Family Portraits at Home | The Stann Family

I looooove these portraits from my session with the Stann family. It's so fun to be part of making a permanent family memory for these girls and their parents. 

As you can see from the indoor shots, the Stann family has some beautiful rustic decor, and we echoed that in the framing for their over-the-fireplace portrait. Thanks, Teressa for the cell phone pic! 

I try to make every session as painless as possible for parents and kids--especially because I know how stressful it can be to get your portraits taken. My philosophy is, if you're having a good time at the session, then the smiles are going to be natural and genuine! I'm an easy-going person and can handle just about any little hiccup during a shoot, including pets and rambunctious kids. (I love rambunctious kids!)

I have an awesome time doing my job and I hope my clients have an awesome time with me too! You can see a little behind-the-scenes from our shoot here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BZZgxe9nz7E/?taken-by=southernsavvygram. 

Also, make sure to check out the terrific foundation that Teressa and her sister have spearheaded, the Lou Ruspi Jr. Foundation, focusing on improving mental health and suicide prevention in schools and in the community. We featured their story in Our Milton Neighbor and I was so moved by their work. 

Marchet Butler is a family, high school senior, and headshot portrait photographer in the Atlanta area. A Certified Professional Photographer, Marchet's family portraiture is regularly featured on the cover of local magazines including Our Milton Neighbor, Sandy Springs Living, and My Brookfield and Wexford Neighbors. Marchet's work has also been featured in Atlanta Parent. Best known for her custom-framed fine art wall portraits, Marchet's art is a perfect Christmas present for yourself or the people you love. It's not too late to book a holiday family session. Contact us for more details. 

When to Have Your Family Portraits Taken | Alpharetta GA Family Photographer

When is the last time you had your family portraits taken? My rule of thumb for young families is  every 1-2 years, and the best times of year are usually the spring and the fall, but if you do early morning or late evening in the summer, that's also a great way to go. If you have adult children who are out of the home, take portraits whenever you have the chance to get together! As your family gets older, those times will be fewer and farther between.

I recently talked to a client who booked a session for her family because her son would be home from college for a short window of time. She thought about going with a discount photographer, but picked me because she didn't want to risk having less-than-professional portraits taken. Her words were, "They're family pictures. They're important! It's worth hiring you to make sure they are done right." (I'm blushing now.)

If you need your family portraits taken and live near Milton, Alpharetta, Roswell, or Johns Creek, now is the time to schedule your session for holiday cards, presents, and wall portraits before I am booked for the season.

Enjoy some darling portraits taken this summer!

Family Means Everything | Alpharetta Family Photographer

How long has it been since you had a family portrait made? A year? Two years or more? Never? My family was in the "Never" category for a long time until, and then, we had a beautiful professional portrait taken of the whole family--all seven of us--my last year at home. That picture is one of the reasons I became a photographer. It is literally the only one I have of my entire family in my youth, and it is a precious piece of our family legacy. We have only ever been all together again only twice since then, and you can bet I took our family portraits!

When kids grow older, there are windows of time when family is all together--graduations, holidays, weddings, and holiday breaks. These are the times when I am called to create images of a whole family to preserve both the memory and the legacy of these amazing people. Oh, and dare I mention that it's fun too? 

This family--personal friends as well as clients--had a blast at their portrait session. There was ample goofing around behind the camera, but we came away with beautiful family portraits that will last for generations.

Contact me for more information about family portraits this spring . . . it's getting beautiful out there!

When Family Comes Together | Alpharetta GA Extended Family Portrait Photographer

Every year, I reserve the weekend of Thanksgiving for sessions because often, it's the only time an extended family will be together--and the only time a family can have portraits taken.

This family was a delight to photograph. They were comfortable in front of the camera and easy-going -- my kind of people!

As a family photographer, I have a passion for creating something families will treasure, especially when multiple generations are being photographed. So, if you have family coming to town for a birthday, holiday, or other special occasion, contact me. Portraits are memories you can keep!

