Many of our clients were photographed by Gittings as children and choose Gittings to photograph their own sons and daughters in order to continue the tradition. Because children are most comfortable in familiar environments, we prefer photographing them at home where they’re surrounded by the people and possessions they love.
A consultation prior to the photo session allows our photographer the opportunity to become familiar with the location in which the session will take place, to answer your questions about wardrobe, and to become acquainted with your child. The modest session fee Gittings charges for each portrait we create covers the cost of this collaborative consultation.
The portrait session will last from 60-90 minutes, during which your child will be photographed in a number of poses and perspectives and, should you choose, a change of clothing. Afterward, your photographer will schedule an appointment for you to preview the best images from the session in our studio.
Select images of youngsters at every stage of childhood can be viewed in our gallery. Portraits are available in a range of sizes and custom finishes. Discover more about the Gittings consultation and portrait session here.
The Gittings Birthday Club
Childhood is marked by milestones that most parents want to commemorate. That’s why Gittings created The Birthday Club, a program which provides a formal way to celebrate and preserve the changes in children’s lives and features as they grow from year to year.
Enrollment in the Birthday Club
A one-time fee of $250 entitles members to an elegant leather portfolio with the child’s name inscribed on the cover along with many cost-saving advantages:
- An annual Gittings portrait session every year through age 18 [no session fee is charged]
- A 20% savings on one 11x14 Imperial Portrait created for and added to the portfolio each year
- A 20% savings on additional portraits ordered at the same time and from the same session as the portfolio portrait
- A complimentary miniature oval portrait from each annual session affixed to Gittings’ exclusive “Tree of Life” page in the Birthday album, allowing family members to view at a glance a child’s passage from early childhood through age eighteen.
The Seven Ages of Childhood
Paul Gittings understood that an annual children’s portrait isn’t in every family’s budget. Working with the Professional Photographers of America in the late 1950s, he created “The Seven Ages of Childhood”—a program that identifies the seven stages of youth most suitable to photograph your changing child.
| Six Months | Your album begins with a photograph of your infant at six months old. At this time in their young lives babies recognize their parents and will smile and laugh when they’re engaged. It’s the perfect age to begin the album of a lifetime.
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| One Year | Most toddlers at this age are typically friendly and sociable, making the portrait session fun for everyone. A portrait of your little one crawling or walking will bring back memories of this treasured time. |
| Two Years | Two-year-olds are typically filled with energy. We’ll capture the sparkle and laughter in your child’s unpredictable and entertaining expressions. |
| Four Years | At this age, childrens’ personalities begin to shine. Four-year-olds are highly curious and have a wonderful imagination. A portrait of your child playing with a favorite book or toy will bring back memories for years to come. |
| Eight Years | Third-graders are typically engaged in activities and hobbies that they love. We’re happy to photograph your child with a musical instrument or in their gymnastic outfit—whatever makes them smile. |
| Twelve Years | Preteens may be focused on a single pursuit such as horseback riding, ballet, fishing or football. Your Gittings Birthday Club portrait will capture that passion. |
| Sixteen Years | This is a great opportunity to photograph your son or daughter in more formal attire. Many parents select an understated close-up portrait that focuses on their son or daughter’s maturing features. |
| Graduation | The final portrait in the Birthday Club album captures the conclusion of childhood as your graduate prepares to enter adulthood. Whether the attire is a cap and gown, coat and tie, or debutante gown, you and your family will look back on this portrait as a ‘grand finale’ of childhood. |