We take a lot of pictures for this site, but neither Mandy nor I fancy ourselves photographers (I’m pretty sure no respectable photographer ever included a porta-potty shot in their portfolio). Since we’re coming up on our one year anniversary of the blog (we can’t believe it!), we thought it might be time to give our site a more professional look. Or at least update that ancient header pic of the kiddos, which looks like a shot of someone else’s kids at this point. And for once, maybe we’d even let the husbands appear in a photo as more than just a disembodied arm or the back of a head 🙂
A few weeks ago, we told you about our fabulous OAAM photo shoot with Kathryn of Kathryn Deane Photography. We even posted a few behind the scenes shots on our Facebook page.
Well, the final pics are in, and they are gorgeous! Turns our Kathryn’s not just a phenomenal photographer, she’s a magician too! Don’t we look calm and cool and perfectly coiffed?
You would never guess that 90% of the time we were actually chasing down three rambunctious toddlers, waving our arms madly to get their attention, and powdering our shiny noses every 15 seconds in the humid morning heat. Or that we were constantly heading off tantrums, bribing the kiddos with snacks, wiping their noses, and trying (in vain mostly) to catch the drool before it dribbled onto their shirts. Yup. That’s a photo shoot with the little ones for ya. But it’s all worth it when the end result looks like this:
Our collaboration with Kathryn started weeks before we ever got in front of the camera. She helped us prepare for the shoot with tons of helpful tips about how to get our little ones to best cooperate (plan around sleep schedules and bring plenty of drinks, snacks, toys, and books), wardrobe consultation (she invited us to view her Pinterest boards for inspiration and even helped us track down matching outfits in our color scheme), and suggestions for a location (what a view!). She was in constant contact with us leading up to the shoot, and it was exceptionally reassuring. When the day came, we knew we were ready!
A photo shoot with three kids under age 2 has got to test anyone’s patience, especially when you want those three kids to sit together. Alone. Without an adult to hold them still. It really takes a master photographer to get photos like this (I can’t believe she even caught these–we were literally jumping in and out of the shot every 10 seconds wiping a nose or coaxing the kids to sit, moving toys out of the way or popping snacks into little mouths. Chaos!).
Maybe it’s her background as an elementary school teacher, maybe it’s her experience as a mom, maybe it’s her training in and passion for photography, or maybe it’s a combination of them all, but Kathryn has an uncanny knack for capturing beautiful moments in the middle of what at times felt like pure madness 🙂
You can view even more photos from our OAAM shoot by visiting Kathryn’s blog.
We certainly had a lot of fun working with Kathryn. Her enthusiasm is infectious, her patience is immeasurable, and her meticulous preparation ensured that we’d love our photos as much as we loved the experience.
Enlisting a professional photographer is definitely an investment, but the returns will last a lifetime. The most important thing is to find a photographer whom you enjoy working with. It really is a combined effort, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner!
Thanks again, Kathryn! We love our photos, and we can’t wait to plaster them all over our site. Get ready for Out and About Mom 2.0 🙂
Are you looking for a photographer to capture your family memories? Keep reading to learn more about Kathryn Deane Photography and to find out about a SPECIAL DISCOUNT exclusively for OAAM readers! And don’t forget to visit Kathryn on Facebook and “like” her page to see even more of her spectacular photographs.
Many thanks to Kathryn Deane Photography for a complimentary photo session! All opinions are 100% my own.
THE MOMSENSE:
Kathryn Deane Photography
Kathryn Deane is a natural light photographer specializing in senior portraits, newborn, baby, child, and family photography in West Hartford, Connecticut. Kathryn Deane Photography is currently serving all areas of Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. Travel fees may apply.
Website & Blog: http://www.kathryndeane.com/
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/kathryndeanephotography
Phone: (860)508-8300
Email: kathryndeanephotography@yahoo.com
See website for rates & availability.
Get to know Kathryn Deane: We talk hometowns and backgrounds, tips for taming your tots on picture day, and why it’s important for moms to spend time primping for the camera too. Plus, a special discount just for OAAM readers!
OAAM: I know that you and your family live in West Hartford now. Are you originally from this area? KD: Well, I am definitely a Connecticut girl at heart! I was born and raised in Guilford and went to UConn in Storrs for both my undergrad and graduate degrees. Once I started working, I moved around the Hartford area, but settled down in West Hartford about a year ago. My husband and I absolutely love West Hartford and feel so lucky to find such a welcoming and diverse community to raise our daughter in. We have tons of kids in our neighborhood and they play together all the time, the women get together for girls’ nights, there are neighborhood parties that everyone loves going to, and, most importantly, everyone really looks out for one another and supports each other. West Hartford is, by far, my favorite of all the Connecticut towns I have lived in.
