by Amy | Dec 1, 2015 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Hi all–
I hope you had a very merry Thanksgiving and are gearing up for a very happy Christmas…wait–did I get that backwards? Things of all kinds seem to be upside down and backwards right now. The first of the winter holidays passed by in a blissful, pie-filled blur…my house is in that awkward teenage stage between fall decor and winter wonderland…I’m slowing down in the work department as I attempt to start tying up lose ends in Practically Canada before a move this spring…as usual, I’m pining to start a few new projects and I’m longing to write more….add it all up, and I’d say 2015 is coming to a fun-filled, mind rattling close.
Not to complain. I really truly love this time of year. {Cold winds and plastic on windows included.} I like the process of winterizing the yard, stocking up on canned apple butter, kicking myself for not starting to craft up a gift storm sooner and even the satisfaction of a freshly shoveled–or snow blown–driveway. It’s all pretty great. Minus the windchill. {Get it…MINUS the wind chill?? Because it’s usually in the negatives…Okay, so that one was a stretch.}
By far, one of my very favorite parts of this season–not including parties that allow me to wear a fancy dress and my once-a-year-dressy coat–or watching White Christmas and quoting nearly all of the lines–is taking Christmas photos. I’ve always loved creating a fun photo for Christmas. Yes, they are nearly always staged. No, this probably isn’t Derek’s favorite part of the season. Yes, I think they are adorable. Yes, the only thing that has made it better is that for the past three years I’ve been able to share the set with others.
So in the days leading up to Thanksgiving I wrapped giant boxes and tracked down a Charlie Brown tree {thanks TC Nursery!!}. I pulled the sled out of storage and stressed over what wrapping paper patters would look best with which ribbon. It’s all leading up to this weekend’s Christmas mini session extravaganza! And Derek–who truly proves himself to be my BFF and a selfless, loving husband over and over–not only tolerated the madness of our home, but loaded it all in the car on Sunday when we went to take some sample shots. {Because I wasn’t sure I’d made enough props…in case you’re wondering…there’s plenty.}
Here’s what we got.
We only posed with the fire truck because the other car is privately owned, and I’m already asking quite a bit to be borrowing it for two days next weekend. And really, if I had another car in the mix we would have been there all day! I am so pleased with the final result. I think these are so much fun and can’t wait to see what adorable things will happen this weekend.
Wondering what to wear for your Christmas photo this year? Remember to take a look at this list of tips–or this one from last year.
Amy
by Amy | Nov 20, 2015 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
I’ve had lots of you asking for Christmas Card outfit tips! Be sure to check out the list I posted last year. But if that’s not enough…I’ve come up with 9 more tips for looking positively awesome on this year’s card. Most of the gorgeous photos in the list below aren’t mine. Click the image for the source. I had a blast looking through so many stunning images from fabulously talented photographers all over the web.
1. Layers
Christmas is in the winter. So unless you live in a warm place, or are trying to do a warm-wishes theme for your Christmas photo–I advise dressing appropriately for the season. Layers are a great way to give your photos the feel of winter without stating the obvious with outerwear and accessories {more on those things in a bit.}
Layers also give you the opportunity to incorporate color and texture into your photographs in a low key, intimidating way. A neutral cardigan easily tones down a bright color. A collared shirt under a sweater instantly brings class to an otherwise rowdy boy. Layers can also give you something to do with your hands…hold the scarf, put a hand in a pocket, rest your fingers along your lapel.
2. There’s a wide variety of neutrals
My basic rule for photos is this: be neutral. You’ll never go wrong if you keep your whole family in a neutral zone. But sometimes we can get stuck thinking that neutral only means black, white, brown and gray. While those are neutrals, there is practically a rainbow of other neutrals that you can use. An easy formula is to anchor your clothing in those mainstay neutrals, then add in one of these other color-neutrals. And even if you opt for all gray, brown, oatmeal, and tan…you still don’t have to look boring! Neutrals are awesome and timeless.
Blue is a very neutral base. This is why just about everything looks good with jeans. Blue rarely clashes, looks good with every skin tone and is always a safe choice for photos. Just stick to soft, light, and denim shades and steer clear of anything vibrant that will steal the show.
