Fall Family Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina Family Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

The Carolinas are notorious for feeling like summer when the calendar says it’s fall. The good news is it doesn’t have to feel like fall to look like fall. Just grab a pumpkin spice latte, put on some deep jewel tones like this family, and think cool thoughts! I have found some beautiful little spots to photograph families with hints of Fall foliage and pine. Take a look at this sweet family and their little ones on the move!

What do you love most about a Carolina Fall?

Fall Family Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

While it may not always feel like it here in Charlotte, it’s beginning to look like Fall!. The trees are lush, leaves are beginning to turn and fall underfoot—it’s beautiful!

Speaking of beautiful, can you even handle this family? I have been photographing them from the NICU to milestones and family portraits. They styled their family perfectly for fall family portraits with deep, warmer tones and hints of denim. I love that they’re coordinated, and not too matchy matchy.

What really makes these photos are the radiant smiles and the easygoing energy of these four. Not everyone is super comfortable in front of the camera, but there’s so much beauty in normal, minimally posed family moments. From little kisses to children exploring their surroundings, I love to photograph the essence of a family instead of a cookie cutter posed snapshot that may or may not resemble their true spirit.

Enjoy and capture each season, and print your pictures because time is a thief, y’all!

Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin picking at it’s finest! We took a trip to the pumpkin stand to grab a few pumpkins to carve. This stand is where I found our beautiful pumpkins with muted tones last year. There weren’t as many of those this year, but we were able to find a few to decorate our front porch with.

Scroll through to check out what we didn’t bring home ◡̈ Evan chose something that we just couldn’t bring ourselves to buy. Sometimes if you love something, you let it go… right?! Enjoy!

A New Fall Family Tradition at Sky Top Orchard

Our first annual fall apple picking trip did not disappoint. Sky Top Orchard is nestled just above Flat Rock, North Carolina. The property is HUGE and so are the crowds, but we managed to sneak in right at opening. When we left, the cars were parked and in line for over a mile away from the entrance. We were glad to wake up a little early instead of sitting for hours with a 2 year old!

Here is a little glimpse into a tradition I hope to continue in the years to come! I forgot to photograph the BEST two parts of our apple adventure… the apple cider donuts and the apple cannon!!

Sky Top’s donuts are the most delicious donuts I’ve ever tasted and I have been dreaming about them ever since! I love anything with cinnamon sugar, so of course I had to try a few - or a dozen. Our other favorite part of the day was the apple cannon. It is new this year and I got a few photos on my phone, but didn’t get out the big camera because was a popular attraction with a lot of people around. We got a basket of 20 apples to shoot out of the cannon, and I was the only one out of the three of us to hit a target and earn an extra apple to shoot. Girl power!

We are into traditions that we can share with Evan, and this is one fall experience that I’d love to repeat next year. There is so much to do at the orchard, which makes Sky Top a perfect day trip with a toddler. What a fun way to kick off fall!

Three Reasons to Book a Mini Session | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

There are so many options when it comes to booking a photography session. Some things that factor into your choices are timing, finances, weather, utilization of the images. The list goes on. One great opportunity for both photographers and families is booking mini sessions. There are a number of reasons to choose to book a mini session, but below are three main reasons many families choose to book this particular type of session.

Mini sessions can be a great opportunity to try on your photographer for fit without a huge commitment. You want to ensure you and the photographer are comfortable with one another—if not, the discomfort can lead to images that aren’t of great quality photos that simply don’t feel genuine.

Once you’ve determined the relationship between yourself and your photographer, you will want to examine your budget. If finances are a little tight but you really want to prioritize photos, you can book a mini session, which is typically a less expensive option. Photographers tend to book back-to-back sessions in order to accomodate more families on a particular day. The session will be shorter (around 15 to 30 minutes) and usually does not allow for outfit changes. So they are quick and painless!

Finally, sometimes you’re just not looking for an abundance of images. You may even have a very specific image (e.g., special announcement, Christmas card, pregnancy announcement) that you are looking to capture and you don’t need a gallery of 100+ images. These special situations lend themselves perfectly to mini sessions because they usually yield fewer images in the final gallery.

This sweet girl definitely made the most of her mini session! What kinds of mini sessions would you like to see from me this year?! I have a few ideas in mind but I want to hear from you!

Valentine's Day Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina Newborn Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Charlotte, North Carolina has been upping their art game over the past decade! I love seeing new murals popping up around the city… and of course I love it even more if it’s easy to get to and as beautiful as Evelyn Henson’s Confetti Hearts Wall in South End - and it doesn’t hurt when it’s beside Jeni’s!

