Photography Tips: How to Capture Great Party Pictures of Your Children! | Northern VA Baby Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Oct 26, 2017 | Children's Portrait, Helpful Hints

Photography Tips: How to Capture Great Party Pictures of Your Children! | Northern VA Baby Photographer

Are you ready to take spectacular pictures at your child’s next party? As a long-time baby photographer in the Waterford, VA and South Riding, VA areas, we can offer you some tips to help. It’s not easy to photograph children – let alone ones in constant motion at a party!

For the best pictures, make sure you have a designated photographer. Their sole job at the party is to take pictures. Here are five tips to help you (or them) out:

Shoot on Auto:
Unless you’re an experienced photographer, set your digital camera to “auto” and shoot away. If you have photography experience, you can set your camera to “manual” and adjust as needed. We usually recommend “auto” unless you’ve had plenty of experience doing action shots among busy little bees (otherwise known as children on sugar)!

Event Photography Plan:
Think ahead of the type of shots you’ll want out of the party. Do you plan on framing any pictures? Creating an album? Knowing what you hope to accomplish with the pictures can help guide your shots. (If you’re concerned about taking pictures of young children without parental permission, you might want to give them an advance head’s up and make sure they’re comfortable with it.)

Angles and Perspectives:
A common mistake amateur photographers make is their angle of the shot. With pictures of kids, be sure to take some of your shots down at their height, at their eye level. As a newborn photographer, we have found that it’s important to think out of the box when it comes to the angle of your shots. You’ll want to shoot some pictures from low to high (lay down on the floor if you must and aim up toward the subject or subjects) and shoot others from high to low (stand safely on a chair or step ladder). Get creative in your angles!

Details Make the Shot:
The interest lies in the party’s details! Before your first guests arrive, take some shots of the cake, invitation (if it’s printed), decorations, presents, and even the guests arriving at the party. Don’t forget the special boy or girl!

Once the party is up and running, remember to zoom in and shoot some candid close-ups of the children having fun, eating, and interacting. Keep in mind that taking great candids means some level of anticipation as to what’s about to happen. You’ll need to be fast and nimble when shooting at a child’s party! However, if a child ever seems uncomfortable with being photographed, back off. There’s no need to insist on taking a picture of a child if they’re clearly not comfortable.

With a little practice, you’ll find yourself getting better and better when it comes to taking children’s pictures. As a baby photographer, we’ve improved greatly from our earliest days working here in the Waterford, VA and South Riding, VA area. We only have our determination, a lot of practice, and our clients to thank for our success!

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near the Waterford, VA and South Riding, VA areas in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

Timeless and Classic Photography for Babies and Children | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Oct 2, 2017 | Children's Portrait

Timeless and Classic Photography for Babies and Children | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

As a newborn photographer in the Waterford, VA area, we work with our clients on their vision for their baby’s portraits. One of the things we discuss is the idea of trendy versus classic portraiture. Both have their merits.

Props & Accessories in Photography
Cute props have become very trendy in recent years and for understandable reason. For example, placing numbers corresponding to age in a portrait presents the age of the child. There’s no looking back in ten years wondering how old “junior” was in the beautiful picture. Props can enhance and provide context. This can bring a smile to your face when you look at your adorable baby swaddled next to a prop.

We believe that using props in certain pictures is a good thing because they can add whimsy or poignancy depending on the prop. For poignancy, imagine including your family’s 40-year-old silver rattle in your baby’s picture. That would be so sweet! And a child hugging a special teddy bear will bring back memories perhaps long after the bear has survived intact!

However, props could date an otherwise perfect portrait in a way you might not like in 20 years. Will a prop seem as cute then as it does now? We always recommend accessories of any kind be selected carefully and thoughtfully.

Classic Baby Photography
While there’s a strong case for using props in baby photography, there’s an even stronger one for classic, timeless portraiture where the star is the child, not the prop.

