Dramatic Ballerina Portraits [Kansas City Photographer]

You will love these ballerina portraits!

dramatic

emotional

beautiful

At heart I'm a photographer who loves dramatic, emotional images in dark tones - my skill with this type of imagery has even been written about in a magazine for photographers. For this portrait event, I've been inspired to photograph your daughter/s in this way - these will be timeless portraits you will treasure for a lifetime.

Coming Sunday, March 10. Black backdrop, dramatic lighting, floor reflections - I am so excited about this! I hope you are, too! (you can see more examples on our blog or on the Center Stage Facebook page).

These Ballerina mini sessions offer a discount from our usual pricing - both print collections and digital negative (CD) collections are available.
As always, we provide many tutus, leotards and hair pieces, help with hair and light-make-up if desired.

$35 session fee goes to the Academy of the Arts dance team
$50 minimum order (both due upon scheduling)

Schedule ASAP to get your preferred time

Lori: centerstage@kc.rr.com * (913) 271-0703

Amber: stop by the Academy of the Arts (west) front desk, or email balletjazz03@yahoo.com

Custom Photography - Why It's Worth It - Kansas City Portrait Studio

A friend of mine who lives near Chicago, the supremely talented Marianne Drenthe of Marmalade Photography, a couple of years ago wrote an excellent and comprehensive article about custom photography. You can read it here.

Of particular interest to many of you would be the section about custom photography pricing. She goes into great detail about why quality custom photography can be an investment.

Of course, I am confident that my own clients do understand this. You all do "get it" - you understand that you are not only paying for the paper your images are printed on; and the ink used. You make a choice to invest in something beautiful and timeless. Something special. You choose me/Center Stage Photography because you know that I offer a unique style, outstanding customer service, quality prints and albums, a memorable experience during your session, and a guarantee on my work.

I :heart: Maternity! - Kansas City Maternity Portraits

I know, I know. I say this a lot - but I love, love, love maternity sessions. This one for Christina and Joe was a lot of fun - they are so excited about their first baby. Plus, Christina was a great model (she danced when she was younger and it really showed!); and Joe is a photographer, so we had a lot to talk about. I can't wait to meet their baby girl.

Here's a preview for you - gallery coming soon!

Gotta love the 6-month-olds - Kansas City Baby Photographer

I know I sound like a broken record, but I love photographing 6-month-olds! Oh my goodness, there's just nothing cuter than a baby that age who has just learned to sit up on their own. The faces they make are amazing and I love to capture that in my work (those many, varied expressions make for wonderful albums and storyboards).

I photographed Christy's baby boy when he was just a few days old, and she brought him back for portraits this week - which totally made my day! What a doll. Plus, his "big" brother came along as well, and the result was a rare event indeed - a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old both looking at the camera and both smiling! Gosh, that makes me happy!

Christy - this is only a tiny taste of the cuteness coming your way - gallery coming soon!

Finally, A Beautiful Fall Day - Kansas City Family Portraits

I loved photographing this family. They are returning clients, which means a lot to me; the weather had finally turned nice; the 2-year-old was amazingly easy to work with (when does that ever happen?); and it was the mom's birthday! I just love the portrait above - Lisa suggested she and their little girl both sit on Daddy - and I love the results!

I'm really enjoying these fall sessions this year - no wonder fall is the most popular time of year for family portraits. What a gorgeous backdrop the park makes. Of course, we had to work around about every other photographer in Kansas City who also happened to be in the park at the same time as us - it was a bit surreal! I'm now convinced that every third person in the metro calls themselves a photographer.

Thank you Lisa and Sam, for choosing me, again, to photograph your family - enjoy your preview.

Another Chilly Morning With Cute Kids - Kansas City Portrait Photographer

This October's weather has not been kind for we portrait photographers who do a lot of outdoor sessions in the fall. I photographed these two cute kids this past weekend when the temperature was about 48, and a cold wind was blowing. The sunshine sure did help, though! These cuties came for a birthday session - 4 years for the little girl and 1 year for the baby boy. They were a lot of fun. We walked pretty far into Shawnee Mission Park to find a pretty, more secluded location. I just love how the light looked that morning on the bridge. It's funny, when you become a photographer, you see light differently - I'm always noticing "pretty light" where before, in my life, it wasn't something I paid much attention to.

Anyway! Thanks, Tanya - your gallery will be ready soon.

Happy Birthday, S! - Kansas City Baby Portraits

This little sweetie has a special place in my heart. I photographed her mom and dad for a maternity session that still ranks among my favorites; she's the baby hanging in my studio on the large black and white gallery mount; we had a great 10-month session and now she's turning 1. They live in St. Joseph and with Daddy's job, scheduling can be difficult, so it was pretty gloomy (and cold!) outside for the session - but that just makes the colors all the more beautiful, I think.

Thanks, Lindsey, for being such a loyal client. That means a lot to me. Happy birthday to your baby girl.

Another birthday boy! - Kansas City Baby Photographer

I've had lots of first birthday sessions lately -this time it was Tessa and Jason's little boy. I hadn't seen him for a year, so it was quite a treat. Remember him? I have always loved this image of him. You can see more by clicking here.
His parents are just wonderful clients. Tessa writes me the sweetest emails - the second I see her name in my in-box I know it's going to be a good day. Tessa and Jason - thank you again for choosing me to photograph your little boy - it means a lot.

Little Miracles - Kansas City Baby Portraits

It's hard to imagine these chubby little fellows started life as tiny preemies only three and a half months ago. But look at them now! They've come a long way, and I know that to their loving parents, Angela and Scott, they are amazing miracles.

Angela - I think these portraits prove the saying "better late than never" - I'm so happy you decided to bring your babies to my studio. I enjoyed our session so much, and can't wait to show you and Scott the rest of your gallery.

By the way - I'm told it's still not clear whether the twins are fraternal or identical. I'm putting my bets on identical. What do you think?

I Love My Clients - Kansas City Children's Portraits

I do. I love my clients. Especially those who return to me year after year to document their family; their children; their lives at that moment in time. This little boy's mom is one of those. I remember back when I did his newborn portraits when I was merely a woman with a camera and I honestly didn't know what I was doing! And then I learned a bit, and took his 6-month portraits and ended up with some images that are still among my favorites. And then came one year, two year, a large family group, dance portraits for mom, and now 3-year portraits.

I know there are many portrait photographers around; many choices and styles and price points, yet year after year Krystin puts her faith in me and my work, and for that I'm awed and grateful!

Here's your preview - gallery to follow very soon!

Urban Baby - Kansas City Portraits

And, as promised - previews from Meggan and Ryan's baby girl's urban session. I have to say I absolutely love the family portrait above - one of my favorites ever! What a great little family! Plus... you all know how much I love blowing hair - I would say there was a fortunate wind going at that moment =) I think it would look great as a 16x24 in a really funky frame, or as a gallery mount on black.

Anyway - enjoy the preview Meggan - your gallery is coming along. Thank you, again, for continually putting your faith in me to capture these special milestones for your baby. I appreciate it so much.