Top 5 Things To Do In Cincinnati This Holiday Season

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It’s officially November, the Queen City is starting to gear up for the Holidays. If you’re looking for things to do in Cincinnati this Holiday season, you’ve come to the right place. 

One of the reasons I have loved growing up in Cincinnati is how beautiful the city gets during this time of year. 

There are so many things to do in Cincinnati when it comes to the Holidays. 

Our city is family friendly, you will be able to find a lot of activities that your entire family can enjoy. 

I know the holidays can be a stressful time but sometimes taking a step back and remembering what they’re truly about can help you look forward to this time of the year. 

The holidays are about spending time with your family. 

Whether you’re new parents that are spending their first holiday together as a family or a parent of college students that are coming home for the first time, it’s important to cherish the moments you get to spend together. 

I am confident when I say that our beautiful city will provide you with memories to last a lifetime. 

By the time you’re done completing all the things in this post, you’ll never dread this time of year. 

Let’s talk about things to do in Cincinnati during the Holidays. 

 Top 5 Things To Do In Cincinnati This Holiday Season

1. Visit Santa

Visiting Santa at the mall is likely a tradition that you remember when you were growing up. 

I know I have countless pictures of my sister and I at the mall meeting Santa. 

Lucky for you, Cincinnati has so many places where you can meet Santa. 

Kenwood Mall is one of our biggest shopping centers with over 150 stores. 

Don’t worry about the mall being busy though. This year you can reserve a time to meet with Santa so you don’t have to wait in the long line. 

It gets better. You can predetermine a picture package you would like to purchase when you go to meet Santa with your kids. 

Another mall you could meet Santa at is the Florence Mall in Northern Kentucky. 

This mall takes the Santa fastpass one step further by allowing you to reserve times for your pets to meet with santa. We all know pets are important members of the family, so including them in your trips to the mall to meet Santa will guarantee to create lifelong memories. 

Florence Mall also has options to reserve a time with Santa for your children if you decide to shop there over Kenwood. 

One final place where you can get picturesque Santa pictures is at the Hotel Covington. 

Every year, for one day only, they have Santa in his sleigh stationed in their lobby for families to come and take pictures with. 

Make sure to stay up to date with their calendar so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to meet Santa at the historic Hotel Covington.

2. Festival of Lights

One of my favorite Cincinnati traditions during the holidays is the Festival of Lights. 

Now entering its 37th year, the Cincinnati Zoo hosts the Festival of Lights every year. 

The zoo completely transforms during this time of year to a magical wonderland. 

Usually, you can expect to see spectacular light shows and various light related events throughout the zoo. 

This year, however, families can partake in a Fiona scavenger hunt and take pictures in front of a festive backdrop in the Hippo Hut. 

If you’re in the city during this time, the Festival of Lights is an absolute must see. 

Besides seeing the lights, you get to see the zoo and all of its amenities. 

Some of my fondest memories are at the Festival of Lights. 

If you don’t have time to see Santa at one of the locations mentioned above, Santa will also be at the zoo during this time. 

Opening day is on November 16th and will operate until January 4th. 

3. Christkindlmarkt

One of the aspects of our city that I think makes us so unique is our deep German heritage. 

From Oktoberfest to Christkindlmarkt, Cincinnati does not shy away from embracing our German roots. 

Christkindlmarkt is “the oldest and most authentic German Christmas market in the Cincinnati Region”. 

Don’t worry if you don’t know what a German Christmas market is, I didn’t know at first either. 

At Christkindlmarkt, you can enjoy: 

  • German music
  • A lantern parade
  • A petting zoo
  • Caroling
  • Carriage Rides

Besides that, you can also indulge in authentic German food including bratwurst, sauerkraut balls and cream puffs.  

If you’re worried about getting your holiday shopping done, don’t worry. Christkindlmarkt has vendors that sell authentic German gifts like nutcrackers and advent calendars. 

Finally, they have a raffle where you can win one of three amazing gifts. 

Christkindlmarkt will be a unique holiday experience that can become a new tradition for your family.  

4. Family Photo Session

One of the stressful parts of this time of year is getting together a Christmas card to send to all of your loved ones. 

You have to decide what picture to include, what design to choose and what to say on it. 

Have no fear, I will take care of all your family photo needs. 

Carrie Lynne Photography offers a number of different services that will be perfect for your family to get the perfect photo for that Christmas card. 

When you book your session, you can choose from a few different family photo packages that fit your holiday schedule. 

Here is an example of a heart warming family photo that you would feel excited to share with all of your friends. 

I truly believe that winter is one of the best times to photograph newborns, because newborns take the best pictures when they’re warm and cozy. 

I’m not kidding and my pictures prove it! 

5. Ice Skating on Fountain Square

A great way to finish your holiday trip to Cincinnati is to go ice skating in Fountain Square. 

From November to February, the square is taken over by an Ice Rink. The rink opened on November 2nd so it’s ready now for your family to enjoy. 

You don’t have to worry about owning ice skates because you can rent a pair for $4 before you go on the ice. 

I know I used to be hesitant about ice skating because I wasn’t very good at it but at Fountain Square you don’t have to worry about that. You can rent special skates and aids that will assist you on the ice. 

If you get cold and thirsty, there is a full concession stand that has Hot Cocoa and alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages. 

If you really want to make an evening out of it, you can rent a warming tent to sit in when you get tired from skating. 

Ice skating on Fountain Square will be the perfect end to your holiday adventure. 

Holiday Wrap Up

The holidays can be a magical time, especially when you spend them in Cincinnati. 

It doesn’t always have to be about who gives the best present or how long you wait in line to see Santa. 

What really matters is spending time with the people you love and building memories that will last forever. 

Some of my fondest memories come from around this time and I’m sure you can relate. 

Cincinnati really does become a magical place around this time of year. It can really be a surreal experience to see the city lit up. 

You will find multiple unique adventures to embark on while you’re in the city. 

I can guarantee that you’ll want to come back next year to explore some more. 

It’s only November so there’s still plenty of time to plan your family trip to Cincinnati this holiday season.

There are so many fun things to do in Cincinnati around this time, these are just some of our favorites. 

What are some of your favorite Holiday traditions?

5 Reasons A Fall Photoshoot Trumps All

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Fall is quickly approaching and I can’t help but get excited! Comfy sweaters, pumpkin spice lattes, the leaves changing, the nice crisp air, I could go on and on about this season. Not only is it my favorite season for personal reasons, but if you’re looking to update your photo collection, a fall photoshoot is key. 

As a photographer who shoots indoor and outdoor photography, all I can say is that outdoor photoshoots in the fall are unbeatable. Indoor photoshoots definitely save the day for all of the other seasons we have in Cincinnati because they allow me to not have to worry about the weather. However, you also can’t compete with nature’s beauty, and a fall photoshoot gives you just that. 

