Family

Central PA Family Photographer, Karissa Zimmer specializes in custom family photography in Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg, Camp Hill, Carlisle, Hershey and surrounding Central PA. Karissa Zimmer Photography offers a custom, full-service portrait photography experience.  Check out Karissa Zimmer’s Family Photography Gallery here!

Tips for Mechanicsburg PA Family Photography with Toddlers

Best outdoor family photographer near 17050

Family photos are irreplaceable and invaluable heirlooms that you and your family will treasure forever, especially as your kids grow up and look back on their childhoods. As much as I love seeing the joy that family portraits bring, I also understand that a lot of parents worry about how their toddler will be during a photo session and whether they’ll actually be able to capture what a sweet and joyful child their toddler is…or whether they’ll have a classic toddler tantrum and make it a stressful experience. In my Mechanicsburg PA family photography studio, I can assure you that there are ways to have a fantastic photo session with a toddler! Try these top tips.

Parents interact with their toddler daughter at their Mechanicsburg PA outdoor family photography session

Put Your Expertise to Use

You know your toddler - you know what puts them in a good mood and what tends to make them cranky. Now is the time to put that knowledge to good use! Plan the day of the photo shoot around making sure your little one is at their best when it’s time for the session: fed, rested, and ready to party!

A father plays with his little girl at their family photo session in 17050

Have Fun with Your Mechanicsburg PA Family Photography

You are your little one’s entire world, and they take so many cues from you - including cues on what activities are fun. If you want them to enjoy a photo session, talk about it the same way you’d tell them with excitement that they get to go to the zoo or see their friend or visit their grandparents. Make sure your spouse or partner does the same, because when your toddler sees that everyone else is happy and having fun, they will too!

A mom snuggles with her toddler daughter at their family's photography session with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Be Strategic with Your Incentives

It’s great to have some tricks up your sleeve to incentivize your toddler to be on their best behavior. Some of these incentives can become more harmful than helpful, though - specifically, bringing your child’s favorite toys to cheer them up. If you hand your toddler that teddy bear that goes everywhere with them, it might put a smile on their face, but when you try to take it away for more photos, they could have a meltdown. The rule of thumb is not to bring any items for your toddler that you don’t want to be in the photos.

A little girl explores outdoors and examines a leaf at her family photoshoot

Choose a Photographer Who Knows Toddlers for Your Mechanicsburg PA Family Photography

As a photographer who has worked with toddlers for many years, I can tell you that it’s a skill that takes time and experience to develop. I have plenty of practice turning tears into smiles and making toddlers feel comfortable during photo shoots, and it makes all the difference! Make sure you book your family session with a photographer who has this expertise.

If you want a beautiful and memorable family photo shoot with your sweet family, I’ll be honored to capture this moment in your family’s story. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning your session!

A toddler girl walks through leaves at her outdoor fall family photography session with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Mechanicsburg PA family photographer captures beautiful outdoor family photos

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Hershey PA Family Photo Session: At What Age Should You Start Family Photos?

The beautiful family whose portraits are featured in this blog were an absolute joy to work with! As a photographer who takes family portraits as well as baby portraits like newborn photos and cake smash photos, a family session like this gives me the best of both worlds: I get to work with a sweet baby AND capture the genuine joy and love within their family. But some parents ask if their child is too young for a Hershey PA family photo session, and that brings up the question: when should you start taking family photos?

The fast answer is: as early as you can! Starting to have professional family portraits taken when your child is an infant is such a gift to your future self and your family in several ways.

Hershey PA outdoor family photography session with a mom, dad and their one year old baby daughter

Watch Your Family Grow Together

At this moment, you know every detail of your baby so well - you could close your eyes and picture their little face to the finest detail, and hear their little giggle with precision. But everything about your little one will change as they get older, and as the parent of a teenager, I can tell you that mementos of their earlier days will become more and more precious every year. If you start a habit of taking yearly family portraits when your child is a baby, someday you’ll have the most meaningful storybook made up of family photos from each year of their life, and it will bring you endless joy no matter how old they become.

