“To live will be an awfully big adventure.” ― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
Despite being a tad bit unseasonably cool this Saratoga Lake Family Session could not have been more perfect! The love and laughter had me grinning from ear to ear through the whole session. Don’t these images just make you want to grab your people and head to a beach and out on a boat?! Winter is coming. *gasp* These memories of Saratoga Lake and it’s gorgeousness should get us through, right? Thank you Perkins family for showing us your light and trusting us to capture this moment in time!
This beautiful fall family session in Greenwhich, NY was magical! One of the best parts of capturing family memories is watching families grow and change year to year. This is one of our favorite families and we had so much fun! The kids are getting so big and I love my time with them. We take pictures and play and play. This year we had several jumping and “epic fail” images! I even got to just sit and talk photography with one of the older boys! Enjoy this sneak peek!!
Liam’s sister had already had her Senior Photos taken so it was Liam’s turn to be in the spotlight. Liam is an active, active, active 7 year old boy. Liam has some special needs so his mother and I talked about how we could make this photo shoot fun for him without it getting too overwhelming. We were so lucky to have Mepkin Abbey almost all to ourselves on a gorgeous Saturday morning! It gave Liam the chance to run around and just be him! Getting him in focus really tested my skills! He shot me with a nerf gun, ran everywhere and anywhere, and rode his 4-wheeler down some pretty good steps (okay so actually Mom had to carry the atv down) 🙂 Boy did we have fun! I was so lucky to have a mom and dad that were totally relaxed and willing to just let a little boy be a little boy and I got to capture him in this moment in time!
Saratoga Springs is so gorgeous this time and year and Yaddo gardens if one of our favorite spots! The kids got together and surprised Grandma for Christmas with a custom family portrait session. What a great Christmas present! Debbie does not seem old enough to be a Grandma but what an amazing one she is! The kids love her and John and we had so much fun playing together at Yaddo Gardens in Saratoga Springs, NY. We had to stop the party several times to feed, burp, and put the baby to sleep. Everyone was so relaxed and patient. The non-baby grandkids were such troopers! Dan played “photography equipment reflector turned frisbee” (one of my favorite games) with them while they waited. We had the most perfect soft clouds and sunshine without it being too hot or muggy! Enjoy this sneak peek to hold you over until we roll out the red carpet for your premiere night! Can’t wait for you to see the rest!
We always encourage high school seniors to bring a friend to their custom photography session. It often helps them to relax and enjoy the experience a little more. In this case it was a sister best friend! One of the things that we do is help our clients to choose the outfits that will photograph well, make the feel the best, and of course, be the most flattering and fun. Bonus with Carol and Claire is there closet is interchangeable! After selecting several outfits for each girl we headed into Charleston to the beach. We of course had to get in some shots of both girls separately and together. In this “Not quite High School Senior Photography Session” we were able to capture a little of this girl and her HUGE personality. Claire is beautiful and kind. She is the youngest and full of spunk and never ending personality. We can’t wait until it’s her turn for her Custom Senior Photography Session!
There’s a lot more black and white in this High School Senior Photo Session then you usually see. There’s plenty of color too I promise! This sneak peek I just couldn’t resist these black and whites because B&W and freckles make me swoon. We combined this Berkeley High School Senior’s love of the beach and pretty dresses with her love for soccer. She is a fierce soccer player with a heart of gold. Even when I heard her telling stories of something that had gone wrong or something bad that had happened she always told it with a kind, positive perspective. This incredible woman is going to change the world just by being a part of it and we are so lucky she is! I can’t wait to see what the next few years hold for her!
Today these two celebrate their anniversary. I know I’ve mentioned it before but Anniversary Photo Sessions are fast becoming my absolute favorite type of session to photograph. As we go through life it changes us. Life is hard. But life is also good and joyful. In order to get through we need people that we can laugh with, grow with, cry with, and possible even yell with. When I photograph couples that have been married for several years or dozens I can see them seeing each other in such a different way. They see the years of ache, the years of laughter. They see the bad and the good, the messy, and the complicated in each other.
Marriage is work. My Mother-in-law always quotes Mignon McLaughlin when she says, “A successful marriage requires falling in love many times, always with the same person.” My wish for all of us is that our lives and marriages will be filled with kindness and joy! I know this couple certainly made me laugh as we captured them during a sunset outside their home in the Charleston, South Carolina area. They were good sports as I made them answer questions and do silly things to bring out their true smiles!
Traveling with kids? Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks for survival!! We have 4. Traveling with them is no joke. When I was pregnant with the 4th we drove across the country for a family reunion. The toddler and the pregnant Mamma weren’t invited in the van on the way home..we were sent home on a plane!! Over the years we’ve tried tons of tips and tricks. Some work. Some don’t. Every kid is different.
Here are 7 tips to try during this family spring break road trip:
Our kids aren’t crazy motion sickness prone. 1/2 tablet works great for them. Working for 6 years on boats that go out into the Pacific Ocean trust me, Bonine is the brand! I know some parents use Benadryl to take the edge off and helps kids sleep. I can’t recommend this because it wires at least 50% of my kids instead of making them sleepy!! Fine print: WE ARE NOT MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. Please ask your Dr., follow all guildines and instructions with any medication.So none of these are revolutionary but just make the trip something special. Don’t spend a ton of money on things to do that they won’t use. Maybe a small new toy or just fun food. Just get them crayons and paper is they like to color! That way if they don’t get used you aren’t out anything. We’ve tried all the fancy stuff and it just doesn’t work any better. Their attentions spans are only so long no matter how much you spend on the toy!
This next trip I’m going to attempt to read a book aloud to the kids. I’m hoping they can all hear and that I can find a book that they will generally all like! Wish me luck!!
What is your favorite trick?
Model Call!!
We are working on a personal project that is close to our heart. It is a project that brings passion, life stages, love, memories, and the celebration of women together!
Deadline: The project will involve several photo shoots (one model for each is needed) and so there will be several deadlines. The first of which is April 8, 2017.
ISO: The number one criteria is that you must be (or have been, for our more mature models) a NATURAL redheaded female. Freckles are always a plus. We are looking for redheads of all ages, newborn to great-great-great Grandma’s. We need to cover a HUGE range of ages so all ages please!
You are responsible for bringing an agreed upon wardrobe with you, which we will discuss ahead of time (it’ll be simple, I promise). You will be required to have professional hair and makeup done for the session. Session will take place during best light in Argyle, NY.
What you get: The session fee is waived and includes 3 high resolution files with printing rights and online gallery. Enjoy 30% off any additional digital files, prints or wall portraits and 15% off books/albums. Discount applies only to images from the stylized shoot.
If you don’t fit this criteria but know someone that does…please share!! To apply please send an image of yourself with your contact info to krystal@braytonphotography.com
Note: “Model” means someone in the photograph. It does NOT mean you have to be any certain size or shape 🙂
red headed photoshoot, saratoga springs, ny
Sometimes you just gotta roll with life. I think there’s something about lemons there. …When you have your family session all planned out and then it snows 2 days before what do you do?! You just go with it! It wasn’t warm but we still had a ton of fun! It’s a good thing these kids belong to a photographer!! They know the drill.
Where we thought the snow might ruin the gorgeous location we had planned it actually only added to the beauty!
Love the outfits that the amazing Erin from Erin Marie Photography chose for her family!
