I have some exciting news for all of you dog moms and dads out there!

Santa Paws is coming to Seattle!!

This by-appointment Holiday portrait “pup-up” will take place on Sunday, Dec. 4th from 11:00 am-2:00 pm.

Appointments are a fun and festive five minutes. All sessions include digital files. And a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Dog Gone Seattle Resue!

Santa and I ask that all participating pups be house-trained and well-socialized! And yes, you are more than welcome to hop in the photos with your fur baby!

Follow this link to schedule your appointment!

Santa and I are BOTH jumping for joy!

For the first time since 2019, Santa will be visiting the studio for a full day of by-appointment Santa Sessions!!

I started offering Santa photos for my clients back in 2009, after a very stressful day of waiting two hours in a Santa line with 3-year-old twins.

No parent (or child) should have to endure that!

I knew I could create a MUCH better experience for my clients. After all, seeing Santa should be a fun, magical experience! NOT something that is stressful, hard, and time-consuming!

And so the by-appointment Santa Sessions were born!

Santa and I worked together for over ten years! Until Covid forced us to take a pause. During the pandemic, I honestly wasn’t sure if I would ever do this fun event again. But Santa and I both feel like it’s safe to begin again.

Plus, we’ve missed you!!

So here is what you need to know:

Santa sessions are by appointment, so you don't have to worry about standing in line.

Your child, or children, will have plenty of time to talk to Santa and share their wishlist!

The theme this year is Winter Wonderland- a simple white motif sure to make colors pop! So wear that red!!

The session fee of $225 includes your time with Santa, your photos session AND a complete set of digital files!

Our turnaround time is lightning fast, so you'll have your images to use for Holiday cards and gifts!

Santa Sessions will take place on Nov. 26th from 9am-2pm.

Space is limited! So follow this link to book your appointment today

Now that the weather actually feels like it's Fall, I'm ready for the festive Fall/Holiday season to begin!

And that means getting ready for Holiday Mini Sessions!

Holiday Minis are a much loved tradition at my studio. and will be happening on Nov. 12th and 13th this year!(I've created an online booking system this year to make scheduling your Mini Session extra easy. Just follow this link to get on the calendar.)

Here is what you need to know.

Minis are fun and fast 15-minute sessions! Perfect for a family photo for your holiday card, updated pictures of the kids, headshots for you and gifts for the grand parents!

​The price of a mini session is $175: due at time of booking.​

I'll also be offering SALE pricing on digital files, albums and prints when purchased at the time of your Mini Session. One-stop holiday shopping!​

Minis always sell out, so sign up today to save your spot!

​Follow this link to get on the schedule.​

And keep an eye on your inbox, I'll be announcing sign up for Santa photos soon!​

See you in November!

I am thrilled to introduce you all to our new associate photographer, Stephanie White!

We are so lucky to have Stephanie White join the team, and once you have a look at her images, you’ll understand why.

She has a simple, laid back approached to working with kids and families and we can’t get enough of her clean, minimalistic style!

Stephanie is a life long photographer, but has been a working professional 2015. She is a single mom to two beautiful boys and lives just outside of Salt Lake City Utah, which means she’ll be flying in to see clients on specific dates. (Fancy right?!)

Her schedule is limited!! But trust us, she is well work the wait!

Follow this link to get on Stephanie’s schedule. And check out her beautiful work below!

Click on the images to scroll

A note from Stephanie

Hello everyone! My name is Stephanie and I'm a family photographer based in Salt Lake City, Utah. I have the opportunity to work with Sandra and can't wait to meet all of you and get to know the amazing families of Seattle!

For me photography is the door to so many things. It's the door to meeting new people on a regular basis and a way to see this beautiful state I live in, Utah. I have learned so much about myself and I have learned what I am capable of. 

I have been a photographer for 7+ years. Because Utah is stunning and has beautiful locations all year round, I started mainly doing outdoor/on location sessions. I fell in love with studio work after finding Sandra's work about 3 years ago and have been learning all I can ever since!

So excited to meet and work with all of you!

I was really hoping that as more and more people in our community got vaccinated and boosted, risk of Covid-19 infections would go down! But sadly, here we are in the middle of another scary surge thanks to Omicron!

