If you want a recipe for total chaos, I’ve got it! You only need three ingredients: 2 one-year-olds (preferably twins) and 1 large cake with frosting. Combine all ingredients in a large, open area and then stand back and watch…

I always have fun during Cake Smash shoots, but this was crazy hilarious. I don’t know how I would have handled it without mom Mindy and her mother as assistants. Corralling one set of messy hands and feet is nothing compared with two sets of frosting-covered hands and feet. They zig – you zag. Wow…

What I found really interesting was how they both approached the cake differently. Ava (in magenta) dove right in. No hesitation at all. Beatrice (in orange) was much more cautious. She definitely was not liking the thought of getting messy, and actually seemed a little disinterested at first. She eventually embraced the Smash, but still kept a ladylike grace about her.

I hope you enjoy the pics!  ~ Morgan

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My first session with the Weavers was last December and immediately became one of my favorite shoots. I loved the pictures so much that Chloë and Bennett have since been plastered all over my website and promotional material. Thankfully, they don’t mind 🙂

Needless to say, I was thrilled when their mom called me about taking some updated fall photos. These girls are gorgeous. The morning sun – and just a hint of wind – helped to make their already blonde hair look positively golden. I would show you every shot, but then it wouldn’t be a sneak peek 🙂

I hope you enjoy them – cheers!  ~ Morgan

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Erica May is helping you figure out how to dress your family. Your entire family. Enjoy!

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We have had a lot of questions lately on our new facebook page Wardrobe Wednesday {where fashion meets photography} lately on how to coordinate a group of 5 or more for pictures. It is definitely more challenging to coordinate a wardrobe for a larger group but it is possible!  I recently had my very own extended family session which was photographed by another Wardrobe Wednesday contributor, Lindsay Horn. I was in charge of coordinating my family’s wardrobe and the pressure was on to find us some great outfits! I am lucky in the fact that my mom and sister live close by so we could all go shopping together which helped but it would be possible to coordinate from a distance too. It is so worth it to take the time to coordinate your clothing. And try to stay away from all wearing the same color as it makes you all blend in together and it does not create any depth or interesting features. I doubt you all sit around in black t-shirts at your family gatherings so why wear it to a photo shoot? Here are a few key things to remember when trying to put your wardrobe together.

1.) Choose 3 or more colors to make up the color scheme. It is a lot harder for 5 or more people to not be too matchy when there are only two colors to choose from. For our group we chose Burgundy, Blue, Browns, and Denims. As you can see that leaves a lot of color choices for the group to pick from. Having everyone incorporate two or more colors makes the group look well rounded and pulled together.

2.) Layer, Layer, Layer!! Instead of everyone wearing a solid color shirt mix up the color by layering. This allows two people standing next to each other not to blend in and adds a lot of dimension to the photograph. Layers and textures can add a lot to the ensemble.

3.) If you can, choose a centerpiece. It is always easier to decorate a room when you have one colorful piece (whether it be artwork, a vase, a chair, etc…) and the same goes for photo shoots. In our instance we only had one child in the photo so we choose his outfit for the centerpiece. We bought him a colorful outfit and then pulled all of our colors from that. If you don’t have children in the photos you could always use a colorful scarf or jewelry to be your centerpiece.

4.) Dress the hardest people first. Women’s outfits are usually way harder to find than the guys shirts so dress all the women first. That way you can wait and see what colors you need to fill in and buy the guy’s shirts last. After we bought my mom’s outfit, we bought my sister’s outfit, and then we bought mine because I am the least picky about clothes =P.

5.) Don’t forget accessories! Belts, jewelry, shoes, and scarves are all great accessories for adding a splash of color that you might not be daring enough to wear all over.

6.) Have fun with it and try not to stress! Try not to wait till the last minute to do this either that way you are not stressed out and you have time to shop for bargains or hard to find items. You don’t have to spend a ton of money. Most of our clothes came from Kohls, Dillards, JcPenney, and Baby Gap.

