Buffalo In-Home Lifestyle Newborn Sessions
If you're looking for in-home newborn sessions in Buffalo, NY, you've come to the right place! At Seventh Arrow Studio, we specialize in capturing those precious first few days with your newborn in the comfort of your own home. We will work with you to create beautiful, timeless images that you'll cherish for a lifetime.
To schedule your in-home newborn session in Buffalo, NY, contact us today. We can't wait to help you create memories that will last a lifetime!
70's Inspired Styled Shoot
Mid Century Modern and the 70s certainly are taking the world by storm all over again, and I am here for it! Warm tones, dresses with sleeves and of course artsy decor! I had such a blast dreaming of this idea and was finally able to bring it to life!
How did this all come to be you ask? Great question! Well, while thrifting at our local Amvets, my talented friend Chelsea, from Chelsea Victoria Photography, and I came upon this beautiful dress that just HAD to come home with us. It was then we decided we were going to make a pretty funky styled shoot out this. Thus the idea was born! Fast forward to getting the dress cleaned and getting Frank Lloyd Wright Martin House on board, we started getting all the fine details into play for our big adventure! From Hair & Makeup, with Amanda Lee Shamrock, Florals from Marigold & Vase, and a drop dead gorgeous ring from Heidi Gibson, we were well on our way to magic.
A few days before the shoot, I saw on Facebook that a friend of mine just happened to own a Herbie Car. Yes, you heard me! The LOVE BUG himself! I just had to ask her if we could use it, and sure enough he was ours for the day! He even had the original petal from the movie! SO COOL. It couldn't have been a better day, and everything just fell into place. How stinking cute are these? Future brides, you know what to do, get at me ;D I wanna live all the 70s, boho, funky vibes!
Lainey turns ONE!
A lavender farm family session AND a smash cake. Best of both world in my opinion. The smell at Kin Loch was incredible!
Reasons to do an Engagement Session | Seventh Arrow Studio
Thinking, “I don’t want to do an engagement session,” this blog will help explain why an engagement session is a necessity for all couples and important for building that relationship with your photographer.
Hey all to my future brides,
You’ve probably done your homework and are looking at a few different photographers to capture your special day. Emailing back and forth with their website looking at the different pricing and packages. Ever wonder why engagement sessions are included as complimentary in wedding package? Well, as a photographer that offers an engagement session with most every package, I can tell you why we love these sessions and why we do this.
When is the last time that you were in front of the camera? Not your phone, but a professional camera? You probably answered “Um, high school photos.” Yeah, me too. The last time your had pro photos was probably around 5-10 years ago and the high school senior session, where you were embarking on a new world and college. If you are anything like me, you probably have changed a lot since those photos. Am I right? Since then, you’ve probably have graduated college, you have a job, you have a fiancé. You probably are a complete different person. Not to mention your fiancé is in the same boat as you. Having an engagement session or even a couples session together is a bomb time to frankly just be in front of the camera together and learn.
Cameras are scary. I for one hate having my picture taken, I’m always nervous that I won’t look great in photos. I. feel. you. there. But the only way to get over that fear is to be in front of the camera more and with a great photographer. During a session, you and your photographer get to see what poses and what works with you and fiancé before the wedding day. Showing up on your wedding day with no clue of how you and fiancé work together as a couple in front of the camera makes you feel awkward no matter what. And trust me, its the same for the photographers. By the time we really get into the groove of things on the day, its time to move on to the reception. We, as photographers, like to push things creatively and there needs to be a trust there between us, so the session is really good for building that trust. Super important.
“My fiancé hates photos” A good 90% of people hate having their photos taken. I get this all the time and there is no need for you to feel bad about it or not do something that is outside of your comfort zone. But that’s just it right? You haven’t been in front of a professional photographer in what, 5-10 years, and most of the time its not a wedding photographer and their main job is to photograph couples and make couples feel good in front of the camera. Almost forgetting that they are being photographed. How would you know after that much time that you won’t like it? Most of the time, the fiancé leaves the session really happy and saying ”hey, that wasn’t so bad” and “I actually had a great time.” Thats a win and I know that I doing my job well.