I had blast photographing families, couples, and children last year for my first annual Valentine’s Heart Wall portraits! I couldn’t let this year go by without taking the opportunity to have new families strike a pose in front of this wall.

Evan was my first subject and he didn’t disappoint! I got some cute smiles and he had fun standing on the red box! Each year, I try to keep these sessions simple, without a lot of props. I don’t want to distract from the heart wall’s fun colors and design, or from you!

Comment below and tell me your favorite images from this year’s sessions!

2020 Valentine’s Day Portraits

Confetti Hearts Wall

1930 Camden Rd, Charlotte, NC 28203

Erika | Indoor Studio Maternity Session | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

Photographers have an eye for beauty in all things, but sometimes we come across a really easy subject. Not only is Erika a sweet, bubbly, pure ray of light with a big laugh to match that radiant smile you see in these photos, but she is also quite the model. She makes pregnancy look stylish, with such an element of comfort—I’m not talking about the messy bun and sweatpants kind of comfort, but an apparent ease. Do you get my drift?

Her indoor studio images are some of my favorites, as I was able to really focus on capturing her belly. She was about 30 weeks which is what I recommend for maternity photos, as many women have a prominent bump by this point, and comfort and mobility aren’t yet compromised. I want mamas to be as comfortable as possible because that is how we have a great session that leads to cohesive galleries with a lot of images!

One thing that adds to beautiful photos is the wardrobe. Erika had everything from a Calvin Klein bra and panty set to a body con turtleneck dress. The black dress really emphasized her silhouette, while the Calvin Klein set allowed for a fun, relaxed moment to bare her beautiful bump. Finally, her chunky, neutral knit created a casual, lifestyle-type photo opportunity—just her and her little one enjoying some quality time. With only three outfit changes, this gallery has such a diversity in the tone of the images. I aim to diversify your sessions, and I want you to end up with images that don’t all feel like they’re the same.

What is your favorite type of maternity session? Do you prefer indoor or outdoor? Long gowns flowing in the wind or a more casual look? How about family or purely the bump?

Three Ways to Celebrate Valentine's Day with a Toddler | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

Toddlers make all of the littlest holidays so much fun! If you’re at a loss for how to celebrate upcoming Valentine’s Day with your little one, I have a few ideas!

Crafts are always fun. Kids love scissors, glue, paint, stickers, and sparkles, of course! Depending on the level of messiness, I mean independence, you can do anything from assisting your child with turning their hand or prints into heart-shaped Valentines to putting some of their favorite treats in goody bags with personalized labels. For example, ‘You are the apple of my eye’ or ‘Orange you glad we are friends?’ Valentine’s Day treats don’t always have to be candy!

If crafts aren’t your thing (you can find the cutest store-bought Valentines at Target, Michael’s, and Hobby Lobby these days), you can still celebrate Valentine’s Day by doing some fun activities around the house. One thing you can do is create a list of people (friends and family) and have your toddler say one thing they love about each person and then write it on the list. The answers are typically both heartwarming and hilarious.

Personalized gifts are my favorite because it gives you a memento to look back on as your children grow. Creating valentines with your child’s face and a little ode to their personality is always a great option. In South End Charlotte, there is a Confetti Hearts Wall mural created to enhance the beauty of Charlotte and to create more joy. Who doesn’t want to spread love, joy, and kindness during Valentine’s Day? You can head over and take a peek at some of my previous Valentine’s Day sessions! I’ll be sharing the ones from this year soon!

What are your favorite Valentine’s Day activities to do with toddlers?

Peach Blossom Mini Sessions | Fort Mill, South Carolina | Charlotte Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Just a few favorites from this year’s Peach Blossom Mini sessions! These took place at a peach orchard in Fort Mill, South Carolina - the perfect location for dreamy spring photos. This was my first year out in the orchards and I was not disappointed! Everyone loved the beautiful pink blooms and the kids all had fun running around between the trees. Children love a location like this because they can go explore and I love locations like this because it allows for some fun candid photos. What are your favorite images below?

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Valentine's Day Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina Family Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

What a fun start to 2019! Since I am slowing down a bit this year to spend time with Evan, I decided to offer Valentine’s Day mini sessions this year. I thought about offering various mini sessions throughout the year because I can choose the dates, which gives me a little more flexibility in my schedule. I have never offered mini sessions, but these were a complete success!

