Your Life in Portraiture

• Published September 26th, 2009 by Ray Johnston Photography
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Life gets more hectic after children are born; it’s all part of a growing family.  But no matter how busy you become, don’t forget these precious moments.  Children change so fast before your eyes.  That’s why portraits taken now and at key stages of their lives will become more and more precious as the years go by.  Take a little time to capture those fleeting years of your children’s young life in portraiture.

We recommend capturing the following 5 stages in portraiture.

Babyhood
(Maternity-1 year)

Toddler
(18 months-3 years)

Childhood
(4 years-7 years)

Youth
(10-12 years)

Young Adult
(16-18 years)
 

Babyhood

Babyhood is so special, yet passes so quickly.  Every day is a first... first smile, first feeding, first tooth, first words, and those first faltering steps.  Be sure to take the time to capture each of these 5 ages within this stage, completing the first step in this journey through time. Our Baby’s First Year Handcrafted Custom Album is a stunning and durable way to display images chronicling your new child’s life.  Our free low-res images are perfect for sharing your new little life with all your friends and family.

Maternity - The unforgettable beginning of your baby’s life

3 weeks - Those new baby wrinkles and tiny hands, feet, and eyes.  We often feature dad in this portrait because he has bigger and rougher hands, which create stunning imagery when holding a newborn.

3 months - The adorable chubbiness and new smiles while cuddling with mom and dad makes a beautiful wall portrait that will be treasured for many years.

6 months - Wide-eyed fascination and developing motor skills, plus teeth are coming in!

9 months - Full head of hair and standing solo!  Still cuddly, yet wanting to be independent, photos showing the close relationship with mom and dad are priceless.

1 year - Crawling, walking, climbing, exploring! An outdoor session is perfect at this age.  It’s also great to have us photograph your child’s first birthday, so you can treasure those memories forever.
 

Toddler

Having a toddler is one of the most challenging and rewarding times in your life as a parent.  Many changes are taking place in language, motor skills, and moods.  What a precious time this becomes as Kindergarten looms and you realize your baby is now a toddler!

18 months - Independence is growing, but that special bond and relationship between toddler, parents, and siblings is still very apparent.  Incorporating family pets into sessions starting at this age is recommended.

2 years - So much curiosity and never-ending energy. A casual photojournalistic session incorporating dress-up and dancing is great at this bubbly age.  A collage of several images is a beautiful way to display your child’s many expressions and remember the tiny details of their face.

3 years - Playful and ready to explore the entire world with make-believe and games!  We suggest a freestyle session with fun and candid images captured of your family in a loose, journalistic style.  A modern triptych style print from this session would be perfect.

 

Childhood

Childhood encompasses a time of intense change as school now comes into play.  These are some of the most enjoyable times as we see our children learn the fundamentals of reading, writing and social skills.  Communication occurs on a more mature level, as children are in awe of everything and always full of questions.

4 years - Verbal, active, mesmerized by the world and full of smiles.  A collage of images displaying their colorful personality is a beautiful way to capture their entrance into childhood.

5 years - Faces start losing their babyish look and teeth start falling out.   A precious phase you won’t want to forget!  A beautiful portrait of yourself with your child is a treasure you won’t want to pass up.  This age marks many beginnings, with first bike rides, first ballet classes, and first piano lessons - don’t miss out on photographing these precious first moments!

7 years - At the peak of childhood!  A family portrait is recommended for this stage to bridge the gap between childhood and the next stage of youth. 


Youth

This is the beginning of the breaking away from the family to establish an identity, but at the core, they still need hugs, kisses, and praise.  These years can be hectic and busy, but enjoy this precious time for it is fleeting!

10 years - More outgoing and expressive with every day!  These years are often skipped because of busy schedules, braces, and budding interests, but what a shame to miss these special times.  A session incorporating some of their favorite toys, hobbies, and activities is perfect at this age.

12 years - On the cusp of becoming a teenager!  Squeeze in one last family portrait to be able to remember their innocent childlike expressions.  This is the final portrait before teen years and is planned to reflect major changes on the way.

 

Young Adult

The final stage before your child leaves home!  Statistics show that parents take less candid photographs at these ages making it even more important to capture these special moments with a portrait.

16 years - A milestone age where many things are changing.  Our “children” start driving, become more independent, text nonstop, start dating, and stop asking our opinion!  Adulthood is on the horizon, and to most parents, it is now becoming a reality that their child will soon be an adult.  This is a great time to capture one last family portrait while the family is still together.  Classic black and white images are exceptionally beautiful at this age.

18 years - Graduation is around the corner and they are about to leave home!  A Senior Sitting that captures the nuances of their personalities and interests with contemporary flair is recommended at this age.  The perfect time to do this Senior Sitting is in the spring or summer before your teen is a high school senior.  Also, don’t forget to take advantage of their last moments at home and perhaps what will be your last opportunity to take a family portrait.

Beyond the Stages

Take advantage of loved ones returning home for the holidays to take a long awaited and priceless family portrait.  You have worked so hard to create your beautiful family, now let us create a stunning wall portrait that you can display in your home and enjoy every day.

Call us today and book a free consultation to make sure you aren’t missing out on capturing the precious stages and changes your child is going through!