Pets are WELCOME | Saint Charles Photographer | Chelsie Trendley Photography
Pets are part of your family and always welcome at your session.
Pets are WELCOME | Saint Charles Photographer |
Chelsie Trendley Photography
Dear Human,
Do you remember the day you met your pet? The look in their eyes when you picked each other. All the days they loved on you and sat by your side? Every time you come home and they excitedly run to you and smother you in love. Those pets are your family, it doesn’t matter if you’re single, just married, or have 17 kids, that pet one is part of the family too and should be included in your session.
Trust me when I say it doesn’t matter how “crazy” or “wild” they are, they are welcome in your session. I always ask you bring treats or their favorite toy to help them listen and fell comfortable. Just like a child, please don’t yell at them to behave, let them be themselves. That’s why you love them, right.
xoxo
Chelsie
Here is the perfect example of a couple session with their dog Charles.
Here is another session of a couple with their beautiful German Shepherd dog
This couple brought their two dogs to their holiday session for some splashing!
If you’re wanting to do a pet session or a family / couples photo session with your pet in the St.Charles area, give me a call! I love to do pet photography sessions and there are some beautiful pet friendly areas to photograph you and your pet!
Questionnaires ? | Oahu Photographer | Chelsie Trendley Photography
Questionnaires ? | Oahu Photographer |
Chelsie Trendley Photography
This blog is both for clients and photographers. So prepare.
Clients: I send out questionnaires for a reason, 99% of the time I don't meet you before the session. I use these to learn a little more about you and your family. I love this because then I can know that your son loves fart noises and your daughter thinks sneezing is funny. A lot of the questions may seem random but they really give me a base line on who you are. BY the way fart noises for the What makes you laugh question is totally acceptable! Be real with me.
Photographers: If you don't send out questionnaires, do it! It has helped improve my connection to my clients, it also helps me when I blog their session, because of my process I don't typically blog their session till 4-6 weeks after their session! I use the questionnaire as a reminder of who they are and little random facts about them!
Here is a gorgeous family at my favorite spot on Oahu, Kualoa Regional Park
What happens at a session | Chelsie Trendley Photography | Oahu Photographer
What happens at a session |
Chelsie Trendley Photography | Oahu Photographer
You're thinking about booking a session, awesome! I want you to be prepared and know what going to happen. I photograph a mix of lifestyle and posed. What the heck does this mean?
Definitions:
Lifestyle; the way in which a person or group lives.
Pose; assume a particular attitude or position in order to be photographed, painted, or drawn.
What I do is start out with "poses", then move toward ques. This is the way I get everyone warmed up. Because, lets face it, it can be super stressful, these photos are now going to be on your walls, and part of your family history, forever. So yeah that can be a little daunting. Usually it takes about 5 minutes to "warm" a family up, I mean we are on Oahu and the sun helps. (insert giggle).
So after warming up both with some posing, ques, and the sun. The fun really starts, I do what I call flow, I'll start with the whole family, then parents, then kids running around. This is awesome because I get a lot in, in a short amount of time.
A lot of people don't think 30 minutes is enough time, but trust me, it is perfect for a family, couple or cake smash ;) . I usually get 2-4 different "views" and around 10 "poses" or looks per view. I also get a lot of breakdowns, family, parents, kids, and each parent with the kids, kids on their own, also dog or pet if you bring one!
What this looks like.
On Saturdays I photograph at Kualoa Regional park aka China mans hat beach, Oahu.
So here, I usually start at the field with the gorgeous Kualoa Mountains in the background, we will start with that classic look and move to running around the field. Usually we are in the field for about 10 minutes. Then we move over to the beach, I get a variety of poses and running like Baywatch on the beach with China Mans hat in the background. Then we will usually splash, I say we because I'm known to splash kids if they are into it. I also do "fun" poses where I have you jump around and be crazy, then end with some snuggles. Usually everyone (including me) is wet and covered in sand by the end of the 30 minutes. Then hit repeat for me, because I do back to back sessions on Saturdays.
It really is a lot of fun, I get a lot of high fives from the kids, Dads usually say they are surprised that they actually had fun.
Here is a slideshow from one of my sessions, enjoy. Then book a session
Hiking Session | Aloha Family Photography | Oahu | Mothers
Hiking with this AMAZING mom
Motherhood... parenting.. working from home... military life.. I could go on and on about this.
Email from the Momma ^
I woke up to a toddler whose diaper leaked, on my bed. I went to the doctor for some major foot pain to not get it resolved. I was told to lose weight and ride a stationary bike, and since I have 3 kids I should let them watch TV while I do this. I've worked so hard to be how and who I am. I've worked so hard for my kids to be interactive, limited TV time, playing, art, etc. I've also worked hard on my body, both mind and physical this year. I left feeling so terrible about everything. So I will get a new doctor, I will get my foot looked at, I will keep up all the good, positive things I've been doing.
I came home and snuggled my babies and was feeling defeat. Then I checked my email, totally forgetting I sent this Momma a link to her video! Then I cried again, but happy tears. I LOVE what I do.
