Harrisburg PA photographer

Harrisburg PA photographer, Karissa Zimmer specializes in newborn photography, baby pictures, maternity photography, family photography, and senior pictures.

Why Are Harrisburg Newborn Portraits Taken Indoors Only?

The trend for a lot of professional photography today is to take photos outdoors – that’s the case for family photography, for example, as well as senior photography and maternity photography. But you might notice that it isn’t the case for newborns, and as a newborn photographer, I can attest to this. But there are reasons for it! Here’s why Harrisburg newborn portraits are typically only taken indoors.

Controlling the Environment

During a newborn photography session, we want your little one to sleep as much as possible. In the studio, we can set up the environment so it’s irresistible for a nice nap – soft lighting, quiet sounds, cozy warmth, you name it. Outside, we don’t have control over all those elements. If a loud vehicle drives past or an unexpected rain starts, that could be all it takes to wake your baby and make it hard to get the sleepy portraits parents love (plus it leaves you with a not-so-baby baby when you go home).

Quaint Lighting

Outdoor lighting can be harsh and overly bright. Not only might that make it harder for your little one to sleep but it’s also just not necessarily the look you want for newborn photos. We want newborn portraits to reflect the gentle sweetness of your precious baby, and in the studio, I can create the nice soft lighting that helps to create this look.

Safety for Harrisburg Newborn Portraits

This one is so important! Your baby is precious and we want to keep them safe during their photo session. There are so many risks outdoors that we don’t have indoors – overheating or sunburns, bug bites, and so on. My photo studio is specifically set up for safe and beautiful newborn photo sessions, with things like cushions made to keep them from rolling or falling.

Planning Your Studio Harrisburg Newborn Portraits

If you have a baby on the way or a newborn in your home, I’d love to create a safe and stunning newborn photo session for your growing family in my comfortable and well-appointed studio. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat!

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Common Questions About Sitter Session Photography Answered by Your Harrisburg Baby Photographer

A sitter session is such a fun milestone to photograph for your baby! It gives us an opportunity to get adorable portraits of them sitting sweetly and showing their developing personality before they start crawling so fast that it will be hard to keep up with them. If your little one is approaching that milestone, you might be curious about sitter session photography. As your Harrisburg baby photographer, I’m happy to fill you in!

What Should I Bring to a Sitter Session with My Harrisburg Baby Photographer?

This will depend on your photographer but in my case, I aim to make baby photography as easy on parents as possible! My studio is fully equipped with everything we need including outfits, sets, props, and accessories. All you have to bring is anything you’ll want to keep yourself and your baby comfortable during the session like bottles or other feeding items. I’ll take care of the rest!

Can My Older Kids and I Be in My Baby’s Sitter Session Portraits?

Baby photography celebrates milestones that bring joy to your whole family, and I think it’s beautiful to include the whole family in your baby’s sitter session photos. During your pre-session consultation, we’ll talk through all the details so you’ll know what to wear and what to expect.

When Should I Schedule My Baby’s Sitter Session?

Scheduling can be tricky for sitter session photography because every baby hits the milestone of sitting unassisted in their own time. I recommend reaching out a few months before you expect your baby to reach that milestone so I can set aside time in my calendar. Don’t worry, we can pencil in a general timeframe when you book and then set the specific date once your baby has started sitting up on their own.

Booking Your Sitter Session with a Harrisburg Baby Photographer

As a Harrisburg baby photographer, I have the joy of celebrating so many babies’ special milestones, including the sitter session for the beautiful baby girl featured here. I’d be honored to do the same for your little one! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning your session.

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Harrisburg PA Family Photography is for Nontraditional Families Too!

When you see family photos online, whether you’re looking for inspiration for your own family portraits or you’re flipping through the family photos your friends and relatives are posting on Instagram, you probably see a lot of the stereotypical nuclear family. You see a lot of portraits with mom, dad, and 2-3 kids. But as a photographer who has the privilege of bringing Harrisburg PA family photography to life on a daily basis, I believe in inclusion and have a special place in my heart for photographing beautiful nontraditional families.