Other neutrals you can use include yellow, green, and every shade of brown known to man kind. Like with the blues, keep your color choices on the muted, dull side and away from bright, neon and vibrant. You can mix all the neutrals I’ve mentioned here {and I’m sure there are more that I forgot} or just use one of the more colorful neutrals in your photos. Totally up to you.
3. Thread a color or pattern
If you want to go a little bolder add some brighter color. This is a way your family can look unified without looking uniformed. And no one wants to look uniformed in their Christmas portraits. Red is a classic Christmas color to weave through your images…but you can do it with any color under the sun, or with a similar patter–for instance adding bits of plaid or stripes throughout your clothing….just don’t over do it because you start to clash.
Keep in mind that the color doens’t all have to be in the same place on each person. This idea board does a good job of showing how mustard can run through everyone’s clothing without being uniformed.
4. Outerwear
I loooove this image. Love it! I could only find it on Pinterest…and the original source is a little foggy. It may have been original to Matt Clayton Photography–but the site says it no longer exists there. At any rate, this is an awesome photo taken by a talented photog.
These folks are nailing the outerwear thing. The key is creating photo-pretty outerwear. Don’t dress exactly how you would for a day of sledding or a long time outdoors. You won’t need your ski mask and snow pants. Instead, use elements of outerwear to accessorize your outfit. It’s not too hard. I promise. For instance, instead of pulling your scarf over your nose and zipping your coat up to your chin (which hides both your gorgeous face and your cute outfit underneath)–leave your scarf loose and your jacket unzipped. Instead of putting a hat on and pulling your hood up for a lot of warmth, only do one or the other.
The other tip I have for outerwear is to remember that Christmas photos aren’t necessarily realistic. You’ll only be outside for a short time–so adding just a splash of outerwear (like boots, hats, gloves or vests) over your outfit gives the impression of Christmasy-wintery vibes without taking the parka thing too far.
5. Accessories
Accessories are a fun way to winter up your Christmas photos. I’m a big fan of adding hats, scarves, mittens and ear muffs to your outfit. It’s pretty much the only time of year that this kind of accessorizing is appropriate. And if you are wanting a nice, cozy look–you’ll never go wrong with boots! {Just keep in mind that not all boots are created equal. Classic snow boots, riding boots and work boots look great in photos…but the marshmallowy kind with cartoon characters on the side look a little tacky.}
6. Dogs
Lots of my clients bring their pups to the family Christmas session. If you bring your dog…and if your dog {or cat} will tolerate it, I highly suggest adding some Christmas cheer to their attire as well. {See the dog in #4}.
7. Babies
Since our sessions will be outdoors this year–I suggest bundling your baby up well. I will never insist that you compromise safety for a good photo. And besides…this is the one season and the one age in your child’s life that they can pull off wearing a fuzzy snow suit in the family portraits. If weather isn’t a concern, I suggest snug fitting clothes that won’t bunch up or cover your little one’s face when held or if they slouch down.
{Charleen C Photography}
8. Fabric choices
Choosing warm, textured fabrics will give your photos a cozy look. You’ll never go wrong choosing flannel for your Christmas photos. Chunky knits, nubby sweaters, and other fabrics with texture will add interest and dimension to your images.
9. Going classy
This year is a great time to take your photos to a classy place. Since we will be using vintage cars–we’ll have a nice, classy background too! Some times it’s fun to dress up and Christmas is a great time to do it. If you decide to go classy with your photos basically anything you wear will look great. Just make sure your whole family is committed to the same level of dressy {we don’t want one in a ball gown and the other in a sun dress}. Add some jewelry or a nice coat for a special touch.
by Amy | Nov 10, 2015 | Blog, The Art of Gathering, The Art of the Moment
Okay. So you know that part in the movie Mean Girls where they are all in the gym and they confess their secrets and do a trust fall? It’s very girl powery and the crowd of high school junior girls catches each other girl as she does a trust fall off of the stage. {Well except for that one that just confesses that she’s popular.} That’s kind of what this year’s Christmas card sessions are going to be like.
Follow me here.
It’s a bit of a trust fall. I don’t have a sample photo ready to show you–like in years past. There’s no cute, quirky photo of me in funky winter clothes or Derek and me wrapped in lights. You just have to trust me. But I give you a pinky promise that I won’t let you fall onto a hard gym floor. I’ll catch you and your images will be awesome. Here’s what I’ve got in mind.
