A Year in Review | Family Portraits
I had so many wonderful families and children to photograph this year! I absolutely adore watching people grow and show their love for one another! Plus it makes my heart happy to know that there are so many families in Portland that see the importance of photographs! Here are some of the amazing groups I was able to photograph this year!
While I cannot share all of the images here, in addition to the above families, I was able to photograph over 200 couples at the daddy daughter dance and over 700 children on local sports teams! This was truly an amazing year!
Would you like to make some memories with your family? Click here to get started!
A Year in Review | Best Candid Laughter of 2017
I absolutely LOVE when people in front of my camera are comfortable enough to let loose and just let out a hearty laugh! There could be tears, the occasional snort and of course a great photo to go with it. Each and every person in front of my lens is different and there is no telling what is going to get them to the point of this kind of laughter, but when I can, it is AH-MAZING!
Here are a few of my favorite candid laughter shots from 2017!
Aren't those just the most fun? There are so many more where that came from too! I have so much fun at my sessions!
I would love to hear about the things that make you laugh every time! Comment below!
A Year in Review | Behind the Scenes
It is not too often that I get behind the scenes photos, but when I do, I LOVE them! I enjoy sharing what type of image results from what we were doing in that moment. Here are a few that I was able to get this year!
Grace
Top photo provided by Betsy Platte, Bottom photo was resulting image taken by Reflections Photography
McKenzi
Top image provided by Ben Jorae, Bottom images provided by Reflections Photography
Rylie
Behind the scenes images of Rylie provided by Ronda Goodman, Final images provided by Reflections Photography
Daddy Daughter Dance
Left photos provided by Ben Jorae, Right images provided by Reflections Photography
Do you have any behind the scenes photos of me at work? Share them with me here!
The Fox Family | Portland Family Photos
Once in a while, I get lucky enough to get a call from someone that I haven't heard from in years. It happened to be that the Fox Family decided that they needed new family photos and thought of me! I have known this family since I was a child (should I admit to that?) so I literally grew up around them. Dave, Kim and my parents were all good friends, so by default, I got to know them and their three boys, Adam, Alex, and Chris. Now that us kids are all grown up, life sure does get in the way! I have to admit it has probably been a minimum of 12 years since I have seen the boys and now some of them have wives! When did that happen?? I am so glad that this family was able to get together to update their family photo, which I hear is pretty outdated!
A also LOVE that Grandma came along!
Thank you, everyone, for coming out and updating your family photo with me!
Are you ready to schedule your photos? Contact me here!
How to Choose a Photographer
With so many photographers out there, it can be overwhelming to find the right one for you. To help in your quest to find the perfect photographer match below are some tips I have come up with after many years of being a professional photographer and as a photography client.
1. Not all Photographers are Created Equal
They typically have a unique style. Look at their body of work and gauge whether or not their style matches what you are looking for. You want a photographer who is excited to photograph your needs.
2. Ask to see an Entire Gallery
Most photographers can come up with a handful of great images from a session to post on social media or their website. However, not all photographers can produce an entire gallery of great images. To get a better sense of the scope of a photographers work, ask to see an entire gallery from a recent session. See if their work is consistent. Do you like their edits? Do you like their poses? Are their images sharp and in focus? Can they light well?
3. Cost
Cost can be a big factor, sometimes the deciding factor. But the most important thing to figure out is what is included in the cost of the session. If something is unclear ask for clarification before you sign a contract.
Know that if a photographer is very inexpensive you may want to ask yourself, “why are they so inexpensive?” Are they investing in great equipment that will result in great images? Do they have the proper licenses? Are they paying taxes? Are they booking seven sessions a week and won't have the time to give your session the attention it deserves? You must factor in a photographers time invested in your session, their expertise, as well as their costs when taking into account their pricing. If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
4. Be Sure You Understand all of the Photographers Policies Before Booking
Here are some questions you may want to ask if they are not clear.
Are there any digital prints included?
Is a print credit included?
What are the print prices?
How long after the session will the gallery be posted?
What is the cancellation policy?
What will happen if the weather is bad on the day of my session?
What time of day do you shoot?
Pricing should be clear and easy to understand. There is nothing worse than being surprised with extra pricing after all of your beautiful images have been taken.
5. Get to know the Photographer
A great place to start to get to know the photographer is the “about” page on their website. Also, check their blog and social media pages. Do you like them? If you are still unsure, schedule a phone call to chat. A photographer is someone who you will spend a bit of time with so if you don’t feel a connection, move on to another photographer.
6. Your Photographer Should be Someone You Trust
Once you have a photographer that you love, stick with them! I love documenting families as they grow. I love when kids remember me and are excited to see me. I feel each session gets better because I am connected deeper with those people every time we shoot.
Things to keep in mind
Experience Matters
You want to be comfortable, captured in a flattering way and looking great. Randomly choosing someone with a camera can mean sacrificing one or all of these. Professional photographers in the area who do photos on a regular basis will understand all the do’s and don'ts, be able to give important advice and how to get the best shots. The one you choose should also be able to work under different conditions to ensure that a little mishap does not ruin this important day.
