Category Archives: In-studio

Silly, Serious, and Sassy

Little people have such Big Personalities and I try to capture the whole range. I make it my business to make them laugh because laughing photos are glorious and you may not have any. But their serious side (or relaxing pose) is also precious, and this may be hard to capture because kids are so used to fake smiling when you turn the camera on them. No fake smiles here! (My assistant was working hard to entertain them and it shows). Also, when you allow kids enough time to just hang out and be themselves, you get unexpected gems like a little girl playing with her hair and looking like the model for Vogue.

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The Artist As Art

Truth be told, she didn’t really want to do this (her boyfriend did!) She’s camera shy and is used to making art, not being the subject of it. But the images are all the more powerful, and meaningful, because she has helped me to create art that at once shows her personality and the personality of her work. There are many authentic ways to portray the same person, and even if the expressions are remarkably similar, the background and context radically transform the aesthetic and the experience of that person. That’s what I love to do! As for Ava, she is a brilliant painter. Her work is intense and pulsating, full of color, life, and depth, just as she is. To see more of the same and consider livening up your home with one of these beauties, check out her site: http://avasharifian.com/

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The Dream Team

A photographer’s dream: two sweet beautiful kids modeling the art of fun!

You’ll see a lot of laughing in my images. And happy smiles. I really make it my business to make your kids laugh. And also you. It helps lighten the mood and everyone loosens up. Plus, there’s nothing cuter than expressions of pure glee, and I want you to remember these moments for ever and ever. And to look at these pictures when you’re feeling sad, or in difficult moments of parenting, or when your children are all grown up. You will treasure these. I promise.

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Little Darlings

So cute with their big eyes, big yawns, and big wiggles. Children are the greatest gift! The next greatest gift is pictures of them that you will look at over and over and cherish for a lifetime. Give a friend or loved one a Valentine’s Day gift certificate. www.ninamillerstudio.com

Valentine’s Day Special!

This is the first time I’ve offered mini-sessions. You’ve been asking for a scaled-down version of our basic photo package and it’s now here. 67% off the Silver Portfolio and only $250. Grab it while you can because these are going to go fast. Details are here

Sweet Candy Girl! The greatest Valentine’s Day gift of all.

Tattoo boy!

Only three days old and wide awake, nice and cozy in her flower-petal Valentine’s blanket. Don’t forget to book early for your Valentine’s Day session. Space is limited!

Capture your little artist creating a Valentine’s Day masterpiece!

Heart People. Boy loves Girl.

Teenage Siblings

You’d think they’d be killing each other, or at least trying not to get too close, but these two were starts—born models. They were so cooperative that I almost wanted to see how far I could push it, “Would you two please stand on your heads now, and then hold hands?” But I kept things comfortable and easy with poses that wouldn’t make them squirm. I can never resist asking one to tickle the other, so I did try that—it always produces interesting results, and it’s pretty cute here.

Per my post below, I usually evaluate at my subject before snapping the shutter to determine if the photograph will work best in black and white or color, and I sometimes know right from the outset. Other times it becomes clear when I look at the image straight out of the camera. If it meets my criteria for a good black and white image—strong lines, good tonal contrast,etc.—I will go right to black and white before I start the retouching and enhancing process. In rare cases, the images work equally well in both mode, and I found that to be the case here, so I am presenting both.

Smiling Ballerina

This little girl was a ham. Mischievous, hiding, not doing a thing that mommy asked. But that’s really okay. We want happy kids, even if I have to chase them around and do goofy things. Most of all I want to catch them being themselves, in all their silliness or rambunctiousness. Which is almost always better than sulky kids who are less likely to smile, play, and give hugs after they’ve been reprimanded. So I just let the sessions flow, and even the most rebellious and uncooperative kids find their way into endearing and sweet images.

Boy or Girl? Trick question! Who gets red?

This mama posted the first picture here to Facebook to announce her baby. Within minutes she had ten posts oohing and cooing—but something was wrong. She had kept the gender a secret—even from herself— and had not announced the birth itself on Facebook. So many friends and acquaintances were learning that baby had been welcomed into the world from this post. She did not give full details in the post—simply a picture— leading people to guess on their own whether it was a boy or girl. Someone noting the red background assumed it was a girl and took liberties to post “congratulations on your girl!” which led to many similar comments until someone finally corrected everyone. This fabric has an Indian flair and I thought it was gender neutral. It never fails to surprise me how strongly color is associated with gender and how strict the conventions are. It may, then, surprise you that red used to be identified as a male color—seen as aggressive, strong, fierce, bold—and blue was for women–cool, serene, demeure, calm, dainty. And so it followed that pink was for little boys, and light blue for girls.

“There has been a great diversity of opinion on the subject, but the generally accepted rule is pink for the boy and blue for the girl. The reason is that pink being a more decided and stronger color is more suitable for the boy, while blue, which is more delicate and dainty, is prettier for the girl.” [Ladies Home Journal, June, 1918]

The current pink for girls and blue for boys wasn’t uniform until the 1950′s.