IT'S TIME TO START LIVING IN THE MOMENT
As ironic as it is for a photographer to be saying this - It's time for us ALL to stop focusing on being picture-perfect.
Why? Because life is full of beautifully messy moments and it's time to start embracing them.
Think about it like this: Whether it's 5 months, 5 years, or 50 years from now, when you and your family look back at the images from our time together, do you want to be reminded of forced smiles and stiff poses, or how fun it was to play games and a funny joke/gesture that made everyone laugh so hard they snorted?
I mean, I know which one I would prefer...
That's why I'm the west virginia family photographer for you - just focus on the moments that matter most + leave me to capture them in a beautiful and artistic fashion.
I'm a family photographer in west Virginia who's ready to make getting family photos done a fun experience for everyone!
I WILL carefully craft a photography experience that's unique to you as a FAMILY.
EMBRACE YOUR SILLY SIDES
A fEW IDEAS FOR A FUN + PERSONAL PHOTOgraphy EXPERIENCE:
+ Bringing your instrument of choice along to perform a personal serenade or a Bluetooth speaker to jam out to your favorite songs together for your own private dance party
+ Embracing your introvert sides + staying in for a day of baking cookies, building blanket forts + having pillow fights
+ Incorporating activities you love to do together (this could be literally anything); you could incorporate your favorite board or video game, book, sport, movie, or tv show... the possibilities are endless.
+ Visiting your favorite place - maybe it's a local coffee shop, ice cream parlor, hole-in-the-wall bar, or casual restaurant, the place you first met, or even a family home/property - it's always extra special when the location holds a special meaning as well.
+ Taking a spontaneous trip somewhere new - this could be somewhere in nature or around a new city!
+ Plan an experience or trip that you've always talked about doing and I'll tag along to document the occasion
ENJOY TIME WITH YOUR LOVED ONES
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS I FEEL I CAN DO AS A CREATIVE IS TO LEARN YOUR STORY AS A FAMILY AND BUILD FROM THERE.
So, from the moment you reach out to the time your gallery gets delivered, there is a lot of planning + preparation that goes into making sure every session is a success.
I send out a questionnaire for you to fill out that will help me better understand what your expectations are, as well as help me get to know you a little better as a family and individually.
Some of the questions are basic stuff like what your names are, but others are more in-depth, asking about how you like to spend your time together, how you would describe each other, and how you want to feel when you look at the images in 20+ years.
I also ask things like whether you're comfortable getting wet/dirty, comfortable lifting/being lifted, and if anyone participating has any disabilities that may affect how we should plan the session out.
WHETHER YOU BOOK A SESSION TO CELEBRATE AN ANNIVERSARY, SPECIAL OCCASION, HOLIDAY, OR JUST BECAUSE - I'LL ILLUSTRATE THIS CHAPTER OF YOUR LIVES WHILE ALSO CREATING AN ATMOSPHERE THAT FEELS MORE LIKE A FUN FAMILY OUTING THAN A PHOTOSHOOT.
CELEBRATE YOUR MILESTONES
"What's The Difference Between a portrait and a lifestyle session?"
Great question friend, here's a breakdown of the two:
Lifestyle Portraits
+ Aim to capture everyday moments in a beautiful way, with the goal of capturing the true essence of the subjects
+ No coordinating outfits required, easily avoid stuffy poses and forced smiles.
+ Generally, minimal posing & props are involved.
+ Prompts may be used to help guide you through the session in a natural way.
+ The photog acts as a "fly-on-the-wall," allowing everyone to be themselves & enjoy their time as they would naturally.
+ Captured in-home but can take place somewhere outdoors meaningful to those involved.
+ Great for those who aren't super comfortable in front of the camera
The great thing about lifestyle sessions is that you can do anything your heart desires. The session can focus on any of the various aspects of your life; your everyday shenanigans with the kiddos, your awesome talent/skill/hobby, your extensive collection of *insert random item here*, your work/business/passion project... literally anything you want to highlight in your life can be done with a lifestyle session.
Traditional Portraits
+ What most people envision when thinking of family photos
+ Posed subjects, coordinated/matching outfits, & everyone looking at the camera for most of the shots.
+ A studio space being used with backdrops and lighting equiptment
+ Props/setups may be used to convey more meaning or a special message.
+ More time invested into touch-ups & removing distractions from the background.
+ The scenery/location plays an important role in the images, generally captured in a studio or outdoors in a picturesque setting like a field, park, river.
+ Images tend to serve as classic family heirlooms.
+ Great for those who are relatively comfortable in front of the camera
The great thing about portrait sessions is that you don't actually have to do anything during them! Choose a location (or two), plan your outfits, gather any props you wish to include, show up to the session, & I'll take care of the rest! I'll guide you through the session using poses & prompts to help create natural poses and genuine smiles/laughs.!
