Most photographers will be sure to include the parents in photos with the bride and groom, but most will never think to inquire about doing a shot of say the groom’s dad with his brothers and sisters who are present at the wedding.

A wedding is the perfect place to take these kinds of photos of family groups. Everyone in the family has gathered for the big event, many times from far flung regions of the country and everyone is dressed up and looking their best! The wedding may be the first time family has gotten together. Maybe your dad hasn’t seen his siblings in years. Or your mother and her parents. If the opportunity to take these group photos is passed over because nobody thought much about the importance of this fleeting opportunity, the photos won’t be captured. And it’s these type of photos that often turn out to be the most important and most appreciated of all the photos taken at the wedding.

Unfortunately, the one thing no wedding photographer can do is look at a group of total strangers and figure out how they interlock with each other! That is why I send couples an email before the wedding requesting this sort of information, so that I don’t end up missing anyone of importance and you won’t have to try to remember this information on an already stressful day!

Capturing these special photos is also easier if you can make sure that the people who are going to be included in these group photos are told to be available for the photos being taken when the other traditional groups are done.

You will not want to be trying to pull these groups together at the reception, because getting them all together at the same time at the reception is often one of the most difficult things you’ll do on your wedding day. It is better to avoid doing these photos at the reception altogether, if possible and get them done early in the day.

Also, be sure that all the people to be included in your photos know to stay in the room the photos are being taken until all the groups are done. If someone slips off because they think they are through being photographed and it turns out that they are needed for an impromptu additional last minute group request, everything grinds to a halt until someone tracks them down and brings them back.

Just a little photo pre-planning helps keeps things running smoothly and ensures I capture the photos and people you want to remember on this wonderful, crazy day!

If you’re interested in a session for your kids, grandkids, nieces or nephews let us know.  Sessions are only $95 for 45 minutes and includes two 9×12 prints and the digital file chosen for the print.  Of course additional prints are available at our standard price and can be found on our pricing page.  This series would also make amazing fine art canvas prints for your wall!!!

I was truly honored to take Derik and Britt’s engagement photos. They are great people and together they are a dynamic couple.

Despite the fall drizzle that we contended with during the photo session, I really loved the the beautiful backdrop late fall provides. Even the light fog contributed to a romantic and playful session.

Derik and Britt were really at ease in front of the camera and had the great chemistry of a newly engaged couple!

Nothing makes holiday photo cards unique, personal, and memorable like including a great photograph. It offers the perfect opportunity to let your personality shine.

While this is all tons of fun, taking a great photo for your holiday photo cards can be more difficult than you might think. The hardest part is deciding what kind of picture you’d like to take. From formal posed portraits to candid and funny shots, here are my hints for taking great holiday pictures for your Christmas photo cards.

What comes first, the picture or the card design?

This question can lead to quite a debate between people who take their holiday photo cards seriously. Some people choose a card that suits a picture already taken while others like to choose their Christmas photo cards first and then take their picture so it matches the card.

Regardless of which works best for you, at least looking at the selection of holiday photo cards I have available will give you some ideas for the size of photograph you might want to take and some ideas for colors that might complement the look of several of your favorite cards. Some of my holiday cards are all about your photographs. They offer the opportunity to include many images, so knowing your choices might help spark an idea for the perfect Christmas picture that wins best of the season.

Ideas for standout Christmas photo cards

You’ve heard the saying, “The more, the merrier?” Well, it’s definitely true when it comes to your holiday photo cards. Don’t just put your kids in the picture this year. Jump in the picture yourself along with the dog and your pet hamster to make a merry picture even merrier. While everyone loves seeing pictures of cute kids, your card recipients will also appreciate seeing the whole family in the picture.

If you want to do something a little different, consider taking black and white pictures for your Christmas photo cards. Black and white photographs look best when very simple.

While posed portrait shots are gorgeous, sometimes the best pictures are candid shots full of personality. Instead of stiff posed portraits of your children with perfect hair and not a wrinkled shirt in sight, consider taking snapshots of the family goofing around, giggling, acting silly, or doing things they enjoy.

Or what about shooting on location? Olympia offers some amazing portrait photography destinations that provide unique backdrops for your seasonal photo.

With many styles and colors of holiday photo cards available, I will make it easy to try something different or stick with traditional pictures for your Christmas photo card this year. Start planning early for the most special holiday cards of the season!

When you  think about portrait photography, what sort of images come to mind? High school senior pictures? A family portrait? Or maybe a photo of a really cute kid?

But what about family pets? Venture out to any local park or even downtown Olympia and you can’t help but notice all the people out enjoying the day with their dogs.

As an avid dog lover, I understand the bond people share with their pets. Dogs have individual personalities and I love when I capture that in a photo. Some are silly, others stoic and serious. But our pets bring us unconditional love and at my house, a good laugh or two. They really are a special member of the family, aren’t they?