Last night I got the chance to photograph a GORGEOUS family! when Brittany, of Love Stitched, asked me if I wanted to take her families pictures, I was stoked because…well look at them!! They are gorgeous, but not only that, they are a really nice family. The boys were so well behaved and the cutie in the gray shirt was so funny dancing around and being silly. I really had a fun time!
Have you been wanting to get GORGEOUS pictures of your kid(s) or family?! Now is your chance!
I am giving away a FREE photo session, Digital CD and a 16×20 print [an $800 value] to ONE lucky winner and you DON’T want to miss out on this!
The RULES:
* This contest will be held on FACEBOOK on Melissa’s Fan page. Instructions on how to win will be sent via email
* For kids or families [limit 6 people]
* Entries MUST be from families living in Utah county
* Send ONE picture of the person(s) who you want to win the photo session to m@melissadavisphotography.com. Include the name(s) of the person(s) who will be photographed
* Entries are due July 29th August 7th, at 5:00 pm
Can’t wait to see who enters! If you want to become a fan of Melissa Davis Photography on Facebook, click HERE!
[the fine print: This contest is for new clients only. If you are a photographer or someone in your immediate family is a photographer, you are not eligible]
This was my first session of 2010 and it was a GREAT one. I really really love these clients, they are just the nicest people you’d ever want to meet and I just felt like I was hanging out at a friends house taking pictures! It was so fun and it doesn’t hurt that these little ones are just the cutest ever!
This is my older sister, Amy, and her family. I think it’s funny…as a photographer I show up to many photo sessions. Some go great, others I have to work for. You’d think that 4 teens and 2 adults would be easy right? No running around after a toddler right? I had to giggle at my cute family because it seemed impossible to get them all looking at once lol. I had to remember how much I loved to have my picture taken as a teen and to be honest…how much I just love to have my pictures taken now (which btw, if you didn’t catch that sarcasm, I was being totally sarcastic) . It’s hard work to be in front of the camera! he he…But we ended up getting some really great ones! I think a lot of people just kind of “skip” photo sessions when their kids are older because everyone is so busy and there is so much going on, but at any age, I think it’s just so important to have family pictures!
By this point 1/2 of the group was done…they stuck it out oh so well, but I thought it would be fun to do a “mock photo booth”…you know, try and loosen up the kids to get some fun expressions from them…and it worked! The two who agreed to humor were cracking me up!
And last but not least, I love this one. I love when I can catch a moment that just SCREAMS “we totally love each other (even if we’re trying not to act like it”!
I’m sure these cuties look familiar right? They are my good friends little ones and I am lucky enough to get to photograph them often! They crack me up because they are at those ages where 1. they don’t want to be in pictures 2. they for sure don’t want to be in a picture TOGETHER and 3. they just don’t want their pictures taken period. lol. You’d never be able to guess that though! and that’s what’s great about getting your kids pictures taken. You come to a photo shoot, kids are running around…crying…hitting….etc, but when all said and done…you get pictures like these and are able to enjoy those cute little faces!! For those of you on the fence about last minute fall sessions, I’ve still got spots open, so don’t miss out on your chance!
I didn’t get any questions last week, but I did this week, so HI THERE…here I am today! (OH my gosh you guys! I saved this to publish and never came back to do it! SORRY!!)
1. How do position your newborns to get great shots? Well first of all, you need TIME!! to be able to do newborn shots. I spend at least 3-4 hours at my clients homes when I do a newborn shoot. All newborns are different, but if you get to photograph them, try and do it with in the first 7-10 days of life. The SOONER the better. I always bring a handful of warm blankets, a heating pad and then make sure there is white noise going on. Tell moms before hand to turn up the heat (you might sweat, but when the baby is in his/her birthday suit, it’s much better to have it WARM!). Make sure mom feeds and changes baby before you come. Lot of little steps to set up for a good newborn shoot. As far a positioning the newborns, I still have a lot to learn! Most of the newborns I’ve shot have been not liked me trying to position them, so I’ll just let them do what they want. If you can spend the time to get the baby out like a log, it works a lot better. Okay, so I’m not sure that even answered your question! LOL.
2. How many shots do you generally take when you do a shoot? Um, it depends. I used to over shoot. I just shot, shot, shot, shot until I was for SURE there MUST be something good on there. The funny thing is, that just takes more time to weed through and then you’re tossing so many! Now, with a normal family or child session (not extended family, because there’s more to shoot), I’ll take some where around 60 shots. Another thing is, now I’ll really try and wait for a shot rather than just shoot and hope it turns out. Id rather have to toss an image because of closed eyes or “user mistakes” than tossing just because I took to many!