A vintage car. Decked out in holiday gear. Packed with oversized, colorfully wrapped gift boxes. The retro sled. A Christmas tree. Here’s the inspiration I’m working with. {You can go to the original source by clicking the images.}
Now. You might be wondering if I can really pull this off. The answer, of course…is yes. While working on the Monster Mash {another giant pull off} I got a contact number for a local vintage car collector. Yesterday, he toured me around his stash which included about 30 restored vehicles. Everything from 20’s trucks to 50’s Studebakers to 70’s Pacers. I was shocked–and giddy.
I finally narrowed down the selection and here’s what we’ll be working with. First of all–a vintage fire truck, housed by the Ward County Historical Museum. I’ll fill the back with boxes and bedazzle it with holiday cheer. Like I said–you need to trust me here. These phone photos don’t do it justice.
Second….we’ll have one of these snazzy cars. I’m really torn and just can’t decide between the precious Studebaker Cruiser {minty green in the top left spot}–or the 1949 Hudson {in the bottom two images.} If you’ve got an opinion shout it out!
Here’s a better idea of what these cute cars look like when they aren’t in a garage or taken on a shaky phone.
Yes. You read all that correctly. You’ll have a choice of 2–count ’em TWO vintage car sets. The red fire truck–and either the black or mint car. Now that you know what I’m thinking…let’s get to the nitty gritty.
I’m crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to do a test shoot over Thanksgiving weekend. It’ll be a dry run so everything is perfect for you the following weekend. Stay tuned to see those images.
Mini sessions are just $50. You get a 15-20 minute sessions and 5 images. Your images will be delivered digitally and you’ll have the printing rights to them. Times open run from 11am-4pm on December 5th and 12-4 on December 6th. I’m limiting availability to 20 sessions. Your family can choose one of the two sets–or you can book two sessions to use both. Sessions will be outdoors {it’s an El Nino year!}–so keep your fingers crossed for good weather. If the weather is just plain poopy–we’ll reschedule. Sessions will happen at the Ward County Historical Museum–on the grounds of the ND State Fair. Your photos will be back to you by December 9th.
Make sense? Have questions? Wanna book? Get in touch. Send me a Facebook message. Or call me {574-361-7268}. And just for good measure–let’s remember how adorable the last two years’ images have been.
Amy
by Amy | Nov 5, 2015 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
The is the Oase family. When we booked their session months ago–I never in my wildest dreams thought we’d have an evening so beautiful, so late in October. I figured it was a gamble at best. I figured we’d be fighting a biting wind and flurries. But, happily–I was wrong.
Despite the date, the weather behaved beautifully. In my few years in Practically Canada, I’ve never seen a nicer fall. It’s really been ideal. Perfect for a good crop of fall family photos. So while our evening together was a little chilly…our biggest challenge came from getting this adorable little one to crack a smile! And that’s a challenge I’ll happily accept. {But let’s face it…with cheeks like those even a perfectly neutral face is simply sublime. Isn’t she precious?!}
Lucky for me they came equipped. Between wagon rides and tosses in the air and kisses from her puppy–eventually we caught some really adorable images. See?
I’m so glad I was able to get to know this sweet crowd. Thank you for choosing me to capture the art of these precious moments!
Amy
by Amy | Oct 13, 2015 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Everybody…say “Hi,” to Lilly. We shot her fall senior photos just over a week ago. For those of you in Practically Canada, it was the same day as the Norsk Hostfest–cold, chilly, ending in icy rain. We almost cancelled. Almost. The rain held off until the end of the shoot, and even then we powered through for “Just one more shot…” {I think that’s a lie all photographers tell at one point or another.}
But honestly, with golden fall colors leaking out of every nook and cranny in the landscape and a senior who is as fun and adorable as Lilly–why wouldn’t we press on? I had so much fun getting to know this one who–at the beginning of her session told me she’d never had her photo taken before, not professionally. It was absolutely lovely to spend time with her, her mother and sister. Between takes she may have been wrapped up in a blanket, but these are some of the warm-fuzziest fall images I’ve taken to date.
