Mechanicsburg Pa Photography

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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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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Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photography Tip: Hire the Same Photographer for Each Baby

Welcoming a new baby into your family is a monumental and life-changing time, and that needs to be celebrated and commemorated in a way that will last. What better way to do this than with newborn portraits? Your Mechanicsburg PA newborn photography will create stunning artwork for your home that will forever transport you back to these special memories. Here’s one of my top tips for making the experience even better: hire the same newborn photographer every time. I’ll explain why.

Getting to Know Your Photographer (and Vice Versa)

Photography isn’t a science, it’s an art form. It’s all about capturing the beauty of this moment in time and carrying your family’s spirit and personality into the portraits. As a newborn photographer, I can tell you first-hand that the better I know my clients, the better I can make their portraits special and personal. The client whose beautiful baby girl is featured in this blog, for example, is a returning client. Not only does it make the experience more enjoyable when you already know and are comfortable with your photographer but it lets me bring more of your personality into the shoot.

Consistent Aesthetic Style

As I said, photography is an art form and not a science, and this means that every photographer’s style will be slightly different. If you have a different newborn photographer for each child, you might not realize how different they look until you go to put the portraits next to each other on your wall and they clash. On the other hand, if you work with the same photographer each time, you’ll be able to hang your babies’ portraits together with a consistent and complementary look so you get the full benefit of this custom artwork.

An Easy and Convenient Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photography

It’s no secret that when you’re pregnant and preparing for a newborn while you already have a child at home, you’re exhausted and don’t have a lot of time or energy to spare. Simply put, going to the same newborn photographer for each child makes the planning and logistics easier for you. You don’t have to comb through portfolios to see whose work you like, you don’t have to vet a photographer or worry about whether they have the skills and newborn safety knowledge to do a good job…all you have to do is reach out to book and you’ll have the process started. It’s a great way to make life easier on yourself.

Booking Your Mechanicsburg PA Newborn Photography

I’d be thrilled to get to know your growing family and create stunning portraits that will become heirlooms for your family. Let’s talk! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography to learn more.

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How to Choose Locations for Your Mechanicsburg PA Senior Photos

Your senior portraits are an exciting milestone in your life and they’ll serve as a lifelong link to this moment in life before you embark on the adventure of adulthood. As a local photographer I can’t wait to help you create the Mechanicsburg senior photos of your dreams, and a big part of the planning is choosing the locations for your photo shoot. Here are my top tips for finding the perfect photo locations for your session.

The #1 Tip: Use Your Photographer’s Expertise

When you hire a professional photographer, you’re not just getting someone to wield a camera - you’re also getting all the photographer’s expertise too. I’ve been photographing seniors and other photo sessions throughout the area for years, so I know all the best spots! During your pre-session consultation we’ll talk about the types of looks you want for your portraits and I’ll be able to recommend locations based on your vision.

Consider the Mood or Tone of Your Mechanicsburg PA Senior Photos

One of the aspects of senior photography I love most is that they can have so many different ideas from one person to the next because they’re all about celebrating who you are at this time in your life. Where you take photos can immediately set the tone for your portraits, so we’ll choose your locations together based on the looks you want.

For example, if you want an edgy or industrial vibe there are plenty of locations with that look, or if you want something that has more of a girly and lighthearted tone we can choose a field of flowers or something with that type of atmosphere. These are just two examples but there are countless looks we can create and I can always find a location that matches the vibe.

Think About Meaningful Locations

For some seniors, there are certain locations that mean a lot to them or are a big part of their lives, and these can make fantastic backdrops for your senior portraits. For example, if you’re a baseball player, we could take photos at a local baseball field. You don’t have to incorporate meaningful locations but it’s an idea to consider.

Keep an Eye on Convenience

Of course you want to have the perfect locations for your photo shoot, but particularly when we’re going to several locations, convenience does need to play a part. It would take a lot of time out of your session if we have to drive 20 minutes or so between locations, so ideally, we want to choose locations that are within a few minutes’ drive.

Planning Your Mechanicsburg PA Senior Photos

Ready to get started planning the senior photo session of your dreams? Let’s jump in! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start dreaming.

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Should You Have Mechanicsburg Cake Smash Photos for Your Baby’s First Birthday?

If your baby’s first birthday is coming up, a custom first birthday photo session is the perfect way to mark the occasion in a fun way that also creates sentimental portraits your family will love. It’s become a popular tradition to have Mechanicsburg cake smash photos as part of your baby’s first birthday photos. Should you have a cake smash photo session for your little one like the little guy in these photos? What are the pros and cons, and some fun alternatives if you decide to go a different way?

