Novi Photographer {One Year Cake Smash} Photography Session

Birthdays are a BIG DEAL!  Any parent who can survive one year with a new baby deserves to celebrate.  We celebrated in style with this little guy.  Even though he cried through a lot of it, he finally enjoyed his cake once he tasted it!

Top Three Places for Printing Your Photos

One of the questions I get asked most often is “What is the best place to print my pictures?”

All my session packages include a CD with images, so this is a common and important question!

Here are three of my favorites.

MPIX: www.mpix.com

This is my number one place for printing photos.  I do all of my personal printing here.  The quality cannot be beat.  The images have a sharp finish with no color bleeding and the colors are true to what you see on your screen.  They calibrate their computers with the printers and the result is a fabulous image.  I love large prints and black and whites from mpix.

The interface is a little clunky, but it’s worth the learning curve.  They can be a little pricey, especially for your 4x6 prints, but the large prints (5x7 and 8x10) are the same or even cheaper than other online sites.  Shipping is a little more costly too, but everything comes packaged nicely and I’ve never had my prints crushed during shipping like other online sites!  They also print lots of different sizes and their wallets are beautiful.

I have also ordered some products from them.  While the accordion albums are just fine (the pro level ones I order are much better quality), I really love the standouts, which give the look of a canvas, but without losing part of an image and for much cheaper.  It is a great addition to your wall.

BOTTOMLINE: Use MPIX for everything, but especially large prints, black & whites, or wallets.  Use for gift-giving prints and images you’ll hang in your home.  

SNAPFISH: www.snapfish.com

I love snapfish for so many reasons.  Let me start by saying that I used to use the cheapest sites I could find to print my pictures, but I started to care about quality.  Snapfish is the happy medium between the two.  It is relatively inexpensive, especially for 4x6 prints, and has a nice quality to them.  You can also order cards (flat cards are great for Thank Yous!), calendars (love the desk calendars), and other outstanding products.  You can order snapfish prints and have them printed at the store, but they don’t come out as nicely.  They also often run great deals for penny prints!

Recently I printed some of the same pictures at mpix and at Snapfish.  They are virtually indistinguishable.  The color is slightly off on the Snapfish photos, but not anything you would notice unless they were side by side, and I might even like it better.

Large prints, however, don’t look as great and are rather expensive.

BOTTOMLINE:  For the best cheap 4x6 prints out there use Snapfish.  Great for scrapbooks, photo albums, or keeping in a memory box.

MEIJER: local Midwest big box store

While Meijer prints can be hit or miss, lately they have had wonderful quality and color and printed beautifully for me on my last visit.  On previous visits skin tones have looked a little “green,” but still completely usable for scrapbooks and projects.   The advantage, of course, is having your prints instantly.  You can even upload from your computer and place your order.  They offer a wide variety of styles and products, but I’ve only ordered prints and never anything larger than a 5x7.  

Sometimes “prints in 15 minutes” is more like prints in an hour.  If you have other shopping to do this is just fine, but if you are on your way somewhere, it’s not.  Try going early (between 9-10am) to avoid this problem.

BOTTOMLINE: Instant gratification and the potential for great quality make Meijer a worthwhile option.

I know that you might ask me about other places that you might want to print your photos.  I’m going to tell the answer with a story. When you go to get your haircut do you stop at any salon or quick cuts shop you can find?  Do you ask your gardener to give you a little trim with the hedge clippers when he stops by your house?  No!  You wouldn’t do either of those things!  You find a hair stylist or at least a salon or a barber that you trust.  You want to be looking good and you want to look your best!  So do your pictures.  They were meant to be printed.  Don’t take just take them anywhere.  All other places are not as good.  Use the best.  Check out one of my three options instead.

3 Month Baby Photography - Northville Photographer

I love photographing my own children.  They also give me the greatest source of inspiration for future shoots with other kids.  When my first daughter was three months old we did a very beary photography session with her.  Nestled in a pile of bears, dressed as a bear, it was hard to tell where the bears ended and where she began!  It was perfect.  When Baby #2 came along, it was hard to imagine how to top that session.  I think that we achieved it!  I'm so pleased with this different take on a "baby in a pile of bears" that I will probably use it for future sessions with my clients!

