Taking family pictures can be a fun, memorable experience that captures the heart and spirit of…read moreyour family. It can also be stressful to get your family to cooperate and get great pictures if you don't have the right professional orchestrating your photo shoot. I've used Christina Straw Photography multiple times for many reasons and couldn't be happier. I am particularly impressed with Christina's great style, technical skill, professionalism, ability to control the photo shoot, and the quality of her finished product. I love Christina's style. She gets great formal and candid shots that capture the love and personality of my family. She does a nice job in both color and black and white. Christina's technical skills with regards to color, sharpness, clarity and lighting are impressive. Many of the photos she took for me are great. My kids' skin and hair were brilliant from the golden lighting she captured. Christina is very professional and gets wonderful photos that last a lifetime. The first photo she took for me was for my daughter's birth announcement a few years ago. That picture is timeless - a beautiful black and white of my then two year old son holding his new born sister. Christina said to me, "isn't it wonderful when the stars align for that perfect photograph." I have never forgotten what she said and I am grateful to her for capturing that perfect photo (that brings up such happy memories for me) when those stars aligned. Christina knows how to put my family at ease and gets the great shots I'm looking for. As a mother of a young child she knows how to engage my children. She keeps them focused but relaxed and gets their natural smiles and personalities to shine through. She captures fantastic individual and family photographs, and she gets them before the kids lose interest. As a parent of young children that is invaluable. She is easy to work with and helps bring my creative ideas to light as well. Each photo shoot she has done for me has been unique and personal. One year I worked with Christina for my family photo shoot I wanted to take pictures in the new city in which we had recently moved. I wasn't familiar with the park but learned it was quite busy on the weekend. Even though there were many background distractions at the park Christina was still able to get some great shots. They turned out much better than I expected. I like that she helps you pick out your venue and coordinating family outfits if you need help. The next year I worked with Christina we worked together and chose a great venue. The pictures were amazing! There were so many wonderful shots with beautiful backgrounds and perfect lighting. I had a difficult time choosing only a few for our holiday card. Last year the quality of the photos she did for me were excellent. They were even better than the year before. I was so pleased with them I submitted them into a contest (with permission of course). Christina got so many wonderful compliments on her shots. Family and friends thought they were for a professional advertisement campaign from a magazine. The pictures Christina has taken of my family over the years are priceless. We easily spend money on clothes, shoes, and handbags and tend to cut corners on artistic outlets. But a great family photo shoot is totally worth it. The photos for your family memories, scrapbooks, albums and family tree are worth it. Having Christina take good quality photographs of your family is an investment you will not regret. The only difficulty is getting an appointment because she books up fast especially during the holidays. I highly recommend you call and get on her calendar as soon as you can.

This was an absolutely terrible experience for our family. Christina didn't listen to what I wanted…read moreat all, and when I told her I was uncomfortable in a certain pose (Sitting on a jagged rock on a steep hill, in a dress and heels, while holding my newborn), she threatened to quit and wouldn't continue shooting until I did the pose she wanted. She was terrible at giving directions (just turn, turn the other way, no the other way, move your hand, etc - entirely unclear) and would get mad at us when we didn't guess correctly what she meant. When we didn't pose the way she wanted, she would make sarcastic and snippy comments that made us all SO uncomfortable and made the whole shoot so awkward. And then she'd bark at you to smile! We did not get one single photo that we will ever use. I am so very sad and mad, not only that we wasted $500 but that we can't go back and get photos that we can actually use of my baby at this age again. We can never get that back. I would highly encourage you to think twice before hiring Christina if you have a baby - she absolutely does NOT know how to shoot babies. Or family groups. If you have any thoughts or opinions of your own whatsoever about what you want, she will not listen to you. When I told her what shots I wanted (which we had discussed over the phone and in email prior to the shoot) she yelled at me that she's the professional and basically I needed to shut up and do it her way because I don't know anything. I left the shoot in tears. It was truly awful. And surprise surprise, I've never seen less flattering photos of myself or my family in my entire life. There is literally not one single photo where you can see everyone's face and everyone has their eyes open! I truly believe she started taking bad photos intentionally after I didn't want to do one of her poses because even a non-professional photographer could capture at least one or two that were ok. Think twice before hiring her.

