I am sure you’ve noticed that I am bit obsessed with taking photos of Max. It’s not just the mom in me, I used to LOVE taking tons of photos before smart phones and digital cameras even existed. Yes, I have photo album after photo album full of college printed images. Printed? haha – YES! Remember when we used to print photos?
Anyways, my latest project has been creating this amazing timeline of PRINTED photos of Maximo. From birth till current age, that one day I’ll be able to pass on to him. Since I lost pretty much everything in the tornado when I was only around 3 or 4, I don’t have any baby photos of my own. While we will never have to worry about that thanks to the Cloud and digital images, I still think it’s amazing to be able to pass down something tangible. Something he remembers seeing hanging on the walls while he was growing up.
Since I am obsessed with black and white photos for our walls, we had to use our FAVORITE Manhattan photographer –
Lindsay May from Classic Kids, located on the Upper East Side.
Here’s the thing with Lindsay – she KNOWS how to photograph kids.
We see a lot of photographers being that Maximo models from time to time, and it’s extremely hard to get a curious toddler to stand still on an “X” for a bunch of photos. If they were all like Lindsay, I think it would be an overall better experience for everyone! It’s literally like an hour playdate for Max! She has an assistant who helps with toys, props, bubbles – kids don’t even realize they’re being photographed.
And because of that – you end up with some of the most amazing shots of your child you’ll ever see.
I’ve walked into some other (remain to be unnamed) studios, and I just didn’t feel comfortable AT ALL. They were short with me, expected a 22 month old to sit still in a bucket, and snapped when he grabbed something he shouldn’t. Um… if you’re a children’s portrait studio, shouldn’t it be kid-friendly? #fail.
If you want the best experience you and your child will ever have, you must see Lindsay.
In-Person Photo Consultations.
You come back to the studio after the shoot to have a sit-down with Lindsay and go over all the photos individually. They are all laid out in front of you, so you can see and feel the images instead of just looking at a computer screen.
There is just something about this process that makes it so much more meaningful. Taking the time to go through the elimination process, feeling the actual photos, it just has that same feel as sending handwritten thank you notes instead of an email. You know, actually taking the time to appreciate the art and passion behind the photo.
Lindsay has a beautiful process of narrowing it down to the ones you love the most. Unfortunately it will still be a lot of them haha! After around 30 minutes, we finally had it down to my absolute favorites. I chose 3 to go together in a frame, and one close up of those eyelashes. Good LORD the girls are going to be jealous of those when he’s older. haha
They also sell frames for your photos right in the studio as well, that are guaranteed to protect the photos for life, so you can get everything done in one shot. That’s NYC connivence for ya! Plus, look how adorable this little bag is that we got when we went to pic them up!
Grand Studio Reveal Party and Free Shoot on May 10th!
Classic Kids is hosting a Grand Reveal party on May 10th to show of their brand new beautiful studio renovation!
There will be Rockin’ with Andy from 10-11 am on Saturday, and a face painter on Saturday too. Refreshments for kids and adults (champagne anyone?). Mostly, all day, they are doing complimentary photo shoots for families. People must call ahead to reserve their time slot. (Register here!) The prints will be separately charged, but it’s a great way to sneak in a session and save the typical session fee!!!!
There will also be a raffle to win a full family session and a print package!
Some Background on Classic Kids:
You can’t help but love that it was founded by a fellow mompreneur. Mom Julie Floyd saw her passion was capturing treasured moments in people’s lives while letting the kids be kids. Kudos to Julie!
I love how they say this on their website. They have us moms figured out –
We’re kid wranglers, artists, psychologists, giggle experts, style mavens, interior design consultants, card and book designers, baby whisperers, beauty seekers, framing specialists, art installers, party planners and simply —good friends.
It takes a village—and many heads are better than one—so we work as a team to learn, grow and perfect our art. Every day we share techniques, creative experiences, ideas and feedback to push the boundaries and provide you with the best in family portraiture. We aim for art that you’ll display proudly and pass down through the generations—all while having a blast creating it.
