Session Details
*Please contact me for pricing*
The session day is all about YOU! I want to hear your ideas, thoughts and opinions. I want you to love these images…not look back and say, “well, that was awkward.” After you book your session, I’ll have a customer information form for you to fill out~I encourage people to really write out their likes and dislikes, etc. I want the images to reflect your family, not my obsession with the latest trend in portraits….although quite often I will have an idea I’d like to try out…I always make sure that the client is interested in my plan before I launch it on them!!
Session types:
Indoors Session
During the winter months, I do most session at either your home or my home using natural light. For optimal lighting, I schedule sessions mid mornings and mid afternoons (depending on the time of year). I have a variety of backgrounds and a few props, but you are always welcome to bring your own.
Outdoor Session
I am open to just about any outdoor location…an old barn in your grandpa’s backyard, a cool brick wall you pass on your way to work, your living room couch thrown in the middle of a wheat field. The sky’s the limit! Speaking of the sky, we do need to take lighting into consideration. During warm weather months, 2 hours before dusk is one of my favorite times to photograph…the light is heavenly!
I prefer to photograph families outdoors. I find that everyone is more comfortable and happy when they have room to breath. And happy families = beautiful pictures!
Most sessions usually run about an hour long….*newborns can take up to 3 hours, because they run the show!
The style of my sessions is a combination of classic portraits and candid/lifestyle type shots. My goal is to get a nice mixture of both. I love a great family picture where everyone is looking happily at the camera…but I also love getting the fun shots…laughing, crying or dancing around -unposed and natural. Everyone has a unique personality, and I’m going to try my darndest to bring it out during the session!
A Note to Parents:
The worst thing a parent can do to their child at their portrait session is to grit through their teeth “You better smile or else…” Really, they will listen to me MUCH better than they will listen to you (don’t take that personally). Plan on letting me take over and teasing them into smiling. Trust me–I have been there with my kids gritting my teeth and it DOESN’T work! And please don’t be embarrassed with less than 100% cooperation, I’m sorta used to it…I do this a lot and I don’t think anything about your parenting methods–most kids don’t want to be told what to do. I try to make it fun for them.
It is always great to offer incentive such as going out for ice cream after (a little bribery doesn’t hurt) but don’t hold it over their head the whole session. Let me know what it is, and I’ll remind them. I may take each child for an individual walk away from everyone to have a one on one conversation and get those natural smiles.
Honestly, dads are often my toughest cases. Moms, dad might need a little incentive, too:) Sometime, I get the kids to tickle dad to crack that natural smile. Oh yeah, and mom, don’t be too hard on yourself. Wear a shirt that you feel good about yourself in and plan the family clothing options around it. I recognize that if mom doesn’t look good, she won’t love the portraits, and I want you to LOVE them! I am a big advocate of moms being in pictures with their kids because they are often the unseen behind the camera.
Newborn Session Tips
Okay, so you’re having a baby…woohoo! You spend 9 months waiting, planning, decorating & dreaming about the life that’s cooking inside you. Hopefully, one of those dreams is to have some amazing newborn portraits taken of your new little one.
But I’m only 5 months along…isn’t too early to schedule my session? NO! Actually, I would prefer if you would call me immediately after you see two blue lines, but that might be a bit extreme. Most expecting moms get penciled into the schedule about 2 to 3 months before their baby is due.
Allright, I’ve booked my session with you…now what? Well, first of all, if this is your first baby, run to the nearest movie theater, and see every movie out there, because you won’t get another chance for awhile!
After you’ve had the baby*, shoot me a quick email to let me know, and I will get you on the schedule.
*Please NOTE: A newborn session needs to be photographed within the first 2 weeks of babies life. Ideally, between days 4 and 8. Babies who are under 2 weeks sleep soundly, curl easily, and have clear skin. After that 2 weeks, it can be a much more challenging session (for everyone!)…babies start to uncurl, they get ‘baby acne’, and they are not quite as sleepy…
Here are some tips for the day of the session:
* Dress baby in loose clothing (no onsie) that is easy to slip off…also, try and keep his/her diaper on loose-to avoid red diaper lines
* Feel free to bring any blankets/props that you think we could use…the majority of the blankets/hats on my website are things I already have-so don’t worry about buying anything! However, if you like shopping for that kind of thing, and want to bring something of your own, I suggest ‘www.etsy.com’, that’s where I get all of my newborn hats!
* Attempt to give baby a few ‘awake times’ during the morning…a little bath time always helps!
* Make sure baby has a full tummy right before you leave…if you bottle feed, please don’t forget a bottle!!!
* Bring a pacifier, even if baby doesn’t typically take one
* Extra outfits for you and hubbie (you can keep them in the car, just in case there’s a pee/poop incident).
* Baby will be naked for most of the pics…but don’t forget extra diapers and wipes!
* During the session, I often like to have someone other than the mom be my ‘main helper’(like daddy!)….babies can smell mom’s milk a mile away, which can sometimes make them twitchy!
What to Wear
You can find What to Wear guides HERE.
