Child’s first name: {Fin Hudson Buick}
Age: {5}
Parent’s first name: {Kasey}
State & Country: {Illinois}

Outfit in photo(s) comes from:
Jeans: thrifted
Collar shirt: Gap Kids
Button sweater: DID TOO
Sneakers: Target
out & about: photo session in library

Submitted by: Kasey Buick
Photo Credit: Maggie Fortson Photography
Favorite clothing brands: { Small Paul. Anything thrifted with an edge. }

Philosophy on clothing style: { Easy and simple. I love to dress my kids in what their personality is}

Would you like to submit an Out & About? We are now looking for Winter and Spring submissions. Click HERE for details.

We are expecting lots and lots of snow here all day, something we are not used to in Chattanooga.

Taken with my trusty iPhone camera, here are the girls’ outfit for the snow!

Campbell, 23.5 months old

Hat and Coat: Gap Kids

Sweater and Corduroy Pants: Target

Boots: next purchased in Aberdeen, Scotland (hand me down from Gray)

Mittens: not pictured, instead a baby blanket given as a gift.

Gray: 5.5 years old

Hat and Gloves: Gap Kids

Coat: Bebe Jr by Minihaha purchased from b braithwaite Atlanta

Sweater: Target

Pants: crewcuts

Boots: Target

out & about activity: playing in the snow!

Would you like to submit an Out & About? We are now looking for Winter and Spring submissions. Click HERE for details.

Its that time of the year again. It’s hard to believe its the 6th year of our annual holiday tradition of “feet” Christmas cards. It has become quite the tradition.

What started as a 10 minute, simple portrait session, has now turned into a full blown different-destination-each-time-pick-your-clothes-six-months-early-highly-anticipated-published-in-a-photo-magazine-photo-session.

Can we say stress?! Well, to date we have survived each year and although it takes much planning, it has been so worth it.

Things worth noting:

1) It has been SO fun to see our kids grow through the series. We started when Gray was just 6 months old. She is now 5-and-a-half and Campbell turns 2 in January. Tears!

2) The photo destinations! We used to live in Orlando, then we moved to Chattanooga. I am from Charleston, SC, and Asheville, NC, was a random choice. Hmmm, where should we go next?

3) Our photographers! Long time friend, Paul who lives in FL. And wedding clients turned friends, Brandy and Sticky, who we also photograph their session. Both have been so patient with us and lots of fun!

4) Our change in style. Someone told us they noticed the change especially in Garrett’s shoes. Hehehe.

For years people have asked what and where do we buy Gray’s clothes for the session (part of the inspiration for the out & about series on this blog) as well as many of our portrait clients ask where to shop and what to wear for clothes for THEIR holiday family photos. So, in addition to reminiscing over our 6 year card tradition, I will also mention some of the clothes info.

out & about family!

2005 in Winter Park, FL (Photo by Paul Martin)

Graycen’s coat and pants: Gap Kids

Garrett’s jeans: Gap

Garrett’s shoes: Kohl’s

Joy’s pants and shoes: Banana Republic

2006 in Winter Park, FL (Photo by Paul Martin)

Gray’s coat, jeans, and shoes: Gap Kids

Garrett’s shirt: English Laundry

Garrett’s jeans: Diesel

Garrett’s shoes: we can’t remember!?!?!?

Joy’s top: Modern Grace Boutique (College Park in Orlando, FL)

Joy’s jeans: Diesel

Joy’s sandals: Marie-France Boutique (Thornton Park in Orlando, FL)

2007 in Winter Park, FL (Photo by Paul Martin)

(Note: Just came back from visiting Europe: Paris, Aberdeen, and Lake Como, Milan. We had to go shopping!)

