Family Art Photo is teaming up with SouthPaw studios!

You’ve worked so hard to be the best you can at your sport, let us capture you in action during your game and with stylized portraits showcasing your athletics as part of your senior photo experience. Bryan Boyett at SouthPaw Studios and the AK Baseball Report has the eye and the skill to capture you in action. Wendi Bates with Family Art Photo will do the rest!

How does it work?

Book your senior photo session with Family Art Photo and select the add on for Southpaw Studios. The initial time will be to get your senior photos taken and then we will schedule action photos at the game/event of your choice. As a part of your senior photos, Bryan and Wendi can create stylized sports portraits as well(see below for examples.) Click here to schedule!

Advice for Parents of 2022 Seniors

It is an absolute honor to connect with Anchorage high schoolers and their parents for senior sessions. While the student is certainly my focus during our shoots, I realize this event is a major milestone for both.

Which is why I do whatever I can to make every senior session a memorable one of everyone involved. And to that end, I want to offer two pieces of advice for any parent of a 2022 senior:

1. Book the session when your senior isn’t overwhelmed with activities/schoolwork.

Once your child’s last first semester of high school starts, the year starts flying by! Which is why the perfect time to book their senior session is as their junior year is winding down. You both can look ahead with clear minds and schedules for a window that works best to meet those yearbook deadlines!

2. Name the photos you need, but let your seniors get the photos they want too.

Senior photos signify a rite of passage for today’s high schooler. For them it’s less about the yearbook, and more about capturing what this stage of life meant for them. And for you, it’s a chance to celebrate your child before they move on to their next adventure. So make your needs clear (ex. photos for the grad announcement), but allow your senior the chance to incorporate experiences and places that mean something to them.

Ultimately, when it comes to your high schooler’s senior session, the earlier you start planning the easier the entire process will be – and the more fun you both will have during it! So click this link to get started today: http://www.familyartphoto.com/book-an-appointment

Well-designed wall art makes you feel at home

Thinking of redesigning or renovating your home? You’re not alone! There are a number of reasons why people are taking a dramatic interest in home improvement right now. But trust me, you do not have to knock out a wall to lighten and liven up your space!

A well-designed portrait gallery will do wonders for giving your home new life and lasting joy.

Why?

Well for starters, you become what you see (shout out to Deepak Chopra!). So it stands to reason that staring at blank or cluttered walls produce blank or cluttered minds.

A clean and celebratory display of your community however, (or a “shrine to your family” as Gretchen Rubin calls it), can improve your happiness and collective harmony.

I think this is especially important for us Alaskans, as we are spending 80 percent more of our time at home. And that number is only going to increase in the coming months, as the days become colder and nights get longer.

So when you look at the walls of your home, don’t just think of them as shelter from the elements – but as a support system for your wellbeing, that should be designed with care and consideration for what brings out the best in both the space and you.

Last last summer, I took a friend and her family out boating for their portrait session, which was an extraordinary experience that produced the perfect photos for her home!

How do I know? We went on a walkthrough of her house together ahead of time, and the two-story vaulted walls inspired us to dream as big as the trees on the beach. The browns and grays of her home invited in the calming blues and greens of the bay. Everywhere we looked, we saw potential that I then turned into art. Her art.

I also asked my friend what she thinks:

"Our family photo experience with Wendi was a true life experience. Breathtaking majestic wilderness as the backdrop made this a curated wilderness adventure that embraces the meaning of true artistic photography. We had an amazing day from start to finish. Our dog was in heaven! Wendi is a gifted photographer who not only managed to capture our family’s personality, but the spirit of Alaska in each photo."

So go on, take a walk around your home right now. Stretch those legs! And while you wander about, stop to stare at a wall every once in a while. But don’t just look at what space you have available to fit the frames you have, visualize what you want to see and feel every day.

Unsure of where to start? These questions might give your brain a boost!

• What three words describe your home now?

• What three words describe the home you want?