The gorgeous single mom and her baby boy featured in this post are just one of the many nontraditional families I’ve had the privilege of working with recently. For any nontraditional families who wonder if your family portraits can be just as wonderful as the ones you see online, yes they can! Here’s why.

A Custom Harrisburg PA Family Photography Experience

There are certain poses and dynamics you’ll see often in family photos, and sure, those poses might not transfer over to some nontraditional families. But truthfully, that doesn’t matter much at my Harrisburg PA family photography studio because every photo session I perform is customized.

From the start, I’ll meet with you to learn about your family, your style and your personality. I’ll create a custom photo session that’s purely designed for your family, no matter who your family includes.

Telling Your Family’s Story

It’s important to me to communicate that family photography isn’t just about creating pretty artwork and it’s not meant to make every family look like a Norman Rockwell painting. It’s about your family and what makes you special! Your portraits are a way to tell your family’s story in a form that will last for generations. They should capture your personality in a meaningful and authentic way and highlight the love among your family.

Beautiful family photography is an experience and an heirloom that every family deserves, and there’s no family who can’t get stunning family portraits that they cherish. I would be honored to create your heirloom portraits so contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat!

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The Benefits of Outdoor Family Photography in Harrisburg PA

We’re finally seeing those first few hints of spring after a long Pennsylvania winter! It’s enough to make anyone want to run outside and just bask in the sunlight we’ve all been missing this winter. One way you can take advantage of the beautiful spring is with outdoor family photography in Harrisburg PA. If you’re deciding between an in-studio or outdoor photo shoot, here are some special perks of outdoor portraits.

Authentic Family Fun

The best family photos always come from genuine smiles. I want your family to have fun during your photo shoot! Outdoor environments are a perfect way to do this. For many people, photography studios can be intimidating, but when your photo shoot is in a park, you’re in an area that is meant for fun and recreation, so it’s easier for the whole family to let loose and have a great time.

Low-Stress Environments for Parents of Active Kids

When you have active and energetic little ones, a photo studio can be a stressful place. You’re worried about your child running into equipment that could be dangerous or expensive, or messing up a carefully constructed background, so you feel the need to govern every step your child takes.

Outdoors, that’s not a problem! There’s plenty of space for kids to run around and be themselves, showing off that fun spirit that we want to celebrate in your family portraits. We can even choose a photo shoot location that your family is familiar with, like a park that you often visit, where you know your kids can run and play without safety hazards.

Taking Advantage of Nature’s Beauty for Outdoor Family Photography in Harrisburg PA

An indoor photo studio can be designed to make for beautiful photo backgrounds, but why create a pretty background when nature has already done the work for us? We’re fortunate in the Harrisburg area to have plenty of gorgeous parks and outdoor settings that are perfect for family photos, and as a local family photographer, I know all the best spots! I’ll work with you to choose a photo shoot location based on the look and colors you want in your portraits.

Creating Memories in the Moment

You want your family photos to be beautiful artwork for your home, of course, but they should be so much more than that too. A family portrait can transport you back in time to this amazing stage in your life, no matter how many years pass. It’s even better when the photo itself is linked to specific memories with your family. That’s my goal for family photo shoots: to allow your family to simply have fun and enjoy the day together while I turn that experience into gorgeous artwork. Outdoor photography is perfect for this - every time you see the portrait, you won’t just remember bringing the family to a studio, you’ll remember all the fun you had at that park spending quality time together.

Make the Most of This Spring! How to Book Your Outdoor Family Photography in Harrisburg PA

Outdoor family photography in Harrisburg PA is an investment you’ll thank yourself for in the years to come, and this spring is the perfect time to take advantage of our stunning local scenery! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography to book your family photo session.

