(We posted this last Spring, but wanted to bring it back for this year’s Spring family sessions!)

Thinking of doing a family shoot this year, but nervous about finding coordinating outfits for a group? We’ve got you covered! All you need is one piece to get started, and it’s a breeze from there.

Stylists know that the key to group styling is a balance of colors, textures, fabrics, and patterns. This guide will give you an example of how to achieve this balance, while still keeping the group comfortable and stylish. We’ll give you one example here, but this concept can be applied to any season and any look.

All pieces shown are from J.Crew. Happy Shopping!

Happy Birthday, baby J! This little guy has the sweetest personality, as you can see in his photos. He was hesitant of the camera at first, but quickly got into the photoshoot groove, playfully interacting with the camera for the whole session.

We’ve had a lot of nautical cake smash themes this year, but nobody had done an ‘under the sea’ set until this one! I loved making all of the creatures, and J was mesmerized by the fish swimming around him. Thanks to Sweet Indulgence for the friendly shark cake!

Best.  Baby.  Ever.  Seriously, this little guy rocked his session in record time.  He just sat and smiled at me.  He has 2 darling big sisters at home, so I think he fully enjoyed his time in the spotlight during a session just for him.  We kept things classic with a few fun props to mix it up.  I loved the tie and fedora mom brought along, but L looked just as adorable in anything we put him in!  L, come back and play anytime!

Remember this cutie with his planes and snowboard? Throwback Thursday is my good excuse to share more family photos from K’s session. We wanted the session to be really fun, candid, joyful, and kinetic, so we laughed, smiled, and kept things moving. Don’t you almost want to be a part of this family after seeing these? So stylish and fun!

~Mariah

Storyboards are my favorite product that clients order. These are my favorite because they are super customizable and are beautifully stunning when displayed on a wall.

This weeks featured size is a 16×24 storyboard.  These 16×24′s are very popular for all types of sessions.

16×24 storyboards are one of our most popular sizes by far! The tricky part my clients face is picking the right amount of images and the orientation because it really matters!  This week tip I focus on 3 to 4 image storyboard because thats the average number picked.  I’ve done up to nine images on one board though!  These are great visual layouts to help pick images because whether its a canvas or in an Organic Bloom frame the goal is to make the images look balanced.

Being inspired by all the fashion coverage these past weeks from Coachella festival!  Festival fashion is fun, free-sprited, and fearless! I combined festival fashion with one of my other favorite trend…neon!  I’d love to spend a day in the sun in this bright outfit!  The best part about festival fashion is that its over the top while keeping a laid back feel. So go ahead and put on a large stone necklace while rocking sandals and dance the day away! ~ Caroline

Skirt: H&M Skirt

Feather Earrings: Neon Pink Gold Glitter Dipped – Faux Leather Feather Earrings

Daisy Bracelet: Orelia Daisy bracelet set 

Marc by Marc Jacobs Pink Bracelet: Neon Pink Turn lock Charm Leather Bracelet

Sandals: MM6 Maison Martin Margiela

Crop Tank: Cream Floral Lace Swing Crop Top

Neon Handbag: Tory Burch Snake Cross Body Bag

Pink Necklace: Ombre Gradient Pink Neon Handpainted Vintage Rhinestone Necklace 

Last week ended on the sweetest note with gorgeous 6 month old B and family visiting our studio.  I last got to photograph her back in the fall as a newborn, and was so excited to see the beautiful baby she’s grown into!  She was a natural in front of the camera and the session flew by.  We started with an adorable tea party with her favorite teddies, and then decided B might want a turn on the swing too!  These swing pictures are a little bit of photoshop magic because baby is always safely supported by plenty of helping hands at the studio.  B was a perfect little breath of spring!  Enjoy your sneak peek!

There is nothing I love more than warm weather!  Even with all the snow continuing to pile up, I’m looking forward to throwing on this beautiful floral dress designed by QSW.  The Avalon dress is one of the newest pieces featured in their 2013 spring line.  Keep an eye out because floral prints will be blooming everywhere soon enough!  Check out the rest of Quiksilver Women’s line here!  ~Caroline

I first met this happy baby girl back in 2011 when she and her big brother visited our studio for portraits.  We stayed in touch online and through the wonderful community of moms at Bellani Maternity over the years.

We were on our Holiday break this year when I saw the story spread over facebook.  A family in our community was struggling with the recent diagnosis of their young daughter.  She had gone into the doctors with a stomach bug and then their world had changed.  I soon found out it was Belle and her final diagnosis was pre-B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) .  I just couldn’t wrap my head around the sudden news.   I sent mom a message as soon as I heard.  Whenever she was ready, whenever Belle was ready, I wanted to be there for them in any way that I could.

I have worked with many families fighting childhood illness through The Tiny Sparrow Foundation over the past few years.  It has been the most meaningful part of what I do as a photographer.  I know how much photos can mean to families fighting through treatment and recovery.  I also knew how much Belle’s beautiful curls meant to her mom.  Not for their physical beauty, or the soft way they framed her baby doll face, but because they were a symbol of Belle’s babyhood.  They were a symbol of Belle before their world was turned upside-down.  I know I would have felt exactly like Belle’s mom did.  Yes, those curls will grow back, surely more beautiful than ever, but I would have wanted to hold onto them as long as I could.  I had to get to the hospital and capture Belle’s curls.

Belle and her mom are some of the strongest girls I’ve ever met.  Mom has been incomprehensibly positive and tenacious for her daughter.  They amaze me and everyone else they meet.  Belle had already fought through over two weeks of treatment and wasn’t feeling great the day I visited.  We had endless fun, girly, dress-up toys to make her smile, but she mostly wanted her Elmo, her mommy, and her cozy blanket.  You know what?  That Elmo and blanket looked pretty perfect to me and there is nothing more beautiful than a mother’s love.

Plus, this isn’t the last photo shoot you’ll see with Belle here.  We’ll be catching up again, when she’s feeling much better.  She has plenty of tutu-twirling ahead of her!  This summer, her hair will be growing back and I probably won’t be able to keep up with her as she runs around outside.  For now, I’m happy to have captured those sweet curls before her next chapter begins.  You can read more about Belle’s story in her mother’s words on the Kent Macaroni Kids Blog.

If you would like to help Belle and her family, please visit  Belle’s Youcaring.com Page or check back in with us for the many opportunities to make a difference for Belle in the coming months.

Oh my gosh, is this not one of the cutest babies you have ever seen?  I was totally in love with her from the first second she looked at me with those big brown eyes.  Little Star sessions are some of my favorite and especially when babies are at this age.  It feels like I’m just hanging out with mom and dad, playing dress up with their little one.  Sometimes I have to remind myself that I’m working!  M was so sweet.  She indulged us in plenty of adorable outfits and sets.  I’m wondering how I’ll ever choose favorites for this gallery!  Enjoy your sneak peek!