Photography

One of my favorite things to do as photographer is not just taking the photos but helping clients figure out what to do with those photos once their taken. Prior to every session I complete a pre-session consultation where we discuss location, wardrobe, and plans for the photos once their done. From albums, to prints, to digital files, to storyboards, to enlargements the possibilities are endless!

Today I want to talk about enlargements, specifically canvas enlargements, and what they can do to make a bold yet personalized statement in your home.  I absolutely love seeing family photographs on canvas in a home. Canvas prints are made of high quality textured material and are gallery wrapped around a wood stretcher frame. The benefit? No need for framing once they arrive. However, if you’re going to order canvas its important to order an image size that best compliments your space, and usually bigger is better. One thing I’ve noticed across the board with clients is that they’re afraid to go BIG with their final image enlargements.

Let’s imagine if you will a perfectly blank wall above your fireplace mantel, the prime spot for your recent family photograph.  You’re thinking an 8×10 canvas print would look just lovely to fill the space. Here is what that 8×10 would look like:

Hmmmmm, not quite the statement you were hoping to make huh? What about a 16×20 canvas instead?

Maybe a little better, but it really is still on the small side. I would recommend a 20×30 canvas in that space to fill the wall and really bring your attention up to the photo.

With the 20×30 canvas you can easily see each family member and your focus is immediately drawn to the photo and not the fireplace. Bigger really is better in this scenario.

But, if going that big really isn’t your style, canvas can also be great for storytelling with images as well.  Groupings of several smaller canvases can tell the story of your family and its personality.

Recently one of my clients ordered a canvas grouping for her family room wall space. I absolutely love the story her grouping tells, but I also love her combination of both black & white and color images. Thanks Kelly for sharing your final results!

I love to talk with you about making a statement with the images from your session. Contact me for all the details!

This weekend I had a photo shoot with a very special little girl.  Miss Brielle was born just a week ago and is so special because she’s mine!  You may remember back in July I posted some of my maternity photos on the blog. Then I was getting larger by the day and September seemed light years away.  I had convinced myself that our little one would be an early arrival, so I stopped working September 17th in order to make last minute preparations and be ready before her September 24th due date. That last week seemed to pass so slowly. My Calmer and I sat at home just waiting for something to happen. Nothing. Her due date came and went and I was frustrated. I just wanted to meet our little one, be able to sleep on my stomach again, and finally enjoy a caffeinated cup of coffee for the first time in 9 months.

As frustrating as it was and as impatient as I can be, the wait was well worth it. Brielle Rose Young was finally ready to make her debut the morning of September 26th when my water broke at home at 2:45am. She came alert and ready to face the world at 7:41am weighing in at 7lbs 3oz, and sporting some long legs that helped her measure a tall 21 inches in length.  I think my Calmer passed on his mellow temperament and his love of food because she’s been one laid back baby so far, only really fussing when she’s hungry.

This week has been a whirlwind of emotion filled with excitement, surprise, stress, and of course unconditional love. I am so proud and excited to share these special family images with you all from our past week. Some from the hospital, a few at home, and some posed from our official “newborn shoot”.  I had my Calmer serve as my 2nd shooter in the hospital since I was obviously detained for the majority of her birth and he must have learned something from me because he captured some really awesome moments of our expanding family.  I hope you enjoy this sneak peek of photos from our first week as family of 3!

One of the most frequent questions I am asked when having a pre-session consultation is, “What should we wear?”. It can be so much fun to put together a unique, timeless, and fun look for your session and I am here to help you do just that! Color, pattern, and texture can create a great look in pictures as long as you don’t go too crazy. With our upcoming fall mini sessions in October I thought it might be helpful to share some fall wardrobe inspiration. There is still space left on October 30th to book your mini session but contact me soon to reserve your spot as space is limited.  I’d love to help you put together a look to make your fall photos just perfect!

Dear Bella,

It’s so hard to believe that one year ago today was the day we said goodbye to you. Our hopes and dreams of starting a family and welcoming our first daughter into the world came crashing down on September 11, 2009 which seemed almost fitting given the historical sadness and significance of the day.