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My Central Pennsylvania Newborn Photography: Why I Do In-Person Consultations

If you’ve shopped around for photographers in the past, you might know that every photographer has a different process or experience for their photo sessions. Some provide more hands-on support, service, and guidance while others use simplified processes that don’t involve as much time or one-on-one attention. In my central Pennsylvania newborn photography studio, I’m all about attentive service!

I know how important your newborn portraits are to you - the first professional photos your little one will ever have and the only ones you’ll have when they’re this tiny. These portraits are worthy of an investment, not only from you but from me too. I’m dedicated to creating custom portraits that are unique to your family, and one of the ways I do that is by starting with an in-person consultation. Here are a few insights into why I provide in-person consultations and the difference they make for my clients.

Providing a Full-Service Experience for Central Pennsylvania Newborn Photography

As a mom, I know first-hand that life is busy when you’re preparing for a new baby…and that’s an understatement! You have so much on your plate already, and my philosophy is that you should be able to get stunning newborn photos without adding more chores to your list. In-person consultations allow you and I to sit down for some dedicated planning time so I can use your preferences and vision to plan your photo session, help you decide what to wear, and more.

Getting to Know Your Tastes

Custom photography, including central Pennsylvania newborn photography, is all about capturing your special memories in a way that’s authentic to you and your family. Your family’s personalities should shine through in your portraits. Spending time with you in person lets me get to know you and your family so I can create portraits that are true to who you are.

Designing Your Session for the Final Result

I believe portraits should be displayed and loved in your home, not sitting on a storage drive or in the cloud. An in-person consultation gives us a chance to talk about how and where you might want to display your portraits. This way, I can design your session using color schemes, compositions, and other details that will coordinate perfectly with your home decor.

Experience the Difference of Full-Service Central Pennsylvania Newborn Photography

Ready to see what it’s like to have the personalized attention of a full-service photographer? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat!

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Now is the Time to Book Your Central Pennsylvania Maternity Photos for the Summer!

It’s cold and wintery in Pennsylvania right now, so it’s refreshing to look back on this stunning maternity photo shoot in Gettysburg last summer and to think ahead to the warm, sunny summer maternity photos to come. It’s also the perfect time for me to remind you: now is the perfect time to book your central Pennsylvania maternity photos for the summer!

Why Book Your Central Pennsylvania Maternity Photos Early

January may seem early to be thinking about summer maternity photos, but trust me, it’s the perfect time! If you’ll be in the late stages of your pregnancy in the summer, there are several reasons to schedule and start planning your summer maternity portraits now.

Find Availability for Your Preferred Date

Simply put, my schedule fills up quickly! The cycle of life never stops so I photograph newborn, maternity, and baby photos all year round. The summer, though, is also a popular time for my clients to schedule family photos and senior portraits. I only accept a limited number of photo sessions each month so I can give every client the personalized attention and custom service you deserve, so my books fill up early. Now is the best time to schedule if you want to have options during the ideal time in your pregnancy for maternity portraits.

Start Planning Early for Summer Central Pennsylvania Maternity Photos

Every client I work with is different, but many moms-to-be love planning the outfits and fun details of their maternity photos! All of this, though, will depend on where and when your photo shoot will be. Booking your session now will allow you to set those details so you can start thinking about the fun aspects of your session.

Move On with Other Projects

While maternity photography is something many women look forward to, figuring out the logistics like the scheduling can be stressful. You have a lot on your plate during this exciting time! Booking your maternity session early lets you get the logistics set and out of the way so you can move on with your to-do list.

Book Your Summer Central Pennsylvania Maternity Photos Today

Let’s start planning your dream maternity portraits together! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography to book your session.

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Why Quality Matters in Your Central PA Newborn Photography Displays

Your newborn will only be tiny for a short time, and as a mom, I can tell you that you won’t realize just how short the newborn stage is until it’s over. That’s part of why I’m so passionate about my central PA newborn photography - because I know how precious these special portraits are and I want families to experience them before the opportunity has passed.

