decorating with photos | 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. 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.

Category Archives: decorating with photos

Philadelphia children’s photographer Kristen Kalp shares simple tricks for decorating with photos of all kinds, from snapshots to portraits.

ENVISIONING YOUR HOME DECOR.

The number one thing you worry about when making a portrait purchase: How will this look in my home?

Luckily, our super-spiffy software helps make fabulous mock-ups into stunning portrait reality.

Posted in decorating with photos

no comments

add a comment

DO WHAT MAKES YOUR HEART HAPPY.

Choosing the images that will decorate your home can be difficult.

So often during a portrait ordering session, a client will be torn between a few of their favorite images. Which should become a wall portrait? Which images should end up in a session album? How do you choose the ‘best’ one?

Do what makes your heart happy.

Get the portrait of your child that makes your heart sing more than all the others, even if your Mother-in-law will disapprove of it. (And get it big, just because.) The same principle applies to images of your husband, your dog, your cat, your iguana, or your second cousin twice removed.

philly pet photographer - matt and hermione

This portrait of Matt and Hermione makes my heart happy.

Posted in decorating with photos

show hide 1 comment

add a comment

FEATHER YOUR NEST WITH POLAROIDS + PHOTOJOJO

Decorating with Polaroid photos can be a bit tricky. You’re producing photos instantly, but all those bordered prints can be a problem for decorating. Until you get Fotoclips! Fotoclips are the answer to your decorating-with-polaroid-woes!

First, find a cute subject and take Polaroid photos of him/her/it/your new curtains/the Ambler asbestos factory/etc…

Then, pick up some FotoClips from the Photojojo store. Marvel at the way they lock images of any kind together into a big mass of awesome! (4×6″ snapshots or those wallet-size class photos you don’t know what to do with will work just as well as Polaroids.)

Adhere to wall with poster mounting squares, which can be found at your local craft or department store. The display shown is mounted behind a door, so it needed to be flat. Photojojo’s Fotoclips provided a quick and easy decorating solution that can be changed up or out in just a few minutes. The project is expandable, so the next group of 4, 8, 12, or 16 Polaroids can be added easily!

Bastis hook (shown) available at Ikea.

Posted in decorating with photos

no comments

add a comment

DISPLAYING HOLIDAY CARDS WITH STYLE

It’s the age-old question: how do I display my holiday cards in an attractive way? There’s the old school tuck-it-into-a-wreath method, or the shove-it-into-the-crown-moulding-around-the-door method, and even the just-stick-them-to-the-refrigerator method.

May we suggest an alternative? Essential Imagery uses the Umbra Fotofalls to display our custom birth announcements and holiday cards. It never ceases to get a fabulous reaction. It keeps your cards tidy and gorgeous. It comes in various sizes. It’s oh-so-chic. Whether you receive 10 cards or 700 cards, you’re good to go. Buy the version below here, a slightly larger version here, and the largest version of all here.

When the holidays are over, these are perfect for displaying snapshots and artwork!

Posted in decorating with photos

show hide 1 comment

add a comment

DECORATING WITH PHOTOS: VINYL FRAMES

Frames don’t have to be made of wood or metal to be fabulous, and here’s proof!

Lots of Moms are completely overwhelmed by how many photos they have. On hard drives, in boxes, in those sleeves from the photo lab, stuffed into albums and drawers and…on other hard drives. Let’s go about about displaying the photos in a simple, sleek way.

First, grab a three-year-old (or child of your choice) and some photos. A few 4×6′s, 2 5×7′s, and an 8×10. Buy a StickR kit from Butch and Harold. It’s $19.95 for the set shown, which is available online. It arrives in super sleek, ultra thin packaging that looks more like an envelope than a bundle of frames!

Peel, stick the vinyl frames, and repeat as often as you’d like.

These frames are fun, bold, paint-friendly, and perfect for kids’ rooms.

Those pictures Julia takes of her dolls, her pets, and her shoes? Display them!

The photos from camp that make your heart melt? Pop a few onto the refrigerator.

Snapshots of the latest family vacation? Stick a few of these vinyl lovelies to the inside of your kitchen cabinets for an ambush of happiness.

A worksheet with mini-stickers of the frames comes for visualizing your creation, too. It was fun to play with the stickers, but I tried to be a bit more random and let the frames fall where they may. These bad boys reposition quite well. They leave no residue behind yet remain sticky enough to stay on the wall.

Be sure to thank any helpers for their assistance with your new home decor, and you’re done.

My job as a Philadelphia children’s photographer involves many activities. One of them is keeping Moms sane and decluttered whenever I possibly can — hope this helps!

Posted in decorating with photos

show hide 1 comment

add a comment