Best Hershey PA Family Photographer captures a sweet moment between a mom and her one year old baby girl at their family portrait session with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Have the Whole Family in Photos

A lot of parents think, “I have plenty of photos, I snap pictures of my kids all the time!” But you might not realize until years later that there are hardly any with your whole family - including you, the parents, because you’re always behind the camera. Family portraits allow you to not only see and remember your sweet children but they let you reminisce about being with your kids too - that day that you spent playing in the park with them during your photo shoot, taking time out of your busy lives to make memories together.

A father looks at his baby girl during their Hershey PA photo session

A Hershey PA Family Photo Session with a Baby Isn’t as Difficult as You Think

A lot of parents hesitate about taking family portraits when their kids are babies because they worry that it’ll be too hard to get good family pics with a baby or toddler, so they don’t start until the kids are elementary aged or even older. But allow me to reassure you - it’s not as challenging as you might think! I’ll talk to you about how to prepare your kids, and I have some tricks up my sleeve too to get some beautiful and genuine smiles from the whole family. Trust me, it’s well worth having a lifelong reminder of these moments.

A Dad and his one year old baby girl share a moment together at their Family Photography session with Hershey PA photographer Baby girl is all smiles as she sits on a little wooden bed prop at her family photos near Hershey with Karissa Zimmer Photography

If you have a little one at home, now is the time to start the tradition of a yearly Hershey PA family photo session! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning your session together.

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Top Tips: What to Wear for Fall Family Photos in Mechanicsburg PA

A lot of parents worry that planning a photo shoot for fall family photos in Mechanicsburg PA will be too much work, but it doesn’t have to be as difficult as you might think! In fact, as a full-service photographer, I can help you with all the details. The beautiful family featured in this blog chose their own location but I can help you with that, and I can even help you with choosing your family’s wardrobe. These tips can get you started, though.

Take Advantage of Layers

For fall portraits, layers are your best friend! For one, they photograph well and they have a great fall look. For two, they’re comfortable and versatile. You never quite know what the weather will do, and it will depend on the shooting location too – it might be breezier there than it was at your home when you got dressed. Layers let you adjust to anything,

Choose Deep Colors and Jewel Tones for Fall Family Photos in Mechanicsburg PA

Generally, deep, rich colors work well for fall portraits. They go great with the colors of fall foliage, complementing the background while making sure your family stands out. Fall is a great time for jewel tones like ruby red, emerald green, or deep purple, along with neutrals and earth tones like shades of brown, sage green, and cream.

Dress Mom First

In most families, especially if your kids are younger, Mom is the most difficult person to dress. We have curves and we want to wear something that makes us look and feel our best. That’s why it helps to find an outfit you love for yourself first. This gives you a starting point and you can then create the rest of the family’s outfits to complement it.

Complement, Don’t Match

You’ll notice that I said that your family’s outfits should “complement” yours, and that’s a key word here. The trend is no longer for the family to match perfectly but instead to have a color palette of around four colors that look great together. This way, your family looks put-together but also natural. Plus, frankly it’s incredibly hard to find outfits when you’re trying to match exact shades, so broad palettes and color families are much easier.

Balance Comfort and Style for Your Footwear

Footwear is easy to overlook but it’s such an important part of everyone’s outfit, and it should align with your overall style. I’m mostly looking at you, moms! Heels can flatter your body shape wonderfully in photos, but choose the right ones for the location. For outdoor photos where you’ll be standing on a grassy or dirt surface, choose block heels or wedges rather than stiletto heels that can sink in.

Planning Your Wardrobe for Fall Family Photos in Mechanicsburg PA? I’ve Got You!

As a full-service photographer, I’m here to make your photo shoot experience a breeze and that includes advising you on your wardrobe. To start planning, contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat!