I get asked all the time, “What kind of clothes should I wear to my session?” If you are wondering that…book mark this page. Lilly totally nailed it in the wardrobe department. From the vintage pieces her sister told me she picked up in Kansas City {so cool!} to the Target boots they, “Just picked up on the way to the session,” her look is perfect for senior picture day–especially for fall senior photos. Classy, modest, in style without being overly trendy, enough accessories to look special but not over done–and most of all she looked comfortable and natural. I love it!
After these photos in the red blazer {I want this outfit so badly} the weather started to take a turn. Little drops of rain began to fall, the wind picked up and it got colder. The way this gal could control her face and look so beautiful with wind-blown hair and ice cold hands–it floored me. I’m so glad we went out to the country and got these shots–despite the weather. I love the look of the wind in her skirt and how you can see some rain drops on the fabric. It’s all very magaziney.
I think she was glad to put on a cozy flannel shirt after those photos!
Congratulations to Lilly on her senior year! Thanks for choosing me to capture this special season in your life!
Amy
by Amy | Oct 5, 2015 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
This is Abbe. As you can see she’s graduating in 2016 and she’s the first of a crop of fall senior sessions I’ve got coming up. We had a gorgeous evening for shooting…which I think was appropriate for this gorgeous girl…with gorgeous hair {that looks a lot like Taylor Swift’s, if you ask me.}
Anyway–enjoy a short look at some of my favorite shots from her session and congratulations to Abbe on her last year of High School!
And…as a special bonus we snapped a few images of Abbe’s big sister as well. Two beauties in one night–so fun!
See you tomorrow,
Amy
by Amy | Oct 2, 2015 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
I know. I know. It’s been like a million years since I last posted. Going for long periods of time without posting used to really stress me out. But I’ll be honest. I think I needed some time away. A period of time where I’m not typing things into the abyss of the Internet for all to see. A period of time that gave me a chance to see what’s next. So instead of the usual stress that would come from a long absence from the site…instead, I’m feeling refreshed and encouraged.
I had gotten some negative kickback from my blog a while back–and it all caused me to stop and think about what I was doing. I thought about stopping the blog altogether…or just writing about work {which is pretty much what I did over the summer.} But at the end of the day, I like writing. And I like you. And although I’ve sparsely been posting, I’ve continued to receive lovely comments and followers and requests to repost my content around the web. It’s been very encouraging. I’ve asked the Lord if I should put the blog away for good–and these things have led me to believe that I’m supposed to stay here and share. {Which I really do like doing.}
God continues to gift me a passion for sharing life with those around me. Maybe the way I share it will change in the coming months {and to be honest, I’d be okay with that.} For now, though…I’d like to come back. After all, I never finished telling you about the basement. I’ve got things scheduled out…and you’ll have the full B&A by next Friday. So…yeah. It’s pretty amazing. So be ready.
The senior season has come to a close. Almost. I’ve got a few stragglers left on my desk and planner, but for the most part, those gorgeous, fresh faces have all smiled pretty and will be submitting their images to the yearbook staff in a few short weeks. Summer also gave me an opportunity to photograph lots of fun {and large} families–which was a neat challenge. I made my annual pilgrimage to the Dells, went to summer camp for grown ups, helped prepare giant meals at a summer camp for kids, face painted, danced to For King & Country, met the world’s cutest baby {my niece}, finished the basement, over came my fear of sparklers, and finally did my very own sunflower mini session. It was a great summer. Maybe I’ll tell you more about it sometime.
Tonight…I wanted to show you my favorite shot of all the folks I photographed this summer season. Well…okay. One of my favorite shots. I have lots of favorites from every session. But here they are. Just look at those gorgeous faces. And heck, maybe this rundown will give you some summer photo ideas of your own.
1. Caleb–a secret Super Man…who didn’t laugh at most of my jokes…but did smile on command and test my ability for naming baseball references in movies.
2. Kylee–those eyes!! And the fun we had with her entourage of friends…and the awkward mix up in the parking lot.
3. Maddie and those haunting photos in the ghost town of Balfour. I loved exploring creepy places with Maddie and her mom.
4. Mikaela–I loved this moment when her family was standing off to the side, blowing bubbles, trying not to fall in the river. It was so fun to have the family involved! And…side note…she’s the closest thing to a real model I’ve ever shot–girl knows how to pose.
