Photography studio opens on Route 9
With Christmas card season shifting into high gear, the clock is ticking for clans who haven’t sat for a recent family photo.
For many families in the Cape Region, a portrait often required a long ride to Dover or Salisbury, where studios offered same-day photographs. This year, the game has changed.
After building a clientele as resident photographer for several local businesses and shooting everything from baby pictures to magazine covers for the last two years, Cape Region photographer Kristen Latham said she wanted to set her growing business apart, but A Day in A Life Designs Photography needed its own studio.
So, just in time for the holiday season, Latham’s vision of a dynamic, same-day photography studio has come to fruition in a converted warehouse just off Route 9 near Cool Spring.
“So far, we have survived just by word-of-mouth, but now I have the studio because I needed a place to house it all – the props, the photo booth, “ she said, standing in her new studio. “Every area in this studio is designed to use for a photo opportunity.”
With four photography bays, A Day in A Life Designs studio offers backgrounds such as a changing seasonal backdrop, Latham’s self-designed ‘Aww Shoot’ photo booth, a library scene and a green room where digital scenes can be superimposed. In addition, Latham offers photo booth birthday parties in her studio.
The photographer also keeps a treasure trove of everything from high-quality hand-crafted resin miniature props from all over the world to more whimsical hats, boas and mustaches for photo shoots in the studio.
According to clients like Kids Cottage owner Lori Schell, Latham is a natural with young children. So much so, the photographer makes regular visits to the preschool and daycare to take pictures at all their celebrations and document the school year and create yearbooks using the latest technology.
“We call her our ‘resident photographer’ and a lot of the kids know her as Miss Kiss because many can’t say Kristen yet,” Schell said. “They get so excited when she comes in, and she takes the most original, candid shots.”
In an age where digital media, the internet and social networking allow photos to spread like wildfire, Schell said Latham is on top of the latest trends and discreet in terms of confidentiality.
“We appreciate how much pride she takes in her work. She knows all the photography tricks,” she said. “She can show pictures to the parents online before they order, and she’s just a good person to trust, especially in terms of taking pictures of kids these days. She’s trustworthy and professional."
More than employing Latham solely for business, Schell said Latham also takes her family photos and the same goes for Starboard owner Steve Montgomery, who said he trusts her with pictures and social media for his business, as well as keeping his family pictures current.
“I can’t say enough about how awesome she is. She is just on top of everything, always working. It’s like she’s going 100 miles per hour always getting things done,” he said. “I highly recommend her, especially for kids. She’s got such a manner with kids, especially mine. They run up to her and hug her. She’s really got a talent for making kids warm up to her and smile.”
Latham will host an open house at A Day in the Life from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, during which she'll offer a variety of specials including free snacks and refreshments. Latham will also open the photo booth for free play during the open house.
For more information about holiday specials, appointments and walk-in availability at the new studio, call A Day in A Life Designs Photography at 1-302-250-6254 or go to adayinalifedesigns.com.
