I know what you're thinking: it's only September, are you crazy?

Guess what? Photographers start booking family holiday sessions as early as August and it is already September. I have personally almost filled up the whole month already. If you would like to book a family photography session you should do it soon. Want to order holiday cards? Want to order Christmas gifts? You need to think about how much time you will need to do that. Time to book your session, get your photos back, choose your photos for your cards, choose your design, order, wait for the shipment, address the envelopes, and finally send them out! Don't stress, just book now!

Now you just have to decide what type of session you want. KMS Photography has three options.

Number 1:
A Full Family Session with an Ordering Appointment
$400 and you receive a photography session at a location of your choice for up to 2 hours + a $200 photo credit to order holiday cards, prints, digital downloads, canvases, and more.

Number 2:
The Digital Package
$500 and you receive a photography session at a location of your choice for up to 2 hours + an online gallery of all your images available for download at full resolution.

Number 3:
$150 Holiday Mini Sessions (details below)

Holiday Mini Sessions are a great option if you are crunched for time and just want a few photos for your holiday cards. You may also order holiday cards from the online gallery you will receive for 20% off by using the code HOLIDAY. Here are just a few of the designs available.

Some of my favorite photos come from my newborn sessions! I enjoy getting creative with each baby, girl or boy, and seeing what beautiful art pieces I can create. One of the reasons I love them so much is because each one is very unique. I always do newborn sessions in my client's home, which means my client's will get a very personal photo session with their own decor as some of the backdrops. New mommies love that I do these in home. They do not have to strap their brand new baby in a car seat and make the journey to a studio somewhere outside of their comfort zone while they are still recovering from labor. If they want, they can even stay nice and comfortable in their PJs while I capture their beautiful infant.

How exactly do Newborn Photography Sessions work?

    Every session is unique. Not only is every home different, but every baby is different. Some babies love to cry; some do not want to sleep and we get lots of awake photos; some sleep the entire time without even a sign of crying; some like to be fed A LOT; some even pee or poop on me. (Yes! It has happened multiple times.) To really attempt to get the most cooperative newborn, it is best to do your session within 10 days of birth. Babies are most comfortable in tight, fetal positions and are easily put to sleep within this time frame. It is also best to keep your house at a toasty 70 degrees or higher for your baby to stay warm and cozy while they are nude. The sessions can last anywhere from 2 to 3 hours and we usually spend about 2/3rds of that time setting up or comforting the baby. First & foremost, I will begin by setting up all my equipment and creating little make-shift studio sets around your home in the best lighting and incorporating any important elements that you have asked me to incorporate. We will then start the photo shoot.

    Generally, I like to begin with lifestyle photos of mommy and daddy holding their newborn on a couch or bed or by a window, anywhere that I can get the best light for the best images. It is also great because you are comforting your baby at the same time that you are getting your first family photos (usually your baby is wrapped up in a blanket at this time). Once we get some great family shots, I move to the studio style naked baby photos as shown below.

Any props, like the shark hat above or the headbands and baseball below, I leave up to my clients. My philosophy is that all of your photos will be more personal if you use props (headbands, hats, booties, books, bracelets, etc.) that have meaning behind them and/or that will be worn by your baby in the future. I do not want to just give you photos that all my other clients will be getting as well. What I will bring for you is a few blankets for backdrops, some baskets, and some wooden crates (shown below).

These photo shoots require a lot of patience! Your new baby WILL cry and will get upset, but we are all being super careful and comforting them whenever they need it.

As I mentioned earlier, they often poop and pee on me and on the blankets, but do not worry! Potty pads are placed under my blankets and above your floor or couch so that there is no mess for you to clean up and no worries if they have an accident while they are naked. Each blanket is also washed with baby sensitive detergent after every single session.

I take much pride in making every session a wonderful experience for my clients! The photos you receive are wonderful treasures that you will have for a lifetime making all the crying worthwhile. It is best to book your session while you are still pregnant and we will simply set your session date as your due date adjusting as necessary since the baby will come on their own time. For pricing information and to book a session visit my pricing page or email me at katie@kmsphotos.com.

A common question I get whenever I book any type of photography shoot is, "What should I wear?" Often times, this questions is posed by moms who also want to know what their children should wear or mommies-to-be who want to look their best with their beautiful pregnant bellies. One hundred percent of the time, I will address this question with 3 standard answers.

Number 1: Do not wear any clothing with big logos (or patterns) that will distract from the beauty of your family or you. Even if you do wear logos, more than likely I will be Photoshopping them out or getting rid of the images that I feel your clothing caused more of a distraction than can be fixed with editing. While there are a few logos that may support the vision you are trying to attain with your photo shoot, for instance, a team logo, 90% pf the time this is not the case. Just stay away from logos please. Similarly, patterns can be a huge distraction, however can be pulled off more than logos. Patterns, when coupled with a solid, can be classy and gorgeous. The biggest reason I tend to steer clear of too much pattern is because they can clash in the worst of ways. See my Pinterest board for "Photo Shoot Outfit Disasters" for reasons why patterns sometimes do not work and then go and visit my board for "What To Wear For A Photo Shoot" to find some beautiful inspiration for outfits that work.

