As the End of Summer has come and gone I am getting questions about when is the best time to schedule a family portrait. Many of my friends and new customers have already been calling ahead for Christmas gifts and cards. The family portrait is still one of the most personal gifts that is just as enjoyable to receive as it is to give.
The answer to "when" is simple...
Now!
Here are the top 5 reasons people put off getting a family portrait, and why you shouldn't:
"We Need to Wait for the Kids to get Older."
Never put off getting the Family Portrait done! There will never be another Today. This photograph of a friend of mine is a great example. She could have waited for the birth of her baby, but there was just that special moment shining through, that would have been a shame to have passed up. A time in this little boy's life when he has mom all to himself. As parents, we know time is a precious thing, and it's just a short period we have with our kids. There is no child too young or too old and it's a great reason to get everyone together. Grown children say they cherish having a family portrait from when they were younger. They love looking at the family the way they remember while growing up. Young children are just as excited to see themselves with mom and dad. These days it's the most favorite gift for Christmas and holiday cards.
"Jonny just got another scrape on his knee."I can't seem to go a week without a new scrape or cut on one of my four boys' legs or elbows. Yes, I would like to have my children to be bruise- and scratch-free, but it is often a part of who little ones are. If all else fails there is the option to digitally "clear up" the skin. This can include those pesky blemishes as well! Yet, leaving the cuts and scrapes in you've got great reminders of their stories!
We don't have anything to wear!Most people tell me they are wanting a family portrait but just don't know how to put it all together. It's hard enough for me to send off my boys for school picture day, let alone coordinate them to look good all together. I find it easiest to keep it simple. Keep everyone in jeans, or dress it up a bit with khakis or black pants. Then choose a shirt, perferably without patterns and limited to a single color or two. Last time my family and I did portraits we kept to a blue and white color scheme. We all had jeans on. My guys either had a white tee with a blue button up shirt over it or the reverse. I did a white tee shirt with a blue sweater. It was in late October on the beach which is a great time of year for the "no sweat" temperatures and limited amount of people on the beach.
I hate to get my picture taken!Of course..., none of my past clients would ever say this! lol. I often think I hate mine taken too, but in reality I am more often complaining that I am never in any of our pictures. I am and always will be the official photographer of birthdays, vacations, all around smiles and, yes, even our family pictures. Looking back at the scrapbooks or more likely our digital albums you would think I never existed except for the few glances you get of me when one of my children want to play photographer. ;o) Overall, kids never have enough photographs of us parents as time passes. Always remember too that a professional photographer has invested time and talent into understanding how best to help people to look their best. I have numerous tricks in my photo bag to use, such as lighting, posing, and camera angles, and of course photoshop can make it fun too! You can always go for something a little more creative (like these below) if you are totally opposed to getting in the shot!
It costs too much!Believe it or not, we did not have a professional portrait of our family until a couple of years ago, before I had my own business. Thankfully my husband knew how much these things meant to me and finally scheduled a photoshoot. What I would give to go back and have one taken when my first and second children were born, not to mention on a regular basis after that. Now don't get me wrong. We had pictures taken. It's just that they were at the mall or somewhere similar. But none captured the life and personality of each of my boys as that first professional portrait out at the beach. It wasn't just a quick, your in, your out, choose the one of six poses and voila here is your instant package. I look at those portraits over and over again, still smiling at the great time we had and what each smile meant. The difference is a "portrait" versus a "picture!" Those "pictures" looked like snapshots taken while walking through the mall.
That professional portrait was immeadiatley hung over our fireplace!
If you are like me and have waited too long, or just need to update your last portrait, you will find my rates very reasonable. In the hopes that you
don't wait another day I am offering new and past clients who call or email before the end of October a..
...Holiday Portrait special that includes a $65.00 print credit with every session booked! In addition, you will get a free set of your choice of holiday cards with every set you purchase!
I didn't get into photography to take snapshots. I
CHOSE to become a professional family, portrait and wedding photographer! I became a photographer for heartfelt personal reasons to give to others what I believe is my gift. I absolutely am in love with the 'art' of photography. One of my favorite photographers, Skye Hardwick, calls it Soulography- when you take photographs from the heart! I can only hope that, those that benefit from my gift, value it as much as I do.
Think twice about making the mistake I did of waiting.
Monica Martin
monica@cocoabeanphoto.com757-692-8138
Crafting memorable, artistic portraiture for you.
The girl who can really melt the tough guy! 
Both beautiful mother and daughter, Gorgeous Girls!
