Recently, I had the pleasure of creating family portraits for Dannielle and her children. They had a wonderful day together, and they returned about a week later for their Print Reveal Session.
Family Portraits for Dannielle, Eliot & Chloe
A Three-Generation Portrait Experience
Lisa brought her beautiful family to the studio for a three-generation portrait experience. A couple of months before their session, we began by creating a mood board, deciding on the overall looks for their portraits, and choosing outfits from casual to dressy. On the day of their session, Lisa, her mother and daughter enjoyed professional hair and makeup styling. Later, Lisa’s son joined the session. I loved working with them!
Hair and makeup styling by Melissa Hanson
Fifteen New Bronze Awards
I am proud to announce that fifteen of my portraits each won a bronze award in the International Portrait Masters Awards competition & accreditation program. More than 8,600 images were submitted from around the world and were judged anonymously by eleven internationally renowned photographers.
I am working towards an international accreditation as a Portrait Masters Associate Photographer. This process is another way I can continue to grow. The judging criteria involves not only the technical aspects of a portrait, but the emotional aspects as well.
Thank you to everyone who trusts me to create portraits for you!
Bronze in Children’s Portraiture: Portrait of Luc
Bronze in Family Portraiture: Amy and Molly
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Hanna
Bronze in Children’s Portraiture: Everett in Swim Goggles
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Katie
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Melissa
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Sarah
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Tom
Bronze in Family Portraiture: Patricia and Daughters
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Katie II
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Sarah II
Bronze in Family Portraiture: Brother and Sister
Bronze in Children’s Portraiture: Everett
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Mandie in Paris
Bronze in Contemporary Portraiture: Susan
Book a Portrait Session for Mother’s Day
Mother’s Day 2019 is Sunday, May 12. I currently have availability in April. If you’re interested in a mother/child or three/four generations portrait session before Mother’s Day, please email me (maundy@maundymitchell.com) to schedule a consultation and book your session. I’d love to photograph you.
A Mother & Son Celebration
“I booked my portrait session after seeing Maundy’s beautiful photographs of many people I recognized. She brought out the extraordinary in each of them. I wanted to treat myself to a celebration of my independence. I also wanted to mark the accomplishment of my son achieving his Junior first degree black belt in Uechi Ryu karate from White Mountain Karate. It is fun to be pampered and elegant, royalty for a day and every day that I gaze upon these images. Maundy’s portraits capture beauty, poise and confidence. We are all worthy.” –– Kim Shansby Currell
The Birthday Present A Three-Generation Photo Session
Last fall, a gift certificate changed hands as a birthday present. George gave it to his wife Jennifer. Jennifer met with me to talk about what kinds of portraits we would create. Like always, I ran down the options with her. She could do the photo session on her own; or she could share the experience with her family. In this case, the family included her husband, her son, her daughter-in-law, and the grand-kids. She did not hesitate. She chose to do a three-generation portrait session.
Over the next two months, we created a mood board together. Jenny brought her daughter-in-law, Katie, to the studio to try on dresses. Those two wanted glamorous looks. Katie also wanted fashion-inspired work. Her daughter to wear a fancy dress; the guys just wanted to go casual. They all wanted casual outfits for the family portraits.
On the day of their session, Jenny and Katie arrived first for professional hair and makeup. Jenny’s husband George, their son Nick and the grandkids arrived later in the day. It was a beautiful day, and they all had fun as I photographed them individually, and then together.
Hair & makeup by Melissa Hanson
Jenny and her family returned to the studio about ten days after their session to see their finished portraits on the wall for the first time, and to choose the ones they love. Now they have heirloom portraits that each generation will cherish.
One Year Later Family Portraits for Amy, Paul, and Molly
Amy, Paul and Molly returned to my studio this year for family photos. As Amy noted, the changes from newborn to one-year-old are mind-boggling. (Here are some of their portraits from just a year ago! https://maundymitchell.com/a-newborn-portrait-session/)
We tend to spend our first year as parents so intensely focused on baby that we can lose our sense of individuality. It’s a hard balance. This year, I suggested that both Amy and Paul allow me to create individual portraits of them, in addition to portraits of Molly, and portraits of the whole family.
Hair & makeup by Melissa Hanson
Amy, before and after styling: The portrait experience includes professional hair and makeup styling. It’s a relaxing treat, and there is often a shift in energy–in confidence–when you feel special. 
Family Portraits on Black Friday
Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, is a day for shopping craziness in the U.S. Commercials make us think we’re supposed to get up before dawn, stand in lines, and rush and grab and shop the entire day. Patricia and Bob weren’t having any of that! They decided to spend their day in a way that was more meaningful to them with a family portrait experience.
Four years ago, I got to photograph the youngest girls in this family. This time, I got to photograph everyone.
Patricia, Mina, and Josey arrived first for professional hair and makeup styling.
Hair & makeup by Melissa Hanson
The word that comes to mind when I think of Mina is “grace.” She has a simple elegance and quiet confidence. Since this was the second time I got to photograph her, I loved seeing how she has changed, and also how she hasn’t.
Josey might be a world leader one day. She shared her many sides with me during the portrait session. This is how I know that whatever she decides to do, she will do it with kindness.
Tristan and Alexa had the time off from college. They arrived with Bob later in the day for casual portraits.
“Our portrait session with Maundy was an experience my girls and I will always treasure. We spent the day together feeling and looking our best, focusing on each other. Maundy is truly exceptional; professional from beginning to end, easy to work with, kind and patient… She knew how to bring out the best in each of us and how to capture the relationships between us. We love all the pictures!” – Patricia
Family Portraits for Sarah & Sam
Sarah and I met through the Circle Program, a local organization that provides girls from low-income New Hampshire families with new opportunities to learn the skills, courage and confidence through mentoring and a summer camp program. Sarah was serving on the Board of Directors, and I was a volunteer mentor when we began talking about a family portrait session.
Sarah, her husband Sam, and their two boys had had photo sessions outside, but hadn’t had a studio portrait session. We created a mood board. From there, I designed an experience just for them. Sarah also realized that she could have headshots for her business and LinkedIn. On the day of their session, Sarah arrived first for the treat of professional hair and makeup styling. We then created headshots and portraits for her, from casual to more formal. Sam and the boys arrived later for their own individual and family portraits.
This family brought lots of energy and love to the studio and I enjoyed every minute with them. On the day of their Print Reveal Session, Sarah and Sam loved every portrait on the wall. They left the studio with a beautiful collection. Here are their favorites:
Hair & makeup by Donna Cotnoir
Family Portraits for Cindy and Dave
Cindy and I met when she took my photo! I was attending a local fundraiser and she was standing nearby when I had asked if she would mind taking a quick cell photo of me and my friends. Afterward, we chatted a bit. Turns out, she loves photography–and crocheting (not the old-fashioned kind, but the super-creative, funky kind), and so many other things. She has a great blog, http://northeastmama.com.
A few weeks later, I got to meet Cindy’s husband, Dave, when he came to the studio for updated headshots. After his session, he told Cindy they should do a family portrait session. They could get individual and family portraits, and Cindy could use some of them for her blog.
Cindy admitted that she was a bit nervous when she arrived at the studio. She had never had professional portraits. To her surprise, it was fun, and the kids did great. After their Print Reveal Session, she said, “Sometimes you have to take a deep breath and step outside your comfort zone. Other times, you need to be pushed. Thank you, Maundy, for the amazing photos and life-changing experience.”
