Take easy, better photos at home!

April 9, 2020 Amanda Gangewere

1. Find decent natural light, do your photos during the day! Stay out of direct sun. Cloudy days- like today, is the best!
If you are inside- find a window and put your child/children in front of the window or it can be on the side. You stand on the side of them- make sure the light from the window is hitting them.
If you are outside- STAY OUT OF DIRECT SUN!! I REPEAT, NO DIRECT SUN! :)

2. If you want family photos- set your phone on a timer, and jump in!

3. To lighten/edit your photos after taking them- there are a ton of apps to do this. I personally use Lightroom and instasize. They are both pretty easy. Your best bet is instasize!

4. Try not to over edit them, you don't need to do much.
Think: Less is more!

5. Dont stress, if they aren't perfect, if the kids are crying, if they aren't looking! This is all about capturing the moment!!

Hope this helps, if anyone has DIRECT questions- feel free to ask!!!

What newborn photographer do I choose?

June 18, 2019 Amanda Gangewere

You’re having a baby! CONGRATULATIONS!

Maybe its your first baby! Maybe this is the second third or more! You want to book a newborn photographer, but there are so many around you! HOW do you choose? I am going to help you with that.

Here are some things to think about:

First question to ask yourself is WHAT images do you see hanging in your house, or giving to family?

Do you want VERY posed cute little babies in baskets and bonnets with colors to match the nursery perfectly?

Do you want siblings in the pictures? Do you want to be in them (please always say YES )

Do you want pictures done in your home? Or are you looking for a studio setting? Are you looking for simple photos? Candid? ‘Lifestyle’ setting ( Which is more of interactions/connections or posed and/or just baby )?

Is the photographer going to be handling the baby? Do they have recommendations from family/friends? Are they familiar with newborn photography? NOT every newborn photographer knows the safe/correct way to ‘pose’ a baby in every pose.

If you know a few newborn photographers, open their websites - take a look at their work, make sure its exactly what you want! Try to find five that you have seen or have come recommended and focus on those, don’t overwhelm yourself by looking through one hundred!

I hope this helps!

What are my sessions like? My sessions are usually done in your home or in my studio space - they are simple, relaxed, candid and as stress free as can be! I will capture some simple posed/wrapped/onesie photos of baby, but I am focused on your connections with your new bundle of joy!

How to prepare for your next session!

February 26, 2019 Amanda Gangewere

You just booked your session! YAY! Now what? How do you prepare? What should you all wear? I am going to answer all of that for you!

What you wear is important so lets start with that!

Choose your color palette first- PICK 3-4 colors and go with that. Think about the location, the time of the year and the style that you want to get from this. Everyone can express their own sense of style within that palette of colors.

You don’t need to necessarily MATCH, but coordinating is important!

Layers, different patterns on maybe one or 2 people- solid colors for the rest. Start with the kids- and build from there. No kids? Then start with yourself- and build the other person/people.

I tell all my clients. CHOOSE NEUTRAL COLORS.

If we are taking pictures at the studio which is all white/cream loose comfortable clothing! Stick to solid colors/patterns and don’t even worry about the shoes for newborn sessions or beach sessions, we are going to be comfy!

Creams, grays and tans seem to look great on everyone and typically are the go-tos if you aren’t sure what to wear! Even blues look great on everyone! This keeps the FOCUS on the people, not the clothing!

Try to stay away from anything with ‘logos or words’ Of course I love cute quoted shirts, but bring those as a bonus for the kiddos- for babies, keep them comfy. Solid onesies are the way to go, they don’t slide up and block those adorable faces or details!

Remember, you want these photos to hang on walls, put in rooms- keep the colors close to colors that would match your home, and style! If you don’t like to wear dressy clothes - then don’t! Is your home light and bright? moody and dark? Keep it to match you.

Add a POP of color!

The summer/spring it seems to be the corals/light blues, the fall seems to be mustard and I honestly LOVE how it photographs! As long as it isn’t too neon color- then it photographs so nicely!

Choosing THE outfit.

You want to pick outfits that you feel comfortable in, that you’ll be able to sit/bend and move easily in. But you also want to feel beautiful, the more comfortable you are- the better it will photograph! You want it to reflect who you are. Something you would wear!

Keep the session in mind.

Where are we taking pictures? City style? Studio? Woods? Field? Park? You would want to wear what you would in the environment. The woods/fields/parks- maybe a cute pair of flats, boots or sandals. Beach- DITCH The shoes!! Newborn sessions at home, a nice pair of socks maybe or barefoot!

Don’t over think this: Keep it simple, relaxed and comfortable! Lets have some fun!

Ellington Family Photographer // Mommy and Me session with Bridgette

June 17, 2017 Amanda Gangewere

The entire month of May I offered Mommy & Me mini sessions. I believe being a mom is a special and hard job. You forget as a mom that you are doing wonderfully and your children love you. I wanted moms to stop for a moment, and just enjoy moments with their children.

Bridgette reached out to me through facebook, we had never met before but meeting her and her beautiful family at the location I had felt that we had known each other before! Bridgette had a smile on her the entire session. You can tell that her children are her entire world. There is no question about that.

Luca is an adorable 2 year old with so much sweetness to him! Giulana is just the cutest, she loves her mama, doing her own thing ( as most 1 year olds do ) - but you know for sure they love their mama!

I made sure we finished the session with some family shots!

Thank you D'Angelo family for a fun, easy, sweet family photo session! See you at the next milestone <3

Eiryn & Ally { Coventry Class of 2016 }

October 26, 2015 Amanda Gangewere

When Eiryns mom Cheryl who I adore asked me a few months back if I would do Eiryns senior photos I was so honored and of course said YES! We met at one of my favorite locations in Connecticut & It was EXTRA cold- Even snowed a little!!

When I got there I had a little camera issue, but the girls were so patient & understanding while I resolved it!

I can remember how I looked my senior year in high school... ::cough cough :: almost 12 years ago! I know for sure I didn't look this gorgeous OR have my head on straight like these girls! It was a great morning getting to know them, their dreams, wishes & learning about their friendship of 14 years!

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
― A.A. Milne