New Incentives: Referral Program & Return Client Discount!

Share the love people!  If you are pleased with your photos that I have created for you, then please make that known - and book again!  I would love to REWARD you for doing so.

Beginning December 1, 2013, you can participate in my REFERRAL PROGRAM or receive my RETURN CLIENT DISCOUNT!

• You can get a $25 print credit (that's right, $25 worth of prints for FREE -- good for one year) if someone books a session with me and says that you referred them!  The only requirement is that you be a fan of my facebook page:  www.facebook.com/photographybymeganalyse.

• Also, as a reward to my loyal clients who come back to me for photos, you can get a $10 print credit each time!

This is my way of saying "thanks" to those of you who have let me photograph your beautiful families, and hoping you'll send more my way!

--Megan

What to Wear for Your Family Photos

So, you've booked your family photo shoot.  What the heck are you all going to wear?!  While it can seem a daunting task - or an unnecessary one to some - planning your family's outfits for pictures is both simple AND important.

Nothing can ruin family photos more than horrible, clashing outfits.  Most families don't have lavish designer wardrobes or the disposable income to go out and buy new outfits just for pictures.  That's fine - you don't need to!  Dressing your family for pictures is simple and whatever you have in your closets - if planned correctly - can come out looking amazing.  Just follow these suggestions:

1. Don't wear brands, screen prints or patterns.  Think simple, solid colors.  If you have more than one pattern in the shot, it becomes very unpleasing to the eye, and a screen printed t-shirt or a big Under Armour "X" is tacky for this situation.  The focus should be on you and your faces, not your shirt.  If ONE or maybe even two people want to wear a pattern, that is okay and can even be a great accent, provided the two patterns are the same and the colors coordinate with everyone else.
2. Again - think solid colors.
3. No hats - especially ball caps.
4. Don't all wear the same color.  A FAR better way to match is to wear different colors in the same color family or create a nice color scheme.  Read on for color schemes that I have personally designed for your inspiration!
5. Try to avoid black & white - especially as main colors.  If you want neutrals, go for grays or browns.  Blacks and whites create bigger challenges in post-processing (i.e., editing) and are much more difficult to expose for properly. "Middle neutrals" (gray) will look much better!
6. Dress for the season.  Don't show up sleeveless or in hot pink for a winter photo shoot. 
7. Layer - and differently.  Don't all wear shorts, or all wear jackets, or all wear scarves, etc. etc. etc. Change it up.
8. Try to avoid tennis shoes.
9. Choose either casual or dressy - for the whole family.  You can't have mom & dad dress to the nines while the kids have shorts & t-shirt on.

This simple list can easily be followed without spending any money!  Even t-shirts can look nice as long as they are a solid color.  While it's easy & brainless to match by all wearing the same color, remember - the better way to match is by coordinating colors in a family or scheme. 

 I have provided some examples below to help you plan.  Please use this as a resource and share with your friends who have family photos coming up and need some inspiration!  Enjoy.

Why You Should Invest in Professional Prints

With the ease and affordability of printing instant prints at big box stores like Wal-Mart, Walgreens, etc., it may be hard for some people to justify purchasing prints from a professional lab (i.e., purchasing prints from your photographer).  The decision to "go cheap" is made even easier by the fact that many photographers, myself included, offer digital images with a print release with only suggestions - not requirements - of where to have the images printed.

While I understand the financial pressure that makes people go this route, professional prints are definitely worth the investment!  You will absolutely be more satisfied with your images if you have them printed by a pro lab.  You've already chosen to invest in the photographer and by having those images printed on the cheap, you are basically trashing that investment.  The reason I say this, is that pro labs will not perform unauthorized edits on your photographer's work.  How he/she meant them to look is how they will print.  Wal-Mart & the others, however, will change the photos upon printing without permission.  They just won't be the same photos your photographer worked so hard to produce for you - they will be of a much lower quality.  

You have to see it to believe it!  Check out this side-by-side comparison done by Paint the Moon: Paint the Moon's Print Comparison

Preparing For Your Newborn Session

Preparing for Your Newborn Session with {Photography by Megan Alyse}

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I love newborn sessions - they are my absolute favorite!  However, they can be very difficult and frustrating if baby isn't kept perfectly happy.  The following are not "rules" you must follow, but I have found that these few things help keep baby content, which makes your session go much more smoothly - and that equates to much better photos! 

Let's make sure we get this...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

...instead of this!

 

In Your Home:

1. Give baby a full feeding about 30 minutes before the session is to start.

2. Get your house WARM.  If you are sweating, it's perfect for baby.

3. Keep baby naked (wrapped in blanket) or at the least keep the diaper very loose to prevent lines on the skin & to prevent waking baby when we start the session.

4. Have wipes & towels handy (though I will bring them as well!).  Baby will pee & poop on things - it is okay, it happens every time and it washes.

5. If baby takes a binky or needs a sounds machine, have those handy.

6. RELAX!  If baby doesn't want to sleep, we won't force it and we will still get awesome images!

7.  Even if you don't plan to get in a photo, you might regret it if you don't.  A black shirt is GREAT for those black background pictures, and you will just blend right in!

 

In My Home Studio:

Everything above ^^^ applies.  I will have my house very warm so please dress light or in layers so you can be comfortable too!  Don't stress!  You are a new mom & I will make the session relaxed & comfortable.  I will have a private room where you are able to feed baby if need be.  I will have wipes, towels, etc etc etc so don't stress over what to bring, other than a binky or soother.

 

Last but not least, talk with me before your session so that we are on the same page as far what type of photos you like, specific shots you want, color schemes and props you would like to use.  Search my galleries to see what options I have available, and you are always welcome to bring your own!