Why you need fine art portraits of your kids

As parents, it’s easy to get caught up in the hustle of daily life – school runs, playdates, and endless to-do lists. But amidst all the chaos, your child is growing and changing faster than you realize. Capturing those fleeting moments through fine art portraits is more than just a photo session; it’s a way to freeze time and preserve the little expressions, milestones, and quirks that make your child unique.

Whether it’s a gap-toothed smile, infectious laughter, an arm full of temporary tattoos or a more quiet sparkle of curiosity in their eyes, a child’s portrait becomes a treasured memory you’ll look back on for years to come.

What is a fine art portrait?

Fine art portraits are a modern approach to studio photos of children. They’re meant to bring out the true personalities of the children being photographed. I use a “less is more” mindset to create portraits that are true to the child on the other side of the lens. This results in images that are natural, classic and soulful.

Sometimes the children smile, sometimes they laugh, sometimes they are deep in thought. Whatever images I create for your family, my promise is to make sure they’re authentic and emotive.

I have shot these portraits with both black backgrounds and white backgrounds. I like the simplicity of these backdrops, and I think they also convert the best to black and white photos.

Three reasons you will love these portraits

They’re natural, classic and soulful

I have photographed hundreds of children by this point in my career, both for family sessions and in my role as a preschool photographer, and one thing I can say with certainty is that I can spot a fake smile a mile away. There’s this thing that happens with people sometimes where as soon as a camera is in their face, they have a default “camera smile” that is different from their natural smile.

What I love about fine art portraits is that the format allows us a chance to really get past those fake smiles and get the good, genuine joy and curiosity that all kids have.

They will never go out of style

These images reflect each child’s natural expressions and personality, and when you couple that with a simple, classic set-up, you get a magical combination of factors that lead to straightforward, classic portraits.

Because Fine Art Portraits are no-fuss and shot and edited with a true-to-life style, they will for sure stand the test of time and will be images parents want to display in their homes for years to come.

They’re fun!

A fine art portrait session isn’t just about capturing beautiful images – it can also be a fun and memorable experience for your kids. Unlike traditional studio sessions, these shoots are always creative and playful, allowing children to express their personalities in unique ways.

Kids get to feel like the stars of their own little adventure. The relaxed artistic approach helps them feel comfortable and engaged, turning the session into an enjoyable activity rather than a chore. Plus, the end result is not just a photo, but a timeless piece of art that celebrates their individuality.

Let’s make some art!

You can sign up for a session for your child at this link.

Also, if you are a preschool or have children in preschool and are looking for a new photographer, you can direct your school leaders to my preschool portrait page for more information about having these photos taken at your school.

Why you need fine art portraits of your kids

Erica Hurlburt is an award winning Ventura County Photographer & Santa Barbara Family Photographer who specializes in newborn, family and school photography. Her style tends toward cleaner, classic images, both in how they’re composed and edited. Her goal in every session is to keep things relaxed and fun and to create images that are both meaningful and unique.

Erica serves clients in Camarillo, Ventura County, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks, Westlake,
Malibu, Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, Ojai and beyond.