Photography Art Grids - Triple

I love display grids.  Clients who are looking to create a contemporary "family photo wall" are embracing our Art Grids.  Three dimensional wood panels (1" or 2") They can be ordered from one session or multiple sessions making it possible to start out with two or three and then add on as your child or family grows.  A nine panel Art Grid might start out as 3 12"x12" panels, 6 months to a year later add 3 more and in another year or two add 3 more.  Now you have a large wall area covered with a variety of images that look good together.  If you have three children and are interested in creating a complete Art Grid all at one time, mix up a nine or 12 panel with images of the kids individually and in groups.

Here are 3 versions of a cute Block Storyboard with 3 images one as the base and two mounted on top for an expanded three dimensional look.

 

 

 

Senior Ambassador Search

This summer, we are looking for 6 Duval County High School students graduating in 2015 or 2016, to represent our studio as Ambassadors to their school friends.  We still have 2 openings available.  We are located one block from the Atlantic Ocean in Beaches Town Center.  We have some of the most beautiful beaches in the country - right here in our own backyards and we offer lots of fun products for High School Seniors and their families.   Call us for information about Senior Portraits and our studio Ambassador Program.  Being an Ambassador is not for everyone, but it's a great way to earn portrait credits for prints, Graduation announcements, Graduation party invitations, Image folios you'll actually love and lots more.

 

 

 

 

Business Headshots & Corporate Portaits

Call us to schedule or update an old existing business headshot. 

Your virtual image is the first thing people see.  Does your say professional?

High School Senior Portraits - Ponte Vedra High School

 Senior portraits can be so individual, colorful and creative and yes they can be fun. . . even for guys.

Dominic Ponte Vedra High School, 2014

Family Wall Portraits make great Mother's Day & Father's Day gifts

Get in the Picture Mom

Every baby should grow up surrounded by a beautiful portrait taken with their mom - printed and displayed prominently in their home or in their room.  This year we are celebrating motherhood with a Mom & Me Legacy Project.  The goal of the project is to create beautiful signature images of the relationship between parent and child.  Those quiet tender moments of laughter & fun that will contribute to your child's sense of well being.  I believe photographs give clarity to our memories and provide us with a sense of well-being. I think photographs give clarity to our memories and give us a feeling of connectedness.

You can not know how many sunrises you will get to share with your loved ones but one thing yon can be sure of - you will never be any younger or have fewer wrinkles than you do today. 
Seize the day!  Your children love you just the way you are.  Come on Mom - get in the picture.

Vacation Portraits at the Beach

This precious little family from Washington DC called me when they were visiting Amelia Island.  I love when my clients refer friends and family - it's such a warm first visit.  I had photographed a family member's wedding and again with children a few years later.  I was excited to meet the rest of the family.  Check out this fun lifestyle beach session and these adorable expressive boys.  It is never to early to capture a Christmas Card image for this fall.

High School Graduation Season & Portraits

High School Graduation Portraits on location and at the beach are so much fun.  High School seniors are always looking for fun ways to express themselves and Senior Portraits are among the avenues students have to stretch out and make their unique personality mark.  This is the time of year our studio meets with high school juniors graduating in 2015 and their parents for High School Senior Portrait consultations.   Regardless of which area high school a student attends - they do have a choice for Senior Portraits.  What defines our studio's senior portrait clients?  Our seniors are fun loving, creative and looking for something unique and artistic.

Here are some suggestions for High School Juniors thinking about Senior Portraits:

1. Think outside the box.  Don't follow the crowd and line up to do what everyone else is doing.  
2. Bring your personality into the mix.  If you love to ride horses, have your senior portraits done at the stable.  If you are a dancer, wear your tutu to the beach.  If you play sports, include gear in a few photos. 
3. A fresh haircut or trim is a good idea.  Do a hair and make up test run.  Ask your photographer for a make up artist's recommendation for subtle outdoor make up.
4. Ask for wardrobe advice.  Colors, textures and design cuts can make or break a portrait session.  You may want to give that gorgeous prom gown or tux another chance to sparkle.
5. Include your BFF in part of your session.  These are times and memories you'll want to remember for a lifetime.
6. Schedule a studio consultation in advance to design a Senior Portrait Session that is uniquely you.
7. If your school requires your yearbook image is taken at a specific studio - if the required studio isn't what you had in mind, go for the basic package and then look for an independent artistic studio that offers on location sessions and custom packages.  Some studios will reimburse you up to $35 in print products for your basic package investment.
8. Juniors - Students change a lot during the summer prior to senior year.  Start early to plan your senior portrait concept, but don't be pressured into scheduling portraits in July when it's hot & humid.  Most actual yearbook deadlines are not until mid to late September.
9. Look for fun new products and contemporary services to display your beautiful images.  Don't settle for the same old leather folio and 8x10 prints for your grandparents.

