The Experience | Christchurch Portrait Photographer
First Book Your Session
Fill in our fun Questionnaire so that Belinda can design your portrait session just for you. The Questionnaire will ask questions about your family and what kind of shoot you would prefer. Belinda will then contact you to book a time that suits. A studio session will be held in Belinda’s studio in Harewood and is suitable for one to three people maximum. Outdoor sessions are more suitable for families of four people or more. You can choose whether you want a simple and classic shoot, or something more creative – or a combination of both.
The portrait session is fully booked and confirmed once the booking deposit is paid. This $150 deposit covers Belinda’s time and skills as a photographer. Packages are purchased on top of this and start at $300 with minimum spend of $300 over and above the booking deposit. This is the time to decide what you want out of the session – whether there is a wall in your house that you want to make magazine worthy, or whether you would like a lovely album of photos, or a digital package.
Before your Session
You will be sent a link to the Session Guide which will give you instructions for the day. It details what clothing you might like to wear and other details.
Indoor Fine Art Portraits
Children get to choose several outfits from the clothing in the studio. They will be taught several poses and we can do a mixture of smiley photos, serious photos. I can also do creative shoots for adults which are lots of fun.
I’m an artist and creative photographer so every shoot is different and I may get an extra spark of creativity when I meet your family, however there is a general trend and workflow to my shoots. You will see me play with lighting in the studio, outfits and poses to provide you with a variety of shots – anywhere from 10-30 shots depending on how many children are in the session and other factors. Here is an example of a full shoot with a lovely dancer which shows the variety you can get from a shoot.
I am an avid sewer and love making dresses and accessories for my subjects to wear. I also have a collection of exclusive vintage style fashion here for your children from brands such as Dollcake. Sometimes I will just run to the garden for a spontaneous bunch of flowers to add something extra to a photo! Check out my fashion options on this page.
Props can really make a photo, from a favourite decorative umbrella, a musical instrument, a rugby ball or your child’s ballet tutu and shoes. They may love dressing up as superman! Or maybe it is an old family antique – let your imagination run wild. Just think of what your child is really into in their life, or what means a lot to your family, and bring that along, as it adds another element to photos and gives you more to choose from at your design appointment. It can also be a real talking point if you have a quirky and cool photo on your wall that no-one else has that shows your child’s personality!
Outdoor Portraits
These are suitable for larger families and are more relaxed. Belinda will aim to capture the relationships between family members. You won’t necessarily all be looking at the camera at all times. I will get everyone to interact to create a range of photos showing the connection between family members. These make beautiful emotional images. They look stunning in colour but some people prefer black and white which can go with any decor.
If you are a very adventurous and arty family, I will go the extra mile to create something different for your wall. In some cases this may be a landscape with your family in it, or a photo that incorporates creative tricks done in-camera such as double exposures. I may even get everyone to act crazy – often a favourite photo!
Your Photography Session
This is the fun part. Belinda strives to make everyone relax and just have fun. The session will take 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours depending on the type of shoot and how many people are in your family group. It is a fun time to get dressed up and spend time together as a family. Check out this video to see how fun a shoot can be.
Your Design Appointment
Your photos are revealed to you at a design appointment about 2 weeks after the photo shoot. The photos will be shown to you on a screen either at the studio in Harewood, or at another place to be arranged.
Packages ordered must be fully paid at the design appointment. Belinda will help decide which images might suit best for your house to make the whole process a lot easier. There are a range of packages, starting at $300, so everyone is catered for. Minimum spend is $300 over and above the booking deposit.
Display Your Artwork
Your artwork will take up to six weeks to be produced. You will pick it up from Belinda Lansley Photography in Harewood. It’s time to take it home and hang it on the wall to create impact in your home! This is the most exciting part!