Why is Cake Smash Photography a First Birthday Tradition?

Why do we take cake smash photos as a first birthday tradition, anyway? It’s become popular in the US in the last decade or so. No one’s quite sure where the tradition started - it may be an homage to a Mexican first birthday tradition, or a callback to the tradition of brides and grooms smashing cake in each other’s faces at their wedding. Or maybe it’s just because when you give a baby a cake or cupcake to celebrate their birthday, they mostly just smash it between their fingers and play around with it, and cake smash photos capture that cuteness in a more aesthetic way than taking snapshots during their birthday party.

Regardless of where it started, cake smash photography can be a cute and fun way to celebrate your little one’s first birthday!

Are Mechanicsburg Cake Smash Photos the Best Option for Your Baby’s First Birthday?

Cake smash photography is entirely a question of personal preference. I love working with families to honor their baby’s landmark first birthday, whether they choose a cake smash or not!

There are, of course, pros and cons. A lot of parents love cake smash photos as a fun and lighthearted tradition. It can be so cute to watch your little one playing in the cake and exploring something new, getting adorably messy in the process.

Some parents just aren’t fans, though. You might not like the messy aesthetic. Some parents feel that a cake smash encourages their kids to eat sugar or exposes their kids to sugar before they’d like to, or that it encourages their baby to be messy with food.

It all comes down to your vision for your baby’s first birthday photos - there’s no right or wrong here.

Ideas for First Birthday Photos Without a Cake Smash

If you don’t want cake smash photos, you can still get a fabulous first birthday photo shoot for your baby! In fact, my first birthday photography sessions include many different portraits and sets, and for parents who want cake smash photos, this is just one part of the session.

Some parents like to split the difference and still have a “smash,” but with something besides cake. These can be a fun way to do a twist on the tradition! For example, instead of cake you could use:

  • Watermelon or other fruits
  • Donuts or other pastries
  • Pasta
  • Pancakes
  • Pie

Booking Your Mechanicsburg Cake Smash Photos or First Birthday Photos

First birthday photography is a beautiful way to celebrate a milestone for your family, and whether or not you want a cake smash, I’ll create fun and sentimental portraits you’ll be able to cherish. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning your baby’s session!

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Expecting a Baby? Here’s How to Start Preparing for Your Newborn Photos in Mechanicsburg, PA

When you’re pregnant, you’re doing so much planning and preparation - readying the nursery, stocking up on clothes, diapers, and other essentials, and so much more. But now is also the perfect time to start preparing for your baby’s newborn photos. After all, you want to capture those beautiful newborn portraits in your baby’s first ten days of life, so if you can have all the details taken care of in advance, it makes your life so much easier after you give birth. From your friendly newborn photographer, here’s your pregnancy checklist for your newborn photos in Mechanicsburg, PA.

What to Do During Pregnancy to Prepare for Your Newborn Photos in Mechanicsburg, PA

What should you have on your to-do list during your pregnancy to prepare for your newborn photos? Don’t worry, it’s very simple! All you need are these key steps:

  • Choose and book your photographer. Ideally, book your photographer by the time you start your third trimester so we can start planning ahead for your session. If you book with me, this is actually the only thing you have to do - I’ll walk you through the rest!
  • Make a plan for displaying your newborn portraits. You don’t need to know the specifics, but it’s great to have an idea of where in your home you want your portraits to be so I can design your session to suit the room’s decor. I’ll meet with you for an in-home consultation to help you with this too.
  • Pick out your outfit. While you don’t have to be in your baby’s newborn photos, a few portraits with your growing family can be such meaningful treasures! Neutrals and classics are typically best, but I’ll help you pick out your outfit during your consultation.
  • Consider any special requests. This isn’t a must but think about and let me know of anything specific you want in your session, like sentimental items or family heirlooms you want to incorporate, whether you’ll be including your baby’s older siblings if they have them, and so on.

Preparing for Your Newborn Photography with a Full-Service Photographer

As a parent-to-be, there isn’t too much to do in planning your newborn photos especially if you hire a full-service photographer like Karissa Zimmer Photography, but following these simple steps now makes such a difference when your baby is born. To learn more, contact my photography studio.

 

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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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Preserving Mechanicsburg Newborn Photos: Benefits of a Newborn Photo Album

As a photographer, I’m passionate about making sure that my clients don’t just get amazing portraits but that they also have a way to display those portraits. Every family has their own preferences, whether you want wall art, display folio cases, or other options, but one of my favorites for my clients is a premium custom photo album. There’s no wrong way to enjoy your Mechanicsburg newborn photos, but there are a few unique benefits of these albums that you might not realize.