  

Check out the Facebook album for a few more from this session/

Families Rock! | WindScene Magazine Photographer

Alpharetta Photographer Marchet Butler Joins WindScene as Content Coordinator and Photographer

If you are a Windward resident, then you've probably seen these images in your mailbox in the January issue of WindScene, a local magazine by Best Version Media. Fortunately, it's a job I can do in addition to my regular photography work, plus it gets me doing some writing as well. (That's right. That English degree comes in handy too!) I'm thrilled to showcase my photography plus I get to meet some pretty awesome people.

This family is headed by a mom and dad who are both school teachers. They describe their family as a "party in a box" and the weren't kidding. We had a super time goofing around, posing, and getting pictures of their big family -- even though it was a cold day in December.

So, if you or someone you know is a Windward resident with an interesting story, contact me. I'm always looking for my next "cover models."

Merry Christmas! | Walk through of our Christmas Card Design and Composite Photography Illustration

 Merry Christmas everyone! I've made a behind-the-scenes/walk-through video of my editing and illustration process for this card. Many thanks to Richard Sturdevant who taught me at the Georgia School of Professional Photography this summer. If you can't get the link to work, try it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFRLdDNYNPk

Enjoy!

Pssst... I'm teaching some photography and a Photoshop class this January. Check it out.

Why Family Portraits | Alpharetta GA Family Photographer

I'm  busy, busy, busy getting family portraits orders done for Christmas! Here's a quick look of what I've done recently.

And their Christmas cards . . . (a nice combination of their ordered portraits on a flat 5x7 card) 

Before and After | A look at my retouching work--on my own portrait!

This summer while my son and I were on vacation visiting family, my sister agreed to take some portraits of me and my little guy (gosh, not so little anymore). So, I set everything up, positioned us in the right light, made sure the the camera settings were right, and we got some fun shots. That's what's cool about being a photographer -- you can direct your own photo shoot!

Here is the finished portrait of the two of us that I am going to hang in our home. Don't you love it!? Thank you Charity!

See below for what the portrait looked like straight out of the camera (SOOC). As you can see, I've made some changes, but nothing major -- I believe that getting it right in camera is super important. But, I want to look good in my pictures! So here's what I did: 

• Hair smoothing -- oh my goodness, the frizz!
• Skin retouching
• Adding shadow and light for better dimension
• Arm shrinking (yeah, I'm a little embarrassed of my bigger arms)
• Chin shrinking (the shot caught my son's chin from below -- never a flattering look.)
• Background brightening
• Eye and Makeup Retouching
• A touch of vignetting

Here are the pictures side-by-side so you can see the difference: 

I love making a great photograph into a beautiful, polished portrait. What do you think?

Help Me Choose a Metal Wall Art Sample | Atlanta GA Family Photographer

So it's the time of year when I update my sample portrait art for my holiday season clients. This year, I've decided to add a new product to my wall portrait options: metal wall art! This is one of those products you have to see in person. The images are printed on specially-treated aluminum sheets using the dye-sublimation process. They come in super glossy to matte finishes and are mounted and finished with an inset frame. The colors just POP off the print, and because it's printed on metal, it's not going to be subject to normal wear and tear. Oh, and did I say--they are gorgeous!

I'm going to order a 20x24 sample and I need help deciding which portrait I should use. Which one do you think would look best?

The Perfect Fit for your Home | Family Wall Portrait Ideas

I recently visited Nashville and had a chance to create this beautiful portrait of my friends and their sweet daughters. We specifically picked the clothing to complement the room we would be hanging the portrait--the bonus room where the kids have a play area and bed and where mom has her office.

Now here's the fun part. I use an interior design program to show my clients different options, sizes, and finishes I recommend for their walls. Here are the different options for this portrait. Which would you choose?

