The Wardwell family

This little man was so relaxed the whole time we were doing their portrait session! Don't you love how tiny he looks next to his parents?

Don't let this happen to you!

Have you ever looked at the hilariously awesome Awkward Family Photos? Do you have any of these floating around the family albums somewhere? I can recall a particular Christmas photo of my sisters and I that involved matching dresses made by grandma and a last minute stop at the haircuttery that resulted in a mullet. (no, that photo will not EVER be posted anywhere)Carytown Photography is on a mission to end awkward family photos!! We are booking location and studio portraits now, just in time for Christmas. Mention you saw this post when booking and save 20% on all prints! Call 804-592-0404 to schedule yours today!

We have proof...babies dressed as skunks are the cutest things ever

Tomorrow is the last day of our Halloween benefit for the Central Virginia Food Bank! We still have time slots available, so come on in! Call us at 592-0404 and let us know when you want to come in. We'll be here from 9-1, and it's only 15 dollars with 5 dollars going directly to the food bank.

Get a portrait in your Halloween costume AND help the Central Virginia Food Bank!

We are running a Halloween charity event 2 days only this month. Come to our studio in your costume and get a portrait made for only 15 dollars, with 5 dollars going to the Central Virginia Food Bank! It's not just for the kids though, bring you friends and family. This annual event will be a great way to remember those costumes year after year. Even pets are welcome! Please call us at 804-592-0404 to book your time.

how sweet is this new mother?

Maternity leave hobby? Most new mothers are busy enough just getting used to a new addition to the family to even think about adding a hobby! Well, not Adele Enersen. Instead of catching a few zzz's herself while baby is napping, she started Mila's Daydreams. Her blog says she's trying to "imagine her dream and capture it." The resulting images are touching, humorous, and just plain adorable. Check it out for yourself and you just might be inspired to start your own photo project!

Tips for taking photos of your kids at the pumpkin patch

After the hottest summer on record, I think most everyone in Richmond is welcoming fall with open arms. What better way to do that than with a trip to the pumpkin patch? Not only do you get better (and often cheaper) pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch, but you get the opportunity to get great photos of the kids! Even if you're working with an inexpensive point and shoot camera, these tips will help you capture frame-worthy photos you'll treasure for years to come.

-Consider your light and the time of day. Aim for a trip in the late afternoon/early evening so you'll be able to use that warm "magic hour" light to your best advantage. Look around for locations under trees with yellowing leaves, as the light filtering through will be warm and undeniably autumn. Avoid bright, direct sunlight, as this will often cast unwanted shadows, or appear overly bright on subject's faces.

-Before leaving, think about clothing. Solid colors or patterns always look better than a printed t-shirt. Think about colors that will look good with all that orange! And there's nothing wrong with busting out the hair brush and wipes for last minute touch ups!

-One of the biggest things you can do is learn to operate your camera. Even basic digital cameras often have a lot manually adjustable settings. Take the time to read the manual and play around with different settings.

-Use caution with the flash! The flash built into many cameras is often unflattering. Most likely, you wont need to use the flash if you are outdoors during daylight, but some cameras automatic settings use it anyways. Learn how to turn the flash off and adjust settings for brighter pictures. This is another reason to learn all the features of your camera.

-Look at the whole composition while shooting. Make sure your bag isn't in the corner of the picture, or there aren't objects in the background that appear to be growing out of someone's head. Tell the kids to sit up straight! Most kids have a natural tendency to slouch, but when sitting up straight it makes for a much neater photo.

-Get creative with your composition. Don't hesitate to pile some pumpkins up around your kids, or have little ones sit on a huge pumpkin. Try different angles - get down low, try shooting them from an angle other than straight on, or place your subject way off center for something different. Try and get some close up detail shots, as well as some wide shots that show the whole scene. Think about photos in terms of a series instead of just one. For instance, consider displaying 3 photos together, with a picture of the kids in the middle, a shot of the whole field on one side and maybe a detail of a pumpkin on the other.

I hope these tips inspire everyone to go out and have a great day at the pumpkin patch, while capturing some memorable photos in the process!

Temple

Baby Temple was in the studio a little while ago for her six month pictures. Is there anything cuter than a chubby, smiling little baby? I think not.

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