We are going to create the perfect piece of art for your home, but how should you display it?
You made the decision to update those family photos or that you want to document that beautiful baby! How many times have you said, “I want to print that for the living room” and that photo stays on your phone or Facebook? I am guilty as charged. It took me over a year to print my engagement photos. Let me take the stress away for you! When you book your session we will have a reveal session either in person or via zoom. There you will be able to see all the beautiful images that we created and choose a package that works best for you and your family. These will include artwork as well as digital files for you to share! If you are doing multiple sessions (i.e. maternity and newborn) you are able to combine them into one order. In this blog, I will go over the stunning products to help you decide which one is best for you and your home! Wall Art There are three major types of wall art that I offer; they are wrapped canvas, framed canvas, or high-quality prints. Wrapped Canvas A Canvas print is a timeless addition to any room in your home. With no frames, it is easy to keep these image in your home as it changes throughout the years. Beautiful canvas with wrapped image sides for a clean and timeless look. Your image does not require framing. The canvas is has a solid back and hooks for easy hanging. Floating Frames Elevate your canvas to include a beautiful frame that borders the entire canvas. Completes your artwork with a beautiful wood frame that is available in three signature colors: Black, brown, and white. This is a unique way to make that canvas pop on your wall! Metallic Print These are not the average images you get from your local printer. Printed on museum grade, metallic, photographic paper perfect for mounting on artboard or hanging in a beautiful frame. The shimmer, clarity, and saturation create a clean, modern look. These photos are stunning on their own or will pop on the wall inside a beautiful frame. Heirloom Albums These albums are hand-created by me with your favorite images of our session! You select the images you want and I will do the rest. Each page is hand-designed to highlight the story of the new life that has joined your family, your growing family, or the most special milestones. After the album has been created, proofs will be sent to you for your approval! What if I want something else? These are the most common products that are asked for by my clients but there are a plethora of products out there. If there is another vision that you have I am happy to create your dream! We can go over it during a phone consultation!
5 Tips for Choosing the Perfect Location For Your Session!
When booking your photography session there are a lot of decisions to make! “What location do you recommend?” This is one of the most common questions that I am asked when families, couples, or seniors are looking to book a session. The Treasure Coast and Space Coast offer so many unique and stunning backdrops for photography it makes it hard to choose. Here are some things to keep in mind when you are choosing a location as well as some of my most common and favorite spots! 1. Where are you going to hang your final portraits? This question is always the first I ask families. You want to think of the overall aesthetic of the room that you’re going to be hanging the photo in. You don’t want the colors or your outfits to clash with your home decor. Does you’re home have a coastal feel? You may consider doing portraits on the beach. If your decor is more rustic or farmhouse, you may want to consider something that has open fields and rich tones. When styling outfits this is equally important! Adding pops of color to any room could easily be done with your outfits in the portraits. 2. What overall feel are you looking to achieve? Knowing the feel that you’re wanting to achieve in your portrait is a driving factor in selecting a location! For example, do you want your session to feel ethereal, modern/urban, vintage, warm, romantic, or whimsical? If you’re looking for a romantic vibe you may want to choose a location where you first met or somewhere where there is no one but the two of you can really be present in the moment. Looking for a warm session and cozy vibe? You’re going to want to choose a time and location around sunset! If you want a whimsical session, choosing a location that will allow you the kids to play and enjoy each other would be in the forefront of your decision making. 3. What color or style outfits did you have in mind? If you have a large family or purchasing outfits just to take photos doesn’t sound like something that you’re interested in, think about the outfits that you already have in your closets! You want to make sure that your outfits are matching in the same color tones. Look up about aesthetic boards or mood boards when selecting outfits! Think of the colors of the backdrop and choose outfits that would blend well. Below is an example as well as a Pinterest board I created to help inspire you! 4. What time of day works best for your family? Knowing the time of day that works best for your family helps when selecting a location. For families, I always recommend keeping the same nap schedules and to do it after the kids had a meal or have a snack beforehand. The time of day will also help me in assisting in the selection of location because of lighting. In Florida, the sun location is huge to the success of your session. You don’t have to have the sun directly overhead causing everyone to squint and be too bright. If you’re in a shaded area with trees overhead, knowing when the best time is so there aren’t light spots is important as well! 5. Is there a location that showcases a personal interest or a place that is meaningful? Choosing a meaningful location enhances the images so much! When you have your artwork hanging in your house and someone comments on your beautiful family photo wouldn’t it be amazing to explain how that is the beach that your family goes to every week or that it’s one of your FAVORITE locations in the world. If you’re a family that loves hiking, choosing a very lush and green backdrop would be beautiful. Into art or coffee shops, we could shoot in downtown at your favorite places! Choosing a location is more than just a pretty spot, allow it to tell your story! Now that your brain is turning here are some of my most requested locations to inspire you! These are not the only location I shoot at on the Treasure Coast or Space Coast! If you have a unique space please feel free to share it with me! Contact me using the form below for more information or if you have any other questions!