Number 2: Stay away from lots of black. When a bunch of people wear black they tend to blend together, which makes for terrible photos. I especially make sure that my maternity clients don't wear black because it hides your baby belly and we do not want that! Another very important part of not wearing black, is not matching. It's unnatural and no fun.

Finally, Number 3: This one is the most important! BE YOURSELF! I want you to be the most comfortable when we are at our photo shoot and that would mean you would have to wear something that you are comfortable in. If you are uncomfortable, your photos will show it. Relax and have fun.

Now for some great tips.
1. I love when my clients accessorize. This is also a great way to get a variety of images because you can take accessories off or put them on and create a whole new look. Hats, scarves, jewelry, ties, and even jackets are an accessory. Jackets are wonderful to create different looks as well.

2. Think contrast. Contrast is, "The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art." Make sure to throw in some light colors and some dark colors. It will create a great balance within your photos. If everyone wears the same thing, everyone will blend.

3. Compliment your styles. Everyone has a different style. Coordinate your family outfits by choosing clothing in the same tonal range. Again, do not match. Everyone hates it and it doesn't make for good photos. Also, allow your daughter to wear her favorite dress and compliment it with something in your closet. Don't fight your children's choices if you know it will cause them to be upset for photo shoot day.

4. Embrace color (and pattern), but make sure you balance it with some neutrals and solids. A great way to balance a bold color is to throw a muted, or pastel, color along with it. Or, as stated earlier, a pattern can be beautifully complimented with a solid accessory (or vice versa).

5. Choose timeless clothing. You don't want to look back at your photos and think, "Oh my goodness, what was I thinking with that outfit! Yuck." Trends are great follow on a daily basis, but you never know when fashion is going to transform and you may hate the old trends.

6. No haircuts the day before. We have all had that haircut that is totally awkward the day you get it, but you absolutely LOVE it after a week or two. If you hate your haircut and the next day is your photo shoot. You will hate your photos. Just don't do it.
7. Try on the outfits you choose before your photography session. All of them! You don't want to find out that something doesn't fit on the day of your session because you will be frantic and stressed and, once again, it will show up in your pictures.

I hope that all this information was helpful! For some wonderful inspiration for your outfit selection, please visit my Pinterest board, and follow me while you're at it. :)

I am going to stress this point one more time. Be yourself. Your photos will represent who you are and if you are yourself you will make gorgeous photos.

To book your session please email me atkatie@kmsphotos.com or call 650.255.1750.

I would like to start today's post off by asking what it is that you all want to hear about?

My blog can consist of anything from products and prints I offer and how you can display them in your home to gift ideas for the holidays that involve your session images. What interests you?

Comment below with any interesting ideas you might have for me or anything that you want to hear about. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

A couple months ago, I got an inquiry from a family friend to capture her daughter's 10th birthday party. Now, this was no ordinary birthday party photography gig, this was a Glam Slam Birthday Party!

What exactly is a Glam Slam Birthday Party, you ask?!?

The birthday girl and a few of her friends got to visit a local dry bar, Halo Blow Dry Bar, to get their hair done. Once the beautiful young ladies were all glammed up, they returned to the party house where I had set up a photo shoot for them. Balloons in the background, some fun props to pose with, a large frame; we all laughed and took tons of silly, glamorous photos and ended the night with some pizza and cake! I had such a blast that I have decided to start offering the entire party as a package. I will book the appointments, set up the photo shoot spot, and bring a whole bunch of fun props. All you need to do is get your girls to and from each spot and do any of the food and cake that you wish to have!

Looking to have your own Glam Slam Party?!
Contact me for details. katie@kmsphotos.com

The Beautiful Birthday Girl

    Displaying your photographs can be extremely difficult. You have spent all this money on getting wonderfully artistic images of your family, newborn, high school senior, etc. and now you have to decide which ones you like best and how you want to exhibit them around your home.
    Here at KMS Photography, we will walk you through the process of choosing the best displays for your home. Not only will we guide you in choosing the picture perfect photos to put on your wall, but we will show you what your images in the collages and products that we offer will look like on YOUR wall!
One of the biggest questions we answer when talking to prospective clients is, "how can you do that?!?"
After your photo session with us, we set up a viewing album and bring it to your home for your ordering appointment. At this time, we will first view a slideshow of all your images. Then, after selecting your favorites, we walk through your home with you and figure out where you may want to display them. We take some pictures of your walls, insert them into our program and, voilà!, your session's images are viewed as if they were on your walls. One of the most wonderful things about this is that you know almost exactly what you are ordering before you order it!
So now you want to know what we offer. Check out our product catalog.

We will show you some of our favorite collage and framing options!

Which one do you like best?

Parquet

Maybe you just want a simple framed print!

This is a 16x20 print matted and framed, final size: 20X24.
And you can see more unique frames below.

