Category Archives: Family Photograpy

The Vanishing Generation: The Impact of Not Printing Portraits

Why Print Photos in the Digital Age?

Let’s explore FIVE consequences of not printing portraits and the importance of preserving our images/memories in tangible form.

The Fragility of Digital Data: Digital photographs are susceptible to loss or corruption. Hard drives can fail, memory cards can get damaged, or files can accidentally be deleted. By not printing portraits, we place our memories at risk, relying solely on fragile digital files that can easily disappear.
The Joy of Tangible Memories: There is something magical about holding a physical photograph in your hands, feeling the texture, and reliving the moment it captured. Printed portraits allows us to create tangible memories that can be displayed, shared, and passed down through generations. It brings a sense of nostalgia and connection, evoking emotions that digital images alone cannot replicate.
The Importance of Archiving: Printing portraits ensures their longevity and preservation for future generations. By printing and archiving photographs, we create a tangible legacy that can be enjoyed by our children, grandchildren, and beyond. These printed portraits serve as a bridge between generations, fostering a sense of belonging, and allowing our stories to live on.
The Loss of Personal Touch: In the digital realm, our photographs often remain hidden within the confines of our devices (think about yourself trying to find one single image on your iPhone). Printed portraits allows us to showcase our cherished memories in our homes, creating a personal touch and a sense of warmth. They serve as conversation starters, sparking stories and connections with our loved ones. Without printed portraits, we miss out on the opportunity to share and celebrate our lives with others.
Preserving Cultural Heritage: Printed portraits are not just about preserving our personal memories; it is also about safeguarding our cultural heritage. Family portraits capture moments that define our identities and histories.

As we continue to navigate the digital age, it is essential not to overlook the importance of printed portraits.

Preserving our memories in tangible form allows us to safeguard them against technological failures, relish in the joy of physical touch, and create lasting legacies for future generations.

Let us not allow an entire generation to be lost in the millions of digital images, stuck on a device.

At Innovative Images, Kurt is a PRINT ARTIST. Now you know why!

It’s time to give your walls a story to share.

Lets get it all figured out

1. Prefer text? Text Kurt at 972-335-3686

2. Prefer email? Email: Kurt@innovativeimagesphotos.com

3. Prefer a call? Schedule your call here: https://calendly.com/innovativeimages/portraitphoneconsultation

Fall Photo Session in Texas

This family is so incredible to be around. There is a joy that flows from each member of the Danna family that is inspirational. Not only are they a gorgeous family on the outside, they are pure gold on the inside.

I wanted to spotlight this session so you can see results from a fall photo session in McKinney. During the photoshoot, we do lots of poses including traditional and photojournalistic. In addition, we love to do small groups inside of the family. In this instance, we even did individual poses.

Results were printed in a beautiful coffee table book so all the poses they loved will be enjoyed forever. In addition, we produced a stunning 18×36 framed collage which made a perfect wall portrait for the family.

Nothing is more precious than family time and pictures are literally the only tangible way to keep the memories alive.

Taylor & Gage

Engagement photo sessions are truly special! There’s much less stress on everyone involved than at a wedding. It’s a casual, fun experience that results in portraits that will be treasured for a lifetime. Every couple is different and we strive to capture the special bond and happiness that is evident during the engagement time. Some couples prefer a dramatic look and others want to express who they are in a more casual way. Either is great! Taylor and Gage chose to keep the clothing very basic and focus on each other and their love of the outdoors. This is an amazing couple and we wish them all the happiness this world can bring!

Here are just a few pics of this absolutely lovely couple…..

Giselle, SR 2025

We had such a great time capturing Giselle’s senior portraits! She timed the session perfectly in late spring/early summer because the weather and natural backgrounds were absolutely stunning. We were able to do both classic indoor portraits and gorgeous outdoor photos. She was fun to work with and very photogenic!

Here is a small sample of a few of the portraits we took of this wonderful senior!

Family Portraits Indoors

For the past twenty years or so, most families desire their family portraits to be taken outdoors in nature for a natural, casual style that look great on display on the walls of their homes. We agree that this is a stunning look that will be popular forever.

In the 70’s, 80’s and before, families went to their local photography studio similar to Olan Mills, and did their family portraits inside a studio on a painted background. Most families dressed in their “Sunday best” with no regard for blending with one another. It’s easy to spot one of these portraits and often they are pretty funny. I’m sure you have some of these gems in your attic or on the walls at Grandma’s house.

