What to Bring

Ok, we've scheduled your maternity/newborn/baby/first birthday session. Now what?

First, I will send you a questionair and ask all kinds of questions about your personal style, and hobbies to decide if there is anything special to you that you would like to have in the photos.

A few things families have brought in the past:

A baptism gown worn by the entire family
An old worn story book
Family bible
Dads old baseball glove/football helment
A bracelet from Grandma
USMC Dress Blues
Cake stand used by all the siblings
Quilt made by an aunt

There are so many options that I could never list them all. Send me photos of the items, or bring them in with your for a consult and we can make sure its used to create something beautiful and memorable for your family.

Tell me about your job, or your husbands, tell me about the stories you read together or places you travel. Even if it seems a little far fetched tell me about the things you enjoy that we may be able to use for your families session!

For more information on how to prepare for your newborn session, check out my website http://www.flashphotostudios.info/session-prep.html

First Reveal of 2018 with Before & After

Flash Photo Studios, llc. 

Newborn Portrait Photography by Candice Killinger

Jacksonville, NC 

This is the first reveal session of 2018! 

This handsome little guy was born in 2017, but post-processing and a snow storm has pushed back their reveal. Mom and dad came in with a vision for their session and together we worked to give them the perfect fit for their family!

 

  

I've been debating for a while now on what I think about before and after shots, and including them in blog posts.As you can see, I decided to give it a try!

 I always strive to get the best shot directly in camera while shooting, but sometimes that doesn't happen. Sometimes I have to reply on Photoshop and my skill in my photoshop to help me achieve the look I want. 

I always show clients in studio what the shots look like directly out of my camera on the tv, and I hope at their reveal session they feel the magic and the work that went into their gallery! I show them the in-camera shots to make sure we're on track following their vision. These memories belong to the family, and represent them and will be displayed in their home. It is of great importance to ensure its exactly what they want! 

Before & After 

 This is one of the many reasons photographers ask that you do not take cell phone photos during your session! What you see in studio is not the finished product! 

Thanks for reading, 

Candice

How old is to old? Newborn Photography Sessions.

The last two weeks I have been experiencing calls from a high number of stressed-out new mothers who have been told their 3-6 week old newborn baby is too old for a photography session. 

There is NEVER a bad age to have your children's portraits taken. Could it potentially be more difficult for a variety of reasons? Yes. BUT, that doesn't mean you should skip the session all together. This time only lasts so long, and they change so quickly, you'll be glad you did! 

Just because the "ideal" age is 5-10 days does not mean 3-4 week old babies won't do just as amazing-- and 5 days old does not guarantee a "perfect" sleeping posing baby. So many factors go into a session, and its always worth it to have them taken. It is true that newborn babies are much more sleepy during the first 14 days of life, they are often bright-eyed and very alert for much longer at 4 weeks +. Typically, the same "curled up" poses aren't an option for older babies, but that doesn't mean it is that way for all. It also doesn't mean you shouldn't have babies photos taken, we'll just discuss different types of posing options. 

Sometimes traumatic births happen, sometimes in-laws suddenly appear from out of town and things do not go as planned, please don’t give yourself more stress by worrying about numbers. Just like they say “Due Dates are just guesses, they’re not exact— all babies are different” … Same thing. “Ideal” photo session ages are a best guess too. 

I have had 6 week old babies sleep and curl up in precious and perfect posing positions that are something out of an angelic dream, and I’ve had 6 day old babies who have needed to come in twice (even 3 times once) because they were unhappy and just couldn’t settled, comforted. I don’t believe in forcing a session, if baby is unhappy it’s worth waiting another day or so because an unset baby often means an upset Mother, and I am not in the business of having upset mamas! 

On my webpage I give a little “How to Prepare for your newborn session” I have found these things work at most ages. 

http://www.flashphotostudios.info/session-prep.html

One baby is 10 days, the other 3 weeks. Both are precious and perfect!! <3 <3 

KID'S CLUB!!!

HI!!!
I am super excited about this one!!

As a mother with five children I wish I had the time and money to have their photos taken (by someone else... they won't smile for me!) for every single milestone in our lives!!

I want photos taken when my family has milestones- Not just holidays. This year (Jan-Aug alone) I  have had 3 birthday sessions, baseball, basketball, cheerleading, saxophone, graduation, dance, family, Valentines Day, and First Communion Photos. I took them all, but my children don't make nice faces for me!! It's called "Photographer's Child Syndrome" you can google it!!!

