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This year’s fall mini sessions are HERE! These sessions are a great way to get a handful of photos for holiday cards or to print and share as gifts! Sessions are $195 and include…
These sessions always sell out fast! So be sure to use the links below ASAP to get locked in. Don't see a date or time that work for you? I'm still offering a 1 hour split session. This means you can pair up with another family and split an hour session at any San Diego location on another date! Make sure you don’t miss announcements regarding future
mini sessions, subscribe to my little newsletter!
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Preparation!
Location & Parking! Arrive early
Relax!
 Deciding what to wear for family photo outfits can be challenging! These are photos you are going to hang on your walls and cherish for years to come. It can seem overwhelming, especially when you're planning for the entire family, but it doesn’t need to be. 
Recommendations for this year!
Note: I may receive a small commission when you click on the these links. I stand behind each recommendation I've listed in order to best serve my clients.
Remember the idea is not to create these perfect photos. Family photos are a time to capture who your family is at that time.  What's different this year?
Photographing during a pandemic has had it's fair share of challenges, to say the least. We want to ensure everyone feels safe during these times, so while photographing we will mostly be using a 70-200mm lens which will provide a safe distance during your session. Oh my goodness everyone! The Front Step Project has me shook! I received almost 80 requests within 2 1/2 weeks and as I'm writing this tonight, I still have dozens on a waiting list. There is still so much joy going on in the world, in our homes and I'm so happy I've been able to capture them (from a safe distance) and allow folks a good reason to get some fresh air. Can you believe we had 70 donations to 42 different charities? The love and generosity our San Diego community has is inspiring to say the least. I genuinely enjoyed meeting so many smiling faces over the past few weeks; from the military wives that haven't seen their deployed husband in 18 months, to the frontline nurses working with COVID patients, to the stay at home moms who whispered on the side they put make-up on for the first time in weeks - Thank you for trusting in me to capture your wild, anything but normal moment in time right now.  Families selected to donate to the following charities:
                            I can't begin to explain the overwhelming response I've had within 1 week of joining the Front Steps Project (aka Front Porch Project) (aka Porchtraits Project). The sole purpose of this (nationwide) documentary movement is to bring communities together in a time of isolation. I've met first-time expecting moms, nurses working with COVID positive patients, stay-at-home parents that are holding it together like champs, and furry friends of all sizes! My hope is these portraits will one day be looked back upon as a documentary of a time when we all realized how much we truly have to be grateful for. Sessions are about 10 mins, free of cost - I’ve simply asked folks to donate to a local charity in need right now. If you’re interested, please feel free fill out the project form.                             It's beginning to smell a lot like the holidays around here; which is making us reflect back on a recent mommy & me session we did with two of our clients. In-home sessions are some of our favorites. It allows clients to let their hair down, dance like nobody's watching and even have a little flour fight while baking some cookies. These are the times we cherish forever right? So why not invest into having them captured so you can look back and savor them forever.                        Seriously! In-home newborn sessions are simply the best. I love that we get the time to photograph the family and their home - it's authentic, it's natural and it's just heartwarming to look back on. *hugs*                   This session is so near and dear to our hearts; as this little family has become so close to ours. Our boys were born just days apart but it wasn't until around 2 months when we met. We are so grateful for their friendship and for allowing us to photograph them as they grow! #lafamilia The hispanic culture is a top priority for this family; so we jumped at the chance to photograph them in the bright and multi-culture park of Barrio Logan. At its heart is Chicano Park, with dozens of murals depicting the community’s past activism, alongside images of notable figures like Frida Kahlo.                         We're often telling our clients how important custom photography is. Sure, stock photography is good when you're in a pinch but nothing beats a custom library of photographs that only your company can use. That's just what we delivered for our recent corporate client. We assist with compiling a shot list, staging tips, and lighting/execution. Big thanks to the staff for being the great talent and Ankerman Artistry for their skills in making everyone look 100%. If you or your company is interested in content photography, please contact us!                                   It may only be early October, but we have a lot of inquiring minds. Christmas Tree Farms do exist in San Diego and YES! We absolutely love photographing at them. Prior to Thanksgiving is the best time to schedule a session. Most farms are closed to the public prior to Thanksgiving. It's typical for the farm to charge a location fee as well, after all we are using their grounds and lovely backdrop for your photographs. If you're interested, be sure to book a session soon!    Hi friends! It's been a while. We're excited to share with you our 2019 Fall Mini Sessions. See details below and be sure to follow us on social media to keep up with the available time slots. $175 ~20 mins includes 10 digital files (or $200 including all digital files)
Saturday October 26th at Marian Bear Park
Sunday October 27th at Lake Chollas Park
Saturday November 16th at Mission Trails Dam
Mondays in October at Balboa Park
We are so grateful that this family hired us yearly to photograph their boys; we've photographed them since birth, can you believe it. And what makes it so special is they decide together each year what the theme of the shoot will be. This year the boys were really into The Sandlot movie, so for Nolan's birthday we headed to the baseball field. Juno, their dog, was a great sport and tagged along.                Happy Valentine's Day! Are you ready to breakup with your current headshot?If so, we'd be happy to capture a new one for you in 2019. #TheTimeIsNow   It's an introduction and tells your story: Headshots are a great opportunity to tell your story. It is your introduction and first impression and allows you to show your personality. When choosing a location, be sure to pick the location that best suits your career and suitable visual aesthetic. Let's make sure your headshots align with your brand, whether that’s personal, professional or both. It's a part of your branding: How does a headshot align with branding? Your headshot should represent a visual style and persona you want to reflect. For example, if you work in an industry of professional services who maintains business professional attire, your attire and headshot location should match that. It shows professionalism: That seems obvious right? But having a professional (and updated) headshot is crucial. When your current employer requests a headshot for the website or as part of a blog or social media post, you'll have it ready. Sending along a selfie or having your friend take a quick photo against a blank wall shows lack of preparation and professionalism. Choosing to invest into a professional headshot is a financial investment well worth the cost for your future. A quality headshot does more than just allow you to update your online avatar, it make you look good to potential employers. It infuses confidence in your own professional capabilities.