This photo studio is absolutely amazing. I don't even know where to begin!! The staff is so kind,…read morefriendly, and welcoming!!! They are true professionals and so very classy! From the moment we walked in the door, we felt right at home. The studio is so magical and Santa was the best! I've never met such a Santa Claus that embraced his role and character like the one my kids were honored to meet last night. The staff is so, so under standing and despite a few hiccups on our end, worked with us to the very end to ensure we had the whole experience. They went above and beyond for our family and I am so grateful for genuinely good people that truly care. The prices are very well worth the experience and pictures that all come with the visit. There is so much that goes in to this shoot and journey and they immerse their families in the entire process. They love family and you can tell that they love doing what they do. It's not all about the money for them. It's not just a job. The studio is mind blowing. I was in awe the entire time. It is jaw dropping how incredible this experience has been for all 5 of our children. They are patient, warm, and caring and my children took so much more than just a photo shoot with them. It was so much fun, between the trinkets, toys, cookie baking, sitting on Santas lap, talking to him one on one with out a rushed environment, I can honestly go on and on. As for the actual portraits, I cannot wait to receive them!! They are absolutely breathtaking seeing them physically! There was no pressure to purchase at all. It was relaxed and kind of, you purchase what you'd like. We felt no obligation what so ever and they are more than willing to make it feasible and affordable. The issue is trying to choose just a few shots out of so many staged areas and poses. They cover every thing you can imagine! I am so, so happy and satisfied with our experience. Do not hesitate making an appointment here at Fairy Tale Experiences!! We look forward to working again with them, especially when our #6 comes in just another month or so! Amazing ladies, you won't be disappointed!! Thank you all so very much for taking such good care of our family! We will call you guys next Thursday! Stay magical always!!

Edit on 12/19/18 - We still have not received our photos, and phone calls to check on them have…read moreeither been unanswered or I've been told that I'll get a call once they're in. It is now very unlikely that I'll see these photos before Christmas. I have really mixed feelings about Fairytale Experiences. While the pictures are CUTE and my kids had a great time with Santa, their pricing is literally astronomical. Be warned that you will not even see any digital options unless you spend upwards of $300 on their portraits. Their packages, I kid you not, go all the way up to $5000. I love my children, but I would never even consider that type of money on seasonal photos. The experience was sweet, but they need to be WAY more upfront with their pricing and ordering options at the time of booking. All of the people are very friendly and they are not pushy, I just believe their pricing is unreasonable.

I absolutely loved working with Katie! I'm a Pilates teacher in the need for professional, yet fun,…read moreshots in the studio and Katie is such a natural photographer. She provided great tips on clothing and hair - encouraging me to feel as comfortable and natural as possible. During the shoot she was able to capture shots and angles that I would not have expected and the photos turned out beautifully. I was a little nervous as I'm not used to being the subject of a professional photographer but Katie really did set me at ease while giving me great tips for bringing out my personality! She experimented with a variety of lenses and points of view which I really appreciated. I couldn't be happier with the photos!

I had a personal photography session with Katie and it was AMAZING! First of all, I'm a super self…read moreconscious 40 year old on the geeky/shy/tomboy side of the spectrum. Fashion, make-up and any personalized girly attention are about the last things that I would associate with a fun day, so I signed on with a great deal of trepidation, but my day long shoot with Katie was actually FUN! I was a frazzled mess when I arrived but Katie quickly set to work putting me at ease. She helped me make make-up and clothing decisions and made the whole process really easy. She took the time to demonstrate poses and faces, which made the process less intimidating and was much more helpful than just telling me what to do. Jessica was meticulous with my hair and make-up, kept me laughing and happily laid on the floor to make sure the fan was blowing my hair at exactly the right angle. These girls are like beauty treasure hunters - they are set on discovering your beauty and they are really genuinely pleased when they find and capture it. Nothing felt rushed and they worked very hard to make sure I was comfortable and happy. And the pictures themselves? I was nervous that I'd end up looking overdone or lovely but not like myself. It turned out that the photos were stunning - they look gorgeous AND they actually look like ME! They somehow captured Sexy-but-not-sleazy, Strong-but-vulnerable and Artsy-but-down-to-earth beautifully! This was a really meaningful, positive experience that I'll always remember...plus I'll always have these beautiful photos to look back on (and to share with my children and grandchildren). I can't recommend this experience with this team enough! Do it. They will show you just how beautiful you really are!

