Calotype Photography is headed to the West Coast for some saltwater portrait fun! Sessions are available on Pismo Beach (or the Fresno area, for the valley dwellers).  Our fun Portrait Sessions are a thrilling experience that leave you with beautiful, emotional portraits you’ll cherish for a lifetime!

Special Package Collections available for Families + Children + Teens

Email Julie for more information!

We photographed this family, who traveled all the way from Virginia, at a family-owned field in Miami, OK.  A lovely spot, except for the horses who thought THEY should be a part of the portrait.  I took this pullback shot so you could see the big picture.   Husband Jon holds the reflector, off to the left.  It doubles as a horse-shooer-awayer-thingie, which was not advertised on the package, but a definite bonus.

Once the horses had resigned themselves to the sidelines, we broke into full Caloytpe mode.

Eli is 21 months old and full of expression!

Amazingly, in spite of all the running, neither subjects nor photographer stepped in the aforementioned horses, er, uh, deposits.  (I’m not sure how this happened, I’m just happy).

And… while we were waiting for the equines to exit, I did compose a lovely portrait of them.  Perhaps they’ll want a canvas for the fireplace…?

Remember, this is Julie speaking. The write of the Perspectives blog.  The photographer for Calotype. The one that’s currently six months pregnant.  The outdoor temp has hovered close to the surface temperature of Mercury for over a month now, so between Indoor vs. Outdoor portraits, which one do you think Incubating Photographer will choose?

That’s right, our air-conditioned, custom-designed-for-incredible-light, natural light studio.

Why? Because not only is it totally uncool for clients to sweat while I’m photographing them, there’s also such a variety of things I have to work with in the studio.  My couches, my various-colored walls, my rugs, my screens, and so forth.  Outside,  I am limited to grass, sky, dirt, trees, and the occasional drive-by truck.  (Speaking of right outside the studio, of course.  If we travel, we have creeks, bluffs, random buildings, rocks and other Ozark landmarks, many of which are quite beautiful, if not too over-used).  Speaking of over-used, let me spout a little and say,  “I hope it’s not your dream to be photographed on a train track, because this artist may shoot herself if she sees another senior picture on a railway, especially if it’s black and white with the jeans colored back in…”  But that’s another rant.

So yeah, in July I love to work indoors. I vote for the inside…

Wait, that’s beautiful!  Simple green grass, beautiful sunlight.  They’re not sweating!  It must have been taken in breezy 70-degree weather! Perhaps we traveled to Seattle!

See? How could any kid smile like that in hundred-degree temps?

Well, here’s the truth, people.  These images were taken this July, at 10:3o in the morning;  it may not have been a hundred yet, but it was closing in fast.  No obvious sweating on the client’s part, because I’m the Queen of Getting it QUICK, and little Miss Shailyn was smiling because she’s a sweet, well-adjusted little girl.  (And her daddy was behind me making boogie faces, which always helps).

I’ll have to admit… honestly, I love working outdoors as much as I do indoors.  There’s perks to both.  There’s disadvantages to both.  I know I said earlier that outdoor scenery can be limiting, but you simply cannot beat the simple glorious glow of sunlight.  I love it, love it, love it, and I love the results, every time.

(Of ourse, I love the results of my studio work every time, so maybe I just love everything…?)

In conclusion, I’ll let you settle the matter.  If you dream of your family being photographed in the brilliant sunlight, the field grass waving softly in the wind, we can make it happen.  If you think you’ll smile better in air-conditioned comfort, or you simply love the look of the indoor studio, then we can make that happen, too.  What matters most is that we create an emotional, lovely portrait that captures exactly what you see in your head, and you can spend the rest of your life gazing at your beautiful wall portrait of your beautiful family, knowing you made the right decision.

But this guy looks pretty amazing in the cool of the studio, you’ll have to agree.

Featured in the blog post: Carli, part of the Millikin family from way over in Claremore, OK; Mr. Jack from Rogers, AR, and the sweet Coger family from down in Siloam Springs, AR.  You can see more of their images on our Facebook page.

Dylan and Abby combined a family Portrait Session with their daughter’s six-month Portrait Session.  Six months is a great age for children to be part of a family portrait— they’re generally smiley, attentive and easily amused.  Watch the video and see if you don’t think she looks  like a little princess in that pink frothy dress!

The fun never stopped in this family Portrait Session! We love the McKinneys! Watch their portrait experience by clicking here.

PS: As you enjoy the quality time with your family between the holidays, be thinking about YOUR next family portrait idea.  In the comfort of the studio? In the summer at the lake? In the fall leaves? What would best capture the personality of your family? 2011 is already beginning to book for families wanting portrait art from Calotype— and we’d LOVE for YOU to be one of the special families we photograph!