The Top 5 Couture Dress Boutiques for Children

It should come as no surprise that I have hunted high and low for the most amazing couture dresses for my Enchanted Sessions.

It has taken me several years to collect all the gorgeous dresses and gowns in my closet.  I often have Mom's ask me where I find these gems so today I want to share with you my top five dressmakers, a little about them and why I love their shops so much.

Based out of Longmont Colorado, Joyfolie started as a small Etsy shop by owner Jessica Haley in 2009.  What began as a handmade baby bootie shop quickly grew into a fashion forward company who sells to fortune 500 companies like Gap and Anthropologie.

Joyfolie offers a wide range of apparel for women and girls.  You can find everything from jewelry to dresses.  Joyfolie also produces a wide range of shoes and boots.

I love the simple classic look of Joyfolie dresses.  I shop here when I'm in the mood for something that makes a quiet yet refined statement.  I also shop here if I'm in the mood for some fun accessories.

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Joyfolie is a great place to buy beautiful dresses and accessories without breaking the bank.  Most items are under $100 with a majority in the range of $40-$80.  HINT: If you sign up for their newsletter you'll find that they are constantly running great sales!

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Carmen Creation

Carmen Creation was started by Carmen Perez in 1992.  Based out of Los Angeles, California, this dress shop has created items for  Jennifer Lopez, Heidi Klum, So You Think You Can Dance, American Idol and more.

Carmen Creation creates dresses for everything from baptisms to weddings.  Throw in some fairy tale and vintage dresses and that about sums up the shop.  There is a huge variety of items and you can easily get lost in the designs.

I shop Carmen Creation when I want something vintage or fairy tail-ish.  My favorite purchase from this shop is pictured below.

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When you shop at Carmen Creation you can expect to spend between $150-$300.  Flower girl and fairy style dresses run on the lower end while the more intricate and detailed Renaissance gowns will put you in the $250-$400 range.

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Sugar and spice and everything nice...that is how I describe Dollcake Vintage.  Created by Christina Campbell and based out of Australia this shop offers delicate frocks overflowing with frills, crochets, rosettes, and vintage lace.

I shop Dollcake when I want something pastel, pretty, ruffled and comfortable.  Every dollcake dress I have is made from soft cotton that my little clients don't want to take off!  When it comes to children, comfort is everything!

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Another reason I love Dollcake is the price!  Most dresses can be purchased for under $100.  Now, you will have to pay more for international shipping, but trust me - it's worth it!

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A favorite amongst celebrities and trendsetters worldwide, Love Baby J is the place to go for quality crafted couture dresses.  Based out of Edmonds, Washington this shop is owned by Jennifer Langdon.

Love Baby J is known for creating one of a kind designs.  There is tulle, feathers and ruffles to be found for miles!  The shop offers everything from flower girl dresses to ball gowns.  The styles are endless and you will get lost in all the beauty.

I shop Love Baby J when I'm looking for something special.  This Love Baby J vintage style dress is definitely a client favorite.

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These dresses are made to order and crafted with the utmost care and quality control.  You can expect to pay between $200-$500 for these dresses with most in the $300 price range.

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Decadent...Exquisite...Refined...Quality...Artistry...Ultimate Couture.  Yes, that pretty much sums up this high end boutique shop founded by designer Anna Triantafellou in 2009.

This shop is my absolute favorite.  I have several of Anna's dresses in my Enchanted wardrobe closet.  The quality and customer service is top notch and every single dress is beyond breathtaking.  I should clarify - these are not just dresses, they are pieces of art.  Anna is an artist.  Not only is she an artist but she knows how to run a business focused on customer service.  As busy as she is, she finds the time to connect with her customers.  You can find her personally responding to emails and social media posts and inquiries.  I have chatted with Anna personally about each order I have placed.

I shop Anna Triant Couture when I'm looking for something ridiculously gorgeous, timeless and show stopping.

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I'm not going to lie, these dresses aren't for those on a budget.  When you purchase an Anna Triant Couture dress, you are making an investment in a custom made piece of art and top notch customer service.  You can expect to spend between $300-$600 on one of these dresses and if you want to go all out, shop her LUXE collection which can run you between $600-$1000 a piece.  The good news is that if you are looking for a dress for a single occasion or photo shoot you can now RENT some of these dresses for a few days for a fraction of the purchase price.

Fun Fact: The above Fotoplicity image is featured on the Anna Triant Couture Shop!  See it here.  

