2009 January | 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: January 2009

01.20.09

So the thing I love most about our new President? Not his ideals about politics as much as his ideals about *humanity.*

“Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America — they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.”

You may disagree with him every other day of his term, but today? Today my heart sings with possibility. I hope yours does, too.

Posted in kristen tells all

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01.17.09

LET’S BE HONEST, HERE.

I could tell you that I’m *so* busy shooting kids that I don’t have a moment to myself, but umm…it’s 17 degrees outside, and I am a big giant WUSS who doesn’t love running around in the frostbitten air.

Instead, let’s talk about my other, much warmer post: being Radvocate-in-Chief. Yep, Radvocate. When I wanted a faster way to Photoshop my photos than to hit up each and every one with my own methods at the rate of 15 minutes a photo, I looked into actions. I bought them all. (Seriously! And at about $100 a pop, times infinity, my bank account took a beating.)

And *then* I found the Totally Rad Actions, and found my action-soulmate. We get along like pumpkin pie and Cool Whip. (Yah, I said it. Forget the whipped cream!) Like Philadelphia and cheesesteak. Like beer and karaoke.

Thus, it was with great pride that I accepted the role of Radvocate-in-Chief, and agreed to take care of all those with questions and feedback about The Boutwell’s product. If you don’t have ‘em, what are you waiting for? Your frozen little behind will be happy to have something to do, right about now…

And uh, Phoenix looks something like this right about now, minus Photoshop, as this was rockin’ the iPhone camera. (A Pennsylvania sky *never* looks like that, ever!)

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography

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01.15.09

RAD-TASTIC.

So, Imaging USA was a blast, and I had much fun hanging with The Boutwell and The Sloan to pimp the Totally Rad Actions. Most everyone who came by was absolutely lovely, I got lots of hugs, and I’ve gotta say — I had fun. Yah, I wanted to go and talk to strangers about as much as I wanted to find that a raccoon had eaten my iPhone — such an introvert, agh!! — but it rocked out.

The best wings I’ve ever had were at Long Wong’s…yah, you read it right. And no, I don’t want to think about why the ‘We’re Back’ sign applies, or what goes on in their kitchen.

And, um…Justin Lyon ripped my iPhone out of my hands and forced me to get tweeting on twitter. Okkkkaaaaaaay…if you want to follow me, it’s twitter.com/essentialimage — or just search ‘essentialimage’…wee.

The man can rock a bowtie.

Nate‘s goatee looks cool in this iPhone snap. That’s all I got.

I’ll leave you with The Boutwell rockin’ the karaoke — if you wonder who that sad creature in the yellow shirt awkwardly dancing is — yah. Guilty. Click HERE to watch.

On forums. Everyone at Imaging USA asked me which forums I’m on — and the answer is that I’m on one tiny, private dealio — but I’m willing to join more! For those of us who don’t shoot weddings, and are therefore ostracized by Digital Wedding Forum and The [b] school, but don’t want to deal with the crap that gets tossed around on free forums, does anyone have any suggestions? Please?

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography

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01.09.09

OH, LOVE.

It’s been an absolutely fabulous day — the magazine interview went well, I didn’t say anything dumb! Hooray! I’m off to Phoenix for Imaging USA, to hang out with The Boutwell and pimp some Totally Rad Actions. Swing by and give me a hug if you see the booth!

Posted in neat stuff

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01.08.09

THE HAPPY DANCE.

When something really, really good happens — I do a dance. Not the falafel dance — which only gets busted out when I’m ordering (you guessed it) falafel — or the eighties dance, which is reserved for holiday parties and girlie roadtrips. No no, it’s bigger than that. It’s the happy dance.

The happy dance is the only way I know to express how perfectly *radtotallyastic* life can be sometimes. Professional Photographer magazine has contacted me to do a piece about Giving is Awesome in their March issue — which has led to all sorts of variations of the happy dance all day long. Since I totally lack the panache that lets you all think this is a run-of-the-mill, ho-hum happening, I’ll say…THIS IS AWESOME! JUST LIKE GIVING!

I think I feel something like this (expression courtesy of Ava, from my last session):