I take safety VERY seriously. And am doing everything I can to keep myself, my family and my clients (especially those who are too young to be vaccinated) safe. Let me tell you how.

I AM FULLY VACCINATED AND BOOSTED

For starters, I am fully vaccinated (and boosted) and I require all adults who visit my studio be as well.

Getting vaccinated does not guarantee that you will not get the virus, but studies show that it DOES significantly reduce your risk of serious infection and will most likely keep you out of the hospital if you do get sick. Why does that matter? Because we need to keep valuable ICU beds free for people who need them!

I tragically lost my father over the summer to a gall blockage that led to Sepsis due to lack of immediate care. You see, he was told at the ER he needed emergency surgery but there were no ICU beds available. So he waited. And developed a deadly infection in the process. Myself and my entire family are devastated, and this is one of the reasons why I take vaccination as seriously as I do.

Also, I work with newborns, babies and small children who are too young to be vaccinated. Providing a safe environment for them to be in is paramount! So please bring proof of vaccination to your sitting.

I AM LISTENING TO THE EXPERTS

I’m not a healthcare provider and I’m not a scientist so I’m listening to the experts and following the guidelines put out by the CDC.

They recommend maintaining a safe social distance, and so I do, as often as possible.

When working with older kids and adults, I give direction and guidance on posing while keeping a safe 6 foot separation.

With babies and newborns, I ask the parents to assist as much as possible and only place babies in natural positions that do not require excessive posing or props.

Fun fact… this has always been how I photograph babies. Another reason to love my minimal approach to posing, it’s Covid-19 friendly!

I WEAR A MASK

The CDC also recommends wearing a mask (it’s also currently a State mandate), so I wear a mask at all times and ask that my adult clients do the same until it’s their turn for pictures.

I keep a box of disposable masks at the studio for clients who forget theirs (nobody has so far… but they are still nice to have on hand, just in case.).

I KEEP THE STUDIO CLEAN

Cleanliness has always been a high priority for me, but now I’m EXTRA cautious about keeping the studio in tip-top shape.

My routine includes, disinfecting ALL surfaces (doorknobs, cameras, sinks, toys, pens…. anything a client may touch).

The entire space gets a good wipe down (with Clorox wipes) before and after every session.

I also wash all fabric items on the warmest setting (blankets, pillows, teddy bears.etc) between each and every session.

I wash my hands frequently and keep hand sanitizer next to where I’m working for both me and my clients to use.

WE’RE LIVING THROUGH HISTORY. DON’T BE AFRAID TO CAPTURE IT!

As crazy as all of this is, we ARE living through history. Think of the stories you’ll be able to tell your kids and grandkids when you share the photos we create today with them some day!

It’s that time of year again, friends!
Cozy sweaters, foggy mornings, changing leaves. Oh how I love Fall in Seattle. What better way to jump into the season than to schedule your holiday mini session? Scroll down to learn more and to reserve your spot before they’re gone!

Family Mini Sessions Pricing

On November 13th and 14th, I will be hosting mini sessions at my Greenwood studio. These fun 15-minute sessions are great for holiday cards and family portraits! 

The price of a mini session is $175: A non-refundable deposit of $50 saves your session date/time and $125 is due at the session! Digital files, albums, and gift prints can be added to your package at the time of the session.

Follow this link to sign up for Nov.13th. Follow this link to sign up for Nov. 14th.

Covid Precautions

I’m asking that all participating adults be vaccinated. A please arrive to your session wearing your masks!

I’ve invested in a HEPA filtration system for the studio.

If anyone in your party is sick, please let me know so we can re-schedule your session.

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A post shared by Photographer | Coach (@sandracoan)

Babies are not tacos.

So they probably shouldn’t be posed like one.⁠
⁠
Babies are also not frogs.

So maybe putting them into a "froggy pose" is a bad idea.⁠
⁠
Babies are not props.

They are tiny humans. ⁠

And they need to be treated with care.⁠
⁠
I've been a newborn photographer for over 20 years! ⁠
⁠
And I've built a very successful newborn business WITHOUT using complicated, potentially unsafe, posing!⁠
⁠
You see, I believe that babies and perfect just the way they are. ⁠
⁠
And I've developed a system for photographing newborns that showcases the natural beauty of babies in a safe and efficient way! ⁠⁠ What does that mean for you?