The reason these turned out so cute is thanks to Evelyn Henson! I don’t even remember where I saw her Confetti Hearts Wall for the first time, but I knew at that moment that I had to chose it as the backdrop for Valentine’s sessions. It is a 40ft wall with beautiful colorful hearts and phrases, and it was finished just in time for this event! I would love to see more public art like this around Charlotte, so make sure you follow Evelyn, visit the mural, and tag #confettiheartswall. The more excited we get about these, the more likely they are to start popping up around our communities.

I have so many favorites from each session that I wanted to share, so it was very hard to narrow it down. These sessions made for some fun family photos, mother-daughter photos, and sibling photos! Take a look at my favorites from each session below, and comment with your favorite!

Valentine’s Day Mini Sessions

Confetti Hearts Wall

“I love you more than I have ever found a way to say to you.” - Ben Folds

“I may not say much when I am with you, but all of me loves you all the time.” - Richard Nixon

“To love another person is to see the face of God.” - Les Miserables

“A hundred hearts would be too few. To carry all my love for you.”

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope." - Maya Angelou 

"I love you more than yesterday, but less than tomorrow."

“There is only one happiness in life: to love and be loved.” - George Sand

“Your flaws are perfect for the heart that’s meant to love you.” - Trent Shelton

Savannah Sitter Session | Charlotte, NC Baby Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Audrey hit the streets of Savannah, Georgia for her sitter session. We strolled along the beautiful streets near the picturesque squares full of gorgeous greenery, landscaping, and architecture. Even in the hustle and bustle of busy Saturday morning crowds, we were able to capture some beautiful images of Audrey. The perfectly manicured parks, trolleys, horse-drawn carriages, and spanish moss make Savannah, Georgia a dream location for a photographer!

Family of Three | Ballantyne, North Carolina | Charlotte Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

I met up with this sweet family of three in the park in Ballantyne, North Carolina. Looking at these photos, you’d never know that we were in the middle of a corporate park. This has been one of my favorite locations for a few years now, and I’m so glad I found it. It’s beautiful, convenient, and has so many great settings within a relatively small space. Once the leaves start changing, it’s the ideal place for a fall family session!

This family styled their session perfectly for the fall weather, even though the leaves haven’t truly started changing. The navy and blue palette is the perfect combination for this fun outdoor family session. Everyone looked comfortable and casual, and we had a great time making these beautiful images together. The lighting was perfect and I couldn’t have asked for a better family to photograph!

Shirley Family | Fall Special 2016 | Charlotte, North Carolina Family Photographer | Krista Gantt Photography

Meet this sweet family of 4!  I was so grateful for the opportunity to photograph this family again this year.  I met Ashley in nursing school and later found out that we were both from the same hometown!  She allowed me to photograph her family last year at Glencairn Gardens in Rock Hill, South Carolina.  This year I met up with them at Falls Park in Greenville, South Carolina when I was in town visiting a friend.  Their boys have grown so much - a lot can happen in a year!  Take a look at this beautiful family and make sure to check out the surroundings.  This park is the perfect location for a fall family session!

Fall Special 2016 Booking is OPEN!!

The Krista Gantt Photography Fall Special 2016 is now open for booking!   Summer has come and fall is on its way!  You may have heard by now that I'm offering a *special* this fall!   

Dates, times, and locations are limited and are based on availability.  For family sessions, I'll photograph up to 5 people.  Additional family members are $25 per person.  Seniors, couples, and children are also welcome to jump in on this special!  

These fall portrait sessions are in addition to my regular newborn sessions and full time work as a nurse.  Therefore, I decided to go all digital and not include prints in the package.  This provides more flexibility and enables clients to add on additional items if desired.

Well, what are you waiting for?!  If you're ready, I'm ready!  Don't wait because based on the feedback I've been getting, these sessions will sell out.  This offer may not happen again, so check your calendars and book your session today! 

click here to book a fall session now!

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Locations

Each location has different settings and little hidden surprises, but they all photograph beautifully in the fall!  You really can't go wrong!

Glencairn Garden

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Mint Museum Randolph

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Jetton Park

COMPLIMENTARY MATERNITY SESSIONS

Want to take advantage of the complimentary maternity sessions but you're not sure how you feel about showing off your belly? Take a look at these! Maternity sessions can be fun and as laid back as you'd like! You choose the outfit that makes you feel most comfortable, and I'll do the rest! What is there to lose? If this is your first baby, these may be your last photos as a family of 2...