Here are five reasons you should book your fall photoshoot now. 

1. Perfect Weather

A typical fall day in Cincinnati looks like 60 to 70 degrees of sunshine, a nice breeze, and dry crisp air. After a hot and humid summer, that’s all we can ask for! Whether you’re a huge fan of summer or not, you can’t beat the weather in the fall. 

You no longer have to worry about sweating through your outfit, having your hair frizz up, or dealing with those long and rainy days. 

Fall is the type of weather that makes me just want to roll down my windows in the car, or leave my windows open in my house just to feel and smell the air. 

There is no doubt that fall can be quite chilly, but that just makes for a cozier photo moment. 

The fall weather gives you the best opportunity to coordinate your layered looks. Plaid shirts, vests, boots, and scarves allow you to mix and match different colors, patterns and textures. 

The plaid shirt and vest is more of a traditional midwestern look. However, this family of four, with the cutest daughters decided to glam it up a bit. They mixed shades of navy, tan, and light pink for their fall photo session. 

The fuzzy sweaters, and fur vests bring all the cozy vibes to this photo session. 

2. Beautiful Coloring 

In addition to the greatness of the weather, have you seen anything more gorgeous than a fall tree changing colors? From green, to yellow, to red, it’s stunning! 

There is simply nothing prettier than a golden hour where the sun reflects off the golden and color changing leaves. 

The family pictured knocked their fall photoshoot out of the ballpark. The mother’s golden yellow dress, the father’s pop of blue, mixed with their children’s neutral outfits, really coordinate well with the coloring in the trees. 

To take it a step farther, another fall photoshoot setting could involve a big pile of leaves! Whether you’re kids or adults, a fall photoshoot in a pile of leaves is unbeatable. You can never outgrow this aesthetic, and there’s something really cute about adults acting like their children again. Especially if it’s an engagement session, childlike love is the best. 

Grab a handful throw some leaves in the air, and share some laughs with some of your favorite people. 

3. Cozy Aesthetic

There is absolutely nothing cozy about a summer day or night. Summers are so hot that you won’t even want to be closer than 10 feet from one another. 

However, a chilly fall night calls for all the cuddles, and the coziest attire you can think of. I’m imagining big oversized sweaters, denim jackets, vests, blankets, and booties and I’m getting cozy just thinking about it. 

Start coordinating your outfits with shades of olive green, rusty orange, brown, golden yellows, navy, maroon and all of the fall colors. 

Fall photoshoots are a blast because you have the perfect excuse to be comfortable while you’re doing it!

This adorable family has incorporated all of my favorite fall colors and this photo screams family goals from a mile away. If this family hasn’t convinced you to sign up for your fall photoshoot yet, I don’t know what will. 

4. Late Sunset 

The fourth reason fall photoshoots are so key is because the sun stays out long enough to actually get a full photo session captured. After the time change, and as winter starts to approach, the sun will start to go down by 5:00 pm or 6:00 pm. It’s nearly impossible to get outdoor photos during the winter session, unless you’re planning on skipping work early or scheduling a weekend session. 

However, for a fall photoshoot, you get a full and hopefully breathtaking sunset, and you get almost an hour of it! 

As a photographer, we wait all year for these fall sunsets. And now you know why summer and fall are the most popular times of the year to get married. 

This photo featured is one of my all time favorites, because it shows just how fun photo sessions are! We all know it can sometimes be a nightmare getting your children to cooperate and actually pose, let alone smile for a picture. 

That’s why I like to make the photo session fun and playful. That way, your kids are enjoying themselves, and I’m capturing their full smile and laugh at the same time. A little personality never hurt anybody! 

5. Use Your Photos For Holiday Cards

I don’t want to start talking about the holidays too early, but what better chance to get your Christmas cards out of the way than with a fall photoshoot. Your pictures will now be updated and you don’t have to try and use the same picture from last year. 

The photos will also be seasonally appropriate if you’re bundled up for fall already anyway. So pick a day, schedule a time, update your family photos and you’ll be set when the stressful holiday season arrives. Besides just holiday cards, there are tons of ways to use your family photos. 

Wrap Up

I think you get the point by now, and a fall photoshoot really sells itself with the gorgeous photos, but in terms of timing, I know it can really sneak up on you. This is your friendly reminder to schedule something now and figure out the theme, and outfits later! 

Scheduling a photo session during this time of the year, is one decision I can promise you, you won’t regret! To view more photos from my portfolio visit my website at, carrielynnephotography.com.

21 Family Photography Quotes

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Family photography is an amazing business to be in. Every single day I feel blessed to do what I do and serve clients in this capacity.

My clients welcome me into their homes, and let me be a part of their family with open arms and I can’t thank you guys enough. 

This post is all about appreciation, and remembering why I do what I do. I hope you guys see the value in the family photography if you’ve never utilized a photographer. 

Best Family Photography Quotes

family reunion photo session

1.  “What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” – Karl Lagerfeld

This right here is one of the reasons photography is so important to me. Especially newborn photography, it’s a special moment, that you’ll only be able to remember with photographs. Have you ever had this slight memory in your mind that you really wanted to share with someone? You we’re trying to describe the moment, but couldn’t quite get a grasp on it. That’s when you really wish you just had a photo you could pull out. 

2. “Photography is a language more universal than words.” – Minor White

I love this quote because most people don’t think of photography in this way. Photography is so significant because it’s not just capturing a moment, but it’s capturing an image that can speak for itself. You don’t need words to understand the expression on someone’s face or be able to feel like you’re in the moment with them. 

3. “A photograph keeps a moment from running away” – Eudora Welty

Have you ever been sitting there, just wondering how you can capture that moment forever. Maybe it’s the birth of your child, maybe it’s your wedding day, or maternity season, and it’s a time in your life that you want to remember forever. The best thing you can do, is capture it with a photograph. As seen in the photo above, a family reunion is another perfect opportunity for a family photography session. 

4. “The question is not what you look at, but what you see.” – Henry Thoreau

Have you ever been shown an image and asked what you see. Then you ask your friend and she they seen something completely different. That’s what is so powerful about photos, you can be looking at the same image and see two completely different things. 

