Viewing entries tagged
Fine Art School Portraits

What to Wear for School Photo Day: Tips from Your Seattle School Photographer

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What to Wear for School Photo Day: Tips from Your Seattle School Photographer

What to Wear for School Photo Day

Preparing for school photo day in Seattle? Weather you are working with us or another photographer, choosing the right outfit for your child can make a big difference in how their portrait turns out. As your Seattle school photographer, I'm here to help guide you through selecting the perfect attire that will ensure your child's photo looks timeless and beautiful.

Keep It Simple and Solid

For Fine Art School Portraits, solid colors are the way to go. These help in keeping the focus on your child’s face and expressions without any distractions. Solid colors create a classic look that won’t date the photo as trends change. Avoid loud, neon colors which can reflect oddly on skin tones and detract from the natural beauty of your child’s features. I can’t say this enough.. NO NEON or your kids face will be neon.

Choose Comfortable, Classic Tops

Since all shots are shoulder-up, the focus should really be on the upper part of your child’s outfit. Choose a top that is comfortable for your child, as a relaxed kid is more likely to show genuine expressions. Opt for classic collars or simple necklines that frame their face well. Think about textures too; a soft, knitted sweater or a smooth cotton shirt can add a nice touch without overpowering the photo. Also, make sure the child’s shirt fits well.

Avoid Distracting Accessories

Hats and large bows might look cute, but they can overshadow your child's face in a portrait. It's best to avoid these as they can also create shadows or obscure facial features. Similarly, keep hair accessories simple and functional rather than decorative.

Hair and Grooming

Make sure your child’s hair is neat and tidy, keeping it out of their eyes. This not only helps in capturing their full expressions but also ensures that their face is clearly visible, contributing to a polished and professional-looking portrait. A simple hairstyle will complement the classic nature of the portrait without causing distractions.

What to Avoid

It’s best to steer clear of tops with logos, graphics, or bold patterns. These elements can distract from the main focus of the portrait—your child’s expressions. Also, overly bright or neon colors can create unflattering shadows and highlights on the face, so it’s better to choose more subdued shades.

Final Thoughts

Remember, the goal is to capture the essence of your child’s personality through these portraits, so dressing them in something they feel good and comfortable in is key. If you have any doubts or need further advice on what to choose, don’t hesitate to contact us at Elena S. Blair Photography. We’re here to make sure your child’s school photo day is a success!

Looking forward to capturing beautiful, timeless portraits of your children this school year!


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A different approach to Seattle School Portrait Photography

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A different approach to Seattle School Portrait Photography

If you're looking for a unique, authentic, and BETTER approach to school portraits, you're in the right place. Let me walk you through what fine art school portraits are and what it's like to work with myself and my team.

What are Fine Art School Portraits?

Fine art school portraits are a departure from the traditional, posed school pictures. Instead of stiff smiles against a weird colored backdrop, these portraits focus on capturing genuine expressions that reflect the unique personality of each student. Think of it as a more authentic and personalized portrait photography experience.



So what should I expect if I decide to work with Elena S Blair Photography?

  1. Effortless Planning

    • We kick off the process with thoughtful planning. We collaborate closely with school administrators to understand the unique needs of each school. While we may not be a big box photography studio you will get the same level of professionalism but BETTER. More personalized service as well as more timely.

    • Clear and open communication is maintained throughout the planning phase to ensure a smooth experience.

  2. Relaxed School Photos Day

    • On the day of the photoshoot, we create a relaxed atmosphere for the students. No stiff poses or forced smiles; we let their true personalities shine through in natural light and outdoor settings. But don’t worry, we are still fast. We only spend about 1-2 min per kid.

    • The goal is to make the experience enjoyable for the students, resulting in more authentic and memorable portraits.

  3. Artful Post-Production

    • After the photoshoot, each image undergoes a meticulous post-production process. Colors are enhanced, tones are refined, and details are brought to life, ensuring each portrait is a true work of art.

  4. Clear and Easy To Follow Process

    • One of the key aspects of working with Elena Blair Photography is clear and simple communication. We spend a detailed PDF to you with specific for you shcool photo day to send to your families.

    • We have a step by step communication and ordering process that we handle completely so that you as a school have to do very little if any work to communicate with families.

