Lesley & Jason's E-Session

I met up with Lesley and Jason a few weeks ago to discuss their engagement session. On the contact form on my website, Lesley said that she met Jason on an airplane. I was curious to know more and asked when we met in person. Last year Lesley and Jason both took a flight out to Vegas. They noticed each other on the flight out to Vegas, but didn’t engage in conversation. Coincidentally, they had the same flight back to Orlando! Seeing as is it a long flight, they started chatting and really hit it off. How cool is that to meet on an airplane?!

We got to talking about E-Session locations and they were interested in a place that had beautiful landscape and water. I was very excited when they decided on Leu Gardens! Harry P. Leu Gardens is located in Orlando and has over 50 acres of southern styled gardens.

I suggest to my clients to bring a few different outfits to their E-Session. Lesley started off in an adorable blue dress that matched Jason’s shirt. He also wore his cowboy boots and brought his hat! Jason is originally from Iowa and grew up on a farm, so he’s an authentic cowboy.

It was a very hot day and I suggested to Lesley and Jason an hour into the session to change their outfits. It was time for Lesley to bring out her boots!

I hope Lesley and Jason had as much fun as I did. Congratulations!













Amy Van Epps Photography
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What is custom photography?

Custom photography isn't necessarily for everyone, I'll be honest. Some people don't understand it or appreciate it.

So what makes me different from the portrait studio in the big box and department stores? I have over 10 years of experience and I take pride in my customer service. I think it is very important to meet up with my potential clients. I want to learn more about your special day and what exactly you are looking for. This is a perfect opportunity for you to ask my any questions and see if we are a good match. I believe there should be a level of comfort and chemistry with the clients and the photographer. Amy Van Epps Photography offers many different types of photography services. I am available for engagements, weddings, maternity, senior portraits, babies, events, and birth photography.

I offer many different products for my clients such as professionally printed portraits, albums, gallery wraps, signature mats, and other products. My portraits are printed from one of the best labs in the country. They are archival and will last at least 100 years. I do include high resolution disc of digital negatives with my engagement, wedding, and headshot packages. I am trying to slowly ease away from offering discs with all packages and transition into portraits. Why? I care about quality. With a disc of images you can simply go to a photo kiosk, photo center, and big box stores where you can get your images printed. I really have no idea about their quality or archival life. Or how old the ink and paper is. Is their monitor calibrated to their printer? Do they offer more than than glossy and matte finish? Frankly, the quality does not compare to a professional lab. I want the best for my clients.

Big box/department store portrait studios have tight schedules and they are trying to get as many customers as they can in and out of their doors in the shortest amount of time. I want my clients to have a great experience and not feel rushed. That is why my shortest session is an hour.

Some people only want cheap photography, photographs, or a photographer. When it comes to custom photography the last thing you want is something cheap. Look at how the dictionary defines cheap:

cheap (chp)
adj. cheap·er, cheap·est
1.
a. Relatively low in cost; inexpensive or comparatively inexpensive.
b. Charging low prices: a cheap restaurant.
2.
a. Obtainable at a low rate of interest. Used especially of money.
b. Devalued, as in buying power: cheap dollars.
3. Achieved with little effort: a cheap victory; cheap laughs.
4. Of or considered of small value: in wartime, when life was cheap.
5. Of poor quality; inferior: a cheap toy.
6. Worthy of no respect; vulgar or contemptible: a cheap gangster.
7. Stingy; miserly.

Yikes! I don't offer that to ANY of my clients. I offer quality.

I know some people's opinions about custom photography will never change. I just have to under accept that. I hope I was able to shed some light and educated some of my readers on how Amy Van Epps Photography is different and what separates us from the big box portrait studios.

Amy Van Epps Photography
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Kim and Andrew's E-Session

During the last engagement session I photographed Downtown, I noticed a beautiful old tree. Its branches were very long and almost touched the ground. I thought it would make a perfect backdrop for a future e-session. When I met up to discuss their e-session, Kim & Andrew decided on Downtown Orlando. I mentioned the tree and they liked the idea. We decided to meet Saturday morning.

Kim and Andrew did an excellent job selecting their outfits. They looked amazing! To shake off any nerves they may have had, I asked them to climb the tree (I loved climbing trees as a kid!). All of a sudden, we were greeted by a four legged friend! I think he helped break the ice before being called away by his owner.

I suggest to all of my clients that early morning or late afternoon is the best time to schedule any photography session. Kim and Andrew decided on the morning. There was ample warm light coming through the trees.


Kim and Andrew were just about to change outfits when I noticed a white blanket in Andrew’s truck. I always suggest to my clients to bring props. Props can be a blanket, old cameras, umbrellas, colorful heels, or anything else that brings some fun into the photography session. I was delighted to see the white blanket! They laid it out under the tree and I captured some wonderful moments. If you don’t know, black absorbs light and white reflects light. The blanket acted as a reflector to make the images really pop.

We packed up, Andrew and Kim changed, and we walked down to Lake Eola. Kim and Andrew brought bread and fed the various swan, ducks, and birds.

Continuing our way around Lake Eola we stopped in front of some beautiful flowers. Kim and Andrew showed off their great dance skills.

The session wrapped at the Walt Disney amphitheater.


I had a wonderful time with Kim and Andrew’s e-session. I cannot wait to photograph their wedding this fall, their theme is Victorian!

Amy Van Epps Photography
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