{Senior} Logan

There are so many elements that I love about this session.

First, lets talk about Logan.  He is this super kind and cool guy.  He is mellow and chill and really easy to be around.  I loved that he was willing to try new things that I asked him while shooting, I love that he had such a variety for clothing, and that he brought his guitar.

I loved the urban backdrop for our session location.  It's especially awesome for senior guys in my opinion.  There is just so much to interact with and so many different looks.  I love the linear lines that an urban backdrop provides too.  It's just really cool for portraits.

Congratulations on graduation, Logan!  

{Portraits} Lifestyle maternity

I love when I get to do something a little different.  A little twist on maternity photos where maternity meets lifestyle meets boudoir.  Plus there is coffee involved so duh, I'm hooked.

I spend most of my work time capturing families and children outdoors.  And while I absolutely love it, it's fun for me to switch things up, get out of my comfort zone, and try some new ideas.  It's totally inspiring and pushes me in ways that I really love.  

This is definitely one of my favorite sessions of 2018.  And I need to give a big thank you to this mama for trusting me to create these photos with her.  

Senior Portraits...What to expect

Are you wondering what to expect from a Senior Portrait Session?  Let me walk you through the process from start to finish!

First, you will reach out to me to book a session. 

Once you message me to book your senior session we will decide on a date. I will have you and a parent sign a contract, and you will pay a non-refundable retainer fee to hold your session date.  

Once we have decided on a date I will ask you a variety of questions either through email or with a phone call, and we can determine which location works best for your personality, style, and vibe.  All senior sessions are scheduled in the evening when the sun light is best and we get that amazing golden hour glow!

Sessions last about 2 hours long and we will use 1-2 locations, as long as they are within a reasonable distance from each other.  I have a ton of places that I love to shoot at that I think work best for Senior Portraits and I will make sure that we have the best location chosen for you!

Next, you will pick out what kind of outfits you want to wear for your session.  I recommend having about 4 or 5 different looks for you session so that you will get a variety of looks, poses, and images for your session.  It's great to mix things up with casual and more dressy too.  I really love when you text me photos of your outfits because it helps me to get to know your style better and it gets my creativity going for your senior session!  If you are an athlete, including a sports jersey is also a great idea - pair it with a nice pair of dark jeans and clean athletic shoes and you will look amazing!  Try on all your clothes and make sure you like they way they fit prior to our session.  Pack appropriate undergarments and accessories too!

About a week prior to our session I recommend all the guys get a fresh hair cut.   Ladies, if you are going to get your hair done, do this two weeks prior so that you can get used to your hair and make sure you like how it turned out (if you don't like it, you have time to get it fixed!).  Ladies, do any waxing about a week prior to our session date.  Guys, get a fresh shave just prior to our session (on the day of our session) and moisturize!

Ladies, you guys have more make up experience than I have ever even thought about, I am always so impressed with your make up!  Do your thing.  I always feel like you girls look like models when you show up!  It's so awesome!

On the day of our session, have all your clothes ready, pack your make up bag, hair brush, chapstick, a lint roller....  all the things!  Make sure your clothes are ironed and hung on hangers.

We will meet up on the day of our session at the location and time we've agreed upon.  I will look over your outfits and it will help me decide which outfits to shoot first.  I love to match outfits to areas that we are shooting in!  Unless you are a model, you will probably not really know how to pose and what to do during our session.  I will 100% direct you, give you ideas, and help you get comfortable in the right position.  I am a hands on kinda girl so I will move hair, hide straps, make sure your clothes are laying in a flattering way...  and a whole bunch of other things to make sure that you are feeling and looking awesome.  I will even do all the poses for you and you can laugh at me!  I promise it will be fun.  Most of the time seniors bring their moms with them, a best friend they feel really comfortable with, or come by themselves.  I am totally great with any of these options!

Once we are done shooting your session I will go home and back up your photo session, cull your images, and edit all the best images from the session.  This may take a bit of time as it's a busier time of year, but also, I want to be sure that your images are getting the attention they deserve. Each image is edited and looked at closely so that your gallery is consistent and the best quality I can give you. Each session covers basic editing. Basic editing is lighting and color correction, cropping, etc. Basic editing does not include fine retouching, such as removing items from the background, removing acne or braces, etc. If you would like retouching like that, I will give you a custom quote for those additional edits. You will get all your best images in both color and black and white because I love options and I think other people do too! 

I hope I've given you a good idea on what to expect - if you have any other questions, let me know!

XO-Heidi

{Portraits} Kotsovos Family

I have been photographing the Kotsovos family for 5 years now.  I love seeing them each year and I love that we get to go to unique locations each year too.

This year, we chose an urban vibe for our session and it was a really nice switch up from the usual park scene!  Check out all their awesome images!

Choosing a location for your session

There are so many great options for locations....  especially in Oregon!