Gorgeous Family Maternity Photo Shoot | Oahu Family Photographer | Lifestyle
Gorgeous Family Maternity Photo Shoot |
Oahu Family Photographer | Lifestyle
Seriously, they are stunning! I'm so glad I got to photograph this amazing family for their maternity session at Kualoa State Park, Oahu.
Now only was Levi one of the coolest 3 year old boys I've met, he was fascinated by the sticks and rocks. Since I have 3 daughters this was so much fun to see him more into "boy things". It was also so adorable when he would give his Mom kisses and see the sweet side. He also got a chance to fly!!! Here are a few photos from their session.
If you're needing family or maternity photos on Oahu, contact me.
Family Memories | Lifestyle Messy Baking | Oahu Family Photographer
Family Memories | Lifestyle Messy Baking | Oahu Family Photographer
And memories were made... the kind that warm your heart so much you get goosebumps from chills, no matter how warm it is on Oahu. The memories that you can close your eyes and remember the sweet little laughs, the flour coating her hair. The kind that you cry happy tears because even though this isn't your family, you love being a photographer and capturing what one day will be their history.. oh I started talking about me.. or maybe I was the whole time. These are the sessions I live for, the moments I hope to imprint on their memory. I want those little girls to have an album and look through and OOO and AWW over all the fun, funny, cute photos. And because they are a military family living on Oahu, I want them to remember their house, because we all know that changes every 2-3 years. Which is both "refreshing" and "irritating", but it is the lifestyle.
So here is my point of view in a family film of this gorgeous family.
Book your family lifestyle session!
Oahu Family Photographer | Kualoa Maternity | Aloha Family Photography
Oahu Family Photographer | Kualoa Maternity |
Aloha Family Photography
This family is amazing! First of all we picked the perfect spot on Oahu to do their family maternity photo session. We picked Kualoa State Park. I absolutely adore this location on Oahu. It has the perfect mix of beach, field, mountain views. Plus the water is stunning and calm for toddlers, babies, and small children.
This family has done a few sessions with me, I loved being able to photograph the growth of their family from a family of 4 to 5!
If you're looking for a maternity photographer on Oahu or a family photographer on Oahu, please contact me.
Fun family jumping at Kualoa State Park
Lighting | Tips | Oahu Family Photographer
I would love to go over some quick easy tips about lighting. It is probably one of the most asked questions I get.
"Chelsie, what time will we do out photos?!"
I generally do photos about an hour before sunset. I am not a golden light photographer. I LOVE light, full but soft light. To achieve the look I want, one hour prior to sunset.
There are exceptions but because we never know what the weather will be I plan for an hour before sunset.
The fun thing about being a Mom is that I take so many photos of my kids, so I can go out some days at noon and have perfect lighting. I always keep an eye on the weather. When it's cloudy its generally perfect for that soft creamy light.
Below I will show you some photos at different times.
This was a cloudy day about an hour before sunset.
About an hour before sunset on a sunny day.
Around 2-3pm on a bright sunny day.
Around 11am on a partially cloudy day.
Around sunset on a cloudy day.
A lot of variables go into what the final photos will look like, but that is all part of my job.
I love being able to adjust as needed in camera to get the look I want, then enhance the photos further with presets I make in Lightroom.
If anyone has any specific questions, please email me: Hello@AlohaFamilyPhotography.com
Oahu Family Photographer | Splash Session | Amazing Family
I generally leave a photo session and have a feeling of excitement. I love working with families. This session I did stands out, I try not to "play favorites" but this one, this one is my favorite.
At the time our newest child was about 3 months old. So I brought the whole family to base and dropped my husband and our three daughters off at the park. I then headed to my session. I listen to the radio and did my usual pre photo shoot car dancing. I pulled up and immediately my clients pulled up next to me. I don't know why but this felt like a great sign. Since we were both about 10 minutes early. Right away I felt a connection, the Mom Shelby had the same hair style and hair color as me! I complemented her AMAZING style. We walked down to the beach and I really let myself be me at the session. I joked with them, we chatted, the kids played, splashed, and then although I have suggested before at sessions, I highly encouraged them to get in the water. The results were amazing. I also got in the water, I was soaked up to my belly button! Best of all I knew I made friends for life.
After the session I was on cloud 9, it was amazing, I kept looking at the back of my camera and felt so much pure excitement. Upon getting home, I started my usual post session uploading and all the behind the scenes work.
When they came over to see everything, again, it was just an amazing environment. Their kids played with my kids while we looked through their photos, I may have teared up because I'm always emotional when people love the photos. She may have too, I don't remember, and I didn't want to look and her see my all teary eyed.
Then I found out the family was MOVING away from this beautiful island Oahu. So I ordered everything with rush shipping because I love hand delivery/pick up!
Anyways, I absolutely loved that session. That session is now my samples for basically everything in my studio. Here are a few of my favorites.
To see more recent sessions, follow me on Facebook and Instagram
