2020 End of Year Recap

December 31, 2020 in kate juliet photography

This has been the craziest year. For my business. For my life. For all of us.

There's no doubt that I owe the biggest debt of gratitude to my amazing loyal clients. Having to shutdown and postpone so many sessions this spring was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. And having to move all of my studio sessions outdoors was no easy task. My studio is one of my favorite places and letting it stay unused for so much of the year broke my heart.

But it also meant that I got to be outdoors more. Exploring new ways of capturing your families. Finding new inspiration in the constraints that this year has given us.

But most importantly, I was so appreciative of all of you who hung in there with me this year. Getting to see you (even if it was distanced and masked) was a highlight every time. You lifted my heart each time I got to see your smiles and hear your laughter.

Here's to a bright 2021.

Kate Juliet Photography specializes in natural maternity, newborn, baby, and family portraiture in the Washington DC and Northern VA area.
All studio sessions include access to the studio wardrobe for mothers and babies to borrow clothing for your session.
Contact me to begin planning your custom portrait experience.

Newborn Sessions Frequently Asked Questions | Washington DC Baby Photographer

December 02, 2020 in kate juliet photography, newborns

I photograph babies all the time, but I know not everyone is so lucky. One of the most important things to me is that clients know what to expect from working with me and what will happen during their session. I’m always happy to answer questions, but I thought I’d take a moment to answer some of the most common questions I get about newborn sessions:

When should I schedule a newborn session?

I recommend booking your newborn session early in your pregnancy, preferably in your second trimester. Once you book your session I make sure to leave room on my calendar around your due date, and once baby arrives we schedule the exact date and time for your session from there. Newborn sessions are scheduled to begin in the morning, when the light in the studio is the best and when babies are happiest. I accept a limited number of sessions each month, so my calendar often fills months in advance. I accept last minute sessions as I can, but that is rare, so your best option is always to secure your session early to ensure availability.

Who can I can include in my newborn session?

Immediate family members - parents and siblings - are welcome and encouraged during newborn sessions. I love photographing the entire family together! Please remember that extended family members are not permitted during studio sessions.

What if I don’t want to be in the photos?

If you’re hesitant about being in the images yourself, I encourage you to re-visit your reasons why. Images with your babies are so important, not just for ourselves, but for our children as well. It’s an opportunity to capture all of the connection and relationships within the family from the very beginning. You’re coming to the studio anyway, you might as well stay to capture images of yourself while you’re there. Plus, that time holding your baby is often comforting for you baby as well, so your session will go more smoothly.

What should I wear?

The studio wardrobe is available to all mothers for studio sessions. Most moms choose to wear pieces from the studio wardrobe for their newborn session. Not only is it convenient, but each piece is carefully selected to flatter moms and photograph beautifully. While I do recommend the studio wardrobe over anything else, if you prefer to wear something of your own I provide styling information for all clients for sessions.

How should I do my hair and makeup?

Everyone has a personal look that they prefer, and I always recommend building on that for your session. The most important thing is that when you reflect back on an image of yourself that you will recognize it for years to come. Some moms choose to wear very little (or no) makeup, while others work with a professional hair and makeup artist before their session. No matter how you approach your look, I recommend natural makeup and soft curls for your hair - without bold colors or trendy applications.

What do I need to bring with me?

The studio has everything needed for baby for the session, so you only need to bring a few things with you. I recommend bringing your standard diaper bag, a couple snacks for yourself and any siblings, an extra baby bottle if you are pumping or formula feeding, and a pacifier.

What should I do with my photos?

By far the most popular artwork option for newborn session is the Heirloom Album. It’s a perfect option for keeping your images safe in one place, where you can look back on them all together. Children love to see themselves in books. As your children get older, they’ll be able to take out an album and flip through its pages on their own, looking back on images from not so long ago.

Northern VA Baby Photographer | How to Create Your Dream Photo Wall

November 02, 2020 in kate juliet photography, family, maternity, newborns, baby

Photo walls are one of my favorite things. They are beautiful home decor and remind us of the moments in our lives that we love most. They are also wonderful for children, as a physical reminder of special times and how much they mean to us (I’ve never met a child that didn’t love to look at photos of him or herself - they think it’s the coolest thing). Like so many projects though it can feel overwhelming to get started. Here are some of my best tips for creating the photo wall you’ve always dreamed of:

1 - Find a photographer you love, and make photos a regular event.