    • We make it super easy for families to order online and are very organized with photo delivery.

  5. Personalized Service

    • Every school is unique, and so is every photoshoot. We tailor our approach to suit the specific needs and culture of each school, ensuring a personalized and memorable experience for everyone involved.

Why Choose Fine Art School Portraits?

  • Authenticity: Each portrait is a genuine reflection of the student's personality.

  • Timelessness: These portraits transcend trends, providing timeless memories for families.

  • Memorable Experience: The process is designed to be enjoyable and stress-free for students, parents, and administrators alike.

Ready to transform your school portrait experience? If you have any questions or would like to discuss how fine art school portraits can work for your school, feel free to reach out HERE Let's capture the authentic spirit of your students in a way that goes beyond the ordinary. 📸✨


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Schooled Student Spotlight: Cami Turpin | Elena S Blair Photography Education

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Schooled Student Spotlight: Cami Turpin | Elena S Blair Photography Education

Schooled Student Spotlight: Cami Turpin

For today’s student spotlight, we are introducing you to Schooled student Cami Turpin, of Blue Hill Images. Cami has been a Schooled student for about a year now, and in that time she has shot three schools, made an average of $4,000 per school AND has doubled her annual income. You go girl!!

Why fine art school photography?

Elena S Blair Photography education schooled spotlight cami turpin blue hill images

Cami first signed up for Schooled because of her son. “My son goes to a charter school for kids on the autism spectrum, and my MAIN goal was to be able to do portraits for his school that truly show their personalities, and don't force them into uncomfortable situations.” She continues, “I had been offering school portraits to preschools for a while, and I was interested in offering them to larger schools, especially for schools with special needs kids… Schooled looked like a great resource for rounding out my shooting experience with the business side of things for larger schools.”

What was the most useful aspect of Schooled?

“The actual business side--the process of how to get from start to finish with a big school--was very helpful. I was able to get an excellent basic structure and understanding of the timeline, and then fine tune the process to my own workflow and schools.” She also talked highly of the students-only Facebook support group for Schooled. “The Facebook group is amazing, because I'm able to have others working in the trenches help me troubleshoot when new things come up (because they always do).”

Check out Cami’s school work below and you can find more of her work on her Instagram!

elena s blair photography education cami turpin blue hill images
elena s blair photography education cami turpin blue hill images
elena s blair photography education cami turpin blue hill images
elena s blair photography education cami turpin blue hill images
elena s blair photography education cami turpin blue hill images

Are you interested in doubling your income and adding fine art school photography to your offerings? Grab a seat to my free intro webinar!

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Schooled Online | Fine Art School Photography Course for Photographers

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Schooled Online | Fine Art School Photography Course for Photographers

I created Schooled Online as way for photographers to create business and stay busy during normally slow months by adding Fine Art School Portraits to their offerings. 

There is TONS of content in this course, plus you also get access to all of my school photography templates including emails, model releases, contracts, checklists, and more! 

We have an active Facebook group community where you can ask quesitons and interact with your peers, in addition to watching weekly live Q&As. We also host monthly cover contests!

Below are this month's cover contest submissions. Be sure to check out the work of my incredible students and click the button to learn if adding School Portraits is right for your business!

Cover photo by Lara Fisher Skanchy.

sara thom elena s blair photography fine art school portraits

Sara Thom "This course has been amazing! I’m going to give some fine art school portraits a go as minis this fall to see how it goes! I’m so excited to start offering these!!"

www.facebook.com/sarathomphotography | www.instagram.com/sarathomphoto | www.sarathomphotography.com

shannon garbaccio elena s blair fine art school photography course

Shannon Garbaccio "Elena's Schooled class is a complete "kit" that you can take and get going on your school photo business right away. She has such simple systems that are so easy to use. It's a great way to diversify your business."

 

shannongarbaccio.com | https://www.instagram.com/shannongarbacciophoto/ | https://www.facebook.com/shannongarbacciophotography/

tanielle randall elena s blair photography fine art school portrait course

Tanielle Randall "As a mom, I was never fond of traditional school portraits. The kids always looked stiff and uncomfortable. Finding Elena course has been a blessing because I am able to capture authentic images of children. Just getting started but looking forward to a great school year!"