If you're ready to update your headshot for yourself or your entire team, simply fill out our contact form. It's obvious we're embracing the entire motherhood scene these days. So much, that we recently collaborated with Lauren at Popup Picnic. We've decided we're taking the Playdate thing to a new level. Enjoy and happy early Mother's Day!           # 2: Light it up Lighting is key to photographs. If it's dark, use a tripod (ahem, again the one above is great). A second option? Turn on some lights. If you're still looking for a little bit of assistance below are a two great options we use (for personal and business situations).
#3: Capture emotion Making cookies with the kids? Giving mom a special gift that you know will bring her to tears? Be ready to capture it. We're not saying stay connected to your camera 24/7 to capture everything, but anticipating those special moments of laughs or tears make for the best images.
 #4 Change your perspective Get eye level with you little ones. Shoot over the should of your kids. Lurk around the tree or photograph through a window. Peek through the crack of their bedroom door. Do what every you need to for a new perspective. 
 Holiday photographs you’ll be happy you captured:
The best photos are the ones you take...just for you. The most important part is to be in the moment with your family and have fun. The happiness captured, the meal shared — they’re the experiences that make up this season. So do your best to take the photos that matter to you, just don't forget to put the camera down to experience it for yourself. We tend to get a lot of questions around photography throughout the year, so we thought it'd be fun to write up a quick blog and share a few products we think are pretty amazing — gear, services and innovations to make it fun. Looking for great gift ideas for a photography lover? These are some great gift ideas for under the tree or to help fill the stockings. Gear // Cameras, Kits, and LensesStarting off with some professional gear: Affordable camera kits for beginners:
Favorite portrait lenses:
Photographing children or moving objects? Consider... On the move? Just looking to kick up your iPhone images? Editing // Software
Extras // Tripods, Bags, and More
Get Inspired // Online Tutorials, Subscriptions, and Books
Get Organized
Little IndulgencesParticipant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
There's been a lot of hype around the Global Winter Wonderland happening here in San Diego. We were invited to the opening Media night a few weeks ago to capture the ribbon cutting ceremony, festive laterns and carnival which was only open to a select few media members of the community. If you're looking for something new and exciting to do with the family be sure to check this event out; which will be here until January 7th!                        Every year we have clients asking where they should go to get holiday cards printed, photo enlargements, canvas prints, etc. To help simplify this year, we've created our list below. Many sites will offer holiday deals, so be sure to check back often. Holiday Cards: There is no better way to correspond with friends and loved ones than a holiday card. Find the perfect holiday card for your style and budget, with luxe paper and printing. Our favorite: TinyPrints  Photo Books:
Large Format PrintsAdditional Ideas:If you're anything like me, getting ahead on holiday things helps keep me a bit more sane by the time the holidays ACTUALLY get here. So here we are... well before the season sharing our favorite holiday cards from Minted! Their cards seem to always have that extra little love in them that you can't find anywhere else. Bonus for everyone on top of their game.... Get 15% using Code: JOY17 Ends 11/6. Disclosure: In the spirit of full disclosure, this blog includes affiliate links, which means I may get commission for select products. I only recommend products that I use myself, so know you'll be in good hands! #1 Simple and Clean. If you're looking for something simple and clean consider the below. And yes! you should absolutely consider using one of your wedding photographs if you were married in 2017. Remember, less is more. Let the beauty of your photograph show.  #2 Whimsical with berries. Not into all the glitz of some holiday cards? Not to worry. These little watercolored berries are the perfect balance of a whimsical holiday style.  #3 Bold and Fun! Get creative with using several photos vs just one. While we absolutely love photographing family portraits, don't forget a few holiday cheer images in your home with the right lighting, adds a personal touch. Pair it with a joyful holiday card and it's as simple as that.  #4 Gold Foil. Last but not least, we can't help ourselves with all the foiled options from Minted! Here's our fav for 2017! It has that shimmer that just makes everyone smile (and in this case "sing")!  Be sure to check out all the designs over at Minted.com!Why Minted?
We love Minted Holiday cards for a number of reasons. First and foremost, their designs. They work with professional artists to bring you the best designs from modern to traditional styles. Secondly; the quality of their products. They print their cards on luxurious paper using some of the best printing techniques. They're truly one of a kind and stand out from the other competitors. $149, 20 minutes, 20+ images (up to 6 people) Includes edited high resolution digital images (a minimum of 20) for you to download from a private online gallery with printing rights. Sessions Dates and Times: If sessions are full or you’d like to book a private session at a different location, please email me at amysuemillard@gmail.com or text me at 814-730-1778. Important steps to complete your booking and reserve your time slot: 1. Complete payment (non-refundable) via PayPal or Venmo: Please contact directly for alternative payment options if needed. 2. Complete contract.  Looking forward to seeing everyone this year!   We believe life should be lived with a full heart and open eyes and that's exactly what this new little family is doing.              This lovely couple came together from different sides of the world and are about to embark on magical journey with their soon to be baby boy!                |
