I am thrilled to introduce you all to our new associate photographer, Stephanie White!

We are so lucky to have Stephanie White join the team, and once you have a look at her images, you’ll understand why.

She has a simple, laid back approached to working with kids and families and we can’t get enough of her clean, minimalistic style!

Stephanie is a life long photographer, but has been a working professional 2015. She is a single mom to two beautiful boys and lives just outside of Salt Lake City Utah, which means she’ll be flying in to see clients on specific dates. (Fancy right?!)

Her schedule is limited!! But trust us, she is well work the wait!

Follow this link to get on Stephanie’s schedule. And check out her beautiful work below!

Click on the images to scroll

A note from Stephanie

Hello everyone! My name is Stephanie and I'm a family photographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I have the opportunity to work with Sandra and can't wait to meet all of you and get to know the amazing families of Seattle!

For me photography is the door to so many things. It's the door to meeting new people on a regular basis and a way to see this beautiful state I live in, Utah. I have learned so much about myself and I have learned what I am capable of. 

I have been a photographer for 7+ years. Because Utah is stunning and has beautiful locations all year round, I started mainly doing outdoor/on location sessions. I fell in love with studio work after finding Sandra's work about 3 years ago and have been learning all I can ever since!

So excited to meet and work with all of you!

I was really hoping that as more and more people in our community got vaccinated and boosted, risk of Covid-19 infections would go down! But sadly, here we are in the middle of another scary surge thanks to Omicron!

I take safety VERY seriously. And am doing everything I can to keep myself, my family and my clients (especially those who are too young to be vaccinated) safe. Let me tell you how.

I AM FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED

For starters, I am fully vaccinated (and boosted) and I require all adults who visit my studio be as well.

Getting vaccinated does not guarantee that you will not get the virus, but studies show that it DOES significantly reduce your risk of serious infection and will most likely keep you out of the hospital if you do get sick. Why does that matter? Because we need to keep valuable ICU beds free for people who need them!

I tragically lost my father over the summer to a gall blockage that led to Sepsis due to lack of immediate care. You see, he was told at the ER he needed emergency surgery but there were no ICU beds available. So he waited. And developed a deadly infection in the process. Myself and my entire family are devastated, and this is one of the reasons why I take vaccination as seriously as I do.

Also, I work with newborns, babies and small children who are too young to be vaccinated. Providing a safe environment for them to be in is paramount! So please bring proof of vaccination to your sitting.

I AM LISTENING TO THE EXPERTS

I’m not a healthcare provider and I’m not a scientist so I’m listening to the experts and following the guidelines put out by the CDC.

They recommend maintaining a safe social distance, and so I do, as often as possible.

When working with older kids and adults, I give direction and guidance on posing while keeping a safe 6 foot separation.

With babies and newborns, I ask the parents to assist as much as possible and only place babies in natural positions that do not require excessive posing or props.

Fun fact… this has always been how I photograph babies. Another reason to love my minimal approach to posing, it’s Covid-19 friendly!

I WEAR A MASK

The CDC also recommends wearing a mask (it’s also currently a State mandate), so I wear a mask at all times and ask that my adult clients do the same until it’s their turn for pictures.

I keep a box of disposable masks at the studio for clients who forget theirs (nobody has so far… but they are still nice to have on hand, just in case.).

I KEEP THE STUDIO CLEAN

Cleanliness has always been a high priority for me, but now I’m EXTRA cautious about keeping the studio in tip-top shape.

My routine includes, disinfecting ALL surfaces (doorknobs, cameras, sinks, toys, pens…. anything a client may touch).

The entire space gets a good wipe down (with Clorox wipes) before and after every session.

I also wash all fabric items on the warmest setting (blankets, pillows, teddy bears.etc) between each and every session.

I wash my hands frequently and keep hand sanitizer next to where I’m working for both me and my clients to use.

WE’RE LIVING THROUGH HISTORY. DON’T BE AFRAID TO CAPTURE IT!

As crazy as all of this is, we ARE living through history. Think of the stories you’ll be able to tell your kids and grandkids when you share the photos we create today with them some day!

It’s that time of year again, friends!
Cozy sweaters, foggy mornings, changing leaves. Oh how I love Fall in Seattle. What better way to jump into the season than to schedule your holiday mini session? Scroll down to learn more and to reserve your spot before they’re gone!

Family Mini Sessions Pricing

On November 13th and 14th, I will be hosting mini sessions at my Greenwood studio. These fun 15-minute sessions are great for holiday cards and family portraits! 

The price of a mini session is $175: A non-refundable deposit of $50 saves your session date/time and $125 is due at the session! Digital files, albums, and gift prints can be added to your package at the time of the session.

Follow this link to sign up for Nov.13th. Follow this link to sign up for Nov. 14th.