5. Cassie–the hottest senior of the season. Temps were about 100 ˚ during her session and she still made it look good.
6. Sylvia–and her best friend. Gorgeous, golden hour photos in rustic places out in the North Dakota country side. This was a seriously great evening.
7. Erin–totally worked a formal gown on the farm. She’s one of the most versatile girls I’ve ever photographed. Beautiful in a gown…or holding her shot gun.
8. Ethan–I love this image. He has such a wise personality and I think you can see that on his face here.
9. Sydney‘s session fell perfectly with the canola crop. Sunset in the yellow fields is a magical thing I’ll always remember.
1. Anne and Jay told me that don’t consider themselves to be photogenic. Images from their engagement session argue otherwise.
2. These brothers were wild and crazy–at lease the younger ones, but they sure made for an entertaining evening.
3. I never blogged it, because it was hush hush for a while…but I was totally in on an engagement surprise! So special!
4. The Anderson‘s invited me to their farm for photo day. Such a gorgeous home and a lovely family…even if the toddler had to be bribed to smile.
5. One of three family reunions I shot–these cousins were zany and I liked it.
6. While the ladies of the family were being photographed, the coolest kid of the season was just sippin’ a Capri Sun.
7. Another group of cousins. A gaggle of boys and only one girl! They were a challenge to keep still, but getting to know this clan was a hoot!
8. The Winninghams were photographed out at the trestle shortly before moving away from Practically Canada. I loved the challenge of shooting an anti-smile teen. {But I think in the end he had fun.}
9. How cute are Molly and Craig? I’m so glad I was able to squeeze this little session at the last minute!
10. I’m pretty sure Haley and Jay have one of the cutest little girls on the planet. She was all smiles and giggles!
11. Charlie was mostly interested in the trucks on the road during his session and used baby sign language to say “more” when they passed. More! More!
12. The Rodgers‘ annual session was a hoot as usual. I loved the cool, blue tones on their clothes.
13. This summer also brought about Ann and Jay’s wedding. Their big day was a perfect picture of love and God’s adoptive character for us! Such a precious family.
14. What an honor to celebrate Maddie’s birthday with her. She got a photo session all to herself–no brothers or sisters allowed. Only giggles and tutus here.
15. Three generations of godly women gathered on a very hot evening for some photographs in the sunflower fields–such an honor to capture this season in life for them.
I hope you’ve had a great summer too. Thanks for being here.
xo
Amy
by Amy | Sep 9, 2015 | Blog, The Art of the Moment
Meet Erin. Isnt’ she gorgeous? She’s really amazing. The kind of girl lots of girls want to be…but very rarely can pull off. Absolutely stunning in a formal gown on her grandparent’s ranch–in the wheat field…WOW–and later, totally hard core when she showed off her camo and shot gun. This session was crazy fun and impeccably styled…thanks to Erin’s vision and super awesome props brought along by her aunt.
And speaking of the aunt…have you Practically Canadians heard of the Granville Junkaholics? If not–you should totally look into it. It’s shabby chic at it’s finest and most fun. I am so very happy to have had a Junkaholic along on the shoot to lend props, help pose and cast vision. {Some of the items you see in the session will be on sale at their fall sale!} She also gave Erin the friendly reminder, “A real smile, Erin!” I also own a big thanks to Erin’s mom and sister…who provided genuine giggles from the star of the shoot and help with poses and fly-away hairs.
It was hard to narrow down the shots I wanted to show you here–but here are a few {ok, lots more than a few} of my favorites. I like to call them country chic senior photos, but you can just call them awesome.
Can we talk for just a second about this dress?! Let’s just say she’s lucky I didn’t swipe it after the session. I. Love. This. Outfit!
Yikes! It’s two of my favorite things: Pets and vintage cars! Together it’s almost more than I can take. I am trying hard not to squeal as I write this {because my own precious Panda Cat is snoozing and I don’t want to disturb her} because it’s just so perfect. This teal truck reminds me of the aqua truck from Savannah’s session a few summers ago.
See what I mean? Pretty and tough. I love this. Erin truly is a girl after my own heart–adventurous, outdoorsy, awesome. I’m so glad we got to spend the evening together and I hope she has the most amazing senior year ever!
Amy
