| Bauer Siblings Portraits | Mother’s Day Gift | Decatur IL Family Photographer |

Earlier this month I got to help Rachel and her brother surprise their mom with new portraits of themselves! It can often be logistically challenging to pull off a portrait surprise since there are a lot of things to explain (like why you’re dressed up, matching outfits, gone for an hour, etc) but we were able to time this perfectly so that we completed the session when their parents were away on an anniversary trip. Then came time for the surprise reveal. I often suggest using the Premiere day as the reveal for surprise sessions. This way not only do we get to make the unveiling a bit of an event in itself but this also gave their mother a chance to select what she wanted most.

Though she was convinced initially they were surprising her with a session she had to be in which ladies you can imagine how stressful that can be (wondering if your hair looks good, makeup is done well and if you wore something you’d want to be photographed in!).

I was so happy to get to be a part of creating this unique surprise to celebrate and appreciate their momma and now I’m excited to be able to share the images with you all too!

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| Recent Album Designs | Seniors, Families & Weddings: More than Images, Heirloom Designs |

Oops we’re a day late on my usual Tuesday blog post but I promise it’s worth it with a LOT of images/albums to check out today!

I know it’s kinda odd to do a ‘look back’ post as we are smack dab in the middle of the year BUT a photographer’s year is odd and not really broken up in the usual Jan-December flow of most. Instead, those of us who photograph seniors often think in school years too so May is always another ending/beginning for me as we say congratulations and farewell to our class of 2017 graduates and welcome in the next class of 2018!

Right now in the midst of finishing up album designs, graduation cards and booking summer family sessions for our 2017 grads I thought it would be fun to look back at one of my favorite products, our custom-designed albums!

Every year (and honestly every album) I try to push myself to try something new, find a new design element, work in a classic item in a new way or even invent/design a new element from scratch. Why? Because I want your album to be as unique as a fingerprint… as unique as you are!

Of course I LOVE our albums for our high school senior clients since these are often our longest sessions with the most locations and outfit changes an album just makes sense to show off everything we’ve created for you. This year we broke our record for most images in an album with over 100 (previously 86 was our record for a non-wedding album!). What other way can you show off, protect and share over 100 of your favorite images?!?! Unless you’re up for wallpapering your house (challenge me, I’m game haha) I think the album is the perfect way to show off everything we created for you!

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Next let’s check out our family albums for 2016! Just like our senior albums, our family albums give us a chance to show off all the different images we created which for families means all the individuals, ones with just the kids, etc. You’re all dressed up and ready for session already so our family sessions include MORE than just the whole family images… we take a few minutes to focus on each kiddo for updated portraits of them, plus show off every relationship in your family like momma with kids, dad with kids, siblings together AND the relationship that started it all mom+dad (sometimes it’s been YEARS since you guys have had a portrait together yourselves).

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Oh and don’t forget the family PETS!

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While we do a handful of individual session albums for families we also offer (and are in the midst of) planning for many heirloom albums that showcase not just one session from one year but all your annual sessions (typically in 5 or 10 year segments). Can you imagine… flipping through one album as your baby grows from an infant into a bubbly toddler then into a big kindergartener… then on and on through middle school awkwardness and into young adults through high school and on?! What a gift for the kids to have once they graduate college and start their own families, it’s like they are finally aloud to check those sites like imgsexy.com and start being adults!

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And I love to tell the beginning of your love story starting with your engagement portraits! We often design these albums as guestbooks which simply means we leave some blank spaces for your guests to sign and add their own notes and well-wishes to your album. Always remember who was there to help you celebrate your big day!

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Obviously you’ve seen that albums aren’t just for weddings anymore BUT they are still our favorite products for our wedding clients too! Talk about an heirloom piece. Our most popular wedding albums are stunning hand made albums printed in Italy and published with unique image covers including metal and glass prints!

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| Stewart Boys First Year Albums | Children’s Portraits |

Today I get to share a dear long-time client’s family with you guys! This gorgeous couple started out with me with their engagement and wedding portraits and I was honored to be there as their family grew to welcome their first adorable little man. But before ‘C’ turned one these guys relocated to Arkansas and though they made the trek back a couple times to finish out his milestone sessions that first year it was understandably time to find a local photographer once ‘K’ was on the way.

I was so excited when Maggi said they were expecting again but sad to know that practically it would be another photographer who would be there along the first year this time around. BUT I got my excitement back when Maggi emailed to ask if I’d design an album for them to showcase their first year images of ‘K’ like I’d done for ‘C’. Well of course!! I just finished up the design this week and it was great to see the boys grow up through these images! ‘C’ is THREE now guys, I’m pretty sure it was just yesterday he was in the studio on that saddle!

To start how about a throwback to ‘C’s album….

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And now to debut ‘K’ … (***please note below photos are by Lazer Lee Photography, album design by Sarah Jane Photography)

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Have you had a session, recently or even years ago, and only gotten digital images? Did you plan to print them and just haven’t yet? Would you like a custom-designed album to showcase your images in a timeless way? Give us a call and schedule a consult to come in and take a look at our array of albums and let us design something perfect for you!

| Samuel | ONE Year Old Children’s Session | Jefferson City, MO |

Guys, one of the itty bitty babies I’ve photographed from birth is a whole year old now! And he’s a heartbreaker ladies. I swear, he had me giving him candy and stickers and balloons all just by batting those eyes and grinning. Samuel’s momma and I went to high school together and I’m so honored she’s shared so many of her big life events with me from engagement to wedding and now her and her sweet husband’s first year dive into parenthood (and they’re stellar parents who make SUPER cute babies). And the best part? I’ve got a date with this dude for his 2nd birthday and I know it’s going to be here before we know it!

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^^^ Look’s like he’s pretty excited to be ONE too don’t you think. Be sure to stop by their Facebook Album to give Sam your birthday wishes and some love (and see if you have a cute caption idea for one of my favorite images).

| Macy + Tyler | Decatur IL Engagement Portraits |

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I’m thrilled to show off Macy and Tyler to you today! With our recent warm up in temperatures I am itching for some greenery like this soon. I had a blast photographing these two on a beautiful morning out at Allerton Park. Since they’ll be getting married in downtown Decatur and we know we’ll have a lot of urban scenery on the wedding day we decided to get some variety and get out into the greenery of Allerton for their engagement session (plus, added bonus was we worked in a bit of brick/stone textures with the mansion area too!).

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These two are so sweet together and their session was super relaxed and fun but I just LOVE how they both rock that model face (see below). Smiles, cuddles and giggles are fun but whew they are owning that serious face.

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When Macy pulled out their second outfit for the session I knew immediately I wanted to get them in the greenhouse where the bright white and windows always give a subtle blue hue which was perfect with Tyler’s polo. Plus the ivy around the greenhouse was perfect that day!

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Don’t forget to head over to their Facebook Album to give them some love with your likes/comments and stay tuned this July to see their wedding images!!!