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.

This next one is actually one I had forgotten about until I started going through this year's files looking for something else. When I saw it, I smiled...it makes me think of how sweet Jack can be. He is the sweetest little boy. He tells me I'm pretty about 50 times a day, he gives the best hugs and he loves to cuddle.


I love this shot because I remember the exact moment I took it and it was a great moment. Daniel and I were on a weekend trip to Chicago, riding on a boat at Navy Pier. It was our first ever trip alone (we didn't even take a honeymoon) and we were celebrating our 10th anniversary. The day was perfect, the weather was perfect, the view was awesome, and my best friend in the whole world was there sharing it with me.


This is another shot from our little weekend away. This shot is just....us. Holding hands, ready for whatever life brings, together. I want to be one of those cute 90-year-old couples holding hands.


This next one pretty much sums up our summer...well, the beginning of summer, before the drought hit and made it way too hot to be outside much. We got a great deal on a Power Wheels Jeep for the kids and they all had SO much fun on it! Even Jonah loved to ride in it and sometimes pretend to drive. You can't really see much of the Jeep in this photo, but that's what they were doing and I just love how happy they look.


This image is maybe my favorite of all 4 of the kids together. It was taken on our first night of vacation this year, a little long weekend trip up to Lake Michigan. I have a thing for silhouettes and I'm working on a series of them of my kids. Last year, they were all up on top of a hill with a wagon, then this is this year's, and I think next year we might do something with bikes. I plan to do one every year and then hang them all up together.

This next one was taken at Abbie and Jack's birthday party. Their birthdays are only 13 days apart so we've been having one big party for both of them. That was the last time we'll be doing that. From now on instead of a party we'll do something special with each kid around their birthday. I'd rather spend the money making a fun memory with them instead of on decorations and stuff. But I'm super glad we had this party. It was a Dr. Seuss theme and SO much fun!

Abbie is an amazing big sister. She might fight like cats and dogs with Joey, but she is super sweet to Jack and Jonah and they both adore her. And just look at how tight Jack is squeezing her...I told you he gives the best hugs!


This image of Joey is from a session I did with him in June. I did a session with the other kids in the spring, but by the time it was time for his, he had a broken arm that ended up needing surgery, and he didn't want the cast in his photos, so we waited. Joey is quite the artist and was super proud of his first zentangle and wanted to show it off. He had lots of his own ideas for these photos, so that was a lot of fun.


I love this one of Jonah because it shows his expressive eyebrows. Ever since he was a newborn, he's always done funny things with his eyebrows and it makes me laugh. He's a silly little guy.


This photo is from the spring, right after Jack got this cape. He's been a little obsessed with superheroes this year, so this one image pretty much sums up the year with him.


It happens to be Jack in this last image, but it could have been Joey or Abbie. Those yellow boots have been the object of obsession with each of them around age 2 or 3. All three of them insisted on wearing them everywhere for months at that age. I'm pretty sure that if they survive months on Jonah's feet in a year or two, they'll be displayed on a shelf or something. The only other thing that all the kids have worn (and Jonah is almost big enough for it now) is a t-shirt that says "my dad rocks".

2012 has been a pretty great year, and I'm so excited for 2013. Joey will turn 10, which just seems crazy to me, Abbie will have her 3rd dance recital, Jack will (maybe) go to preschool, and Jonah will be talking more and more. We'll probably take another trip to Indiana Dunes, and hopefully buy a house, or at least start the process, later in the year. I can't wait to see what the year brings!

This next image is from a newborn session for one of my very favorite families. Tim and Lianna have been friends with me and my husband since we were in high school and their very first date was the night of our wedding. In fact, Tim drove us home after our wedding and I thought he was going to get us in a wreck. He was driving so fast so he could get back to the reception where Lianna was helping to clean up because he thought she might leave before he got back. So they went out later that night and got married 2 years later, and now they have two of the sweetest little girls in the world. How cool is that?

I mostly love this shot because big sis Adrianna is not really an overly affectionate little girl, so it was so super sweet when she leaned in and gave her new sister Olivia a little kiss.

This photo is from Makenna's two-year session. This was the third time I'd photographed this little sweetheart and her family and they amaze me every time. Eric and Meredith are amazingly awesome parents and I'm so happy that I was able to capture this happy little moment between Meredith and Makenna.


Next up is Alyssa. This is one of my favorite senior photos I've done. The light was just right as were walking past this alley in downtown Terre Haute, and of course she's beautiful anyway, so I just really like this shot.




This is Tim and little miss Olivia again. She is definitely a Daddy's Girl, and it really shows in this photo.


Almost done...this next one is my friend Heather and her new little girl Raelynn. She requested something "Christmassy" and I was looking for a sweet moment, and they both came together in this image.


Ok, last one. Danielle and Jay both worked at the Copper Bar in Terre Haute during college (and I think he was still working there when they got married), so the outside of the bar was a perfect place for some wedding photos for them. So, I love that they chose a meaningful place for the photos, and I love that the wind was blowing her veil just right, and I love how in love they look in this image. It's lovely. :-)

And just in case you're curious, here's a photo of my family from our session with Julie. I love this one!

Being so close to Christmas, Heather requested a few "Christmassy" photos for their cards. I LOVE this one - I've pretty sure it's my favorite out of the session. It's got a tree, stockings, and some cuddling. You can't get much more Christmassy than that!


Check out the way she's looking at her daddy! Also, notice her hairbow - yup, it's camo!



Maybe this one's my favorite...



I love to get lots of photos with the parents at newborn sessions, but I also make sure to get plenty of images of just the baby. She wasn't too interested in sleeping for us (although I heard she fell asleep right after I left) but she was happy to be wrapped up all nice and snuggly.

If you have a newborn, or are expecting one, learn to swaddle now! I was pretty awful at it and didn't learn until my 3rd baby, but it makes a HUGE difference in how well they sleep and how content they are when they're awake. Just so you know.


We've all heard that newborns don't really smile, that they make a face that looks like a smile when they have gas. Ummm...well, I don't smile when I have gas, do you? This was definitely a REAL smile!

The problem with trying to photograph a newborn smile is that newborn's are fickle and it's pretty much impossible to get them to smile on cue until at least 6 weeks or so. We just got lucky with this one.


If you want to see more images from this session, check out their album on my facebook page. While you're there, like my page to see new photos, random bits of my life, and news about special deals and new products in your newsfeed. Make sure you hover over the box that says "liked" and check "show in newsfeed." If you don't, the facebook powers that be may or may not bother to show updates in your newsfeed.

If you're interested in scheduling a session with me, or just curious about how it all works, click here for session information and pricing, or you can click here to contact me!