Types of Portrait Sessions

In Studio or On Location

The first decision to make is whether the session is going to be in the studio, on location, or both. A studio session has the advantage of not being impacted by the weather, and it allows me as a photographer to have more control. The main disadvantage is the restriction of being indoors - no sunset or beautiful views. A location session is the opposite: the benefits of natural beauty but the drawbacks of potential weather issues.

Maternity

Let's start from the very beginning. A maternity shoot is a shoot of a pregnant woman, typically a very pregnant woman, and perhaps her husband or family. This is most often a studio shoot, but can also be on location.

There is a range of styles open to you in a maternity shoot, from a more traditional portrait to something very abstract, and this is something that we would discuss in preparation for the shoot. But don't wait too long...sometimes babies come early!

Babies

Photographing babies can be a lot of fun...I know because I have twin baby boys! I have really learned about how to photograph babies, and it is a team effort to execute a good session with your baby - photographer, assistant, and parent/toy jiggler.

I have found that black and white is great for babies, but of course everything is shot in color and converted later. Depending on the age of your baby/babies and their stage of development, we will set things up accordingly to get the best shots. And we can come to you with our portable studio since it isn't always easy to get out!

The Sloan Portrait

This is a composite image of 12 individual pictures of your baby from a studio shoot, as shown here.

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Children

As your children grow up, it is great to do a shoot each year...a shoot that goes far beyond the simple portraits they get at school. These can be individual sessions or with their siblings, and can be on location or in the studio.

I like to establish a little rapport with your child or children before I start shooting, and through the shoot, as it can take time to make a child comfortable and establish trust. For a little extra encouragement, I like to show them their pictures on the back of the camera (isn't digital great?).

The best pictures tend to come when a child is being him or herself and forgets that I am shooting, so not every shot is looking into the camera smiling. We want some personality to come through!

Families

Better yet, include the whole family and do a Family Portrait. These can be done in the studio and/or on location, and there is no restriction on the number of family members who can be included. Bring your pet(s) too!

A quality portrait of your family is something that has infinite value. Think of all the people in your lives who would love to have a portrait of your family, all the occasions/holidays throughout the year, and even all the places where the portrait could be displayed, including online.

A special family portrait is the one you take for your holiday cards. We call it the Holiday Portrait, and the season kicks off after Labor Day. The beach is a great place for these portraits, and we'll schedule sessions on weekends in the fall. Please contact us for more information.

Seniors

High school senior portraits are special pictures that you do once in your child's lifetime. There are often two types of senior portraits - the formal, posed one that goes into the yearbook, and...everything else. Some studios focus on the yearbook pictures, but those don't tell the story, reveal the personality, or describe the uniqueness of your senior.

Our senior portraits are typically done both in the studio and on location, and we encourage anything and everything to make your sessions unique.

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Couples

I am amazed at how many couples only have wedding pictures of themselves together and nothing more current. Perhaps all of the recent pictures are snapshots or only exist on a camera or computer or online.

A professional portrait session, in a style of your choice, at a location of your choice, is a fun and enduring experience. Maybe it is a formal studio shoot, maybe it is wine tasting in Santa Ynez, or a beach sunset shoot. Maybe an urban or industrial setting, on a boat, or at a park. You get the idea!

Pets

As an animal lover, I would not want to leave out your pet from a family or couple photo shoot, and I would even suggest a session of just your pet. Granted, the options may be limited from a practical standpoint, but many people ask if their dogs can be included and the answer is yes. I've included dogs in studio shoots as well. Please ask about the feasibility of doing a session with, or of, your pet.