Archive of ‘Portraits’ category

Introducing: Erika’s Client Closet

/ Portraits, Tips & Tricks

I love shopping and for my clients to feel their best, so how do I combine 2 of my favorite things? Erika’s Client Closet! Dresses for every body.

What is it?

A curated selection of dresses that I handpicked that are flattering on all body types, and photograph beautifully that my clients can now borrow (for free!) when you book a session with me!! I have dresses that range from size small – large. Many of the dresses can be bump-friendly for maternity sessions too.

How does it work?

After you book a session, you’ll have access to borrow a dress from my closet. I will send you an email with pictures, size and fit of the dresses ahead of time. Then you can let me know which ones you’re interested in. If you are local and would like to try a dress on before your session, you’re welcome to try them on in my home-studio! Otherwise, I will bring it to your session for you to change into in my changing pod. (Yes, my super awesome little changing pod can come with my anywhere!)

I know how stressful it can be to figure out what you should wear, plus figure out what your whole family is going to wear for your portrait session. My goal is to help make the process stress-free while helping you look your absolute best! I want to help you feel empowered and confident for your session. If you feel great, you are going to look amazing!

Here’s a few of the dresses in action:

Ready to borrow one of my dresses? Reach out today so we can get your session booked!

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Jennifer & Brian | Williamsburg Winery Elopement

/ Portraits, Weddings

When choosing a wedding photographer for your wedding or elopement, you’re not only picking someone to take your pictures, you’re selecting someone to be by your side the whole day. Finding someone that you can “click” with is so important! Since Jennifer and Brian were coming in from out of town, we only had one chance to meet briefly on Zoom. I knew from our first conversation that we were going to click.  I asked Jennifer to describe her wedding day, she said relaxed, fun and “just us.” I like all those words!

Jennifer & Brian are from Northern Virginia and had been planning a weekend getaway when they decided to take it up a notch and elope! (They did get blessings from their family so it wasn’t a surprise.) Jennifer found me on Instagram and told me their plan, and I was so excited that I’d get to be a part of something so special!

The grounds of the Williamsburg Winery and Wedmore Place are beautiful! The day of their wedding was PERFECT fall weather (being in Virginia, it could either be 1000% humidity or gloomy). We found a secluded area next to a small lake behind the Wedmore Place that was the perfect location for them to privately exchange their personal vows.

Married by Evan was wonderful with officiating their ceremony!
We had to get some shots in the wine cellar! (They got married at a winery after all!)

The whole day truly could not have been more relaxed and perfect. Jason, my husband, came along as my assistant to help my carry my bags (we joked that he’s the unofficial VP of customer service for Erika Frances Photography), and the 4 of us instantly clicked! When we were taking bride & groom portraits, we kept getting sidetracked and carried away in conversation. It was like we were catching up with long lost friends.

Jennifer & Brian- Jason and I absolutely loved getting to know you two and to hear all your stories. We came to the wedding as strangers and truly left as friends! Finding your only wedding vendors online can be risky, but I think you’re 2/2 with finding “the good ones” online! 😉 We wish you all the happiness and love!

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Kinsley’s 6 Month Milk Bath Portraits

/ Family, Portraits

Last year, Brittany reached out to me with an idea to do a 6-month photo session for her daughter since she didn’t have the chance to do newborn photos. She wanted to have pictures to cherish and help remember when Kinsley was still small. Before the session, Brittany sent me her Pinterest inspiration board and I knew it was going to be epic! We made her vision come to life with the sweetest floral milk bath for Kinsley!

I’d been itching to do a session in my back yard, where the woods, trees and perfect glowy light went along perfect with her vision. (It also gave us so much flexibility for the milk bath to be at my home!)

After the session, Brittany was telling me how when decorating Kinsley’s nursery, she thought she was going to need to get stock-photo prints of flowers to match the décor. But since she picked colors for their clothes and flowers that match Kinsely’s nursery, she could use their own pictures to decorate! It made the nursery decorations so much more meaningful and special to them. (In case you missed it, check out my post that talks about selecting what to wear for your session.)

I understand there’s a lot of uncertainty in the world today. If you are unable to have newborn pictures taken, I encourage you to use other milestones to help remember your little one while they’re small- half birthday, first holiday, just because. Babies don’t keep, they grow up so fast. A year has passed and this little one is now 18 months and getting ready to be a big sister!!

yorktown virginia family photographer
There’s just something about baby toes! So precious.
Note: Make sure to have an adult close-by when doing a milk bath for safety!

Thank you, Brittany and Kevin, for letting me capture these sweet memories of your little family!

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5 Tips for Selecting Outfits for Your Portrait Session

/ Portraits, Tips & Tricks

Easy ways to make preparing for your session stress-free!

I know getting pictures can taken can be intimidating and stressful, I have been in your shoes! Getting your spouse or family to agree to pictures can be a challenge, so to make it easier on you, I put together my top five tips for picking out outfits for your upcoming session!

1. Pick a color scheme! Start with thinking about what you are going to do with your final pictures. Will you print them and put them as a gallery wall in your living room? What colors are in your living room? Wear those tones! Then your pictures will complement your décor, and you’ll actually have a use for them! Don’t let them live on your phone forever.

2. Pick one item of clothing and coordinate the rest from it. Your power color is lavender? Love it. Now find a plaid button-down for your spouse that has that color in it. Plaids are awesome for this reason! One plaid shirt can have different shades of that color and other colors to incorporate for other family members. The same plaid can have lavender and seafom green—now find something seafoam green for your child to wear! When it’s all together in the final image, it is going to look amazing.

3. If you want your pictures to be light and bright, wear light and neutral colors! The soft colors will be so appealing and pleasing to the eye. Pastels, whites, greys, soft blues, oh my! I promise if you stick to neutral colors, the pictures will turn out great!

4. You don’t need to be matchy-matchy. Gone are the days where everyone in the family wears white shirts and jeans. (Not that there’s anything wrong with those pictures!) It’s best to wear coordinating outfits to give the images some depth and dimension. I mean, just think of your favorite song.  Harmony creates the depth of the chorus! That’s what different colors and patterns do to an image.

5. Dress up! Getting pictures taken is a fun opportunity to play dress up. Wear a dress, ask your fiancé/husband to wear a blazer! You will look sharp and will feel even better. How often do you get pictures taken? It’s a special occasion 🙂

Lastly, make sure you feel comfortable in what you wear. If you feel your best, you will look your best. Here’s more inspiration to help you pick the perfect outfit for your session!

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