Fun Autumn Family Session | Stockholm Family Photographer

When it comes to photographing people, I notice there is a pattern in the kind of people I like to have in front of my camera. They have a certain openness, are unguarded, smile and laugh easily, don’t take life too seriously, have positive energy, and bonus points if they laugh at my bad jokes! ;)

If you were to have a family photo session, what would you look for in your photographer? You would want someone who would make it a fun experience, right? I mean, we’re not pulling teeth here! We are creating family legacies! As I often say, photos are rarely significant at the moment they are created. It is the passage of time that makes them priceless. In 20 years’ time, this family will look back at these images and wonder at how much everything has changed!

Feel free to get in touch via the contact page above, or mail me at sandra@sandrajolly.com, to start planning YOUR Jolly portrait session.

Peace and love xoxo

High energy fun family photo session | Stockholmfotograf

I cannot believe I’m only getting around to sharing this amazing family session now! To be fair though, this autumn season has been insanely busy here at Jolly HQ. I’ve been doing 7-day weeks and locking myself in my office for hours on end in an effort to stay on top of my work. Let the record show, I am not complaining about being busy, I’m just filling you in on what’s been happening lately ;)

Do you know that before a family photo session, I provide my clients with as much information as possible to prepare them for our shoot? I believe that the more prepared my clients are, the more successful the session will be. I provide them with lots of tips and inspiration on what to wear, how to choose locations, how a shoot will flow, how mom and dad can make the session better (it’s not all down to me, you know!), etc. Preparation is key!

From the minute I met this family at our location, they were bursting with positive energy! These three gorgeous girls made my job so easy - always ready to turn on the charm for the camera! And just look at how high energy and joyful their images are :).

Although autumn is fully booked, and nearly over, might I add, I can offer some winter sessions for those of you who are interested. All you need to do is go to the Contact page above or mail me at sandra@sandrajolly.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Peace and love xoxo :)

Stockholm family session with new puppy | Stockholm family photographer

It’s hard to believe we are more than halfway through October already!! I don’t know about you, but I’ve been very busy on the work front, which has probably also contributed to the feeling of an acceleration of time. I’ve been shooting mainly family photo sessions, but I’ve also squeezed in a couple of personal projects, which is very important to the creative soul ;)

This fun family session was held on a very windy morning way back in early September. The family was high energy with a very positive-vibe (my favourite kind of family!), and had just gotten a beautiful and very photogenic puppy! I think the pictures speak for themselves. This little puppy is very loved and doted upon by his human family. I love it when my families include their pets in their photo sessions! It doesn’t matter if you’ve just gotten a puppy, have an old dog, or even a pet rabbit, it always adds something magical when there’s a pet in the family portrait.

Oh, and imagine my delight when the sweet mom brought along afternoon tea for my assistant and me! Very considerate :)

If you are considering gifting photographs this Christmas, NOW is the time to schedule your session! Don’t leave it too late! Mail sandra@sandrajolly.com, or go to the Contact page above to chat. I’d love to hear from you!

Peace and love xoxo

Ever wondered how much work goes into a family photo session?

You arrive at your photo session, meet your photographer, you have fun together, the photographer clicks the shutter lots of times, and then you happily go your separate ways.  Job done!  Right?  RIGHT?!

Wrong!!   What happens during the photo session is only a part of the whole experience!  The work begins as soon as the initial inquiry comes in.  Once the booking is confirmed, the pre-shoot work-flow really begins.  The Jolly workflow looks like this:

• Enter client details into system

• Create client file

• Invoice session fee

• Send confirmation email

• Send questionnaire

• Send style guide

• Possible location scouting (can take 1-2 hrs)

• Video consultation to ‘meet’ and discuss everything

• Confirm exact time and location of session

• Complete and sending portrait contract

• Prepare shot list for session (must-have shots, shoot flow, pose ideas, etc)

• Prepare equipment the night before, including: charge all batteries, format memory cards, clean and pack lenses, extra CF cards, pack reflector, lights, toys for young children, etc

And then there’s the photo session itself…  I try and get there early to make sure everything is OK in the area I am shooing in, and to mentally prepare myself and get in the creative zone.  From the time the family arrives until I stop shooting, my brain does. not. stop. working.  Some of the things I constantly have to think about when photographing people are:

• Direction and quality of light, and how the light is falling on the subject(s)

• Background distractions

• How clothes/hair is sitting

• Wind direction

• Hand placement

• Posing/directing/guiding (even though my style is very natural), EVERYTHING is still directed

• Subject expression

• Shutter speed

• ISO

• Aperture

• Lens choice

• Focus

• Metering

On top of all that, I still have to keep the energy of the photo session upbeat and positive!  In terms of the energy I put into a session, it is always 100%.  My heart and soul goes into every.single.session.  This introvert comes out of her shell and does everything in her power to make it a great experience for her clients!

After the session, the post-shoot work-flow begins:

• Upload images

• Back up images

• Cull images

• Complete initial edit

• Schedule ordering appointment, or during this COVID time, upload and create an online gallery to send to client.  This stage always feels like you are putting your babies up for adoption!

• Anxiously await client response (hopefully they will realise all the hard work that went into those images and will let you know if they love them)

• Final edit (can take a few hours)

• Send invoice for payment

• Send receipt of payment

• Prepare images that are going to lab

• Package order

• Write thank you card

• Blog session

• Facebook images

• Close file!

Now, do you understand?  It’s not just a matter of taking a few pretty pictures.  It’s not just a matter of clicking the shutter.  You are not just paying for a 1-hour photo session.  You are not just paying for the paper the image is printed on. 

Each Jolly photo session is at least 11 hours’ work. 100% heart, soul, and energy go into every session.

Where else do you get that kind of experience? :)

If you would love Jolly portraits of your family, feel free to mail sandra@sandrajolly.com and we can chat :)

Peace and love xoxo