 

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Celebrating New Chapters with Hershey PA Family Photography

Life might feel like it goes by in a flash, but when we look back at our life, we tend to see it in chapters. You might remember a fun story and think, “Oh that was when we were living in Such-and-Such Town” or “That was during those years when all the kids were at home and hadn’t started school.” When those types of life changes happen and launch a new chapter, like moving to a new city or just a new home, each child starting kindergarten, and each child leaving the nest, what better way to celebrate and memorialize them than with Hershey PA family photography? Here’s why.

1. Documenting the Start of Something New

In your family photo albums, these portraits will mark the beginning of a new chapter in your story. You’ll be able to bring yourself back to this moment when life changed in some way, and you’ll forever have this image of how your family looked and who you all were at this juncture. Years later when you embark on your next adventure together, like when you move to another new city, you’ll be able to look back and see how much your family has grown and changed in these years.

2. Creating Memories Together in Your New Chapter with Hershey PA Family Photography

A family photo session is about so much more than the photos themselves. The session is an experience that you have together as a family. When you have a family photo session to commemorate a move or another big change in life, the session can be a bonding experience with your family and a way to say, “We’re all in this together.” It can bring you closer amid all of life’s changes and it creates memories of the photo session that you can all look back on fondly.

3. Celebrating New Experiences Together

Big changes and new chapters in life bring new experiences for the whole family, and family portraits can be a way to remember those new experiences. Take the family whose photos are featured in this blog, for example. They recently moved to the Hershey area and this is the first time they’ve lived somewhere that had a traditional fall – chilly weather, colorful foliage, falling leaves, the works. This family portrait session is a way to remember the start of this exciting chapter of life (living in Pennsylvania) and to remember the first traditional fall they’ve shared. I know that, years down the line, they’ll absolutely love having these portraits to look back on.

Honor Your Family’s Story with Hershey PA Family Photography

As a family photographer, I’m passionate about giving every family the joy and beauty of professional family portraits, and it’s even more special when those portraits are celebrating the start of a new adventure you’re taking together. If your family is moving into a new chapter of your story, whether it’s a move, a graduation, a new baby, or whatever it might be, contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s preserve this moment with family photos.

 

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Why You Should Still Get Family Photos with Your Adult Children: Camp Hill PA Family Photos at Every Age

If you flip through my gallery of Camp Hill PA family photos (and just about any gallery of family portraits, actually), you’ll mostly see photos of parents with their young kids. And sure, young families make up most of my family photography clients. But I’ve watched so many families enjoy the magic of family portraits when their children are adults too. There are so many reasons why family photography is still so important when you have adult children.

Celebrating Unique Stages of Life with Camp Hill PA Family Photos

One of the most beautiful things about families is that these are such living, dynamic relationships. Your relationships with your children (and often your relationship with your spouse or partner) are so very different when your children are adults than when they were little. Your relationships will even continue to change throughout your children’s adulthoods as each person in the family changes.

A family photo session creates lifelong mementoes of not only what your family looked at this moment in time but also mementoes of who you each are and of the bonds you share at this time in your lives. Your family should be honored and celebrated just as much at this age as you did when your children were kids.

Photographing Your Expanding Family

As your children grow up, chances are that your family is about to expand! Maybe your children will bring a spouse or partner into the family, and/or have children of their own. Having family portraits throughout the years is a wonderful way to someday be able to look back and watch as your family grew and changed. No matter what age your child is today, you’ll one day cherish the memories of this time and you’ll be so glad to have professional portraits to bring back those memories.

Create a Shared Heirloom for Distant Family Members

It’s so common these days for young adults (and middle-aged adults) to move away from their hometown. Whether they’re moving for a new job or military orders, to be near their partner’s family, or just for a change of scenery and to strike out on new adventures, sometimes these moves can be sudden. A portrait of your family together is a fantastic way for all of you to keep a piece of each other in your homes, no matter how near or far you are.

Creating New Family Memories

As your children grow up, they get busy with their new adult lives - careers, dating, friends, travel, the works! Before you know it you have less and less time to spend together. But a family photo session is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some quality time together and create fun memories while also creating an heirloom that will last.