OAAM: What is your background in photography? How did you come to start your own photography business? KD: Prior to studying photography, I earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in education and began teaching elementary school. I worked in the education field until my daughter was born. Since I was a full-time stay at home mother, I finally had time to pursue photography, which I always had a strong interest in and dreamed of doing professionally. After several years of taking classes to study composition and improve my technical skills, I began working as a professional photographer at a high-end portrait studio in 2008. Not long after I began my job at the studio, friends, acquaintances, and clients began approaching me and asking if I would do freelance work outside of the studio. That started me thinking of going out on my own and, in 2009, I started Kathryn Deane Photography.
OAAM: You mentioned that you have a background in elementary education. How does that shape your approach to working with children and families at photo sessions? KD: It’s really been a blessing. Having spent years learning about and working with children of all ages, I have a real comfort level with children. I have lots of fabulous “teacher” tricks up my sleeve that I use during my sessions to get children to feel at ease with me so I can capture their true personalities during our session. The other huge benefit to having been both a school teacher and also a mom is that I am extremely patient, flexible, and well-prepared. I work closely with my clients in advance of each session on developing a “vision” for that session, but I am always ready to make changes at a moment’s notice because that’s often what it takes to capture the shots you want.
OAAM: You are clearly passionate about your profession. What do you love most about being a photographer? KD: I love that moment when I get a call or an email from a client saying “I cannot believe how beautiful these turned out! The baby was fussing….I was sweating from chasing after him….my spouse didn’t even really want to take pictures. But somehow, you captured these amazing photos. I love them!” Being a mom myself, I understand what it feels like when you are tired and stressed with everyday life and you struggle to hold onto those fleeting moments where your heart feels like it might burst with love for your family. The only real way to make those moments last is when you have an experienced photographer there to capture the smiles, the cuddles, the laughter…it helps you to savor those good times forever. There’s nothing better than being able to give that gift to people.
OAAM: What advice do you have for parents with small children that will help them have a positive experience at their next family photo shoot? KD: First piece of advice is to avoid the cranky times of day and if you’ve got little ones, make sure they get in their nap on photo day. You will also want to work closely with your photographer to plan clothing ahead of time so you are not scrambling around at the last minute trying to coordinate outfits for everyone. I always provide my clients with outfit suggestions and feedback prior to the session so they are completely prepared on photo day. And most importantly, don’t forget to take time to plan your own hair, makeup, and outfit. I’m sure that many of your readers can relate to this, but often parents spend all of their time and energy getting the kids ready, then run out of time to get themselves ready. Take that time to make yourself look as nice as you can. The better you feel about how you look, the more you will love your photos. And, of course, always remember to have fun! Don’t worry too much about whether or not the photos are going to turn out perfect, just trust your photographer and have a great time.
OAAM: How far in advance should clients contact you to book a session? KD: For maternity sessions, you will want to do your session sometime early in your 8th month, so it’s probably best to book with me sometime during your 6th month. This will also be a good time to book your newborn session. If you tell me your due date, I will block off a couple of slots around your date in order to make sure it’s all set. Newborn sessions should be completed in the first two weeks after the birth, so early booking is essential with these sessions. Fall is my busiest season due to holiday photo card sessions, so holiday sessions should be booked in September for Oct/Nov. shoots. Most other times of year, I am much more flexible and can work with you to schedule your family session at a time that will work for everyone. Of course, the earlier you book, the more selection you will have for session times. You can either email me at kathryndeanephotography@yahoo.com or call me at (860)508-8300 to check availability.
OAAM: Do you have any special promotions or events coming up that our readers should be aware of? KD: I’m offering a discount of 20% off of my session fee to any Out and About Mom readers/followers; just mention Out and About Mom when booking your first session with me. I will provide you with the discount code to use before booking a session on my website.
OAAM: Is there anything else you’d like to add? KD: I’d like to say that if anyone has any questions at all, feel free to email me at kathryndeanephotography@yahoo.com or call me anytime at (860)508-8300. I’m always happy to answer any questions someone may have about my photography services. There’s also lots of great information about Kathryn Deane Photography on my website and blog at www.kathryndeane.com.
Most importantly, I’d like to thank you both, Shawna and Mandy, for taking the time to share your Kathryn Deane Photography photos and experiences with your readers. I look forward to working with you both again and can’t wait to meet your readers and followers who decide to take the next step and book their own photo sessions. I had a great time working with each of you and your families as well!
——————————————————-