Today, there is a healthy blend of many types of family portrait locations both indoors and outdoors. There are some indoor studio family portraits (although these are few and far between because there aren’t many photo studios with adequate space and photographers who understand indoor lighting.) We still do this type of photography and the results can be absolutely stunning. Another style of indoor family portraits is the location session inside the client’s home. This can be a wonderful idea because it documents the family’s life inside their own setting therefore the results looks incredible on display in gorgeous family portraits on their walls. Another advantage is there is no weather to deal with so hair and light is always great. Many clients have said there is no good spot in their home. Some are surprised to see that an experienced photographer can look for angles and areas that photography beautifully!

We absolutely love outdoor photos but indoor family portraits have their advantages. If it’s time for your next family portrait and you want to do something different this time, we suggest an indoor session. Take a look at this recent session at the client’s home. We love the windows providing exquisite lighting and the clothing which blends with their decor.

Create a Gallery Wall in an Apartment

Creating a gallery wall in your apartment is a wonderful way to infuse your space with personality, style, and visual interest. This versatile design element allows you to showcase your favorite artworks, photographs, and treasured items, turning a simple wall into a captivating focal point.
In this ApartmentGuide article which we were featured in, we share nine expert tips to help you design a stunning gallery wall that reflects your unique taste and creativity. So whether you’re selecting the perfect pieces for your rental apartment in New York, NY, or your townhome in Boston, MA, these tips will ensure your gallery wall becomes a striking and cohesive statement that enhances the beauty of your apartment. Be sure to check out Artful Arangements: 9 Expert Tips for Crafting Your Apartment’s Gallery Wall.

Article written by Ryan Castillo/Redfin with collaboration from Innovative Images and other photographers.

Make Up Tips for Portraits

LIGHTEN UP. Avoid going too dark in your foundation shade. Have your shade professionally matched to your skin tone as close to the day of your shoot as possible. This really matters!
MATTE IS A MUST. Especially for your cheeks, stay away from shimmery powder, no exceptions. For eyelids, keep shimmer strictly to the lids.
PRIMARY FOCUS. Primer is essential for keeping makeup intact! It’s like the base coat of a nail manicure. Oil-free versions are best and also sensitive skin-friendly.
SAY NO TO SPF. Primer and foundation should be SPF-free. Formulas containing sunscreen cast a ghostlike glow with the camera flash or reflector.
LINE UP. When lining eyelids, start in the center and work your way to the outer edge. Lining the entire lid will cause the eyes to appear smaller. Use a slanted brush with a dark (but not black) shadow to line the lower lids.
MORE IS MORE. Camera lighting will wash out colors, no matter what. Don’t be scared off by a dramatic finished look. It won’t photograph that way unless you have gone overboard. Your makeup should be a bit more intense than your every day look. Please avoid too much eyebrow pencil but do fill in your brows for a natural look. Eyebrows frame your face so a delicate balance it absolutely critical.
BLEND, BLEND, BLEND. When it comes to concealer, cheek contouring and eye shadow, a quality set of brushes is key. The camera will highlight and pick up on unblended edges, creating a clow-like look. Unblended concealer will highlight fine lines.
MELLOW YELLOW. To set makeup, choose a yellow based powder rather than a translucent powder Much like SPF formulas, translucent powders cast a white glow when photographed.
AU NATURALE. Always have makeup applied in a natural light. This will be the best indicator of how it will look when photographed. Please wear a little make up even if you do not normally do so because a totally natural look can really make you look washed out in photos. We love natural looks, but a little lip color, cheek color, brow pencil, and mascara will go a LONG way!

10. SAY NO TO SPIDER LASHES. The worst mistake that people make is wearing long, fake, thick eyelashes. Your eyes will disappear in the shadows of the spider like lashes. If you are dead set about falsies, keep them shorter and less thick than normal. I promise you..eyelashes can ruin portraits and no amount of retouching can repair the damage. I wish I could post some of my clients who have made this tragic mistake but I wouldn’t want to embarrass anyone. Too much mascara can have the same negative effect. Mascara is great but do not apply it over and over making the lashes stick together and look clumpy.

