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.

I hope you had a fantastic Christmas with loved ones.

We had the best Christmas ever. Why? It snowed the entire weekend here and it was the first white Christmas for our whole family. I never thought I could get so excited about snow consistently falling on my favorite holiday. We also took the week off from work and I have to say it was one of the best things we have done for our family. Its been one busy wedding and portrait season and we wanted to really celebrate Christmas and spend quality time with our girls and this was truly so memorable.

Christmas cards have been sent off and here are the results of our 2010 Holiday Portraits. How appropriate for an out & about :)

Gray’s dress: Bonpoint

Gray’s scarf: Bonpoint

Gray’s headband: crewcuts

Gray’s shoes: Kid Express at n2 shoes in Chattanooga

Campbell’s dress: Zara Kids

Campbell’s tights: H&M Kids

Campbell’s shoes: Gap Kids

Garrett’s shirt and sweater: Ted Baker

Garrett’s jeans: Zara

Garrett’s shoes: Baggat from Milan, Italy

Joy’s dress: Banana Republic

Joy’s sweater: J.Crew

Joy’s headband: J.Crew

Joy’s shoes: Banana Republic

Joy’s tights: Kate Spade

Location: Asheville, NC (Photos by Brandy & Sticky Rammel)

Child’s first name: Althea
Age: 1
Parent’s first name: Seth and Jordanne
State & Country: Ohio
Outfit in photo(s) comes from:
Moto jacket: Gap Kids
Striped shirt: ASOS Kids
Black skinny jeans: Gap Kids
Shoes Crazy8
Headband: Claire’s…which i tore it off of a different headband and attached it to a stretchy band for a kid friendly fit!!
out & about activity: holiday portrait session
Photo submitted by: Jordanne
Photo credit: Brandy J
Favorite clothing brands: gap, target, and we cant wait to fit into crewcuts!! :)
Philosophy on clothing style: I love finding different pieces in boutiques, stores and online then combining them to create a whole different look! I love for althea to look like a little girl but also have the style of a grown up little fashionista!! :)

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.

Child’s first name: Josie
Age: 3, will be 4 in January
Parent’s first name: Chuck and Mel
City & State: Cincinnati, OH

Outfit in photo(s) comes from:
Jean Jacket: H&M Kids
Shirt: H&M Kids
Tie: Handmade by Aunt Brandy
Skirt: crewcuts
Tights: H&M Kids
Shoes: Sam & Libby purchased at Endless
Out and about: photo session and preschool
Photo credit and Submitted by: Aunt Brandy J

Favorite clothing brands:  Children’s Place, Old Navy, Target, and The Gap
Philosophy on clothing style:  To be completely honest lately my philosophy on clothes, is whatever is clean ;)!! and the fact that I am so tired of pink and purple for girls.

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

Gray, (5) welcomes October and this new season!

Headband: crewcuts, JCrew

Dress: Baby Sara from Gigi’s in Rosemary Beach, FL

Cardigan: crewcuts, JCrew

Knee high socks: H& M Kids

Shoes: Gap Kids

She chose the outfit herself to wear while she played with sidewalk chalk outside.

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

This past weekend, my friend Amanda and I went to Atlanta for some much needed girl time. It was wonderful to go to the spa, fun shopping, deep conversations, and eat great food.  We thank our husbands for supporting us and having patience while they watch our kids.

While I was away, Garrett decided to take our girls to a polo match at a farm near Chattanooga. And dressed them up for the occasion…

Gray, (5)

Hat: Zara Kids

Scarf: Bonpoint

Shirt: Zara Kids

Bubble Shorts: Zara Kids

These days she is a future: storyteller

Campbell (20 months)

Long sleeve shirt: crewcuts of J. Crew

Shorts: Target

Shoes: Pediped

These days she is a future: just like her sister Gray

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

Child’s Name: Cain (2.5)
Parent’s Name: Renee and Rusty Metty
Home Location: Seattle, WA
Out & About – just hanging out – errands and the park
Full Outfit Information. Shirt – Marshalls/Ralph Lauren
Shorts – Gap
Flip flops – Old Navy
Cain is a future: Pediatrician – loves babies and very nurturing
Photo Credit: Renee Metty of The Cove School

Cain’s Dream

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

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. 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.

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!