So, I thought about what I would like to have and use!! I value photographers time, and work- but I also wish I could have images taken more than just once or twice a year. So, after begging my children to sit still and please help me, I came up with a plan!! (I should have done a model call. I can make other children laugh and smile all day long!)

1 year family membership $150 

Comes with No session fee, 1- 4x6 print box, and 1 USB 

Hi-Resolution Image Packages: 

a. 3- $75

b. 5- $120

c. 10- $195

Add 4x6 Prints: 

3- $10 , 5- $15, 10- $30, Add an 8x10 $25

Print Packages: 

1. 3-4x6s, 2-5x7s, 1-8x10, & 2 digital images $115

2. 4 wallets, 5-4x6s, 3-5x7s, 1-8x10, $ 3 digital images $135

3. 25 cards (Birthday/Christmas/Thank You/Valentines) $50

Add addition prints 4x6 $5, 5x7 $10, 8x10 $25 

Add additional digital $25 each

                                                                                 

9th Birthday Girl!

Baby Girl is 3 years old now!!!

#4 would like to say 'Thank you" for reading his mama's Blog!

#2 plays the saxophone! Every year he gets better and better, and I love to take photographs while he plays!

Of course Christmas photos!!!!!

I mentioned that they don't like to smile for me!! All year there are plenty of reasons to pop into the studio for a quick session, or give me a call and we'll meet on-location!! Children grow so quickly and there are dozens of reasons to shoot all year long!!! From Baby's first newborn photo session through Graduation! This "Kid's Club" is also good for Pregnancy to baby! Anything in your families year! (Except Homecomings, births, and Weddings) 

If you have any questions please feel free to ask!!

--Candice

Photographer, Boutique Owner, Cheer Coach, Mother of Five, Wife, and Dreamer in Jacksonville, North Carolina. 

www.FlashPhotoStudios.Info

Smash Cake Sessions!!

Smash the Cake sessions to celebrate first birthdays can be a lot of messy fun!!! 

Newborn photos are often precious babies curled up into poses sleeping in angelic classical portraits. As baby grows the sessions become more playful— getting baby to smile and laugh for the camera. Celebrating baby’s first birthday with a personal cake has been a tradition for quite a long time now; I’m pretty sure my dad has a photo of me putting my face into my first cake! A wonderful way to freeze time on this is with a styled session with a cake!! 

I like to start with simple portraits focusing on just your sweetheart— Before they’re covered head to toe in cake!!! 

Then, we give them the cake and watch them explore. Some instantly dig in immediately and  never bat an eye, others a little more cautious as they touch the icing, little bits at a time. 

Capturing the little details is my favorite part of these sessions. I just love little baby toes covered in icing. I have one of these for each of my children!!! 

Give me a call to schedule your little ones First Birthday Smash The Cake Session!! We can shoot in my office or on-location. I prefer to meet in my studio before the session so we can talk about the vision you have for your session, color schemes, themes, props you may have or I have so we can ensure you get exactly what you want! After the session you'll choose your images, and I also have prints and other products available. Printing with me guarantees the best quality!!

--Candice

Photographer, Boutique Owner, Cheer Coach, Mother of Five, Wife, and Dreamer in Jacksonville, North Carolina. 

www.FlashPhotoStudios.Info

Posed Newborn In-Studio / Lifestyle Newborn Photography

What is the difference between in-studio posed newborn photography and lifestyle in-home photography with Flash Photo Studios? 

Sometimes expecting families will ask what the difference is, and I do the best I can to explain it in a quick few sentences. Today I will elaborate with a few images to show!!

Posed Newborn Photography: 

The mother and baby (sometimes dad and siblings) come into my studio and we take the time to snuggle baby to sleep, and using posing pods, bean bags, bucks, and many other props I take baby’s portraits.  

 If there is a family shot, it is often in front of a simple backdrop focusing on the family. 

Lifetsyle In-Home Newborn Photos: 

These are done in the families home. They’re still “posed” I’ll make sure that no one is sitting in an unbecoming way!! :) They’re on the couch, in the beds and bedrooms— sometimes the kitchen! Places where the family spends their time doing activities they do together. 

I hope this helps a little!!

For a quick guide on preparing for your newborn session: 

http://www.flashphotostudios.info/session-prep.html

Also, Available: 

I do not advertise for this, but I do understand that sometimes mamas do not want to bring their new babies out of the house after only a few days to a week, in which case I can bring my studio set-up to your home for the option to have both posed newborn and lifestyle family. Please ask me for details and pricing if you’re interested!!!