Team USA Softball Game- Vero Beach Florida
Girls and women around the world are celebrating the return of Olympic softball in the Tokyo Summer Games! The decision shook athletes everywhere in 2006 when the International Olympic Committee voted to remove the sports of Softball and Baseball from the lineup of the 2012 games. Again in 2009 the IOC upheld they decision to continue to eliminate Softball from the games. However, athletes were elated when the IOC voted to add the American Past time of Baseball and Softball back into the line up for the Tokyo games! Team USA is preparing for their big day in Tokyo and during this time they participated in the Stand Beside Her Tour in Florida and Texas. This brought team USA and Team Italy to OUR backyard!! Team USA celebrated at Jackie Robinson Training Complex in Vero Beach for practice. They opened their doors to fans and continued to inspire girls everywhere! After their practices in Vero Beach, Team USA headed over the USSSA Space Coast Sports Complex to take on number 10 seeded Team Italy. Team USA did NOT disappoint as their bats came alive and crushed 7 balls over the fence. The fans in attendance enjoyed hearing Team Italy cheering their players on in Italian as well as the pure talent and skill of the USA women. As a “retired” softball player it gave me goosebumps listening to the group of young ladies, dressed in their softball practice gear, cheer “USA, USA”. Here are a few of my absolute favorites of the day! Being able to photograph this day sparked so much love and passion inside me and I am excited to be able to begin offering sports photography into my arsenal of skills. If you’re interested in using my photos or story feel free to contact me: Jamie Stalter lastingmemoriesbyjamie@gmail.com
A Newborn Photographer With A Focus on Safety
Now that you’ve started your search for the perfect newborn photographer you’re probably coming across a lot of questions. It’s a big decision, there’s no doubt about it. This person will handle your most precious cargo in their most fragile state of life. To help you navigate the process, I’m sure you’re scouring through dozens of websites to find a photographer who has the experience, a studio close by, someone who can highlight your infants’ best features, and a photographer within your budget. While all of these deserve some thought, don’t forget to factor in the most important consideration of all: newborn safety. Safety is the most important factor parents should consider when hiring a newborn photographer. Babies are only 5 to 10 days old, so they are incredibly fragile, their skin is so sensitive, and struggle with regulating their temperature. An experienced newborn photographer will not only have extensive training on the proper handling of an infant for posing, but will also know how to create an environment that is comfortable and safe for baby. Maintaining a warm temperature that is consistent is key for both safety and comfort. It also helps babies stay sleepy, which allows them to be posed in all the most requested squishy poses newborn photos. Still, many of the sweet poses you see of newborns on Pinterest are accomplished with the additional help of Photoshop and are truly just an illusion. Therefore, it’s never a good idea to ask a friend who has a good camera to pose your baby and take some photographs. After photographing babies for years as well as having one on one mentoring and training with a local newborn photographer, I’ve learned exactly what is required to accomplish these poses- and trust me, they are all dependent on the baby! For example, some babies are very sensitive to their hands being touched, while others may be dealing with a gassy belly and don’t like to lay on their stomach- but you don’t really discover their sensitivities until you are already in the midst of photographing them. An experienced photographer will start with a plan, but will adapt and accomodate if the baby is uncomfortable in any way. Many times, some helpful hands are required for safely positioning and posing baby in certain ways. Getting the perfect shot is never worth risking the safety of a newborn. Certain poses require specific safety factors that ensure the baby doesn’t topple over or curriculation gets cut off. Just because a baby looks asleep, doesn’t mean they won’t move—between the startle reflex and active dreams one can never be too safe during certain poses. Even simple things like making sure the camera strap is securely around my neck when photographing directly above a newborn are things an inexperienced photographer may not realize or even think of. For this reason, newborn photography should never be DIY. When calling around to reserve a baby photographer, be sure to ask about their safety know-how. Here at Lasting Memories Photography, photographing your newborn is an honor I don’t take lightly! I spend the time listening to your newborn’s cues, like signs from hunger, ruling out belly shots if a baby is gassy, checks of correct coloring in hands and feet for circulation, and know when they need a gentle rock and be lulled back to sleep while gently and safely placing them in poses that will create portraits you will cherish forever. Ready to book your newborn session??? Just fill out the form below to get started!!