The holidays are just around the corner! You may want to start thinking about getting your annual family photos done soon. Not only do we have all these wonderful products (and many more!), but we also offer holiday cards and will personally design them for you. Also, a great holiday gift for family and friends is a photography session gift certificate. Book or purchase today!
Email: katie@kmsphotos.com
Phone: 650.255.1750

For all you brides out there who are wondering about whether you should break from the traditional and move toward the trendy, here is a great article about reasons why you should do a first look at your wedding! As a wedding photographer, I can tell you that it is much easier and less stressful for everyone, bride, groom, photographer, and family and friends. Not only do you have the chance to spend more time mingling with your friends and family during the cocktail hour, but you also have more of a variety of fun, glamorous photos to choose from. Check out the variety of photos I got from Krystal & Karl's wedding, and there are so many more that were all done before the ceremony.

Now, don't get too disappointed if you are the type who wants to keep your wedding traditional, there are other options. Read the article and you will see.

WHY DO A FIRST LOOK

As many of you may have seen already, Ashton Kutcher made a fantastic acceptance speech at the 2013 Teen Choice Awards. I wanted to share it in case any of my senior portrait photography clients are out there reading! Listen to his advice. He makes a great point about the fact that none of us live in this world as we know it, we make this world what we want it to be. "Build a life, don't live one, build one!" Also, remember that "...opportunity looks a lot like hard work." With a lot of perseverance and hard work, I have managed to graduate with a bachelors degree from San Jose State University and start my own successful photography business. I have tried to build a life and so should you!

AND please, please, please, always remain sexy. Smart is sexy!

WORDS OF WISDOM:
"so, first the opportunity. I believe that opportunity looks a lot like hard work.  When I was 13, I had my first job with my dad carrying shingles up to the roof.  And then I got a job washing dishes at a restaurant.  And then I got a job in a grocery store deli.  And then I got a job in a factory sweeping cheerio dust off the ground.  And I've never had a job in my life that I was better than.  I was always just lucky to have a job.  And every job I had was a steppingstone to my next job, and I never quit my job until I had my next job.  And so opportunities look a lot like work.
Number 2: Being Sexy! The sexiest thing in the entire world...is being really smart and being thoughtful, and being generous.  Everything else is crap, I promise you.  It's just crap that people try to sell to you to make you feel like less.  So don't buy it.  Be smart, be thoughtful, and be generous.
The third thing is something that I just relearned when I was making this movie about Steve Jobs. And Steve Jobs said, 'When you grow up, you tend to get told that the world is the way that it is and that your life is to live your life inside the world and try not to get into too much trouble and maybe get an education, and get a job and make some money and have a family. But life can be a lot broader than that when you realize one simple thing, and that is that everything around us that we call life was made up by people that are no smarter than you.  And you can build your own things.  You can build your own life that other people can live in.'  So build a life.  Don't live one, build one.  Find your opportunities, and always be sexy."

As some of you know, I have recently completed my studies at San Jose State University and received a Bachelors in Entrepreneurship! Luckily, KMS Photography has flourished over the past year that I am booking sessions left and right. Be sure to book me as soon as possible because I expect the holidays to fill up fast. Having been so overwhelmed with school and work over the past 6 months, I have lagged in my blog updating. Starting today, I will be, hopefully, updating my blog at least once a week with client galleries, interesting articles, and anything else you all might be interested in. Please comment with anything you might like to see on here...maybe some Photoshop or Lightroom tutorials, before and after pictures, etc. Let me know!

Let the sharing begin!

A friend from my photo classes contacted me recently to help her with some modeling needs she had. This women, Miss Debra McClure, has a great eye for photography and I've always admired her work. Well, she told me that there were some paintings by a guy named Klimt and she was working on interpreting them in a photographic fashion. I couldn't wait to join in this endeavor and help her out.

When I arrived today for my 'call time' (hahah I love that!), I got my hair and make up done and we first took some glamour shots, which I can't wait to see. Then we went into the Klimt Photo Shoot! Boy was this AWESOME!!! Not only did her interpretation look great, but I think she did better than the paintings! Haha. The lighting and the colors were beautiful. Just so everyone knows, I was Danea! Read about her on Wiki, if you don't already know the story. Anyway, here is a little sneak peak of the results! Absolutely gorgeous.

HOW COOL?!?!

Can't wait to see the rest and share with everyone! Thank you Debbie! I had so much fun and you do amazing work!

Lots of Love!
KMS

So today I got to shoot a beautiful friend of mine as a favor for me and my portfolio and, I must say, the product turned out amazing.

Everyone, meet Ashley:

I will now attempt to blog. Of course normally I will blog pictures and sessions, but I don't have any right now.

Today I got some great news! My new camera, which I have been waiting for months to get, has just shipped and I will get it before my next session! So very happy!

Also, how do you like the facelift on my website?! Didn't take that long, but I have been procrastinating for such a long time. Or maybe it wasn't procrastination but busy with school.

Another great part of my day was mailing in my fictitious business name registration. KMS will be official very soon!

Well, I have a Paw-ty on Saturday that I will be blogging about and then another session on the 19th. Can't wait to continue to share with you guys.

My little adopted nephew whom I ADORE is already 5 months old! I cannot believe it. He is growing up way too fast!

I cannot wait to capture the Haselbach's lovely little guy as he grows!

Here are the 5 month pictures!

Lots of Love!
KMS