The Power of Memory | Washington DC Maternity Baby Photographer

October 05, 2020 in kate juliet photography, maternity, newborns

I have a terrible memory.

I am constantly forgetting why I walked into a room.
I couldn't tell you what I had for breakfast yesterday.
I never remember movie endings.

To make matters worse, coupled with my poor memory is a poor accounting of time. Did something happen last month? Last year? Last decade? I just couldn't say.

It's a hard thing to accept about myself, particularly as someone who places a high value on memories and the past. I want to remember all the little things, but the forces of nature had other plans. No matter how much I might want to, I’m not naturally inclined to remember all my moments.

Sometimes I will have moments with my son where I just look into his face and will myself to remember. "Let this be something you will remember forever," I tell myself. "Don't ever forget this." I know that sometimes it works, but I’m sure there are moments I’ll never get back again. It’s not until I look back on our family albums that the memories come flooding back. What it was like when he was so little. How hot it was that day. How nervous I was. And every moment comes back to life like it was always there.

And I am so very grateful for it. For the silly moments that I couldn’t remember on my own. To remember his little face, how much younger his dad and I looked not all that long ago. How much we’ve all changed since then.

mama’s wardrobe provided by the studio wardrobe, available to all clients for studio sessions

Kate Juliet Photography specializes in natural maternity, newborn, baby, and family portraiture in the Washington DC and Northern VA area.
All studio sessions include access to the studio wardrobe for mothers and babies to borrow clothing for your session.
Contact me to begin planning your custom portrait experience.

What colors should you incorporate in your newborn session?

September 21, 2020 in newborns, kate juliet photography

One of the questions I always ask clients before newborn sessions is about what colors they would like to use for their session.

Having a cohesive color palette goes such a long way to creating creating beautiful images and artwork and I want to make sure to include colors that speak to you the most. I work exclusively with neutral, natural color palettes: whites, grays, browns, tans, and pale pink (for my baby girls). But neutrals are far from boring or routine. I use different textures and shades to bring interest to images without being distracting, and to ensure that your images are as unique as your family.

I always use white in my newborn sessions. It’s a signature of mine, and white is a classic timeless choice that photographs well for every baby. And it provides a perfect transition between family portraits, which are done on a white background, and newborn portraits.

What you select next it up to you though. Here are some of my favorite combinations:

For boys:

- white & dark gray
- white & light gray
- white & brown

For girls:

- white & light gray
- white & and pink
- all white

Ultimately, you can't go wrong with any color combination that you pick. When making your selection, I recommend choosing the colors that speak to you most. Because they are generally all neutrals, any wall art that you select is likely to go well in any nursery or room in your home. And when in doubt, you always have the option for "artist's choice" - in which I make the selections for you.

Newborn Baby Boy | Kate Juliet Photography

newborn baby girl on pink background sleeping

new baby boy on dark gray background sleeping

I Don't Take Perfect Pictures | Washington DC Photographer

September 07, 2020 in newborns, maternity, kate juliet photography, family

I believe in messy hair.
Un-posed moments.
And tiny details.

I believe in capturing emotion over being picture-perfect.

Perfect is boring.
Authentic is you.

Real moments are worth remembering.

Frequently Asked Questions About Family Sessions

August 17, 2020 in family, kate juliet photography

Annual family portraits are so important. It’s a way to document your growing family and children year over year, creating a treasure trove of portraits to look back on. But I know that in the moment clients often wonder about what to expect and how to move forward. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about family sessions:

Where will my session be held?

I hold all family sessions outdoors at one of my favorite locations in Leesburg, VA. Each location has been specially handpicked by me personally, selected because they offer beautiful light, scenery, and is a location with few distractions or other visitors.

What should we wear?

When booking a session I send a complete package of what to wear information, along with personal wardrobe consultation. I recommend moms wear dresses (they’re the most flattering) and that the entire family wear outfits in a similar color palette.

What if my kids aren’t well behaved?

It’s a universal truth that kids are unpredictable (and they’re more unpredictable than usual when photos are involved). I’ve seen it all when it comes to kids, and my best piece of advice is that no matter how your kids are behaving, parents should be upbeat, positive, and have fun. Your mood is contagious, and if you have fun your kids will too. Scolding and threats never go over well (I’m a fan of bribery instead - everyone gets ice cream after!) so make the most of your time together, even if it means letting things fall apart (because that can be great fun too).

What’s the best time of year to have a family session?

I hold family sessions in the Spring and Fall months, when the weather is not too warm and not too cold. Virginia weather in the summer is just too hot to be comfortable (and no one wants to look sweaty in images) and too cold in the winter to have much fun either. Spring and fall offer the best color, light, and temperatures for beautiful photos.

What should I do with my photos?

Albums and wall art are the most popular options for family portraits. Everyone loves having a family portrait to display in their home to see everyday, and albums tell your family’s story from beginning to end, highlighting each unique relationship and personality. I recommend creating a combination of the two, so you can enjoy your portrait investment every day for years.

All About Custom Retouching | Washington DC Family Photographer

August 03, 2020 in kate juliet photography, baby, family, maternity, newborns

One question I get with some frequency is about retouching. What exactly do I edit? Why? Where do I draw the line between reality and Photoshop? The answer is that it depends, but my goal is to always offer images that reflect the genuine connections between your family that you will love, and are consistent with the work you see on my website.

It all starts in my camera during your session. My aim is capture images as correctly as possible, so retouching isn’t necessary at all. I do this by utilizing three main things: lighting, posing, and technical expertise. Using light well is always a photographer’s first ambition. Light is the most important element in any image.

Next is posing. Making sure that the pose is flattering, showing the connections between your family, and highlighting the unique aspects of each personality. And finally, technical expertise. Knowing how to use my gear to properly capture an image. Getting it right from the very beginning is key to a beautiful image. You can’t retouch a terrible image into a good one. You have to get it right when you first capture it.

When it comes to retouching images, my rules are simple:

is it an accurate reflection of my vision?
is it temporary or permanent?
is it a purely distracting element?

Every image needs to accurately reflect what I was trying to capture in the moment. Things like color and composition are subjective, and I want my work to reflect what I saw in that moment. It’s not my always a literal view, but instead how I see mothers with their children, siblings with each other, and babies in the big new world. This element of retouching is my favorite. It’s enhancing my vision for my families’ portraits to give them something new and artistic.

The next element is all about permanence. Children play and bump into things. Babies can scratch their face and chest. Anyone can experience a blemish. Those are all temporary things that will quickly fade with time. They aren’t part of who you are or what you’ll see in the mirror everyday. They don’t need to remain in your portraits. Finally, elements that are purely distracting are removed. If a strand of hair is covering your eye or a stray sticker is stuck to big sister’s shirt, you don’t have to worry that those things will appear in your final images.

I want you and your children to recognize the people in your portraits, but include an artistic touch that comes with an experienced eye. Years from now you’ll look back and adore how far you’ve come, how much things have changed, as you look back on these memories.