The Many Faces - 3 Month Child Photography - Northville, Michigan

I like to shoot a lot of pictures during any session and you can see the reason why in this collage.  As a mom, I can appreciate the slight variations and the subtle differences in each facial expression, especially of a new baby.  What's more, I love having access to all my photos at any time.  That's why I include a CD with all your photos for every session.  You deserve to look at all those small differences that only a mother will notice in those little moments that pass all too quickly.

Fine Art vs. A Moment in Time

On Fridays I try to share of my personal thoughts about photography, life, and general "mom" stuff.  I hope you enjoy this little diversion.

A few weeks ago I was looking through some products for photographers.  One company was selling a brochure to help sell clients large prints and gallery wraps for their home.  "After all," they said, "creating fine art for your home is your #1 goal." 

I have been thinking a lot about that philosophy.  It is almost completely the opposite of my goal for your photography session.

Photography is an opportunity to create art, yes, and even more, to create something truly beautiful.  However, I think that my first goal is always to just freeze this simple moment in time for parents and families.  

I have two girls of my own.  "It goes by so fast" is such a cliche, but so true.  My oldest has changed so much in just two years.  I have beautiful photographs of her capturing those little stages that happen so fast at that little age.  I also have snapshots I've taken as quickly as I can to capture moments I never want to forget too.  There was the time I realized that she was comprehending what I was saying even though she couldn't talk when she picked up her shoes.  The picture is cluttered and messy, but it is so representative of that one specific frozen moment.  There are snapshots of her in costumes just enjoying being a kid.  My Dad told me there will be a moment like that in every day and I want to remember that moment. 

That's all I want to do for my clients.  Spend an hour with them, create a moment, and freeze it forever.  If it happens to be fine art for your home, so be it, but for me, this is about your life and your memories.  Shouldn't that be the first goal?

4 Month Session - Brighton Children's Photography, Metro Detroit Photographer

I enjoyed photographing this little family when they came to visit in March.  "Grandma" was so happy to have her grandson around and I loved having the chance to photograph his beautiful eyes and happy smile.

2012 Spring Mini-Sessions!

To kick off the 2012 photography season of Sharon Hoeg Photography, I will be hosting a new event: Spring Mini-Sessions for only $30.  This is a great opportunity to update your family photo, celebrate spring, or have some beautiful photography done in time for Mother's Day.  Engaged couples get some photos taken for your scrapbook, parents, or to share on your wedding day.

Half the time (30 minutes), half the cost ($30), but the same great fun and fabulous photography!


When: Saturday, April 28th from 10AM - 7PM

Where: A beautiful, private residence in Northville (details will be forwarded to clients who book a session).  See the photos below of this park-like landscaped backyard.

Includes all photos from your session on a CD and an online gallery for sharing with friends!  CDs will be ready and delivered by May 4th...just in time to print great photos for Mother's Day (May 13th!).

What to Wear: Bright colors, spring/Easter clothes, kids in costumes as fairies or adventurers.

About the Fun: Kids will love exploring the trail in the trees, stopping for a break at the mushroom chairs, and taking a rewarding climb on the playset (only after pictures are done!). Families will love exploring together, playing with hula hoops, and enjoying the outdoors.  Be prepared to have fun together!  That's how great photos happen!

How to Book: Sessions are 30 minutes and scheduled on the hour and the half.  Call to book: 248.924.0619 or e-mail to book: sharon@sharonhoeg.com

I HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

A Girl & Her Horse: Northville Children's Photographer

Mid-October I was on a weekend photography extravaganza.  Three sessions in two days at around 25 weeks pregnant was no easy feat.  I forget how draining--emotionally, physically, and mentally--those sessions can be.  I had a great weekend shooting couples, kids, and babies.  It was a "little bit of everything" kind of weekend.