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Shopping Guide (from left to right):

Only a description and store is provided on this Shopping Guide since items were purchased more than a month ago. Although you may not be able to find the same tops at these stores you can very easily find something similar.

My husband:
Brown Undershirt from Kohls
Denim Polo Shirt from JcPenney
Jeans from JcPenney

Me:
Brown sweater from Kohls
Burgundy Top from Eddie Bauer
Jeans from Kohls
Boots from DSW shoes warehouse

Dad:
Burgundy Shirt from JcPenney
Jeans

Mom:
Camel Cardigan and Navy tank from Coldwater Creek
Jeans from Coldwater Creek

Tristan (cute adorable little man):
Shirts: Baby Gap
Jeans: Baby Gap
Shoes: Cranberry Converse from footlocker.com

My beautiful sister:
Shirt and Belt from Dillards
Jeans

My Brother-in-law:
shirt from Kohls
Jeans

Ladies, I will warn you now. Reading this post may or may not result in you sitting in front of a computer screen for the next 20 minutes or so (at least).Is the post that long? No. But it does contain information about a certain feature on a certain website (I don’t want to give it away) that is awesome.

We can all thank Rebecca for her great advice and fun distraction:-)

 

sorry guys, but sometimes it IS all about the girls.  what’s that age-old saying?  “if momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!”  well, the same holds true when it comes to family photographs.  it’s a BIG event, and even though dad and the kids get to throw on their outfits and just make it to the car in the knick of time, mom has probably put countless hours planning, preparing, and pulling-off this well-orchestrated event.  and after it’s all over, who is the person who proofs, chooses, and orders the family photos?  probably mom!!  so, i think it’s only fitting that mom takes center stage when starting to coordinate the family wardrobe, and build everyone else’s outfits around her.  where to start, you say??

HHEELLLLOOOOOOO piperlime!!  you may remember piperlime from back in the day, when they first started out just selling shoes.  i LOVED getting boxes from them…it was like getting two gifts in one because they had the GREATEST packaging…and i am ALL about the details!  they had cool green boxes and tissue paper with little limes on it.  so cool!!  NOW, not only do they still do shoes, but they also have a fabulous selection of hip, stylish, and affordable clothing for women.  there is SO much to see on the piperlime site.  under the women’s section, there are “headlines” and “top trends” sections to keep you in-the-know for the latest seasonal fashions.  but, my absolute MOST favorite thing about piperlime, other than their FAB clothing/shoes/accessories, is the “style it your way” feature.  it can be a little tricky to find at first…you have to check out the scrolling colored bars at the top of the page, but it’s well worth the look!!  with the “style it your way” feature, you can choose from a variety of the latest tops, bottoms, outerwear, shoes, and accessories to create your very own outfit.  not only can you select your own model, you can even select the background that you would like to see your outfit paired with!!  having your family photo session in your home?  got it!  urban location?  done!  flowers/trees/grass?  yep!  AND…they even have a fall foliage background!!  BONUS!!
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even if you don’t find exactly what you want in the wardrobe selections, it’s an invaluable tool to see the outfit while getting ideas on color and textures.  fall is a great time to start layering your wardrobe and sometimes it can be a tricky process.  the “style it your way” feature lets you do that, and more!  tuck or untuck your jeans into your boots, tuck or untuck your shirt, open or close your jacket or cardigan…the possibilities are limitless!  after you whip up your wardrobe, you can save your “look” for future reference, and you can even share your “look” on facebook if you want feedback from your friends!  and since piperlime is owned by the same company as banana republic, gap, and old navy, their handy links are right at the top of the page, so you can head over to their stores to complete the outfits for your family!  so get going…after all, shopping for your family portrait session should be half of the fun! :)
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shopping guide:

dad
old navy blazer: $49.50
gap undershirt: $17.99
gap boot cut jeans: $64.50
gap leather belt: $34.50

sister
gap sweater: $36.50
old navy skirt: $16.50
cwd kids leggings: $20
piperlime naturino boots: $86

brother
old navy shirt: $14.50
old navy pants: $17.50
piperlime sketchers shoes: $38

 

No matter where you live, the weather is changing every day. Here in upstate New York,  the weather the past few days has ranged from the low 50s to the upper 80s with sun, rain and blowing wind.

