If you missed the first three posts in this series, you can check them out here: part one,  part two, and part three.

This is the last post in this series and I hope it's been helpful! Now that you've decided on the purpose of the photoshoot and what you want to do with the images, picked your location, outfits, and props, all that's left are the little details.

Here's a sort of random list of tips for the day of the session. I'll probably come back later and add more as I think of them, or if you have any you'd like to share I'd  love to hear them! Just leave a comment at the bottom of the post.

For family/child sessions:

1. Make sure everyone (especially toddlers and husbands!) are well fed and well rested before the sesison. It's hard to cooperate if you're hungry or tired.

2. If your nails or your daughter's nails are painted, make sure there are no chips!

3. Yes, shoes (and socks) will likely end up in some of the photos, so make sure to wear appropriate ones (unless you're planning to go barefoot, which is fine too).

4. Sessions are fun and the kids pretty much run the show, so this usually isn't necessary, but you might want to bring a little reward/snack/bribe just in case.

5. If your session is not at your home, bring extra clothes for little kids. Just in case.

6. If your child has a special blanket or stuffed animal or any other comfort thing, make sure to bring it.

7. Don't coach your child too much before the session. They don't need to look at the camera and smile for every photo, they don't need to be perfect, and they definitely don't need to say cheese. Let them relax and be themselves. Don't expect perfect behavior.

8: Make the session a fun experience. Bring something fun that you like to do together, whether that's a bottle of bubbles, or a book, or a football. Go out to eat or to a movie after the session, or take the kids to the playground. Make the day all about your family and enjoy each other.




For newborns:

1. Don't stress. Just have a couple of simple and comfortable outfit choices, a few blankets, and anything special you want in the photos handy, and make sure the house is nice and warm. Don't feel like the baby has to be awake, or has to sleep. Most likely, he or she will do the opposite of what you want anyway, so don't stress about it. We can get great images either way.

2. You will end up in some of the photos, so be ready for that. I suggest a simple, solid shirt for both parents.



For seniors:

1. Make sure you eat  a little bit before your session.

2. Double check that you have all your outfits and accessories.

3. Bring a friend if you want. It's always more fun that way.

4. Relax, and come ready to have lots of fun.


I hope this series was helpful! If you have any tips to add (or questions to ask), just comment below! If you're ready to schedule a session, you can click here to contact me.

This is week 4 for the This is Our Life project and the theme is "A Different Perspective."

I don't know how your house is, but mine is loud and crazy and always a little messy. Of course I clean it, but  it doesn't stay that way long. And my poor husband gets home past my "I give up" time almost every night, so sometimes I'll text him a picture of it clean so he can enjoy it (and see that it is actually clean at some point during the day!)

There's the normal laundry and dishes, and other cleaning, and other than actually putting the laundry away those things get done every day,  but the thing that really kills me is the toys. The older kids are not too bad about leaving them out - at least they'll pick them up if I remind them - but with a toddler around, nothing stays put away for long. All 3 boys are sharing a room right now, and it's upstairs, so it doesn't really work to just keep the toys in the bedroom. They're in the living room, and the dining room, and even the kitchen. The Little People, the Hot Wheels, the books, the dolls,  the already-neglected Christmas gifts, and the Legos...everywhere there are Legos! Under the couch, on the table, in boxes and bags, on the shelf, and of course on the floor. I can't tell you how many times I step on a Lego during the day. And how many times I have to fish them out of Jonah's mouth.




It's easy to get overwhelmed by the clutter, and the never ending to-do list, but on the days I choose to look at it with a different perspective, the days I remember that I'm so so lucky to have this life and this family, mess and all, it's easier to overlook the stuff and appreciate the reason for all the stuff...4 happy, crazy, funny, amazing kids. I am so blessed.

If you missed the first two posts in this series, you can check them out here: part one and part two.

You've already thought about why you want photos, what you're going to do with them, and when and where your session will be. The next decision, and one that stumps a lot of people, is what to wear.

