Hi! Just wanted to share this sneak peak from a super cute at home portrait session. I love the challenges of working in a new space, and playrooms filled with natural light thrill me to the core.
I’m designing a fireplace mantle display with these portraits for the family to enjoy in their new home. Follow along on all the design progress on instagram @courtneystudios
Pandora…aka…Pandy spent a morning with me at the studio. We played a little dress up, busted out the bubbles and who knew it was so much fun knocking down block buildings.
Definite cuteness overload.
The studio is OPEN and the natural light is always perfect regardless of the weather.
First client of 2022 didn’t disappoint. Always fun to collaborate with Allyson aka Therapy Head to create her fun and vibrant new headshots. My downtown Hollywood Natural light studio is the perfect spot for a professional portrait update.
Interested in a brand refresh? Let’s chat.
The January studio newsletter is live! Check it out here!
“It’s the Picture Lady!” One of my favorite things to hear. It’s nice when people are excited to see you. And when those people are the students at Lehrman Community Day School, I know I’m in for a good day! I have been the official photographer at Lehrman Community Day School for the past 5 years. I come in a number of days throughout the school year to create custom imagery for the school’s marketing, PR and fund raising. Which really means I get to hang out with the students. AMAZING!!!! Creating imagery of happy children in their school. I can’t imagine a better way to spend my day.
With summer approaching, I took the time to really look through the photographs I took this year at the school. You can see more from Lehrman here and understand why it’s one of my favorite places.
Early in my career as a Family Photographer in Miami, custom family portrait sessions would be a casual walk around the block in an urban area. Inspired by doorways, benches, brightly colored walls, and textures. Anything that I thought would make for a fun and modern family portrait backdrop. Since opening my brick and mortar family portrait studio in February 2015, most family portrait sessions are in the studio. It was a breath of fresh air to get out of the studio with this fun family. It was a beautiful Hollywood morning and it felt so good to get outside and flex that creative muscle. I love photographing in the studio, however there’s just something about being outside with a family that makes everyone a bit more at ease. Now is such a great time to schedule your custom family portrait session. Let’s collaborate and create family portrait art that is modern, yet classic and timeless.
Thank you Expertise.com for naming Courtney Studios one of the 11 Best Family Photographers in Miami 2018. It’s truly an honor and privilege to continue to serve my community.
Portrait sessions are available through the spring. Call or email the studio today.
Meet Michelle Dempsey. Michelle is President and Founder of Michelle Dempsey Very Well Written. She is an international published author and business consultant. (See her latest piece for Huffington Post) And mom. And superwoman. And she’s pretty badass. No one knows the importance of quality branding images than my friend Michelle. I have had the pleasure of working with Michelle over the past few years, from working on her own professional headshot/branding images to collaborating on the branding imagery of other small businesses. Investing in yourself and your business is key to taking your business to new heights. Truth be told, I’m updating my own professional headshot next week. Stay tuned.
Headshot Brunch is almost sold out. With that, I’ve opened up a new date to accommodate the demand. The second Headshot Brunch is Thursday, October 12 from 10-2. Same times, same place, new date. Headshot Brunch is a mini version of our Complete Branding Photography package. Receive up to 10 edited, high resolution images from a variety of poses, wardrobe options, and expressions that showcase you and your brand in a style that’s fun and professional. The cost is $300. Email or call the studio to reserve your spot today.
One of the main questions I get asked by moms when they book their custom portrait session is, “What should we wear?” I have very few quidelines….#1-don’t all wear the same thing. If you wouldn’t go out to dinner in matching jeans and white shirts, then I don’t think it’s appropriate for your portraits. #2-Color Coordinating is nice. #3-Mama’s you are the most important person in your photo session. Make the session all about YOU. Take those extra steps to make the entire experience positive. Get your hair and makeup done. I can only speak for myself, but I know that when I do those things before a special occasion, I feel much more confident and can walk into an event or portrait session feeling fabulous. And walking into your portrait session already feeling fabulous and attractive lends itself to a much more positive experience. You are going to love the portraits of your kids….they’re your kids….they’re cute…they’re yours. But pictures of ourselves is a whole other animal. As a woman and a photographer that has been capturing families and moms for 9 years, I can tell you this from experience. If you are not happy with the way you look or what you’re wearing, you’re not going to love your family portraits. And isn’t that the point? To love your family portraits?! To love yourself in your family portraits?! Moms, you get so stressed in making sure your kids are adorable in the cutest trendiest fashions, that many times you don’t spend the time on yourself. And as I answer the “What should we wear?” question to moms my #1 answer is this, “You are the most important person in your session. As long as you feel fabulous and attractive everything else will fall in line.”
