What is it about tiny newborn toes? They make me swoon.
Contax 645, Fuji 400h, Strobes
Babies are always adorable! But this little baby is just straight-up hilarious! These images are the first eight photos I took on this roll of film. I lined them up in the exact order they were shot. And each photo was taken just seconds apart from the previous photo.
Happy. Sad. Happy. Sad. Happy. Yes! Happy. Wait, not sure. Okay... sad.
Too funny!
Images taken in studio on a Contax 645 with Fuji 400h and a strobe. Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.
Hello! And happy July! I'm finding it hard to believe we are already half way through the year. And although I am thoroughly enjoying this weather and spending time summering it up with my family, I can't help but think Fall is just around the corner and for me, that means the busy season.
September and October are always crazy busy as families start to plan for their holiday photos. But to me, July and August are the best times to come in for a session. Summer in the Northwest is gorgeous! Why not take advantage of it and beat the Fall rush?
And, if you are wondering where to schedule your summer photo session, let me tell you a bit about one of my favorite Seattle locations, Golden Gardens.
Golden Gardens is the quintessential summer spot. It's tall sea-grass, sandy beach and water and mountain views make it a favorite of mine.
Things to keep in mind when booking a summer session here:
- If you want water/mountain views, be sure to book your session in the late afternoon to ensure the best light!
- Parking can be tricky, especially in the summer, so plan a little extra time. And if you don't mind a bit of a hike, consider parking up the hill at the dog park and walking down. The parking spots are in the shade, and the walk through the trees to the beach is quite lovely.
- Remember you are at the beach, so plan your outfits accordingly (not all shoes are sand friendly). For clothing inspiration visit my "what to wear" board on Pinterest.
When finished with your session I recommend heading over to Little Coney for a soft-serve ice-cream cone, or to Ray's Boathouse for dinner and a beer! Fun!
And don't forget, if you do want a fall photos session, it's best to book early! Send me an email and get on the books today!
I'm so grateful that the editors of Click Magazine asked me to talk about about my work and why I love to shoot film . It is such an honor to be featured in their beautiful publication, and to see my images in print!
Thank you Clickin' Moms!!
To order a copy of the magazine, or to get your hands on the digital version, visit their website here.
Sandra Coan Photography in Click Magazine
Sandra Coan Photography in Click Magazine
All month long, I'll be sharing some of my favorite Seattle locations for family photos.
Last week I talked about the Ballard Locks.
This week I'm featuring the Olympic Sculpture Park.
The Olympic Sculpture Park is a new favorite of mine.
I love it for several reasons.
- Diversity. The abundance of art, mixed with beautiful trees and water views, makes this location such fun. It’s the only park in Seattle that can look both super urban and super "naturey". The best of both worlds!
- Indoor space. As we north-westerners know, the wether is not always suitable for an outdoor session. The PACCAR pavilion at the the OSP is bight and airy and photographs beautifully. I've done entire shoots in this building. It’s lovely, modern and full of light, even on a dark rainy day!
- Ease of access. The OSP is surprisingly easy to get to, despite it's proximity to the waterfront and downtown. It has a huge parking garage and plenty of street parking!
Planning a summer photo-shoot at the OSP? Why not make a day of it! Here are some fun things to do when your session is over.
- Visit the Great Wheel. This is something I do with my boys a few times a year. Always a hit!
- Go to the Aquarium. We really do have a great Aquarium, and it's a short and lovely walk from the OSP.
- Go out for a meal. My family usually hits up The Old Spaghetti Factory when we visit the Sculpture Park. Or, if you're in the mood for seafood, Anthony's is just down the street.
Remember, July, August and September are the best months for outdoor photos (and my weekends fill up fast!). So call or send me an email and get on the books today!
If you send me an email asking for a recommendation on where to schedule your family photo session, chances are that I’m going to recommend the Ballard Locks. The Locks is without a doubt my favorite Seattle park. Here is why:
- It’s beautiful. The huge trees, stunning rose gardens and classic brick buildings make this location work in every season, rain or shine.