For newborns, it's pretty easy: naked is fine if your house is warm and you want that, otherwise a plain onesie or a simple sleeper is great. Make sure to have a few cute blankets handy, and if you like hats or headbands, have them set out too. Save the cute outfits and ruffly dresses for when the baby can sit up.




For older babies, anything goes, as long as the baby is comfortable. This is a great time for super cute outfits and fun accessories. When they're toddlers, they might have their own ideas, so enjoy this phase while it lasts!

For older kids, let them make some of the decisions. Changing outfits mid-session is usually not a problem for a storyteller session (but might not be possible in a short and sweet session - it just depends), so feel free to let them pick a crazy outfit that they love, then pick one you love. They might cooperate better if they feel like they've had some input in the session. Just stay away from big logos and characters. It's more important that the outfit says something about them then whether or not it really "matches."



For seniors, anything goes! I definitely recommend bringing at least 2-3 different outfits. For boys, wear something nice (khakis and a button-up shirt will do, no suit required!) and at least one more casual outfit (your favorite t-shirt and jeans is a good choice) and then if you're in a sport, bring your uniform and a ball. For girls, pretty much the same: a nice outfit, a casual outfit, and if you're in a sport or other activity, bring something for that. Prom dresses are fun too. Wear a little makeup, even if you usually don't. If your nails are painted, make sure they're not chipped. Layers and textures are great.



Trying to coordinate for families is where people tend to have the most trouble. The first thing to remember is that everyone needs to be comfortable. Basically, you want to look like the best version of yourself. So if you usually live in yoga pants and a t-shirt (like me!), you might want to step it up a little and wear jeans and a nice shirt. If you're trendy, then by all means go all out with awesome outfits. Just make sure you still look like you!

As far as coordinating colors goes, your best bet is to pick coordinating colors, not matching colors. If you want the matchy-matchy look, that's fine, but a little variety usually works a lot better. The first time we had professional family photos done, I chose my daughter's dress first. It was a cute little flowered sundress. The rest of us wore jeans and solid shirts picked from the colors of her dress. We all wore different colors, but Abbie's dress tied it all together. The second time we did a session, I chose our outfits based on the colors I want to use in my living room - grey and yellow with a little bit of blue. My husband and I wore solid shirts, Abbie had a striped shirt, Jack had a solid shirt, Jonah had a plain shirt, and Joey had a striped sweater. But it was all mostly grey and white with just yellow and blue accents, so it worked. If you're still stumped on what exactly to wear, try checking out some Pinterest boards, or shopping for the whole family at one store, like Old Navy or Gap (or Children's Place if it's just for the kids). It's usually pretty easy to come up with coordinated outfits there.


The next thing to consider is whether or not you'll want any props in your photos. I don't usually use a lot of props, and rarely use them just to be "pretty." It's really best if the prop says something about your child or your family, or has some sort of sentimental value.

In the photo on the left, we used a tractor tire because the family farms and that tractor will surely be a big part of that baby's life. In the photo on the right, I used the same antique bassinet that we used for her big sister's photoshoot at the same age.


It's also a fun idea to find a prop that your baby or child can grow with. For example, I used the same wagon for my son Jonah's newborn, six-month, and one-year photo. I love how it turned out!


Balloons are great for pretty much any kid. What kid doesn't like balloons? I'm sure there are some out there, but I've never met one. Also, if your kid is involved in any activity or sport - dance, football, baseball, scouts, tumbling - feel free to bring something to incorporate that into your session, or we can even base the whole session on that if you want.


Feel free to bring your child's favorite toy too, or anything that they're proud of. Sometimes we don't end up using it in the session, but it's always a great ice breaker, especially with shy kids.


Books (especially favorites) and bubbles are always great too.



If you're stumped, don't worry! We'll cover all this during your pre-session consultation, so if you need  some ideas or help with decisions, I'll be able to help you out and make sure you go into your session as confident and stress-free as possible.