Contributing to Your Own Legacy for the Future with Camp Hill PA Family Photos

It might not be the most fun thing to think about, but one day you will leave this world and your children will want photos to remember you and all the times you shared together. They don’t only want to remember you as you were in their childhood but as you were in later years as well. It’s a beautiful gift for them to have portraits of your family across the many different chapters of your lives.

Booking Your Camp Hill PA Family Photos

If you want to celebrate the changing stages of your family’s life, it’s so important not to overlook your children’s adult years. To get your Camp Hill PA family photos on the calendar, reach out and let’s chat!

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Hershey PA Family Photography: 3 Common Concerns You Don’t Have to Worry About

The idea of organizing a family photo shoot can be stressful for many parents - I get it! You already have a busy schedule, so how will you find the time for the session, finding outfits, and all the other details? What if you spend all that time and don’t like how you look in the photos? I completely understand, and I’m here to help! The good news is that you don’t have to stress about your Hershey PA family photography as much as you think you do. These are some common concerns I’ve noticed among parents and why you can set your worries aside.

Picking Out Family Photo Outfits

This is a part of the planning that many families stress over, but when you have the help of a professional photographer, it’s so much easier than you think! During your in-person consultation, we’ll talk about color palettes and what I suggest for your family. As you’re choosing outfits, you can even send me pictures and I’ll let you know what I recommend.

Looking Your Best in Your Photos

So many people worry that they won’t like how they look in their photos, especially if you don’t like how you look in selfies and quick photos you take on your phone. But trust me, having a professional photographer is a whole different ball game! The families in the photos you see throughout my website aren’t models, they’re real people in the local area that I’ve photographed. Rest assured that I’ll guide your posing and other details to make sure I highlight your best side (and do the same for everyone in your family).

Creating a Display for Your Family Photos

Another common worry families have is that they’ll invest their time, energy, and money into a beautiful family photo shoot and then be lost when it comes to displaying those portraits. After all, it’s not easy to find a great printing provider, figure out a display design that will look wonderful in your home, order the prints, and then hang them up. That’s why I make sure my clients can skip all that work! We’ll meet together to go over your portraits and choose your favorites, and I’ll help you design and order a stunning display that’s perfect for your home.

Let’s Get Started with Your Worry-Free Hershey PA Family Photography

So much of the family photography experience depends on the photographer you hire. I make sure that every one of my clients has an enjoyable, low-stress experience. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning yours!

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Harrisburg Family Photography Tips: How to Choose a Location for Outdoor Family Photos

One of my favorite aspects of Harrisburg family photography is the fact that we have so many gorgeous locations in the area for outdoor portraits. No matter what style or look you want, chances are that there’s a spot nearby that’s perfect for your family photos. Many of my clients ask me for location recommendations, and it’s true that I’ve been able to scout out plenty of favorites in the area, but you’re welcome to choose a location of your own too!

If you’re looking for the perfect spot for your next family photo session, follow these top tips.

Consider the Look and Style You Want

Your photo shoot location will literally set the stage for your portraits, so the location you choose can immediately create the style and look you want for your photos. You want a location that suits the style you want, whether that style is rustic, natural, urban and chic, cozy, light and airy, or whatever it may be.

Look for Textures for Your Harrisburg Family Photography

You may be surprised by how much it can enhance a photo when you incorporate some complementing textures, and your photo shoot location is a great way to get those textures. Elements like a brick wall, a wooden structure, or an array of flowers can add a touch more visual interest and balance to your family portraits.

Envision Your Color Scheme

One of the first things many parents do when planning their Harrisburg family photography session is to choose a color scheme based on where they want to display their portraits. Make sure you take that color scheme into account when choosing your photo location, finding a spot with background colors that fit or complement your color scheme.

