Fine Art Family Photography Stories & Resources
A journal for families seeking timeless portraits across South Jersey, Philadelphia, and the surrounding region.
This journal shares fine-art family photography stories, session inspiration, and location guides for families throughout South Jersey and the greater Philadelphia area. Each post is designed to help parents plan meaningful portrait experiences while exploring the artistry behind Shooting Star Photography’s heirloom approach.
Explore Portrait Experiences:
Capturing First Birthday, Baby, and Toddler Portraits in South Jersey
The Magic of First Birthdays and Toddlerhood
The first few years of a child’s life are unlike any other. Babies grow and change so quickly, transitioning from their first coos to full-blown belly laughs, and it all seems to happen in the blink of an eye. As a mother and a professional photographer, I know just how fleeting these moments are. That’s why I’m passionate about preserving the magic of these milestones through my baby, toddler, and first birthday portrait sessions here in beautiful South Jersey.
Having documented my own children’s lives — from their first birthdays to cake smashes and beyond — I’ve seen firsthand how much joy these memories bring, not just in the moment, but for years to come.
Color, color, color, everywhere! Defining your style... What's it going to be?
Defining your photography style... What's it going to be?
I love the summer and spring and the colors of the lush greens, blooming flowers and trees.... the long sunny days! The pastels and lots and lots of color! I love sunlight! This is my style. Bright, vibrant and colorful!Let me tell you how long it has taken me to get to where I currently am... I can't tell you how hard it is to be a photographer... It really truly is! I had NO CLUE what I was in for. None, whatsoever. I knew editing was involved. I knew you needed to know your camera settings and how to work in certain scenarios... and I knew poses.. but I have learned a lot since them!Within the last few months, I have truly tried to define MY STYLE. It took a ton of practice and hard work. I live and breathe photography. It's really sad. I know.On a typical day.. say I don't have clients... I will probably go out and shoot for an hour, I usually edit for 1-2 hours on old photographs to brush up on skills and keep them fresh, and then I top the night off with about an hour of learning from the greats by watching videos... and/or reading... that's a regular day. Now, when it is busy, like now... I may spend up to 3-4 hours editing a night... with about an hour of education... Still. Not to mention, back and forth communication with clients. Scheduling session days and times.
Follow our journey around the Philadelphia Area.