Thanks for making it this far! Check back next week for the final post in this series. That post will cover what to expect at your session and a few tips for making the day easy and fun.

This is week 3 for the This is Our Life project and the theme is "this makes me wish I could freeze time."

There are lots of things that make me wish I could freeze time, especially right now with Jonah. He's my last baby, and he'll be two in just 4 short months, so I'm soaking up all the adorable little toddler moments I can. 

Even though he's growing up and learning new things every day, and starting to talk, he still loves his blankie.
I made him this blanket before he was born. I wanted one with a whale on it (I thought it was fitting for a boy named Jonah) and I couldn't find an affordable one that I liked so I decided to make one myself. Sounds easy enough, but I am NOT nearly as crafty as I would like to think. I can do wonders with a glue gun, but sewing is definitely not my thing. It seriously took me a week to get this thing right, which is ridiculous, as it's literally just two pieces of fabric sewn together with a whale shape sewed onto one corner. Anyway, I made him this blanket and he loves it.
He's not usually a thumb (or finger) sucker, unless he has his blankie. As soon as he grabs his blankie, no matter where he is, what's going on, or whether he's tired or not, he takes his first two fingers and sticks them in his mouth and holds on tight to his blankie with his other hand. It's the cutest thing ever, and it definitely makes me wish I could stop time for just a little while. Or bottle up that moment, so I can take it out and relive it when he's a moody teenager.

I am excited to offer family photo sessions, free of charge, for families that have recently adopted a child. If you've adopted a child in the past 3 months, you can receive a family photo session, including digital files with print release, absolutely free.

You may add on your choice of a set of 5x7 prints in a custom keepsake box, an 8x8 album, or a 16x20 canvas, for $100, but this is not required. Sessions taking place outside of Vigo, Vermillion, or Parke County in Indiana may require a small travel fee. Free sessions are limited to immediate family members, and one session per adoption.

Click on the logo above for more information about the Red Thread Sessions organization, or if you're ready to schedule a session, just click here to contact me.

If  you missed the first part of this series, click here for The Big Question, then come back and read this.

This is week 2 for the This is Our Life project and the theme is "this makes me laugh."

My kids make me laugh. A lot. They come up with some of the craziest ideas, make the funniest faces, say the cutest things, and just make me ridiculously happy. You know, when they're not yelling at each other, or telling me no, or pouting about something.

Jonah is almost 20 months old and is just so super funny and silly right now. He's learning so much and doing so many new things. This is such a great age. He reminds me SO much of Joey, my oldest, when he was this age. They look a lot alike and he makes some of the same faces that Joey did, and he loves blocks like Joey did, and has a thing for shoes just like Joey did. Joey had a weirdly long attention span for a toddler, so he would sit and play with shoes for quite a while. Jonah basically has no attention span, but he does love to grab whatever shoes he can find and walk around the house saying "shoe! shoe! shoe!."



He'll wear any shoes...he doesn't care if they're his, his daddy's, or his sister's. I could have taken photos of him wearing Daddy's boots, and that would have been super cute, but these are the ones he grabbed...Abbie's sparkly silver Christmas shoes. I don't know if he just likes them because they're super easy to put on, or if it's because they're his sissy's shoes (he LOVES his sissy!), but whatever. This kid cracks me up.

So, you've decided to have (or are at least considering having)  a professional photo session for your family. That's awesome! Whether you're a brand new family with your first baby, or you're sending your last "baby" off to college, or somewhere in the middle, I'd love to work with you to create images that you'll love now and treasure forever. Wow, that sounds cheesy. But seriously, you won't regret investing in your family's memories.

If you're looking for a photographer in the Wabash Valley area, I'd love to hear from you. Just click the tabs at the top of the page for whatever information you need, or email me at amy@amyfoltz.net.

Now that that's out of the way, let's talk about your session. The first question you need to answer (as much for yourself as for me), is "Why are you getting photos taken?" Your answer to that question is probably as unique as you are, and it's the basis for every decision we make about your session.

