Family Photos and Portraits of Children are Art

There are so many good reasons to print photos of your children, family and your life and make them visible!

According to statistics from photuturial the average person takes 20 photos per day. And the average user had around 2,100 photos on their smart phone in 2023. But then what? Sadly, for most of us they sit stagnant on our phones or computers. I struggle with this too, but I have a lot of good photos on my phone and don’t want those meaningful moments caught on my phone, or even my big camera, to go unseen. Did you know there are real benefits to displaying photos?

Displaying photos in your home is positive for children’s self-esteem. It helps foster their sense of belonging & reassurance. It also shows them you are proud of who they are and their appearance.

Seeing tangible photos encourages storytelling. Everyone can relate to the feelings evoked and natural storytelling that ensues when you see photos of the past: pets that graced your life, the feeling of anticipation when you see pregnancy photos but can now look at the child you were growing then, phases of life that disappear without warning like the year your child wore their halloween costume until Christmas. All from glancing at old photos. 

Photos also help with memory. I know I always feel like I have stronger memories of places and events that have photos attached to them. What better way to remember that favorite stuffy, monumental “firsts”, vacations or just what day to day life looked like in different homes and phases of life. 

Displaying photos in your home adds warmth and personality to your decor. When you see someones home for the first time isn’t one of the best parts seeing the photos they have chosen to display. That’s because photos not only add a personal touch to decor but give more insight to people and their lives.

This year I am working on two things for photo displays. Personally, I am being more diligent to fill wall space with family photos & individual portraits of my children. Important moments captured on my i-phone can be seen on our digital frame. This is one of my favorite ways to display all of our photos. It gets them off my phone and allows fun small moments to be on display. After all, the camera most of us usually have on hand is our phone. The accompanying app allows it to be updated anytime. Click here to check it out: (Aura)

Professionally, I am offering more Black and White portraits in San Luis Obispo and the surrounding areas. These are the perfect way to capture authentic expressions, personality and details of childhood. The results assuredly accomplish all the aforementioned benefits of displaying portraits/photos in your home. I even offer them for preschools! 

Hello & Happy New Year from San Luis Obispo!

As a new year begins, I want to thank you for being a follower and supporter of my small business. I am so grateful for all the families that have chosen me to photograph them this year. Moving a photography business to a new location and growing it has been challenging and frustrating at times but has also allowed me to meet many new families, inspired personal growth and brought new opportunities that I would not have anticipated. The Central coast of California has proven to be the home of many beautiful photography locations to explore and is filled with genuinely friendly people. A delightful place on earth if I do say so myself. 

Do you make New Years resolutions? Goals? Pick a word or a phrase to represent your year? I do a number of these things. I haven’t settled on a word for this year yet (although I am considering Abundance) but I have given much thought to both personal and professional goals. Professionally, I am going to create a new website, blog more often and show up more frequently on social media. Personally, I am going to work on enjoying the day to day. I, like many of you I am sure, spend a lot of time driving my kids to various activities, then sitting and waiting or continuing on to the next stop. This year I plan to make this process enjoyable and productive. 

Both personally and professionally I am combing a list of In’s and Out’s: In with more reading, more photos on the walls & more organization. Is it just me or if everything better when it is organized?!  Out with comparison, guilt and lost time on social media. 

I am glad your here with me for another great year! Comment below and tell me what you are planning in this new year.

Photo credit: Kellie Rochelle Photography (https://www.kellierochelle.com)

Top 9 reasons to take family photos at home

When is the last time you had family photos taken at home? It seems that so many of us take in-home family photos when we have a newborn and then don’t do it again. Until recently I also fell into that category. The reasons were multifactorial. We had our last child in 2015 so we had done a few in-home newborn shoots up until that time. Then we lived in a home I didn’t love but also in the Pacific Northwest were there are so many gorgeous outdoor locations to take advantage of (much like the Central Coast) that it hadn’t really occurred to me. Fast forward to 2021. We moved into a new home, in a new state and got a new puppy. It was time to have undated family photos. We hadn’t lived here long so I dressed my family in clothes we already had, set up the camera and handed control over to my mom. I adore these photos for capturing all the newness that we were experiencing in our life at the time and keep them in a frame to remember the beginning of this adventure.

Here are some reasons you may want to consider taking family photos at home

  1. Comfort: Home is where the heart is ❤️ and where your family feels most comfortable and at ease. This comfort can translate into more natural and relaxed poses and expressions, capturing the true essence of your family's dynamic and personalities.

  2. Personalization: Your home is a reflection of your family's style, interests, and memories. Incorporating your home's decor, favorite toys and unique spaces into the photos can add a personal touch that's hard to replicate in a studio or outdoor setting.

  3. Nostalgia: Home is where many of your family's memories are made. Photographs taken in this setting can hold a special nostalgic value as they capture moments within the context of your family's daily life. I love looking back at photos taken of me as a child in our old homes. It’s a joy to be reminded of what my childhood room looked like with my cat on my bed surrounded by all my favorite toys.

  4. Natural Interactions: Being in a familiar environment encourages natural interactions giving the photographer the opportunity to capture genuine connections.

  5. Storytelling: Your home tells a story about your family. By taking photos there, you can capture the narrative of your daily routines. Sometimes it’s hard to believe that there won’t always be a stool in the bathroom, legos on the floor, an overflowing toy box in the living room or a sippie cup on the coffee table.

  6. Convenience: No need to worry about sunrise or sunset and there are always snacks on hand.

  7. Emotional Value: The sentimental value of home-based family photos can be incredibly high. As time passes, these photos become a cherished record of how your family and home have evolved over the years. Imagine if all previous generations of your family had taken in-home family photos. It would be fascinating to see their homes, furniture, their style and way of life. I know I cherish the photos I took of my grandparents doing ordinary things at their home because I captured them exactly as I remember them and their home.

  8. Control over Timing: You can choose a time when your family is most rested, relaxed and ready for photos, which can lead to better results.

  9. Inclusion of Pets: If you have pets, including them in your family photos at home can be much easier and more comfortable for both the pets and the family members. It seems like only the dogs get included when out of the home. What about our beloved fish, guinea pigs, cats and other home dwelling pets?

Remember, the choice of where to take family photos ultimately depends on your family's preferences, the style you're going for, and the memories you want to capture. Whether you choose to take photos at home, outdoors, or in a studio, the most important thing is to capture the love and connection that define your family.

Our family in Fall of 2021

The top 3 favorite things about living in San Luis Obispo

Living on the Central Coast of California is lovely. Our family took a big chance to move and start our life here in a new place. But, so far so good. Here are some of the things we are enjoying the most:

Exploring the wonderful beaches. One weekends we love to take our dog Honey to the dog beach in Avila. When my family visits we venture out to Cayucos for surfing and a good meal at Hidden Kitchen. We recently visited the Monarch Butterfly Grove and then enjoyed a walk along Pismo Beach. Being at the beach is a wonderful family outing. Everyone has something they enjoy and there is alway something new to explore.

The activities my kids participate in have continued to be the same as they were inthe PNW: baseball, ballet and riding. The community has been so welcoming to us. My kids have felt welcomed and continue to thoroughly enjoy the activities they had already establiched a love for in the PNW.

Sunshine! On a day to day basis, at home or outside, we are loving the sunshine. We spend more time outside and when wer are inside our home is brighter with sunshine and it feels good. Send sunscreen because we are loving this sunny life!