If you're looking for a headshot in Denver, you found the right person…read more She made the whole experience easy. I don't consider myself to be photogenic but Jessica made me feel at ease and I love the photos! She offered guidance on wardrobe, posing and I was honestly blown away. The images look polished and professional while still feeling like me - my LinkedIn has never looked better! Jessica is talented, thoughtful and genuinely cares about creating images you love. I couldn't be happier with the experience or the final photos, and I'd absolutely work with her again.

Jessica was fantastic! Not only were her photos great and exactly what I had hoped to capture but…read moreshe was incredibly kind, accommodating and wonderful to work with! I am already planning to do a 6months and 1 year session with her.

Marc was absolutely fantastic to work with. He was upfront with his pricing, expectations, and…read moreprovided some great recommendations. On day of photo shoot, he was on time, professional, kind, and just overall easy to talk to. He has a very cool and calm demeanor and just made us feel comfortable. He was great with our as well (5 and 3 year old) As far as photos, FANTASTIC!! He captured so many beautiful photos both candid and impulsive images that were beautiful. It was snowing that day in Vail and he managed to capture every image beautifully. Our photos looked like a Christmas card. So beautiful! He finished a few days before he had originally promised which is a bonus! Thank you Marc!!!

We had a superb experience with Brenda and Marc, who we hired for our wedding. They are fast…read morecommunicators, timely upon arrival, very calm and collected, know how to make you feel at ease, know great spots for photos, and more. We honestly had a lot of fun with them at an engagement shoot and our pre-wedding ceremony photoshoot in the mountains, hiking around in our wedding clothes! Their shots came out great and they sent us the full gallery just 1 week after our wedding. The services are pretty expensive, but they are very up front with pricing and it is on par with other photography services. We were happy we had 2 photographers instead of 1.

Got the final copies of the ten pictures I ordered and could not be happier with the outcome. I…read morecan't express my satisfaction and gratitude at their professionalism enough. Five stars - worth every dollar.

40/40 photo shoot! Working with Sandy and her team was an unforgettable experience. From the moment…read moreI stepped in front of the camera, she created a space that felt safe, encouraging, and empowering. I've never felt so comfortable being photographed-- Sandy has a true gift for helping you relax, be yourself, and still bring out your most confident, radiant side. The direction was thoughtful, natural, fun and intuitive--never forced. I left the shoot feeling not just seen but celebrated. The final images captured not only how I look, but how I felt--strong, grounded, and beautiful. If you're looking for a photographer who knows how to bring out your best, both technically and emotionally, look no further. Sandy is an artist, a professional, and someone who truly cares about the people being photographed. I can't recommend her and her team enough.

Zack was so fun, but I had a feeling he would be based on our initial conversation…read more He suggested a beautiful spot and took a ton of photos. We are very pleased with the amount of pictures we are going to get for the price.

I really lucked out with Zack for our multi-generational family portraits. I had a unique ask--3…read morepods of family members with kids AND a horse and carriage outside. He was very knowledgeable about outdoor shoots; the lighting, timing, positioning, everything. I had full faith that we were in good hands--he knew exactly what he was doing. He captured so many amazing shots that my family members were raving about that we tripled the amount of photos we bought. He was also very reasonably priced and easy to work with. He has integrity and a great attitude. He struck me as an artist who really strives to provide high quality memories and photos. I highly recommend him.