We do have some “games” and prompts that bring out the best laughs and the best sides of each other during these sessions. its more a conversation that is documented for you, rather then just looking at the camera and just smiling. We are going to drawn things on cheeks, scream out our favorite swear words, pretending to be drunk and holding each other up, laying in creeks or fields and just overall get to know a little bit more about each other. you may even learn something about your fiancé that you didn’t even know yourself. its very interesting what you learn during these types of sessions. Also, it is the best way to release all the nerves and get comfortable with all the pda.
And since you’ll be all dolled up, you can go out for a hot date afterward! #winning Sometimes when you’re in the thick of wedding planning, one of the last things on your mind is making special time for a date night! Maybe even going to the restaurant where your first date was and have a celebration of all you have been through and cheers to the next phase, the wedding. You get to savor that sweet feeling of the “engagement phase” little bit longer!
Down the road, are you wanting a family? If the answer is yes then this may be your last session as a couple. Weird to think about, but its very true. Next portraits you do could be your maternity session or as a family.
Overall, trying new things is scary, but trying an engagement session will let us have a relationship on your wedding day. We are going to be spending a lot of time together on your day. I’m with you for 8+ hours, helping you and guiding you to the next phase of the day. There needs to be the trust and a good relationship between you and you're photographer. Plus, who doesn’t like the amazing photos that you get after to show off how good you look together to your friends and family. Maybe you can take the photos and use them at your wedding! Win, win, win in my book. :-)
Hopefully we will see you for your session soon!
Laundry Date Day Buffalo
What could possibly be more romantic then the soft hum of the metallic dryers along side the the swish swish swishing of the washers that lined the aisles of your average laundromat? Not much in my option! LOL
Taking average weekly chores or basic daily tasks and turning it into something more is what I strive to find in my couples sessions. Doing something together that isn’t normally documented and capturing it becomes more of an art story than just a pretty picture. Dont get me wrong though, I live for pretty pictures, but its something about creating more of a memory that is important to me. Must be all of the artsy fartsy classes I took in college. :D
I challenge you to think of something mundane to do with your partner and lets turn it into something heart racing. Hanging laundry out to dry, planting flowers, or going for a bike ride! Anything you can think of. Lets create some magic together <3
-Sarah
Niagara Falls Helicopter Wedding in the Sky!
Hey guys, Sarah here!
While traveling Italy last year with my mother, I had received an email that asked if I would be interested in shooting an intimate wedding high in the sky. I literally almost burst into tears I was so excited! Of course I couldn’t have been more thrilled, and it would also be the first time I had been in a helicopter.
Katelyn & Darius had such a perfect, unique idea that turned out to the best day ever! While I had been to Niagara Falls a bunch of times, I had never seen the view from the sky before — boy was it breathtaking.
As we stood outside waiting for our ride to land, the wind whipped up our hair and made her dress dance giving us chills of excitement! After it landed we were then escorted towards the chopper for a photo-op while our ears were trying to adjust to the loud roar of the engine. Buckled in, headphones on, and greeted by the pilot in less than a few fast minutes, we were OFF!
Up, up, and away we went. Just like that, we were over the falls! As the officiant started, I could tell how happy they were as the moment had begun. Their vows were simple and sweet, and within a few short minutes it was time to kiss as our copter soared above the misty falls. What a sweet moment it was as they exchanged rings to one another and for the rest of the ride we took in the beautiful scenery around us.
After we landed and made our way through the hustle and bustle of the Falls, we took a moment to realize the epicness of what we had just witnessed. The beauty in this world we take for granted everyday, but its times like this that gives us the wonderment that we live for.