Gray’s hat and dress: Bonpoint (Paris, France)

Gray’s shoes and leggings: H&M Kids (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Garrett’s shirt and jeans: Zara

Garrett’s shoes: Bagatt (Milan, Italy)

Joy’s dress: Zara

Joy’s shoes: Bagatt (Milan, Italy)

2008 in Chattanooga, TN (Photo by Brandy and Sticky Rammel)

Gray’s shirt, shorts, tights: Zara Kids

Gray’s shoes: Gap Kids

Garrett’s shirt: 7 Diamonds

Garrett’s jeans: Guess

Garrett’s shoes: Steve Madden

Joy’s maternity dress: due maternity (Buckhead in Atlanta)

Joy’s shoes: Michael Kors from Nordstrom’s

2009 in Charleston, SC (Photo by Brandy and Stick Rammel)

Gray’s dress: bebe children’s boutique (Park Avenue, Winter Park, FL)

Gray’s headband: crewcuts

Gray’s shoes: Gap Kids

Campbell’s dress and sweater: Gap Kids

Campbell’s tights: crewcuts

Campbell’s hair clip and shoes: Pediped shoes, WiggleWorm children’s boutique (Chattanooga, TN)

Garrett’s sweater and blazer: Banana Republic

Garrett’s jeans: Guess

Garrett’s shoes: Robert Wayne

Joy’s dress: Anthropologie

Joy’s sweater: Express

Joy’s shoes: Aldo

Stay tuned for our 2010 photos in Asheville, NC!

A friend recently posted on Facebook, wondering about the length of time and planning required for a holiday portrait session. Garrett responded after a few fun comments so I wanted to include it here below:

You should start in the summer sometime. This is assuming that you update your wardrobe on a somewhat regular basis. Don’t go out specifically looking for holiday picture outfits, or you will be angry and frustrated. Months in advance, keeping in mind the ages/sizes of your children, when the right outfit jumps out at you get it and don’t look back.

You may have to invest more money than you wish. But you will look back on these pictures for your entire life, and when children are young, they change and grow and develop every year. In a portrait, often the subject’s personality is revealed in their outfit as much as it is in their face. In our family (my current immediate family) the holiday picture is a standard by which we look back upon. Of course I realize my perspective is different.

Once you have identified that “it” outfit for whomever is the lucky person, you can begin looking for outfits for the rest of the family that compliment. As a photographer my suggestion is to compliment, not match. People often make this much harder than it really is. If you want the children to stand out, put them in something that will stand out against what the parents are wearing.

Last year I found a great knit dress for Gray when I was working in Orlando. We dressed the rest of us around it and everything came together quite easily. This year was a little bit harder. We had a great dress for Gray from France that we got several months back, but we weren’t  sure if it was the right one for the holiday picture. A few weeks ago in Orlando I found a really chic little dress for Campbell and it compliments Gray’s dress perfectly. It also provides good contrast, so they should photograph well together. Joy and I were a bit harder to outfit, but it’s more about the kids anyway. Of course it’s important to pay attention to shoes and accessories, as they can make a huge difference in making the scene look “finished.”

If you’re struggling try reading magazines. Sad to say, I read Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire on a regular basis. Hey, it’s part of my job…kind of. Vogue Bambini and Milk are also great kids fashion mags. When you look at their editorial shoots you’ll see how easy it really is to coordinate subjects. The obvious constraint is budget, which we all have to consider. It’s easy to go overboard….don’t!

Final suggestion, hire a good, patient photographer who “gets it.”   ;-)

And don’t forget the fabulous giveaway (which ends TONIGHT at midnight ET) from Envelopments here on the blog. All you have to do is comment and you get a chance to win 3 beautiful sets of notecards! Details HERE.

Gray, (5) going to church

Headband: crewcuts, JCrew

Dress: Zara Kids

Tights: H&M Kids

Mary Janes: Gap Kids

Campbell (23 months) going to church

Grey Wool Dress: Bonpoint (hand me down from Gray, purchased in Paris, France)

White Shirt: Zara Kids

Tights: H&M Kids

Flats: H&M Kids

***Would you like to submit an Out & About? We are now looking for Winter submissions. Click HERE for details.

****

And don’t forget the fabulous giveaway from Envelopments here on the blog. All you have to do is comment and you get a chance to win 3 beautiful sets of notecards! Details HERE.