 

 

 

Create a yearly photography plan for your family.

Clients tell us it's difficult keeping up with everything and although they'd love to have professional photographs taken of their children at least once a year (birthdays being the likely choice) well that's just one more thing that seems to fall off somewhere around March like diets.  Even in the families of professional photographers, child #2 has fewer photographs than child #1.  I guess it's a logarithmic phenomenon.  The more kids - the more laundry, lunches, carpools, ballet lessons and book reports we have to keep up with.  BELOW are a few fun photography tips for making sure your kids have awesome photographs of their childhood.

 
 

 # 1 "ALL MY FAVORITES" You'll love remembering all of your child's favorite things ten years from now. Take an hour or an afternoon and photograph your child with all his/her favorites.  A favorite stuffed animal, that outfit she drags out of the dirty clothes basket because she wants to wear it everyday. Your son wearing Dad's boots, riding his bike or eating/wearing ice cream.

 # 2 Make sure you take at least one annual photo with grandparents - it's a great excuse for a road trip.
 # 3 It's fun to take a roll of black and white film - once a year!  Come on you have an old traditional film camera somewhere.   The look is so unique it's worth the effort.

 # 4 If you live at the beach how can you resist beautiful beach portraits - go for sunrise or sunset - the light is so much prettier.

 # 5 Don't forget about family pets - close ups are best.

 # 6 Kids on the move. Get the kids together for a series of sibling action shots - close up and of course full length so you can see how they have grown from year to year. 

 # 7 Skip the traditional school photos and instead schedule professional portraits in your child's birthday month.  A fun tradition, hallmark and an opportunity to plan a fun, themed session that fits your child and will ultimately be more meaningful.

 # 8 Moms & Dads - Your children love you just the way you are.  You'll never be younger or have less wrinkles than you do today.  Stop worrying about losing five pounds your kids don't care.  Since we don't know what tomorrow brings.  Get a photo taken with your kids today.  If you are the primary photo bug in your house get out from behind the camera.  Hand it over to someone else and go in for a big hug. 

 # 9 Kids derive a certain sense of well being from the story told of their lives in photos. Don't worry about the ones you missed of the baby in your family - you know the one with the most empty pages in their baby book.  Start snapping!  

 

If you need a little reminder for birthday portraits sign up for our Kids Club Birthday Registry at http://deannedunlop.com/?load=flash#/1112944/Kids-Club-Birthday-Registry

you'll receive a reminder 4-6 week before your child's birthday, enough time to schedule an appointment.  We can help with a themed birthday shoot, location and with KYDS children's clothing boutique downstairs we can even help pick out an outfit if you like.

How soon should I schedule newborn portraits?

 

 Mom's call me all the time to ask - "How soon should I have my baby's newborn portraits taken"?  My answer is generally the same?  It's always best to do your newborn portrait session within the first 7-10 days, if at all possible.  What do we do when clients want to include siblings, Mom & Dad and even grandparents in baby's newborn session?  It is no problem when we are photographing in the comfort of your home and we love photographing in client's homes, which of course gives us the opportunity to photograph the baby in his or her nursery as well.  The best thing about newborn nursery sessions is that we come to you, a genuine luxury at this time in life.  I am really excited about sharing this sweet newborn service with new parents.  Newborn Nursery Sessions are so intimate, unique and  lend themselves to really creative sessions.  If you know someone with a knockout nursery don't forget to share this post with them. 

Newborn nursery sessions make great shower gifts and welcome baby gifts.  

Of course, we are still offering our studio newborn sessions as well but many of our clients have found the intimacy of having their family photographed at home makes these portraits so much more meaningful and personal.