I had been reading some blogs for photographers, specifically, I had been spending some time at http://www.reveriemine.com looking through their concept shoots.  While Reverie features a highly stylized version of children's photography, a departure from my personal shooting style, I love concept shoots and find this type of work fascinating.

Concept shoots can result in the most amazing images.  I, personally, like to create situations and then just let things happen.  Children will make magic on their own!  My last concept shoot, in March of 2011, was a St. Patrick's Day Party & Photo Session.  While digging through the Reverie website, I came across a recent series that featured a girl on a horse.

So on a mildly chilly October morning, standing in a field at a nearby State Park, while photographing a couple, it hit me: I have a girl (daughter) and we have a (giant stuffed) horse and this is the perfect place to photograph her.

I wrapped up my engagement session and headed home for a little nap.  When the weather was still sunny later and met my criteria for being over 50 degrees outside (It's Michigan, okay?), I convinced my daughter that we should go for a walk in the woods.  Boy did I get some funny looks while carrying this giant horse down a trail, but the pictures were worth it.  It's different than what you may usually see from me, but it was a fun exercise and she posed like a champ!

Great Giveaway For Budding Photographers

Maybe you like styling your own photograph sessions, maybe you just need cute clothes for your kid, or maybe you are a budding photographer in your own right.  Whatever your status may be, you should check some interesting work at http://www.reveriemine.com.

Featuring some creative and inspiring concept shoots for children's photography, it is a great place to get ideas for your own theme shoot like the one I'm going to post tomorrow about a girl and her horse. :)

In the meantime....GET OVER THERE AND ENTER THEIR HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY!

James - 9 Month Baby Pictures - Baby & Child Photography Novi

I love it when the light is perfect and a child is happy.  It results in some beautiful natural photos like these.

The Colony Club - Detroit Wedding Photography

I was honored and blessed to be a part of this special day.  This couple is so easy to photograph and so much fun.  They are comfortable together and you can see it in very photo.  I greatly admire their love and passion about Michigan, living here, being from here, and everything that Detroit and Michigan represent. 

Happy Halloween! - Ghost Bride Trash the Dress

Happy Halloween from Sharon Hoeg Photography!

Erin - Trash the Dress - Northville Wedding Photographer

I absolutely LOVE IT when brides decide to trash their dress.  What else are you going to do with that thing anyway?  For this session we headed to my favorite little urban spot.  Luckily, a lot of the streets were under construction.  This IS Michigan after all.  This made for some great gritty, dirty background that looked great with the pristine, white dress.

Children's Photography - Children Photographer Northville/Novi/Canton

Photographing children in their natural environment is probably my favorite thing to photograph.  I love the way their personalities come through, the serious, the funny, and the relaxed.  It is a frozen moment of who they really are.  Here are a few of my favorites of Neil.  I have had the pleasure of photographing him several times in the last few years and he is always delightful.

Newborn Hospital Photography - Novi Photographer

I take great joy in the opportunity to photograph newborn babies, especially those just hours old.  Did you know that I can do a photo session for you just after your new baby is born?  I happily visit parents and their tiny babes in the hospital.  Check out what great photos can be had for a very reasonable price.

What You Should Photograph in October - Michigan Photographer

I love this time of year.  The world is covered in fall colors.  Leaves are jumping off the trees and carpeting the world with piles of color!  There are so many things to photograph this time of year.

Here's a great list to get you started:

• pumpkins & a pumpkin patch
• corn
• your table decorations
• the cider mill
• leaves
• kids in costumes
• fall attire (jeans & sweaters come to mind!)
• boots
• a hiking trail
• kids in a pile of leaves
• friends in football jerseys/shirts
• your "game day" celebrations
• a day at the farm
• changing leaves/trees
• fall blooms/flowers

Wedding Photography - Michigan Photographer

A day filled with so much love and happiness only comes along every once and a while and I was so fortunate to photograph this moment in time for my good friends.  I cannot describe the love and joy you could see on the faces of the family members that joined this couple on their special day.  They had been through so much together as a family with a father's heart-breaking accident, that this moment, to be together to celebrate something so great as a marriage, was a teary-eyed affair.  Also, I got some great shots.