Child’s first name: Rosemary
Age: 11 months
Parent’s first name: Katie and Chris
City & State: Atlanta, Georgia
Outfit in photo(s) comes from which store/brand:
Hat – b braithwaite
Top – Gap Kids
Bloomers - Gap Kids
Tights – Pottery Barn Kids
Shoes – See Kai Run from Gigi’s in Rosemary Beach
Out and about: Fall Festivals and Pumpkin picking
Photo credit and Submitted by: Mommy :)
Favorite clothing brands: for infants my favorite is Tea and Kate Quinn Organics
Philosophy on clothing style: Comfort and stylish. I basically want Rosemary’s clothes to be as cute as Rosemary. Just sweet clothes on my little girl.

Would you like to submit an Out & About? We are now looking for Fall and Winter submissions. Click HERE for details.

Gray, (5) eating out

Hat: Zara Kids

Flamenco tee: crewcuts, J Crew

Brown leggings: Zara Kids

Metallic ballet flats: Gap Kids

Would you like to submit an Out & About? We are now looking for Fall and Winter submissions. Click HERE for details.

Gray, (5) hanging out at our studio downtown

Headband: crewcuts, JCrew

Ballet Shirt: Zara Kids

Skinny Jeans: H&M Kids

Ballet Flats: Gap Kids

Campbell (21 months) posed all on her own!

Eiffel Tower Shirt: crewcuts, JCrew

Polka Dot Leggings: crewcuts, JCrew

Mary Jane Shoes: Gap Kids

Would you like to submit an Out & About? We are now looking for Fall and Winter submissions. Click HERE for details.

This is Gray, our 5 year old daughter in Atlanta Lenox Square Mall at a Kate Spade store.

Headband: Etsy gift

Romper: Target

Ring: Kate Spade, trying it on while she patiently waits for me

Shoes: Gap Kids

These days she is a future: author (literally making books and making up stories)

Would you like to submit an Out & About? We are now looking for Fall and Winter submissions. Click HERE for details.

***Giveaway for a signed copy of Lauren Weisberger’s novel “Last Night at Chateau Marmont” ends tomorrow!

Today’s Out & About is submitted by parents Amanda and Chad from Tennessee.

Maddox is a Future Audio Engineer, Inventor

Maddox is wearing:
White button-up shirt – Gap Kids
Turquoise sweater vest – Children’s Place
Plaid Shorts – Jumping Beans for Kohl’s
Brown Loafers – Gap Kids

Out & About:
Maddox would wear his outfit to church, to a summer wedding, or dinner

Maddox’s dream

Magdalen is a Future Dancer, Singer

Magdalen is wearing:
Dress – Children’s Place
Gold Sandals – Target

Out & About:
Magdalen would wear her outfit anytime – playdate, casual wedding, dinner, picnic, etc

Magdalen’s Dream

Photo Credit: Both photos taken by mom (Amanda)

Thank you Amanda for sending these in!

Also a reminder to enter the Paloma’s Nest Giveaway ends midnight, Tuesday, June 22.

We love featuring children with their own unique sense of style. And we are continually on the lookout for additional Out & About submissions, especially boutique styles. We encourage you to submit your own high-quality self portraits (easy, full length portraits please) of your child/children dressed for school, shopping, parties, church, picnics, and any other adventure they may take. If they fit what we’re looking for, we would love to feature them on our website. Please send an email with links or images attached, as well as the source of their outfit (i.e. Peek Kids, Tea Collection, Zara, Bonpoint, crewcuts, etc.). We will reply to submissions with additional details. (Please note: images of children should only be submitted by their parents). Ready to submit? Details  here.