Last week, I kicked off a 5-part series called “Kiddo Personality Portraits” that stems from the power portrait minis I did several weeks ago.

You can check out Part 1 HERE!

The only thing people had to do to get some photos was to purchase one of Kate T. Parker’s books “Strong is the New Pretty” or “Heart of a Boy,” and they’d get a 5-minute mini session for one kiddo. I know 5 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot, but we got a TON of pure gold.

Kate’s books are all about celebrating children for who they are, just as they are. I fell in love with the images, story and heart in “Strong is the New Pretty” and wanted to share it with others. In keeping with the sentiment behind her book (and in keeping with how I prefer to work with children, anyway), I told parents to let their kids dress themselves. That meant that some came in bathing suits, some in pajamas and even one girl came in a swim cap, goggles, rainbow tutu and mardi gras beads! It was perfect!

This week we’ve got a sister & brother, another sister & brother and then their adorable new-big-brother cousin in a cape!

A shoot like this can be purchased as well if you want something similar for your children. They make great images for playrooms, kids bedrooms and common areas!

A few weeks ago I had the BEST time doing the BEST shoot for 3 hours in the heat and I didn’t get paid for any of it.

The only thing people had to do to get some photos was to purchase one of Kate T. Parker’s books “Strong is the New Pretty” or “Heart of a Boy,” and they’d get a 5-minute mini session for one kiddo. I know 5 minutes doesn’t seem like a lot, but we got a TON of pure gold.

Kate’s books are all about celebrating children for who they are, just as they are. I fell in love with the images, story and heart in “Strong is the New Pretty” and wanted to share it with others. In keeping with the sentiment behind her book (and in keeping with how I prefer to work with children, anyway), I told parents to let their kids dress themselves. That meant that some came in bathing suits, some in pajamas and even one girl came in a swim cap, goggles, rainbow tutu and mardi gras beads! It was perfect!

Before each kid got their photos, they had to show me their favorite page and tell me WHY it was their favorite page. This part was amazing & heartwarming. So many kids connected to so many of the kids in the book. And parents who had never heard of these books before were telling me that their kids pick up the book and look through it on their own, and that it created dialogue among parent and child that had never been before! How beautiful!

I’ll be sharing some of the images over the course of several posts. For Part 1, I have one boy who was by himself and then I had a brother and sister. As I’m sure you’ll be able to quickly tell, I’m really partial to the black & white images!

First, let me show you their favorite pages, then on to their images!

And, don’t forget, you can always book a regular session with me and we can do something like this!

CHECK OUT PART 2

Is there any more magical time of the year?

Even now as a mom I can feel the magic of the excitement that my little girls have each Christmas season.  I remember I would walk up early - I'm talking like 3am early - and I would sneak downstairs and...you guys...

SANTA HAD COME.

I would view every single present and, without touching, try to guess what was in them.  Then, I would pop in this Disney Christmas Special movie and wait until 5am, when my generous (now I realize HOW generous!) parents told me I could wake them. 

What makes the holiday season the most magical is MAKING the magic along the way - looking at Christmas lights, watching Rudolph and Frosty on TV, and...meeting Santa Claus.

It is such a joy to be able to offer Santa Sessions along with Andrea Farmer Photography and to be a part of the magic that gets strung along during the holiday season.  It's so awesome to give kids one-on-one time with Santa - away from the long lines at the mall- where they can go over their Christmas list, listen to him read a book and whisper secrets in his ear.

This year we have rented a beautiful studio in Nashville that offers an airy shabby chic feel.  We will have 2-3 setups for you guys - Santa and then one or two others just for kids and family - so perfect for holiday cards and annual holiday memorabilia. 
 

THESE BOOK UP SUPER FAST YOU GUYS, SO IF YOU WANT A SPOT, GRAB IT ASAP.

DETAILS:
 

• Sunday, November 20 
• 10:30am - 2:00pm
• Booking families every 15 minutes
• $99 session fee for session only (due upon booking, non-refundable, transferrable)
• Digital & print package purchase options (email me for these details)
• Free ornament gift with early package purchase (details with pricing sheet)

Liza Hippler is a lifestyle photographer serving the Middle Tennessee area including Franklin TN, Brentwood TN, Nashville TN, Spring Hill TN, Thompson Station TN, Belle Meade TN and surrounding areas.  She specializes in families, children, babies, newborns and maternity photography. She would love to hear from you and be your Nashville photographer for your next session.

This past April was my first annual Celebrate Mothers Mini Session Event.  It was three days of just mamas and their babies (of any age!).  Along the way, I learned a few things I'd do a teeny bit differently next year, but what I got out of it the most was HOW MUCH LOVE there is between mothers and their babes.  Oh, my.  Each session left my heart warmed!  And so did the COLLAGES!

My first session was with Lisa and her girls, Kate and Anna.  Anna is now THREE and I also got to shoot her six month photos (see them HERE). If you look, you'll see some things never change - she broke down during that shoot and she broke down during this one!  One of the things that endears me most to Lisa is how she loves the photos of the kids losing it!  It's just such a natural part of motherhood/childhood - I love mommies that embrace it!  (See Anna down there in the corner?  Still so pretty through all the tears!)  We got her to smile eventually, though.  The shoot was in my backyard, so we had her hop on the YELLOW swing (much more desirable than the green one, you know), and that improved her mood immediately. 

By far my favorite "perk" of this session was the mother-child collages.  Each mother wrote a little letter to their children describing what they wanted to remember about each child at this age, and each child drew or wrote (or both) a love note to their mom and then they got a complimentary 8x10 of their collage.  Isn't it adorable! 

For the first few people who signed up, I had a gift.  I let them purchase a $1 gift session to give to a mom in their lives who meant something special.  Lisa chose one of her daughter's teachers, Michelle.  Then she showed up with HER mom, so we had three generations!  So sweet!  Little Chandler (isn't that a great name?) was the sweetest - and look at those eyes!!  

Here's Michelle and Chandler's collage:

I'll be sharing the rest of the sessions soon!

It's the CUTEST time of the year!  Valentine's Minis are a wonderful way to document your kiddos post-holiday.  Not too much out-of-pocket and low stress.  Hearts and red and love and CHEEKS!  (Because I know I'll see some chubby cheeks!!)

Details below.  TO BOOK, use this contact form or send an email to liza@lizahipplerphotography.com

Here are the details:

• Saturday, January 30th
• 10am - 12pm
• 15-Minute Sessions
• 8 Edited Digital Images
• Photo Print Release
• Online Gallery
• $150 All-Inclusive
• Album and prints available for additional purchase
• Adorable Valentine's themed set-up with cute props at in-home studio in Cool Springs.  Relaxed atmosphere with all the amenities of home (because, well, it IS a home)!

AVAILABLE TIMES: 10:00, 10:15, 10:30, 10:45, 11:00, 11:15, 11:30, 11:45

*mini sessions are open to children only, no parents or newborns