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Senior: Katie

We get great senior kids each year.  Katie was rather unique in that she also gave us an insight into the future of the way people think about how schooling should be done.  She had a lot of her own ideas, brought plenty of her dance costumes and accessories, and some attitude.  One of the most important things was her sneakers, and we made sure to feature them in at least one image.  With pretty red hair and plenty of freckles, Katie provided us a couple hours of great photos and quite a few laughs.

Check out more senior portraits on our Seniors Page.

Engagement: Owen’s Brilliant Picnic

This was a brilliant couple.  They were getting married in Pennsylvania the following year, but wanted me to create something unique for them in Harpers Ferry, since he and his sister live in this area.  They brought their own props, ideas and food, including champagne and a picnic set!  I provided the photography and a few ideas of my own.  They played along brilliantly.  They wanted some vintage-style images from the picnic, and to go out as close to the water, without leaving the park area.  And that was fine… it was fun.  They’re a great couple.

Wishing them the best luck in their nuptials!

Top 9 Reasons TLC Photography is Moving

Dance Portraits

We’ve been working in photography in this area for almost 20 years, and have moved our studio twice. We’re moving it again… and we’re convinced that we’re doing it for all the right reasons. But we wanted to make sure that you, our valued followers and clients, understood our reasons and what led to this very big decision. So, we’re sharing our reasoning with you!

9. Our market, clients, and the photography industry have all changed. The shooting space that we have now is no longer suitable for our needs, and we would rather have a more focused space in which we can concentrate on the things that we do best. The new space will be plenty big, and we can still photograph large family groups (up to 35) with ease, as well as babies, seniors and boudoir.

8. We want to feel “at home” in our studio. Since the building we are in was originally designed in a different era of the industry, and with differing goals in mind, adapting to a new and ever evolving landscape in photography would not be as easy as starting with a blank slate. In our new space, we are starting fresh. No fixed sets or fixed backdrops, but a few things we like and use most, along with our own creativity.

Trash The Dress, Shenandoah River

7. We realized that we don’t need a “park” in our backyard, as we have partnered with a few local (and very generous) farmers and other land owners to use their property for sessions. The best part of this is that you will almost surely have exclusive imagery for your on-location sessions. Plus, we have been working on many new technological approaches to putting you where we need you to be for the perfect shot.

6. Our new location does not have any “neighbor” issues, such as barking dogs, skunks, and cats that use our backyard as a litter box. Let’s just leave it at that.

5. The building we are in now, and the property it is on, have a host of issues that we cannot easily overcome. So, changing our location so that we do not and cannot have those issues is a best option. That doesn’t mean we won’t have issues at our new studio… but at least there we have more control over them.

4. We want to make a bigger impression. We have tried several ways to get people to see our work. Facebook and other social media outlets help some. But seeing our work is most of what draws people in. Route 11 (Winchester Ave) is a 40-45MPH road, and even just seeing our sign is not easy. Trying to put pictures out for people to see, even large ones on the deck, would be met with maybe a second’s worth of exposure. In our new facility, we have five huge 5×7′ windows… and we have a lot planned for those big beautiful sunshine gatherers! Plus, in a building with no windows, we get NO sun exposure… now, we will. Every day.

Hummingbird Cooper Captures

3. Cooper Captures (the wildlife and scenic photography started by Diana early last year) needs to shine… the work is exquisite, and it needs a place to really be seen by many. There are NO windowsin our current studio, and like you saw in #4 above, you can’t make an impression by showing it to a few people online. Diana will be setting up a wonderful display of her work in the corner windows, and we will be offering retail sales of matted prints, gallery canvases, greeting cards and much more. Plus, it will be much easier to see other wildlife photos on our large, color-corrected monitors!

2. We need to create… for awhile now, we have wanted total control of our sessions. While we take every measure to ensure that we provide each of our clients with a unique experience, we are surrounded by the sameness of a studio that was designed to churn out session after session with everyone getting the same treatment. We want more than that for our clients, and plan to offer very unique photography you can only get from the creative genius that gets its inspiration from other artists, both performing and from those who create works of art all the time. We’re looking forward to some very new and original work!

1. We crave interaction. In the last year or so, we have gotten much more involved in our community and with fundraising and “people” events. We’ve found that doing that from a building that is located nowhere near any of that, we can’t help as many people as we wish. Being in a downtown location will give us the ability to not only support our merchant neighbors, but to hopefully give them a reason to do the same. We know that is something we will have to earn, but it is also something we are more than prepared to do.

Between now and November 1, we will give you lots more information. This will include a big Open House we are planning, and lots of fun specials you can look forward to for the holiday season! But mostly, we’re looking forward to setting up our first BIG window display in town. It’s going to start small, and grow. Keep an eye out… you won’t be able to miss it!

