Pre-Session

I’m not an in-studio artist, so photo sessions always take place on location. In order to get the most out of your shoot, I will work with you to collaborate creatively to develop the story you want your images to tell. Things like number of people involved in the shoot, the ultimate outcome you want for your images, whether it’s a special occasion or to capture your everyday journey, and the ages of everyone involved will affect the location for the shoot. With kids, sessions primarily depend on their age and your preferences. I have lots of ideas for session locations and am open to new ideas. We’ll explore all the options upon booking.

If you’re interested in a newborn session, it’s best to set up your session for sometime within the first few weeks after birth. We should talk once you have an idea of your due date so we can schedule a few options around that date to ensure we capture the most wonderful moments and qualities of your tiny new family member. If you’ve missed the window for newborn images, let’s wait until about 6 months of age, or at least until your baby is totally holding his or her head up and is giving you lots of smiles. The next stages most parents like to capture are 9 months and 1 year.

Once your session is booked, we’ll discuss all the details on what your vision is, how to prepare, what to wear, session date, time, and location. In the meantime, some of the most asked questions are answered under What to Expect, What to Wear, and the FAQ’s.

Ready to book? Contact me for full pricing and to reserve your session. I’m available for a limited number of shoots each month and am typically booked up to three (3) months in advance.

What to Expect

[On Location] Expect to have fun being outdoors with those you love the most. I’m there to capture the moments that all too often slip by unnoticed and end up being the most cherished. We will have worked together to choose an activity or location, along with your vision for the photographs. When we meet at the shoot location, I’ll most likely be in jeans or cargo pants and sneakers (because I’ll be crawling on the ground or climbing things to get some great shots of you and your family at some point).

[At Home] You’ll experience much the same as an on location session but from the comfort of your own home. These are often the best option for new mom’s. I will ask for a tour when I arrive, but only for the purpose of checking the lighting options in various rooms for the session. I may also ask to move furniture or other items to take advantage of the best light. If we’re meeting in your home, don’t worry! Being in your home means you get to relax.

While we’re together, we’ll talk, laugh, and just have a good time. The most successful sessions are those where you ultimately forget I’m holding a camera. Those are the moments when I capture your family’s relationships, personalities, and most natural interactions. It’s a time for you to just enjoy being with each other, don’t worry if the kids are “behaving”, or even tell them to look at the camera. You definitely won’t hear “Say Cheese”, it’s a time to sit back and let me take the reins.

What to Wear

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. My best advice is to be true to yourself, keep in mind where we’re going to be shooting, and what you ultimately want to do with the final images. Is this a special occasion, will the photos be hung in your home, or used on your holiday cards?

With all that in mind, whatever you do, there is some level of coordination that you’ll want without being “matchy matchy.” Layers, layers, layers…and textures too! Bright colors, jewel tones, pastels, patterns, and accessories like a fun scarf, hats, a blazer, a sweater, and fun shoes. The best part about layers is that you can shed a few or change some out part way through the shoot and get a whole new look! Try things on at home, if it doesn’t feel or look right to you, follow your instincts. Sometimes it’s easiest when you start with one outfit you know you love for sure. Then pick everyone else’s outfits to coordinate. If you just can’t decide, I’m here to help. 

Some things you may want to avoid are items you may regret in a few years. Steer clear of loud patterns, huge logos, and because I will include some black and whites in your final image, you will want to avoid wearing solid black or solid white, except with fun accessories.

Post-Session

Depending on the type and length of your session, it may take anywhere from two to six weeks for the creative editing process. In the meantime, I may put up some images on the blog, social media, or website as a sneak peek of what’s to come! If you’ve decided to order any custom art pieces, we’ll get together to discuss those options once the final images are ready.