Trendy Tuesday: Holiday Photo Cards Be Creative

If you ever been to anything during the holidays you know that every party and especially any holiday photo has the potential hazard for fashion disaster.  It is just the nature of the holiday season and the confusing dress codes on invitations! But all that confusion with party invites doesn’t mean you still can’t have fun when it comes to your fashion and your holiday photo card. I have chosen some fun photo cards that are great examples of fashion, accessorizing, creativity and cards that just make you laugh.

My best advice for your photo card is don’t make it too complicated. Don’t try to over glitz, over coordinate, over dress and especially don’t over do your outfits and accessories. Make sure that relaxing, smiling and enjoying your family are the most important accessories you bring to your session. You will be happiest with your photos when you arrive less stressed about the process. The fun stuff that makes the card special will fall into place. I love the idea of Santa hats and candy canes. Scarves and hats are always fun and can coordinate even the least matched outfits.  I know I have lots of creative clients out there!

With a little advance preparation your card can perfectly represent your family moment. Preparation will help you to avoid many common holiday fashion mistakes and look your best in your card.

Some dates to remember so all your advance trendy fashion prep doesn’t go to waste:

Last date for sessions to ensure holiday deliver of your portraits is November 5th!

Last date for orders to be ready for December 24th is November 23rd!

 

Annual Slices of Life Holiday Mini Sessions | Two weekends, but only 4 openings!!!

Our Slices of Life Mini Session dates are almost full!! The time to schedule your holiday mini session is NOW! I am in the office all this week (recovering from my fabulous trip to New York City) and would love to speak with you! Our annual holiday mini sessions are being held this Friday and Saturday (October 15 & 16) on the beach in Naples -AND- October 21 & 22 in the beautiful Koreshan State Park. If the a fore mentioned dates do not agree with your schedule, I do still have limited availability for our traditional portrait sessions in time for the holidays but you’ll want to give me a call just as soon as possible to ensure your date on the calendar! 800-487-0064

I cannot wait to speak with you and capture your family’s precious memories this holiday season!

Slices of Life Holiday Mini Session Details

Our Slices of Life sessions offer the perfect opportunity to capture a few great shots- whether you would simply like to document a new milestone or capture a shot for use in your holiday cards. All of our regular products will be available making this the perfect opportunity to get a jump on your holiday shopping!

Sessions are quite limited and as such will be scheduled on a first come – first serve basis. The Slices of Life session fee of $75.00 is required to reserve your time. Fair warning, these sessions will book fast! We recommend calling early to ensure availability of your preferred time.

Each Slices of Life Session Includes:

- 20 minute session for up to four people

- 10-15 images presented in a private online gallery

- Special Xpressive Collections starting at $250.00

- Exclusive keepsakes and promotional albums in keeping with the current ‘Slices of Life’ theme

- 48 hour online ordering period

Slices of Life Mini Sessions at the Naples Secret Garden

Want to get a better idea of the beautiful images we can capture for you during your holiday mini session? Just click the links below to view a few of the fabulous portraits captured during previous years’ holiday mini sessions:

Mini Sessions Sneak Peek # 1

Mini Sessions Sneak Peek # 2

Mini Sessions Sneak Peek # 3 (Which includes a peek at the behind the scenes fun that comes with your lifeXpressions session!)

Just one more friendly reminder on those important holiday deadlines….

The last session date to ensure holiday delivery of your portraits is November 05, 2011.

The last date to order portraits for delivery before December 24, 2010 is November 23, 2011.

Trendy Tuesday: Fashion for Rent

Everything seems to cost more and more lately, but a new trendy idea is to “rent” your fashion, for a lot less. I never knew how easy it could be to have the latest fashion clothing and accessories at an affordable price delivered right to your door. The site Rent the Runway , offers customers a complete guarenteed fabulous look for anyone at an extremely affordable price. There are so many in-season outfits and accessories for every shape, size and coloring all potentially for less than $40. Rent the Runway even has a if it “doesn’t fit you don’t pay” policy! Ladies these are dresses by designers BCBG, Cynthia Rowley, Lily Pulitzer, Mossoni, Versace and so many more. Yes, dresses with price tags over $1,ooo renting for a small percentage of the retail price. You don’t even need to pay the dry cleaning bill, Rent the Runway does that for you too. Here are just a few fabulous looks I liked for any of the upcoming holiday sessions at LifeXpressions. These bright colors, accessories and stylish dresses will work well in any family photo. Try out Rent the Runway for anything you have coming up during the holiday season. Happy renting!

 

 

lifeXpressions Annual Holiday Mini Sessions | It Is Time!

It’s that time of year again! lifeXpressions will be offering our annual holiday mini sessions on Friday October 14th & Saturday October 15th at Delnor-Wiggins Pass Beach in Naples a second round of holiday mini sessions will take place on Friday October 21st and Saturday October 22nd at the beautiful Koreshan State Park in Estero.

Our Slices of Life sessions offer the perfect opportunity to capture a few great shots- whether you would simply like to document a new milestone or capture a shot for use in your holiday cards. All of our regular products will be available, making this the perfect opportunity to get a jump on your holiday shopping!

Sessions are quite limited and as such will be scheduled on a first come, first serve basis.

