How to keep your annual portraits unique from past years

This can be tough, right? Making sure your photos look different from past years. Especially if you share your images in your yearly holiday card. You don’t want to keep sending out the same shot with a similar background. Personally, when I shoot my own family I try to do the opposite look from the year prior. I always gravitate towards a certain style (because that’s me and that’s my style!), but for the most part it looks different.

In this case, my client said “I’m stumped. I don’t know what direction to go in this year!” We have already done a summer-y backyard shoot, a summer farm shoot, a winter woodland shoot and an urban shoot. What else is there?! I think I had been binge watching Peaky Blinders that week and it was on my mind. I said “what if we do a Peaky Blinders inspired shoot? We could search for tweeds and layered looks…maybe an emerald green dress?” We were both excited and inspired. After seeing what she purchased for the kids, I knew I wanted a backdrop that enhanced the clothing colors and told the story of our vision. This old stable and the greenery of the grass was the perfect way to tie it all together. Enjoy the inspiration!

To see more from this shoot, head over to my instagram page!

New Jersey Family Photographer | Formal Holiday Session

Here’s a fun idea for a holiday photoshoot, my friends….a black tie inspired “end of the night” look. That end of the night vibe comes across thanks to the styling of the big brother with his undone bowtie and unbuttoned collar.

A shoot like this can take place virtually anywhere; your dining room, the kitchen, studio backdrop, any park or cool tone stone building. Since these guys live a bit far from me, we opted to meet in the middle at a local park. The setting had plenty of features that would add a bit of elegance (stone, arches, fountains and statues).

In the end, the holiday card that I designed read “Extravagant love is never wasted. Wishing you only the best this Holiday.” It tied the whole look of the shoot into a fun, different holiday concept that I’m pretty sure was unforgettable for the folks receiving the card.

To see a studio portrait session with a formal, fashion twist head over to my instagram page!

New Jersey Family Photographer | Family portraits with a chic city feel

I live in the country. We have bears and turkeys and deer and all the animals out. here. When my good friend and client shown here said “I want to do something local, but I want it to feel like we are in the city.” I was like “hmmm, this is gonna be tough…”

Then I put my thinking cap on and thought about things like Main Streets and little nooks in the area with store fronts. And then, this spot popped into my head. I had never actually noticed just how perfect it was and how off the beaten track it was from throngs of people. Its perfect for a photoshoot and I want to keep it my secret forever..

Heres the thing; the backs of storefronts are so great for photoshoots. Some might have grafitti, or peeling paint or murals. All of it can be cool and funky if you let it be. Next time you are stumped for a new location, take a minute and just think about where the unexpected might be.

To see more images with these guys, head over to my instagram page!