So there you have it.  Those are my Top Five Couture Dress Boutiques.  I source most of my couture dresses from these shops.  I do have some other favorites when shopping more fashion-forward, trendy wear which I will share with you in a future post, but for now take some time and enjoy browsing through these five shops.  If you are a dress/fashion connoisseur they're bound to keep you occupied for hours!

A Pine Barrens Enchanted Maternity Photo Session

Introducing Enchanted Maternity Photo Sessions!

If you follow me, you are probably familiar with my Enchanted Photo Sessions for children, but what you may not know is that I offer these magical photo sessions for Maternity Clients too!

This Enchanted Maternity Photo Session was done in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.  Originally scheduled for 4pm, we had to move the session up because of a heavy thunderstorm that was in the forecast.  While noon-day photo sessions are not ideal, they are doable if the location and lighting is right. Thankfully, we lucked out with both!

For this specific session we shot in two different locations.  One with an empty road and beautiful lake and the other with a gorgeous stream.  Between the gorgeous locations, the beautiful family and the stunning dress I couldn't be happier with the final images.

Are you interested in learning more about an Enchanted Maternity Session?  Please fill out my CONTACT FORM.

Don't Forget Your TWEEN! (February Promotions)

Tweens.

As the mother of a 10 year old I have to say, I can't believe the drastic changes that are taking place.  My little baby is growing up in so many ways and I really just want it to STOP!  The other day I was checking my Facebook Feed when that TimeHop thing came up and showed me a picture I posted of my daughter from 3 years ago.   I was floored....

In three short years, my little girl has changed SO MUCH!

THIS is a photograph I took of my daughter just the other day.  

How did this happen?  It seems like just yesterday I was changing her diapers and now at age 10 I'm watching her transform from a child to a young adult.  I'm talking independence, exploration, a-t-t-i-t-u-d-e, and self-discovery.  And if that isn't enough, her face and body, it's transforming too.  My "little girl" is not such a little girl any more.  While it's exciting for her, it's bittersweet for me.

As a photographer I am hired to photographed so many childhood milestones (3 months, 6 months, 9 months, 1 year, 5 years, seniors), but I've found that this specific TRANSFORMATIONAL time is somewhat overlooked.

Do you have a tween? Let me ask you something...  When is the last time you had your tween's picture taken? And I don't mean with your iPhone or that weird school picture with the fake backdrop. I'm talking about a time when your child actually wore some cool clothes, did their hair, and willingly smiled?

Why has it been so long? I get it, the tween years can be a little awkward...maybe your child is dealing with crooked or missing teeth, maybe they have braces or zits, maybe their hair is constantly in a state of disarray or maybe their clothing choice has a lot to be desired.  YES, all these things are frustrating and may have you putting off investing in professional pictures, but here is the thing.....   From crooked teeth to that ugly tee shirt -this is WHO THEY ARE, and all these things will quickly disappear before you know it and you will have no record of this monumental time in their life.

Despite what you may think, Tweens are typically the most cooperative and amazing photography subjects.  Most have not yet faced the brutal criticism that will eventually come and many are so self-confident in their choices they aren’t afraid to be themselves.  They are authentic and true.   This is absolutely one of the BEST times to invest in professional portraits.

Don't let Facebook remind you how quickly they are changing.... Take matters into your own hands and talk to your tween about booking a photo session tailored just for them.  Let them be the center of attention - I promise they'll love the experience and you will have amazing photographs that you can cherish forever.

Here are THREE Fotoplicity Session options for you to choose from....

THE SNAPSHOT FOLIO SESSION (Promotional Price $450)

Fotoplicity is currently running this all-inclusive promotion for the month of February only.  Not only does it include the session but a gorgeous 5x7 Heirloom Folio Box with ten mounted prints AND digital images!   This package deal offers a savings of over $100.

THE ENCHANTED UPGRADE (Promotional Price $525)

If you would like to upgrade to a TWEEN ENCHANTED Session, you can get the same package with access to the Fotoplicity Wardrobe Closet and some extra session time (if needed) for an additional $75 ($525).

THE SNAPSHOT ALTERNATIVE (Promotional Price $75)

Not sure about the Folio?  No worries, you can just book a traditional Snapshot Session for $75. Prints, products and digitals sold separately.  Print pricing starts at $20, Collections start at $150.

Interested in learning more?  CONTACT ME!