Class of 2023! Congratulations! I’ll spare you all the inspiration quotes because I’m sure your head is spinning as you go into your first summer post high school either with or without big plans. Both are ok! Remember, the good stuff is in the journey-not always in the destination. I couldn’t not give you some kiiiind of cheesy quote 😉 I  enjoyed working with you all and look forward to hearing about your adventures!
One thing I love about photograph people visiting Alaska is getting to know them! I had the honor of photographing this lovely woman while she was visiting Anchorage for the Midnight Mayor’s Sun Marathon! She is part of a group that travels all over the United State running marathon’s. We spent a little over an hour visiting a few of my favorite locations and capturing her stunning beauty <3
I LOVE fireweed season in Alaska and doing session in the fireweed! It is such a quick time period and I love when we can combine sunshine and fireweed! This gorgeous lady was celebrating her birthday in style and chose to treat herself to a photography session. It turned out so stunning!
I love documenting maternity and newborn sessions! I have a variety of favorite outdoor locations perfect for maternity sessions. Â Newborn sessions are done in my studio and mom’s can come and relax while we customize your session! My studio is full of props!
My family and I LOVE camping and I am so excited that camping season is here! As we get ready for our next camping adventure I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite recipe’s and tips! I like my camping meals fresh, easy, and for the most part healthy! For most of the recipe’s I make the meat ahead of time in my Instapot. It saves time and space and allows me to make enough for multiple trips. For example, I will cook a whole pork roast or shoulder and then divide it up and freeze it. Same with the chicken 😀 The less I have to do at the campsite the better 😀
Halibut Quesadilla’s
This is my husband’s favorite and he usually invites everyone over lol. They are super easy and since it’s my own recipe I don’t have measurements, so wing it!
I cook the halibut on our Blackstone until it is nice and flaky. I break it up as I go. I love a lot of seasoning so I season heavily with salt, pepper, lemon pepper, and dill to taste. When it is done I put salsa (my favorite is a mango or pineapple salsa), halibut, cheese, and fresh dill in a tortilla and then cook the quesadilla until everything is nice and melty! I also like to sneak spinach into these as well 😀
Peanut Chicken Spring Bowl’s
I cook the chicken ahead of time in the Instapot and have all the veggies cut up and ready. Usually, I just buy a coleslaw prepaid bag of cabbage and carrots. I make the sauce ahead as well and it is also freezable! I use spicy honey and omit the chili sauce 😀 I cook the noodles at the campsite. Heat the chicken on the Blackstone with some seasonings until it gets a little crispy and then assemble the bowl’s 😀 These get devoured quickly so no pictures lol!
Pork or Chicken Gyro’s
I cook the pork/chicken ahead of time in the Instapot and make the tzatziki ahead as well ( or cheat and buy it).  I have all the veggies cut up and ready. Heat the pork on the Blackstone with some seasonings until it gets a little crispy and then assemble gyro in the pita 😀 I love to have extra herb’s on hand for these as well!
I’ve also skipped the bread and mixed the tzatziki with coleslaw mix and used that as the base and added my chicken and toppings. So good!
One pan Shrimp and Sausage
This one is super easy and I usually just put it all in a freezer bag and assemble and freeze ahead of time. Then cook on Blackstone at campsite 😀
BONUS:
Baked Feta
Top with chopped fresh basil leaves and serve warm. I like to serve with veggies, pita chips, or it makes a great pasta dish and I add hearts of palm noodles. It can also be made in a dutch oven if you use a foil pan insert.
If you try any of these let me know!
If you love family photos, but just don’t love convincing your significant other to be enthusiastic about them or worrying about the behavior of your kids, relax! Look forward to a stress-free family photo session with these 4 tips!
Save Time & Your Sanity
I’ve taken thousands of family photos since Leslie Meadow Photography first became a business. Family portraits are immensely important – whether to record milestones and family growth or for the perfect annual holiday card photo. While booking a family photo session each year may be a priority, sometimes the perceived hassle of the investment can lead to nervousness and … let’s face it … a bit of dread. Today I want to share some advice on making your family photo session enjoyable – I promise it’s possible!
1. Plan ahead. This is one of the main keys to stress-free family portraits. Where is your location? How long will it take you to get there? Work with your photographer to select a location that isn’t too far from home and fits your family’s lifestyle. Some locations are a bit further and adding that extra time into your plan for the day will lead to success! Some locations even have convenient ice cream stops for the ride home 😉 Schedule your session at a time when everyone is at their best (read: full bellies, not at nap time, etc.). Be realistic! If you have certain expectations, share them with your family and your photographer. If you have older kids, let them know about how long the session will be. If you have younger kids, be flexible and make sure the time commitment is age-appropriate for them. Also, bring snacks. No matter how full the bellies are, easy to pack and no mess snacks like fruit gummies go a long way!
2. Have fun! Forget about getting the perfect shot; let your photographer worry about that. Make this experience about each other, togetherness, and the memories these images will bring back to you years from now. Enjoy your (relatively) uninterrupted time together as a family. Relax! The picture that ends up being your favorite may not be the one you have in your mind at the time. Have fun during your session and your photos will reflect that fun. Remember, if you’re relaxed, your family will be relaxed.
3. Hire the right photographer for your family. To receive your best family photos, you’re going to need to make sure that the photographer you’re working with fits your family’s style. Of course I’d like that to be me (view my Families gallery here), but if it isn’t that’s ok. If you like posed photos, your photographer’s portfolio should reflect that. I love to do a mix of posed and candids. I know mom’s love when everyone is  looking at the camera and I love those too! I also love the in-between candid moments and incorporate both into your session. You can find a photographer to shoot any type of style, really, and the result will be your ideal photos of your family. It’s also nice to get familiar with your photographer before the shoot in order to ensure your expectations are in-line with your booked session. It’s very important to know your style before booking your session; every photographer worth their salt wants you to love your images!
4. Simple is best. Believe it or not, we photographers know that having your picture taken can feel like a lot of work. Work with your photographer to keep your session within a predetermined timeframe. This can be extremely helpful when it comes to the cooperation of your children (and maybe spouse!). Make the most of your time and ask your photographer if you can also take this opportunity to capture a few photos of just mom and dad, too – your kids will treasure these snapshots, as will you. I always make a point to photograph the whole family, as well as mom/kids, dad/kids, kids together, kids alone, and of course mom and dad together. It is so important to honor your relationship and your role as parents! I typically keep sessions relaxed and moving and they last about an hour. I chat enough to keep everyone distracted 😉
The family photo sessions I’ve featured in this post were taken in several scenic locations around the Anchorage, Alaska area. I have a few gems of locations that I love and I am also always happy to pick the location and take one less worry off of your planning plate 😀 I hope this blog posts helps ease some concerns!
For inquiries and booking, or need more information and questions answered, please click here to contact me.