Work with someone who will invest in the relationship with your family and give you images you’ll cherish. Make sure to set up sessions regularly with your photographer, especially while your kids are young. Over the time you’ll find you have a beautiful mix of images showing how your family has grown.

2 - Decide if you want to use the same size and type of frame for every image, or if you’ll mix it up.

You can’t go wrong either way, but make a decision early so you have a plan. Use frames of the same size and shape for a more traditional and classic look, while mixing it up is more eclectic. Generally though bigger is better. A few larger images will make a bigger impact than a bunch of smaller ones (and you’re more likely to actually see them everyday).

3 - Select one (or a couple) images from each session to feature.

People often ask me how to choose the images for their wall. I believe that albums are meant for telling your story (showing many images in one place), and wall art is meant for those singularly special moments that make you feel each time you look at them. Hang the images that speak to you the most.

4 - Mix it up with both color and black & white images.

Add interest by displaying both color and black & white images. Sticking with just one or the other can be a great option, especially if you prefer a monochromatic look, but don’t be scared to mix it up with the images that you love most.

5 - Select an area that will grow with your family.

Be sure to think about where you want to hang your gallery wall. You may not hang all of your images at once (unless you’re years behind on getting them hung - happens to us all!), so leave room for additional images in the future. Remember that if you’re limited on space, you don’t have to stick with just one wall. It’s okay to show your images in different spaces throughout your home.

Most of all, my biggest tip is to just get started. Choose even just one image that you love and hang it on your wall so you can enjoy it everyday. Once the first one is done you’ll likely feel invigorated to keep going and hang all of your most loved images. And remember, portraits can be switched out and moved, images can be swapped. If you want to change things or move them around you’ll always have that option. Over time you’ll create a photo wall filled with memories and events that you can look back on for decades to come.

Rediscovery | Fairfax County Newborn Baby Photographer

October 19, 2020 in kate juliet photography

I was cleaning up the other day (picking up all the legos that had migrated to my son's room) and came across one of our family photo albums. I hadn't look at it in awhile so I took a few minutes to sit with it and look the pages. Some of the photos are my very favorites and I clearly remember. While others seemed almost brand new to me since I hadn't looked at them in awhile.

And I just sat there looking at them. And me being me, I got teary eyed thinking back and remembering. I am always proud of my son, my family, the life that my husband and I have built. But somehow seeing it laid out in front of me, I just felt it that much more.

I made my husband look at a few of them too (and he laughed at me for being so sentimental), and then back on the shelf the album went. Waiting to be re-discovered another day by someone else.

If I'm lucky, maybe it will be me again.

The Power of Memory | Washington DC Maternity Baby Photographer

October 05, 2020 in kate juliet photography, maternity, newborns

I have a terrible memory.

I am constantly forgetting why I walked into a room.
I couldn't tell you what I had for breakfast yesterday.
I never remember movie endings.

To make matters worse, coupled with my poor memory is a poor accounting of time. Did something happen last month? Last year? Last decade? I just couldn't say.

It's a hard thing to accept about myself, particularly as someone who places a high value on memories and the past. I want to remember all the little things, but the forces of nature had other plans. No matter how much I might want to, I’m not naturally inclined to remember all my moments.

Sometimes I will have moments with my son where I just look into his face and will myself to remember. "Let this be something you will remember forever," I tell myself. "Don't ever forget this." I know that sometimes it works, but I’m sure there are moments I’ll never get back again. It’s not until I look back on our family albums that the memories come flooding back. What it was like when he was so little. How hot it was that day. How nervous I was. And every moment comes back to life like it was always there.

And I am so very grateful for it. For the silly moments that I couldn’t remember on my own. To remember his little face, how much younger his dad and I looked not all that long ago. How much we’ve all changed since then.

mama’s wardrobe provided by the studio wardrobe, available to all clients for studio sessions