For the rest of the day we explored the downtown Falls and Buffalo areas, finding some cool murals on the way and ended up enjoying some bubbly champagne to celebrate! Then it was GAME time!
You heard me right! ( or read me right?! lolll) Their reception was at Dave & Busters! We gamed, ate delicous snacks and of course got some pretty awesome photos too. I am beyond thankful I got to be apart of this magical day. If you get a chance to go on a helicopter, don’t even think twice! DO IT!
Catch ya on the next adventure!
-Sarah
How working as wedding coordinator helped me become a better wedding photographer
Hey All,
I wanted to tell you guys a bit about what I learned during my time in Boston being a wedding coordinator and how it helped me learn how to be a better photographer. This doesn’t really have to do with learning the camera or anything, but more about the preparation and understanding of a whole wedding day. Let me explain.
During my consults with couples I always am asking the couple about their timelines, even though they may not have even thought about some of things I ask. Why ask these questions right away you may ask? No, not to put you on the spot. But, to help you have enough time for everything that you want your day to be. Let’s be honest, most brides haven’t done this before and frankly, we love to help. Timing is the most difficult part and the part that brides really don’t know. How would you if you have never done this before? You have no idea how much time do you actually need for photos…morning prep, family photos…etc. and nor should you.
Being a wedding coordinator before I was a wedding photographer really gave be a inside look at setting timelines and how things looked behind the scenes of a wedding day. You would be so surprise to know how many moving parts there are to a wedding or event. Who better to help you plan than vendors that have been in the wedding industry for years and years and have done 100’s if not 1000’s weddings. I personally have over 10+ years in this industry.
The most important thing that I have discovered for a wedding day is the timeline. This is key to fitting all the things into your day so that you have get everything done and have enough time to hit every check on your checklist. Not to mention have a non stressful day. Planning out your day with the itinerary that Seventh Arrow or hopefully your photographer provides is key to making that happen. Let’s run through general line up for a wedding day…
Prep.
Ceremony or first look.
Family formals.
Bridal party formals.
Reception including but not limited to intros, first dance or toasts, dinner, parent dances, party.
Okay, most brides know this based on other weddings that they have been to or in, however there are two things that are the most important aspects of the day and that we base the whole timeline on; time of ceremony and reception. Ceremonies and receptions are generally set by the church and/or reception hall that you choose. With those two times” in your pocket” already, we then get to work. If you have the time in between the ceremony and reception, great. Just be sure there is enough time for photos in between the travel to location to location to location and back in time for the reception.
If your ceremony is at the place of the reception hall and cocktail hour is right after, I would probably recommend that you do a first look. That is a whole other blog post of the pros and cons of a first look so I won’t get to into too much detail about that, but it is worth talking about in this at least a little. I’m going to give you the facts here. The moments after your ceremony you are whisked away for family formals. Family formals generally can take 10-20 minutes depending on the size of your families (and how well they listen for there names, haha). Once families are done, we have my favorite part, bridal party photos and formals with the new couple. On average, bridal party can take 10-20 minutes depending how big and then the rest of the time is for you both. Now, what the djs and venues sometimes don’t tell you is that they need you lining up to be introduced 5-10 minutes before the start of the reception to make sure names are correct and everyone has a plan.
That leaves very little time for you photos with your new husband or wife, plus not even enough time to get a few drinks and celebrate. Which just isn’t fair in my option. We want to give you what you paid for, photos that you can hang in your house of you two together! I know, this all sounds so stressful if you have your ceremony and reception back to back and if you aren’t a client of mine, talk to your other half and see if a first look would be an option. If so, great, plan on two hours before the ceremony so you have time to get to the ceremony location and hide before it starts! If not, prioritize what you want done first and talk with your vendors to make it work, maybe even extend your cocktail hour by a half hour. Remember, this is your day, don’t let anyone tell you what to do, including me. I’m just trying educating you on the general time it takes to get these things done.