Be Mindful of Property Laws and Privacy

This is less of an aesthetic consideration and more of a logistical one, but it still matters. It’s critical to make sure you can legally and easily access the photo shoot location of your choice. If it’s private property, get permission in writing to take pictures there. If it’s public property like a public park, try to find an event schedule to make sure the area won’t be occupied by a festival or other event on your photo shoot day.

Find Space for Kids to Play During Your Harrisburg Family Photography

Posed portraits of your family sitting or standing together neatly are quaint and traditional, and all my Harrisburg family photography shoots will include these types of photos. But every family also loves some candid action shots taken while you and your family enjoy your time together, highlighting the authentic joy you have with your family.

To make it easier to create these types of images, it helps to have a photo location where kids can play and adventure a bit. It doesn’t have to be anything too complex, just some space for kids to explore safely.

Look for Plenty of Light

One of the most instrumental factors to consider for any photo session is the lighting. Depending on the time of day, if there are too many big structures in your photo shoot location, there might be too many shadows for me to fully showcase your beautiful family. Look for a location that is open enough that it will get plenty of light rather than an area that is overly shaded.

Consider a Space with Variety

It can be helpful to have a location that has several different spots that have their own looks and accents. For example, you might go to a family member’s farm that has a lovely old barn for some rustic looks, an open grassy area for more natural and minimalist portraits, and a flower garden to add some color. This lets us easily move from spot to spot so you have plenty of styles to choose from in your finished photo gallery.

Booking Your Harrisburg Family Photography

Whether or not you already have a vision and a location in mind for your family portraits, I can create a stunning family photo shoot that will produce portraits you’ll cherish for decades to come. Ready to start planning? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today.

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Family Photography in Carlisle PA Tips: How to Choose a Photo Location

The portraits featured in this blog are all from a beautiful session I recently had for family photography in Carlisle PA. There’s something unique about this family (beyond, of course, how sweet and adorable they are)...my clients chose this photo location themselves!

Most of my clients ask for my location recommendations, and I’m happy to provide them. But if there’s a particular spot you think may be perfect for your next family photo session, these are the top qualities you should look for.

Low Foot Traffic for Quiet Family Photography in Carlisle PA

Your photo session needs to be in a place that is public (or a place you can get permission to take photos), but it shouldn’t be too busy. If there are other people around, this can be distracting for kids and it could make it difficult for us to get portraits without people in the background. Even a busy park usually has some quieter pockets that are picture-perfect, so look for those!

Lighting

Natural light is so important for your portraits. While I always schedule these sessions for an hour of the day when the lighting is best, your location also needs to let that light in. Skip places like dense forests that block the surrounding light.

Space and Safety for Your Family Photography in Carlisle PA

The best family portraits show genuine joy and family moments, and I capture these by encouraging your family to play a little in the environment and have fun together. Make sure your session location has enough space for your kids to run and play safely.

Seasonal Colors

What colors are in the landscape at your photo location of choice? Are there lots of yellow flowers, for example, or pink ones? Make sure the colors and imagery will match the look you want for your family photos.

Creating Beautiful Family Photography in Carlisle PA

The session location is one of many factors that will work together to create stunning family portraits you’ll be proud to hang on your walls, and I can make sure everything aligns the way you want. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s get started!

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6 Things Your Family Photographer in Hershey Wants You to Know

For many parents, the mere idea of a family photo session makes them feel stressed because they’re worried about all the work that goes into planning outfits, blocking out the schedule, getting the kids to cooperate during the session, and so on. It doesn’t have to be that way, though! As your trusted family photographer in Hershey, I know that the family photography process can be smooth, simple, and even enjoyable. To help improve your next family photo experience, check out these six things I wish all of my clients knew.

1. Photos of the Whole Family Matter

Parents often find themselves justifying a lack of family photos because they’re constantly taking pictures of the kids and their childhood adventures…and because they’re self-conscious about being in the pictures. The fact is, though, that for your children, having photos of the whole family together will one day be priceless. One day your children will only have their memories of you, and portraits of the entire family together will bring those memories back to life.