 

Senior Portrait: Morgan

Morgan is the second of her family to come to us for Senior Portraits.  She wanted to be one of our senior models, too, and did a great job showing her classmates how easy it was to have fun in senior portraits.

The great thing about such a happy person is that it’s easier to photograph them.  Calm moments that erupt into spontaneous laughter means lots more fun, great creativity and a session that is bound to have plenty of excellent opportunities for great photos.

One thing we strive to do is to always create new images and location opportunities for our clients.  Morgan was definitely no different, and we had more than our fair share of photo ops with her during the summer.  Morgan’s future plans probably include genius level work, because she’s not just happy, but also quite a good student.  Keep up the great work!

Want a senior portrait experience like no other?  Check out our Senior Information Site!

Senior portraits with a great smile in Martinsburg

They don't always smile, and that's just fine.
Bring your pets to your senior portrait session!
Laughter is okay with us at TLC Photography
Great senior session with Morgan

Senior Portraits: Brian (A car and a dream)

It’s no secret that the majority of our seniors are girls.  Typically, guys are not that into photographs of themselves.  And many of them are totally not into spending an hour or two in or at our studio.  Brian was no exception to that generality.

But I do try to make it interesting for everyone.  I call it “senior patter” when I’m talking with people about their lives and what’s going on, their hopes and dreams.  So, when I started talking with Brian, who would probably have been happier anywhere else besides where his mom had just taken him, it was only a few minutes later that we were working toward a single goal.  Mom wanted pictures of her “baby,” and I wanted her to have them.  Engaging Brian in chatting about his dreams lead to a far less painful session than he’d imagined, and mom got some great pictures.

I use my own experiences over the years to make each person’s session with us just unique enough to make it enjoyable, and often times creating a new look just for them.  Overall, Brian was a happy guy.  We were done soon enough, and I ended up having a reasonably good conversation with a very goal-oriented young man.

Mission accomplished.

Senior Portraits: Cecelia (The lady with the tiny dog)

I love meeting people who know what they want.  Cecelia brought a lot of outfits, her dog and a great attitude.  It was a lot of fun creating new images that fit her personality.

Diana wanted to steal the dog, which was tiny (but feisty – at least at first).  She carried him in a purse… one that was specifically made just for dogs his size.  It was adorable.

Please, always feel free to bring your animals, your car, and your favorite outfits.  We want to give you pictures that identify YOU.

Baby Portraits: Young Mr. Clarke (The Hat Bandit)

During our Most Beautiful Baby Contest each year, we get to meet a lot of really cute babies.  And since we really do not try to direct them, we find that they become unpredictable (which leads to more fun).  Mom had brought several outfits, and one of them was a really cute suit outfit… we had a hat which we thought would really complement the outfit.  But as you can see, it was a little big.  He didn’t seem to care.

The Most Beautiful Baby Contest is held each winter, and involves lots of babies, prizes, and is a fundraiser for our ongoing cause, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.  We care about kids a lot and have made them part of our daily lives, even though ours are grown and parents of children themselves.

You can make appointments year round for your baby’s portraits.  The best reason to continue updating and displaying pictures of your children is in the effects the pictures have on the children.  Studies have shown that children who see their pictures on the walls in their home are more well adjusted, have a greater sense of well-being and self-confidence, and feel like they “belong.”  We’re happy to help continue your child’s well-being.

Senior Portraits: William (An Irish face and a deep voice)

You ever get the feeling that you’ve met someone, like in a previous life?  This guy was very much like that.  I felt like I knew him.  But he didn’t remember me, so I suppose it didn’t happen.  In any case, we enjoyed conversation and photos.  Very smart young man, with a deep voice that commanded attention.

Expect to see more from him in the future.  We had a great portrait session.

Senior Portrait: Ezra (Man with music in his heart)

Ezra came to us from one of our senior models, Haylee.

A musician at heart, we spent some time exploring his music talents and discovering that he really looks pretty good with a guitar!  And it doesn’t hurt that his eyes just really light up like that.  A fun session where mom helped encourage Ezra to show his true colors.

One thing we’ve always tried to do with senior portraits is to focus a lot on the passion of the senior’s interests.  Whether it’s their sense of fashion, their vehicle, or their music and other activities, if it is important to them, it’s important to us.

Senior Portraits: Nathan (A guy with a car!)

Imagine my surprise when this young man showed up with a car… that he was trying to sell.  Soon.  It was a comical moment to learn that Nathan was looking to get rid of his car, but he wanted it in some of his pictures.  It had meant a lot to him.  It may still.

But he also had a guitar and an effervescent personality.  I enjoyed talking with him just as much as I did capturing his images.  We kind of bonded over the car, though.  Not that I wanted his car, but he wanted a great picture with it, and we delivered.  His “stage shot” with the guitar was a big hit, too.

This guy is going places!