11. USE COLOR HARMONY. Think about what you are wearing and select lip and cheek colors that blend with your clothing. A complementary nail color is essential too. For example, if you wear pink, do not use coral shades for lips, nails, etc. If you are someone who doesn’t like pink on your lips, you should avoid pink clothing too. It’s probably not your best look!

11. PRACTICE RUN. Don’t let the day of your photo shoot be the first time to try new products. Trial runs are essential to creating the perfect final look!

Changes in Professional Photography for Family Portraits

Back in the 70’s and 80’s, almost every professional family photo was taken indoors. Popular portrait studios like Olan Mills and JC Penney had a corner on the market. There were many individually owned brick and mortar photo studios too. At that time, the photographer had to have an understanding of lighting and posing in order to be successful. Many photographers had their own darkroom for film processing. Retouching was possible, but it was a process! Most of the time, the photographer would send his/her film to a professional lab for retouching specifics. It was a lengthy process but the results could be absolutely stunning when it was done correctly.

We opened Innovative Images in 1992. We did all of the things detailed above, but we were young and open to change. We started using Photoshop from the very beginning and it was definitely rogue. We remember the very first time we saw a digital camera at a professional conference. It was incredibly expensive and the results were VERY POOR. We knew the digital technology wasn’t up to our standards, but we watched as things progressed rather rapidly. We ended up buying our first digital camera a few years later and used it specifically for business headshots because the images were not good unless they were very small. In 1998, we rented a very expensive digital camera to use for a family portrait session of a high profile celebrity. The client ended up ordering beautiful, large wall portraits from indoor images we created and our journey into digital photography was off and running.

Never could we have imagined the introduction of the cell phone camera. This invention allowed everyone to have a digital camera on them all the time. Many people decided they no longer needed professional photographers or printed photos. Family photos shifted to almost exclusively outdoor settings and the lines of what constituted a professional photographer became blurred. Today, digital cameras are everywhere and many “pros” actually use a cell phone during their sessions. Believe us when we say that there is a difference in the output of digital cameras but mostly the difference in high quality work is still the result of a high degree of understanding in lighting, posing, and retouching.

Our goal is to provide a true professional experience and unbelievable results. We are always learning and growing within the profession and we hope to continue creating gorgeous, meaningful family photography no matter what changes in the world of photography occur. While we love outdoor family portrait sessions, we do offer indoor sessions and the results can be stunning and dramatic when done right. In fact, there seems to be a resurgence of good, quality indoor photography reminiscent of what was produced 50 years ago but better. In addition, clients are loving beautifully done printed, tangible portraits instead of bunch of digital images that get lost and unappreciated. More on that in a future blog post!

What to Wear in a Family Portrait

In the old days, photographers might have told a family to wear something like all white and denim or all black. Easy, YES, but good, NO! Seriously, how many families go around looking like clones? We want your family portrait to be a natural look but there are things to consider. Here are some do’s and don’ts!

*DO these things:

1.Come up with a plan for the portrait session. Do not allow each person to just show up in their favorite clothing. Color harmony and mood is important.

2. Wear colors that would look like a great accent in your home. In other words, if you decorate in gray and blue, don’t wear colors such as red, hot pink, burgundy, etc. Stick with neutral tones that will blend with your home’s decor.

3. Wear clothes that somewhat match each personality yet blend with the family. Solid colors mixed with very small prints containing the solid color choice and jackets, vests, etc. are usually a nice look.

4. Wear layers, jewelry, etc. to highlight each person’s unique style.

5. Women should wear a little make up! You can look sick and pale with nothing to highlight your face! I know you want to look natural, but a little makeup is a great thing.

6. Wear a variety of textures.

7. Wear colors that go with the natural background of the season. (Ex: Do not wear springlike colors in a fall landscape)

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*DON’T do these things:

1. Wear bold patterns ESPECIALLY bold stripes!

2. Wear WHITE especially if you’re the only one! You’ll be too bright and overpowering.

3. Wear short sleeves if you are even a pound overweight. Trust me on this one. We can help the situation in the retouching process but help me by not doing it and help yourself because your arms will look bigger than you think.

Wear socks that will show such as little white athletic socks!

Wear a mix of light and dark colors. Choose either light or either dark or all neutrals on top. PLEASE AVOID SHIRTS LIKE NAVY AND WHITE STRIPES, ETC. This is an absolute killer.

Use this chart to help you come up with a color scheme!