. It was really nice just to be involved and seeing in real time my family enjoying their Christmas morning. Although, I’m sure our children don’t want to feel like they’re on the “Truman Show” but, as a parent, having those images to look back on is really nice.

Getting family photos isn’t always the easiest task, either. There’s so much prep work that goes into getting ready for family photos- especially when you have little kids! Mom preps her kiddos by bathing them the night before to ensure they’re nice and clean, and that they get a good night’s rest. She also spends time prepping their clothing the weeks leading up to their session date. A fun fact about mom that she didn’t mention in her interview is that she even makes some of her children’s clothing. I just think this is so cool! It adds a new level of custom to their images, and what a great story to share with her children as they get older. She believes it’s important to have clothing that coordinates but also shows off the uniqueness of each of her kids. I found this response to be interesting. I’m not sure how many families take this into consideration when picking out clothing for their children. This reminds me of my middle son during family photos last summer. I had his outfit all planned out, but he had other plans in mind. Let’s just say I didn’t win but I will say, he did enjoy his photo taking experience more because he felt comfortable and confident in what he was wearing. That’s another reason to consider your children’s thoughts and feelings when picking out their clothes for photos.

This brings me to printing all of those beautiful photos: How does one display and share their photos? I’ll be honest, I’m an over-shooter. I want to make sure I don’t miss a moment. Shooting this way is a blessing and a curse. While it yields a large gallery to cull, it leaves me with a large gallery to cull. I can also overwhelm clients because now they have a large gallery to choose from, but the Klatt family has figured out a nice way to share all of their photos without having to completely fill their walls and shelves. This isn’t to say they don’t hang photos on their walls, they do, but not every image is meant to be displayed, so a great way to have a hard copy of them to share is in albums. The Klatt family uses Chatbooks for their album printing. This is a great way to get those images from your computer onto paper at an affordable rate, and you can get a book every month should you so choose! At the rate in which parents photograph their kids in this digital age, you’d definitely have enough content to fill a book every month! How many times have you had photos done and you didn’t even print them? I’m totally guilty of this. Life gets crazy and those photos get put to the wayside. However, having a subscription to something like Chatbooks, it almost forces you to print those images. Plus, kids love flipping through photo books. At least I know mine do. Why not have the book be of them and their family?! Give them a dose of nostalgia and create a moment for you to share with your children.

Thank you, Laura, for taking the time to fill out my form. For those who want to be like Laura, go HERE to fill. out the form. I definitely took some tips away from your answers and will be incorporating them for future clients.

Batavia, N.Y. Photographer is NOW BOOKING 2024 Senior Sessions

2024 Seniors Photo Sessions

Graduating from high school is a significant milestone in a student's life, and what better way to capture the moment than with a senior photo session? Senior photo sessions offer a unique opportunity to showcase your child’s personality and accomplishments while also creating beautiful memories that will last a lifetime. I often get asked how soon a parent or guardian should book a senior photo session, and my answer is always IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY!

Senior photo season begins in the spring/summer right before your child is about to enter their final year of high school, and runs until about October/November. This means that if you have a child who will be graduating in the spring of 2024, now is the time to start booking their senior portrait session!

Senior Photo Sessions are some of my favorite shoots to complete. I have found that while all of my seniors are very different in terms of personalities and photo requests go, but at the end of the day, they all have the same goal; to have photos that make them look good and allow them to share their story. While Marie Bohn Photography is located in Batavia, N.Y., she has photographed seniors from Rochester, N.Y. to Buffalo, N.Y. and everywhere in-between. If you’re ready to book your senior’s photos session, please visit my contact page so we can start planning!

Batavia, N.Y. Photographer is Looking for Interviews

Batavia, N.Y. Photographer is Looking For Interviews

I am on the search for more content to write about, so I’m seeking out people to interview.

What type of interviews am I looking for? I want to hear about your story working as a photographer in the industry; family, newborn, wedding, senior, corporate work, nature, real estate, etc.. But, also, I want to hear from people who have worked with a photographer for their personal or professional life. This could be anywhere from having your family photographed to working with a photographer that has created images for your business. I would also love to hear from those that have worked with multiple photographers and how their experiences differed from person to person.

How this works

• I am going to send you a list of curated questions based on how you respond to my questions below.

• If you hear back from me, then you know I have selected you to share your story in one of my weekly blog posts.

• I would like for you to be as transparent as possible because, not only do I want to hear about your experience, this is me trying to learn how to improve upon my own services in the industry.