Category Archives: What to Expect

Mar 28
What Should We Wear/Do, and Where Should We Do This?

So, you’ve booked a photo session with me, now what? You’ve likely never done this before. I have, and I really want you to get some awesome photos from our shoot! Here is some advice on how to prepare for our photos:

Where should we have our photo shoot?

We need to pick a place where you create memories with your family. It could be your home, the neighborhood park or playground, your parent’s house, wherever you want. It’s most important to choose a place where everyone is comfortable, in familiar surroundings, and a place that has some significance to your family. If you want to do these outside, have a backup location in mind in case of inclement weather.

What are we supposed to do?

It would be ideal if there was an activity planned. It could be as simple as taking a walk, going to the playground, or you could plan a more elaborate activity. One time, I showed up for a family photo session, and discovered that the mother planned a treasure hunt for her oldest of two boys who was just learning to read and basic math. It started just after I got there, and it worked out great! Very quickly, the boys, lost in the treasure hunt, forgot I was there, the mom was beaming with pride in her son’s accomplishments, and I got some wonderful shots!

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I’ve photographed pool parties, birthdays, family reunions, and parents playing with their kids. The best thing to do is just do what you normally do with your family. The point of these photos is to capture your personality and the times you share with your family. A relaxed, fun family doing something familiar leads to awesome photos!

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What should we wear?

I would start with what your child/children want to wear, then base your outfit on that (though I have no idea what would go best with a bunny suit!). Make sure patterns and colors do not clash. If your little one(s) don’t have a preference, make sure it’s not something that’s distracting (whenever I put my 11 month old in overalls, he can’t resist putting the metal closures in his mouth!).

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Try to avoid wearing all the same colors. For example, if you all wear blue shirts, you’ll kind of blend together.

Have your partner take a look. Is your shirt too sheer? Did you not see the stain that your little one got on you this morning? Do your socks match?

Are you wearing something significant? Did the onesie that your little one is wearing come from a great friend? Do they have a significant toy that you want to be sure to get a shot of? Did your partner give you a special watch or necklace or something for an anniversary or other special occasion? Let me know about it so I can be sure to feature it!

Above all else, wear comfortable clothes. If we’re planning on shooting at a family picnic, don’t wear dress pants. If we are going to shoot at your house and your little one likes to wrestle, don’t wear big earrings.

When should we do this?

The ideal time for photographing outdoors is either very early morning or later in the afternoon because of the light. To avoid the harsh shadows of noon, I recommend that you schedule pictures for within two to three hours of sunrise or sunset. The light at these specific times also fills in the shadows under eyes and adds highlights and dimension, and provides for much more natural shots (no squinting, no sunglasses, and fewer distractions).

But, it’s most important to have children who are well-rested so be sure to let me know what their ideal time is. I’d rather shoot at noon with a happy, rested child than at 6pm when they are cranky and want to get ready for bed.

I’m open to your ideas! Tell me what you hope to accomplish, let me know where you would LOVE to have your photo session, and ask any questions you’d like! The more we collaborate on these images, the better they will be!

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Jul 24
Carla and Jason: Waiting To Go Home

Going to and from jobs, school, and a little one in the hospital, Carla and Jason, and sometimes Phoenix, spent a lot of time riding the T.  More than that, they spent a lot of time waiting.  
Waiting at the station for the train to take them to another train to meet their other half.  Their “other half.”  I do not use that term lightly.  They complete each other in the silliest and most loving way.  
I wanted to show their story in my photos.  I had a pretty clear idea that I wanted to show him waiting for the train, then her and Phoenix waiting for Jason’s train, then them going somewhere together.  
After a short while, I got the sense that they were not just waiting for their other half to arrive; they were waiting to go home.  
By home, I don’t mean a house or an apartment or a trailer, or any other physical structure.  I mean home, where you feel safe from all the difficulties and troubles of the world, where you feel a sense of all encompassing love like a fuzzy blanket on a cold night, where nothing and no one can bother you.  When these three were together, they were home.  
This was a place they built together, and each day they improve it.  It was a place built to help each other through some difficult times, a place to be themselves, and it is always with them.  
Wow, I am getting all misty eyed just thinking about how that love feels, and how obvious it was with them.  I’m trying to express that sense of compassion and love, but words are failing me.  Take a look at the photos, I need to go get a tissue.