As you plan your newborn photography session, though, you need to consider another question: how will you display your portraits? As a photographer, I work with each of my clients to help you design and order beautiful, high-quality display pieces for your artwork, whether they’re Italian canvas prints, framed wall prints, premium photo albums, or whatever else you choose. Today, I’m sharing some insight into why it’s so important to choose quality displays for your newborn photos rather than using an inexpensive online service.

A Finished Look Worthy of Your Investment

Custom photography comes with a price. That price is well worth it for the professional quality and attentive service you receive, but it’s still an expense. When you spend that money on a custom photo session, you want the finished result to have a “wow!” look. Low-quality printed products can cheapen the look of those portraits that you invested your time, care, and money into, while quality prints will do justice to your premium portraits.

Portraits That Don’t Age While the Memories Do

Newborn portraits have the amazing feature of becoming more and more precious the more time passes. You’re sure to love your portraits as soon as you see them, of course, but their real power doesn’t come out until you see that tiny baby in the portrait next to your child who has now grown and flourished, and the portrait becomes a portal to the past. Low-quality displays, sadly, will be fading and declining just as you want to enjoy them more. A quality display will stay with you and remain as vivid as the memories of your baby.

Long-Lasting Heirlooms of Your Central PA Newborn Photography

Newborn portraits are meaningful to you because they bring back memories from your first days with your little one. But for your children, they have a whole new meaning: a link to a time that they can’t remember. Portraits can become treasured family heirlooms that you pass down from generation to generation, but only if you choose prints or displays that are high-quality enough to last for all those years.

Custom Designs to Complement Your Home

Your baby’s beautiful newborn portraits should be a sentimental and cherished part of your household decor, so you want them to complement your decor in a stylish, intentional way. While it may be possible to do this with low-cost commercial printed products, investing in quality takes it to a new level. I work with my clients to design the perfect display for their aesthetic and the decor in the room where they want to display their portraits. You get a cohesive, custom look without spending hours scouring stores for the right frame or taking guesses about how a product will look in your space.

Quality You Don’t Notice Until You Do

One of the most heartbreaking issues with low-quality displays for your newborn portraits is that you may not regret your decision until it’s too late. In some cases, families order an inexpensive printed product and when it first arrives, it looks fine and they think they’ve lucked out. But after a few years, their canvas starts to loosen or sag, or their album starts fading the photos within it. By the time they realize the difference that quality makes, they could have lost access to their baby’s portraits and no longer have a way to get the quality displays they want. It’s always safer to invest in quality portraits from the start so you know your beloved portraits will last.

Preserving Your Family’s Memories with the Quality They Deserve: Your Central PA Newborn Photography

In my central PA newborn photography studio, it’s such an honor to create custom portraits for my clients. I want you to be able to enjoy your portraits for decades and generations to come, and that’s why I’m so passionate about quality displays. To learn more about the premium displays I help you create, contact Karissa Zimmer Photography.

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Harrisburg Senior Photos: What to Wear

Senior photos are a rite of passage that so many emerging young adults look forward to, and you want your photos to be as beautiful as you are! One important factor to plan for is your wardrobe. What should you wear for your Harrisburg senior photos? I’ll chat with you about specifics during your pre-consultation, but in the meantime, check out these tips.

Bring Variety

All my senior photo sessions include multiple outfit changes, and you want your outfits to be different enough to capture all the looks you want. Consider bringing one casual outfit, one outfit that’s more formal, and one that reflects your personality or hobbies like your jersey for a sport you play, an outfit with a rocker aesthetic, or your culture’s traditional dress. It’s a good idea to have a few extra outfits too in case you change your mind or have a last-minute stain or broken zipper.

Don’t Forget the Details

When planning your outfits, the clothes are just the starting point. Plan which accessories, shoes, and jewelry you plan to wear with each outfit too and try it all on together. This way, you can make sure it looks the way you want and that you have everything you need.

