Holiday Cards for your Family Portraits

Had an amazing Xpedition, or some Xquisite  family portraits with jenX this year?  Share your moments with your Christmas or Holiday Card.  Let jenX custom design your card, or choose from one of our beautiful previously designed cards below.  Custom Designs and Cards featured below are 5x7, printed on your choice of Pearl, Pebble, Premium Heavyweight, Linen, or Standard, professional quality card stock.  They come with envelopes; and can have your return address pre-printed, for an additional fee, upon your request.  Custom designs also available in additional sizes and folding cards.     See additional custom sizes and pricing here: jenX prices. (Hate to disappoint, but let's plan ahead....No custom designs available after December 5th.)

$44 per 25 

Don't see something you are Xcited about?  Don't be afraid to ask!  I have additional designs available upon request, and am happy to custom design something perfectly unique, just for you.  

"You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile!"

What to Wear Wardrobe Wise

 The most common question I get before a shoot is "What should we wear?"  In an effort to help explain what works best during a photography session, I have put together some samples of what photographs the best.  

Keyword: Coordinate, not Match.  

The days of all white or all black with jeans or khakis has passed.  Let's face it, it's kind of boring.  My favorite things are bright colors, layers, textures, and accessories.  Think "complete outfit."  Go the extra mile.  It pays off.  Matching tights, bows, hats, glasses, scarves are a must.  It's good to put bright colors and patterns on the kiddos, and then adults wear a coordinating solid.  Here are some family outfit ideas, and some color schemes that work well together: 

Things to AVOID:

1.)     Try not to be "Matchy Matchy."  Every persons unique personality should come through.  We were not all built to wear the same thing.  

2.)     No all white or all black...again, boring!  Also white is super light reflective, and black is super light absorbent.  You run the risk of standing out from the crowd in one of these.  If you must go dark, go Navy or Brown.  If you want to go light, go tan or pastel.  

3.)     Try to avoid greens and yellows for outdoor sessions.  They tend to clash with the grass.

4.)   Clashing Reds.  If more than one of you are wearing red, please make sure they are the same red, or at least coordinate.  No purply red, and orangy red together. 

5.)   No big logos, unless it is the clothing brand, i.e. Gap or Polo.  In other words, no Sponge Bob t-shirts!

Here are some great "boy" ideas that I found on Pinterest.  Great places to shop for complete outfits like these are The Gap, Old Navy, The Children's Place, Gymboree, Nordstrom, and Nemaan's.

Here are some cute "girl" ideas, also found on Pinterest.  Time to accessorize!  Think hats, scarfs, tights, bows, matching shoes, even purses or teddy bears can be fun accessories.  

The exception to the bright color rule is a Newborn Photography Session.  In this case it is preferable for the parents to be wearing all black.  Most newborn photo shoots are done in studio.  New moms are not usually excited about showing off their figure, and the baby needs to be the focal point anyhow.  When Mom and Dad wear all black, and the baby is naked, it makes for a nice display of the baby, which is the whole reason we are doing the shoot in the first place.  Shooting newborns this way ensures that we capture elated/proud parents and beautiful new babies.  Here are a few samples from my studio that illustrate this style:

Lastly, and most importantly: "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile!"

Happy Shooting.

DFW Newborn Photographer

I got to meet a beautiful new family this past weekend.  The Dave family came to my studio for a newborn session.  I adore shooting newborns, and I especially enjoy first time parents.  It is such a joyous (even if a little sleep deprived) time.

Kavita and Tejas welcomed their first baby, a precious girl named Vidhi, last month.

Little Vidhi did not appreciate being knocked off of her routine, and let us have it for a good portion of the session, but as always, we managed to get some good stuff anyway.  You definitely have to be prepared to bend to a newborns needs, as a parent, AND as a photographer! In both cases, it's totally worth it.

Here's a little something you may not know if you have never done a newborn session with me.  In order to get beautiful "naked baby" images, it can get a little messy!  In almost every instance, someone is going to be the victim of a little accident.  In this session, it was all of us!  Clients are sometimes surprised when I expect them to look and smile anyways.  Hey, if the baby is happy, anything for the shot.

The good news is, in todays technological world, I can use photoshop to disguise anything unsavory that may occur during a newborn session.  Witness above the before image.  Not super obvious, but I had to remove a little "tinkle" off of Dads tummy.  Also what new parents learn quickly...parenthood is glamorous stuff!!

...but again, totally worth it.

Love the expression on baby's face in this one.  I have some shots that are more natural looking, but I think this one is hilarious.  Lot's of personality coming out.

Look at this perfect swirl of a belly button.  Absolutely perfect, just like it's owner.

My thanks to the Dave family for sharing their precious little family with me for an afternoon.  It was a pleasure meeting you guys.

National Family Photographer

I got to have a family session in the country this past weekend.  East Texas makes for a great backdrop, and kids in boots are irresistible.  I had a fantastic time.  It's not every sitting that I get driven to the next location by a 12 year old on a 4 wheeler!  That's my idea of a great Sunday in East Texas.  Here are some of my favorite shots from a family photography session that I'll call Pure Country.  

My thanks to the Pierce family for having me out on their beautiful property and spending their Sunday afternoon with me.  Getting 7 children to "look & smile" may be a bit like herding cats or trying to rope a tornado, but I treasure being a part of helping families capture memories that they will cherish for a lifetime.