That said, it must be mentioned if your wedding day after day light savings, I would recommend looking at the sunset times because they are later and is not a lot of light to play with. Photographers need light. The word “photography” literally means “the study of light.” We cannot make your photos shot in the dark the same as if they were shot during the day. The photos are going to have a completely different feel to them if shot after sunset. That’s just the facts. If you are doing the ceremony after sunset, please please please highly consider doing a first look. You’re photographer will love you for it. Okay, okay, I said I wasn’t going to get into too much detail but I couldn’t really help myself. It is important to think about, especially when planning a timeline.
Switching gears a bit and back to the itinerary that I mentioned and basically the whole point of this blog. Once we have that itemized itinerary in hand and we go over it from start to finish and I ask you all the names and who’s who and what’s what about your day, we are good as gold! I share this detailed 13/14 page (don’t laugh, I’m serious) with my second shooter so that she knows what’s up and we can know what’s happening when and most importantly what is supposed to happen when.
Being a past coordinator i’ve seen a lot; but not more then I have in my time being a photographer. I have fixed dresses, sewn on buttons, fixed hair, put in veils, created a bouquets on the spot, tied on trinket of loved ones on to an item, reminded brides to use the toilet and put deodorant on before putting her dress on, and that’s just the girls prep! I cannot tell you guys how many times I’ve fixed melted cakes, I’ve sewn the grooms pants back together, bustled, fold napkins, super glued shoes, been a therapist, I’ve even held the brides dress when she is going to the bathroom. Yep, I did that. Wanna know why? Because most of the time, we, the photographers, are the only people with the couple the ENTIRE wedding day. All of it, the good, the bad, the ugly, the exciting. We are there for you, start to finish!
Some people may ask…why would you do that? The answer is simple, I want your wedding to be perfect for you and these things that happen… just happen, and sometimes are out if anyones control. It then become our jobs to try and fix them to alleviate stress from you. Do we help to fix them? Yep, we sure do. It’s our pleasure and we will do everything possible to make sure that we plan the itinerary for the what if’s and just in cases.
Most of the time, wedding coordinators are not hired. I get it, I didn’t have one either, my budget just didn’t allow for it. If I could go back in time and hire one, would I? 1000% Absolutely! While everything ran smoothly, I was slightly more stressed about things that were happening beyond my control. My photographers, they was fantastic. I’m pretty sure she fixed a bridemaids dress behind the scenes without me even noticing. She helped me with anything that we need, but I can’t help but wonder what moments were missed photography wise and how my wedding would have ran smoother if I have a coordinator. I can’t change the past, nor would I because it was a great day, but photographers cant be in to places at once. It’s not physically possible, unfortunately. We wish it was! With a coordinator there, the photographer can do the job that they were hired to do; capturing your wedding day and make it the best day ever. If you do not have a coordinator, not to worry. WE GOT YOU. I promise, I will give you tips and tricks and fix what I can, and if you need me to— hold your dress while you use the bathroom. WE GOT YOU!
This is not an ad for wedding coordinator, that being said, I have a few Buffalo wedding planners that I trust to make your run smoother. If you want my list, you can email me at seventharrowstudio@gmail.com and I can recommend so to you.
Hopefully this blog will have a great affect on your wedding and everything will be just as you envisioned it.
Tips for an in home newborn lifestyle shoot
So, you’ve decided that in home lifestyle newborn is right for you- you love how natural and organic it feels to be home, in your own space, and excited to have these memories in your home captured. While studio sessions are great, you love the raw emotions that an in home session captures. Great! You have come to the right place! Here are some thing that can help you prepare you and your home into a great backdrop for this type of photo session.
First and most important, light! Consider the rooms that you would want to have photographed…nursery, living room and master are the main rooms that I found that in home sessions are photographed in. If these rooms have small, tiny or limited windows, and they are dark….an in-home newborn might not be right for those rooms. Try and find the most well lit space in your home. Natural light is the most important part of making the session feel organic, so this is key. While we can use flash, flash gives of a more staged look to photographs, not natural. We prefer not to use it if we don’t have to.