5. “If you don’t think photos are important, wait until they’re all you have left.” – Missy Mwac

 Sometimes stopping in the moment to take a photo or spending the time to hire someone and organize a photo session can seem overwhelming and not worth it. However, when you choose to go so long without photos and you’re finally trying to look back and reminisce, you’ll wish you had more photos to reference. I always tell my family and friends that if we don’t take a moment now to remember the moment, we’ll regret it later. 

first-child-photos

6. “A camera is a save button for the mind’s eye” – Roger Kingston

Have you ever traveled anywhere and laid eyes on one of the most gorgeous nature scenes you’ve ever seen? When you gaze at that ocean, mountain, or flower field and just wish you could remember it’s beauty forever. Sometimes the picture does it justice and sometimes it doesn’t, but a photo is the best way to hit the save button for the mind’s eye. 

7. “What I like most about photography is the moment that you can’t anticipate: You have to be constantly watching for it, ready to welcome the unexpected.” – Martine Franck

Some of the best moments are caught when people are least expecting you to take a photo. Candid images have became very popular over the past few years because capturing the raw and unfiltered moment is so attractive. Lining everyone up and asking for a fake smile, isn’t what people are seeking to capture anymore. If I’m photographing parent’s with their children, I’ll have them pick them up and spin them around, or play a round of tag to get the natural laughing and smiling of the children and parents. 

8. “There are no bad pictures, that’s just how your face looks sometimes.” – Abraham Lincoln

One of the wisest men of all time has a point. Whether you like the way you look or not, a photo captures the moment. Maybe that’s a moment you don’t want to remember, but there is no bad picture. 

9. “The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.” – Andy Warhol

Every second of everyday we’re getting older. People are growing up, their changing, maybe moving away, maybe passing away and the best part about a photo together is the fact that time has stopped. 

10. “You will never have this day with your children again. Tomorrow, they will be a little older than they were today. This day is a gift. Just breathe, notice, study their faces and little feet. Pay attention. Relish the charms of the present. Enjoy today. It will be over before you know it.” – Jen Hatmaker

Be careful of the statement “I’ll do it tomorrow” because when you keep saying that, you keep pushing something off and eventually tomorrow turns into 5 years from now. I want to encourage you to schedule that family photography session, or that newborn photoshoot, don’t wait any longer because your child is just going to keep getting older and older. 

mom and daughter pictures

11. “We may not have it all together, but together we have it all.” – Unknown

Sometimes families can get so caught up in having it all together. Especially as a mother you’re juggling being a great parent, while also keeping the house clean, cooking meals and making sure the laundry is complete. Just remember, your family just needs you, not everything you have to do for them. 

12. “Our family is just the right mix of chaos and love.” – Unknown

No families are perfect, and honestly, it’s the families with a little bit of chaos that make for the best photo moments! All of the different people and personalities in a family can make for some pretty fun times, but even if you’re family is full of chaos, I’m sure there is a lot of love as well. 

13. “The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.” – Og Mandino

Don’t get too caught up in discipling and correcting your child, and make sure that you just stop occasionally to create some happy memories. Let them get dirt all over them and stay up past their bed time, because those memories are the ones they will cherish forever. 

14. “It’s not what we have in life, but who we have in our life that matters.” – J.M. Laurence 

There is quite a theme happening here. If you haven’t gotten it already, it’s the people that matter. Even if you don’t think you have the best family life, I’m sure those people have your back. And sometimes you don’t realize that till you guys have to go through something hard today. 

15. “We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.” – A. A. Milne

Making memories doesn’t need to be some big ordeal, sometimes it’s as simple as something really funny happening, or maybe it’s staying in and having a game night. 

family photography session

16. “Family, a little bit of crazy, a little bit of loud and a whole lot of love.” – Unknown

The family that has it all together isn’t as appealing to me as the family that has a bunch of unique and individual personalities that mix together and create a lot of crazy and a ton of love for one another. 

17. “Blessed are the curious, for they shall have adventures” – Lovelle Drachman

Being curious and asking questions, isn’t always a bad thing, in fact sometimes it’s great. Lovelle says the curious shall have adventures. As a family photographer, I try to stay curious and be up for any adventure, that’s when the magic happens. 

18. “The funny thing about kids is, they are the reason we love it and the reason we hold it together.” — Unknown

This quote couldn’t be more accurate. Puppies are the same way, they can be exhausting, and frustrating and extremely difficult, but they bring so much joy and purpose to your life at the same time. Being a parent is one of the best blessings and most fulfilling roles of all time. 

19. “Each day of our lives we make deposits into the memory banks of our children.” – Charles Swindoll

What memories are you making with your children? What positive thoughts and encouragement are you saving into their memory bank? Sometimes as parents we always think we need to plan some fancy vacation or take our children to kings island, when sometimes it’s as simple as crafting together in the kitchen or cooking them their favorite meal. 

20. “We aren’t step, we aren’t half, we’re just family” – Unknown

Do any of you guys have “complicated” families? You have steps, and halves, and adopted siblings but really it’s simply just family. As a family photographer it’s important that everyone feels included and as one united group during the photo sessions. In fact, hopefully you always feel like one united family. 

21. “We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today.” – Staucia Tauscher

No matter what the age, a child has a personality, they can make decisions, and they have feelings immediately. As much as we want to shape our children into the next leader, business man, business woman, or athlete, it’s important to acknowledge where they’re at right now. They are already someone and they’ve probably already have come a long way too. Appreciate who they are now, not who you want them to become. 

outdoor family photos cincinnati

Conclusion

There you have it. The top 21 family photography quotes of all time. 

I hope these quotes made you think about memories you’ve created with your family, helped encourage you to spend quality time with your family members, and realized the importance of capturing life as it feels like a blink of an eye. 

My passion is truly to capture real life moments, families being themselves and important life stages. 

If you’re interested in a family photo session or a newborn photo session, visit my website for details. 

What was your favorite family photography quote above, and why?

FAQ’s for Family Portrait Sessions

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Scheduling a family portrait session can often times be more overwhelming than it needs to be. I believe a lot of people just keep putting off their session because maybe it’s their very first time using a professional photographer and they just aren’t sure what to expect. I don’t blame them, the unknown is always scarier than the known.

Here are a few questions that I commonly get asked and my answers to help you have a fun and exciting family portrait session.

Should You Coordinate Your Outfits?

There is something special that just brings pure joy when we look back on family portraits. Family portraits are moments that will be cherished forever, and this is why we need to make sure everything is planned ahead of time including coordinating outfits for the entire family. Whether you are taking your annual photoshoot or trying to replace the current photo you have above the mantle, you need to make sure that your family looks their best.

There are many things to consider and keep in mind when coordinating outfits for family photos. This process may seem overwhelming at first, but it shouldn’t be very difficult. Start by focusing on outfits that will allow your photo to have a timeless feel. For example, Spring or Fall photos are recommended because those two seasons are more nuetral and as opposed to photos on the beach or decked out in winter coats. We have come up with this tips to help you coordinate your family photo shoot outfit:

Coordinating Colors Not Matching

Your outfits should have colors that coordinate well, however every family member doesn’t have to wear the same outfit. Although families represent a bond, each family is made up of individual family members. It’s important to be cohesive while also letting everyone share a bit of their personality through the photos. The last thing you want your family photos to portray is that you all are twins or almost robot looking. You can achieve a more natural look across the board by choosing two primary colors and then adding a simple tone to complete your color scheme.

