Tuesday Tips & Pics - Janelle & James Maternity Super Mini Session

My Tip for the week is super simple--don't waste an opportunity for a "mini session."  After I shot pics of my good friends Megan and Dave and their little one, Madyson, in the back yard of her 10th birthday party, and got some really cute shots from it, I realized that you don't always need to set up time for a full on portrait session.

My cousin Janelle, is stunningly beautiful, and ever since becoming pregnant I knew I would love to photograph her.  But she lives a couple hours away from me, and our families don't get together any more as often as we'd like, and frankly there was no way we'd ever manage to work out a time for a maternity session.  So instead, when at her baby shower this weekend, with tons of family around, I waited until the light got nice and I pulled her and husband aside for a few minutes.  I mean literally, less than 10 minutes.  Which brings me to my second tip shoot with purpose! I didn't gave time to just shoot away, so I quickly posed them, got a shot, and moved to something else.

If you shoot with purpose--concentrate on your light, exposure, composition, poses--you can get great shots in a very short amount of time.  I was very pleased with my results from this super short mini session (in the middle of her baby shower!)



These next two are my favorites. Isn't she beautiful???   

I'm leaving tomorrow for 12 days! Will be going to Canada for a week and a few days in Portland and Seattle.  I'm so excited to be getting away and taking lots of pictures of the beautiful Pacific Northwest! I will have limited internet access but will try to keep up with everyone's entries this week, and HOPEFULLY will have internet access to post for Tuesday Tips & Pics next week!