Consider the style of your home! Older homes are amazing and I personally love them but they can hinder the look and color of your photographs. If you have a lot of dark wood, smaller rooms and dark walls your home may not photograph as well as one with an open floor plan and neutral, lighter walls. If your house is older and you have your heart set on an in home session, consider sending me a picture or two of each space that you are considering to see if it would work for the session that you envision. Remember, photographers do see things differently then non photographers. I know that sounds crazy, but you should see the spaces that we photograph in and the end result, past clients can attest to this.
Clothes. We do have a great selection of wraps and baskets for newborn sessions at the studio. I am limited however to what I an able to bring to your home so if you have a color scheme in mind and would like a certain color, just let us know and we can surely bring those with us. Do remember that you chose an income session for the more lifestyle and organic look so you can have the newborn in clothes that you would normally have them in, like a simple white onesies. I have to admit, seeing a newborn a white onesie, even the one from the hospital is one of the greatest looks. Fresh, clean….simple. A memory for you, that what this is all about. As for the parents outfits, stick with the neutrals, white, grey, black, beige. Jeans, khakis for dad are always a great option. Ive highlighted some for both mom and dad in my Pinterest board which you can find here or my personal favorite is let me create a style guide for you so that you know where to purchase items that will look killer together.
Time. The timing of the sessions is based off the baby however we have found that mid morning tends to be a sweet spot for newborns up to 3 weeks. Let’s be real, they tend to be up all night and sleep during the day, unless you have a god-sent baby, this is normally the case. Around 10:30 is a great time to have the session, the sun is not harshly coming in and it isn’t too early for mom and dad. Just like an in studio newborn session, babies should be fed just before we arrive or should be just finishing a meal. This allows for them to remain “milk drunk” and their happiest and sleepiest while we are shooting. We will allow for nursing or another feeding in the middle of the session before an outfit change and/or after the family part of the session is complete
Being that we are all about that natural light, so what has better natural light than the outdoors. If it is a nice day out, don’t be alarmed if we ask to go outdoors during the session. We can get some great family shots outdoors and that may be a great option for you. In the backyard, in front of your home or even on the side of the house will give you a different look and possible show off a outfit change for you and the baby. Bonnets, hats, baby shoes, baby wearing…all great options for the outdoors! Outdoor newborns are becoming more and more popular and you’d be surprised with what photographers can do with goods subject and a simple chair.
Lastly, lets just say it, he most dreaded word for a new mom, cleaning! I mean, c’mon, let’s be honest, you just had a baby. The last thing that you want to do is clean your house and prepare to have a photographer come over just days after. I can promise you, i’ve been there. I’m not judging you or how your home looks. This is the last thing on my mind when entering your home. My main goal is getting to the light and making beautiful photographs for you and your family. My newborn session my house was a hot mess! But, I did have my husband straighten up the rooms that we were going to be in clear them of all the clutter. Of course, I have zero issue coming in and moving things with your permission of course. I may do that even if you don’t have any clutter or distractions to get the best option for your photos. Remember, light, so try and minimize closer to the windows in the rooms that you want photographed if anything. We can work in small spaces if needed.
Most important, your home does not, I repeat, does not need to be perfect. Your family doesn’t need to be perfect, but you can do some simple things to make the setting for this session the perfect natural backdrop for an in home newborn pictures that does highlight this exciting and sweet time in your lives.
Check out the other in home lifestyle newborn shoots that are on the blog
Sweet baby Nolan
It was a ball shooting with this baseball-loving family. Baby Nolan got a nice little nap in, and his big brother amused us all with a favorite book and big smiles! We can already tell that there won’t be a dull moment in this house. Here’s to brothers! (These two are Charlie’s cousins too)
These were taken before March 15, 2020