The Slices of Life session fee of $75.00 is required to reserve your time. Fair warning, these sessions will book fast! We recommend calling early to ensure availability of your preferred time. Also worth noting, lifeXpressions photography will be closed the week of October 3th through October 10th while I travel to New York City to spend some quality time with oldest who left for college this past July. I will be in the office all this week scheduling holiday sessions so the time to call is now! :)

Each Slices of Life HOLIDAY Mini Session Includes:

- 20 minute session for up to four people

- 10-15 images presented in a private online gallery

- Special Xpressive Collections starting at $250.00

- Exclusive keepsakes and promotional albums in keeping with the current ‘Slices of Life’ theme

- 48 hour online ordering period

Mini Sessions on the beach

Mini Sessions at the Secret Garden

Can’t fit one of our above mentioned group mini sessions in to your calendar? Perhaps you prefer digital files to prints? We’ve got you covered there as well with our Slices of Life Digital Mini Sessions you have the ability to capture a few beautiful updated portraits for your holiday cards and gifts and the luxury of being able to schedule your mini session at a time that is most convenient for your family’s busy schedule. Read on for more details…

 

Slices of Life Digital mini sessions are now booking! Yes, you heard that right! Our oh-so-popular mini sessions have gone digital! The Basic Slices of Life Session Fee is $595.00 which includes six (6) high resolution files! Alternatively you can upgrade at the time of booking to our Deluxe Slices of Life Mini Session Package for $895.00 which would include your favorite ten (10) high resolution images with the cost of the session fee. These high quality portraits are yours to print at the lab of your choosing. Once the proofs are online clients will be able to select their favorite six to ten negatives (depending on the session purchased) at no additional cost. Additional negatives and professionally printed portraits are also available for purchase at our standard la carte’ pricing.

Each Slices of Life DIGITAL Mini Session Includes:

- 20 minute session for up to four people

- 10-15 images presented in a private online gallery

- 6 high resolution digital negatives (10 if purchasing the Deluxe Mini Session)

- 48 hour online ordering period

The Slices of Life Digital Mini Session fee is required at the time of booking to reserve your space on the calendar. Call us today at 800-487-0064 for more information!

Just one more friendly reminder on those important holiday deadlines…

The last session date to ensure holiday delivery of your portraits is November 4, 2011.

The last date to order portraits for delivery before December 24, 2011 is November 20, 2011.

We look forward to helping you capture your holiday memories this year!

 

Trendy Tuesday: Finding Fashion in the Checkout Line

I know that sometimes I am not so regular with my Trendy Tuesday posts, I sometimes forget it is Tuesday…but I am always on the look out for great fashion ideas for my clients…really! *grin*

Last week while checking out at the grocery this magazine cover caught my eye. Yes, it is Kate Gosselin and her 8 children which would catch any mother’s eye…and of course it is People Magazine, every woman’s guilty pleasure in the grocery line too! But what really caught my attention was the styling of the photo of the Gosselin family.  Especially because there are lots of people to photograph together, hence make them all look good together. I know that white tops and jeans or khakis are a “go to” very safe choice for your next large group beach session, but I really liked the addition of the blue in this photo and thought it would work perfect for any family. The blue reminds me of the water, but would still show up nicely on the white sand.

Everyone looks happy and great in their outfits in this photo even though everyone isn’t wearing the exact same outfit or exact same color. I am sure People had expensive stylists to help with the outfits, but you can steal the Gosselin look for free just by shopping in Publix and reading this blog! You don’t have to choose blue to make this concept work but shades of another color will look great too, pink, green, purple would be fun.

I can’t wait to see what my next big family session comes up with! Email or call for your Fall session soon to get your holiday cards completed in time for the holidays!

I have no words | Naples Beach Family Photographer

I know, strange right? Me? Speechless?? It doesn’t happen often so I guess you’ll just have to enjoy it while it lasts. This family has been a part of the lifeXpressions family – MY FAMILY – since before Austin (their oldest) was born. Maternity and newborn sessions for each of their three children and holiday photos every year. I always knew they were wonderful parents and very special people. When Paxton came along my heart overflowed with joy for them and the new life coming in to the world. Unfortunately this was followed by grief and disbelief at the challenges they would soon have to overcome. Don’t feel badly for them though. Sure, Paxton and his family have had a long hard journey to get to where they are today but they are strong and such fighters. I am so very proud to be a part of their lives and hope to share many more memories with them for years to come!

I’ve told the story before so I’ll be brief in my explanation. For those who don’t know their story, you can read about Paxton’s birth here. Paxton was born with a very serious heart condition know as Hypoplastic left heart syndrome. But as you can see from the photos below, Paxton’s condition does not define the West family. Oh no, they are stronger, wackier, and have more love to share than ever before! Make no mistake, this family is blessed. Okay, time to share some of my favorite people with you all…Dave, you will not escape next time!! ;) Ahh, the joys of little boys…

…Austin…

…Mason…

…Paxton…

Trendy Tuesday: Holiday Outfits….already!?!

I know it seems like the Holiday season is so far away, but when you are thinking photo Holiday cards, “the” time is upon us. Get ready to book your session soon to make sure your cards go out before 2012!

This week for our Trendy wardrobe ideas, lets start with all the fancy girls! I love these amazing looks and how much all the added accessories look with each outfit. Each of these designs are from Utah based brand Persnickety clothing. Hurry and place your order through Addy’s Closet online as many styles are in demand.  Mix and coordinate all of the pieces of any outfit to match your child’s style. Even better, I love how these outfits work great for sibling, because the fabrics all coordinate. Send the best card of the season by getting your daughter’s photo taken in one (or all) of these Holiday outfits. Only 123 days till Christmas!

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