For us, the week between Christmas and New Year’s is notoriously dedicated to the group shot.  We get several appointments for large to extended family photo shoots, and this year is no exception.

Although SkySight’s signature style is more photojournalistic, candid and creative, we still dedicate time and precision to these traditional family portraits.  In fact, even these seemingly standard shoots take some creativity.   It takes talent and practice to pose a large group effectively, so that each person is properly lit and in view of the camera.

Case in point:  The Kelvington Family.  This group of 18, which was actually comprised of four families and a set of grandparents, required us to get a little creative with backdrops, seating and lighting.  But with a little preparation - rotating a backdrop here, adding an extra light there – we captured each member of this family in his or her best light.  And that’s saying something – since they ranged in age from 1 to 60+!

The entire Kelvington family

The Kelvington grandchildren and grandparents

A similar, but not quite extensive, shoot was with the Fanelli Family.  This family of five – mom, dad and three daughters – epitomizes the traditional family photo: only the immediate family, studio setting, classic posing.  They also, I think, represent what many families are in need of – an updated family portrait!  The Fanelli’s scheduled relatively quickly, telling us that they needed a new portrait since their girls were now reaching high school to college age.  That said, we hope their new portrait is one they can keep and enjoy for several years!

The Fanelli family

The Fanelli girls

The Fanelli girls with dad

This week’s blog highlights an absolutely beautiful wedding that Autumn shot in Miami, FL back in October.  She just finished the final touches on the editing and we couldn’t wait to share some of these amazing photos with you!

The couple, Jennifer and Andy, reside in Miami full-time, and were referred to us by a former SkySight bride who also lives in the Miami area.

Autumn also met Jennifer & Andy in Miami in March, for a beach-side engagement session.

But for the big day, their evening ceremony was held at the Coral Gables Congregational Church.  The dramatic dome above the church’s alter made for some beautiful ceremony photos, like the included shot of the couple’s first kiss as husband & wife.

The following reception (as well as the bridal party’s pre-ceremony preparations) were held at the absolutely stunning Biltmore Hotel.  The hotel was a photographer’s virtual dream, as it had both a luxurious interior – complete with shining marble, dramatic lighting and high-end finishes – and garden-like landscaped exterior.

In addition to the traditional wedding reception activities, Jennifer and Andy’s celebration included a few elements that I’d never seen before.  For one, the couple had a “crazy hour” – a wedding reception activity that I think is specific to the Miami area – when the bride, groom and guests don boas and crazy accessories, get a little wild and dance like there’s no tomorrow!

Besides their crazy hour, Jennifer and Andy also had a wish tree at their reception.  An alternative to a guest book, the wish tree allows guests to write their well-wishes for the couple’s marriage on individual cards and then hang them on an ornamental tree.  For the first one I’ve seen, I totally loved Jennifer & Andy’s tree – not only was it beautiful to look at, it was full of beautiful thoughts and words that the couple can cherish forever.

Finally, Jennifer and Andy’s day also included a traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony, an activity which is an integral part of traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies.

All in all, Jennifer and Andy’s wedding was one of the most beautiful we’ve ever had the pleasure to be a part of and we congratulate them on their marriage!

At last! My first new blog on our new site!

It’s taken me a week or two to get back to blogging because of our crazy holiday season! It’s been the busiest holiday season in SkySight history. That said, before I roll into this blog, I (and Autumn) would like to thank everyone who visited the studio this season!

Also, thanks to all those who stopped by for our Santa Claus Open House – aka Santa Day – in November. Together, we raised $350 for the Blackburn Center Against Domestic and Sexual Violence. It was also a relaxed and fun day to see many of the studio’s familiar faces.  The event was such a success we plan to make Santa Day an annual occurrence.

In case you missed it, here are a few favorites from Santa Day:

Now that things are winding down a bit at the studio, I put together some highlights from the last few weeks of holiday sessions.  You can also see more holiday favorites in our new Facebook album.

New for 2011, our traditional/vintage set made an appearance in several sessions (as well as in the Santa Day photos).  The set included a brick wall and fireplace backdrop, a faux wood floor floordrop and several props.  To add dimension to the set, we tried to incorporate real, 3D elements seamlessly into the backdrop.  For instance, we hung real stockings on the fireplace “mantel”, a wreath above the fireplace and a wall-hanging on the brick wall.  Then, the addition of our chairs, tables, a gingerbread house, Christmas tree, and other props truly brought the set to life.  Plus, the extensive set gave Autumn several variations and angles to experiment with in different shoots.

We loved the expression on Pax's face here! So guilty!

The Reese kids have been photographed together for the last few holiday seasons. We were so happy to have them back, to keep the tradition alive!

What are the holidays if you can't include the whole family??

In addition to our traditional/vintage set, we also had a few other set and prop options for holiday sessions. For one, we incorporated the SkySight Christmas tree:

Autumn also took some classic black-and-white portraits that had some added holiday flair, thanks to some seasonal outfits and a pair of angle wings, respectively:

Thanks again to everyone who made SkySight a part of their 2011 holiday season! We hope to see you again next year!