Family Portraits

Who are Mini Sessions right for? Utah Family

August 24, 2022 by tayneemillerphotography@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Have you been wondering if a mini session is right for you??

The number one question I get asked as a family photographer in Utah is do you offer Mini sessions. I have great news, I do offer them a few times a year, and you are in luck that I am now booking for Utah and California. On my last post I have written out what dates and where!

If you have little kids, want just a handful of images, then a mini session is for you. If you are hoping for a more elongated experience and candid adventure then I would recommend doing a full session.

Who is a mini session best for?

Now that I have moved to Utah and typically only do mini sessions in California, this outlines who this session would be best for:

Families with children who are older school aged and cooperative
Maternity session who is pregnant with their first child
Families who have no preference on a location
Any clients who have already shot with me and know my style
A small family with children who are not shy and will cooperate
Milestone photos

I hope to see you soon!

Mini Session 2022 | Utah and California

August 10, 2022 by tayneemillerphotography@gmail.com Leave a Comment

How to prepare for your photo session

June 16, 2022 by tayneemillerphotography@gmail.com Leave a Comment

Sometimes the hardest part can be finding someone and committing and hiring them! At this point, you have now found me, and I am so excited to show you how to prepare for your photo session and then photograph your session! Now let’s get down to business! I’m going to walk you step by step through the entire process. This really is such an exciting time for you but also can feel stressful and overwhelming, so I want to help take this off your shoulders.

Here we go!

WHAT TO EXPECT

Nervousness: I know you are thinking that you are worried will everyones outfits look okay, will you look okay that day, will everyone be smiling and doing what they are supposed to do?? This is where I say trust the process and ME! I have done this so many times and I know exactly how to get the people in your session engaged and involved. The more we let our family feel our nerves, the more they will be nervous and potentially act out. I will help get their attention and keep them on track and make sure I get beautiful images while I am at it.

In general, try your best to treat it like any other time. That is the best way for me to get candid shots of your family. The more relaxed you are and the more you can be yourselves, the more you’ll love the photos. I will mix up posing and prompts, so don’t feel like you have to come with any of those ideas. I will be your idea factory that day so you can relax!

Fun: Do your very best to treat this as a fun activity. If we go into something stressed, others can feel it, so remember to have fun and just really lean into the session!

WHAT TO DO AHEAD OF TIME

Choose a location: I have a list of spots I love, but also am open to hearing if there is a spot you want! I am always open to doing the shoot at your home also if that is something important to you!

Pick a date: Do you want a fall session or summer session? Do you want to make sure you can have enough time to send cards/invitations out at a certain time. This will all be critical information to decide on, so that you have plenty of time to get the images back from me to use.

Pick a time: As a photographer, I will always recommend doing it at a time that is best for the light! Keep in mind how much time you will need to get everyone ready, get them to the location, and then give us at least an hour for your session!

Communicate: I will give you a beautiful session, but if there is something you are hoping for, please tell me so that I can make sure we achieve that for you!

Prep your outfits: Don’t wait til the day of your shoot to pick your looks! Start thinking now of coordinating outfits, get them ordered and planned, and then get them prepped for the session by ironing them or steaming them ahead of time!

Prep yourself and family: Make sure to get hair cuts a few days in advance and start practicing how you will do your hair or book an appointment to get your hair and makeup done! It’s a fun way to treat yourself also!

WHAT TO WEAR

What to wear and how to coordinate: The most important thing is to feel comfortable and happy in what you are wearing. If you feel beautiful it will shine through. Also think classic styling so that in years to come you love them just as much!

Be yourself: Don’t dress totally out of your normal style, find a style you love and know you will look back in and feel confident and happy!

Color: I always love more jewel tones or softer neutrals for your session! This is huge that everyone is in a similar color wheel so that everyone can coordinate color wise!

How to coordinate: Don’t match too closely so that it will all balance the photos. Go for complimentary colors, patterns so that it all flows nicely!

I have a whole post here dedicated to what to wear! Make sure to check that out!

This whole process can feel overwhelming but I promise you once you are there it will be amazing! I can’t wait to get to meet you and photograph your session!

Desmond First Birthday Session | Utah

June 6, 2022 by tayneemillerphotography@gmail.com Leave a Comment

The first birthday session is a great time to capture your child’s growth and changes, which is why I love this type of session and all the changes they make! From their physical features to their mobility, it’s like they are a completely different child from only a few months ago. Getting those first birthday photos are so important because it’s a milestone of being so tiny and helpless to gaining independence and seeing their growth!

Location

There will always be photographers in every price range, but this first birthday session is so important to hire someone who is your style and aesthetic. You want to find someone who will be able to reach your baby and really pull out their personality, someone with experience who knows how to capture little ones that you can remember forever.

When you are planning out a baby’s first year pictures, it is important to think about what you really want remembered. Do you want to have a separate shoot for the party or just one of the baby and some images of the baby eating their first cake? I will always recommend having both photographed because they only turn one once.