--Candice

Photographer, Boutique Owner, Cheer Coach, Mother of Five, Wife, and Dreamer in Jacksonville, North Carolina. 

www.FlashPhotoStudios.Info

Milestones Don't Stop At A Year

     Everyone talks about “Belly to Baby” photography session options, and I have those, they’re wonderful!!! However, let’s not stop thinking about annual or semi annual shots of them as they grow. They still grow and change so fast, and those school photos often miss their personalities. Yes, their hair is combed and they may even be smiling, but they’re seated in the “year book” pose. I’m not knocking the year book photo, I have five children and I love their year book photos and I add them to their school memory book every single year, but their personality just isn’t in the photo. It’s not personal. 

I have two cheerleaders, a trumpet player, saxophone player, basketball player, baseball player, and a princess and you can’t see that in these photos. 

This year my 3rd daughter will be cheering for her school’s basketball team, thats a milestone. After 4 years at her elementary school she is moving upstairs and able to cheer— this is a milestone we’re excited to share with her, and I’m going to want some photos for her memory book. 
Whatever milestones are happening in your big kids lives, give me a call and let’s capture those moments!!

First Communion is a beautiful milestone!!! 

Studio and On-Site options!

   

                    

                                                                                                                              Personalized sports photos are a fun session!!

Why Print with your photographer?

*Side note: This image is 5 years old. I will do this again soon with recent work*

     This is the exact same photo-- It's been printed with several different companies! Some of these are awful, and some aren't so bad. Is that something you're willing to risk?

     You invest a sizable amount into a photographer based on personal styles, color, context and more- why risk printing your beautiful images with a company who could crop them oddly, or even change the colors?

     I do the best I can to offer beautiful print products from the professional printer of my choice at a realistic and affordable price. I spent a lot of time going back and forth with them and calibrating my monitor  to match their printing to ensure you'll receive the most accurate physical products.

If you print with me all of your images come to me before you see them. If there is anything about them that is not perfect, I contact the company or make changes to the image and send it out again. Quality control is a guarantee. If you print with another company I can't guarantee or promise your images will be as beautiful as they are on your screen.

It is something to consider!! :) I hold onto your gallery for quite some time, there is never a time period to far away to print your families images!

Brand New to One Year Milestones Bundles!

Birth to 1 year bundle!!

     When my youngest was born I thought it would be fun to take a photo every month with the same suit case to watch her grow!! Some of these images were taken with my DSLR, some with my cell phone, and some with my point and shoot. Looking back, I wish I would have taken the time to take her to the studio and set the lighting up just right. Hindsight. 

     That’s why I want to offer something special to you!!!

     I can find/make/create a special prop for you or you can bring something every month that’s special to your family. I used a suit case, but yours could be a boat, book, bow, bird house, teddy bear— there are so many options!!!!

Option 1: 

Newborn, 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, 6 months, 7 months, 8 months, 9 months, 10 months, 11 months, and 1 year.

 4 digital images for newborn and 1 year, and 2 images for all of the other months. After the 12 month session I’ll prepare for you an 8x10 album with all 30 images!!!

 $600 

Payments in full at newborn session pay $575. Payment Option: $200 at newborn session and $33 a month.

Option 2: 

Newborn, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 1 year. 

4 digital images for newborn and 1 year and 2 digital images for the other months. After the 1 year session I’ll prepare an 8x10 album with all 14 images. 

$440

Payments in full at Newborn Session pay $420. Payment Option: $160 at newborn session and $70 every 3 months. 

This is brand new package, so I don’t have any examples yet, this is the best I’ve got!! I can’t believe how much I have learned about posing and lighting in the last 3 years!!! I chose not to re-edit/re-touch/Re-process these because this is how it was! :) 

If you have any questions please feel free to ask!!

Candice

candice@FlashPhotoStudios.Info

www.FlashPhotoStudios.Info

(850)339-0997

Mini Sessions

I love photographing new babies, toddlers, and children- Full sessions, mini sessions, holidays- I love to photograph people.<3

Mini sessions come around every holiday-- They're so much fun, and have adorable themes! I have done princesses, superheroes, Halloween, Christmas, Easter, birthdays and Spring- you name it!!!

I offer mini session options 3 days a week! You choose the theme- no session fee- you only pay for what you choose and you pick the theme!! I have many backdrop and prop options, and you're more than welcome to bring you're own too!

I'll still offer special themes here and there, but this option is good all year long!!!!!

Full sessions at a time that's convenient for you are always available as well, You have longer time limits and more more options for families!

No matter what type pf session you choose, themes or no theme I'd love to meet with you to talk about your vision for your session!