Now Booking Spring Sessions | Alpharetta and Roswell GA Photographer

The first of spring is starting to appear . . . buds on trees, bright sunshine, and kids playing outside without jackets. It's so exciting to have this year's winter fading away.

I'm also excited to photograph families, kids, and headshots this spring. It's the perfect time for portraits. Contact me for more information.

The Olivia Act | Please nominate an Alpharetta/Roswell family

Photographs are important, especially when a loved one dies. I was touched by a movement on Facebook called "The Olivia Act." (A big thanks to my friend Linda at Clear Creek Images for sharing this!)

The Olivia Act, named after one of the children killed in Newtown, CT was started by a photographer who wrote this: "Aside from donating and hugging my own kids, there is not a lot I can do. I think about the family of little Olivia, and the fact that they had a family photo shoot not long before she was killed. The parents are so lucky they had that. We go about our daily lives not realizing it could be our last, and we don't always take the time to have photos taken together."

In honor of sweet Olivia, I will be taking nominations for one Alpharetta or Roswell GA family who would not be able to afford a photo session on their own. I will giving a gift of a 30-minute session and $100 worth of portrait products to the family selected. This session must be used by May 2013. The nominations will be collected until December 31, 2012 and will be announced the following week. Please fill out the form below to nominate a family.

Please share this idea with other photographers! It's a great way to give back during the holiday season and a positive way to remember these sweet kiddos and their teachers/administrators. 

Alpharetta Family Photographer | Roswell Family Photographer

Alpharetta Family Photographer and Roswell Family Photographer

Marchet Butler offers advice on Alpharetta Family Photography and Roswell Family Photography

Choosing the right family photographer
Is it time for family pictures? Are you looking for an Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer? Consider the following:

Experience
Your Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer should offer a great experience beginning with the consultation, an continuing through the shoot and into the ordering session. Think about your first contact with a photographer. Do they respond to your email or phone call in a timely manner? Do you feel a connection with your Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer when you talk to them? Is their personality a good fit for your family?

Then, what kind of experience do they offer during the shoot? When you have kids, it's important to know that your Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer is comfortable working with children, even when the kids have a meltdown or are extremely shy during the shoot. A photographer with a sense of adventure and a lot of patience will get much better photographs that someone who doesn't have experience working with kids.

Style

When choosing your Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer, it's important to browse through the photographer's portfolio and see if their style appeals to you. Do you like the images that the Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer has posted? Are the images consistent in quality? Are a variety of shoots represented? If the answer is yes to all of these questions, you have found a good candidate for your Alpharetta family photography or Roswell family photography. Now, let's consider price.

Pricing
The cost of your Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer is important, but should not be the main factor in determining whether or not to hire the photographer. In the world of photography, higher cost usually means more experience and better quality. Remember, the portraits you receive from a professional Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer will be treasured for generations to come--if you hire the right Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer. Low-budget photographers or photographers that offer "shoot and burn" services are most likely to be inexperienced and inconsistent in quality. The money you "saved" hiring them will have been a waste if you aren't happy with their photographs.

Products
A professional Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer understands that it's the art pieces that clients truly appreciate day after day: framed portraits, canvases, archival portraits, and other high-quality image products. That's why it's important to pick an Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer who has a variety of high-quality art products to offer. Here are a few questions to ask your Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer: Do you work with a professional print lab and other professional vendors to create your products? Are your portrait products archival? Do you offer framing? Do you guarantee your products?

Choosing your Alpharetta family photographer or Roswell family photographer is one of the most important decisions you will make this season, especially considering that these are the images your family will keep for generations. So, invest in professional family portraiture. You won't be disappointed.

photo by Stacey Johnson

Marchet Butler is an Atlanta GA portrait photographer based in Alpharetta, GA. She offers Alpharetta family photography and Roswell family photography as well as portrait photography for babies, children, seniors, and extended families. To find out more about Marchet and her portrait art, go to http://www.butlerfamilyphotography.com.