BOSTON CHILDREN'S PHOTOGRAPHER, BOSTON FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER, BOSTON NEWBORN PHOTOGRAPHER

Not really.  I just had to name it that for a reason.  They know why.

I met Stephen and Jill two weeks ago.  It was again the perfect example of a reschedule…reschedules just always work out because sessions are always held exactly when they should be, as part of a master plan.   Anyway, to say I enjoyed hanging out with their family is an understatement.  If it hadn’t been for a birthday dinner my husband and friends worked so hard to plan, I am pretty sure I might have pull a stool up to their kitchen counter and never left.

So this session was about family, a new home, and a little girl who is the light of their lives.  They are such a happy family, with such amazing energy.  I honestly think they laugh ALL THE TIME.

I had A LOT to live up to with this session though.  Never mind I am the first professional photographer they have used since their wedding…never mind there is only one framed image inside the entire home.  The net of it is that if I didn’t create a “montage” to meet specific expectations, I was OUT.  So I have done my best.  It’s all I can do.  I lay down my camera, I hit send on the email, I turn off my computer and I allow my work to be judged.  Have at it, pal.

So here’s a sneak peak for the rest of you — the non-montage version!  Enjoy!

Is your baby between 6-12 months old (ideally sitting!)?
Do you have a super cool nursery?
Would you be interested in winning a free session and mini-print package?

[contest information will be pinned to the sidebar until the contest is complete!  check there for details and updates!]

If you answered yes to all three of these questions, we would love to see pictures.  What’s in it for you?  A chance to win a free photography session featuring your baby and your nursery!  We would like to see between 1-4 photographs of your space.  At least one photograph must include your baby in the nursery itself.  We are looking for creative use of light, color and design elements.  Images must be taken by you or someone in your family (as in “please don’t submit images taken by another professional photographer.”)

All submissions must be received by midnight, March 5, 2010.

Entries will be judged by a panel of photographers who will narrow down the selection to 5 nurseries.  The finalists will be posted on the Kristina Young Photography Blog and the winner will be chosen via a public voting poll.  Voting will occur between March 10 – March 17, 2010. There are specific rules around voting that will be clarified during the voting round of the contest.

Winners will be announced on March 19, 2010. There will be 2nd & 3rd place prizes also awarded — gift certificates to Kenzie Kids (Wellesley & Dedham) & The Flat of the Hill (Beacon Hill)!. Winner must schedule session so it takes place between March 27 – May 8, 2010. Winners must sign a release to allow participating photographers to display images on blog, website, Facebook Business Page and any other print or web materials as deemed appropriate.

To enter, complete the following submission form: http://kristinayoungphotography.com/blog/nursery-contest-submission

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Don’t live in Boston? Have friends across the country? Check out these photographers who have nursery contests running in other cities! Their contest, terms and conditions may vary, so please make sure you read the details with care.

Birmingham, AL: Stephanie Fisher Photography
Northwest Alabama: Jennifer Weddington Photography
Denver, CO: Laura Werner of Vibrant Life Photography
Connecticut: Crista Acosta Photography
Central Indiana: Kristi Hibbetts Photography
Metro New Orleans, LA: Amy Drouet Photography
Frederick, MD & Washington DC/Baltimore metro: Shey Marin Photography
Northern VA & Washington DC: Amber Scruggs of Little Moon Photography
Mississippi Gulf Coast and Pearl River County: Emotional Imagery by Brandi Head Photography
Central New Jersey: Kim Schmidt Photography
Northern New Jersey: Christie Adams Photography
Cincinnati, OH and Northern Kentucky Area: Jessica Wright of Memories That R Precious
Columbus, OH: Andrea Roberts Photography
Philadelphia and Main Line, PA: Bernadette Uzcategui Photography
Pittsburgh, PA: Seedlings Photography
Rhode Island and South Shore of Boston: Amy Ro Photography
Houston, TX: Kerri Mathis Photography
Seattle/Bellevue/Tacoma, WA (and surrounding areas): Susan Berman of Whimsical Photo Design
Spokane, WA: Jaidean Baker Photography

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The Fine Print.

This is our contest, we make the rules.  We have researched many different ways of voting and there are pros and cons and hanging chads in just about every method out there.  This is how we have decided to run our contest, if it’s not a fit for you, we respectfully accept your decision to decline participation.  We also know there are ways to work around the system, so we will actively monitor IP addresses and research anything that appears to be fishy.  We reserve the right to disqualify any entry that appears to be suspicious.

