2009 September | 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: September 2009

09.14.09

DIMITRI – main line baby photographer

Dear Dimitri,

You’ve hit the jackpot. I know you don’t know it yet, because you are so young and the world is so new. Your Mom is the type who can make anything — even board games — fun, who knows all the good recipes, and who doesn’t sweat the small stuff. Your Dad is over the moon for you.

Over. The. Moon.

You’re also well-loved and protected by two bodyguards who just so happen to be cats.

Little one, thank you for sleeping juuuuuuuuuuust long enough, then waking to say hello. Greeting eyes so fresh in the world is one of my greatest joys.

Love,

Kristen

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography, Philadelphia family photography

no comments

add a comment

09.12.09

THE FEET – main line baby photographer

Just one, with more to come next week…photographing babies is such a joy. Especially when they are perfectly cooperative, sleep like an angel, wake up to stare at that interesting new creature with a camera, and then resume sleeping. Perfection!

inhrkw5a64

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography

no comments

add a comment

09.11.09

LONG LIVE POLAROID – main line child photographer

I’m the most impatient person I know when it comes to everything but kids. A baby can take three hours to give me three minutes of cuteness, and I truly don’t mind. But waiting to see images, if they’re on film, or being processed? TORTURE!

Thus, it is with great joy that I announce: I have a new buddy. I call her Pola. She is beautiful, and makes images like this:

Best of all, Pola produces these images INSTANTLY AND MAGICALLY, with a special sauce that makes pretty pictures appear from mere gray nothingness. There were grabbed at the Ambler Asbestos Factory, which has long been abandoned and which first sparked my interest in photography.

So, I was trespassing quietly and softly, then “EEP!”ing with delight every time I hit the shutter button. There is such joy in this process! One more for you…the vines, the romantic quality, the light, the delicious-ly-awesome-Pola!

Finally, you know I *HAD* to bring my new toy to yesterday’s newborn session. And then I learned that Autofocus on a 30-year-old camera = back up. Back up some more, or it’s blurry.

But this is blurry in the prettiest possible way, don’t you think?

Posted in Philadelphia children's photography, randomshoots

no comments

add a comment

09.10.09

WAITING FOR PORTRAITS – ambler photography

I’ve made a habit of posting previews to the blog within 24 hours for clients, but I’ve never understood the sheer, complete, and exquisite torture that waiting those 24 hours entails. Until now. Until I had my own session with Dana of Bamboo Photography — see her family here — and it was SHEER AND COMPLETE AGONY TO WAIT SO LONG.

But the best part? The images were SO worth the wait. Dana perfectly captures Matt’s Type A-ness and my Type ___ (what’s the free-spirited, happy-go-lucky, mellow mellow kind?) personality. You can actually SEE him smiling back at me, but in his soft soft way that I adore so very much.

I love my husband. He loves me. We have adventures together. And to have that captured at this very moment? I now understand why you all cry, jump up and down, send chocolates, and/or insist on showering me with thank you notes when I get it right. Because I want to bake Dana a pie right now. If you want to see my session with the MattMatt — go see ‘em.

Posted in kristen tells all, neat stuff

show hide 1 comment

add a comment

09.09.09

INJURY – norristown child photography

Thanks for all your kind words about the loft/gallery/First Friday opening on last weekend! I really enjoyed lovin’ up on kiddos, showing parents just how gorgeous their children are, and laughing right along with you at my favorite images. The image below made it onto the wall, which I will be showing off later in the week.

It was a hot day in Norristown, and I begged to go outside and play. Just for a minute. Of course, in that minute, injury occurred, and a bag of cranberries was enlisted to help de-puff-ify the resulting booboo. I know it was born of misery, but I absolutely adore this Mama-holding-bottle-and-booboo image.