Before I come out to photograph your family, there are just a few things to think about….
WHEN SHOULD I BOOK MY SESSION AND WHERE WILL MY PORTRAIT SESSION TAKE PLACE?
I generally book my sessions one to two months in advance. Below are further guidelines.
For newborns:
I like to make sure that your session is booked according to your due date. Newborns should ideally be photographed within the first one or two weeks of their life to best capture that dreamy, newborn state. Newborns are only photographed in your home or the home of a close family member.
For children and families:
Portrait sessions may be booked at any time of the year. I come to your home or meet you at your favorite park, beach, or any other location that is special to you and your family! Any distance that I travel that is under 40 miles round trip is complimentary. Any distance after that will acquire a traveling fee.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING TO WEAR TO MY PORTRAIT SESSION?
Color and clothing choices can make or break your portrait session! There are different guidelines for everyone. Here are the guidelines by category:
Newborns: Newborns are best photographed au natural! What other time in your life can you safely be photographed in all your nakedness! Diapers, onesies, cute hats, fuzzy blankets and the like are all wonderful things to have on hand for your baby’s first photo session.
Girls: My photography style is not formal, so it’s best to stick to fun and comfy outfit choices. Bright colors and prints, hats and other accesories can add so much to your photographs and I always encourage individual expression!
Boys: As with the girls, I prefer a more casual and fun style. Cool jeans and colorful polo shirts, funky button ups, hats and other cool accessories make for more dynamic images. Layering is always a cool way to add richness and dimension to your look!
Families: I always reccomend that families dress in a consistent color scheme but not in all matching colors (i.e. all in white t-shirts and jeans). Dressing in different colors/prints but in a complimentary color family is a much more interesting and fun way to capture your family’s personality! Formal wear/Sunday best isn’t the best look to compliment my photography style. However, while some of the clothes you choose for your session may not be your “every day wear”, make sure that everyone is wearing something that they are comfortable in. I want everyone to be concentrating on having fun and feeling handsome, cute and beautiful!
WHAT CAN I DO TO PREPARE FOR MY PORTRAIT SESSION?
Babies and Kids: Make sure that your little ones are fed, well rested and not sick on the day of your shoot. It is very difficult to get beautiful photographs of a tired, hungry or unhappy child. It is always better to reschedule your shoot than to go ahead with a sick child, I do not charge a rescheduling fee if your child becomes ill.
Families: Some of the same things apply here as well, make sure everyone is well rested and not hungry and feeling their best! Parents are encouraged to be calm and relaxed… this will help your kids be more calm and to take better pictures.
One thing to keep in mind for families with small children is that little ones tend to have short attention spans. These families will generally have only a handful of “posed” style shots. I’m not going to sit there and force your child to smile for half an hour just to get that “perfect” family portrait. The majority of your photos will have a more spontaneous and natural feel. The more you focus on having fun with your family the better your photos will be!