3. Do you have a studio set-up? & if so, what equipment do you suggest using? Nope, I don’t have a studio set up. I am fully natural light, so when I go into someone’s home, I use my surrounding or if it’s a newborn session (which it is 90% of the time when I go into a home), I will find the biggest window and use my blankets to drape over a couch or pillow or whatever my client has there to work with. One day I would like to have some lights and studio stuff I could bring on location for darker days, but for now, just natural light 
Alright! Caught up! Keep them coming and remember you can find all the Q&A’s up top!
This is my good friend Karilynn and her family! Karilynn has just recently lost over 70 lbs and is looking FAB!!! She wanted to make sure to get family pictures so she could show off her new bod (and of course her cute family!). So proud of you Karilynn!! Thanks for the fun time!
So I had my first set of mini sessions yesterday! Last Sunday we had family over (18 kids and 11 adults all shoved into our little home) for dinner. The next day my sister in law text everyone that her son was sick with the swine flu and we’d all been exposed. Sure enough, come Tuesday my daughter got sick…followed by my son and then ME Friday and Saturday. We don’t have the swine flu, but just a nasty stomach bug. I had scheduled 4 sessions between yesterday and today and was determined (sick or not) to make it! Can I just say that I’m SO GLAD I DID!?!! Two of the mini’s from tonight were long time friends who we haven’t seen or been around in years! My mom and their moms (sisters…so the mommies in the pictures) are good good friends and we spent so much time as kids together! So it was SO good to see them again and get to interact with their (gorgeous) families!
My first mini was with the older of the two sisters. I laughed when she said “have you met my husband”? because I remember when they were DATING over 19 yrs ago!!! They were “Brent and Mikelle” for heaven sakes! I was 10 and they seemed so in love..so cute and guess what?! They still are so in love and so cute…and then add their GORGEOUS kids into the mix……..Can’t get any better than that!!
My next mini session was so so fun! Mom had told me that her daughter is really serious and was worried a mini session might not be enough time, but I tell you what…this cutie pie was just as sweet as could be! Very curious about what was going on and just a sweetie! Mom and dad were great too, so down to earth and truly nice people!
My last mini was with the other beautiful sister, who is closer to my age, so we spent more time together as kids. My FAVE memory of Kerry is in Park City when we “tricked” my litter sister into thinking there as a giving tree! We would hide in the branches (and mind you, this was NOT a tree FULL of leaves…it was a skimpy little tree and I’m not sure WHY we thought we couldn’t be seen!) and throw candy down to my sister thinking we were SO cleaver!!! I love memories like that! I’m glad you guys decided to come last minute, because I loved seeing your cute little family!
I’m just going to say it…I love when I get to a photo session and there are adorable little babies there 
What a CUTE family!! I love the mom chose clothes that matched but didn’t “match” if you know what I mean! We had a fun time…at one point we drove to down town Salt Lake and I swear, I am never going downtown again lol. It is SO hard to find a parking spot!!! Thanks for a fun time you guys!
OH I’m so excited about these! I have never done mini sessions before, but I think they are a GREAT way to get a quick session in at a GREAT price, have your holiday cards taken care of and get on of my FAVE products – a 5×10 mini storyboard! You can view my holiday cards by clicking HERE.
I will be doing these two days like it says. One at the American Fork amphitheater which will be Oct. 9th and then at Memory Grove in Salt Lake on the 10th! These mini sessions are for small families up to 6 people (extra for more people) or if you just want pictures of your kids, we can do that too!
* * I’ve decided to come back and add all the details of the mini sessions here because I’ve got some people asking * *
Okay…
The mini sessions last for 30 minutes and we will just jump right into taking pictures! I will have an assistant with me during these sessions to help get the attention of smaller kids (lol, even big kids for that matter). The purpose of these mini sessions are to get some pictures of your family and kids for your holiday cards OR if you are just really wanting (needing) family pictures taken because it’s been YEARS since you’ve done it he he…
One thing that is VERY important, is that you show up on time. If you are late, that will cut into your session time.
You will get 5 – 10 images displayed in an online gallery where you can choose your favorite 5 for your image disc. (You CAN order prints of the images taken and they will be 30% off as part of these mini sessions).
I have four openings on each day. $150 is due at the time of your booking to guarantee the time and you’d like. I will post here as the times fill up to give you an a visual of what times are taken and available.
OCTOBER 9th – AMERICAN FORK AMPHITHEATER
4:15 – 4:45
5:00 – 5:30 ADAMS
5:45 – 6:15
6:30 – 7:00
OCTOBER 10th – MEMORY GROVE
4:15 – 4:45 KING
5:00 – 5:30
5:45 – 6:15
6:30 – 7:00
So I think that’s pretty much it! This is truly a GREAT deal, so if you know anyone who might be interested, let them know! If you tell a friend and they book a mini session (mentioning YOU told them), you will get an extra digital file on your disc!!!
If you have ANY questions, let me know! m@melissadavisphotography.com
