Picking a theme for your session?

When you book a photo session with the Wishing Star Gallery you're getting something special.  Sure, the custom, unlimited, edited photos on a disc is great but you're also being given the opportunity to make your session uniquely yours.  Whether it's one person or a family, you should always give thought to the theme you might like to have for your shoot.

But Chelsey, you're the photographer! You should be able to give me beautiful and carefully thought out photos, that's what I'm paying you for.

Ah, that may be partly true my dear client... but I don't know you. And I want your session to be about you.  I not only want you to be proud of your photos, I want you to feel like they suit you.

Here's an example of what I mean.  Here you have a cute photo of my son, Wyatt.  (Yes, this is a shameless excuse to show off my ridiculously adorable little boy, but it has a purpose)

It's a nice enough photo.  I like it. It's cute. Nothing wrong with it. The crocheted owl hat, the super cute sleeping baby, it's all very adorable.  But that's not the photo I get printed.  That's not the photo I use for my facebook profile.  That's not even my wallpaper on my cellphone. 

Now here's a photo that came from a shoot that I crafted specifically for me.  I'll give you a little back story: I love to travel.  I grew up travelling.  I also grew up with aviation.  It's safe to say that both themes are cornerstones of my family.  My grandfather is even a pilot.  While some eight year olds wore jackets with Barbie emblazoned on them, I has a brown pilot's jacket.  I spent a year travelling all over North America and even went to South America AND Australia.  Before going on maternity leave, I worked for one of Canada's major airlines. 

 

See the difference?  If you don't know, they're just a cute pilot baby.  But if you know me, you'd known this is right up my alley. And if you were to judge the photos on their base merits in a quick glance, chances are you're going to think the aviation photos are more fun.  Why? Because they're unique. 

 

I will talk with you at length about any theme you want to incorporate into your photo session and do my best to come up with ideas or props.  I probably won't go out and buy a bunch of props specifically for your one shoot because, to be perfectly honest, from a business stand point that just doesn't work for me, but I do know various artisans that might be able to help us craft our vision if you don't have the items you want. And if you pay for it, you keep the prop when you're done.  (Duh!)

 

Gabby loved taking home her plush wolf from her Little Red Riding hood shoot.  Her mom even emailed me to tell how she insisted on sleeping with him that night!

 

 

And I know one little pixie girl who was giddy to take home her stash of sweets from her candy shoot with her family...

 

 

 

So when you're thinking of booking a photo session and I ask you if you have a theme in mind, don't be surprised if I refer to you this blog post.  Let's work together to make your photo session extra special!