Have Layering Options for Your Harrisburg Senior Photos

Layers are magic in a photo session! They give you more visual variety without a full outfit change and they add some depth and texture to your photos. Bring a denim jacket to go over your dress or a flannel shirt to layer onto a t-shirt and jeans.

Avoid Going Overboard with Patterns

A good rule of thumb for photo shoots is to choose solid colors rather than complex patterns. Avoid anything with words or with a prominent logo too. The exceptions may be outfits that signify a particular hobby or interest you have.

Planning Your Harrisburg Senior Photos

Ready to start planning your once-in-a-lifetime senior photo session? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today!

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Harrisburg Fall Family Photos: Tips for Better Family Portraits

Harrisburg fall family photos are some of my favorite client portraits. They have a quaint and cozy feel that will warm anyone’s heart, and they take advantage of the stunning autumn colors we have here in Pennsylvania. For families, a fall photo session is a fabulous way to get beautiful custom artwork that preserves the memories of this chapter in their lives. How can you make sure your fall family portraits turn out the best that they can? Follow these tips to prep for your session like a pro.

Plan Your Wardrobe Strategically

As a mom, I know that planning your family’s wardrobe for a photo shoot can be a daunting task. I recommend that you start with your own outfit and then just go one person at a time. Choose one or two core colors that are fall-appropriate, like rust orange or navy blue, and then complement them with neutrals. Here are a few other tips that can help:

  • Avoid any items with prominent logos or words (something subtle like a small logo on a shirt pocket is fine).
  • Stick to solid colors and simple patterns, avoiding patterns that are too bold or busy. If you aren’t sure about an item, take a full-body picture of someone wearing it and look at whether it takes attention away from the person’s face.
  • Choose earthy neutrals like tan, gray, and ivory as opposed to more stark neutrals like white and black (white and black can be excellent for some other seasons, but more natural shades look better with fall colors).
  • Bring fall-appropriate layers, like scarves, jackets, and wraps, that look nice with your wardrobe. These add texture and will come in handy on a chilly fall day.

Keep Your Kids in the Loop

Have a chat with your kids in advance to let them know that the photo shoot is happening. When you do, present it as a fun family outing rather than as something unpleasant the kids will have to do. If you lead with a positive attitude, they’re more likely to follow suit and come to the photo session with a smile on their face.

Set Your Deadline as the Day Before Your Harrisburg Fall Family Photos

This is one of those little mind tricks that works wonders! When you’re preparing everything for your session, set your mental “deadline” as not the photoshoot day but the day before your photo shoot. Plan to have all the outfits laundered, pressed, and hanging together, have a bag of snacks and drinks packed in the fridge, etc. Last-minute issues can arise on the day of, so if all those details are already done, you have room in your schedule to accommodate those issues.

Keep in Touch with Your Photographer

You and your photographer are a team with the same goal: to create amazing fall family photos for your family. Make sure you communicate with them like a teammate. If you change your mind about anything, from the color scheme of your wardrobe to deciding to include grandparents in the photos, speak with your photographer so they can plan accordingly.

Make Sure No One Arrives Hungry for Your Harrisburg Fall Family Photos

Fall family photo sessions often take place around dinner time because that hour just before sunset creates beautiful natural lighting. But it’s best to have your dinner before the session rather than after, particularly if your kids are little. We want your kids to be having fun and flashing plenty of happy smiles, and that’s more likely to happen with a full belly. If you want to give the kids something to look forward to, you can take them out for dessert after the session.

Plan Extra Travel Time

I can’t emphasize the importance of this enough! First, your session is scheduled for a specific time based on the sunset time. If you get stuck in traffic and arrive 15 minutes late, the sun won’t wait for us, so we won’t have time to get all the portraits we want. Plus, when you’re running late, it adds stress to the whole family and that won’t start off your session on the right foot.

Planning Your Harrisburg Fall Family Photos

Want to start planning the perfect family photo session this fall? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat!

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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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