Vero Beach Paint Party Mini Session
It is time for a PAINT PARTY! Situated under the beautiful oaks at Riverside Park in Vero Beach I will be offering the most unique mini session on the Treasure Coast! Come join me and take away some art as well! The session is 30 minutes long and you will work together to create a unique 18×24 canvas art project. Not only will you have this unique piece to hang in your home but you will also receive 6 fully edited images! Imagine the images framed around the artwork! This is a mini session I have been DYING to do! With Corona Virus, families are looking for something fun and different to do (as am I!). This is a fun, socially distanced mini session, for families and couples looking for something unique to do. Wearing white and getting messy is encouraged! The paint is washable and non-toxic for those with little ones! Some time for kids to be kids and to LET LOOSE! With the virus, all participants will get their own paint palette and brush so there is no contamination. You are welcome to take the palette and brush home with you! The easel will be wiped down and sanitized between sessions. The Matthews boys were excited to paint their prehistoric image with volcanos, the night sky, and hot lava! Baby brother enjoyed playing in the yellow paint! When they were done painting their canvas it was time for the extra fun! Mom and Dad agreed to allow the boys to paint their shirts and boy did they LOVE IT! The session ended with a little “paint tag” and a beautiful masterpiece. This session was a fun breath of fresh air during the pandemic that we all needed! Now, this mini session is not just for kids! This would be a great date night for couples as well! Are you ready to let loose and get your paint on!? Contact me here or keep scrolling! Now booking August 1st The price of the session is $160 and includes…. 🎨 30 Min shooting time 🎨 6 web size digital images (not for printing) 🎨18×24 canvas 🎨 Brand New paintbrushes for each painter 🎨 brand new paint palette for each painter 🎨Washable non-toxic tempera paint Add-ons: 🎨$10 each digital web-sized image beyond the 6 🎨$50 Canvas prepared with a word or name so when the paint is dry the sticker can be removed and the word will remain in white 🎨$100 for 6- 8×10 photos professionally printed 🎨$200 for 6- 8×10 photos framed (choice of white, black, or wood frame) 🎨 $150 for print release for 6 images. Session fee must be paid in full at the time of booking (add ons can be added after the session). Cash, Credit, Venmo, and PayPal options are available. Fill out the form below for more information!
Vero Beach Top 9 Photographer
Thank you, thank you, thank you, a thousand times thank you! It was such a humbling surprise to see my business listed on Top 9 Vero Beach photographer on Vero Vine! When my fiance and I moved to Florida 4 years ago we chose the Vero Beach area off a google search of the most beautiful areas on the east coast. It has not disappointed, one bit! It has been a dream to live on the Treasure Coast and to call myself a Treasure Coast Photographer. I have been proud to make Vero Beach and Sebastian my home! I have never dreamed of being able to build my photography business where palm trees grow and beach sessions are the “norm”. As a Vero Beach photographer, I know those unique areas around the town so well as the beauty this town has to offer! From downtown by the theater, Riverside Park under the oaks, the unique murals all over, and beautiful natural settings Vero Beach has it all! What Vero may lack, Sebastian picks up and highlights a whole new scene! From teaching in Sebastian and photographing, serving my community is a passion of mine! As a family, newborn, and wedding photographer I love my community and love being able to reach all the needs of the community! I appreciate the recognition and will continue to strive to meet and exceed your expectations.
