Every year this time, emails start to pour in from families ready to book their fall sessions.  And in every single email, I'm asked what my favorite spots to shoot in are.  So this year, I thought I'd help you all out, and put together a list! Here we go... my five favorite spots for Fall family photos!

1: The Ballard Locks!  Gorgeous trees and paved (non-muddy) paths make this my number one favorite spot for fall photos!

2: Golden Gardens.  I'm just a sucker for tall beach grass!  Love it!  

3: The Olympic Sculpture Park. This location has so much variety! A great indoor space if the weather turns bad, cool picturesque art everywhere, and plenty of pretty trees and waters views!

4: Gasworks Park: Want classic Seattle city views?  This is your spot!  And the old Gasworks make for a really cool backdrop as well.  But be warned... it can get super windy!!! 5: Last but not at all least, my studio.  Truth: Seattle weather is unpredictable. Sometimes its nice just to plan on an indoor space, especially when working with children under one!  And honestly... I LOVE a good classic studio portrait... melts my heart!

Okay friends... hope that helps!

What to do now?  Send me an email and get on the books!

And for you planners out there... here are some dates to keep in mind:

Mini Sessions will be held on November 8th and 9th this year.  And our by-appointment Santa photos will be on November 29th!  

Contax 645, Portra 800

Portra 400.  Contax 645

I'm kind of finding it hard to believe that October is already here!  Is it just me, or does the world spin a little faster than it used to?  Sheesh! October in my world means that it's time to start planning for holiday photos.  So to help you do that, I'm talking about all the important dates you should know about!

Here we go....

Mini Sessions will be held on November 9th, 10th.... and November 16th!!  

Yes! for the first time EVER I'm adding an extra day!  The mini sessions are is such hot demand this year that November 10th is already sold out!  If you want to get in on the 9th, let me know!!  I only have 3 spots left!!

Because of this demand, I've decided to add one more day of mini session on Nov. 16th (I've never done that before!)  I'm sure it will fill up too!  So contact me today to get on the books!

Each session is 15 minutes long and comes with 20 finished images in an online gallery.  These sessions are only $150!!  A steal, I know!  You can add a CD of printable jpegs for an additional $125.  And because I love giving back to my community, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Greenwood Elementary School!

Santa Photos will be held on November 30th from 9:00 to 4:00.

This one-day-only event is easily the highlight of my year!  These are by-appointment Santa photos!  No standing in line.  No tired, stressed out kids.  Just fun, goodie-bags, and a chance for a little one-on-one time with Jolly Old St. Nick.  Each year we donate a portion of the proceeds to charity.  This year we will be donating to  Rite Care of Washington, an amazing non-profit that provides speech services to children with profound speech and language delays (like my son Harvey) .  These children get quality, state-of-the-art treatment at no cost to their families.  They are amazing!

Please also keep in mind that the dead line for holiday photos is Nov. 17th.  So if you need photos for your holiday cards or gifts, please send me an email soon so that we can get you on the books.

Thank you and have a great day!

~ Sandra

I could have photographed these adorable people all day long!

….The truth is fall is just around the corner.  And yes my friend, that means it’s time to start thinking about your holiday photos.

I know that I sound like a crazy person talking about holiday photos on August 1st, but as you know,  August, September and October are usually our best months, weather wise. So lets take advantage of the pretty light while we have it!  And, by booking your fall session now, you’ll be able sit back and relax knowing that you’re one step ahead of the holiday rush!

Here are a few tips on how to make this years portrait session, the best ever!!

1. Schedule early.  Everyone wants those prime weekend spots.  But remember, there are only four 10:00 am Saturday morning appointments on my calendar every month.  If a morning appointment is going to work best for your little ones, then get it on the books now!
2. Think outside the nap box.  If you need to work around naps when planning your photo session, think about booking something in the late afternoon, or early evening.  That “Golden Hour” is absolutely stunning in the fall, and you’ll get beautiful, dreamy photos out of it.
3. Pick a family friendly location.  Parents often want to meet at a playground or favorite park for their photo session.  But, sadly, choosing a beloved playground or park usually results in a very unhappy kids.  Most toddlers would much rather play at their favorite spot than get their picture taken.  Instead, ask me for a suggestions.  I know a ton of  great spots around Seattle, and then stop off at the park on the way home. That way everybody wins!

have a great day, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

~Sandra