Aug 03
Why I Do What I Do

I have chosen to work outside of a studio because I want to capture those genuine interactions that you share on a daily basis. Memories are created on your couch where the Tickle Monster is most prone to attack, at the breakfast table where your little one gives themselves an ice cream facial, or in the park down the block where you go for a walk every weekend (and where your spouse finally got up the courage to propose). It is those moments I want to help you treasure in the years to come.

Another reason why I like to come to your home, or meet you at your favorite park, or join you for a stroll along Tremont St. is because these are familiar locations, and more importantly, that you won’t feel like you have to perform for the camera. Too often, people in front of the lights, in a photographer’s studio they have never been to before, either tense up because this is a unfamiliar situation, or are ebullient, turning into a hyper version of themselves because they feel the need to perform. In a studio, people are not being genuine, and that’s not what I want in your photos.

When I was living in Olympia, WA, I was an assistant to a wedding and portrait photographer for two seasons. He did a great job crafting the light in the studio. The shots he produced were consistent, and looked great in the wedding albums he created, but I rarely got a sense of personality from the subjects he photographed. He had a formula, and he stuck with it. To him, all engagement photo sessions happened at Tumwater Falls, and all formal wedding photos were shot against the same purple background. He posed every bride in one specific way, positioned the parents in the exact same spot for every wedding, and followed his formula that he has used for the past 20+ years.

After working with him, I knew that I did not want to be a photographer who follows any formula. I want the personality of families or couples to provide substance and depth of emotion to the photos, and I want to talk with you to determine your favorite places, then go there to have our photo session. I want your home, your life, and the love you feel to shine through. Years from now, when you look back on these photos, the laughs that come with them, the love that is evident in them, will be felt across generations.




May 23
The Photographer gets Photographed!

Yesterday, I had a second family shoot with two little boys, their mom, dad, and grandma. They are an energetic and fun bunch, and it was great to work with them again. As usual, I got out my camera and sat on the floor to start photographing the boys, the oldest of which was running around the house yelling: “Take my picture! Take my picture!” followed by “Can I see it?!”

The younger one had other plans, though. Within moments of me sitting cross legged on the floor, he ran right up to me, flopped on my lap, curled up, and got cozy. It was so awesome to feel like I made such a connection with him, and that he was so comfortable with me. He kept doing that throughout the day, then as the session was about over, his bigger brother joined in. They were crawling and climbing and giggling all over me! Their mother, caught up in the laughter, picked up my camera, which I could not use because I was tickling and wrangling her boys, took a few shots of us having fun. This is not the first time this has happened, and it feels so good when it does!!

Just figured I would share my joy. Happy Monday!

May 13
The value of candid photos

One of the blogs I follow (So You’re EnGAYged) posted this on their blog yesterday, and I couldn’t agree with it more!
Below is the excerpt that really resonated with me. If you would like to see the whole post, go here.

“It’s really quite fun to capture a moment with your family (four-legged or not). Even if the photos end up being a little cheesy, it represents a time of love and connection. I never let a holiday go by without a photo-ops. Right now, we still feel like newlyweds but also have the excitement of an engagement as we plan our vow renewal. With the addition of the new puppy fitting in with our little circle, we are on Cloud 9 most of the time. I couldn’t help but get as many pictures of our happy little family as possible. And I’m so glad that I did!”
Capturing these memories is the important thing, of course. Sure, they might not look as good as you would like, but it’s the moments that are important, and with digital cameras, these don’t really cost anything to take! So, get out there this weekend, photograph your loved ones, and share these memories on Facebook!
Happy Friday, everyone!


All Photos ©2013 Patrick Rogers Photography