Pawtraits Modeling Contest 2010 Winners!

Coming Soon: Star Kids Modeling Contest 2010!

Working the Magic

How we accomplish some of the gorgeous images at the Portrait Shoppe

Over the years we have had thousands of comments and compliments about our images, particularly about our Imagination Style. Imagination is one of the truly unique areas of the Portrait Shoppe; it is our niche here in Lexington, something that nobody else does quite the same, and in many ways it has become a defining style for the Portrait Shoppe. But creating a beautiful imagination image isn't just about buying some fun whimsical props and simply posing the child within that scene. We really play with the children, let them explore their new environment, and let their own imaginations dictate the events and poses that we achieve. A child's imagination is 1,000 times more powerful than we adults remember, and that's what we have to tap into to really produce stunning, beautiful images...and sometimes it takes a little of our own imagination too.

Take a look at this image:

Isn't she beautiful?!?! Well, this little angel was only three months old. She had a wonderful session with us in our garden baby bassinet (which is perfect for that age). She was happy and smiling the whole time...until we changed her into the dress. As is always the case with kids, when they pull the plug on a session you are pretty much finished - there's just not much you can do with a crying child who doesn't want to have his/her photograph taken. Here's where the innovation of the photographer kicks in.

Little Alexandra Grace (LOVE the name!) was miserable after we brought her back into the studio. The only place she wasn't crying was in mom's arms. Poor thing, she was tired! Babies have an especially short window of awake time in which you can get their photographs. But rather than throwing in the towel (which is so easy to do), Shelly, the photographer, got creative.

She moved the bassinet and sat mom down on the backdrop. Then she put a green blanket over her arms and lap and set the now sleeping Alexandra down in her arms again. Then she decorated mom with flowers and ivy so that she became the new set! Check out this work in progress:

(That's Ashley putting on the finishing touches). So, Shelly could have simply called the session when Alexandra started to lose it and walked away the great images she got from the first half. But she didn't, and it was worth it! Mom was thrilled, Alexandra was happy to finally be asleep, and the images in the dress are amazing!

Can't tell, can you? That's the whole idea. So next time you're faced with a screaming child or a moment that looks like its over, put a little creative thinking to use and see how you work with the issues instead of having them work against you. And who knows what beautiful material you might produce!

Easter Lamb Portraits 2010

We had a fabulous Easter this year! All of your children were beautiful and so much fun! and even though we can't show you everything we photographed this season, we did want to show you a few highlights from our Lamb Portraits this past year!



We had a great time with this baby lamb - it was only a day old when we first got it! (The poor thing kept falling asleep, it was so new!) But the kids were AMAZING! We were so proud of everybody this year - you all were wonderful!

Thanks for making Easter 2010 a season to remember!