Orlando Family Photographer | My Number One Tip for a Successful Family Photo Session!

Want to know my number one tip for a successful family photo session? It’s SO simple. Just stay connected!

Now…this sounds like a funny tip…but by always staying connected to your loved ones during your session, that love and sense of togetherness will shine through in your images. ⁠
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So, if your child or partner is standing by you, hold their hand, touch their hair, pick them up, or graze their back or shoulder with your hand. ⁠
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The sense of love and intimacy is elevated and never looks awkward. So, there’s no need to worry about what to do with your hands during your session! ⁠Use them to stay connected to your family.
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Lifestyle Newborn Session | Orlando Newborn Photographer

Did you know I offer a pre-session consultation with all my clients prior to a session? This call ensures all the details are worked out prior to the session. Here are a few topics that we usually cover for an in-home lifestyle newborn session.

1. Outfits! Attire can make or break a session, and I LOVE styling my clients so that the clothing choices complement each other, and the space we will be shooting in.

2. I love to get a virtual tour of the nursery and any other spaces I will be photographing in. Seeing the rooms in advance helps me visualize the shoot, understand the lighting in the areas, and recommend colors for your outfits that complement the space.

3. Tips for a smooth session. I share a lot of information about how to prepare for the session, and give some pointers. Here are a couple examples:

   • I tend to incorporate a lot of hands in my photos, so while you don't need a perfect mani, it's always best to just ensure your nails are trimmed and painted solid, or no paint at all, prior to the shoot.

   • About 30 minutes before I arrive, have baby dressed in the onesie/swaddle you want him/her photographed in. This is helpful in case baby falls asleep before I arrive, I can get started right away with the sleepy shots.

   • If the crib sheet wrinkles easily, I always recommend having it ironed before the shoot to make those wrinkles less noticeable.

   • If you have a mirror in the nursery, give it a quick clean to ensure there are no finger prints on it. I love capturing reflections in mirrors during the session!

4. I get to know more about YOUR vision for the session too. I will ask you a few questions like, if you are nursing, would you like feeding images? I’ll also find out if you would prefer for me to wear a mask during the shoot, which I have no problem with if it improves your comfort level with an outsider being inside your home.

Sometimes we cover more, but off the top of my head those are the common discussion points. Many clients tell me they love this extra service and attention to detail.

Are you expecting? I’d love to hear from you! Newborn sessions are generally booked several months in advance, so be sure to reach out while still pregnant to ensure I have space on my calendar!

Sunrise Beach Family Session | South Florida Family Photographer

Summer is coming and my sister is expecting, so I plan to spend TONS of time in South Florida awaiting my nieces arrival (and snuggling her when she gets here, of course!).

Every time I am in South Florida, I LOVE getting my camera on beautiful families as the sun rises. I know the word 'sunrise' may seem scary, but I promise you that the colors will be beautiful, your family will have fun, AND then you have the full day to relax and enjoy the beach.⁠

Would you like to know if my schedule will work out for a beach session? If you're not on my email list, be sure to sign up asap and keep your eyes on my feed this summer for beach availability.

In-Home Newborn Session | Orlando Newborn Photographer

Do you love looking at baby nurseries?⁠⁠
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At each and every in-home newborn session that I shoot, I love to capture details of the nursery that you have worked so hard to put together before your little one arrives. ⁠⁠
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It was hard to pick a favorite feature of this nursery, or this gallery for that matter!

Birdie Turns ONE!

One of of my favorite things about my job is when I get the opportunity to photograph milestone sessions from past newborn clients! There is something so special about documenting a baby grow. Oh, what a difference on year makes!!

Did you know that, with every newborn collection booked, you get 20% off any milestone session during baby’s first year? Some parents use it for a 6-month session, but most use it when their baby is about to turn one! I just love how Birdie’s one year photos turned out.

You can watch her first birthday video by clicking the play button, or scroll down to just view the pictures.

Central Florida Family Photo Session Locations | Ashley Rogers Photography

Wondering where to have your next family photo session? Take a look at some of my favorite spots close to the Oviedo area!

Central Florida Locations

The Field

This is one of my favorite, most versatile spots to shoot. It’s a giant, open field in the Geneva area, with tons of little photo-worthy nooks. This spot is perfect for families with wild little ones who don’t want to be confined to a small space.

The Oak Tree Spot

If you’re not up for walking through an open field, but still love that nature look, this little area tucked away in my neighborhood may be the perfect spot for your family session. I just adore how the sun shines through these beautiful trees in the evening.

The Trail

Another favorite outdoor spot of mine is the trail. I just adore how the light pops through the trees here, and this place has easy parking with a very short walk on a trail to the prime shooting spot. By far, one of my favorite little nooks in the area.

Oviedo on the Park

For those families who want a more manicured look, Oviedo on the Park is a great option! There are tons of areas with pops of color, and it’s a great option for families with little kids who don’t particularly like standing in tall grass. Some parents treat their kiddos to ice cream post session for cooperation, but I’ll leave that decision up to you!

UCF

I may be biased, but UCF is a favorite spot of mine to shoot (GO KNIGHTS!). We can start in a grassy area lined with beautiful palm trees, and end at the top of a parking garage, giving you two completely different looks in one session!

Winter Springs Town Center

I really enjoy shooting at Winter Springs Town Center because there is a grassy area and some beautiful architecture right in the same spot. Note that this spot can get a bit crowded during the busy fall season, so if you opt for this location we may have to wait a bit to get into the spots we want.

Downtown Sanford

Looking for a more urban vibe? Downtown Sanford is an awesome choice! I love all the solid color backdrop options, bricks, and there’s even a fun mural! Dads usually like this spot because they can pre-drink at Hallerbach’s! Hey — no judgement on my end. I actually think it’s a genius idea :).

Sunrise on the Lake

I know sunrise sessions aren’t super popular, but I’m an early riser so always up for shooting as the sun comes up! I have a perfect spot for my fellow early birds!

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South Florida Locations

The Sunrise Spot

The beach is my most favorite place to shoot, so when I’m visiting home, I LOVE scheduling sessions in South Florida. If you’re up for a sunrise beach session, Deerfield Beach is my go-to. I love how the rocks give the gallery a bit of variety, and parking is a breeze! I can also shoot at Pompano Beach if that’s your preference.

The Sunset Spot

I don’t love shooting sunset on the beach, because I prefer shooting backlit images, so when I found this little spot on the intracoastal I jumped for joy. I love how there is a grassy area that the sun sets behind, and there’s also a little area with sand on the water. This spot gives you two completely different looks, both of which I adore. Note that this spot is only available during the week at sunset, as it’s usually too crowded on the weekends.

Brand New Offering - Client Closet for Families!

I absolutely LOVE helping my amazing clients pick perfect outfit combinations for their photo shoot. Outfits can truly make or break photos — and I know first-hand how much pulling outfits together can be an extra stressor for mamas.

Over the years, I’ve virtually helped my clients coordinate what to wear for their family pictures, but I’m stepping up my game this year by offering a brand new Client Closet that my clients can shop - FOR FREE.

That’s right, there are no rental fees associated with borrowing anything I have. I just ask that it is returned to me in the condition that it was rented to you. Some of my outfits require dry cleaning, others can be hand or machine washed.

Priority will be given to clients who book a Complete Collection, but my Simple Collection clients can still shop the closet if I have no Complete Collections booked within a week of your session.

I’m just getting started with building it out, and hope to add new pieces as the year goes on, but if you want to see what’s available now, keep scrolling.

This set here is a BRAND NEW addition and I am so incredibly excited about it. Rust is my favorite color to photograph right now, and I just adore how it pairs with charcoal. I have this rust dress in a Women’s size Small and a little girl’s charcoal dress in size 5.

This dress is another favorite of mine! I love it so much I have it in two sizes, size 8 and size 10! I adore the detail on the back and how it flows so perfectly in the wind. It’s a neutral cream color, so goes with just about anything!

This coffee-colored gown is gorgeous! It’s classy, with a little bit of sexy because of the high slit in the leg. I’m a huge fan of neutral earthy colors, and I love how this pairs with the cream and khaki on her boys. I also have BOTH of these little boys outfit in my client closet. Mama’s dress is a size small. Baby boy’s jumper is a size 3-6 months and the cutie kicking water at my camera is in a 2T on both the shirt and pants. All available for rent!

