Where should you have your senior photos taken? | Seattle Senior Photography

April 8, 2019

This is the question I am asked most! And it is probably my favorite question to answer because we are so lucky and have so many beautiful places around the Seattle area, we really can’t go wrong. My goal is always to reflect my seniors as who they are right now. Not who I want them to be for my portfolio, not who their friends are, but who they are, what is important to them, what they like, and where they feel most comfortable. For some, that is the beach. For others, it’s the city. Some pick a garden, a park, an art museum. Some have special memories they have created in a certain spot in the city. Some pick a place that is very close to their home, that feels like their backyard. Others just aren’t sure, and I am happy to help find a pretty spot!

Senior girl at the Woodland Park Rose Garden

Senior boy at the Discovery Park lighthouse

Senior boy at the Olympic Sculpture Park

These are but a few! But as you can see, there are so many different, beautiful places around our amazing city. I’ll follow up with more, or check out my Instagram page @nancydunbarphotography

How to prepare for your newborn session | Nancy Dunbar Photography Newborn Session

February 5, 2019

I love love love photographing brand new babies in their home. It can be an overwhelming time for parents, but it is my job to put you at ease. I get the same questions from most new parents about how to prepare and what to expect from the session. Hopefully this will help!

I like to photograph newborns within their first two weeks to get that absolute newborn time, which passes so quickly. But I will happily photograph older babies! The entire first year flies by, and anytime that works for you is great. Most parents to be will advise me of their due date so I can put a general time frame on my calendar. Then, when baby arrives, we will schedule the session.

New parents worry that their house isn’t right for in home photos. That there isn’t enough light, or it’s too messy, or the walls are a weird color, or the nursery isn’t finished. All I need is one window! I most often find a window in a bedroom that works great. We use the bed, the floor, a chair, whatever is near the window, and that is it. If we need to clear some clutter from a bedside table, we can do that. If we need to put a white blanket on the floor or the bed, we do that. Seattle houses are dark! Yet I have never found a house that didn’t have at least one window that provided beautiful light.

What should we wear? I’d say 90% of the people I photograph ask me this! My answer is always, whatever you feel comfortable wearing and makes you feel good! For babies, this is either a simple onesie, or a simple diaper! For parents, something loose, neutral, natural. You are in your home. You should be yourself!

I like to schedule the sessions mid-morning. Most babies seem to be pretty settled around 10am. If your baby is on a different schedule, we can adjust. If baby had a rough night the night before the shoot, we can push the time back a bit. This session is all about your baby and your family and what works best in your lives. The sessions take 1 - 2 hours. I take my time to get all of the photos we want, and to get them just right, but I don’t push it much past 2 hours. I know you all are tired! We also take plenty of breaks for diaper changes, feeding, burping, and whatever else your baby needs. But more on that next week!

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about my newborn sessions!

In home newborn session | Seattle Newborn photographer

January 24, 2019

I met Amy in my indoor cycle class years ago. She didn’t tell me she was pregnant, but at some point I could see, week by week, that her belly was growing. When we finally talked about it, I was so excited for her, and so impressed that she kept coming to cycle class! And she kept coming until the week before her baby was born. Women’s bodies are amazing!

One day a few weeks before the baby was born, I asked Amy if she would be interested in having me photograph her newborn. I decided earlier this year I really wanted to build the newborn side of my business. I was so busy in the fall and loving every minute of it! I didn’t want the busyness to end. And I love babies so much! But they are very different to photograph than seniors and families. It takes lots of practice! She was gracious enough to say yes, and then to pass my name on to other moms in her PEPS group.

Here are a handful of photos from Amy’s session.

newborn with mom and dad in moody light.jpg

Newborn Sessions at home | Seattle Newborn Photographer

January 12, 2019

It is hard having a newborn. You’re tired. Your body hurts. You have this whole new life that depends on you. AND! It is the most magical time in your life. Nothing will compare to these next few weeks. They go by in a blur, and the next thing you know, the newborn stage is over and you have a baby that is seemingly multiplying in size right in front of your eyes. And the newborn stage, the look, the feel, the smell, is gone.

So capture those moments! They will slip away before you know it. But you will always have the photos to bring you right back to these moments.

Senior Photos

June 18, 2018

Lots of people have been asking me recently when they should book their senior photos. Short answer is now! Particularly if you or your senior goes to a public high school and wants to use these photos for their yearbook. Private school kids don't really have to worry about this. Unless they want a summer or fall photo shoot, their photos can generally wait until springtime.

I know it's the last week of school, and it truly is the busiest time of year. Then summer hits and it flies by so quickly. I don't want to feel like summer is over before it's even started, but it goes fast and before you know it we will be looking at Labor Day weekend. If you are anything like me, all the "to-dos" go out the window for the summer. I tend to get slammed at the end of summer and beginning of school year with emails and phone calls and facebook messages from people who haven't scheduled their senior photos, and realize they need them asap!

Last year I was about at capacity for my fall senior sessions! September, October and November were all super busy. My goal this year is to gear up a little earlier -- to get going with the seniors in July and August. I typically do a handful of seniors over the summer, but I will feel a lot better if I can schedule more photo shoots in the summer and stay just as busy this fall as I was last fall!

Yearbook photos are due anytime between the end of October and the middle of December. Ballard's photos are due really early - usually before Halloween. So I will need to have all my Ballard seniors done by the middle of October so I can get your photos to you and you can pick the one you want to submit to the yearbook. And that will also be the case for the other public schools. I want to get your photos done at least two weeks before your yearbook deadline!

So, please call, text, email, message me, whatever, and let's get a date on the calendar! I promise to make it easy on you. We will first set a date. I will contact you a couple of weeks before the shoot to determine location and help with wardrobe. Then I will remind you again the day before, we will confirm time and meeting place. You don't have to do anything else!

Over the next few weeks I will be writing posts with tips and ideas for photo shoot locations, what to wear for the photo shoot, and what (and whom) you should bring with you!

Yes!  Bring the dog! — Yes! Bring the dog!

or dogs!  Bring as many as you want - I love them all! — or dogs! Bring as many as you want - I love them all!

Olivia at the Sculpture Park

May 14, 2018

Wow has it been such a long time since I've blogged. Good bye SEO :( Anyway, I am starting again, working backwards! Wish me luck.

So! I met Olivia on a beautiful early spring day. You can't tell from the photos, but it was so cold! She was awesome and didn't even feel it. As much as I love taking the photos, I also love getting to know these people I get to photograph. Even for an hour or two, hearing about their lives and learning their stories is so amazing. I feel privileged. These connections are what fuel me!

About Olivia. You know that tired old saying "the world is your oyster" that all these kids see on cheesy graduation cards this time of year? Well, that old saying applies to Olivia 100%. This girl is so smart. She is obviously beautiful. She's got goals and knows where she wants to go in life. She is kind and sweet and loves her mom. And I have total hair envy.