When you have your answers, give me a call at 907-248-2484! I’m here and happy to help transform your thoughts into your art.

More contact information: http://www.familyartphoto.com/contact

Seeking Class of 2020 High School Senior Photo Reps

Now seeking Class of 2018 Senior Reps

What to wear for your high school senior photos.

Tip #1. Love it. Most importantly, bring stuff you love! Stuff you feel comfortable in. Stuff that makes you feel amazing.  Lack of comfort and confidence really affects your photos. Remember all those ’90’s portraits when guys were looking all awkward because they were forced to wear a suit and tie? That will not be you! I want you to look and feel amazing… I want you to rock the camera! (note: Don’t worry if mom makes you bring your track suit. We’ll appease her briefly and get on with our thing.)

Tip #2. Bring more than we'll need. We may not use them all, but why limit ourselves on what we have to work with? Bring lots of options so that we can choose colors + styles based on our surroundings and backdrops.

Tip #3. ‘Timeless’, ‘Sassy’, ‘Bold’. Focus on a word that describes the look you want while digging through your closet, and pick out the clothing that speaks to you.

Tip #4. Accessorize. Yep, this goes for guys too. Seriously, accessories are key. They make a plain outfit look rad. Consider some of my favorites… fedoras (or other awesome hats), belts, sweet shoes, a bow tie, vest, cowboy boots, crazy cool earrings, sunglasses, big bracelets, hair flowers, gloves, watches… bring it! Let’s play!

Tip #5. Color. Definitely bring some black and some solid colors, but also please bring a few pieces with vibrant color. Blues, Yellows, Greens, Reds… I love color that pops! It could be an accessory… big yellow earrings, a purple belt or hat. It could be shoes… yellow Converse, red boots (personal fave). It could be a jacket, lipstick or a shirt. Just bring a few pieces to add a splash of color to make your photos POP!

Tip #7. Texture.  Texture can come in so many forms… a large knit sweater, ruffles on a skirt, lacy stockings, polka dot rain boots… it simply adds an extra element. If you’ve got some texture, bring it.

Tip #8. Buy something new. Splurge. I give you permission. Whether you love Free People, Brany Melville, vintage… buying something new can make you feel amazing… and that’s exactly what we’re going for. This is a big event. If a new outfit will make it that much better… do it.

Tip #9. Don’t forget the SHOES!!! I have to be perfectly honest. I’m a shoe-aholic. It’s true, and I especially love boots. But I also have to be honest and say… if a senior misses out on just one thing, it’s bound to be shoes. Guys… Shoes can totally make your outfit. They pull everything together. Don’t skimp on the shoes! One pair is NOT enough… bring many pair of shoes. And I stress… SHOES!!!

Tip #10. Don’t Be Shy. You know how you see models in magazines wearing something ridiculous that you’d never wear in real life, but it look super cool in the picture? Point given. Bring your normal every day clothes, but don’t be shy to bring something crazy and outrageous!

Tip #11. Variety. I love mixing and matching rags, prom dresses, and everything in between. Bring a variety to work with… clothes, accessories & shoes. You’ll be happy you did.   Just remember… Love what you bring to wear. Wear what makes you feel confident. Have fun. And, yeah… bring your prom dress.

Reflection

Look at this cutie pie... what a "duck" face.

Family Art Photo's Mother's Day photography sessions.

Every mother deserves beautiful photos with her children. So often we are behind the camera documenting our children's and family's daily lives and thus missing from the photos.

Celebrate motherhood with the best Mother's Day gift-images to cherish forever and that your children will treasure as well. You'll be pampered with hair and make-up styling and be photographed with your children. You will take home images that reflect the beauty of you, the woman and the mother. This year there will be an outdoor sets as various in studio sets. Sessions will be available through out the month of May.  Please view the video below from previous years session and call the studio 248.2484 or text 907.830.1703 to book your session.  Only $225 for session, hair and makeup styling, and a boutique framed print.