Coordinate outfits
Now this doesn’t mean everyone has to 100% match with khaki pants or jeans and a white shirt! You want to complement each other’s outfits by choosing colors that work well together. I find that if everyone is wearing the same clothing, people will all tend to blend in together and there won’t be too much pop and life to the images. Coordinate VS. Matching…. let’s not get cheesy!
Use colors & patterns
Colors are everywhere around us and bring things to life… why not bring your images to life as well! Again, be sure the colors you use coordinate with each other and you don’t just end up looking like one big rainbow family! When picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t distract attention away from the main subject/s. Use patterns sparingly…. if one person is wearing a print, try to avoid putting someone else in a competing pattern. When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, etc. Avoid large logo’s, emblems and graphics like “GAP” and “Old Navy” because again, these will typically distract attention away from the subject. We want your faces and emotion to show, not promote the clothing company you purchased from!
Be timeless
For some fashionista’s, this may be a difficult concept, however you are going to want these images to stand the test of time. Pick outfits that aren’t t considered too trendy, but will be able to be enjoyed and displayed for many years to come. One example of something that is timeless is jeans… classic look and style yet you can still incorporate your own flair into the outfit with your tops and accessories. Still be YOU, never forget that!
Let your personalities SHINE
Perhaps the most important “rule” in my book. The purpose of these photos is to hopefully capture each individual as they truly are, to capture the family, the relationships, and people in the photos just as THEY are. Forcing children to wear outfits that are uncomfortable and unfamiliar to them may cause some anxiety and stress to them which in turn will inhibit really capturing their personalities during the session. Same goes for adults. Wear clothing that YOU feel good in and the pictures will emanate those feelings. If your child wears a pair of rain boots everywhere he goes, it makes the most sense to have him wear them for pictures as well. Remember, you want to capture everyone as they are NOW. Capture these moments as they are!
Dress for the season & location
Obviously you want your images to make sense. One typically wouldn’t be wearing jeans, boots, and a jacket to the beach in the Summer so why would you for pictures? Dress the part and be aware of your location. For example, if you are shooting at the beach, ladies wear a pretty dress and sandals, put dad in a short sleeve shirt and shorts OR pants (which you can also roll up), put your little girl in a sweet Spring or Summer dress, etc. You will want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and coordinates in both colors AND styles.
Layering
One of my favorite “tips” for clothing choices! In the Summer months, this may be more difficult to pull off but during all of the other seasons, definitely layer your outfits. Not only will it provide more visual interest in each photo but it will also allow a lot more variety in your shots and poses. Have a ton of images of yourself in just your dress or cute top and jeans? Throw on a little sweater or jacket and a hat and you have entirely different look.
Personalize It
These are YOUR images and of course you want them to speak volumes about you and your family. Discuss things your family enjoys doing together and bring “props” and accessories that will help compliment who you are. If your family enjoys playing music together, bring your instruments to your session. If your family enjoys boating, suggest doing your session on a boat or at the very least near the water. Bring along items that will represent who each individual is AND who your family is collectively.
Remember where you came from
Typically, not something everyone will keep in mind before their session. However, I always encourage clients to think about their home, their decor,colors, and style of their homes. Chances are, at some point after your session, you will be ordering prints or digital files. Why not keep your your decor in mind and ensure that it all blends into your home. This will ensure that any large portraits will coordinate beautifully.
Plan ahead
Make sure you have given yourself enough time to think about all of the details of your session. Plan ahead so that #1 you can truly think about your photos and everything you want out of the session, #2 you aren’t rushing and stressing out right before your session, and #3 if you have decided to go for a new look for your session or someone gets a bad haircut, you still have time to fix things if you need to.
Keep make up natural, but still have some on
You will want to avoid using very heavy makeup, but a bit of color on your lips, eyes, and cheeks will help bring you to life in photos. Be sure to bring some lip gloss with you as well.
Outfit changes
If time allows it, bring another set of outfits. Again, you will get a lot more variety in your shots so why not capitalize on the opportunity and get the most bang for your buck!
Ladies & their shoes
I'm all for a sassy pair of shoes, however they may make for a very long and painful session. If you plan on wearing heels, be sure to bring a pair of flats or flip flops that can help you get from point A to point B without any pain. You can just swap them out as you need to.
If I were building outfits for my family this is how I would do it:
Keeping your location and season in mind, start with one person. Don’t try and think of everyone at the same time. I find that mom or a little girl makes the most sense since they would typically be the ones wearing a print. So mom will be wearing a floral print dress (small pretty pattern that is).
Now move on to the next person. You will be pulling colors from mom’s dress so begin to think about who in the family would look good in what colors. Dad doesn’t look so good in XYZ since it tends to drown out the tone in his skin. Let’s pick ABC for him instead. And so on.
Then start to come up with ideas to personalize the session. A little boy may have a security blanket or teddy bear he never parts with…. be sure to bring that with you. The little girl may like crafting so have her make a cute matching headband or clip for her hair. Mom loves tulips… on your way to the session pick some up. Make thoughtful choices and be sure to discuss the ideas with your photographer! Believe me, most are full of ideas however, it’s always nice when the family helps and truly ensures a “custom” session.
