Hello! And welcome. Thank you so much for booking a session with me. Whether it's your first session, or your fifteenth, I'm excited to see you and document these moments of your life. I've put together this informational guide specifically for your outdoor session. I hope it will answer a lot of frequently asked questions to set your session up to be successful. I'll cover everything from outfit and location choices, day of prep info, generalized info on my business and how I like to do things, and some post session what-to-expect. I'll also go over some more specifics based on season, sessions with young children and spicy children, safety expectations, and anything else I think might help you feel prepared and not overwhelmed or stressed. So let's get to it! And thanks again for being here.
What should we wear?
This is the most asked question I get. And I've been told it's easily the most stressful part of preparing for a session. The answer is both easy, and also not.
The short answer: Wear what you want. It's your session and ultimately, it's 100% up to you what you want to wear. I'm still going to greet you enthusiastically and take beautiful photos of you and your family.
The long answer: (Even longer on my What to Wear page) Certain colour palettes are monumentally more flattering for all skin tones, look better printed and hung on the walls in your home, and generally stand the test of time in terms of fashion trends. Neutrals are always my suggested choice for photos, but that doesn't mean boring. If everyone is wearing neutrals, it doesn't matter if your family has 2 people or 25, neutrals will ensure that everyone looks cohesive and uniform, without actually having to wear a uniform. Seriously, go check out this page for a lot of examples and inspiration.
Steer clear from really bright colours, large prints, and logos.
Also don't forget about texture. Different kinds of fabrics, layering pieces and accessories all add depth your your image. White t-shirts and jeans is absolutely a vibe, don't get me wrong. But some mixed weighted fabrics, and layered pieces are really going to elevate the overall look of your session.
You really can't go wrong with sticking with neutrals and muted colours. BUT if you want your photos to be loud, breaking those colour rules is absolutely fine by me. And I am always here to weigh in and help out if you're feeling overwhelmed.
Dressing for the Season & Your Body
I want everyone in your family to be comfortable and happy. So dressing appropriately for the weather should be a huge priority when choosing your outfits. Being cold during your session will never work out well, because adults and children alike all struggle to look warm when they're freezing their butts off. The same goes for wearing too much if it's super hot out. So check the weather and check it again. Throw a sweater in the car for everyone in case it's colder than you'd expected. And for the record, no I can't make you or your children look warm if they're not.
Choose items that flatter the body. This one is for the adults. Choose clothing items that play up the parts of your body you love, and minimize the parts of your body that aren't your favourite. Make smart choices and try on your clothes before your session to make sure everything fits and makes you feel like a million bucks.
For kiddos, clean clothes, and if you've got a kiddo wearing a dress, shorts underneath are really important. Neutral shoes are also pretty important. Shoes that clash against the outfit can throw off the whole vibe.
Below, check some colour palettes for Spring Summer and Fall.
Seasonal Palette Choices
Spring
Avoid darks, neons, heavy fabric
Muted pastels.
Light neutrals.
Warm browns.
Light denim.
Khaki.
Small florals patterns.
Whimsical fits.
Summer
Avoid neons, & loud prints
Muted warm colours.
All neutrals.
Denim & Khaki
Lights.
Flowy fabrics
Sundresses.
Small prints.
Colourful stripes.
Fall & Winter
Avoid Neons, pastels, florals.
Jewel tones.
Medium - Dark neutrals
Leather.
Dark&Black denim.
Plaids.
Scarves.
Layering.
Chunky sweaters.
Now that you've got your outfits picked out, what's next? A few others things that actually matter a lot more than what you're wearing but are things I will take the lead on. But if you wanted to know, here it is:
Let's talk about how I like to do things as a photographic storyteller.
Listen, I want to be the last photographer you ever book with. I want to provide an experience that keep you coming back because it's easy and enjoyable and you end up with photos that you adore. I really go with the flow. I'm going to follow the lead of the kids and watch their queues for needing breaks, or needing some change. I'm going to get the shots of everyone looking and smiling, but it might happen at any point during the session because I'm truly going to follow the lead of your family, but that doesn't mean you have to come up with the ideas for the session at all. I'll provide some prompting, I'll fix things that need fixing and I'll 100% tell you if somethings not working. I won't push kids very hard. Pushing them will never yield the kind of interactions I'm looking for which is joyful, emotive, and connection packed. We'll focus on relationships, playful interactions, and your family story. We'll play games, tell funny stories and jokes, and we'll whisper gross words to each other. I'll make you race, or rough house, and hug super hard. I'll get what I need just as you play and interact (with some of the boring posing thrown in there) And hopefully you'll leave the session feeling happy and confident that we made awesome photos together.
I'm worried about my kids behaviour
Hey listen, I'm a mom too. And kids seldom do things exactly how we wish they would, but guess what? They're kids. I have very little expectations for them beyond them being kids. I'm not worried in the slightest about how they're going to act or how well they'll co-operate because I am certain of one thing: kids can only do the best they can at that moment. And I won't expect them to do any more than that. I also have no issues setting boundaries for behaviours if they're being unsafe. I would rather them be upset at me, the photographer, than you the parent, who I'm wanting them to feel lots of happy feelings about. Also, if they're acting a fool, we'll roll with it and match their fool. Yes things get out of hand sometimes, and also kids probably get away with a lot more during sessions than they would at home BUT I want them long term to love their time with me.
If you have someone in your family who could benefit from some extra accommodations. Please reach out to me. I want to be able to connect with all my kiddo clients so if there's some more info I need in how to do that, absolutely let me know. If there are physical limitations to consider, we can pick a location that is more comfortable for them so that getting around is easy and safe! I welcome all kinds of people here with all sorts of abilities and disabilities, so please don't let that be a worry in your mind, just let me know whats the best way for me to connect with your family!
Quick Questions
How do I make sure my kids will be happy?
You can't! But having kids that are well fed and rested is a good start. Having a good, upbeat attitude on the day of, and in the days leading up to the session (in regards to the photos) will keep the idea of family photos being positive in their mind. Also making sure you try their clothes on prior to the session to make sure there's no itchy tags, or uncomfortable shoes. Kids need to be in clothes that feel good, because no they won't be able to suck it up for an hour. I'll see it all over their faces.
But just make sure they'd eaten.
We're so awkward in photos/Hate photos. Any tips?
Firstly, I appreciate you for acknowledging the importance of photos despite your dislike for them. I really hope that I create an experience which takes a LOT of the awkwardness out. Most people aren't 100% perfectly comfortable being in photos. If there's a particular reason you hate it, or something causing you to feel insecure, make me aware so I can help to ease some of that insecurity. It will be okay. We will get through it together. The laid back vibe of sessions with me means there isn't a ton of standing around feeling awkward to be done.
When do you want payment?
All payments must be made before the final images are sent out. So some people like to pay on the day of the session, and some prefer to pay once the images are done. Either is fine by me!
Do I need to give you a shot list?
I will naturally cover most of the things that need to be covered. Especially with smaller groups and families. I'll do family shots (lots of them) kids together, kids individually, couples, parent and kids, all those things, multiple times. In bigger groups, if you'd like to bring a shot list of specifics you can just so we don't miss anything.
When will we pick our location?
I like to choose locations closer to the date of your session simply so we can pick the best spot possible. Sometimes weather will impact a location, or it will be invaded by mosquitos because of higher water levels, or they're doing road work and it's harder to access. I always do a drive/walk through to make sure a spot is good before your session (apart from sessions further away)