It means that when I’m working with your baby, you can trust that safety is always my number one focus.

I know that your child is a precious gift, not a toy, and I will never put them in unsafe or unnatural poses.
⁠

Figuring out what to wear to your family photo session can be hard, and I’ll often have clients show up to the studio with armfuls of outfit choices!

While there is no right or wrong answer to the question of what to wear, there are certain choices that I find look really nice in studio portraits. I’ll share them with you here today and hopefully save you some time when planning for your photoshoot.

Keep it Simple

One of the things I love about studio portraits is the minimalist style of the surroundings keeps the focus of the pictures on you, your children and your family, not on the location. The same thing can be said for your clothing choice. Keeping your outfits simple helps create images that are about you and your family, not what you’re wearing. Simple clothing choices also help create classic and timeless images. Staying away from logos and patterns can help achieve this look.

Neutral Tones

One way to keep the look of your outfits simple is by choosing neutral tones that go well together. Having similar tones in your outfits will help balance the image. I prefer grays, whites and blacks, but I also think it’s nice to have a pop of color now and then, especially around the holidays! So don’t shy away from dressing the baby in a bright red onesie or something fun like that! If you do want to add some color, just remember that the color will pull attention in the photo. Because of this, I think dressing the kids in the colorful outfits and keeping the parents in neutrals works best.

Be Yourself

At the end of the day remember that these are YOUR photos, so it really only matters what you like! If you are a family that loves bright colors and loud patterns, then by all means, wear that!! Being comfortable and looking like yourself is one of the best ways to get great photos that you’ll cherish forever!

Studio photography used to be the industry standard. If you wanted a family photo, you went into a photo studio and had a portrait made.

That was how it was done—for years.

But styles change, and after a while, it became much more common for a family to meet their photographer in a park or in their own home.

When I started in the 1990s, the most popular style among family photographers was photojournalism, a move away from the traditional studio portrait.

That then gave way to lifestyle, which has since remained the norm. I however, have always LOVE the look of studio photography, and strive to provide my clients with something modern, but also classic.

So What Is Modern Studio Photography?

I think for many, the idea of studio photography recalls the days of over lit, over posed, department store photos.

That is NOT what you’ll get at my studio.

My approach to studio photography is much more modern.

I will never use props or pose your baby in an unnatural way. Instead, I aim to capture them as they are. I want their personality to shine through! And I feel that the simple look of studio portraits helps me do that!

When in the studio, your baby and your family are the focus…. not the location or the background.

My goal is to create images that will stand the test of time.

A modern twist on a classic look!

The question of how best to include older siblings in a newborn photo session is a concern that many of my clients have.  So today, I thought I'd take a moment to explain why I love having older children at newborn sessions and how I ensure that it all runs smoothly!

Why I Love Having The Older Kids Involved

Bringing a baby home can be a big adjustment for everyone. This is especially true for older siblings. Sometimes they love the idea of having a new baby brother or sister, and sometime they don’t! And after almost twenty years as a newborn and family photographer, I have seen it all!

My goal is to make your older child feel special at the photoshoot. I spend a lot of time preparing them for photos and tune into their feelings about this big change in their life. What I’ve found, is that even if they are reluctant at first, they appreciate the attention and the time to “hold” and examine the their new baby.

Safety First

I understand how precious and fragile new babies are, and that even the most well intentioned toddler may not be up up to the task of holding a newborn! Most of the time, I’ll get photos of the new baby and older siblings by placing the baby safely on the bed in my studio and inviting the other children to sit next to him or her, or “hold” the baby by laying down next to it and snuggling up. The parents are always just an arms length away to assist when needed!

Make It Fun

Family photo sessions should be fun for everyone!  That is why I have a lobby full of toys and playthings for older brothers and sisters to do while I’m working with their new baby brother or sister. I usually start my sessions by showing the older kids where the toys are and letting them play. Eventually they will get curious about what I’m doing with the baby and want to watch…. that is when I invite them to be in some pictures. And I also have lots of stickers and lollipops to dole out after the session as a reward!