- It has paved pathways. This is something most people don’t think about when scheduling a photo session, but the paved pathways at the Locks are awesome. For one, they don’t get muddy. So those cute outfits you picked out for your family session will stay cute… even if it’s just rained or even if your child decides to roll around on the ground mid-session. And, the dark color of the pavement makes for flattering images. I know it sounds weird, but most parks are really green, and while green is pretty in the background, standing or sitting on it is going to give you green looking skin in a photo. Sitting on pavement however, is going to make your skin look amazing. And don’t we all want to look amazing?
- It’s rarely crowded. When most people visit the Locks, they go straight for the fish latter and rarely ever take time to stroll through the park. That means that even on a busy summer day, the park area, where I like to shoot, is never crowded. So we don’t have to worry about strangers photo-bombing your family portraits!
Sold on the Locks? Why not make a day of it? Here are some of my favorite things to do in and around the Ballard Locks.
- Visit the fish latter. July is the best time to see the salmon, and it’s always an impressive site. If you are scheduling a summer session at the Locks, be sure to schedule in some extra time to see the salmon run!
- Go to the beach. Beautiful Golden Gardens is a quick five minutes drive from the Locks.
- The Farmers Market. If you are scheduling a session on a Sunday, be sure to pop into downtown Ballard afterword and visit the farmers market! Such fun!
- Go to an outdoor concert. The Locks host a variety of bands all summer long. Here’s the schedule for this years line-up.
- Go out for a meal. Ballard is teaming with great restaurants. My family LOVES The Hi-Life and The Stoneburner. Both places have great food and are very family friendly. We also enjoy the Lock Spot and the Totem House, and will often order our food to go and pic-nic at the Locks!
I hope this is helpful! And remember, July, August and September are the best months for outside portraits in Seattle. Send me an email today and get on the books!
These sweet little twin boys came in for their newborn photo shoot the day after my own twin boys turned nine. Working with newborns always reminds me of how quickly time passes. I feel like my guys were little babies just moments ago. I'm so grateful for the photos I have of them from when they were little. And so happy to have created a piece of history for these precious little guys.
All images created using a Contax 645 and Fuji 400h in studio with strobes.
Processed and scanned by Richard Photo Lab.
Photographing newborns is always such a pleasure! And this little guy made it so easy! Slept through the entire photo shoot! What a cutie!!
All images shot on a Contax 645 with Fuji 400h and Acros 100
Holy-Moly!! This little guys is such a great example of why I love to photograph babies!! Such a cutie!!
These photos were shot on a Contax 645, with Fuji 400h and strobes. Processed and scanned Richard Photo Lab.
To learn more about shooting film with studio strobes follow this link.
Have you ever felt frustrated with the pictures you take?
Are they ever too dark, or too bright, or blurry or just plain boring? Do you ever wish that someone could just show you an easy way to make them better?
Well guess what?! I can!!
I believe that every one who owns a camera has the ability to take amazing photos! Join me on May 23rd at my Greenwood studio and let me show you how!
In my Photography 101 class you can expect to learn:
- All about your DSLR so that you can get out of auto-mode and expand your photographic horizons.
- The basic rules of good composition so that you can get amazing photos with any camera, even your phone.
- An understanding of light, and how best to use it.
- Tips and tricks for getting great photos of your kids. It can be done!
As part of the class you will also get:
- Lots of practice! Yes, we will have models of all ages for you to work with!
- Access to a private Facebook Group where you can share your photos, ask questions and learn from others in the group. I’ll also be on the Facebook page to answer questions and give feedback well after the class is over!
- And I’ll feed you. Woohoo!
Details:
- Class will be held at my Greenwood studio on May 23rd from 10:00 to 2:30.
- Enrollment fee: $250 (a $50 non-refundable deposit is required at registration)
Click here to sign up today!
Please note, this class was designed for beginners. If you are an aspiring professional photographer, this may not be the class for you. For information on one-on-one mentoring or professional portfolio reviews, please give me a call (206.841.2260) or send me an email (Sandra@sandracoan.com)
And, if you are interested in learning how to shoot film, please check out my class, Film for the Studio Photographer.