Owning a Camera and Having Experience is Not the Same
Many people walk around calling themselves “photographers” when in fact they merely bought a camera and computer graphics software. This is not the same as being a trained professional and the quality of photographs they develop often confirms this. You want to make sure that the individual you choose has all the necessary equipment and skills required to develop timeless portraits for you.
Passion Helps
Photographers who genuinely love taking photos are likely to put more effort and pride into the process. They are also likely to be more patient and natural.
Do you have additional pointers and experiences that can help others learn how to successfully choose a photographer? Please let us know!
Miller in Motion | Dance Photos
Each season, I have the honor to photograph all of the kiddos that Miller in Motion teaches for their dance recital. It always amazes me how well these children can put on a show and how cute they look in those darling outfits! Here are the group photos from each session!
Do you have a local dance studio and want to offer your students photos like these?
5 Reasons to Choose Reflections Photography
With so many options out there in the photography world, the task of finding an awesome photographer can get overwhelming. Here are the top 5 reasons you should choose Reflections Photography to capture you!
1. I Value my Clients
I believe in good old-fashioned customer service. You will be given the time and attention you deserve. I love working with my clients and that is why so many of them come back to me year after year.
“I am such a perfectionist, so Danielle was definitely the perfect photographer for my senior pictures! I loved the experience and her photos were just stunning. She was very patient and fun to work with, and she was more than willing to go way out of her way to give me the best experience and most personalized pictures possible. I HIGHLY recommend her!”
2. I Make it Fun
I know that for some people the prospect of a photo shoot is a daunting one so I ensure that my shoots are as relaxed and fun as possible. It is not uncommon for me to make fun of myself or trip over a flat surface, so be prepared! I love to laugh and I love photographing people, put the two together and you get a really fun photographer!
3. I Make it Easy
I know that you want to get on with your day so I work quickly and ensure that I have captured a great set of images for you. You don’t have to attend viewing afterwords; instead, you will have an online gallery to view at your leisure and share with family and friends. I am always at the end of the phone/email to help when you need me. Plus my pricing is transparent and straightforward so it doesn’t take you hours to work out how much you will be spending!
“Are you looking for a unique and entertaining yet professional photography session without the boring old in-studio experience? Look no further!! Reflections Photography is what you want. Awesome people, quality photos with lots of personal touches. 100% recommended! Photos you will cherish for a lifetime!”
4. My Style
One of the main reasons to choose a photographer is their style and whether its right for you. I work with people who love both posed and unposed portraits and I strive to create both types of portraiture for my clients. I have perfected the skill of flash photography so that you are able to look the best in your portraits. Flash photography allows even and attractive lighting that produces vivid images which will stand the test of time.
5. I am Experienced
I have been in business since 2005 and have photographed hundreds of people. My experience is very important. It means that I am totally confident in getting the most out of your portraits and capturing moments beautifully when they happen. It means that I have lots of happy customers who come back to me time and time again. It also means that I have tried and tested many different product suppliers until I’ve found the perfect ones. Most importantly, it means that I am experienced in making my clients feel and look beautiful in their final images.
“I highly recommend Danielle! She did my son’s senior pictures. He wasn’t the easiest person to get a smile out of, but she did! She is willing to try any suggestions. We had several outfit changes. I think she would have snapped pics all afternoon, never felt rushed. Loved her suggestions for backgrounds. She really tries to get to know the individual and her patience shines through! Absolutely Amazing!!!”
Are you ready to get to know me and book a session! Click here!
I can't wait to meet you!
November Mini Sessions
Because of such popular demand, more mini sessions were offered in November. The thing with November in Michigan is that you just cannot predict the weather...or expect good weather for that matter! So after an initial reschedule, we found ourselves taking photos in the rain and snow anyways!
First I met up with these cute kiddos!
Then this amazing couple showed up!
and I ended the day with this dude that was full of energy!
Thanks to all the families that came out to get mini sessions with me this year! I offer them a couple of times per year and they are announced on social media, so make sure you are following my pages!
To see the full galleries of the above families, click here!
If Three is a Crowd, Then What is Six? | Family Photos
I met up with this crazy family this week to get their family photos taken. We stuck in the Portland, Michigan area, but they dragged me to a place that I never go! It took a little bit of trail walking and maneuvering, but we sure had a lot of fun getting to it. After slipping down the side of a questionable hill, we were able to get started in this beautiful location!
This family is so much fun! There was so much laughter!
And here is the awesome couple that started this beautiful family!
Thank you for allowing me to capture your family photos!
To see the full gallery, click here!
Daddy Daughter Dance
Each February hundreds of daughters have the opportunity for a special date night with their dad in Portland, Michigan. Reflections Photography has had the opportunity to be invited to the daddy daughter dance since 2012 to take care of portraits for each attendee.
Dads and their daughters line up to get their portrait taken by Reflections Photography and are given a complimentary 5x7 each year. Because of how busy the dance is year after year, we have had to set up shop in the large closet in the KC Hall. Surrounded by the extra tables and chairs that are stored in this closet is where Reflections Photography creates a beautiful memento to send each of these families.
We are honored to have been able to continue the tradition of providing these portraits to families year after year. To view, this year's portraits click here.