I live in St Helens, OR and I shoot from my home town to Wilsonville, Oregon and a few other places in between.  Deciding on your session location can be challenging and hopefully the examples below will help you find the look you are going for! These locations are great for families, kiddos, seniors, couples, and maternity.  I know the light well and know that they provide a great backdrop for portraits.

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Asburry Park | St Helens, Oregon 

This is a public park that is best to shoot at during golden hour (the last 1-2 hours before sunset, generally!)

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McCormick Park | St Helens, Oregon

This is a public park that is great to shoot at most any time of the day.

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Howell Territorial Park | Sauvies Island

This is a public park that is great to shoot at during the evening hours a few hours prior to sunset.

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Manzanita Beach | Manzanita Oregon

This is a public beach.  Beach sessions are done during special times throughout the year.  This is a favorite beach of mine

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St Johns Bridge | Portland, Oregon

This is a public park that is great to shoot at during golden hour.

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Graham Oaks Nature Park | Wilsonville, Oregon

This is a public park that is gorgeous to shoot at during golden hour.

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Cook Park | Tigard, Oregon

This is a public park that is great to shoot at in the afternoon to evening hours.

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Proposal Rock | Neskowin, Oregon

This is a beautiful public beach that is one of my favorite places to shoot at.  Beach sessions are usually done by event or by additional travel fee.

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Memorial Park | Wilsonville, Oregon

This is a public park that is beautiful any time of day year round.

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Imbrie Hall McMenamins | Cornelius Pass

This a public location that has that awesome McMennamins vibe.

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Pearl District | Portland, Oregon

This is a public area and it's best to shoot at during the evening hours.

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Private Property | St Helens, Oregon

This is a friends property and available with a phone call.

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Sauvies Island "Beach"

This location is gorgeous and is quickly becoming a favorite location of mine.  It's a golden hour only kind of location.  It's pretty year round and it's really cool getting that beach look without the long drive!

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George Rogers | Lake Oswego, Oregon

There is so much diversity at this one location!  It's pretty year round and great the last few hours of the day.

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Water Treatment Facility | Wilsonville, Oregon

This is a park kind of hidden in Wilsonville and has really cool features like water, an ivy wall, and then a more traditional park setting.

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Downtown I St. Helens, OR

This is the small downtown area of my home town.  It's got cool vibes for senior portraits and couples sessions and anyone wanting a vintage or bit of an edgy vibe.

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Abandoned Building I St. Helens, Or

Yes, we will be safe at this location.  It's a very cool, moody vibe and I love it.

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Forest Clear Cut I Columbia County

I found this location while driving with my family.  It's got the dreamy views for sure.

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Arcadia Beach I Oregon

The beach just has my heart.  This is another location that requires an additional travel fee, but it sure is worth it!

Which session is right for me?

Often times people are confused about the difference between a full session and a mini session.  A few things that separate a full session from a mini session:

First, mini sessions are offered by events only, while full sessions are offered anytime on a weekend or a weekday.  I do a handful of mini session events throughout the year on my own and you can find out about all my mini sessions by following me on facebook here: 

https://www.facebook.com/HeidiTimmonsPhotography/

I also do styled mini sessions with my friend, Heather, and you can find out about all our mini sessions by joining here:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/heidiheathercollective/ 
and looking here:  https://heidiandheathercollective.bigcartel.com/.

I have a lot of clients that want to get multiple sessions done in a year and mini sessions are a super great and affordable way to make multiple sessions happen with multiple looks.  

You may be thinking, why in the world would anyone want to book a full session when you offer mini sessions and we can spend less money?  I know, I know.  But here's the thing about a full session....  They are a tiny bit magical and they really give me the opportunity to see you and your family.  It gives me more time and chances to capture real connections and really get into each family member's personality.  A full session gives you the opportunity to change outfits, have a session at a really cool location, and get that amazing balance of posed and lifestyle images that you KNOW you want.  I always book full sessions in the beautiful evening golden hour light (unless you ask for a different time), and you guys, that dreamy light is EVERYTHANNNNNNNG.    It's an investment and it's worth it.

Back to a mini session....  mini sessions last about 20 to 30 minutes and they are more posed than lifestyle, they are at a location of my choosing where I know the light is good and the backdrop is pretty.  You will have another client scheduled before you and after you and staying on a schedule is VERY important.  With a full session you are often the only client I will have that day and we have the luxury of taking out time and being more relaxed.

A mini session comes with a limited number of digital images with the option to purchase all the images, while a full session gives you all the best images from your session.  As you can see, there are many pros to both kinds of sessions - its really all about whats right for YOUR family in this season of your life!

Take a look at this fun day I spent with the Eubanks family - we had a full session, which left us plenty of time for lots of posed photos, but also a good variety of sweet candid shots as well!

Using the Client Closet

One of the fun parts of my job is being involved in the styling of a session.  This beautiful babe is a doll baby and everything she is wearing is from my Client Closet.  