2. Each Photographer’s Style is Unique

Photography is an art form, just like painting and writing music, so every photographer has their own artistic style. If you have a specific vision in mind for the way you want your family portraits to look, make sure you go to a photographer who creates in that same style. Know that while every family’s portraits are unique, you can expect your photos to have the same general style as the other photos in your photographer’s profile.

3. I’m Here to Help as Your Family Photographer in Hershey

This is a big one! The reason so many parents dread family photos is the planning, like picking out outfits for everyone. You don’t have to do that alone! When you hire me as your photographer, I’m here to share my expertise at every step of the way. I’m happy to give you guidance and answer any questions you have, so just ask.

4. Your Photos Deserve More Than a Social Media Post

Professional family photos are an investment, and your images deserve to be treasured and enjoyed for years to come. When you love your photos, you’re eager to share them with all your friends and family members on social media, and that’s wonderful! But that shouldn’t be the only way you enjoy your portraits. Displaying family photos on your walls gives you stunning custom artwork and allows you to relive beloved memories every day. It doesn’t have to take a lot of extra work to do this, either - my full-service photography studio can handle all of this for you.

5. It Helps to Stick with the Same Family Photographer in Hershey

There are so many family photographers out there, and you might find yourself wishing you could try them all. There’s a special advantage to hiring the same photographer for all of your family’s professional portraits, though.

The best photos happen when everyone is comfortable and confident, and this naturally happens as your family gets to know your photographer and vice versa. As your kids get more comfortable with your photographer, they’re more likely to relax and make every session a better experience with better outcomes.

6. What Matters Most is Having Fun!

When parents think of family photos, their minds often immediately go to the work involved, but it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t need to be stressing about things like a few wrinkles on clothing or a dirt spot or two. My aim is to capture your family’s spirit on camera - the laughter, the affection, the way you relate to each other. It’s this authenticity that will make your family portraits that much more special. So during your session, just relax and enjoy the time with your kids. I can retouch a pimple or a grass mark, but I can’t put a genuine smile on your face.

Creating the Best Experience with Your Family Photographer in Hershey

As a trusted family photographer, I’ve spent years helping families throughout the Hershey and Harrisburg areas to create the beautiful, lifelong heirlooms that are custom family portraits. The tips above can help you to enjoy not only a smoother, more positive experience but better family portraits you’ll love forever. Want to learn more? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat.

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Family Photography in Hershey: Are Family Photos Worth It?

You’re raising a family, and your schedule is constantly packed, so the idea of adding a family photo session to your plate sounds exhausting. I get it! The fact is, though, that with a full-service photographer, a photo session doesn’t have to be as much of a hassle as you expect it to be, because I’ll take care of the details. With that in mind, there are several reasons why investing in family photography in Hershey will be worth it for you and your kids alike.

Capturing Special Moments of Togetherness with Family Photography in Hershey

Family photos aren’t just posed portraits of everyone smiling stiffly at the camera. As a photographer, I have a trained eye for capturing the sweet moments of closeness between you and your family. It’s all about preserving authentic moments of love and joy with your family, and that’s something you won’t get with DIY snapshots.

High-Quality Portraits for Versatile Use

When you get a truly fantastic family picture that makes everyone look great, you want to use it for everything - social media, wall art, photo gifts, holiday cards, you name it. So it’s heartbreaking if that wonderful picture is just a low-resolution picture you snapped on your phone. With professional family photography in Hershey, you’ll get spectacular portraits that are high-quality enough that you can use them for anything, and I’ll even help you turn them into custom artwork for your home.

Lifelong Family Heirlooms

This time in your life, when your kids are young, is a time that you and they will cherish in the years ahead. One day, after you have lived your life, your kids will only have their memories of you…and pictures to bring back those memories. Family portraits are irreplaceable, beautiful gifts for your future children.

Investing in Your Family Photography in Hershey

To families all over the world, family photography is well worth the time and investment, and I’m honored to help so many throughout the Hershey area to invest in this special gift. To book your session, contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today.

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