Personalize your photography session with these easy tips
Family and newborn sessions in the Hudson Valley
Creating personalized photography sessions is my favorite way to turn galleries into treasured keepsakes for clients. Photographs are best remembered when they contain personalized elements from your life experience. Especially with newborn and extended family sessions, adding in personal mementos can be especially meaningful. This takes your gallery from simply being a smile for the camera picture, and turns it into a memory will depth and emotion.
Investing in professional photographs looks different for many families. Some families are looking for that classic “everyone looking at the camera and smiling” picture for their mantle. The families who seek me out are looking for more. We get those smiling photographs, but my galleries are meant to be a storytelling collection. What do I mean by this? When you look back at these memories, and your gallery, you should be transported to a moment in time. You should easily remember feelings, details, and moments.
One of my favorite ways to conjure up emotion is through personalizing sessions with keepsakes. Here are my best tips:
- When we plan your session, I will ask if there are any special mementos you would like included. I typically will ask this specifically for newborn or extended family sessions, however keepsakes have been incorporated into all of my sessions!
- In extended family sessions, especially where there are grandparents involved, think about including old photographs, bringing special heirloom jewelry, and having wedding bands on hand.
- For newborn sessions, think about including passed down items such as special blankets, stuffed animals, or storybooks.
- If you are planning a maternity sessions, think about including an ultrasound photograph, a special baby keepsake, or a gender item if you want to specify gender.
These are some basic ideas, however, really the possibilities are endless. Before our session, I send you a questionnaire to help me get to know you and your family better. I love getting to understand more about you, and being able to best personalize your session.
The most powerful photo galleries that I deliver for families are the ones where my subjects are most like themselves, where their authenticity and genuine personalities really shine through. Incorporating personalized keepsakes only makes your visual story stronger, and provides a timeless way to remember this stage of your life!