For example, for the Fall family photoshoot, I would recommend blue jeans, a burnt orange color and some olive green. Or maybe you want to do khakis and a pop of red plaid.

Look At Your Home Decor

If you plan on hanging the photos in your house make sure that the color of the clothes you wear in your shoots go well with the color scheme of your home. If you want to add color to your home maybe coordinate more pops of color in your outfits. If you want to match the neutral shades of your home than choose more subtle colors.

Think About Accessories

Accessories and the small details in the outfit will make your photo look so much more fun. So, when coordinating accessories, you can have the kids play with hats or necklaces and have the father wearing a scarf or tie.

How Often Should We Do A Family Photoshoot?

Having a family portrait session is often on everyone’s mind but gets left off the to-do list often. We always want to take the time and money to get our family all in the same shot, dressed nicely, everyone smiling for the camera, but we also come up with excuses. “My kids are too wild; they’d never sit still for a picture.” “We can do it next year, no harm in skipping it again this year.” “My kids haven’t changed that much.” “I’d love to have them, but it’s too complicated to find a time, schedule and locate a photographer.”

So, the answer to this commonly asked question is – as often as you’d like. There is no rule of the socially prescribed norm for how often you should engage your family photographer. However, there are basic thoughts to be taken into consideration concerning this; for instance, you need to

1.  Take Into Account Things Like The Age Of Your Kids.

They are only this age now. Soon they will be grown up or perhaps unwilling to have their photo taken. Taking family photos at several different developmental milestones throughout each child’s life are quite recommendable, such as the newborn stage,  pre-school years, grade school and of course at the attainment of teenage years and maturity. This allows you to reminisce at your family’s development over the years.

2. Take Photos For Notable Events and Seasons

For example, any first days of school, finishing school, Christmas, birthdays, family vacation, awards and presentations, weddings or even a family reunion are all great reasons to schedule a family portrait session. 

Most of these events encourage families to get together, so it’s an excellent opportunity to include everyone, especially distant relatives and close friends. This also allows the younger ones to enjoy time and memories spent with cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents. However, the case may be, through pictures taken at such occasional gathering and events, later in the future.

3. Take The Weather Into Account

If you are still confused about how often to take a family holiday photo shoot, taking a family photograph during different seasons is pretty cool. Winter photos are vastly different from Summer photos. Autumn is my personal favorite because it’s a great chance to catch some colourful images like the leaves changing and include the beautiful landscape in the photos.

4. Time Doesn’t Repeat Itself, So The Best Time Is Now

Take random family portrait sessions during unexpected moments to capture precious memories.

In all, there is no limitation as to how often to take a family photo. Every one to two years would be a fantastic record of your family’s growth. It does not need to be an expensive exercise, and a good family photographer can guide you well.

What Do I Need To Know Before Booking a Photoshoot?

 

The million dollar question. It can be a tiring process, booking a photo shoot. There are a lot of things to be considered when thinking of booking family photos. This article is meant to help you with the right questions to ask before booking a photo shoot. You have to have answered some of these questions yourself before diving into the whole thing. The first thing you should look at is:

1. Your Budget.

How much you are planning to spend on this is going to determine who you choose to shoot with. Fact is, you probably have no idea how much you’d like to spend – which is understandable. It is hard to know how much a photographer will cost. What you should do is find a photographer whose work you truly enjoy and ask how much they will cost. Then, from there, think of how far you would be willing to go to pay for quality.

2. Imagery

What kind of imagery do you want? All that matters is your satisfaction with the style of imagery the photographer uses. If they show you a series of photos, and you like their style, then go for them, even if it means you have to spend more. Quality, not quantity, remember? Also, find someone whose images connect with you. It is a bad idea to invest your money into images that you won’t end up liking.

3. Purpose

What is the purpose of your family portrait session? Family holiday photoshoot? Christmas photo shoot? Most photographers have a photo shoot they do best. It’s the specific field where their creativity pops out. Choose a photographer who you think will get the moment exactly right before you book them.

4. Time-frame

How long will it take them to get everything done and sent to you? Every photographer has their different workflow. What might take someone a day to finish, might take another a month or two to finish because they have different projects to finish. Before booking a photo shoot, find out how fast they can get your pictures back to you if you need them by a certain day.

5. Studio or Location

Find out which is more comfortable with the photographer. However, it depends on the one you’d like to go for. If you want a home studio, and your photographer doesn’t have space, it might probably cost more if you’re hell-bent on a home studio photoshoot.

Top 5 Ways To Use Your Family Portraits

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One of the reasons I started my photography business is because of how important portraits are to me. Often times pictures can be overlooked and underrated. You may just assume you can snap a shot on your iphone and instantly upload it to Facebook and you’re good to go. I think if used correctly, portraits can make a powerful difference in your home. 

Facebook and social media are great places to store your photos because they are automatically time stamped and easy to access no matter where you are. However, what if something were to happen to Facebook or Instagram? The same can be true for physical copies. What if something happened to a physical copy of a photo? Either way I suggest having multiple copies of photos stored in various locations just in case.

The message behind this post, isn’t to make sure you never have to leave your photos behind, but more so, to inspire you to use your new family portraits in a way you may never have thought of. Here are five great ways to get the most out of your family portraits.

Blow It Up

If you have a great family photo, why not get the most out of it by blowing it up. Bigger is always better, right? Okay this may not necessarily be the case, but if done right, a blown up picture makes a great statement in your home.

Most people get their photos printed to put in a 5×7 frame, but I think there is something so great about going above and beyond and blowing the photo up. Artwork, and mirrors are very popular when it comes to filling up blank spaces, but you can only have so many mirrors, and why not use your family portraits as a piece of art?

I recommend hanging the picture on a giant wall either in your family room or your living room. I believe that what often times makes a house feel like a home is when there are family photos. A home becomes a home when there are memories spent there with loved ones.

If you know ahead of time that you are going to blow up this family photo, I would pay special attention to the clothing that you choose to wear for that photoshoot. Make sure that the color scheme of your outfits also coordinate with the color scheme of your home decor. For example, you most likely wouldn’t want to blow up a holiday family portrait because red sweaters and fuzzy coats may not look the best hanging on your wall in the middle of June.

