Wall Displays | Southern Maryland Family Child Photographer

So, you've invested a lot of time and money into your recent photo shoot with your family and you receive a custom made disk with your loving memories.  Now what?  Do you do what most people do and put the disk in storage and forget about them?  Maybe you share a few of the images on Facebook with friends and family.  But beyond that, what happens?  The images sit on the disk or USB drive and collect dust.  You think about the blank wall space you have above your couch but you have no idea how to fill it stylishly.  Or the walls in the nursery or hallway that desperately need to be decorated.  

Instead of filling your walls with decorations from Target or Pier 1 Imports that don't have any special meaning to your family, why not fill them with prints and canvas of the memories you captured during your photo shoot of your family!  By all means, I'm definitely not saying to fill every corner and inch of wall space from basement to bathrooms.  But strategically placed, well styled prints in frames and canvas prints of your family will not only fill your walls and add some style and pizazz, but they will also make your house feel more like home.

Take it from someone who has painted her walls 6 different times in the 4 years I've lived in my house...the thought of choosing prints and canvas can definitely be a daunting and scary experience.  And if I have any advice for someone seeking out prints and canvas for their home it would be to sit down with your photographer and speak about your options.  There are many different types of printed products, paper options, finishes, sizes, frames, and grouping options.  No wonder someone can look at a blank wall and get so frazzled that they decide it's much easier to leave it blank!  

Three canvas print grouping.  Large 20x30 canvas print, framed by 2 smaller 10x20 canvas prints.

  
When choosing canvas or prints for your home, trust your photographer when they say 'bigger IS better'! Because it really and truly is much, much better. Can you imagine a lonely little 8x10 print on this wall? Neither can I.

Choosing to frame prints is also a great option!  Large 20x24 print with 4" mat and 1.5" frame molding, with three smaller 5x7 prints in 1.5" mat with 1" frame molding.

My prices for canvas and professional prints are highly competitive. And the professional quality of the print is 100% guaranteed!

Happy First Birthday, Darling | Southern Maryland Child Photographer

Happy first birthday, sweet girl!!  You've brought an unbelievable amount of love and joy to our family this year.  You are THE most important person in your brother's life and I love watching him take such good care of you.  And your little personality is beautiful and raises the spirits of anyone near you.  You're a little sassy too, like your mama.  And you know I love that!!  

10 on 10 | Southern Maryland Lifestyle Photographer

So, there's this project called 10 on 10 that I've been seeing a lot of really talented photographers participating in and I thought I'd jump in on the fun.  I know today is the 12th and that 'technically' makes me two days late on this project, but that's ok!  But if there's a reason to capture more images of my family in addition to linking my images to other super talented photographers, then I'm doing it.  :) 

morning toes

the endless chore

waiting on the bus

lived in

fresh air

 caffeine boost

dry those tears

 giveaway!!

imagination

musical books

To complete the circle, click to view Susan Gray Photography's interpretation on the 10 on 10 project, now showing on her Facebook Fan Page.  :)

Featured Giveaway - Win a FREE Family Lifestyle Mini-session | Southern Maryland Lifestyle Photographer

AA Photography is now offering a subscription service via email so you'll be the FIRST to find out about mini session offerings, giveaways, and special offers! To win a FREE Spring Lifestyle Family mini session, all you have to do is...

CONTEST RULES:
1) Become a fan of AAP, if you haven't already.
2) Click this link and subscribe to the new e-blast!
2) Share this link on your page. (Every time you share this link, you add an additional entry to win!)

That's it! :)

Preliminary details of the lifestyle mini session: the sessions will take place at a local farm in Southern Maryland where your family will be able to freely walk around and interact with the farm animals and pick strawberries. (I have reached out to a wonderful farm in St. Mary's County and I'll release those details as soon as I've confirmed with the farm.) This session is not posed. Instead, I will be capturing images of your family interacting with each other, picking strawberries together, interacting with the petting zoo animals while you're creating loving Spring memories. The sessions will be offered in early-mid May and time slots will be announced soon!

Final details of the *WINNER* of the FREE spring mini session will be released through this subscription e-blast, along with more details on the Spring Lifestyle Family mini sessions. Good luck everyone!!! And remember, share, share, share!

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Styling for Your Session | Southern Maryland Family Photographer

So, your family's photography session is coming up and you've dug through everything your family owns and you STILL can't come up with something for them to wear.  You want them to look adorable in their photos, but not too stuffy.  And you definitely want them to look like themselves.

thechildrensplace.com

Here are a few tips to get the creative juices flowing:

1) Dress in layers.  During the colder months, you don't want your little ones with blue lips and chattering teeth.  Layering clothing gives images texture and color, and serves an even better purpose with keeping the babes warm.  

2) Think pattern/texture.  Cable knits, furs, linens, denim.  They all have different texture.  And each type of fabric photographs differently and picks up or reflects light differently.  Don't be afraid to mix and match.  You don't want things too matchy-matchy anyway.  (Remember those 1990-ish images where everyone's wearing a white shirt and jeans?  Stay away from that!)  Everyone has their own personality and sense of style.  Show it! 

3) Don't be afraid of color!  Green and yellow go great with deep purples.  Red goes well with purple too!  Brown and pink.  Yellow and grey is super popular these days.  Find a piece that you love that has multiple colors in it and use that key piece as inspiration for the rest of your styling.  If you have a red scarf you're in love with, then pair that with red pants and a sweater to match, for baby boy.  

gap.com

 4) Choose timeless pieces.  Your images will last forever.  After the children have grown and left for college, your photo will remain the same.  Trends and fads fade away and are replaced quickly.  (Do you ever cringe when you look back on the 80's white washed jeans, shoulder pads, and poofed bangs? I do!)  Stay away from Dora the Explorer and Mickey Mouse prints.  Solid colors always look great layered with prints of stripes or plaid or gingham.  For little girls, tasteful flowers or lace is always beautiful and timeless.  

gap.com

5) If you've hit a road block, ask for help.  The people who work at the Gap or the Children's Place are always willing to offer up suggestions when you ask.  And the clothes they have for kids are ADORABLE and you can almost always find great sales.  Walk around the mall and window shop.  The mannequins are styled in ways that are perfect for inspiration.  Check the web!  My Pinterest Board is always being updated with ideas for your sessions.  

Hopefully, these ideas will help point you in the right direction!  And remember, your family photo session is the best representation of YOU.  So don't lose your style in someone elses details.  Go with what makes you comfortable and I'll help you showcase it!    

Laundromat Lifestyle Family Fun | Southern Maryland Lifestyle Family Photographer

Lifestyle photography is quickly taking over the market.  Ask any mother who owns a camera (whether they're a 'photographer' or not) and you'll discover that this style of photography has been around for a long, long time!  Of course everyone wants to have a few posed shots of everyone looking at the camera and smiling.  But lifestyle photography captures your life as it is at this very moment!  That's whats so exciting about it!! 

Amber and I have been talking about planning a little lifestyle session for her and the kids for about a month.  I was really excited when our schedules synced up and we were able to put this idea into action. 

It's always an honor to photograph a friend!  And it's even more of an honor when she's also a fellow photographer.  ;)  A couple hours of doing laundry, running around an empty laundromat and pushing the kids around in the little carts was a great way to spend our afternoon.

PHEW!!!  With over 400 images to choose from, blogging a post like this was tough.  And so many of the images were perfect.  So be prepared for a larger-than-normal share.  Enjoy!!!