You were so loved and that day was the worst day in your mom and dad’s life. But, over the past year we’ve learned there was a bigger plan for us and for our family. The universe works in strange ways sometimes.

Bella, my guardian angel, you brought about this blog. You were the reason I started writing. Why I picked up my camera again. Why I decided to share my pictures, my raw emotion, and my hopes for the future. You were the reason I took a leap of faith and began building this business. I never imagined in my wildest dreams how successful it would grow in one short year.  The joy I get out of capturing the happiness of so many wonderful families helps me heal. Keeps me whole. It’s my passion and you led me to it.

You’ve been watching over your mom and dad in other ways too. You brought us a fresh start, in a new home, with a new job opportunity just around the corner for your dad. You brought us a new baby, at the right time in January, because you knew just how sad we’d be approaching your due date.  And now on the anniversary of you leaving us we’re about to welcome this baby, your sister, into the world. There is a lot we have to be happy about one year later.

Like I said, the universe works in strange ways, but I think you’ve been helping make sure the universe is shining bright for us  this year.

Thank you for bringing us such a beautiful day today. The blue blue sky, the puffy white clouds, and perfect weather left us feeling hope, happiness, and lots of love. We miss you and love you so much, but instead of mourning you today we celebrated.  We celebrated all that you brought us this year.

Love,

Mom and Dad

Even though I promised myself no more photo sessions until after our little one arrives I could not resist squeezing in one more session this weekend with one of my favorite families.  You may remember baby Danny or D. as I like to call him from throughout this year. He’s appeared on the blog as a newborn, at 3 mos., 6 mos. and now ONE YEAR! I really can not believe how quickly this year has flown by and how much little D. has changed in that time span. Check out how grown up he is looking these days, and oh those curls! I love love love the curls.

We had the absolute perfect weather for a birthday celebration filled with food, family, friends, gifts, and the infamous cake smash. Danny taught us all that no matter how many gifts you get with bells and whistles and music and lights the one year old will always prefer to play with the gift wrap and tissue paper instead. And, even with a bib cake is much better worn on your face, hands, and hair, and clothes than in your mouth.

Much love to Danny’s entire family. Enjoy this little sneak peek from the party.  D. is certainly growing into one charming, bright, happy little guy and I can’t wait to see what another year brings for your family!

*sings* “Oh the weather outside is frightful…”

Here in Virginia it’s a frightful 97 degrees and definitely not feeling like the holiday season quite yet, but that doesn’t mean it’s not too early to get into the holiday spirit!

I am so excited to be in the midst of scheduling my 2010 holiday mini sessions. These sessions will be taking place on October 30th in the historic town of Waterford, VA and will be my official return to shooting after maternity leave. I have a VERY limited number of spots available so contact me soon about booking because these are bound to fill up quick!

As part of these session you’ll recieve 25 custom designed holiday cards on either a textured finish linen paper or pearl finish metalic paper.  Here’s a peek at the seven card designs you’ll have to choose from.  (All designs are for flat 5×7 cards except for #4 which is a flat 5×5 square card).

If you’re a past client who is interested in purchasing one of these cards using an image from a previous Be Young Photography session contact me for more information.

Ok folks, nesting has officially begun in the Young household.  I seriously can’t believe how quickly 9 months has passed and we’re super excited about welcoming baby Brielle Rose into the world in only a few short weeks. (Yep, that’s her name for those of you who haven’t heard – Brielle or just Brie if you’re so inclined). My Calmer and I took this weekend to pick up some last minute baby necessities, I’ve done my first load of newborn laundry, and life seems to be slowing down just a little bit in anticipation of her arrival. I don’t think our calendar has been this empty EVER.

Remember the hard work going on to get the nursery painted a few weeks ago? I thought you all may like to see the final “reveal” of our hard work. I am hoping the calming ocean blue walls, vibrant pops of lilac, and sea-life accents will provide a soothing environment for our little one to grow and thrive.

