introducing portrait playdates | florida modern childrens photographer

i'm introducing a brand new type of session to my childrens photography. portrait playdates. i have been considering the idea for while now - mostly being inspired by my own kiddies childhood playdates and close friendships. read on to see how it works...


Portrait Playdates

Host a portrait playdate and offer friends and family a Limited Edition Mini Portrait Session while your children have fun playing with friends.

A great way to have some play time and capture some true genuine moments. Parents get some social fun while I run around with the kids capturing their playful spirits. Each guest will get a mini individual portrait shoot and hostesses children get an extended private session. All children will be featured in a custom 7x7 Fine Art Portrait Book.

The Details
• Choose a location such as your home, backyard, a local park, the beach, urban downtown, museum, or any one of Florida’s gorgeous backgrounds (keep in mind of places that require admission fees)
• Invite your friends (we will supply you with custom email invite to send)
a minimum of 5 guests must attend the party
• Guests can be schedule 15-20 minutes apart from one another or can be combined together for some group shot fun too.

Your Guests
Your Guest rewards include
•10-15 minute mini session focused on their child
•one complimentary 5x7 mounted portrait
•2 week online gallery for ordering a la carte
•10% discount off pre-purchased 7x7 Fine Art Portrait Books (optional)

Session fee is $45 per guest or $65 for siblings/family
all session fees (& portrait agreements) must be received 2 weeks prior to playdate

a minimum purchase of $75 is required per family/guest. orders & payments must be paid in full within 4 weeks of playdate so hostess receives her portrait credit

The Hostess with the Mostest
Hostess rewards include...
no session cost for hosting & arranging the playdate
10% portrait credit from the playdate’s sales
one complimentary 8x10 portrait
a complimentary 7x7 Fine Art Portrait Book featuring all children from the playdate ($195 value)
1/2 off discount coupon for a future portrait session to use at a later date

Playdates can be themed at the hostess discretion. Ideas for themed playdate are high fashion urban model shoot, halloween dress up, sportswear -dress in uniform. Props & backgrounds are optional as well.

what to wear? a portrait does not need to be valued on the cost of the clothing. vintage tee shirts to a simple sundress, rainboots, or the pair of cowboy boots he just wont let go of, ripped worn jeans to a cute coordinated outfit.... honestly, it all works! kids can get away with most anything! we love accessories (hats, scarfs), we love them barefoot, we love them happy!! we love the fun :)

Here are some links for clothing ideas:
jcrew or
jcrew catalog
mini boden
crazy 8
janie & jack
garnethill
matlida jane
nesting baby
gap 4 kids
cwd

elise & brian r in love • florida engagement photographer

it's always so refreshing for me to be among a young couple totally in love... and to capture their sweetness & happiness of planning their special day. elise & brian were no exception. the world could have been caving in and they would still have been so happy to be within each other's arms. snuggles and giggles are the perfect setting for my kind of shots... and i had a lot of help from my lil helpers who are featured at the end of the post. thank u zack & isaiah for keeping all the fun & high energy going.

on a positive note | sarasota bradenton modern contemporary photographer

if you ask a photographer what type of child is the hardest to photograph, they're reply will most likely be.... their own! lol

the other evening, i set off to shoot my own kiddies with some new props i came across. a hot yucky evening with bugs biting, i'm thinking it would be a breeze -ha! i went home with such disappointment thinking i can't even get my own kiddies to take one single smiling cute shot worthy to blow up onto my wall.....

then i got to my puter, plugged in my media card, and started to peak at what i shot. one by one came up and quite often my hubby would hear a giggle from behind the computer desk. then i realized how much personality i captured in those stressful few minutes when i let go of my expectations and just let my kiddies be themselves. i learned my lesson once again... and that's why "cheez" just doesn't work for me. the split second of capturing three curious boys looking directly at me with a hint of a genuine smile will not happen when i prompt with the old "cheez" pleez. the real moments i captured in between the few wanna-be shots are my true wall worthy winners that may or may not have a big grinning smile... but most definitely have captured their true character. :)

the true cheezy shots: one hitting the other, all looking in different directions.... those r my boys :)
and then we let them be them....

gorgeous family shoot | bradenton family photographer

soo many fav's -it was hard to narrow down my sneak peek selection... and there's still so many more. but this first one is my very very favorite.