All participants must agree to sign a model release allowing images to be displayed on participating blogs.  Winning participants must sign a release allowing images taken by participating photographers to be displayed on web site, blog, Facebook and print advertising sources.  Participants must also agree to standard Terms & Conditions of participating photographers.

Winning participants will receive a complimentary session focusing on nursery, baby and/or family as outlined by participating photographer.  Additional items may also be included.  Regular session terms and conditions apply.

We require an electronically marked consent that you are entering this contest voluntarily and that participating photographer is not promising any winnings or other compensation for participation.

me to hang out with this family.  I just love them.  Not only are they incredibly easy to photograph (because how could they not be?), but also they are just really nice, gracious, thoughtful and kind of funny! I could hang out and talk to Janice forever because she is just so down to earth, and because I love her love of photographs.  She has them beautifully displayed all over the house and it just makes me so happy to see some of my images in the most beautiful frames she has scoured the world to find.  It so wonderful to see someone actually do something with their images, instead of just, oh, I dunno, leaving them on their hard drive and risk losing them to hard drive failure… or printing them and never hanging them but instead leaving them in the white Millers boxes that litter the house.  Someday, someday.

I am doing a small sneak peak with no “family” shots because I am not sure which will be “the shot” for the cards this year and I’d hate to ruin the surprise for anyone who might peak here and see it before it hits the mailbox.

So for this one, I positioned a massive exhaust fan right at my feet and turned it on right before I started shooting… I am KIDDING.  It’s crazy, but it’s true, Janice’s hair just does this when I photograph her.  It’s simply phenomenal.  Now if only I could find a way to have low-lit amber backlighting follow me around so I’d always look sunkissed and hazy (and 20 lbs thinner).

I just love this one as well.

I really need to stop teasing this kid.  But he’s a really good sport.

Before you all start singing my praises… I did NOT come up with this idea.  Although I have always given guidelines on what to wear, and I have a What to Wear section in my client information packet, the idea of blogging What to Wear is not mine.  Many photographers do this.  But I did hijack the idea because we are upon the Holiday Card time of year and I’d like to offer up some ideas.  These are just ideas, I am not suggesting you spend the $612 or so that I just pulled together on Mom’s outfit at Boden.  But… if you are going to Boden, check out their Outfit Maker!  It’s fabulous!  {it also drew attention to the fact I dress like a dud, another story entirely.}

It took me at least an hour to come up with this, so I do know it’s not an easy task.  Things I kept in mind… I started with mom… because if mom looks good, everyone will have a much better day.  I also believe that if a mom is not comfortable in her outfit, she will generally feel bad about herself and not like the pictures.  I am telling you this because (1) I know it’s true and (2) I am that mom.   So moms… start with you and work out.  Once I had her outfit pulled together (and again, can’t sing enough praises about the Outfit Maker), I started on the boy… there was a Boden sweater I just loved that was the same aqua but with an argyle.  But after dressing boy & girl in aqua, mom in aqua, it didn’t leave me with much for Dad.  If everyone is dressed identical, it’s just plain boring.  I also decided to play it a bit more safe because aqua is a big color, so doing an aqua argyle was a bit too bold of a statement for me.  I loved the aqua and brown because it screams fall with a tiny little nod to the ocean!  I added in the cream pants for the dad (ok, light brown, sorry Owen, I won’t put you in cream) because I thought Mom & Dad would look great together and it would tie in nicely if you did cream tights for mom or the girl.  I also have some cream accents in the mom’s necklace.  Finally, I imagined the pairings you’d do in a session… Mom & Dad, Mom & Son, etc. and everyone seemed to really compliment each other.

Next week I’ll focus on a Gap or Old Navy option, then a more formal one with perhaps Olive Juice dresses for the girls!  Please leave me some love and let me know if you found this to be at all helpful!

I love making albums for customers… I love pulling them together, figuring out layout, which shots pair best together…picking a lovely cover that pulls out the tones of the session. They bring me joy (and my photog friends know it’s all about the joy).

Here’s a sample album I just pulled together for the two upcoming auctions I have next weekend. Not only are the children from this session to die for, but the layout of the album was so easy and came together perfectly. I am SO excited to deliver two more of these to other customers next week!