What to do the day of your newborn shoot!
You booked your newborn session and the day is finally here!! Sound the alarms and do the happy dance, silently, of course, you don’t want to wake the baby! You may be sitting there and have no idea what to expect when it comes to newborn photography. This is your survival guide to your newborn shoot with me! The Day of the shoot! Dress baby in something that is very easy to take off to start with. Loosen up baby diaper and clothing at least 30 minutes before the session. This will give time for those little imprint makes to disappear I will have wraps and outfits for your session but if there is a special outfit feel free to bring it! We want baby to be as sleepy as possible so we are able to move them around and scrunching them into their sweet sleepy newborn images. You will want to feed your baby either at the studio or when I first arrive at your home. If you don’t have a far commute you’re welcome to give them a full feeding before you leave. You want this to be a bigger feeding so baby has a full belly and is nice and sleepy. We will take as many breaks as possible for feedings necessary. Feed and burp away, gassy babies are uncomfortable babies! If you’re a mommy that breastfeeds, having a bottle that you pumped can be very beneficial for us. This will reduce the time that is needed for feeding. Breastfeeding can sometimes delay our session and does count against your allotted time coverage. An hour or two before your session is scheduled, try to keep baby awake. I know with your lack of sleep this may seem impossible but it’s so helpful! This will help to make sure baby is in a deep sleep and won’t fuss when being moved. The room and studio that I use will be WARM! Please dress accordingly and be ready to be a bit toasty. I will be using white noise or womb sounds to help with the calming effect during our session. If you have something you prefer to use, feel free to bring it. Please bring a pacifier for your baby to use. Even if he or she doesn’t normally take one, please have one available for quick transitions. All my backdrops, wraps, and outfits are cleaned before and after every use with gentle detergents! This is a new experience for you and for baby, do not stress out! Even if the baby seems fussy there are going to be great images we get. Poop happens, don’t be embarrassed or upset if your baby poops! It is to be expected! What to pack…. Diapers wipes lotion pacifier- Soothie brand so they don’t leave rings on babies face bottle change of clothes burp cloths changing pad (optional) Gas Drops (if needed) What do I wear? I understand you just had a baby and there are many sleepless nights! If you’re not feeling like dressing up do not worry! Get glammed up and enjoy a day out of the house or dress comfortably there is 0 judgment here! Just remember that the room will be warm! If you’re going to be included in the photos and just don’t have time to get ready beforehand. Feel free to bring anything you need with you and get ready while I work with your baby! You are always more than welcome to bring more food in case we are there for a bit. Sessions typically take 2 hours even with a very sleepy baby. I work VERY slowly with your baby to ensure she is always cozy and comfortable. If you are coming to me, feel free to bring your laptop or iPad to watch a movie or play on the internet. We have Wi-Fi for you to use. Once you get there, I will totally take over, and are able to relax and enjoy this amazing experience. If I am coming to your home, I hope you feel comfortable enough to go and take care of some things around the house while I work with your bundle! If I need you I will be happy to holler. Most of all enjoy this day! You are going to look at these images of your little one for years to come. Enjoy the moment and soak it all in!
