Location Series // Part 4: The Studio with Angelsea Urban
“Where should I have my session?” is one of the top questions I hear from clients. I am thrilled to be part of this planning process and love when clients put great thought into their portrait sessions. Since transitioning from wedding and portrait photography to exclusively working with portrait clients, it’s become my mission for families to have an amazing experience just as important as their wedding. People will often plan for months for weddings and put forth great effort to that special day, and it’s a goal of mine to have your Family Portrait Experience be as significant as your wedding portraits.
Redefining the Family Portrait Experience is about being intentional with your portrait session as much as your creating your final portraits. Through the Story of Family Experience we spend a great deal of effort carefully choosing location, attire, and hair style, but also spending ample time preparing your heart just as much with a series of activities that we will discuss in detail during your consultation.
I am thrilled to wrap up this location series in showing examples of each of the most requested locations for you to have your portrait session.
Part 1 of this series explained the differences of photographing clients at The Beach during the day verses evening. You can read Part 1 – The Beach post here. While Part 2 went over some differences when photographing clients at The Park, looking at Golden Hour vs. Daytime and Spring vs. Summer. You can read Part 2: The Park post here. Last week we compared the locations of ANYWHERE, meaning it could be a backyard or parking garage, to SOMEWHERE special, a place that hold deep meaning. You can read Part 3: Anywhere or Somewhere Special here.
Today we’ll be looking at the differences of being photographed in the Barnegat Studio.
To recap – here are some of the things that I like to take into consideration when talking to clients about where they should be photographed.
When you choose a piece of art for your walls, whether it be a painting or frame or tapestry, you are careful to be sure the textures, colors, and sizes will conform to your personal taste in your home. All the more reason to carefully plan the same for your custom family portraits.
“Where should we go for the photoshoot?” is always an important question when planning your experience. Ideas such as the beach or the park are wonderful, but my goal with this blog series is to show the subtle differences in common locations so that you can choose a location that works perfectly for your family photography experience.
Key questions to ask yourself:
1. Where will these portraits be displayed?
Will they be in the family room? What color is the room? What style is it? Rustic? Cottage? Industrial? The purpose behind capturing the photos should be for intentionally cultivating the relationships and preserving them through photography, but they are ultimately meant for display, so thinking about where they will be showcased is a key component.
I recently had a client execute this in the most perfect way. They have a sea glass green colored casual family room where they envisioned their family portraits to one day hang. We planned their session at the beach, earlier in the day to get the correct colors. When they received their final product order, including a series of large canvases, they blended perfectly into their room, picking up the colors from the sand and ocean, matching the walls, curtains, decorative bottles and sailboats.
2. Is there a place or activity that is special, sentimental or significant to the people that will be in the photographs?
Is your favorite family past time to go the beach? Do you spend every Sunday at the park? The boardwalk? And if so, do you want that location to have a voice in this event – or do you simply want to incorporate the colors or textures? Do you envision your children frolicking in the sand? Picking flowers? Throwing leaves?
You and your family will always be the focus and priority of the photography experience. The activities and memories shared during the session will be directly affected by the location you choose.
Newborn Portraits
The first collection of portraits below are from newborn sessions. I strongly feel that newborn portraits should be a family experience. Yes we can put your baby in a cocoon or in a vintage crate if that is what your heart desires, but years from now, that child will likely be more embarrassed by that picture than cherish it. We love the baby in the flower pot, it is adorable and we just want to pick them up and squish them. That one is for you to gush at. But those portraits are not cherished as much as the one looking into your child’s eyes. Or the two of you in an embrace. That is the photo your child will cherish as an adult. When Daddy held me like that. When my mother looked so young. We concentrate most of our session together on these portraits.
Newborns sessions can be tricky. They need a specific temperature, limited clothing to touch their skin, personal contact, low noise, white noise, heated blankets, etc. The benefit of having your newborn portrait session at the studio is all of these things are provided for you. You just roll out of bed in your foggy state and arrive and we take care of the rest. Even providing coffee and breakfast and if you have also reserved the Mother’s Pampering Package, then Hair & Makeup are also provided on site as well.
Individual Portraits at the Studio
These photographs are either requested for personal branding elements for a website or promotional material such as a head shots, or could be a classic individual portrait session. Artist Portraits, First birthday, Beauty & Makeover Portraits, or just because. I believe the story of an individual deservers as much attention as part of the entire family portrait experience, if not more. As someone’s daughter or son, or father, grandfather, their are many people who will cherish these classic individual portraits of you. You matter to so many.
The final result of the color collection is shown here, and in black and white below. All photographs created in the Barnegat Studio at the New Jersey Shore.
Thanks for visiting today!
To see PART 1 of this series, THE BEACH, click HERE.
To see PART 2 of this series, THE PARK, click HERE.
To see PART3 of this series, ANYWHERE or SOMEWHERE SPECIAL, click HERE.
Interested in booking a session for your family this summer? Be sure to contact us before spots are completely full! ONLY a LIMITED number of appointments left for summer!
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East Coast Fine Art Lifestyle Family Portrait Photographer Angelsea Urban
Angelsea Urban is a photographer and entrepreneur helping women use their creative gifts to nourish their homes and cultivate their businesses through practical stewardship. Her unique photography work focuses on Redefining the Family Portrait Experience by telling the story of family through personalized foundations while creating a space to strengthen family bonds throughout the experience. Angelsea has helped the careers of photographers, restaurateurs, musicians and general small business owners through teaching, workshops and consulting. Her ministry work focuses on fostering creative gifts in women entrepreneurs to prioritize family and discipleship. She has photographed for families, brides, Bravo TV, NFL Films, and more and has been featured on multiple blogs and magazine print for her work in photography and in business. Angelsea teaches and photographs the United States, and resides with her husband of 17 years, their two children, and their barely 3 pound Yorkie near Long Beach Island, New Jersey.
To book your session with Angelsea Urban, please visit www.angelseaurban.com
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