Covid Precautions

I’m asking that all participating adults be vaccinated. A please arrive to your session wearing your masks!

I’ve invested in a HEPA filtration system for the studio.

If anyone in your party is sick, please let me know so we can re-schedule your session.

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Babies are not tacos.

So they probably shouldn’t be posed like one.⁠
⁠
Babies are also not frogs.

So maybe putting them into a "froggy pose" is a bad idea.⁠
⁠
Babies are not props.

They are tiny humans. ⁠

And they need to be treated with care.⁠
⁠
I've been a newborn photographer for over 20 years! ⁠
⁠
And I've built a very successful newborn business WITHOUT using complicated, potentially unsafe, posing!⁠
⁠
You see, I believe that babies and perfect just the way they are. ⁠
⁠
And I've developed a system for photographing newborns that showcases the natural beauty of babies in a safe and efficient way! ⁠⁠ What does that mean for you?

It means that when I’m working with your baby, you can trust that safety is always my number one focus.

I know that your child is a precious gift, not a toy, and I will never put them in unsafe or unnatural poses.
⁠

Figuring out what to wear to your family photo session can be hard, and I’ll often have clients show up to the studio with armfuls of outfit choices!

While there is no right or wrong answer to the question of what to wear, there are certain choices that I find look really nice in studio portraits. I’ll share them with you here today and hopefully save you some time when planning for your photoshoot.

Keep it Simple

One of the things I love about studio portraits is the minimalist style of the surroundings keeps the focus of the pictures on you, your children and your family, not on the location. The same thing can be said for your clothing choice. Keeping your outfits simple helps create images that are about you and your family, not what you’re wearing. Simple clothing choices also help create classic and timeless images. Staying away from logos and patterns can help achieve this look.

Neutral Tones

One way to keep the look of your outfits simple is by choosing neutral tones that go well together. Having similar tones in your outfits will help balance the image. I prefer grays, whites and blacks, but I also think it’s nice to have a pop of color now and then, especially around the holidays! So don’t shy away from dressing the baby in a bright red onesie or something fun like that! If you do want to add some color, just remember that the color will pull attention in the photo. Because of this, I think dressing the kids in the colorful outfits and keeping the parents in neutrals works best.

Be Yourself

At the end of the day remember that these are YOUR photos, so it really only matters what you like! If you are a family that loves bright colors and loud patterns, then by all means, wear that!! Being comfortable and looking like yourself is one of the best ways to get great photos that you’ll cherish forever!

Studio photography used to be the industry standard. If you wanted a family photo, you went into a photo studio and had a portrait made.

That was how it was done—for years.

But styles change, and after a while, it became much more common for a family to meet their photographer in a park or in their own home.

When I started in the 1990s, the most popular style among family photographers was photojournalism, a move away from the traditional studio portrait.

That then gave way to lifestyle, which has since remained the norm. I however, have always LOVE the look of studio photography, and strive to provide my clients with something modern, but also classic.

So What Is Modern Studio Photography?

I think for many, the idea of studio photography recalls the days of over lit, over posed, department store photos.

That is NOT what you’ll get at my studio.

My approach to studio photography is much more modern.

I will never use props or pose your baby in an unnatural way. Instead, I aim to capture them as they are. I want their personality to shine through! And I feel that the simple look of studio portraits helps me do that!

When in the studio, your baby and your family are the focus…. not the location or the background.

My goal is to create images that will stand the test of time.

A modern twist on a classic look!

The question of how best to include older siblings in a newborn photo session is a concern that many of my clients have.  So today, I thought I'd take a moment to explain why I love having older children at newborn sessions and how I ensure that it all runs smoothly!

Why I Love Having The Older Kids Involved

Bringing a baby home can be a big adjustment for everyone. This is especially true for older siblings. Sometimes they love the idea of having a new baby brother or sister, and sometime they don’t! And after almost twenty years as a newborn and family photographer, I have seen it all!

My goal is to make your older child feel special at the photoshoot. I spend a lot of time preparing them for photos and tune into their feelings about this big change in their life. What I’ve found, is that even if they are reluctant at first, they appreciate the attention and the time to “hold” and examine the their new baby.

Safety First

I understand how precious and fragile new babies are, and that even the most well intentioned toddler may not be up up to the task of holding a newborn! Most of the time, I’ll get photos of the new baby and older siblings by placing the baby safely on the bed in my studio and inviting the other children to sit next to him or her, or “hold” the baby by laying down next to it and snuggling up. The parents are always just an arms length away to assist when needed!

Make It Fun

Family photo sessions should be fun for everyone!  That is why I have a lobby full of toys and playthings for older brothers and sisters to do while I’m working with their new baby brother or sister. I usually start my sessions by showing the older kids where the toys are and letting them play. Eventually they will get curious about what I’m doing with the baby and want to watch…. that is when I invite them to be in some pictures. And I also have lots of stickers and lollipops to dole out after the session as a reward!