Seeing More of Your Baby’s Portraits

Wall art is fantastic, but it does limit you to highlighting one or two favorite portraits. An album gives you the opportunity to see a full collection of your many favorites in front of you. You can, of course, do both wall art and an album! Either way, adding an album allows you to enjoy more of your newborn photos in your home.

Displaying Your Mechanicsburg Newborn Photos in a More Concise Way

As wonderful as wall art can be, it undeniably takes up a lot of wall space. Not all families have that space available, or you might not like the look of a gallery wall or multiple portraits on your wall. With a bespoke photo album, you’ll have your favorite newborn photos at your fingertips in a space-friendly way.

Maintaining a Portable, Shareable Heirloom

Portrait albums offer a convenience that many families enjoy because they’re easy to transport and move around. For families who may move often, this can be a way to keep your child’s newborn photos within reach without the logistical difficulties of wall art. Albums are also easy to pass down within your family, like gifting the album to your child when they grow up and move into their own home.

Celebrating Your Harrisburg Newborn Photos with Custom Photo Albums

If you’re interested in learning more about custom portrait albums or booking your Harrisburg newborn photos, let’s chat! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography.

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Summer Outdoor Family Photos in Mechanicsburg PA: How to Stay Cool

Summer has arrived, and for many local families, this is the perfect time for outdoor family photos in Mechanicsburg. The kids are out of school, there are plenty of daylight hours - it’s perfect for portraits you can treasure for years. There’s one problem, though: the heat can make a photo session uncomfortable. Not to worry, because I have some tricks! Use these tips to stay cool for your summer photo session.

Keep the Session Moving

This is the most important tip of all: be prepared to keep the photo session moving. Kids have short attention spans, and that’s especially true when they’re getting too warm. That’s why I try to make all family sessions brief while still allowing for the time we need to get beautiful photos. While I’ll take care of most of the pacing, I advise parents to be ready to get started as soon as you arrive.

Try a Portable Fan for Your Outdoor Family Photos in Mechanicsburg

Handheld, portable battery-powered fans can be lifesavers for any parent in the summer. Bring one of these little fans and feel free to pull it out every so often during your session to cool off your kids (and yourself).

Choose Breathable Outfits

As you’re planning the family’s wardrobe for your portraits, make sure the outfits are set up with summer in mind. Go for light, airy fabrics like linen. Lighter colors will help you to stay cool too. Ideally, choose items that don’t show sweat easily and are loose enough to allow for airflow.

Booking Your Outdoor Family Photos in Mechanicsburg Today

The summer will be over before we know it! If you want to make time for family portraits this summer, contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today and let’s book your photo session. I'll work with you to plan a photo shoot the whole family will love.

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Your Baby’s Mechanicsburg First Birthday Photos: How to Make Them Unique

Your baby’s first birthday is an exciting occasion that deserves to be celebrated! The tradition of a cake smash portrait session is always a fun one, but some parents want to make their babies’ photos stand out or make them more personal. How can you mix it up for your baby’s Mechanicsburg first birthday photos? Try these creative ideas.

Bring In Your Own Personality

You have a one-of-a-kind personality as a family, so why shouldn’t your baby’s portraits match? Instead of sticking with a classic look for your cake smash, consider what makes you and your family unique. I’m always happy to create a session in your style, whether that’s earthy, modern chic, girly, sporty, or anything else.

Consider a Fun Theme for Your Mechanicsburg First Birthday Photos

Get truly adventurous and try out a themed photo session. The theme could be anything - a visual theme like boho or the ‘80s, a movie or TV show, a holiday, and so on. The combination of wardrobe pieces and set designs can bring your theme to life and make your baby’s portraits unforgettable.

Try a “Non-Cake” Smash

Who says cake smash photos have to have a cake? Some families mix it up by having their babies smash something different. It could be a plate of pasta, a pie, doughnuts, or pancakes. You could try non-food items, too, like a sand castle, playdough, or non-toxic paints.

Collaborate with Your Photographer to Design Your Mechanicsburg First Birthday Photos

Not sure how to make your baby’s one-year portraits stand out? I’m happy to help! Photographers are artists after all, and I love to work my creative muscles and design a truly unique session. Take the featured photo session in this blog for example - one of my all-time favorites! Mom and I had a blast planning her little girl’s “Here Comes the Sun” themed session. I put a lot of love into the design and even had my daughter help by making the balloon garland.

Ready to get creative? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start dreaming up your session!

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