With things so unpredictable, how do you figure out what to wear for your fall photos?

Flexibility. Layers. Coordinating looks.

You’re probably thinking, “That’s easier said than done!” Don’t worry, I’ve got it all figured out… with a little help from a new favorite store: Tea Collection.

Tea Collection, founded in San Francisco in 2002, offers children’s fashions with the tagline “For little citizens of the world.” They offer two labels: the signature, globally-inspired Collection, and their mix-and-match play clothes called Daily Tea. This season’s Collection is inspired by Old World Hungary, with Spain coming up next spring. Trust me, it’s really cute stuff.

I had a difficult time picking out the outfits below, but only because there were so many options! Most of the items pictured come in sizes for children 6 months to 11 years old, but babies and women (yes, us!) are also represented. As you can see, it’s easy to add a sweater or jacket on top, or leggings and tights on the bottom if the temperature drops. A few items – like the blue sweater, cuffed pants and shoes – are unisex. To make things even easier, Tea has created several “Daily Tea” mix-and-match sets (like a 6-piece coordinated set of three tops and three bottoms for $129) and their “Wear Now Layer Later” collections for girls. How brilliant is that!

Total flexibility mixed with one-stop shopping. What more can you ask for? I hope you have as much fun with it as we are.

 


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We never saw it coming…

On his first birthday, Cadence and his parents were excited to start the day with a Cake Smash.

Cake + Kid = Good Times. Right?

What no one saw coming was the defensive strike the cake had planned. You see, the second – and I mean the second – Cadence put his hands into the thick frosting, a GIANT glob shot like a missile into his eye. Immediate. Game over. Score one for the cake.

As a friend pointed out, I might have just given Cadence a temporary case of jophaboia – the fear of cake. That’s a real word, and somehow this is a real anxiety disorder (or at least according to Google). Cadence wailed like you wouldn’t believe every time he was placed near the thoughtfully created (and tasty) #1 birthday cake.

After trying to calm him, we all decided a short drive around the corner (he’ll forget this ever happened, right?) might do the trick. It worked! Cadence cheerfully came back and attacked the dessert like a 1-year-old normally does. Phew…

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When I got married I never thought about scheduling a bridal shoot before the big day. If I were to do it all over again, I’d definitely plan a day all for myself to try on the gown, practice my hair and makeup, and have FUN. Guest contributor Kristi Flower, of Kendalls Media, tells us everything you need to know about bridal portraits.

 

FIVE reasons every bride should have bridal portraits taken BEFORE her wedding day:

1. Playing dress-up is FUN.  When was the last time you played dress-up?

2. Practice makes perfect.  This is the day you will practice your hairstyle, make-up and “wearing” your gown.  It’s a great trial run for the wedding day!

3. You can experiment.  Get crazy on the day of your bridals.  Add a hairpiece or wear red lipstick!  Do something you might not dare to do on your actual wedding day.

4. You get to spend time with your mom, mother-in-law and friends.  I always recommend you bring your entourage!

5. It’s ALL about YOU!  You deserve to have one day of being pampered and ohhh and awwww’d over!

 