AFTER YOUR FAMILY SESSION, YOU'LL RECEIVE A FULL ONLINE GALLERY, FILLED WITH TONS OF THE BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS WE CREATED DURING OUR TIME TOGETHER.
You deserve the absolute best.
In order to ensure my clients are getting the absolute best experience I can provide, I take on a limited amount of sessions each year.
Fill out this contact form and I will be in touch soon to confirm you're still interested and begin the booking processes.
After we've finalized the details, you'll just sign your contract, pay your retainer, fill out a questionnaire, and begin (not so) patiently counting down the days until your session arrives!
HOPE TO TALK TO YOU SOON, HOMIE!
Frequently Asked Questions
01/04
Where are you located? Do I have to travel to you?
I'm located in Fairmont, West Virginia, but I absolutely love to get out for a nice adventure, so I'm happy to offer my services anywhere in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, or anywhere else you need me, really.
I don't currently have a studio space, so sessions are held outdoors, in your home, or at the event venue.
I do have access to a few awesome local studio spaces in Clarksburg/Fairmont/Morgantown that can be utilized for an additional fee.
Are children allowed to attend and be included in our session?
Although I do specialize in working with couples, I am happy to include your children in the session as well!
Just let me know if you wish to include them in your session and I'll be sure to plan the session with some poses that are kid-friendly!
Do you pose us for photos?
I capture AUTHENTICALLY. Life isn't always full of smiles and laughter, so we're not gonna stress about the little things when it comes to our time together. Kids cry, Grandpa gets grumpy, pups can be rambunctious... Whatever the case may be for the day, we will embrace it with open arms.
I might have you cuddle up next to each other, and then direct you to move your leg in a bit one way and your arm another, but for the most part, I'm going to capture you in the moment, interacting normally and being yourself.
That said, I'll also probably ask you (or your S.O.) to do something like share the funniest joke you can think of or whisper your favorite breakfast cereal in the sexiest voice you can muster... just to make sure I capture a few GENUINE laughs too.
I want you to be yourselves for the session. It's part of my job to get to know you and make you feel comfortable!
How do I book a session?
Simply fill out any of the contact forms found on the site to get the conversation started! We'll work out a time and date for the session, I'll send out a contract, invoice, and questionnaire for you to fill out, and then the magic will happen!
We will stay connected throughout the planning process and make sure we get all the details squared away before the day of the session.
How do I pay for a session?
I accept retainers, payments, and full payments online. All transactions are handled via Stripe, Paypal, or Facebook Pay.
**Cash and money orders are also accepted on a limited basis and must be approved first.
My booking policy is that I require a 25% non-refundable retainer paid within 7 days of receiving your contract and invoice to hold your desired session time and date for you.
The remaining balance may be paid in installments or in full. Up to 6 installments may be made.
** If you wish to pay cash, a 25% retainer will be required to be made electronically. The remaining 75% of the session fee may be paid the day of the session. Stripe and Paypal accept payments via prepaid card (greendot, visa, etc.), but money orders or direct bank deposits can also be accepted when discussed.
This non-refundable retainer serves many purposes, such as showing that you’re serious about wanting the session to take place, assurance that I can request off from my other job without a complete loss of income, and as a way to cover my losses in time/gas/planning should you fail to show up to your session.
How long will it take to get our photos back?
I try to deliver galleries ASAP, but it honestly depends on my schedule and workload at the time.
Please remember that LIFE HAPPENS. Believe it or not, photographers don't spend EVERY moment of their free time doing photography related things...
Lifestyle sessions can typically expect to receive their gallery within 2-4 weeks.
Weddings, Elopements, and boudoir sessions take a bit longer, due to the nature of them. These can take a month or three to deliver.
I'll be able to answer this question a bit better at/after your session, as it really depends on how many images I capture while we are together.
How do you choose the images delivered in our gallery?
I cull through all of the images and and select only the "best" ones to edit and deliver to you.
I choose the images based on how they represent my style as a photographer and your personality as a family.
If the picture doesn't help to tell the story, it's probably not going to be in your gallery.
No specific image taken during the session is guaranteed to be delivered - images are delivered at my full discretion.
RAW images will NEVER be provided to a client, as they do not accurately represent my work or brand image. I seriously mean it, never!
Do I have to order prints through you?
While you do not HAVE to order through me... I do make it SUPER easy for you to order them directly from your gallery, and I definitely recommend it if you want the highest-quality artwork for your home.
While printing from places like Walgreens and CVS is the economical choice, you will risk a lot - color differences, clarity issues, cheaper material, and overall loss of quality.
Basically, I can't guarantee the quality of products you receive from 3rd party printing companies like I can when you order directly through your gallery, so print elsewere at your own risk!