Meet Jill Shuman & Jillane Tucker of Shuman Fine Art
Posted by Feltman Brothers on 9th Sep 2024
When it comes to capturing the most beautiful photos of your little ones, the name Shuman Fine Art will come to mind immediately. This mother-daughter team has been sending us photos of their clients for years and their beautiful work graces our social media and website more often than not. Read our interview with Jill and Jillane to learn more about them!
Can you share a little about your journey into newborn and family photography? What drew you to this in the first place?
Yes! In 1996, Jill started this business to be able to stay home with my brother and I but, also, still needed an income. The business grew quickly and eventually my dad joined the business as VP and as our custom framer. When I was in middle and high school, I loved accompanying my parents to weddings for the sole reason of cake…wedding cake!? And every now and then just for fun, Jill (my mom) would hand me a camera. I loved the beauty. Though we no longer photograph weddings anymore it is what originally sparked a fire in me.
In 2009, after my dad was diagnosed with an incurable cancer, at the age of 19, I was asked to run the business by myself while they stayed in Tampa (about 6 hours away) for treatment. Before that time, I had always just dabbled.
Fast forward 15 years, now with a family of my own and 4 boys, I couldn’t have chosen a better career path for my life. Recently this past fall, we lost my dad after almost a 15-year battle with cancer. Jill and I both have never considered our job more important than now.
What are your top tips for parents preparing for a newborn or family photoshoot?
We always suggest dressing mama first and then everyone else! Because if mama ain’t happy…well we all know the saying!? And they make a button up in every single color for dad’s!
We love incorporating family heirlooms. Baby’s silver rattle, baby’s favorite lovey, any special or pretty blankets, coming home outfit, or baby jewelry all make for special images.
What are your best tips for parents to ensure they baby is comfortable and happy during the session?
Feed baby just before you leave for your session that way when you arrive to your session you won’t feel so pressured about feeding baby. You may just need to top her off a bit. We, also, always suggest bringing a pacifier just in case. If baby is older and coming for a sitting up session, we recommend coming for your session in the morning before nap time or just after.
How do you create a relaxed atmosphere during a session?
I think the best way we do that is by keeping the ac on (the south lol!) and making our clients feel like family.
What advice do you have for parents choosing outfits for their newborn session?
We think heirlooms are just so special and really make your images something to treasure. Whether that’s creating an heirloom or choosing one that’s already been passed down. Consider baby’s coming home outfit or daddy’s old Feltman.
Can you share some of your favorite Feltman outfits that photograph well?
Oh my! That’s so hard! You could pick any from Feltman’s line up and have the best! But I’ll say some of our favorites are the girl’s smocked lace bonnets, the classic daisy romper, vintage smocked bodice dress, girls classic smocked day gown, and the ric rac trim diaper cover.
For boys: the boys leaf embroidered take me home gown, rocking horse smocked take me home gown, pique collar for knit set, boys wave smocked romper, boys embroidered pillowcase, and diamond pointelle knit blankets.
What tips can you share for first-time clients when planning a photoshoot?
Think about what you really want from your session and find a photographer who offers that. You’ll have literally thousands of digital images on your phone to scroll through of your baby as the years go by (hello iPhone!). We encourage all our clients to buy a wall portrait or album because they are truly timeless. One day when their grown, you’ll wish these days were back and that portrait on the wall will make you squeal all the more remembering how they once had 3 too many rolls in their thighs. There’s no better art than of the things you love most!
How do you ensure that your clients have the best possible experience?
Maybe this cliche, but I think overall communication and personal friendly touches are key to a great client relationship! That and oohing all over that precious baby of theirs!
What do you enjoy doing in your free time when you’re not photographing newborns and families?
Jill and I both love interior design, antique shopping, and being intentional with our family. We have learned so much from my dad’s death…family is so very important!
After families receive their gorgeous photos, are you there to guide them on how to use/print/display?
We have our clients come back to the studio to view their images with us! We make a beautiful slideshow complete with all the sappy music. We then hand hold each of clients and sort and narrow our images down to our very favorites. We have a really cool piece of software that helps us sort and even put things into mats and frames on their walls. We believe you should always see your images first before you make any purchase of images. After we select our favorites, and what we want to do, we decide our frames and album covers. It really is so fun!
Thank you so much Jill and Jillane for sharing your story and experienced advice with us all!
Reach out today to schedule your next family session with the most talented duo!
Shuman Fine Art
Savannah, GA