Below is an example of a recent bridal shoot; I did with the beautiful Taeler.  She started the shoot with a glamorous look, golden eyes and nude lips!  She also wore the jewelry she planned on wearing on her wedding day. A beautiful cuff bracelet and Crystal oval drop earrings from Nadri. Her jewelry was a shower gift from her mother.   Taeler wanted a classic look on her wedding day but also wanted to showcase her great grandmother’s vintage costume jewelry.  Instead of adding one more thing on the wedding day we decided we would incorporate the jewelry in her bridals.  We did this in her second look, its what I call “Vintage love”.   We achieved this by applying red lipstick, a black feather hairpiece (I found at forever 21) and her great grandmother’s vintage costume jewelry.  Taeler had NEVER worn red lipstick and was a little timid about it, however, after seeing her photos she was super happy that she tried something different.  The third look we changed locations and she really let her hair down.  She wanted a more urban feel.  I found a beautiful turquoise garage (car repair shop).  She really let loose and had a fabulous time dancing and flipping her hair around! In a matter of two hours we achieved three totally different looks!  Simple changes can make a dramatic difference!

 

Helpful Tips for a smooth sailing bridal session:

1. Schedule your bridal session at least six to eight weeks before your wedding date.

2. When scheduling your hair and make-up allow for at least three hours.

3. Bring the following items in a bag to your bridal session:

* comfy shoes

* a white sheet

* baby wipes

* make-up

* hair spray

* water

* snacks

* comb or brush

* jewelry

4. If you’re planning on having a floral bouquet in your portraits, order it at least a week in advance.  Pick it up a couple of hours before your session.

5. Invite people you feel comfortable around!

6. Bring your ipod.

7. Make sure you eat, even if it’s an apple and lettuce!  A lightheaded bride= a cranky bride!

8. Make sure you have your bridal gown, slip, bustier and shoes.

9. Review fashion magazine or bridal magazines to get an idea about posing.  Your photographer will always guide you but it doesn’t hurt to have your own moves.

10. Have FUN….

 


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Make-up resources

 

Vintage look:

MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear SPF 10 foundation…$29.50

MAC Cosmetics Bronzing Powder (Golden)…$22.00

MAC Cosmetics Blush Creme (Posey)…$18.50

MAC Cosmetics Eye Kit…Trip 4 bronze eyes and cheeks…$32.00

Sephora Collection Long lasting eye liner (deep black)…$10.00

MAC Cosmetics 6 lash…$14.00

Lashfusion XL Micro Technology Instant lash Volumizer (black)…$10.00

Kat Von D Adora painted red lipstick…$18.00

Sephora Collection Lip attitude (star)…$12.00

Sephora Collection Ultra Shine Lip gloss Shiny Natural look…$14.00

 

Jewelry and hair accessory

 

vintage black feather hairpiece

Black feather headband was purchased at forever 21…$4.80

 

Earrings:

Nadri Constellation Oval earrings at Nordstrom…$58.00

 

Bracelet:

Designer is Nadri and can be purchased at Nordstrom

A similar bracelet is Nadri Fine Points Chrystal bangel…$158.00

 

Vintage earrings:

Taeler’s great grandmother’s

Great place to find vintage costume jewelry is Etsy – search vintage costume jewelry

 

Vintage diamond necklace:

Taeler’s great grandmother’s

 

Taeler’s Wedding Gown:

Gateway Bridal in Salt Lake City, Utah

Taeler’s Hair and Make-Up Artist

Lezlee Jones…The Salon in Bountiful, Utah

 

This might be my new favorite location.

Earlier this week I met the Hill family at Ontario Beach Park for a family session. I arrived a little early to scout out the best spots and stumbled across the Robach Community Center. Don’t ask me how I missed it before, but better late than never, right? I knew immediately that this would be a great place to hold my fall Mini Sessions (more information coming soon, but the date is September 26th). I loved the columns, old vendor stands, brick and arches, wooden boardwalk, and of course the beach. And even though the weather was iffy most of the day, it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Colleen, Shane, Brady, Téide (and Sasha) – I hope you enjoy your sneak peek. I had a lot of fun and can’t wait to show you the rest of your photos! Enjoy 🙂

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  • September 17, 2010 - 8:56 pm

    Shannon Dodge - Awesome family shots, Morgan! Beautiful location too! The first one of the little girl is to die for!
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