Available Mini Session days are Tuesday/Thursdays/Fridays with start times from 9am - 11:30am.

Look for an all day Saturday themed mini session day soon!!!

Getting Ready for Headshots!

If you're a professional looking to have professional head shots taken, check out these simple tips!!


1. Clothes. Solid colors look the best. (Also, consider your brand) Bold patterns are often distracting and take away from YOU. If you do chose a pattern, I suggest a subtle one. 


2. Skin. Drink plenty of water the week prior to make sure you looking fresh, smooth, and hydrated! 


3. Nails. Sometimes your hands are in the shot, filed, with no chipped polish just in case is ideal. If you did get a manicure for them, let me know and I will make sure we see them! Seriously, fixing chipped polish is photoshop is NOT my favorite hobby!


4. Facial Hair. Prepare by by trimming, plucking and/or choosing a style for shaving facial hair about a week prior and possibly preparing a few days before. Knowing that plucking can leave red marks, bleaching irritates skin, and waxing is often inflamed be sure to do these things a couple of days before your session. (I may have done this to my teenager once and her eyebrows were painful! 


5. Make-up. Make-up can be so much fun, and you want to look your best, but don’t venture to far out of your normal, you want to be recognizable. If you don't typically wear BRIGHT pink eye shadow and wings, your head shot is not the day to start. 


6. Know what you want. You know what kind of style you’d like. Let me know, we’re in no rush and want to make sure you’re getting what fits your personal brand and style. I have plenty of poses, but knowing what you like is very helpful!

A Personal Project!

I really love newborn photography. I love the way babies smell, and coo, and the soft nosies they make when they’re snuggled. Sometimes I work on personal projects just for me, or my children. 

My teenager loves Pinterest, specifically supernatural memes- let me tell you I have learned more about Sam and Dean via memes than actually watching the show. Anyways, she found a photo of a girl stepping in a large book, like a fairy tale theme and asked if I could do that for her. “I have no idea. Let’s try”

We went out with no real plan and just started snapping away. 

I’m not even sure what went wrong. Sorry Love, back in the dress, grab the bug spray and back outside!!! This time we took it a little slower and started with the pieces separately. 

Once they were all together I had to spend some time with photoshop. 

Ok- So it still isn't "perfect" but it is definitely closer! At least this time she doesn't look like she shrunk!!!!

We're having a great time together trying new things and figuring out how to do this! Stay tuned over the next year to watch our progress with this project!!!

Shout Out to my Number One for such a great idea!!!

What NOT to wear to your session!!!

First, I would like to thank my friends from the bottom of my heart for agreeing to dress up and model for me!!! I love you all very much for your willingness to help!!!!!

Getting down to business. 

   

     Outfits that are comfortable are important because its easy to have fun and smile and be yourself when you're comfortable. Consider just HOW comfortable. 

Wardrobe malfunctions are unfortunate! It is your job and mine to make sure they don't happen! When you look back at your portraits undergarments aren't what you want to see!!!

   

 

 Patterns and colors that celebrate your style are important! Clothing that “matches” or “go together” help flow the mix of colors in the image. BUT, They can’t be so scattered they look off! Patterns must live in harmony with each other!

You spend so much time looking for the PERFECT dress and you look AMAZING! BUT... AHHHHH WHAT ARE THOSE??????

Sometimes we get so caught up looking for the perfect outfit we forget about what we plan to put on our feet! 

 We can fix this! Just lose them all together. Shoes are over rated anyways. 

                                  ALL BETTER!

     

     Make-up is important for many women, it can enhance features to make women look and feel amazing and even more beautiful. However, if you don’t typically wear a lot... the birth of your baby is not the time to start wearing a massive amount.   

     When you look back at your session what do you want to remember? If its not a make-up style you don't wear every day, maybe its best to save this look for another time!

All one color isn't ideal! Show off your personal style, and if you're personal style is all black/all red/all yellow consider some pops of color! Bright jewelry in coordinating colors, hair pieces, a scarf-- other things to bring some colors and help your personality shine through. 

AND LAST but NOT least... For the LOVE of photographers sanity everywhere PLEASE take the hair band OFF of your wrists!!!!!!!! 

(I totally did this myself for my last family session! *Hides face in shame*)

     There is nothing like a great outfit, great pose, beautiful smile than getting home, opening the images in Photoshop and finding a hair tie on 546 images!!!!! 

Seriously friends, thank you for your help! There you have it folks, a few things NOT to wear for your photo session!!! 

Coming next week, What TO wear!!! 
Featuring: My Loving and happy to always help children!