Photo Album or Book

If you wanted to keep your family portraits more private and personal to you, a photo album or printed book is a perfect alternative. Photo albums have been around for a very long time and I believe they aren’t going anywhere. Even with the popularity of Facebook, having all of your photos kept in one special spot and decorating it if you choose to do so, is irreplaceable.  

I remember how much I valued the photo albums that were created for me during my childhood and since then I have tried to carry on the tradition.

I feel as though decorating and creating photo albums is definitely becoming more of a past time, and simply because they are time consuming. Picking out the background paper, cutting the pictures, adding labels or stickers and all of the additional things you can do to it takes a lot of effort.

It’s definitely much easier to simply click the upload button on Facebook, but the thought and personalized touch that goes behind creating a photo album speaks volumes. If you just simply aren’t impressed with your decorating or crafting abilities, there are multiple other ways you can create a book or photo album without touching a pair of scissors or tape.

Companies like Shutterfly have made your lives as easy as possible. All you have to do is still click that upload button but instead your photos are printed into a photo album type book. This alternative gives you the best of both worlds.

Wall Decor Photo Collage

A photo collage is a great way to display your family portrait collection. A photo collage is a great way to get representation from multiple family members. If you have a large family or extended family and it’s important for you to include everyone then this photo collage will be your best bet.

A photo collage takes a little bit more effort in terms of design, and picture frame hanging, so make sure you are up for a little bit of a challenge. If you know that you are interested in a photo collage, but aren’t sure where you should begin, I recommend heading to Pinterest and finding inspiration.

Are you going for the random but organized look or do you want all of the your frames lined up symmetrically? Do you want to have all matching frames or do you want to have all different kinds of frames? Do you want to have all of the same size photos or a variety?

And maybe you have no idea the answers to any of these questions, but once you check out Pinterest and find your inspiration, that should clear up any of your uncertainty.

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Picture Frames

If you’re more of the traditional type, then stick to your guns and go that route. Print your 5×7 photos and frame them, however make sure these photos are high quality and strong family portraits. If these photos are going to be displayed, they should be the best of the best photos.

If you don’t think that you have any high quality photos, I encourage you to contact me to schedule a photoshoot. High quality photos are irreplaceable and they capture a moment in time that could otherwise be easily forgotten.

Holiday Cards

Tis the season! Family portraits aren’t just for home decor, but for sharing the holidays with your friends and family. A Christmas card is one of the best ways to wish everyone close to you a happy holiday and keep in touch with people you may have lost regular connection with.

Christmas cards are fun to receive every year and see how much certain families have grown and changed over just one year. A Christmas card is another great way to timestamp moments.

The Benefits of Holiday Family Photoshoot

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Some people say memories made with your family are the very core of a person’s being. I share this belief. See, a person’s family is what shapes a person into who they will become. It’s the time spent with them that fine-tunes an individual. And what better way is there to make these memories and moments than to go for a holiday family photoshoot.

Although said lightly, this idea has over the years been a highlight for a lot of families. Family holidays are breaks from our everyday busy lives. They are reliefs to the human soul, body, and mind. For children, these family holidays make some of the “fondest childhood memories”. The excitement, the love, the experience and the getting to know each other better are just some of the small benefits.

Below are a few reasons why you should consider booking a family photoshoot for the holidays.

1. Create Memories

This is usually the number one reason people will book a family holiday photoshoot. You create moments and memories that bring you closer. Such memories that once the holiday is over, and you’re back to your everyday hectic life, you can go back to those moments by checking on those photos. In the wider sense, memories can transport us back to that time of feeling; the smell, the touch and sound, and ultimately put us back in that time of life. Especially having children who grow up so quickly, it’s important to capture those memories together.

One of my favorite parts of a family photoshoot is seeing families reunite with their family members who may live out of state or went away to college. Everyone comes together, leaving all their work and worries to focus on this holiday. Happiness radiates around this point in time. If you’re with them, you get to see beautiful sceneries, like say, you were in Cincinnati, Ohio.

2. Relaxation

The benefit of a family photoshoot, unlike when you’re with your friends, you don’t need to put up appearances. Since they’re family, I’m assuming you all know each other well enough; the journey, struggles and joy that have been met, passed through, and experienced. I’ll tell you this. There is something about being understood and accepted. It does something to you. It provides you with comfort and acceptance.

I love being able to capture the different personalities and relationships among family members.

3. Nurturing Family Relationships

Going on a family holiday photo shoot allows you and your family to build and grow your relationships. Sure there is social media now. You could use FaceTime, but nothing beats being with your family in the car, at the photo shoot location talking, sharing stories, and recalling family moments. These moments are to die for. The laughter that comes from remembering something ridiculous that your mom, your dad or your child did at a certain point in time.

4. Knowledge Will Be Gained

Spending time with your family means everyone gets to learn more about each other. You get to catch up and discover new things about each other. It creates a feeling of understanding, connection and, belonging.

Where Can I Use These Photos?

The question remains, where is the best possible place to put the photos you took on your holiday family photoshoot. Where would be the perfect place where everyone would be continuously reminded of the moments you’ve shared together. There are many places a person can place pictures in a home. It’s endless really. But I’ll only be talking about a few below.

1.  Living Room

The living room is the primary place in a house. Do you get the point? It’s where your visitors sit while they wait for you. It’s where you and your friends talk about the stress of work or the latest gossip in town. It is where your family photos should be. Stick them on the walls. Just a few will lighten up your living room. They would also make the atmosphere more intimate and the room cozier. I recommend using a sleek wall shelf and placing them asymmetrically, at different heights.

2. Kitchen Gallery

Family photos shouldn’t be limited to just your living room alone. Think of it. Why not put reminders of the moments you’ve had with your loved ones in the kitchen as well?

If you still enjoy having some decor on your refrigerator, there you go! Everytime you go to grab a bite to eat you can be reminded of how thankful you were to get to spend that quality time with your family members.

3. Dining Room

How about the dining room? Place some photos on the wall adjacent to the dining table. That would turn the atmosphere into an intimate one when the family is all gathered around to have dinner.

4. Facebook

Facebook is also an excellent place to keep your memories. It is one of those places where you get to keep your memories for as long as you possibly can. Sometimes myself, I still go to my Facebook page and look through my photos. It reminds me of what has been, the emotions at the time, the sound, the touch etc. Putting these photos on Facebook also lets your friends and family have an idea of what you and your family have been up to – the fun and experiences everyone had.

5. Christmas Card

Another way of saving your memories is to put them in Christmas cards. Say you wanted to send a Christmas gift to your grandparents, or a family member who has been asking of your own family. Send them a Christmas card with your family photo in it. Seeing that will make them happy. Christmas cards have been a tradition for a very long time and I really hope it doesn’t go anywhere. I personally, love receiving Christmas cards from friends and family.