Happy Father’s Day to all of you amazing dads out there! You make our lives better and we are lucky to have you!

Here we have an 8x12 album with a tundra linen cover, a 6x9 album with a blush leather cover and an accordion book album.

It’s Important to Hold Your Photos

I am a BIG believer in being able to hold your photos. Call me old fashioned, but I think there’s something so special about being able to hold moments and memories in the palm of your hand. Plus, film just looks so beautiful on paper. That’s the main reason why ever single maternity, newborn and family session comes with a complementary set of 4x6 prints.

Another great way to create a tangible keepsake from your session is with custom photo albums! The cover of these albums are made of the highest quality fabrics, and the pages are thick and seamlessly printed on paper that’s meant to last several generations.

Products to Choose from

If you’re interested in ordering an album keepsake from your session, we have a few different options for you!

• 6x9 hardcover custom photo album with linen or leather cover $750

• 8x10 softcover custom photo album with photo cover $850

• 8x12 hardcover custom photo album with linen or leather cover $950

• Set of 3 accordion albums with black fabric covers $95

The custom photo albums also include a complete set of digital files! Please note, accordion albums do not.

How to Order

For ordering a hardcover album, we recommend favoriting up to 10 images from your gallery to be in your album (usually three horizontal and four to six vertical images work well). For a softcover album (the ones with the photo covers), we recommend favoriting up to 20 images from your gallery, or across multiple galleries if you did a session bundle. From there we will create custom album spreads for you to preview and approve. Please note, we allow up to two design tweaks per album.

For ordering an accordion album, we ask that you favorite 10-12 photos from your gallery.

Cover colors, materials and further customization

Once you’ve decided on the photos you want in your album, now it’s time to choose the cover! We offer several colors in two different materials, linen and leather. Our favorites at the studio are linen in tundra and leather in blush, as you can see below!

If you’re interested in further customization (such as adding text or debossing), we are happy to accommodate for a small fee.

Here are all the colors and materials we offer:

Simple, Beautiful and Fast

Once your album is ordered, it usually takes 1-2 weeks to arrive to your door for you and your family to enjoy for years to come.

Photo by Della Chen

I have exactly one photo of myself with my twins from when they were babies.  

One.

My friend Della snapped it when I was sitting on the floor in my living room, unaware of her camera.  If I had been aware, I probably would have told her not to take it.

I would have told her that I wasn’t ready to be in photos yet.  That I still had too much baby weight. That I didn’t like my hair that day and that the babies were cuter then me anyhow, take their picture, not mine.

You see, my pregnancy was not an easy one.  I went into labor the first time at 22 weeks and was put on hospital bed read until I delivered at 36 weeks.  Being in the hospital for that long saved my babies (for which I’m eternally grateful), but it wrecked me.

My muscles atrophied.  I gained over 100 pounds.  I was scared and depressed.  

Once the babies were born, I wasn’t allowed to leave the hospital until I could walk on my own around the hall- it took me a week to get there.

By the time I got home, I didn’t recognize myself.  

I was weak.  Exhausted. Heavier than I’d been in my life.

And I didn’t want my picture taken.

I didn’t like the way I looked postpartum.  And I didn’t like the way I felt. My pregnancy had been hard.  And it left me with a lot of emotional pain that I saw when I looked at photos of myself.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because I want you to know I get it.  When you come in for your newborn photos and tell me that you don’t want to be in any pictures, I get it!  100%.

But this is what I want to say to you, and what I wished someone would have said to me when my babies were little.

The photos we take are not for you.  

They are for your baby.

And when that baby grows up and looks at those pictures, they are not going to see that you are tired, or that you look heavy, or that your hair wan’t perfect that day.  

They will see their mother, who they love.

That's it.

I have exactly one photo of myself with my twins from when they were babies.  

One.

And it’s my biggest regret.

I wish I had photos that told my story to give to them.  

To show what I went through because I loved them so much and wanted them so badly.  

Was I over weight?  Yep! Because I had made TWO people… at the same time!!!  That is nothing to be ashamed of!

Was my body weak?  Yes!! I had spent almost four month in a bed in an effort to keep them safe.  That is was mothers do!

Was I exhausted?  Absolutely. I had two newborn babies!  Being tired is normal!

I wish I had photos to show what a warrior I was.  

I wish I had been proud and brave instead of feeling like I needed to hide myself until I was perfect.  

There is no perfect.  

Especially when you’re a parent. And thats okay.

My children deserve to see that.

Yours do too.

So when you tell me you don’t want to be in the photos, I get it, but I will urge you to be in them anyway.

I will remind you that these photos are for your baby, not for you, and that they will want them someday.

And I will let you leave, knowing that I’ve done my job.  You may not like your photos now, or even in a year or two… but someday you will cherish them.

I promise.