What To Expect in a Calotype Christmas Portrait Session

It’s traditional for many families to celebrate Christmas with an annual photoshoot. I dearly love my faithful patrons who come to Calotype, year after year, to make sure their kids have these childhood memories.

When I knelt down to greet these kiddos as they came in, the youngest put her tiny, slender arms around my neck right away in greeting. It had been a year since she had been to the studio, but she felt right at home.

We start out with a traditional, elegant family portrait.

Naturally, the personalities of the kids come out quickly.

Mama and Dad look fine, so let’s document that…

Next, I photograph the kids together.

And separately ⬇️

Little sister watched big brother being photographed, and when it was her turn she ran up to copy his pose.

But she had a few poses of her own, too

I coaxed them together for one last image.

Ready to make your own family memories? Call the studio at 417-658-8865 or email me.

Charlotte Rose “I Like It Like This.”

Have you ever met a woman with a plan- and everyone else needs to get out of the way while she makes it happen? Meet Charlotte Rose.

Charlotte is the baby of our family. Although she’s small, the soul of a strong woman is wriggling away inside of her! Unlike her older brother, Bruce (the previous baby of the family and always agreeable to the day’s plans), Charlotte has clear expectations and assumes that life will align with her ideas.

Since she’s the baby, who can resist those giant blue eyes and bouncy, wriggly walk? Jack and Clara and Bruce and Daddy usually give the lady what she wants.

There’s only one Non-Conformist in Miss Charlotte’s perfect little life- the person with different plans.

Any guesses? It’s me.

You see, I am also a woman who also has specific outcomes in my mind, and I daily find myself in conflict with this much younger, smaller Version of Me.

However, the little me has more energy and, in God’s special way, He designed her with an extra scoop of legendary Stephens stubbornness to make things a little more exciting. (The Richardsons aren’t stubborn- we see resistance and quickly dart down a different trail before it makes eye contact). Not the Stephens family! They sink their boots into the dirt, cross their arms and calmly prepare to resist. While this is a truly lovely quality in matters of national security and theology, in matters of wardrobe- ehh, not so much.

Charlotte insists on dressing herself every day. Usually I let her, because she’s the fourth kid and life is short and I have no desire to waste it arguing with a toddler. I only intervene when she’s not dressed appropriately for the weather.

Fortunately for me, today’s outfit was pleasantly photogenic. A black t-shirt that used to be Clara’s, black leggings, and a trench coat that’s been handed down through every kid since firstborn Jack. Pus her favorite green boots.

She does this ONE THING, every time, to her leggings. She pulls them up to her knees! Without fail. Even if it’s 30° outside. I’ve asked her they itch, if they’re too tight; and she won’t reply other than, “I like it like this.”

So here’s Miss I-Like-It-Like-This, in her knee-length leggings, hanging out at work with her momma. Two women and we both have plans.

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Classic Black and White (B&W) Portraits In Studio

Here’s Clara and Charlotte, my two little ladies, modeling patiently for mama while I do a lighting assessment in the studio. If I give them enough ice cream, they’re usually willing to help me out.

Side note: black is always a classic color to wear for portraits. It keeps the focus on the face and eyes and never looks dated.

No matter how “classic” their mama dresses them… they will always do this. 😬😛

Family of Three at Big Spring Park (or... Following the Toddler)

When mom booked this Session, she told me she had four requests:

• the family of three together

• baby girl with daddy

• baby girl with mommy

• baby girl by herself

No problem. But baby girl had other plans. 😬 Here’s one of our first images.

After a while, she decided she could get into this.

What do you think? Did we get the four requests that mom had? It may not have been exactly what she envisioned, but she loved them all.

I’d like to do this for your family, too! Kids love the attention they get during a Family Session. Please email me (Julie) with questions or ideas you may have about scheduling your Family Portrait Session!