Who:
Me (Mary L.) and while I go by Mary Ickert or Mom, Mommy, Dear (or "Hey Woman" when hubby is feeling extra bold...) but alas my business name is 'Mary L. Photography'. Why the "L" Thanks for asking I will tell you... My birth given name is MaryLyons (pronounced Lion's). As in king of jungle, Lord of the Wild.. A freaking beast in the amazon (thanks Mom and Dad). I realize that at the time their intentions were good. "Lyons" being "French" as my Mom has explained was neither a family name or a name with sentimental meaning. Nope, she just heard it one day and liked how "Lyons" sounded with Mary and there you go.
Later in life my parents learned that "Lyons" was in deed a maiden name of some long lost great aunt on my father's side and I could eventually claim the odd choice as a family name.. But when you are 13 with braces and a bad case of pimples and everyone calls you "Lion Face" none of that matters one tiny bit. In sum, I never ever liked my name.
But now that I am grown and "more mature" I can actually appreciate the name because it is different it stands out and it happens to be the first initial of "Love" which is how I feel about photography. When I was contemplating names for my business, I knew I wanted to use my full name somehow. Mary's Photography seemed to "general.." Ickert Photography just didn't flow right in my book and seemed to awkward when pronounced. I had to sit down and think about what it really was I wanted to capture in my photography and then it hit me....
Life.
I simply want to capture "Life" and thus Mary L. Photography was born along with my tag line of "Simply Life" because it just is the way life should be. It was what I want to show in my photo telling. I love to capture those life moments of pure joy, happiness, sometimes sadness and always always laughter. I just "Love" what I do and couldn't imagine doing anything else with my "Life" See how well this works...
Now you know my name and a brief glimpse into my silly side I will move on.
What kind of Photographer am I and what do I specialize in?
I proudly claim myself as a "Candid Lifestyle Portrait Artist." In a nutshell I will photograph just about anything (except spiders). My experience and specialty fall into families, babies, little kids, and seniors. This past fall I was thrilled and honored to photograph my first wedding and will soon be adding unique and different wedding packages and couples photos to my list of specialty's.
My overall style and about 95% of my photography is done with natural light. I just love how the outside world makes photographs pop. I have lived in Charlotte for almost 20 years now and love all the many wonderful outdoor locations to chose from. I also am very familiar with the Lake Wylie and Fort Mill, SC area and am more than happy to help you decide on an location that fits your tastes, preferences, style and unique situations.
Are Indoor Photos and Option?
Absolutely, and while this time I do not own a studio, (dreaming of the day...) I know how to make the most of light inside a home. I love utilizing space that gets a ton of natural light and is perfect for babies and children on those chilly or rainy days.
Some shots below off stuff I have done inside homes, no studio lighting...
And here are a few of my work done here on location in my home using my fave room full of large windows..
After I book what should I Expect?
Communication!! Before and After the shoot. After you have looked through my packages and have decided which one is for you I will call or e-mail you a few days in advanced to go over any last minute questions, what to wear, how long the session will be etc.. Feel free to fill me in on any ideas you may have, props you would like to bring or use (my prop collection is a work in progress but I will do my very best to strive towards what ever vision you have for your session). I firmly believe in the communication part of the session as I want you totally satisfied with your pictures and your overall experience from beginning to end.
Speaking of...What Should I (we) wear?
Unless of course you have chosen a wedding package, then my number one question when people book me is always the same "What should I wear". And my number one answer back at them is "Wear something that you are comfortable in and reflects your style". Same goes for the kiddo's and their little personalities. We are all different and all unique and your pictures should reflect that. If that doesn't help then fall back on the some basics.. For example, stay within the same color palate but in different shades. I.E. Mom and Dad dark navy Blue and kid's in light pale blue. Same for siblings.
Jeans and Khaki's work well with white tops, but also get creative, throw in a colorful accessory (hat or scarf).
Plaid tops and Flannel also work well with jeans.
Some other fun and creative parings can be pink & grey, purple & blue, lime green & beige or off white, turquoise & brown. And of course mixing Black and white colors are also fun, especially if you prefer black and white photos.
Some ideas...
Bottom Line - Be YOU!!!
The Itty Bitty on Newborns!!
First, congratulations. There is nothing sweeter than a precious little baby whether it is your first or your 4th. I am honored and thrilled to capture your little one's unique presence as they only stay little for such a short amount of time.
So let's chat terminology.. To a photographer, the term "newborns" last 14 days. I know that sounds weird and strange and goes against every Mommy instinct (I still look at my 7 year old as that sweet little newborn swaddled like a little mummy). Yet, it is within those first two weeks that you can still mold and shape a little one like he/she is still in the womb and most of the time you can do so while they are sound asleep and get away with it, along with some of the adorable poses, and cute little hats. Also a bonus here, for the first two weeks being naked is not an issue (again most of the time).
See examples....
Precious right?? I couldn't agree more.. So if you are looking for true newborn shots along these lines it is very important to schedule your shoot within two weeks of his/her birth date. When we chat I will go everything little detail you will need to know, what I plan to do during the shoot, how I keep baby happy and warm etc, and what you should bring along with you. Of course I am always happy to come to you and do the shoot in your home as well. I do remember those first few weeks how chaotic life can be. But again savor savor.. They don't stay little forever.
3-6 months of age...
After two weeks they are still baby newborns and sweet and precious and down right adorable. But they are also going on longer stretches of awake time, aren't as willing to accommodate being naked and only prefer to be in Mommy's arms compared to under the watchful eye of a strange lady with a big black camera hovering above them. THIS IS PERFECTLY NORMAL and I love the older babies as much as the newborns. They are more expressive, more alert and as you get into the 2-3 month area they begin to show more neck control, gaze lovingly at you and boy you can get some amazing, wide eyed, beautiful pictures....
More examples..
The 6th-9 month range.
Once again sheer cuteness at this age. Most likely they are sitting up on their own or with very little help. They are more responsive, understand little noises that make them laugh and coo and drool excessively. Their eyes follow you and shine brightly when they smile at Mommy or Daddy. Little personalities start emerging, ad independence in there little spirits are in full display. They have also gained more motor skills and can even hold things in there sweet little hands. I love using props at this age it is so fun to see what they do with it and how they study the little object in their hands.....
12 Month's.
Hooray!!! You made it through the first year and you may find yourself saying "How did we make it through the first year?" But the 12 month old child is truly now a unique little munchkin. Most likely they are standing, perhaps taking a few steps. They are more flexible more willing to act silly and mimic what you are doing. And while their attention span is short they still respond to sounds and music and will look up at you wide eyed and curious. They also too love being naked and most of the time handle cute props and outfits like a champ.
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It is also time for the utmost fun photo session called "Cake Smashing" This is one of my favorite shoots to do with the 12 month kiddo's. So much to celebrate and enjoy.
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Any other questions or comments please feel free to e-mail me at maryickert@gmail.com