Cincinnati Portrait Photography

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Another photographer once asked me a question that has stuck with me through the years. It’s this: Say your house is burning down and you only have 10 seconds to grab something, what would you make sure to get above everything else? People’s first instinct is to get something invaluable, an item that they can’t buy or get back with home insurance money, and that’s their family pictures. I think that answer is extremely telling, because although the pictures aren’t the most expensive item in the home, they hold the most value to people and symbolize a special moment in time that you can’t get back.

With Facebook, printed pictures aren’t as crucial as they once were, but it’s like reading a paper book versus. a Kindle. There is something different about having a hard copy photo and being able to frame it in your home. The same can be said about how everything’s different when you work with a photographer who understands how to capture these moments in time that you can look back on forever.

When I embark on a new photography session with a client, my goal isn’t to just capture this one moment of your life and wish you the best. I love to create lasting relationships with my clients and “go through life” together capturing all of life’s biggest moments.

Engagement Portraits

 

Where many families start their journey in the pursuit of marriage and being together the rest of their lives, an engagement photoshoot is one of my favorite moments to capture. Whether it is in the literal moment of the engagement happening live, or if it is an after the fact photoshoot, it is an honor for me to see the excitement and sparks between these two people madly in love.

With the rest of their lives ahead of them and the dreams and passions the couple’s start to pursue together there is nothing more memorable to capture! Although most couples have been dating for a considerable time before getting engaged, the engagement is truly the beginning of forever together.

Engagement photo shoots are some of the most interesting and playful photoshoots I get to take a part of. I love getting to hear the story behind how the couple met and even sometimes including those special places in the photoshoot. For example, if there is a favorite coffee shop between the couple, or maybe they met at the college they went to, being able to include those special memories and moments in the pictures makes all the difference.

I hope that these photos help capture all of the emotions, feelings, and memories associated with this special moment in time. After the engagement, comes to the wedding and then for some people, the beginning of a family.

Maternity Portraits

 

Maternity Portraits are another special moment in time, that are always worth capturing. Pregnancy is the beginning of your bond and forever relationship with your child. The importance of maternity photography is to capture the excitement and anticipation of the entrance of a new family member.

From gender reveals to capturing different growth stages through trimesters, these nine months are nothing short of an extremely exciting time, especially if it’s your first child.

Just like newborn photoshoots, there is a lot of growth going on within the womb during pregnancy and for mother’s, a maternity photoshoot is a fun way to capture those stages of change. Different woman respond different to pregnancy and therefor it makes it a very unique experience and truly a one of a kind moment for you and your family.

In the past, I feel like women tried to avoid cameras and documentation due to the fact that they had gained weight, and were no longer confident in their bodies. You can notice a change in the way maternity clothes have shifted as well.

A decade or so, maternity clothing was typically big and baggy, you were almost trying to cover up your belly. In terms of swimwear, pregnant women always opted to wear a one piece swimsuit or a tankini if they even have the nerve to wear a swimsuit, and now woman are choosing to rock bikinis despite how pregnant they are (I love it!). In addition to bikinis, woman are confidently rocking body-con dresses, and really anything that shows off that gorgeous baby bump.

I absolutely love that our culture has decided to take a brand new approach on pregnancy. Pregnancy is now considered a beautiful stage of life, no matter how many extra pounds you have packed on during the process. The reason it’s beautiful is because it’s natural.

The natural aspect is definitely a goal of mine when capturing maternity photography! You don’t want anything too staged or “photoshoot like” however, the goal is to capture you in your natural element. Maternity portraits don’t all have to be just about you as the mother as well. This is another great time to bond with your partner and be excited about this life stage together.

Naturally, after the maternity portraits, I would love to schedule your next newborn photoshoot within two weeks of the delivery date or birth of your child, and this is why.

The natural aspect is definitely a goal of mine when capturing maternity photography! You don’t want anything too staged or “photoshoot like” however, the goal is to capture you in your natural element. Maternity portraits don’t all have to be just about you as the mother as well. This is another great time to bond with your partner and be excited about this life stage together.

Naturally, after the maternity portraits, I would love to schedule your next newborn photoshoot within two weeks of the delivery date or birth of your child, and this is why.

Newborn Portraits

 

One of the reasons baby photography is so important, is because their bodies are rapidly changing and growing during the first few years of their life. We can all agree on that!

According to the Mayo Clinic, this is how much your baby can grow just in their first year of life:

From birth to age 6 months, a baby might grow 1/2 to 1 inch a month and gain 5 to 7 ounces a week. Expect your baby to double his or her birth weight by about age 5 months.

From ages 6 to 12 months, a baby might grow 3/8 inch a month and gain 3 to 5 ounces a week. Expect your baby to triple his or her birth weight by about age 1 year.

So just in one year, your baby has tripled their weight and grown a few inches (that’s crazy!). This is why getting your newborn portraits (and scheduling them ahead of time) is crucial to capturing these important stages of growth.

I recommend getting your newborn portraits taken within the first two weeks of birth. This ensures that the newborns still curl up in that womb-like position, don’t mind be unclothed, and stay asleep and restful longer to ensure the best photos!

Children Portraits

Newborn and infant photography is for those “cute” moments. You’ll never get those tiny fingers and toes back, and that soft baby skin, but the great thing about children photography, is that it begins to really capture the personality of your child, which makes it so much fun!

When I work with children during photoshoots, I don’t want this to be a dreadful moment for them where I am forcing them to “say cheese” behind a camera because their parents paid me too. I really want this to be a fun experience for the children, where they can be goofy and show their personality through the images.

No matter the age of the child, I think every stage in life is worth capturing. Whether it’s their first day of first grade, or their high school graduation pictures, all moments are big moments and you never want to regret not taking the time to document those achievements or celebratory moments.

Family Portraits

 

My true passion and heart strings are pulled during baby portrait sessions. It also gets good when the entire family gets their picture taken at the same time and you see different personalities come together.

You may think as an adult or as a teenager, you just kinda look the same! Unless you get a dramatic haircut, or have some weight change, there is no big dramatic image change. Everyone seems to think that about themselves, however looking back at old photos will prove you otherwise (assuming you take pictures).

I think it’s so important to not only get pictures of your newborns, but have pictures to look back as a family in general. And trust me, when that child grows up they’re going to appreciate the fact that they can look back on those infant pictures of them as a child, and they are going to appreciate being able to see what the rest of the family looked like back then as well.

“Did Dad have a beard?”, “Did Mom have bangs?”, “Did my brother Michael lose his front teeth yet?” I know for me, that is one of my favorite parts of looking back at old pictures, just noticing different style changes and appearances. Not only looking at how you looked as a child, but the rest of the family, helps you recap certain memories in your mind and paint a better picture of your childhood.

