How I Help Clients Pick Their Photos

So many of my clients tell me that their all-time favorite part of the whole experience with me is the Premier. The Premier takes place around 2 weeks after the session. It starts off with a slideshow of all the images set to music. I project the slideshow onto the wall so it feels like their own personal movie premier! I then go through a streamlined process to help them narrow down to their favorite images. The whole thing takes about an hour and is SO much easier then choosing images from an online gallery at home (and way more fun, too!)

When I got my wedding pictures, I was really overwhelmed by them and had a hard time picking out my favorites to print. It is so helpful to have someone guide you during the process of picking out your collection of images.

This is the slideshow that was viewed at this Shoreline family’s premier:

https://animoto.com/play/1im1ere8O4nWvDZQ968W1g

The images below are the ones that this family chose during their image Premier. I love the ones they picked out ๐Ÿ™‚

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This family was such a joy to work with. I feel so blessed to be invited into peoples homes to capture their memories.

Much Love, Kiana M.

Family Photos at Parson’s Gardens

I read a quote by a photographer once that said something along ย the lines of “I don’t want to photograph strangers.”

This is so true for me. I like to meet new people but I like it even more when the new people aren’t new anymore. The magic for me is when I get to know the families I photograph. I love to capture kiddos as they grow and change over the years. I know it’s so cliche to say this…but I really like becoming friends with my clients. I first photographed this sweet family when Emma was about one year old. Now she has grown so much and and there is a new one year old in the family ย  <3

On an entirely different note, I often suggest to clients that they bring their kiddo’s favorite toy to the shoot. I do this for two reasons. Firstly, because I think it is magical that they will have photos of themselves with the childhood things that made them happy. Secondly, because it is a great thing to pull out and include when the little one needs something that will make them come out of their shell and be more comfortable. In this session my favorite photographs were of Emma and her cape and crown ย  <3

Much Love, Kiana M.

 

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Anders is One!

Many moons ago Hope came into my studio to do her maternity photographs. By the time she came back in for her premier Anders had already arrived in the world and I have been watching him grow since then! His one year shoot was a magical day…he took his first steps right in front of my camera! I feel so blessed that I could capture his grin as he wobbled a few feet toward the mirror in my studio.

Anders is a sweetheart and the perfect model because he always turns his head towards the light ๐Ÿ˜‰ I can’t wait to watch him continue to grow and hopefully witness more milestones!

Much Love, Kiana M.

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Why I Love Wall Portraits

I was recently having a conversation with a dear friend about my business and what I create. We were talking about why I don’t just offer digital files but instead focus on beautiful heirloom products that won’t disappear on a hard drive somewhere. I told her about how I think portraiture is so important and that they should be loved and displayed instead of hidden and lost. Then she said something that changed my world. She said “I don’t think people see their family pictures as art.”

My little heart broke a little because I realized that she was right. A lot of people don’t see their family pictures as art. The thing is, I truly believe that life is art. That family love is the most beautiful and important thing on the planet. That babies grow into adults and the memories leftover from childhood should be cherished.

My apartment is covered with my family portraits…with my mom and brother in my childhood home. With my dad and I fishing at a pond in our neighborhood. With photos of my husband and I laughing and hugging. These are my treasures, my favorite works of art. These are the reason I love wall portraits.

Much Love, Kiana M.

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Hillary and Harper

I found these old photographs when I was looking through my hard drive for sunny pictures (a rare thing now that I live in Seattle!) and felt that they deserved to be re-edited and shared.

I admire Hillary so much. She is an incredible photographer, an amazing mother, and the sweetest woman. Thank you so much for modeling for me in college Hillary, here are some images from when Harper was small ๐Ÿ™‚

Much Love, Kiana M.

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In other news I still have a few spots open for Spring Mini Sessions. Email kiana@kianamccrackin.com to book

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The Banahan Family

I am in love with this little lion. Seriously, Emma is so cute. This sweet family came in for a newborn session about a year ago and decided to come back to me several more times to document Emma’s first 12 months of life. I couldn’t have been more blessed that they walked through my door. Emma has transformed from a sweet little newborn to a big baby with so much personality. I can’t wait to keep watching her and her big cousin grow over the coming years!

Much Love, Kiana M.

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The Hanauer Family

Every once in a while I cross paths with people who leave me completely grateful for every choice I made in my life. They make me glad I went to photo school, moved back to Seattle, and opened a studio. These brief encounters always leave me inspired for my future and happy for my present. Photographing this family was one of those moments. They were so sweet, their love so palpable, and after their image premier I left thinking: “Yes. This is why I do this.” Joe and Kate have an adorable son with huge soulful eyes. They were so much fun and honestly, the shoot felt more like just hanging out in a park then anything work related.

Much Love, Kiana M.

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Dragons, Oh My!

I LOVE photographing this family. Emma has the cutest baby face and her parents have the sweetest hearts. Everytime I meet with them I am filled with joy and contentment. They always make me feel like I am doing exactly what I am meant to be doing and they make me so very thankful for my job. For this shoot which was part 2 of 6 of Emma’s first year of life, the Banahan’s brought their adorable little nephew along. His goofy grin and willingness to play dragon stole my heart in a second.

Want to see more from this session? See their image premier video (which also happens to be my favorite of all time) here: http://animoto.com/play/ngcvZOi9gy07yEbo7Vz27A

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Baby Theo

I spent this Mother’s day with this oh so adorable baby boy and his family. It was so special to have not only his mom there but his mom’s mom too! I can not think of a better celebration of motherhood and family than a photoshoot with multiple generations and I feel so blessed to have been a part of it.

Can’t get enough of Theo and Company? Check out their full slideshow here:ย http://animoto.com/play/deiOT1zGLBD7SExYmPAXbw

Much Love, Kiana M.

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The Lambert Family

The Lamberts are such a sweet family full of joy, laughter, and love. Little Lucy looks exactly like her beautiful mama and little Jack looks exactly like his handsome dad. We postponed our original session because we were rained out. I have been so used to sunny Santa Barbara that I found this to be a rude awakening to my new surroundings. On the new date I woke up to rain but the sun peeked it’s head out just in time for our shoot and we had a wonderful (and dry!) time enjoying the last of the fall weather.

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