Zoe's Outtakes

I love to show outtakes from fun kid photo shoots. Sometimes, to get beautiful, soft pictures like the ones on my website, this (Zoe is the first image in Kids - Studio), we have to do some silly things to get there!

At M. Larson Photo, kids are encouraged to play, make jokes, make funny faces, talk to me and when the time is right, goof off! In between all the fun, I get portraits of their unguarded moments.

More Pics from the Winter

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to share a few more pictures from a wonderful photo shoot I did with a young woman back in February. We were having so much fun during this shoot that we both lost track of time and ended up working together for hours! I guess that's a good reminder of why I dedicate a full day to one shoot only - just in case! There were so many pictures to choose from in the end, but I thought I'd share a few of the artsier choices. Enjoy!

M.

This first one was taken on a "new" vintage camera of mine. I quite like the way it turned out but it would not be the same after a while - so I sold the camera on Ebay and now this photo is the only one of mine that can have this look!

Crawling is fun

Oh Boy! This little guy could crawl like you would not believe. In the last frame, you can see he is about to crawl right out of the studio! Mom and I certainly got our exercise by chasing him, picking him up, and taking him back to the "starting line" over and over again. But, it was a lot of fun for all of us.

Every baby crawls at a different age and it may happen quickly! It's always a great time to bring them in for a new photo shoot to document this brief stage in their development. They have that look of the first taste of freedom that comes from being able to go where they want!

Best,
Martha
M. Larson Photography

Happy Birthday to me!

In the spirit of showing some old photos this week, I thought I'd share one of my own. Besides, it's my birthday and I can post if I want to!

This shot of me, with such a baby face, was from early 2001 and was taken during my first ever maternity shoot. I was so absorbed in my work that a friend and fellow photographer caught me unaware and took MY picture! It will always be one of my favorites because every time I look at it I realize how far I have come from a 23 year old learning my craft (with film!) to the photographer I am today.

I would like to say a big "THANK YOU" to everyone who has helped me along this journey and been so supportive in helping me achieve my dreams.

Featured in Red Tricycle!

Big news for M. Larson Photography today - we are being featured in a Red Tricycle Dedicated email! This email will go out to Red Tricycle's subscribers in the Seattle area and is all about my Vintage Photography for children and maternity portraiture.

In case you can't read the text, I have copied it for you here:

What is it about a vintage photo that evokes such strong emotion? The small, square silvery silhouette that offers a glimpse of days gone by is a treasured reminder of your family, your history, your heritage.

Wouldn't it be cool to capture your own family in that same dramatic, retro style? Seattle photographer Martha Larson fell in love with vintage photos from the 1940s and 1950s and began offering vintage portraits as part of her children and maternity photography business. The response from clients has been overwhelming and vintage has now become the biggest request of new clients. As you scroll through the photographer's beautiful, haunting gallery of vintage portraits, you can see why clients adore Larson’s artsy, modern-meets-retro approach.

Larson is clear to point out that this is not a Photoshop technique (though she can edit and enhance the shots post-production) -- she actually shoots with vintage 40s and 50s cameras, authentically reproducing the look and feel of early and mid-century photos.

Currently the only photographer in Seattle utilizing this iconic style, Larson shoots vintage primarily with pregnant women, couples and children and always shoots digital alongside (though 9 times out of 10 clients favor the old school shots). Who says nostalgia isn’t what it used to be?

Vintage Inspiration

We all have photographs of our parents or grandparents that we love. That's why I knew I had to use a new way to bring vintage style to children's portraiture in 2008. I use some of the same beautiful cameras from the 1940s and 50s; with a twist into today's modern photography.


I used to dig through boxes of old family photos and pull out my favorites. These are from my parents' childhood circa ~1946. There is so much nostalgia and emotion wrapped up in vintage images. For my parents, they are memories, and for me they are glimpses into the past.

I have found my favorite way to create modern kids portraits that allow us to feel that emotion now, about the photographs of our own kids, in 2008! You can see a lot more on my website at M. Larson Photo.

Copyright 2008, M. Larson Photography