I have been wanting to create an actual “What to Wear” guide for moms for years. Give moms the actual fashion advice that they ask me for. So hear it is.
The Courtney Studios 2016 Fall Fashion guide.
I’ve been collaborating with the girls at Pretty Please Couture, a woman’s boutique located in Ft. Lauderdale. Not only do Natasha and Kelli have amazing fashion sense, I admire their mompreneur spirit. Pretty Please Couture is a successful business that works around them and their families. According to Natasha and Kelli at Pretty Please Couture here are some of the latest trends for fall that would look GREAT for your fall custom family portrait session.
Shop in their boutique or order from their instagram account. Live locally in Ft. Lauderdale? The girls are known for delivering “Porch Presents”. Personally chosen items for you delivered directly to your door. Only keep what you love.
Statement Jewelry
Stackable bracelets, statement rings…….
I love me a good statement necklace
Maxi Dresses
I tend to love maxi dresses. They are flattering on every body type and height and are perfect for portraits in our Florida Fall. This black dress with gold accents is gorgeous with just enough “edge” and paired with the arm candy you’ll definitely steel the show in your family portraits.
This pattern, color, and fit work all year long here in Florida.
Off the Shoulder
Shoulders are sexy and seem to be all the rage this season. From completely off the shoulder to shoulder cut outs
Well fitting jeans (with or without holes) and a pop of color shoe is always a nice touch.
Jackets
Lightweight jackets make a great accessory. Patches are very on trend this fall along with a more conservative bomber style, and of course you can never go wrong with classic denim. (again with the statement heel)
Booties
Ankle booties are a perfect shoe with all types of outfits in our warmer Florida fall weather.
Happy Birthday Leon! This little guy came into the studio for his first birthday portraits.
A child’s first birthday is a perfect milestone to to capture with a custom portrait session, and the “Signature Sweet 16” is a classic way to display your favorite images from your portrait session. The “Signature Sweet 16” collage is a modern, yet classic portrait display that will withstand the test of time. Starting at a size of 20×20 mounted on the 3/4in black standout mount, it’s super lightweight and comes ready to hang. No frame needed. It’s one of the studio’s most popular products. The collage can also be printed on canvas, wood, or acrylic (my fave!).
May has come and gone in a hurry. We moved into our new house, which in itself is crazy, and now I find myself on Monday of the last week of school. Things have been quiet on the blog and my facebook page as I’ve been distracted getting my family moved and settled into our new digs. I’m still in the studio by appointment only and have lots of great family portrait sessions to share.
In this digital, instant gratification age, I think it’s easy to loose sight of how important and beautiful the printed picture is. I was delivering and installing an amazing 16×20 acrylic standout mount to a client today and I snapped a few pictures with my phone a #bts (behind the scenes) type of thing. A 16×20 isn’t a huge print, but it’s just enough to make a serious statement in the room. This gorgeous custom family portrait belongs to Rachel (below with the hammer), she is the “Ross” of “Ross + Fein Design“. A small boutique interior design firm here in South Florida. This team is also known as the Girls Next Decor. You can get a tiny glimpse of Rachel’s house below, the home is stunning. Warm, inviting, beautiful…and the acrylic standout mount that Rachel chose for her family portrait is the perfect addition to her modern decor. It’s portrait art. And I’m an artist. The beauty of the finished final product should match or exceed the beauty of the portrait. A digital file can’t give you that warm fuzzy feeling each time you walk into a room, and that’s why digital files aren’t my focus. Never have been and never will. Thank you Rachel for trusting my vision, I’m honored and flattered that this piece will hang in your gorgeous new home for years to come.
Looking for some design inspiration in your home? Hit these girls up. They won’t disappoint.
FYI, Thursday is the last day of school. The studio is officially on summer hours, which only means one thing….by appointment only. Going to soak in the summer sun with my kiddos.
“Her work is distinct and holds a special place in our home.”- Marcy Hirsch -
“Courtney's photographs had a huge impact on NCLR and helped us raise over $1 million in December 2014. Her work is beautiful and engaging and shows the central goal of the fight for marriage equality -love."”- Ace Portis, Major Gifts Officer, NCLR -
“Courtney truly captured the uniqueness of our family and created beautiful, original works of art that we will treasure always.”- Darlene Giol -
