Here is a new short film to introduce you to “Michael Allen Photography”. In this film you’ll get to see some behind the scenes images of the style I offer to my clients. I offer a specialized style of portrait photography that people love. Based in Memphis Tennessee, the studio offers maternity sessions, newborn and baby photography, as well as toddlers, families and groups, and some “Rockin” Senior High School Portraits.

My photography is a fresh, modern style with an artistic edge. I offer lifestyle photography, this style captures my clients in a natural, fun and creative way. In the past few years lifestyle photography has taken over the market, replacing the old style portraits of the past with a fresh, new approach to portrait photography. The studio offers a full range of framed wall prints, gallery art canvases, full wall mosaics, custom coffee table books and albums, online A La Carte ordering, black & white, sepia and aging art styles custom designed to fit any home style. In this short film you will see a sample of my photography style and a look inside my world of photography for kids!

Welcome to Michael Allen Photography’s portrait website. ….this is my new Lifestyle Portrait website dedicated to my continually growing portrait photography business for children, families, and teens. I offer lifestyle portraiture with my own artistic style that many of my clients have grown to love over the years. I’m well known in wedding photography circles, and continue to work avidly with brides photographing their weddings, if you would like more information about my wedding photography, please visit my wedding website at www.michaelallenphotography.com

I hope you enjoy some of my many images that will be seen on this site. I’m based in Memphis, Tn. When I’m not out traveling around the country or photographing a high end wedding, I really enjoy working in my portrait studio. I have 2 small studios, and I work at clients home locations as well. My first post shown here is a session with one of my daughters, who is just as sweet as she looks. I thought it would be nice to start off this new website with some images from one of her recent sessions. If you would like to schedule as session, please call me a 901-489-5237 or email the studio through the contact tab above. I only offer limited sessions each week, so I suggest scheduling at least a month ahead of time.

I encourage my clients to schedule a session every year, so you can watch your child grow, and give them a chance to develop their personality in front of a camera. Lifestyle portraiture is very different from the typical studio sessions in an average photo studio. In my lifestyle studio sessions, I like to spend a little more time with the kids, and let them have some fun, you don’t get that opportunity in a fast paced studio that only gives you 5 or so images to choose from. It is well worth investing in a Lifestyle Portrait session that offers a full portfolio of your child with each portrait session. I typically offer over 75 to 100 proofs for a session with several outfit changes, and if time allows, an outdoor session and a studio session on the same visit. I also offer hand painted backdrops, and a variety of  furniture pieces to add to the look of the studio set, and my signature style of photography. I also offer just a few simple packages, with online web viewing with a la carte purchasing, as well as custom canvas prints, custom framing, and custom photo coffee book designs in fine leather.

I hope you enjoy my new portrait website {or web blog}, if you would like to see more of my photography, please visit
www.michaelallenphotography.blogspot.com to see my current wedding photography blog. Also, please visit my commercial photography site at www.IndesignCreative.com to see even more of my photography work

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Shannon and Peter came out to the lake for their session in the fall to enjoy the beautiful color changes of the season. Having a studio on a 30 acre lake offers some spectacular views and lots of natural settings. We have a 3 mile walking trail with lots of secluded places to enjoy and get away from the fast track of city life. I love the outdoors, and spend as much time outside as I can. Whenever I schedule a family session, I like to suggest shooting a portrait session by the lake. Just about anytime of the year is good, but fall offers some beautiful colors. For their session with the son, I wanted to capture some fun expressions, and offer a real lifestyle session with the beauty of the forest and the lake as the backdrop. Here are a few images from their session.

Here is a cutie. Taylor first session was her newborn session. I love to see children as they start to grow up. This first photograph drew me in, but at first  I was not sure why, but after studying the expression on the bears face, I can see that Taylor’s expression kind of matches the bear’s expression, and it kind of makes you want to laugh, but then you want to say ‘awe” first. This session was in celebration of Taylor’s new sibling who is due to arrive on planet earth in about 2 more weeks. {We did shoot some mommy belly photographs, but I like to keep those private from my posts unless the mom’s really want me to show them.} I do have to admit, Taylor stoled the show for this session. Here are just a few images from the session. I love the simple innocence of some of the images, and some of her fashion modeling was kind of cute too! Congratulations Brad and Amber, I can’t want to see the newest addition to the family.

I do quite a few editorial magazine shoots, usually fashion shoots with professional models, lots of incredible clothes like Armani Fashions or Nicole Miller. I got a call from one of the editors at Southern Bride Magazine asking me if I’d do a children’s shoot for one of their issues.

Of course I said yes, and soon the date was set. The theme of the shoot was designed around “Cupcakes and Candy”. If you have not been to a really chic & posh Southern wedding lately, one of the hot items is a “Cupcakes and Candy” bar, full of Godiva Chocolates, pretty and colorful candy items, and jars and jars of different candies for guests and children to enjoy. {believe it or not, the children on this shoot did a great job not wiping food all over their very expensive outfits.}

For this shoot the fashions were provided by Strasburg Children’s Fashions, Halo Hattie, Bella Bliss, and Baby Deer, which are all very well known lines in the children’s fashion industry.  The candies were provided by Dinstuhls Fine Candies, and the cupcakes by LaBaguette. For the shoot, Magic Mr Nick’s was brought in to entertain the kids, and he also brought some live doves, which were a big hit with the kids on the shoot.

Angela Dacus with Southern Event Planners was brought in to create the setting for the party shoot. Also, my wonderful wife, who happens to be the owner of Eston Salon, bought in her hairdesign team to handle the beautiful hair and makeup for the kids. I get some calls from time to time to shoot children’s parties, so if you have a party coming up, this spread from Southern Bride will definitely give you some ideas on how to plan an incredible kids party. {Here are some of the actual spreads from the magazine issue from Tennessee and Alabama editions in 2008.}

{and, yes, we ate a lot of candy on the shoot}