I am not a traditional studio, portrait photographer. My goal is to capture the true essence of your family. Therefore, I will either come to your home or meet you at the park or other photogenic location. Specializing in relaxed, natural posed shots as well as capturing spontaneous moments allows my clients to enjoy their session. I strive to capture your images as naturally as possible with little or no artificial lighting.
I hope you can tell by the images on this site that having your photographs taken should be a joyful experience full of laughter and smiles.
When you’re ready to book your session please contact me at sarah@capturedbysarah.com or call 417.234.6372.
What should I do to prepare BEFORE our session?
Book your session early, especially during the holiday season. Then, read the clothing and location suggestions and begin forming a vision for your session and make preparations. On the day of your session, try to ensure that your family is well rested and fed. If they’re tired or hungry, it makes for a more difficult session for everyone involved. For younger children, it’s always a good idea to have a small drink and some snacks for them, just in case they need a little break.
Your photo shoot is not likely to be similar to portrait sessions you may recall from past studio experiences. Please try to keep the mood before and during the session lighthearted, laidback, and fun. Parents, I ask that you please take a more passive role in the session. Usually, after a time of adjustment your family will begin to truly enjoy themselves and I will capture everyone’s true smiles.
What will occur DURING our session?
Generally we begin the session with a few relaxed posed shots with the group and individuals. Next, I will guide a time of family interactions and play so that I can begin capturing those spontaneous expressions and natural interactions. You will be surprised to find how relaxed and fun your session can be, and as long as everyone is having fun, I will keep shooting.
What will happen AFTER our session?
Approximately two weeks following your session, when your images are ready, you will be provided with a link to view your photographs in a custom, online gallery which you may share with friends and family. Portraits will be ordered directly from your on-line gallery and will be shipped directly to your home approximately one week after placing your order.
How much time should I allow for our session?
For a full session, plan to allow 90-120 minutes. Sessions are never rushed. Plenty of time is allowed for a warm up period, snacks, clothing changes, or other necessary breaks. It’s critical that you allow enough time for your family to relax and move beyond the grin-on-command phase.
What is the best time of day to schedule a session?
For outdoor portraits, times early in the morning or early evening provide the most flattering light. Weather makes a big difference. Midday sun is harsh and produces hard shadows. If it becomes too overcast or dark and stormy, we will need to reschedule at no additional cost to you. For indoor natural light portraits, early morning to mid-afternoon is best. Most importantly, let’s choose a time of day when your children are at their peak and will be well rested. Better to schedule the session when everyone is at their happiest time of day even if it means less than ideal lighting conditions!
General Clothing Tips: Denim or khakis with solid shirts work well for a casual look. On the other hand, for a more modern “fashion” look, feel free to bring along some trendier outfits with fun and fashionable colors. Don’t be afraid of bold colors and rich textures, however all prints, including logos or characters, are not recommended. Portraits generally focus on the face, primarily the eyes, so as a general rule of thumb clothing should be lightest near the face and get progressively darker with the pants and shoes. For this reason, dark-colored dress shoes or bare feet are preferred, white tennis shoes are very distracting. When in doubt, feel free to have on hand several outfits, and I will help you choose which will photograph the best.
Families: For family portraits, choose colors in the same tonal range so that no single individual stands out. I prefer coordinated looks rather than matching. Everyone in the portrait does not need to wear the exact same clothing just use color within the same family.
Where should our session take place?
The setting for your portraits can be anywhere you choose: your home, back yard, a favorite park, or lake. Be aware that it is important the location has adequate, available light. My preference is to use natural light (outdoors or window light), but my studio lighting and backdrops are completely portable and will set up in almost any room in your home.
What should I have on hand for the shoot?
If you plan to be photographed in more than one outfit, bring the alternate outfit(s) for everyone in the portrait as well as appropriate shoes. If you have a baby or toddler, bring along whatever you need to keep your child clean and happy: diapers, wipes, snacks, etc. Please also bring a favorite toy that makes noise, as I may need to use it as an attention-getting tool. For family members of all ages, feel free to bring a favorite doll, toy, blanket, musical instrument or other hobby item, etc. that you may wish to include in the portrait.
How do I prepare for my maternity photography session?
1. Pregnancy Portraits should be taken 6 to 10 weeks before your due date; earlier than that the belly may be too small. Closer to their due date, most women are less mobile and may be too uncomfortable for many poses.
2. Gather and prepare your clothing well in advance of your session. Many styles of clothing work well for maternity sessions including tank tops and jeans, button up men’s-style shirts, or flowy skirts. Tops should be form fitting.
3. Your hands are most likely going to show…so don’t forget to moisturize and have a manicure and a pedicure. Your makeup should be a natural glowing look. Take special care with eyes and eyebrows. Face powder is always a good idea to eliminate shiny spots.
4. If you would like your photographs to include your beautiful, bare belly then several hours before your maternity photo shoot, you’ll want to take off anything that has tight elastic in order to make sure you don’t have elastic or strap marks on your skin.
5. Be on time for your appointment and don’t schedule any appointments or activities directly after your photo shoot. Quality portraiture requires a good amount of time, you won’t want to rush your session and possibly have sub par results especially this special time in your life can not be recreated.
What should we know about our newborn photography session?
1. Earlier is better. Some of the best newborn portraits are captured between the ages of 2-14 days old. Unfortunately, the first two weeks are the ones that go by in a flash! For this reason, I highly recommend calling before the little one arrives so we can put you on the schedule with a tentative date! I believe the best location for the first session is within your own home. Let me come to you and I’ll bring everything we need for a great session.
2. Loose is best. Before your session, make sure that there is no tight fitting clothing, such as socks or elastic bands, on the baby. Newborns are beautiful in their birthday suits and these types of items leave red marks that take several minutes to fade.
3. Feed Me. It’s not a problem to stop for a break so your child can eat. It’s usually when they have a full tummy that they will doze off for those adorable sleepy newborn pictures. For this reason, newborn sessions can be lengthy but it’s all worth it when incredible images are captured.
4. Hold Me. It’s amazing how quickly a newborn forms an attachment with you. They know the best place is in Mom or Dad’s arms and this can be where we capture some of the most emotional images. With this in mind, I recommend all parents come to the session ready to be photographed. I suggest jeans and a solid black shirt, as the black will allow the baby to really stand out against the clothing.
5. Plenty of Options. Take time before your due date to gather a variety of clothing outfits, accessories such as hats or toys, and blankets. Knitted, crocheted, highly textured, or monogrammed blankets make wonderful backgrounds that compliment your baby.