You might just want some updated photos because you've had more kids since your last session, or your kids have grown a lot since then, or you've moved and now have the wall space to display more photos. Maybe you want photos to celebrate a milestone like a first birthday or a high school graduation. Those are all great reasons to schedule a photoshoot.

Or maybe your reasons are a little deeper. Maybe you've been thinking about time passing and the little details you don't want to forget. Like your toddler's chubby little hands, your kindergartener's love of Dr. Seuss books, or the way your baby plays peek-a-boo. Maybe you want to document a day in the life of your family. Maybe you're in a crazy time in your life, and need a tangible reminder of how blessed you really are.


Ok, now that you've answered that question and know why you want the photos, you can start making some decisions based on that. After choosing a photographer, who I hope is me of course, the first thing you need to decide is who will be photographed. Do you want a family session, or is the session just for one child, or all the kids? Even if you think you only want the kids photographed, I recommend getting at least a couple of images of the whole family. If you're self-conscious, don't worry. Photographers know all kinds of tricks to bring out your great features and minimize the ones you're not crazy about. And even if you don't like the images with you in them, you don't have to display those. But you'll have them in case you ever want them. If you choose a family session, I also take individual photos of all the kids too.


The next thing to decide is which kind of session you want. I offer two types: Short and Sweet, and Storyteller. Short and Sweet Sessions are just that: short, and sweet. They last under an hour (usually about 45 minutes or so) and result in 20 edited images delivered on DVD with print release and a full set of 5x7 prints. The prints are great because not only will you have them to display right away, but you'll also have them as a reference to make sure any prints you have made are printed correctly. That's especially important if you choose to use a lab other than the one I recommend. Since the sessions are so short, most of the images are posed (although not stiff and boring!) and we stay at one location. These sessions are great if you don't need a whole lot of variety in your final images, or if your main goal is to get images to display in your home.

Storyteller sessions are longer, so we have a lot more flexibility as far as changing outfits and locations, and it gives us plenty of time to get to know each other and for the kids to relax and take all the breaks they need. It also allows us the time for lots more fun images - tickle fights, tossing a football around, reading a favorite story, whatever your family loves to do together! Since we spend more time together, Storyteller sessions obviously result in more images: 40 to 50 on average. You still get the digital images with print release, and you also get your choice of a set of 5x7 prints in a custom-designed keepsake box (the box is seriously awesome), a custom-designed 8x8 album (can you tell I'm all about things being customized?), or a 16x20 gallery wrap canvas. These sessions are great if you want your images to tell a story and you want a lot of variety.

If you just can't decide which type of session you want or need, just let me know and I'd be happy to talk you through the decision. You can click here to contact me.

There's still plenty more to think about when planning your session, and I'll be back next week with another post.

Last year, I started on a Project 52 and lost interest/flaked out about 6 weeks into it. I'm trying again this year, and I'm super excited because I think this years group and themes are going to be a much better fit for me.

I'm doing the This is Our Life project by Paint the Moon and the first week's theme was "evening rituals". Bedtime at our house is a little crazy, and not always the same, but the one thing we always do is stand in a circle, holding hands, and pray. Even Jonah (not quite 20 months old right now) will stand with us and sometimes even bow his head.

Although the older kids and I all love to read, we don't always read at bedtime. I mean to, but it just doesn't always happen. I'm trying to get better about it. Since Christmas, we've been reading The Jesus Storybook Bible most nights. If you've been looking for a Bible storybook for your kids, I can't recommend this one highly enough. It doesn't have all of the stories you might expect or want, but I love that it ties them all together into one story and at the end of each Old Testament story, it talks about how Jesus fits into that story. It's a fabulous book and Joey (9) and Abbie (6) love it and want to read 4-5 stories a night. Jack (4) will usually not sit still for it and I didn't think he was listening at all, then last night I heard him telling some of the stories to my mom and was really surprised at what he remembered.