 

www.taniellerandall.com | www.instagram.com/tanielle_randall | www.facebook.com/TanielleRandall

nathalie amlani elena s blair photography school portrait course

Nathalie Amlani "Elena’s course is straight to the point and has provided the direction and insights I needed to get started in school photography, thank you!"

 

www.pictonat.com | www.instagram.com/pictonatphoto | www.facebook.com/pictonatphoto

amy semmens elena s blair photography online fine art portrait course

Amy Semmens "I have loved what I’ve learnt from Elena’s course and am so excited to bring another income stream to my business outside of seasonal work. Thanks so much for your amazing teachings Elena xx"

www.instagram.com/AmySemmensphotography

lara fisher skanchy elena s blair photography schooled online fine art portrait course

Lara Fisher Skanchy

courtney zito elena s blair photography fine art school portaits

Courtney Zito "Photography has always been a passion, but all of Elena’s courses & workshops have given me the confidence and skill set to thrive as a small business owner. I purchased Schooled on May 17th, and had my first school session two weeks later! This course is a game-changer! Thanks Elena!"

 

www.courtneyzitophotography.com | www.instagram.com/courtneyzitophotography | www.facebook.com/courtneyzitophotography

katie kueck elena s blair photography schooled online

Katie Kueck "I’m excited to start with my first school this year after leaving a career in medicine to have more flexibility and time with my kids (one is modeling for me above!)."

Katiekueck.com | https://www.instagram.com/katiekueck/ | Facebook.com/katiekueckphotography

emily dowell elena s blair schooled online boutique portrait course
maggie mccabe elena s blair photography boutique school portrait photography course

Maggie McCabe "It's really thanks to Elena that I took this leap to begin with. This Schooled course especially was the final tipping point. I'm so excited to begin offering this service. I'm still working on putting all of the finishing touches on my portfolio and marketing material but all of Elena's materials and videos have been incredibly helpful and thorough."

Maggiemcc.com | https://www.facebook.com/maggiemccphotography | https://www.instagram.com/maggiemccphotography/

michele mateus school photography elena s blair
vanessa brack elena s blair school portrait course

Vanessa Brack "I was looking to work more while my kids were in school and less in the evenings and on weekends. School photography is perfect for that and Elena's class has been invaluable to me."

https://www.vanessabrack.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/vanessabrack/

kelly power elena s blair schooled online fine art portrait photography course

Kelly Power "I stumbled across the Schooled class about 2 years ago on Instagram and signed up immediately. I was looking for a way to work on the same schedule of my girls. I just added my 3rd preschool this week. I can happily say I now have summers off and my youngest will start a pre-K 4 this fall so I have more life/work balance without having to look for clients year around."

 

https://www.kellypowerphotography.com/ | https://instagram.com/kellypowerphotography.com

elise roseann elena s blair photography schooled online

Elise Roseann "This course has given me confidence in what I can achieve. I have all the tools I need to make this work, I couldn't recommend it enough. My first school is in October!"

 

www.eliseroseannphotography.com | www.facebook.com/eliseroseannphotography | www.instagram.com/eliseroseannphotography

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Fine Art School Portraits Seattle | Seattle Family Photographer

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Fine Art School Portraits Seattle | Seattle Family Photographer

To say I wanted to blog one million photos would be an understatement. This preschool was full of beautiful children who each had so much personality. They were patient, friendly, and so much fun! I decided to include a color and black and white version of each of the kiddos who's parents signed my release. 

In the past four years I have photographed thousands of kiddos and each is unique. School photography can be so much more than a stiff and awkward photo. It can have life and meaning. Nothing pleases me more than hearing a parent say that I was able to capture the true personality of their kiddo. How do I do it? I simply let them be who they are. I don't ask them to put their hands in their pockets or sit a certain way. We just hang out for a few minutes and I snap away. 

While I am booked for schools with 500 or more kiddos, I am alway more than happy to take on more small schools. If you have questions, you can check out my SCHOOLS page. Most frequently asked questions about school photography in Seattle can be found there. I am willing to travel to the East Side and surrounding areas as well. 

I am excited to have my first every School Photography Workshop open for enrollment online. So much progress is boing made in the workshop. The students are knocking my socks off. 

 

Now enjoy these sweet faces. I had a huge smile on my face when I prepared this blog post. Seattle has some of the cutest kids in the world! 

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