This session has been 5 months in the making.  For a family of busy business professionals finding the right time for photos was tricky and we’ve been trying to find the perfect session date for quite awhile.   I was so excited to finally be able to squeeze a session in with these guys before my upcoming maternity leave next month, and boy was it well worth the wait!  10 month old baby Addi is just a doll and her mom and dad are full of love and devotion for their little girl.

We spent a morning at the Loudoun County Master Gardener’s Demonstration Garden located at Ida Lee Park in Leesburg enjoying the plants and flowers, singing songs, and playing games. Even the family dog Dory came along for the morning and was so happy to run around the great outdoors with her family.  Addi is also one stylish little girl (with two very stylish parents!). Just check out her adorable outfits, cute hairbows, and matching shoes!! It’s only a matter of time before those shoes are made for walking and she’s moving all over the place.

C./N. family, thank you so much for a lovely session at the Ida Lee Gardens.  I had a great time with you all and I hope you enjoy a little peek of some of my favorites from our morning together.  The rest will be on their way soon!

One year ago today my Calmer and I received some life altering news. We were pregnant with our first child, full of dreams, expectations, hope for the future and the changes that lie ahead. On this day one year ago we were scheduled for a routine ultrasound excited to hopefully find out the gender of our first baby and begin planning our new life. Instead, this day one year ago was the beginning of a downward spiral of earth shattering news that no parent ever wants to hear.  She was sick, she was broken, and the pregnancy was no longer viable and would not last much longer.

We were devastated. sick. broken. changed.

I share this not for sympathy.  Or remorse. Or tears. I share this because losing our Bella Rose last summer set me on an amazing journey.  Through all the tears and sorrow I found passion, and hope, and new life. Photography got me through the bad days and led me to new (wonderful!) friends and new opportunities.  Be Young Photography has been a labor of love this year and I know Bella has been guiding me the entire way.  I can’t wait to continue along this journey and I have bigger plans, dreams, and partnerships growing in the coming months.

BUT, in the short term my Calmer and I are again getting ready to chart a new path. We are expecting again and have a daughter arriving sometime in the next month.  Pregnancy has certainly been different this time around but  we could not be happier.  On a recent trip to Tampa I went from photographer to subject which gave me some insight as to the nerves that come with being in front of the lens instead of behind it.  There is definitely a huge level of trust that comes with allowing someone to capture you in pictures.

Your emotions. feelings. inner beauty.

I feel so blessed to have been trusted enough and be asked over and over again this year to capture images of families, babies, children, and couples that will be hung on walls, viewed in albums, and cherished for years to come. And, I am so glad I trusted some of my fellow Launch Workshop ladies with my maternity photos. I will certainly cherish the images they captured of me during this special time.

my apprehension. my joy. my protectiveness. my love for a growing belly and new life on the way.

Tina Cardoso of Howie Mac Photo was one of my fellow Launch Workshop photographers and I am featuring some of her images here. If you live in the Tampa, FL area she has recently launched her business and you should totally give her a call. You won’t be disappointed.

Today I am in my 35th week of pregnancy and I am getting ready to take a little hiatus from sessions and shooting so I can nest and relish in the joys that come with being a new mom.  I’ll be on maternity leave for all of September and most of October but plan to make my debut back into to the photography world with my Holiday Minis on October 30th! (Have you booked your holiday session yet? Space is limited so don’t delay if you want in on the action).

In the meantime I’ll still be blogging and sharing insights (and plenty of photos!) on mothering a newborn, photography tips, session ideas, business news,  and everything in between.  I hope you’ll continue to follow along as my journey continues.

I am so excited to announce the arrival of my 2010 Holiday Mini Sessions. It’s not too early to start thinking about updated family photos for your upcoming holiday cards and gifts.  These sessions will be limited so contact me early if you are interested in booking as I expect them to book up quickly! Stay tuned in the next few weeks for more information about the Holiday Minis, including samples of the professionally designed holiday cards I’ll be offering as part of your mini session package.