Pinterest - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly {Lansing Photographer, Michigan, Okemos Studio - children, family, senior portraits}

I'm sure you've all heard of Pinterest - the online bulletin board where you people can post helpful hints, recipes, decorating ideas, and of course, portrait ideas.  it's a great way to waste time, but feel good about the ideas you get - personally, we've tried a few new recipes that my family has enjoyed.
But, when Pinterest goes wrong, it can go very, very wrong.  My friends like to routinely post "Pinterest Fails" on my facebook page - of images that have inspired a parent to do a portrait, then they try to do it themselves, with disastrous results.
Take this image: How hard could that be, right?  Just put the baby on her belly while she's sleeping, and just snap away.  Well, what you don't see is that, if I recall correctly, I have a bean bag on my lap, one of my hands is underneath her bum, and the other is under her arm, trying to keep her head vertical.  And I'm not even the one taking the portrait!   The other photographer is squatting with her back against the wall, trying to capture just the right angle and expression.   SO Easy!!

So, Pinterest has its uses, its benefits and certainly can be very entertaining.  But, not everything should be a DIY project!

Now that that's been said - guess what!  We're on Pinterest!  We often get requests for clothing suggestions, outdoor ideas, etc., so we've created a few boards for inspiration.  It's a work in progress, but hopefully it will be a good source of information for a successful portrait session!  No Fails Here!   Follow us here:  http://www.pinterest.com/okemosstudio/    See you soon!

Why we do what we do {Children Photographer Okemos, Lansing, Senior Portraits}

Sometimes I have days where I say to myself "THIS is why I am in photography", which is what I thought when this little doll, J, came in on Friday with her grandmother and parents.  She is as an absolute delight!  Her smile reflects her personality - funny, sweet, and just oh, so precious!   We were so lucky to be able to spend that time with her - and create some images we're rather proud of. :-)

To make this experience even more special, her grandmother told me that she had her senior portraits done by us, and her father and son both had portraits by us - so J here was the 4th generation of the family to be in our studio.  The fourth.   She said when she wondered where to take J for her one year portraits, of course she thought of Okemos Studio!   She said it was great we were still here - and that's because of our quality.  I think she felt fortunate - when we were the ones to feel fortunate to have such an amazing time photographing this little girl.

THIS is why I do what I do.

Okemos Studio- "Making People Cry for over 50 Years" {Lansing Photography, Family, Child and Senior Portraits}

Ok, so maybe that's not the best slogan, but it's true.  In the past 2 days, I've had clients cry over their portraits.  First, on Tuesday, a mother got verklempt while watching the slideshow of her son's senior portraits.  (I won't use her name, so her son won't get embarrased.)  He's her oldest child, and she knows senior portraits are a right of passage.  Soon he'll be going to his last first day of school, his last Christmas dance, his last prom, etc.  And she got emotional - who can blame her?
And then today, another mom said the same thing - this is the last time her son will be professionally photographed until his wedding.  His wedding!  Which is too far off to even think about, but it's true.  And even then, he'll have someone else in all the photographs with him.  :-)   That's why these portraits are so important to her.  We did her older son's portraits a couple of years ago, and she says she still looks at his wall portrait every day.  It means that much to her.
And yesterday, when a longtime client, Jennie, picked up her daughter's senior portraits, she just lost it.  It was so cute.  And so meaningful.   Her daughter is her last senior.   This is the last time she'll pick up senior portraits!   This is the beginning of a whole year of 'lasts', and it's sad.  And it hit Jennie as she saw her portrait, framed and ready to go home, displayed on our wall.   This is it.
So, yes, we do make people cry.   But it's a good cry.  And it's because they're happy.  And that's pretty cool.   It's a privilege to know that we are making something that will be treasured forever.   Yay us.  And thank you to all the moms, dads, and seniors that choose our studio.  We're so happy you did.

Carrie, Lansing Catholic

Peter, Haslett

Owen, Okemos

A little girl in her mother's wedding dress. Adorable. [Okemos Studio - Lansing, MI Photographer - Children Portraits]

Giggles and curls,
ribbons and bow,
they're so adorable,
from their head to their toes-

Author Unknown

   How is this for an awesome idea - a little girl dressed up in her mother's wedding dress!  (thank you Pinterest for giving her mom the idea.)   Our little model here was quite happy to play dress up in such a fancy gown - posed like an angel - and then her personality came out in giggles and goofiness.   Perfect.

Catching that moment in time and in a box! [Okemos Studio, Children/Family, Photographer]

Diane was in the other day choosing her favorite images for her Box print.  She just loved the session and it was so much fun designing the piece for her wall.
But during the conversation, it became more than just making selections based on the best images, but also on what the images portrayed.   Diane was keenly aware that we have caught her family, her kids, in a moment in time.   She is hugging her teenage daughter (who is taller than she is) like she is her little girl.  Which she will always be.  Her pre-teen son is leaning on her in a way that he will probable object to when his is a big older.  She and her husband are together, showing their love, and giving their kids an image they'll always remember of Mom & Dad.
This whole conversation almost brought Diane and I to tears, as we talked about how fast our kids were growing and that high school (!) is on the horizon.
So, take that time, create that moment in time, for you and for your kids.  Set up a time for your family portrait.  You'll never regret it.