For the baby photos, I highly recommend doing a studio shoot, especially because you can do it year-round. Babies tend to also be in a much happier mood in the mornings, which is great because you’re not battling against harsh light in a morning outdoor shoot!

If you do decide to do an outdoor shoot, I highly recommend doing it when the sun is not at its highest. The prime time for great outdoor photos is around 4-6 pm.

Regardless of where you do the shoot, it’s very important to eliminate distractions so the baby can focus on the shoot and the camera and not anything else. This goes for toys, but also things like dirt or grass that might cause them discomfort, which will create a distraction.

Backgrounds

My personal preference is a clean background, such as a white studio. It allows you to capture the tiny details of the little one and a simple background eliminates distractions.

When you are seeking out photographers for this session, look specifically in each photographer’s galleries for images like the ones you want (e.g., indoor vs. outdoor, white studio vs. darker studio, etc.). Do they follow the same aesthetic and style that you like, are the photos translating into images you can imagine your one year old in?

If you decide you do want to do a studio for your baby’s first birthday photos, I can help you find and book a great space.

This session was so fun to do. I was so glad that I connected so much with Desmond’s parents and that we had the same vision. I knew from the start I was a great fit for them.

Theme, Props, and Decorations

When preparing for your shoot, you don’t need a ton: a banner, a cake stand, some balloons, and a simple little outfit goes a long way

Not all first birthday photo shoots need to have an elaborate theme. Instead, you can keep it minimal and sweet to get fantastic images.

Outfits

When picking your baby’s outfit for the shoot, think of simple and soft colors. I love a little linen outfit or a little romper for a girl. You can get an outfit that shows they are turning one, but this is not necessarily required where the decorations can achieve this effect as well.

I would bring at least 2 outfits for the shoot: one for the nice and clean images to hang in your home and then one the baby can use for their cake smash photos.

A great time to do a baby’s one year photos could also be combined with your family pictures. If you combine the shoots, plan coordinating outfits for the whole family. It’s best to keep things simple and classic.

If you do a cake smash, remember that the outfit will get dirty. I would recommend staying away from any heirloom outfits or anything you don’t want ruined.

Timing

When you are preparing for your shoot, you want to be sure you plan around the baby’s nap time. You want them to be in the best mood possible. Bring snacks that your baby loves, music, a favorite toy, whatever is going to help get their attention and keep them happiest and motivated!

Alejandra maternity session | Salt Lake City

May 22, 2022 by tayneemillerphotography@gmail.com Leave a Comment

I might be biased, but this maternity session was absolutely perfect.

It was their first baby, first time together as they enter into these roles of parenthood. I was so happy I as able ot capture these last moments with each other before their whole lives changed! It truly was total perfection.

This gorgeous mama was such a joy to work with. She trusted me with making sure we got beautiful images for her keepsake and they both were such good sports at the maternity session.

I truly am so glad I was able to photograph these two as they entered into parenthood for their maternity session!

Jessi Reed Senior Portrait Session Utah

April 23, 2022 by tayneemillerphotography@gmail.com Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year for some senior portrait sessions! Senior sessions can be done any time of year depending on the seniors preference for photos and whether they want fall/spring. My favorite time to do Senior sessions is in the spring because of all the blooms that symbolize new beginnings. In Utah the weather seems to be just perfect in the spring and everything is green and blooming. It’s also nice to do them right before they graduate since so many kids seem to grow so much that senior year of school.

For senior portrait sessions, when picking your location you want to take into account seasons and also your own individual style. Honestly it really depends on the senior. Some seniors like more rustic areas while others like blooms or light and airy spaces. I think the space should reflect the seniors personality and style. Some of my favorite locations are the apple orchards when they are in bloom and the unique buildings downtown, which can be a little more fun and modern.

Sessions can last anywhere from 20 minute mini sessions up to two hours depending on how many outfits and locations you choose. I offer mini sessions and full packages. Full packages you can have up to two locations within 10 minutes of each other and two outfits. I also would take into account what you are going to use the images for. Do you need two looks or will one look be enough for what you need them for?

This senior session I did was so so fun. I absolutely love doing photos with Jessi! She went all out and booked her senior photos and prom photos on the same day. She also got to go shopping with her mom and got a weave especially for the occasion. What I loved about Jesse‘s session was that we did a little bit of the blooms at the Utah State Capitol and had fun light airy feel to her photos. They are clean and beautiful and got some great head shots. And then we went over to Gateway Mall and took photos with the murals and her guitar. I love the photos at gateway because it represented her personality and her likes perfectly. She wanted some pops of color some interesting murals and photos with her guitar. I love that she incorporated the guitar because that is one of her passions and somethings she loves to do. It was so fun listening to her play and get excited about the wall art take the gateway. This is a prime example of letting a senior guide what they love and want.