Tag Archives: #friscofamilyphotographer

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.

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!

Family Portraits Boost Self Esteem

Experts say Family Portraits have a Positive Effect on Children’s Self Esteem

We all love having family portraits adorn our walls, however, experts say hanging portraits on your walls is serving a much higher purpose.

An interesting, and rarely discussed aspect of family photography, is how it instills our children with more confidence, and self worth. When asked, How can family portraits assist in boosting a child’s self-esteem?, Dr. David Krauss, a licensed psychologist from Cleveland, Ohio said, “ It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued, and important part of a family unit. A photographer’s job is to create, and make the image look like a safe holding space for kids, where they are safe and protected. Kids get it on a really simple level.” Krauss is one of the earliest pioneers in using people’s personal photography and family albums to assist in mental health counseling and therapy. He co-authored “Photo Therapy and Mental Health” in 1983 that is considered a founding text for the use of photography in therapy.

Additionally, Judy Weiser, a psychologist, art therapist, and author says, “It lets children learn who they are, and where they fit,” Weiser has spend more than 20 years using photography to aid in treatment for her clients. She is considered to be the foremost authority on a treatment technique called PhotoTherapy. “They learn their genealogy, and the the uniqueness of their own family, and its story. When a child sees a family portrait with them included in the photograph they say to themselves: ‘These people have me as part of what they are, that’s why I belong here. This is where I come from.’”

Digitals or Prints?

Which will have the greatest positive impact for your child?

It has become more common for us to enjoy, and store our portraits and photographs solely on our digital devices. So, we are left asking ourselves, Do digital images have the same positive impact on a child’s self esteem? In response to that question, Dr. Krauss states, “My bias is very simple. I think they (family portraits) should be on the wall. I am very conservative about self-esteem, and I think placing a family photo, someplace in the home where the child can see it every day, without having to turn on a device, or click around on a computer to find it really hits home for that child this sense of reassurance and comfort. They have a certainty about them, and a protecting quality that nurtures a child. It lets them know where they are in the pecking order and that they are loved and cared for.”

The importance of printed photographs displayed in your living space was echoed by other experts.

“Displaying photos prominently in the home sends the message that our family and those in it are important to one another, and we honor the memories we have experienced,“ says Cathy Lander-Goldberg, a licensed clinical social worker and a professional photographer in St. Louis, Missouri and the director of Photo Explorations, which offers workshops to girls and women using portrait and journaling for self-reflection.

Additionally, Dr. Krauss recommends having photographs of that child with their family placed in the child’s bedroom so it can be among the last things they see before sleep and the first thing they may see before beginning their day. “It says we love you, and care about you. You’re important.”

The Family Photographer

I have been doing this family’s photos for 20+ years. Baby photos, children’s photos, family photos, senior photos and anything in between. I am their FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHER. Having a photographer document your life, your love, and your legacy is important. The images created for this family tell their story and have engrained memories for all. I know each family member’s personality and this helps me successfully create images they will treasure. Just as a family chooses other professionals like doctors, dentists, etc., a family photographer should be considered. This is the generation that takes lots of photos- and that is great, however documenting milestones and family portraits should be left to the professional so that the images will become a tangible part of their history. Otherwise precious memories will literally get lost in the “clouds.”

Family photo on location in Fairview