Diana and Joscha-Cocoa Beach Wedding
There is a time of the year that reminds you why you live in South Florida during the brutal summer months. Planning a wedding on the Space Coast can be grueling. February is that time of the year where the sun is shining but you get those cool days between. February 22nd was one of those perfect Florida days! Not only did Diana and Joscha have the perfect weather for their wedding day but they chose a beautiful location. Their families gathered at the Cocoa Baptist Church from near and far. From a pianist to welcome Diana down the aisle to the stained glass as a backdrop. This was an intimate church that kept their families close to them on their most important day. Previous Next After the ceremony, we were able to take a stroll down Cocoa Beach downtown and found the most unique alleyway. We immediately felt like we were transported to a little café somewhere in Europe. Congratulations to Diana and Joscha, wishing you a lifetime of love and happiness! Previous Next
Hacking New Year Resolutions
Happy New Year from my home to yours!!! 2019 has come and gone in a FLASH and it’s so hard to believe that it’s time to start setting some resolutions! You are reading this and probably thinking one of 2 things… I am so stoked to start this year with fresh intentions I spend the time to set these goals and I stick to it for a day….so what’s the purpose. If you are person number 1, I am SO WITH YOU! This is going to be the best year ever! I have a clear head and I already started on my personal goals; I already feel unstoppable! If you are person number 2 keep reading…I am going to be sharing some secrets for goal setting and some amazing ideas that have really inspired me this year! You could be sitting there like “Jamie, what does this have to do with photography?” Well, let me tell you! I broke my life into three areas: personal, photographer, and teacher. This year I am setting a single word intention to each of those areas (more on this later). For my “personal life” I chose intentional, “photographer life” I chose authentic, and for my “teacher life”, I chose inspire. So this blog I wanted to show my customers my authentic side as well as hopefully inspire you to set an achievable goal for the start of a new decade! Hack #1 “Word of the Year” Setting a resolution to lose 50 pounds or the exercise more can be great goals but how many times do you fall off the wagon! I read a blog once about how they chose a word of the year. All year they would evaluate, do their actions reflect their intention for the year. It is much more attainable when you are setting a focus word. My focus this year in my photography business is to be more authentic. This means that I want to do less “posing” and more whispers and play during sessions. I want to focus on the authentic moments of your family rather than, “everyone look at mom”! This is going to mean that we are going to let the kids run and play, making raspberries, or saying silly words to get real authentic smiles! It’s going to be taking the stress out of the dreaded family pictures! Hack #2 SMART Goals Setting goals are an important part of life but not setting “smart” goals will never get you where you need to be! As a special education teacher, I am constantly writing educational goals for kids for their individual education plans. When writing a goal I use the acronym S.M.A.R.T. S= Specific- Target a very specific area that you want to improve uponM= Measurable- Give yourself a number to reach! If you just say lose weight it is not measurable. You are never going to have that satisfying feeling when you reach that goal. If you have a larger goal of losing 50 pounds, break that goal into measurable benchmarks! 50 pounds can be a lot but the first 5 and 20 are super exciting benchmarks in your journey.A= Attainable! This is the hardest part of writing a goal. What my brain wants and what my body can do are two very different things. I may WANT to run a full marathon but as of right now I can’t even run a 1/4 mile. A full marathon is not going going to be an attainable goal for me right now; I want to start smaller like a 5k! Challenging but achievable!R= Relevant– You need to make sure that your goal is actually relevant to your lifestyle. If you are focusing on something like your photography business, you’re going to want to make sure that the goal is relevant to the focus and direction of your life. It would be counterproductive if you’re not heading down a focused path.T= TIMELY- You want to make sure that your goal is going to be able to be achieved in a timely manner. This is going to be something that is a personal preference! If you are not good at sticking to a goal, you want to have your goal “expire” by the end of the month? Make a monthly benchmark. If I am going from couch to full marathon, my goal is not going to be a one year mark. For me, that is going to take a lot more training, effort, and albuterol. If I am going to be writing a smart goal it would be that I would be able to run a 3k under 20 minutes. That is something that is achievable and I would be able to achieve that in a few months with the right amount of training and focus. #3 WRITE IT DOWN Write down your goals and post them in an area where you look frequently! You are 42 percent more likely to achieve your goals if you write them down. Writing your goals down not only forces you to get clear on what, exactly, it is that you want to accomplish, but doing so plays a part in motivating you to complete the tasks necessary for your success. Hack #4 Celebrate CELEBRATE YOURSELF! I cannot say this enough! My favorite memes are the “clap for your own damn self”! We are stuck in a world of comparison (which is so easy with everyone’s perfect social feeds). Turn your sense of accomplishment inward! You need to celebrate the wins that you have without expectations of a grand parade and celebration in public! 2020 is going to be the best year ever and I hope that you and your families enjoy this time together. Be kind, be bold, love to the fullest, and go on adventures. Put family photos on your list of things to accomplish this year to show your beautiful family in 2020 Contact me here
Special Needs Family Guide
Connecting with kids and students with disabilities is my true passion in life. I have worked with kids with learning disabilities to nonverbal autism. Being able to blend my two passions is the highlight of my work. This is a crash course on ideas of how to prepare for your family portraits with special needs kiddo.