One goal of fine art photography is to be timeless, to be as treasured and enjoyed in two decades as in two days. We will work closely with you on what you want from your baby’s portraits. Please look through our website portrait gallery – you’ll see our signature style of authenticity customized to each client’s dreams for their portraits. We seek to strike a balance between authentic and beautiful.

As a newborn photographer in the Waterford, VA area, we seek to create powerful, emotional, and classic baby photography in a way that meets a client’s vision while remaining timeless in composition. Contact us if you’d like to discuss your child’s portraits.

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Newborn Photographer

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography near the Waterford, VA area in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

There’s just something about kids and nature! | Northern VA Baby Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Sep 21, 2017 | Children's Portrait

There’s just something about kids and nature! | Northern VA Baby Photographer

Who can resist baby pictures shot outdoors, in all the freedom that nature offers? We can’t! It’s why we use our lushly-landscaped portrait park near South Riding, VA to photograph our littlest of clients.

Outdoor Portrait Park
Our scenic and beautiful portrait park is ideal for children and baby photography. From our grassy meadow to our wooden bridge, farm fence, or pond, the park is perfect for curious minds and active little tikes! (For several reasons, including climate control, we recommend newborn pictures be taken indoors at our studios.)

Candid Photography
Children being themselves and feeling comfortable lend themselves so well – so perfectly – to candid portraiture. The outdoors are conducive to children’s natural curiosity and allows them to explore and move around. They don’t feel contained by an indoor studio. As experienced and skilled photographers, we are at the ready with our camera to capture them enjoying and exploring our outdoor portrait park. The resulting portraits reflect children being children!

Natural Light
We know how to make the most of soft natural light – enhancing it with extra light as needed. The light from a flash isn’t noticed as much by children while outdoors; in fact, it’s barely noticeable at all by children! Our private park’s scenic beauty provides the perfect backdrop for children’s pictures taken in natural light.

Tips for Outfits
You can browse our many Pinterest boards for ideas on baby and children’s outfits for your outdoor photography session. As part of our service to our clients, we work with you to coordinate outfits for your child’s or family portraits.

We are happy to answer any questions you might have about your children or baby pictures at our outdoor portrait park near South Riding, VA. We’d love to hear from you!

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Baby Pictures

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near South Riding, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

Why should you have professional portraits of your child at least yearly? | Northern VA Baby Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Jun 26, 2017 | Children's Portrait

Why should you have professional portraits of your child at least yearly? | Northern VA Baby Photographer

Children’s photography, including newborn and baby photography, plays a unique role in a family’s life. Our kids traditionally leave home at about the age of 18. It will come and go so much faster than you think! As photographers with decades of experience working in Potomac Falls, VA, we cannot overstate the importance and value of professional portraits of your children.

The childhood years are a hectic time that goes by in the blink of an eye. You think you will remember everything — but you won’t! There are too many memories made, too many special moments to remember. However, photography can change that. Photography can ensure that you do remember!

Childhood is Fleeting
Annual professional portraits of your children create a visual diary of their childhood. Time goes quickly on their journey toward becoming adults. With annual professional portraiture, you can document this important time in your family’s life. The pictures of your children are cherished portraits you will enjoy long after they have grown into adulthood. One day, you will be able to pass on these portraits as a meaningful gift we guarantee you they will treasure.

Professional Portraits by a Portrait Photography Studio
Our fine art pictures taken by a portrait photography studio are not snapshots. They are printed on high-quality, archival material rated to last at least 150 years, some even 200 years. This high quality of printing means your portraits will not fade and will be better protected when handled. The colors of professionally printed portraits will not fade as long as you don’t expose them to prolonged direct sunlight.

The beautiful Mom holding the adorable baby in this portrait chose our Bebe Coterie Plan. It’s our one-year plan, and includes three sessions throughout the first year of baby’s new life. If you’d like to see how much little Gavin changed throughout his first year, click on this link to visit his Gallery.

We encourage your Potomac Falls, VA family to invest in annual baby photography and continue throughout your child’s life. You won’t regret having regular professional portraits of your child — but you might regret not having them!

