2008 October | ESSENTIAL IMAGERY, Philadelphia photographer

You'd love to have a family portrait session that fully captures who you are, how you connect, and how much affection surfaces when all the members of your family are present within the camera frame.

We're happy to capture your family in our studio, complete with gorgeous light and minimal distractions, or in your comfy-cozy home full of familiar toys and routines. No matter where our session takes place, we'll delight in your delight. And we'll encourage you to pay attention to one another instead of the camera, because there's no 'add happy' button in Photoshop.

We don't care whether you're barefoot or wearing fuzzy slippers, and we won't be sending over a twenty-page list of suggestions about what to wear. (We can make you look beautiful in sweat pants if you love each other.) We just want to capture your family. Your habits, your quirks, and your love. Die-hard beach goers? World travelers? Animal lovers? Trekkies? We wanna see it. And when you view the images we've created together for the first time, we want the depth of love you feel for your family to grab you by the collar and bring tears to your eyes.

The video below provides a peek at how portrait sessions unfold. If you have questions or would like to schedule a portrait session, click on the 'Contact' link above or call 215-206-3689. Oh -- and thanks for stopping by, lovely!

-- Kristen & Haunani, Essential Imagery owners

P.S. That's Kristen up in the header -- Haunani is camera-shy.

Monthly Archives: October 2008

10.16.08

UNPRECEDENTED.

ATTENTION, EVERYBODY: I INTERRUPT THIS POST TO BRING YOU A CANCELLATION FOR THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 18TH. IF YOU’D LIKE A SESSION AT YOUR HOME, A PARK, OR THE LOCATION OF MY CHOICE, CALL 267.243.8929 OR E-MAIL KRISTEN@ESSENTIALIMAGERY.COM.

For the first time, I’m posting a client slideshow BEFORE they’ve had their ordering session with me. This session was styled by yours truly — meaning I chose the colors, concept, and location. Mom was gracious enough to buy exactly what I had in my head to make the shoot work. Yay!

Come November 15th, ALL sessions will include this styling service. Not a PDF of ‘what to wear’ or a list of links, but an actual, real-life shopping session with me to talk about your style, your goals for the session, and, of course, your clothing choices. (We can even go for-Mom-shopping at Anthropologie or Fresh Ayer!)

Anyway, back to the shoot…I want to get this in the biggest size canvas humanly possible for the loft.

For more of Miss Abbie, click HERE or on the image above to see the slideshow. You’ll have to download the plug-in. I promise it’s legit. :)

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography

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10.15.08

HOW COULD YOU NOT HEART THEM?

Within five minutes of arriving, the twins had puked on me. Twice. And the best part? I didn’t even care. Look at the cuteness!

Whichever friend gave the twins these outfits, thank you. They rocked ‘em like baby models. Until the chaos of one little guy eating his brother’s head won out.

And the girls? They were lovely. They clicked and clacked in Mommy’s shoes.

And I got to push ‘em on the swings, too. This shot makes me want to be five until further notice. (Yep, it’s MEGA-SIZE!!)

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography

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10.14.08

ANOTHER LOVESHOOT…CAN IT BE?

Yep, folks, it’s another loveshoot…this time, commissioned by my bestest friends Tim and Chelsea, to celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary. I busted out my very favorite, top-secret abandoned house location for usage to result in this:

I wanted them to look all vintage/ghostly, like they could have lived in this falling-down house at one point or another. Tim had nightmares after the shoot, which makes him a weenie.

Then onward, to the out of doors! They learned my top-secret way of giving grown-ups posing directions. In this case, it was “Go over there, and do something. Use the blanket.”

Chelsea’s snuggle face makes me so happy here.

Love you!

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography

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10.10.08

ON GETTING EJECTED FROM VALLEY FORGE PARK

Still spots open for Toronto during the last week of October — get ‘em while they’re good for the gettin’, rockstars!

As some of you know, I heart *heart heart heart* abandoned properties and the vintagy, weather-beaten look. Of course, this leads to trespassing more often than not, and clients are generally willing to comply with my desire to ignore the signs in order to get the perfect shot.

For the first time, I was asked to leave a property. The Valley Forge Park Ranger asked the family shown here (and me, of course) if we were part of the construction crew. I wanted to scream, “Yes! The three-year-old passed masonry and engineering last Thursday!” But I didn’t. He asked us to vacate the premises.

We had a fabulous shoot despite him. Turns out, not all the fabulous buildings in Valley Forge Park live behind ‘authorized personnel only’ signs. Neener, neener, Ranger Man!

I promise I got a mantle-worthy family shot, but I love this one more.

Miss Madeline is the most delighted three-year-old on the planet, right here…

Jonathan took a breather from running laps around the place to let me catch this:

Last, but not least, my favorite of the sibling shots…these guys totally forgot I was present to engage in an epic tickle battle. ::yay::

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography

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10.09.08

TREETOPS

1st: I will be in Toronto October 28th & 29th (yay!), and will be able to accept 1 session per day in the city @ 10am. This is a regular rockstar package, only travel is on me, ’cause I’ll already be there. Spread the word, people!

And now…this session took place almost entirely in the trees…the boys submitted to my questions, commentary, and laughter at their monkey faces while swinging from branches and climbing higher. The only rule? Don’t break a leg on my watch. Pretty please.