Final Words

Hopefully this post has helped you get a sense of my photography and the value I hold on creating relationships with my clients. Especially when it comes to family portraits, if the children have worked with me before they tend to be comfortable and confident in front of the camera.

Life is not just about the “big” moments of engagements, and pregnancy and high school graduation, but life is just as much about capturing all of the “small” moments in between. So whether you have something worth celebrating and capturing or you just want to get your family dressed up to take some cute and cozy fall attire shots, then that’s great too!

I try to consistently convince people that you don’t need an excuse to capture life. I think everyone should do it regularly because the only regret that comes is having too little of photos, not too many.

What To Expect When Booking a Newborn Photography Session

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If you’re a first time parent, or just new to the world of newborn photography, the process of getting everything organized and ready to go to capture high-quality photos of the most precious new person in your life can too often be a source of stress and confusion.

At Carrie Lynne Photography, what motivates us to do our best work is the immense joy that can come from the photos we capture. We know that we create treasured lifetime memories every day, so we try to prevent process that creates those treasured photos from being stressful as much as we possibly can.

If you have a little one on the way and are curious about booking a session, consider this your “cheat sheet”.

In this article, we’ll walk you through the ideal timeline for a successful newborn photography session, from our first contact to your final photos, and include our most useful tips to help ensure a session runs as smoothly as possible.

Two to Four Months Before Your Child Is Born: Booking Your Session

Typically, we recommend that clients book their newborn photography session between two to four months in advance of your child’s birth.

Why so early? Imagine the first days and weeks of your child’s life: your life will suddenly be overwhelmingly full of joy, excitement, nervousness, and a ton of new experiences. Managing photography logistics will probably not be particularly high on your list of priorities during this exciting and busy time — nor should it be!

Booking a few months in advance not only gives us time to manage any logistical hurdles we might need to on our end, but also ensures that our plans are solidified long and a rough date is established long before the joy and stress of being a new parent takes over your personal priority list.

When booking, you have plenty of options to select from, including our Baby’s First Year packages which include multiple sessions to create comprehensive memories of your child’s precious first moments. If you’re just looking for a one-off session, that works for us as well!

We’re also happy to work flexibly with parents regarding due dates. During our initial discussions, we’ll put together a rough timeline based on your most recent due date estimates. When your bundle of joy is born, just let us know and we’ll work with you to finalize the date for our session!

Right Before Your First Shoot: Coming Prepared

Taking the time to make a few minor preparations once the day of your shoot comes around is probably the most significant thing that parents can do to ensure their photography session runs smoothly. Fortunately, most of these preparations are pretty straightforward!

If you’re hoping to include any specific outfits or items like precious blankets or toys in your photos, make sure that they’re set aside and organized for quick access on the day of the shoot.

We recognize that your newborn’s sleeping and eating schedule can be a little unpredictable in the first few weeks of their life, but ideally, your newborn should be changed, fed and sleepy on the day of the shoot.

Sleeping newborns tend to take the best quality photos, so keep this in mind when preparing your little one for the shoot. One way to encourage sleepiness is to turn up the heat — if you’re running into problems ensuring your newborn is ready to sleep, this can be a quick way to get them to doze off!

Additionally, avoid applying any new creams or lotions to your newborn before you bring them in for your session in case of an unknown allergic reaction.

During The Shoot: Relax, Be Patient, and Have Fun

The shoot itself can be stressful for even the most experienced of parents. Watching someone else handle your baby can bring out your parenting instincts, and an uncooperative baby may bring up concerns that the session won’t turn out well.

During the shoot, we may also ask parents to leave the room if the baby is distracted by their presence. This can also be a potential source of stress.

Our biggest recommendations for parents on a shoot is to try and relax and be patient.

We book three-hour sessions for our studio to ensure that we have plenty of time to work around any potential issues, and our experienced team puts your child’s safety above all else.

During the shoot, we’ll follow your child’s lead and take as much time as necessary to ensure safety, comfort, and of course, quality. If you’re tense, your child will feel that energy and it will become harder for them to relax and fall asleep. By setting the precedent of calm peacefulness, you’ll be helping ensure that everything goes as planned.

After The Shoot: Enjoying your Forever Memories

Once the shoot is completed, we’ll take some time to make any corrections or edits that are necessary, and then reach out with your finalized photos!

This is the moment that makes everything else worth it: we know you’ll be so excited to enjoy such amazing photos for a lifetime.

We offer a variety of print options depending on the plan you select to ensure that you can enjoy your photos in whatever manner you prefer. Of course, full-resolution digital options are also available. However, if you have a special print option in mind that isn’t covered on the plan you select, we’re happy to work with parents to ensure your satisfaction!

Ultimately, with a little preparation and mindfulness, your newborn photography session will be low-stress and result in stunning family heirlooms to treasure for a lifetime.

Ready to book your session? Drop us a line and we’ll be happy to help get you ready to take some gorgeous photos.

What A Perfect Photography Client Looks Like

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We know that the photos we create here at Carrie Lynne Photography hold a special place in the lives of our clients, and feel that it’s our responsibility to make sure that as few obstacles as possible stand in the way of capturing perfect moments for everyone who books a session with us.

We’ve gotten pretty good at this over the years, but what do you do if the obstacle standing between you capturing the best possible photos for your client is…your client?

When you’re a professional photographer running your own business independently, it can be easy to find yourself spending more time than you’d prefer solving common problems again and again.

Thankfully, with a little help and preparation from a client, minimizing these common problems is super easy and can maximize the opportunities to capture the best photos during a shoot.

Whether you’ve already booked your session or are still doing your due diligence, keeping this list of ways to be the perfect photography client in mind can go a long way toward making sure you get the absolute best possible photos out of your session.

The Best Photography Clients Do This

#1: Communicate Well in Advance

When you book your shoot, the more information you can provide our team, the better. The simple fact of the matter is that the more information we have about what specifically you’re looking to get out of your photography experience, the better we can work to meet your needs and ensure your satisfaction.

Just letting us know what you’re looking to get out of the shoot, what the photos will be used for, and a specific date or two that would work well for you goes a surprisingly long way. When the day of the shoot come around, we’ll be totally on the same page and ready to spend every minute of our session as productively as possible.

#2: Show Up On Time

This one is pretty simple, but absolutely bears repeating: please show up for your session on time! We do our best to accommodate late arrivals, but sometimes we have multiple sessions booked on one day and are unable to make up for lost time.

The more time we have during a session, the more options you’ll have at the end of the day, so being punctual and prepared at the established time is a really easy way to get the most out of your shoot.

