Planning your family PORTRAIT SESSION
I'm so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait for our time together during your session. It’s normal to be a little anxious about your session. You’re a busy family with quite a few things on your plate.
That’s actually one of the reasons why I put together this guide. It covers things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a location, outfits, prepping kids and more.
Hopefully it helps you feel fully prepared for our time together, but should you have any other questions or if you need advice, please feel free to reach out!
Managing little ones
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that our experience of our children is different from what others experience. For example, if you’re at the grocery store with your three year old son and he starts yelling, you probably think he’s irritating other customers more than he is. Most likely, those other customers just see a cute (slightly loud,) three year old.
The same holds true for photo sessions. Your child is in a new element and a stranger is holding a big camera in front of their face. They’re likely not going to entirely be themselves. They may show off more than usual or your extrovert may suddenly become shy.
Rest assured, it’s all okay.
The best thing you can do for your kids is to go with the flow and stay positive. The more you relax and have fun with things, the more likely your little one (or big one,) is to get on board.
It can also be helpful to pack a few treats and bribes for younger children. Favorite toys, special snacks and the promise of ice cream afterwards work wonders.
I'm incredibly patient with kids and have a few tricks up my sleeve to help get even the smallest ones to cooperate. Keep in mind, I have three kids myself! (and the youngest two are twins!) So nothing your child does will surprise me.
TIME & LIGHT
Is there a "good" time to take photos?
I normally plan sessions based on a particular “look” my clients have in mind, spring flowers for example, or based on schedules.
Sessions typically last about an hour and when when we can—I love to begin sessions about two hours before sunset. I prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise is also an ideal time to shoot.
I schedule sessions during what I believe will be the best light of the day – which means that it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises.
things to keep in mind:
SEASONALITY
If your session takes place in the fall, while it might be tempting to dress your little one in a pumpkin costume to eternally remember the cuteness that babies in costumes in giant piles of leaves holds, we advise keeping attire a little more neutral.
Yes, that image would crush it on the ‘gram, but if you’re hoping to print these images for your walls, will you always want to see that pumpkin costume?
The same holds true for images taken for Christmas cards. While those red and green sweaters might be worthy of the Minted hall of fame, are you really going to want to look at photos of yourselves in holiday sweaters in the summer?
If you’re looking for outfit advice, feel free to send ideas my way! I'm happy to help curate a wardrobe that not only feels coordinated, but that looks beautiful for years to come.
A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND DURING EACH SEASON:
FRESH FLOWERS & SUNNY DAYS
Spring
Even though Spring begins in March, keep in mind that the weather in our area is still pretty chilly. When I schedule spring dates, I typically schedule both a primary date and a backup rain date because #aprilshowers.
"IF IT COULD ONLY BE LIKE THIS ALWAYS"
Summer
In spite of the heat, I'm a big fan of summer sessions! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 6pm. If you’re taking your photos during the summer, I recommend bringing extra makeup and a few towels to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session.
"AND AUTUMN A MOSAIC OF THEM ALL."
Autumn
Fall is one of the prettiest times of the year on the East Coast and because of the perfect weather, my schedule typically books up quickly! If you have your heart set on a fall session, I recommend scheduling early!
SNOWFALL, HOT COCOA AND COZY COATS
Winter
If your session takes place during the winter, we could begin shooting as early as 3:30pm to catch the sunset. We recommend dressing in layers so that in between photos you can warm up. Make sure you bring a little extra makeup and tissues in case your nose begins running. Pocket warmers and thick socks hidden in cute boots can help keep everyone warm without showing up in images. Bring a neutral blanket for the kids to wrap up in as well! This is a great "prop" as well as functional.
Managing furry ones
I know that some family members just happen to be furry and I love when families choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location.
We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have someone available to hold him or her in between shots.
If you’re going to bring a pet, I recommend exercising them before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
