Pregnancy is an amazing time and there is no better way to celebrate it than with a portrait session!

To get the most out of your session however, there are a few things you should know.

When is the best time to come in for a maternity session?

It really just depends on how big you would like your baby bump to be in your photos.  I recommend, any time between 29 weeks to 36 weeks.

Just don’t wait too long, you’d hate to go into labor and miss your shoot.  And yes, this happens!

Try to avoid wearing anything that will leave a mark

When we’re pregnant, our bodies retain a lot of extra fluid which means things like elastic waistbands, socks and elastic hair bands worn around your wrist will leave a mark on your skin.  We want you skin to look as smooth as possible, so avoid anything elastic!

The tighter the better

Loose maternity clothing is super comfortable, but doesn’t always look great in photos.  When it come to your maternity portraits, remember, the tighter the clothes, the better! We want to show off that belly!

Don’t be afraid to show some skin

Nude and semi nude maternity images are often my favorite!  I have all the fabric we need for draping and will always photograph you in a tasteful and beautiful way!  So take advantage of the studio setting, and show a little skin!

Husbands, partners, kids and wives…. The more the merrier

I’m often ask if other family members can be in some of the photos and the answer is YES!  These are your portraits and your moment to celebrate this amazing time in your life. So you can include anyone you would like to in your photos!

I started my career 17 years ago with a maternity photo of my dear friend Ginger.  We shot three rolls of film and ended up with one perfect photo that we both loved.  I used that one photo to launch my business.  It was the face of Sandra Coan Photography for years.  

Back then, it was common for a person to go into a photo studio with the expectation of getting one great photo.  Over the years, that expectation has changed.  Now it's more common for people to come in for a session and expect 50 great photos.  And while I totally get it (I love all the photos too) I would argue that there is power in just one great image.  

The Problem With Many Photos

Here is how I see it.  When you have many photos, they are often times forgotten.  They sit in your cloud storage.  Maybe a few, if they are lucky, will end up on Facebook or on your Holiday card.  But most of the time, all those photos are never seen.  They get lost.  And I think that is a shame.

The Power Of One Photo

When you have one photo however, the dynamic shifts.  It becomes special and the way you look at it changes.  You hang it on your wall.  You share it with your family.  It becomes an heirloom for future generations. 

When you have just one photo, the photo becomes a story in and of itself.  It tells us something about the person and who they are in that moment.  It becomes a portrait in the truest sense of the word.

What You Can Expect From Me

When you come in for a photoshoot with me, I will take lots of photos and give you many to choose from.  But my goal is that you will find one GREAT one.  One that will become your story, your heirloom.  One that you will hang on your wall.

My goal is to create a portrait.  It's what I love to do.  And I can't wait to do it for you.

That's right! Santa is back in Seattle!

This year, we will be hosting Santa (and maybe even a few of his elves...) on November 25 in the studio for a full day of mini sessions with the big guy. These magical five-minute sessions are $95 for the sitting fee, online gallery, and digital files from your session or $65 for just the sitting fee and online gallery. 

Dress your kids up in those cute holiday outfits you've been saving or come as is, Santa is happy either way :) If you need a little outfit inspo, check out this Pinterest board for cute fall and holiday looks!

You can also check out some highlights from Santa's previous visits here!

As always, we will be using this event to give back to our community.  This year we will be collecting donations of food, socks, underwear and toys for the Greenwood Family Works Food and Resource Center.

We're excited to see you there!!

Sandra & Santa

You heard it here first: Santa is taking a small break from the North Pole to join us here in the studio on November 26th, so make sure the kids have their lists ready for him! So, you can dress your kids up in those cute holiday outfits you've been planning or come as is, Santa will be happy either way. Click here if you need some holiday outfit inspiration and you can also check out Santa's Seattle visit from last year!

This magical five-minute session with Santa is $95 for the sitting fee, online gallery, and digital files from your session or $65 for just the sitting fee and online gallery. You can find the sign-up page here!

I started my career back in 2000 as a maternity photographer.  Maternity photography eventually led to newborn and family work, and I’ve been pretty much doing that ever since.  

Over the years I’ve had the honor of photographing couples in their first pregnancy, with their first baby, then their second and sometimes third. 

