Tips For Great Family Portraits

This family gets an A+ for being so much fun! 

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This subject was  inspired by a shoot I did a few weeks back.  

Family Portraits!...........To do, or not to do? That is the question!

    They are not for the feint of heart. The minute you make the announcement, the moans and groans ensue. They will complain in an attempt to have their way, but you want your way too, so you MAKE them do it. Suddenly everyone's grouchy. Well, what did you expect? Then come the threats.... I have heard mothers tell me tales of children and grown men who threaten them with "closed eyes", "crossed eyes", exposed tongues,"bunny" ears over a sibling's head, and....Broken cameras....GAh!! What's a woman to do but extort good behavior from her child with a promise of special candies from Cracker Barrel, and if they're older the bribes become pricier.

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So, what is the secret to creating a fun, and natural portrait session, where it does not appear as if, in every photo they have been threatened within an inch of there life? How do you make a successful family portraiture session fun?

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 Do something fun! First you must create an action for your family, an action towards the fun. Something that will get them moving naturally. What do you love to do together? Tennis, fishing, shopping, the playground?? Whatever it is, it has to be fun. 

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Do you love outdoors? Make a picnic lunch to match the theme of your outfits and don't tell them you've done it. Make it a surprise, because lets face it, who is not curiously excited over an unexpected surprise. Put beautiful cookies inside pretty purses (this creates detail as well as adds interest to a photo).  Your goal, is to get a family of complete and utter happiness on film, so you can look back, and remember, that you had fun. Your family was fun, and wow, what a great family portrait session that was. Lets do it again someday.

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      I Had a fantastic time with the Langford Brood, they were wonderfully charming while they were getting Quffed and Puffed. (slang for hair and make-up;-) I loved how little Chloe warned me, ever so nicely, that she would scream "coconuts"really loud if I burnt her scalp....LOL... and her sister Maddy told her mommy very sweetly that, "she didn't know how to wait!" (for her turn in the chair). We made Paper Chain hearts for baby Brother Payton. I had the girls write, his name, and the year of his birth, on the hearts. 

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Words for Payton: 

       Dear Baby Payton, 

  They love you and you're not even here. They placed your name on their hearts, then had these photos taken so you would know you are special. You are a highly anticipated event.

More Family Portrait advice!!

9 tips for taking great family portraits

D is Usually for Daneli, but today it stands for for DIVA

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When Miss Lara Fiarelli of Lara's Theme Bridal Shop said, "I have this satin vintage robe with ostrich feathers up the sleeves, will you shoot me in my Boudoir? ", I thought," heck yeah sugar, how can I refuse?" I'm a sucker for vintage Lingerie and since I know Lara is a PRO at "setting the stage" (she is a seasoned Wedding planner/Floral artist) I was definitely looking forward to this Hollywood themed storyline like a huge slice of chocolate cake.

   Visions of Garbo lounging over a couch or Hepburn flashed before my eyes, but Lara is a redhead so maybe Greer Garson or Lara Bow were better inspirations.

 Walking into her home I was pleased, though not surprised to see that she had set the stage. On a make-up vanity sat an Iron Swivel Mirror, a vintage vase with a fern curling over the top, vintage diamond Jewelry, and loads of white feathers.  With bits of black peeping thru the robe, this Hollywood dynamo was well on her way.......

Visit My websites:

Daneli

SugarBelle

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Little Princess

  It's no secret that I love to photograph children, and baby Lilly is one of my favorites. It could be her bouncy golden hair, that in the right light, surrounds her face like an angelic halo, or it could be her fabulous taste in faux fur boots, which I'm forever threatening to borrow. (She swears they won't fit me;) Maybe it's her hilariously, innocent statements which leave me in tearful giggles and her mother sending prayers heavanward.

      Whatever the reason baby Lilly is an amazing little girl who is as beautiful inside as she is out.

     This year based on a tip from a friend, (thank you Friend;-), we decided to shoot on fabulous Worth Avenue in Palm Beach Florida. Her 1st trip to Tiffany's left her feeling a bit disappointed especially when she realized the pretty blue wallets she was admiring were empty, but the shiny silver elevator left her suitably impressed. We peaked into Cartiers  window where she spied a gorgeous diamond necklace, and Chanel was sweet enough to give a stationary for a quick letter to Santa.

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     We negotiated a few pics in front of the square's giant Christmas tree on the condition she could toss some pennies into the nearby fountain, and we ended the day with a trip to sprinkles, the local ice cream shop, where she chose a lovely pink ice cream that happened to match her sweet little earmuffs and gingerbread pillbox purse. A fabulous end to a fabulous day, and a girl after my own heart. Baby Lilly, you are a gem.

Thank you to Lara Fiarelli of Laras theme for helping style this shoot! 

www.sugarbellephotography.com

www.daneliphoto.com

Happy birthday Gea!

It seems only yesterday that we took these pictures, yet it's been almost a year. If such a thing is possible, you get prettier with every birthday.

I am looking forward to sharing our latest works, an editorial for a bridal magazine. Happy birthday!!

Brad Pitt JR????

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Harlee is his name , and what a little cutie.

When I met him in the parking lot of the gardens before our shoot, he was sweet enough to show me how to do the "jerk".

Ya'll know what I'm talking about?

It's a sweet lil' dance, that if you don't know how to do it, it will in fact, make you look like a jerk.

lol

;-)