#3: Have Outfit Changes Ready to Go

This one ties into punctuality and preparedness as well: if you’ll be taking photos in multiple outfits, having those organized and ready to go goes a long way.

Changing outfits in the middle of a session can take a surprisingly large amount of time away from taking photos, especially without proper organization beforehand.. You don’t necessarily need to be a quick change wizard, but eliminating unnecessary time spent here can maximize the usefulness of your session.

#4: Have a Positive Attitude

This one might be the most important of all: having a positive, upbeat attitude during your shoot can absolutely transform the quality of your photos more than perhaps anything else on this list.

For many, having professional photos taken can be a stress-inducing experience — it’s easy to feel uncomfortable in front of the camera and worry about whether or not you’ll be happy with the results.

However, just going with the flow, responding well to coaching by your photographer, and overall having fun during your shoot will ensure you’re radiating positivity and happiness in your final photos. Just keep an open mind and enjoy the experience!

#5: Ask For What You Need

Ideally, you’ll have communicated with our team super effectively before the shoot date, but once the shoot has started, having the assertiveness to make any requests you might have can preemptively solve a lot of problems.

If there’s a specific background you’d prefer, or a specific pose you’d like to try, just let us know! We’re happy to accommodate reasonable requests and do what it takes to get you the photos you’re hoping for.

#6: Pay On Time

Finally, after your shoot is completed and you’ve got some truly amazing photos to treasure, timely payment is sincerely appreciated.

We’re an independent business that relies on prompt payment from our clients to pay bills and continue to grow. Not having to chase down payments for shoots we’ve completed frees us up to book new sessions and help our other clients get amazing photos as well!

Ultimately, if you can keep these best practices in mind, you’ll be ensuring as little as possible stands in the way of you and the best possible photos we can capture. Even better, you’ll also be saving both of us a bit of potential stress, which we sincerely appreciate!

Ready to book your session? Drop us a line and we’ll be happy to help get you ready to take some gorgeous photos.

Why Capturing Professional Quality Child Photography Pictures Is So Important

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Now more than ever, we live in an era of constant documentation, communication, and media creation. Seemingly from the moment your new bundle of joy enters the world to the moment they ship off to college, every member of your family, no matter how old, is equipped with an increasingly powerful pocket-sized camera and ready to snap and share photos at resolutions and speeds that were impossible even a few years ago.

In leading tech publications, multinational corporations go to war over megapixel count, each trying to convince you that their smartphone camera is as perfect as smartphone cameras can possibly get. Some of these smartphone shooters have even started to mimic the aesthetics of hundred- or even thousand-dollar DSLR cameras, providing even first-time photographers with background blur and high dynamic range. Meanwhile, increasingly high-quality cameras are even being integrated into sunglasses and other wearable technologies.

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In short, it seems like it’s never been a better time to have photos taken of your family. As each of you grow and change over the years, the availability of multiple high-resolution cameras available to capture memories at a moment’s notice seems more and more like a safe assurance.

So, in a world where cameras are more available than ever before, why hire a professional photographer at all? Even further, why hire a professional photographer to snag pictures of your little one, whose incredible cuteness is sure to be documented extensively by a veritable paparazzi of fawning family members?

It’s a perfectly valid question. Here at Carrie Lynne Photography, since the dawn of the point-and-shoot, it’s one we’ve been asked more times than we can count.

And over the years, despite incredibly impressive advances in the field of child photography, our answer hasn’t really changed too much: we’re not in the business of simply capturing photos, we’re in the business of creating memories that last forever.

For us, “forever memories” mean a lot more than raw megapixel count or exposure settings: it’s about capturing our clients and their loved ones in a way that they can hold onto endlessly. We know that these photos are about more than “just another photo of the family”: these are the special moments that get cherished, hung on family room walls, sent to relatives near and far,  and pleasantly remembered for years and years.

Put another way, these photos become heirlooms. And creating an heirloom is about more than a set of tools, no matter how powerful.

Yes, smartphone cameras are more powerful than ever. And yes, the seemingly exponential rate of their improvement shows little signs of slowing down. It’s all but an inevitability that within a few years, everyday consumers will have access to cameras built into their smartphones that are at least able to emulate the aesthetics of professional child photography setups that are worth thousands of dollars today. In fact, for owners of the most recent iPhone and Google Pixel devices, this is already starting to become a possibility, as professional lighting presets and DSLR-esque background blur are already available to consumers.

The fact that these powerful tools exist, however, doesn’t necessarily mean that the results that they produce will be worth sharing with your folks, much less at the standard of “forever memories”.

When I say this, I’m speaking from experience: every year since I was little, my own family has tried to capture a professional-grade family photo as an heirloom around Christmastime. In recent years, we’ve tried to capture these photos ourselves, both with selfie cameras and the assistance of grandparents given a brief crash course on how to operate a DLSR. The results have been, well, less than impressive.

Ultimately, the eye of a trained professional who has spent years helping families create outstanding family photographs is itself an asset. When you take the time and the expense to enlist the help of a family photographer, you’re not just gaining access to high quality equipment, but also to the skills and talents of a hardworking professional who has devoted their life to creating beautiful family moments that can be cherished for ages.

And especially for families with little ones who seem to grow up faster and faster all the time, capturing these professional photos is so, so important.

It’s so easy to get lost in our hectic day-to-day schedules and not take time to cherish the individual moments that make up the fabric of our lives. Seemingly before we know it, we’ve looked up and everything is a little different: months or years have passed, our kids are suddenly so much older than they once were, and we can’t help but wonder where the time has gone.

Those moments aren’t truly lost: they’ll be with us forever in our hearts and minds. But the opportunity to have something tangible to recall them by, to see the face of a loved one as they were in a specific moment in time, smiling brightly and captured in pristinely high detail, is a gift whose value cannot be understated.

Every year, looking back on the photographic memories I’ve created with my family is a distinct pleasure and a huge privilege. It’s an experience I truly wish every family had the opportunity to share with their own loved ones. They really do last a lifetime.

So yes — take those selfies and those candid shots. Surround your growing kids with smartphone cameras and cloud storage solutions. But also find the time to make forever memories with the help of a consummate professional whose keen eye can help create priceless forever memories that you and your family will remember for the rest of your lives.

 

Looking for a professional photographer to create precious memories of you and your family? Carrie Lynne Photography has been creating gorgeous photos of families and children of all ages for years. Visit our website to view packages and pricing and book a session in our Cincinnati studio or at your favorite outdoor location.

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Contact Me

Cincinnati, OH 45244
(513) 374-9629
carrie@carrielynnephotography.com

My Awards

Best Portrait Photographers in Cincinnati
Best Maternity Photographers in Cincinnati