I’ve watched children grow up.  

I’ve documented the changes and the milestones. I’ve been there for celebrations and sometimes even losses. I’m seeing my own boys change into pre-teens.  And I’m noticing adult children turning into the caregivers of their own parents.

Life is an amazing thing.  And I’m honored to be in a career that allows me to see it and document it for my clients, friends and family.

It is no secret that I love working with babies! I love capturing the connection and love of parents and their new son or daughter.

But as my own children grow and as I see the babies I once photographed walk through my studio doors as young adults, I find that the definition of what it means to be a family photographer has changed for me.  

It’s not just about little babies.  It’s not just about those first few years.  

It’s about all the years.

It’s all beautiful.  

It’s all important. 

So please, drag your teenager in.  Call up your mom or dad and make an appointment for just the two of you.  Get a portrait made of your pre-teen, braces and all. 

You’ll be so glad you did.

There is something so refreshing about updating the family portrait hanging in your house or the one folded up in your wallet. And fall seems to be the perfect time to do so. 

The kids are starting a new school year, the weather's changing, the holidays are approaching. Maybe you've been putting off those holiday cards the grandparents have been asking about... It's all happening!

Let me help.

In November, I'll be hosting three (yes, three!) mini session days! 

These mini sessions a perfect for families looking for photos for holiday cards, gifts, or just an updated family portrait.  Best of all they are fast and fun!  Just 15 minutes!  

The session fee is $150.00 and I will have lots of great add-ons, like digital files, albums and print package (perfect for holiday gifts!)

Here's a list of the mini session days, you can click on each date to take you to the corresponding sign-up page:

• November 12
• November 13
• November 19

We also have a Pinterest page you can check out for fall outfit ideas and holiday card inspiration!

See you in November!!!

One thing that happens every summer is that I get WAY behind on my blogging!  With my kids at home and summer activities (not to mention the beautiful weather) sitting down to my computer and writing is hard!

Now the kids are in school, the weather is yucky and I have TONS of photos to share!  My goal is to blog at least once a week!  Wish me luck!

This little one couldn't have been more fun to work with!  Sleeping like an dream for the first have of the session, then bright eyed and happy for the second half.  And so much personality for such a wee-one!

I've been photographing Ida since the day she was born.  

I love this little girl, and always look forward to getting her in front of my camera.

Her mom is my dear friend Lily, and Lily always has Ida dressed to the nines!

For her second year portraits, Ida wore a stunning red vintage dress.  The photos we got from this session are some of my favorites, which made it all the more fun when Ida and her stunning red dress were featured in the March/April edition of  Click Magazine!

The good people at Click asked me to talk a bit about my approach to shooting film with strobes, and I was more that happy to share.

To me, film and strobes are the perfect marriage.  Film love lights.  The more the better.  And with strobes you can create perfect light every single day, no need to rely on the weather.  

Teaching other film photographers about how to use strobes has become my passion.  I teach both an online and an in person workshop about it, and now I get to share this amazing and beautiful technique with the readers of Click.  What an honor!

And here is Ida in her gorgeous red dress in Click Magazine!

Now that the Holidays are over, I think it's time to catch up on my blogging!  

I knew the moment this family walked into my studio that this session was going to be amazing! They are all adorable!  And this cute little guy was so much fun to work with!  And then there was that red hat!!!  Too cute!

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do!

-Sandra

Images captured on a Contax 645 with Fuji 400h.
Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.

Preserve and Gather is the most adorable cafe that recently opened up just a block down the street from my studio!

My friend Lily and I have been stalking them on line for ages... and so, when they announced on their Instagram page that they had open, we made a plan to meet there the next morning.

First of all, the food is is AMAZING!  

Fresh baked goods, homemade preserves and pickles... and fantastic coffee.

And the space is beautiful.  So beautiful in fact, that I decided to run over to my studio and grab my camera.

Our coffee date ended up being an impromptu photoshoot with Lily and her adorable daughter Ida.

If you are in Greenwood, be sure to check this place out!

And if you are coming in for a photoshoot, don't forget to walk down the street when your done and get yourself a delicious treat!

-Sandra

Images captured on a Contax 645 with Fuji 400h.  
Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab