Jaimié Birtel's photography blog

Why I Limit My Clients Each Month

I always advise clients to try to book a couple of months in advance if they can, because my schedule may fill up (although if you’re on a tighter timeline, it’s always worth reaching out to me to check because cancellations do happen). Sometimes people ask in response, “Wow, you have photo shoots every day for the next two months?!” Thankfully, no, but instead I have a limit on the number of clients I book each month, and there are very important reasons for that - reasons that benefit every client I work with.

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Branding, Maternity, Newborn, Family, Headshots, Boudoir Jaimie Birtel Branding, Maternity, Newborn, Family, Headshots, Boudoir Jaimie Birtel

What Goes Into the Price of Premium Photography?

Every time you make a purchase, even if you don’t realize it, you look for the “sweet spot” between cost and quality. A $10,000 car and a $100,000 car are both cars, but they’re very different - what’s your sweet spot where you’re getting the quality you want with a price that’s acceptable? Every purchase has a sweet spot, and the same goes for photography.

We all have budgets to stick to, and some clients ask, “Why shouldn’t I just hire the lowest-cost photographer I can find? What’s the difference between their service and yours?” A lot, actually! In premium photography, like the custom service I offer, the value comes from so much more than the time I spend on your photo shoot.

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Newborn, Family, Maternity, Branding, Headshots Jaimie Birtel Newborn, Family, Maternity, Branding, Headshots Jaimie Birtel

What Is a Full-Service Photographer and Why Should You Hire One?

It’s no secret that there are a lot of independent photographers and photography studios in the Seattle area. So many of them do beautiful work, but everyone’s photos are just a bit different and have their own look and style to them. But beyond aesthetic differences, when you’re choosing a photographer for your family portraits or your branding photos or whatever it may be, another difference to consider is the experience you want with your photographer.

Each of us does things a bit differently, and I’m proud to give my clients an attentive and unique experience as a full-service photographer.

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Family Jenny Pitcher Family Jenny Pitcher

Ways to Involve Your Kids in the Family Photography Process

Family portraits are something every family should have and should be able to treasure. But I completely understand why some families let several years go by between family photo sessions. There are several reasons, of course, but a common one is the worry that your kids might just be too rambunctious to be able to get good portraits together, or that it’ll be a difficult experience to try to keep them on track.

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Family, Portrait photography Jenny Pitcher Family, Portrait photography Jenny Pitcher

How to Get Your Kids Excited for Family Photos

For parents, a family photo session is such a treasured gift! It allows you and your favorite people to take time out of your busy lives to have quality time together, and in the process, it gives you beautiful photos that you can display, reminisce with, and enjoy. Sometimes kids aren’t quite as enthusiastic about it as you are, but luckily, there are ways to turn a frown upside-down. As a Seattle area family photographer, I’m happy to share these tips for getting your kids genuinely excited for your next family photography session.

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How to Make Your Family Photo Shoot Stress Free(ish)

Let’s have a chat, mom to mom. To every mom, family portraits are incredibly precious because we all know that these moments with our kids will be only a memory in the blink of an eye, and photos can take you back to the precious moments in an instant. At the same time, the idea of getting young kids together, looking nice and behaving well enough to take photos sounds exhausting and stressful. Because of that worry, too many families miss out on portraits they would have cherished in later years, and they regret it after the opportunity has passed.

Well, I’m here to give you some good news: family photo sessions don’t have to be as stressful as you think they are! There are a few things you can do to make the experience easier so that you can put the anxiety aside and just enjoy this amazing experience with your family.

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What to Wear for Spring Family Photos

Spring is all about renewal and starting fresh, so why not take advantage of this spring’s beautiful weather to refresh your family portraits? A spring photo shoot in Seattle is a stunning way to create lifelong memories and custom artwork for your family. Not sure what to wear and how to dress your family for spring portraits? Check out these tips.

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Family Jaimie Birtel Family Jaimie Birtel

Questions to Ask Your Family Photographer

As both a mom and a photographer, I can sympathize with all the moms who are stressed about family portraits. A family photo session is a big deal! You want it to be a great experience for your family and you want to love your portraits. The first step to a successful photo session is hiring a photographer who’s the right fit for your family, and knowing what questions to ask can go a long way. So, to make it easier to book your next photo shoot, here are the top questions you want to ask.

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Why Have All Your Family Photos Taken by the Same Photographer

Family portraits will be heirlooms you treasure as your family grows up, and everyone has tips and tricks for how to make sure your family photos are the best they can be. You’ll hear advice from posing tips to strategies for helping your kids smile and follow instructions during the session. But there’s one piece of advice that I’ve found is particularly effective: when you find a photographer whose work you like, hire that same photographer for each year or each photo session. Here’s why.

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What to Wear for Summer Family Photos

Summer is a wonderful time to update your family portraits! In the Seattle area, we have so many beautiful settings to choose from, from beaches to mountains to woodlands, so there’s something for every style. If you’re planning a family photo session this summer, you might already be thinking about the family’s wardrobe. What should you wear for summer family photos?

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