Over the years I have been collecting items that photograph well.  My Client Closet is free to you.  If you are stumped on what to wear or looking for a certain piece ask me!  I might have something in my collection.

The other portion to borrowing from my client closet is also letting me style and put together the outfit.  I have lots of styled shoots in my head just waiting to happen.  I am inspired by many things and I love making them come to life.  If you are ever wanting a session and have a vision in your head of what it might be, let's collaborate and make it happen!  The possibilities are endless.

Georgie's mama was totally open to my suggestions and I was excited that she let me pick out an entire outfit based on what I thought would look good on her babe.  It felt awesome to be trusted with that!

I hope that you guys will use the Client Closet and my styling abilities.  I would love to create something beautiful with you!

{Portraits} Rafferty Family

The traditional gift for celebrating 5 years of marriage is wood.  Does it count if we took photos in the woods?  

I love the idea of a photo session to celebrate 5 years of marriage.  Check out the Rafferty's session, it was full of snuggles, laughter, hot chocolate, and even Rae Dunn....  Any one else a Rae Dunn lover?

What do I wear for my session?

The most frequently asked question I get is "What should we wear!?"

I love getting asked this question.  Photographs are visual and they are aesthetic.  And what you wear GREATLY impacts the look, style, vibe, and quality of your photos.

So in no particular order, here are some rambling thoughts on what to wear, what to think about when dressing yourself and your family, and things to consider.

Match your clothing to how your home is styled.  Why?  Because I want you to hang your photos up on your wall and I want them to look like an amazing piece of art in your home.  If you have a living space with rich colors, then pastels wouldn't be a great choice, but wine, navy and olive green would be.  If you have a farm house style with lots of gray and white, then consider a blush pink or periwinkle blue.

Denim, khaki, black, cream, white, and gray are neutrals and can be incorporated in any color scheme.  Use these colors as a base and add your pops of color accordingly.

Coordinating is great.  Matchy-matchy is not so great.  You want to compliment each other in colors and tones but not every single person has to be wearing all of your color scheme.

Portrait sessions do not require an entire new wardrobe.  Or for you to break the bank.  Let me repeat that one more time.  You don't have to break the bank on clothing for your portrait session.  You have cute clothes in your closet, so does your husband, so do your kids.  You may need to buy one or two items to pull it together, but you have great things you can use already.  I love helping people get their outfits prepped.  If you are local, I will come to your home and help you.  If we live apart, lets face-time and figure it out.  You are welcome to send me texts with photos of your outfits.  LET ME HELP YOU!

I have a client closet.  If you are needing help with your clothing, I might have something in my client closet for you.  I have been collecting favorite pieces of clothing that photograph well.  My client closet is free.  All you have to do is ask!

Wear nice shoes.  This especially goes for men and boys.  I often see guys dress really nicely and then have on athletic shoes.  It doesn't look great and this is one of those times that you might want to hit up a second hand store or an inexpensive store and buy some nicer looking dress shoes.  They don't need to be well made.  They just need to look nice.

You don't have to get fancy.  Unless you want to.  I think a lot of people think — oh man, it's our yearly family photos and we need to get fancy (but we aren't fancy people!).  Don't worry, I am not fancy either.  Which is why I have some family photos of us in dresses and dress shirts, but I have also styled us to look more like our daily selves.  And I love both looks.  

Women.  Dress yourselves first.  Your heard me correctly.  Put yourself first, pick your outfit first, and dress everyone around you.  Pick an outfit for yourself that you feel AMAZING IN.  Pick an outfit that is comfortable.  That you don't have to suck in or stand in a weird position to look right.  Find yourself an awesome look and then build everyone around you.  Your hubby is going to be easy to dress.  Clothes for men are pretty standard of sweaters, button ups, etc.  Your kids are going to have a million cute options for what to wear.  And here is the bottom line, you are not going to print a photo that you don't like of yourself.  I know this is true because I am a self conscious mama too.  And I am only putting photos on the wall that I can look at and love myself in, even if it's not the best image of my kids or hubby.  Don't lie, you do the same thing too.

Have everyone try on all their clothes together prior to our session.  Then go look in a mirror all together.  Yep.  Squeeze in that bathroom all together.  Make sure you like the way you look all together.  Make sure your kids are comfortable in their clothes, that they fit correctly, and they you want this look hanging on the walls of your home.

Solids, prints, designs, and textures are good.  You will want a variety of textures and prints and fabrics.  If everyone were wearing solids, it would just be a bunch of color blocks - instead layer your family in solids, prints, and textures to add depth to your images.

Avoid graphics and words on your clothing.  Hello Kitty, SuperMan, Pokemon, Nike, Hollister.  Yep, all those things are great.  Just not in your photos.

I hope this helps you when you are choosing what to wear!  I also hope that if you need any help you will reach out to me!  

XOXO
Heidi

{Portrait} Hannah

Everything about this gorgeous Fall maternity session makes me swoon! The colors, the dreamy light, and the cutest baby bump EVER! Enjoy!