So I originally purchased this Rachel Zoe gown for myself, but it turned out to be a bit too flowy in the mid-section for my liking. I was SO excited when I came to the realization that it would make an amazing option for my expecting mamas! It’s a size Small, but super flowy with lots of room for that growing bump. It also pairs perfectly with the size 2T outfit I have for little boys!

This beautiful red dress has been in my Client Closet for a couple of years, and I just love how the photos turn out every time a mama wears it. I adore that pop of color on a green background.

Have two little girls? This set is perfect for your pair! The pink dress is a size 8 and the cream I have in an 8 and a 10. Both are perfect and totally twirl-worthy, with the most amazing details on the back.

This floral dress has been a favorite of mine for a few years. I wore it for my own 10-year wedding anniversary photos on the beach, but it also look amazing in a field. It’s a size small, and ready to be rented for your family pictures!

I love the gorgeous burgundy skirt! It’s a size medium and pairs so wonderfully with a white bodysuit.

I adore this lacey little girl’s dress. It’s a size 5, and pairs perfectly with a denim jacket. It’s great for indoor and outdoor shoots.

Photo Credit: Melissa Ashley Photography.

Yep, that’s my back and my girls. haha. But I love this dress so much how can I keep it to myself? This dress in a size Medium and both girl’s dresses (green in a size 7 and red in a size 5) are all available in my client closet!

Photo credit: Heather Marie photography

Another shot of my own family, but I have all the outfits in my own closet, and let’s be real — I live in lulu leggings and a t-shirt these days, so I have no issues transferring the whole set to my client closet! Dress is a women’s size S and the little girls dresses are perfect for a size 6 (pink) and size 8 (cream). I can probably find husband’s burgundy shirt and chambray shorts somewhere if it’s of interest to anyone haha.

OK, sorry for all the stock photos but I have these too! I just haven’t gotten around to photographing them.

Green long-sleeved dress — women’s size S.

Red little girl’s dress - size 10

Women’s green off-the-shoulder dress (with belt) - Size S.

Little girl’s blue long-sleeve dress - Size 7.

What are Personality Portraits and why they may be the perfect Mother's Day gift!

Mother’s Day will be here before you know it, and if you’re anything like my husband, you’re already stressing over finding that perfect gift for the mother of your beautiful children. Disclaimer: that’s a joke. I doubt my husband has put any thought into Mother’s Day — but a mom can dream, right? But, in all seriousness, I do know of an amazing gift that is not only perfect for mom, but for grandparents too. They’re what I call Personality Portraits and they’re quickly becoming one of my favorite types of sessions.

The thing is… this project requires you to do something crazy. That is, actually print your photos! (Enter a bit of sarcasm here — because I am a firm believer in printing images.) Since kids grow so fast and their personality is always evolving, I really loved the idea of gifting these portraits annually to my parents and in-laws!

Now, I’m not a crafty person at all. In fact, “DIY” anything gives me a bit of anxiety. But this project is SO easy, I’ve done it several times (all on my own) and didn’t mess anything up. Post-photoshoot, all it takes is quick trip to Michael’s and Office Depot, and you have a massive print that will be the center of conversation anytime someone enters your home.

Step 1: Book a Personality Portrait session with me.

These 15-minute studio-style sessions (per child) are tons of fun. I’ll get a variety of shots that show the true essence of your little one’s personality. They’re best for children ages 3 - 9, but I’ve captured younger and older with this style. As long as your little one likes to make silly faces, jump up and down, tell me jokes (and hear my terrible ones) we should be good.

Step 2: Print your file to poster size.

You read that right, you need to print these!

Step 3: Pick up a poster-sized frame.

I got mine at Michael’s (yay for coupons) for around $11. Prices for these may vary — but wait for the sales and snag a handful when they’re at 40% off. I got these, but any poster-sized (24 x 36) frame will do.

Here is one I love, but there are many options. Here is the link to this frame.

Step 4: Frame, hang and enjoy every day!

Simple stuff. I smile every time I walk into my house — and I just know you will too!

Contact me if you’re ready to book one of these sessions, or have questions. I’d love to chat.