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located in Potomac Falls, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

Storytelling in Baby Portraits | Northern VA Baby Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Mar 15, 2017 | Baby Plan Bebe Coterie, Children's Portrait

Storytelling in Baby Portraits | Northern VA Baby Photographer

They say that great things come in small packages. It’s certainly true when it comes to babies and baby pictures! As a mother and daughter photography team in the Reston, VA area, we believe that portraits, especially baby portraits, are an important form of storytelling. Photographs create a visual documentation of your child’s life from their earliest days.

What really is Baby Photography?
Baby photography is a way to stop time. It is a visual record of your child’s earliest years. It can begin as soon as your baby’s first seven days of life when they’re still curled up and sleepy as if still in the womb. These newborn portraits are priceless and are best followed with regular professional pictures straight through the toddler years and into childhood.

What Baby Photography Can Do
Portraits are more than pictures or images. As skilled baby photographers, we know that baby portraits are a poignant and treasured record of your child. Baby and children’s portraits visually tell the story of your child’s life.

You will enjoy your baby pictures now, but you will treasure them most years from now – long past your child’s earliest years. One day, when your baby is an adult, you will look at those portraits and lovingly reflect back on those long-past days.

How We Create Stories through Photography
We get to know our clients, and we take our time during their portrait sessions. Understanding our clients is critical to building a relationship with them, yes, even the tiniest ones. It’s also important to us that you and your baby or child feel comfortable and relaxed during your portrait session. If the chemistry is there between the subject and the photographer, the photo will reflect that. The results are profound and memorable.

We also care about our clients. Caring about them allows us to see them better for who they are. When it is a child or a baby, taking our time with them makes it possible to bond and accurately capture them through our portraits. Why would you want baby pictures to do anything else?

We like to think that if we do our job well we can peek inside our client’s personality and then convey that in portraiture, including baby pictures. As a Reston, VA area photographer, we absolutely love helping you tell the story of your child’s life through our poignant imagery.

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer, Baby Pictures

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located near Reston, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits

Give the Gift of a Newborn Session | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

by Mindy Belcher | Feb 14, 2017 | Children's Portrait, Sterling VA Newborn photography

Give the Gift of a Newborn Session | Northern VA Newborn Photographer

There is no greater gift you can give a beloved friend or relative than the gift of memory. An Ever After Gift Certificate for a Newborn Session allows someone to forever capture the portrait of their precious child through our fine art baby photography. We work with discerning parents throughout Great Falls, VA & Cascades, VA and across Northern Virginia to create fine art portraiture, stopping time at that moment in their child’s life.

Giving an Ever After Gift Certificate for a Newborn Session means:

* The new parents or pregnant mother won’t have to take precious time to research and find a reputable photographer
* The recipient will work with a skilled and experienced newborn photographer
* A Gift Certificate offers parents the “gift of a lifetime” for that newborn
* Allows the new parents to schedule a session at their convenience
* A very thoughtful, unique, and generous gift they will enjoy for many decades
* You can select the value of your certificate
* Parents can use the gift certificate towards a photography session and/or product purchases

The value of newborn portraits is priceless. Those first few days of life – and, certainly, those first few years – are precious days and moments caught in a whirlwind of life. Whether it’s a first child or a third, everyone is tired, joyous, and feeling exhilarated as they adapt to a new life in the home.

Sometimes it seems like that first year passes in a flash. Newborn photography, however, helps capture treasured phases of your baby’s life so that even when you can’t remember everything, you can enjoy their portraits for many decades and into the next family generation.

If you would like to give a truly meaningful gift of love and memory, give a gift certificate toward a Newborn or Baby Portrait Session. As Great Falls, VA & Cascades, VA baby photography specialists, families throughout Northern Virginia trust us to capture sweet moments in time.

Baby Photography, Baby Photographer

Ever After Baby Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter baby photography team located in Cascades, VA, near Great Falls, VA, in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits, including newborn and baby portraits. Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

View Our Portfolio | Ever After Baby Portraits