Welcome!
I'm so glad you've chosen me to capture this time in your family's life and I certainly don't take this opportunity lightly. I want you and your family to feel confident and prepared as we head into your session so that you can just relax and enjoy time together. Please take a look at the information below and if you have any additional questions, don't hesitate to send me an email. Looking forward to our time together and getting to know you and your family better!
Your Family Session
So you booked your session. Now what?
My goal is to capture your family as they are. We aren't looking for that perfectly posed, boring family photo where everyone looks stiff and uncomfortable. You won't ever hear my yell, "say cheese!" I want you to look back at your photos and see your little ones personalities, their smiles, their frowns, their giggles and giant laughs and their serious face. My girls have so many faces that go beyond that stiff smile at the camera look and I love every single one and I want to remember them all so I'm constantly trying to catch them on my camera. My goal is to do that for you, too. I want you to look back at your photos and see your connections and your relationship to one another, not some image of perfection that doesn't really exist in any family. Here are a few tips to help prepare for our time together:
Location: We will decide on this together. I have several locations in the area that I photograph regularly. Think about the type of environment your family enjoys and feels most at home in. That's probably a great place for you! This guide might be helpful as you are thinking about it. Some families even choose their home when they have ample light available for truly personal session.
Time: Light matters a great deal in photographs and the best time of day is about an hour/hour and a half before sunset. All the images in my portfolio are taken during this time. In home sessions are taken late morning because the light is brightest but harsh afternoon sun hasn't come in just yet. The worst time of day for light is harsh midday sun. Early morning light is an option if evening isn't a possibility. A late nap and snacks often help kiddos who struggle with a later evening.
Length of Session: The session lasts about an hour.
What to Wear: The biggest question I get asked is about colors. Color coordinating is good. Matchy, matchy is not a thing anymore. Your clothing choices should reflect who you are and help you feel comfortable and confident. I also find with my own girls, it helps to involve them in the process and I never make them wear something they hate. Check out this guide for more ideas. Still not sure? Check out this Outfit Inspiration Guide by Twig and Olive Photography for more pro trips, color palettes and outfit examples.
Your Children: Remember, we aren't going for perfection. We want to capture your children as they are. We can take breaks as needed for snacks and drinks (I'll probably keep shooting during breaks) and trust me to pose them and tell them if I want them to look at the camera or smile. Most of the time, they'll be looking at you and hugging you and just being themselves. Bring non-messy snacks and water and make sure they've had some time to rest that day before the session. Check out this guide for more tips.
Don't forget, your session is scheduled according to light so it's important to arrive on time. Keep in mind the possibility of traffic if heading to locations outside of Vancouver, especially.
COMPLETE YOUR SESSION CONTRACT IF YOU HAVEN'T
Your Newborn/Baby Session
So you booked your session. Now what?
My goal is to capture your family and little one as they are. We aren't looking for that perfectly posed, boring family photo where everyone looks stiff and uncomfortable. I want you to look back at your photos and remember how it felt to hold your baby, kiss their head, smell their hair or any of the special ways that YOU connect with your little one and other loved ones in your family. Here are a few tips to help prepare for our time together:
Location: Your home is the most ideal location for this session and no you don't need a perfectly styled home that looks like it should be in a magazine. Your home reflects you and your family. It's the place you brought your little one home to, that's what makes it special. It does help to clear away clutter that might distract- water bottles on bedside tables, stacks of magazines on the coffee table. AND, if that adds to your stress in preparing, I will work around things in your home and move things as needed.
Time: Light for an indoor session is different than it is for an outdoor session. I typically find the soft morning light is ideal. The harsh afternoon light creates indoor shadows and the evening becomes too dark. It's also helpful to consider your little ones' (ever-changing) sleep/eating schedule. Ideally you will feed them just before I arrive and they will be nice and sleepy. We will decide the ideal time together.
Length of Session: The session lasts about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on your baby's needs. We will take breaks for feeding and comforting as needed, although I will typically shoot through our breaks if you are comfortable with that.
What to Wear: For lifestyle sessions indoors, my ideal color-scheme is neutral. Bright colors reflect on babies skin and distract from your sweet baby. Grays, cream, beige are all great colors. Dads look great in jeans and a t-shirt. Moms, if you are nursing, wear clothing that will make that easy. Long skirts and a tank top or shirt look nice, leggings and a long shirt. You may want to share these photos or hang these photos on these ways but you are snuggling in your bed with your loved ones or relaxing on your couch so getting all dressed up will likely feel out of place. Check out this blog post with some ideas.
Your Children: Remember, we aren't going for perfection. We want to capture your children as they are, including your newborn and any older children. We can take breaks as needed for snacks and drinks and trust me to pose them and tell them if I want them to look at the camera or smile. Most of the time, they'll be looking at you and hugging you and just being themselves. And don't worry if your newborn is crying. They will sense your stress so just know that I've photographed many crying babies and have still managed to get images families love.
COMPLETE YOUR SESSION CONTRACT IF YOU HAVEN'T
Your Senior Session
So you booked your session. Now what?
Like my family sessions, I take a natural, relaxed approached to senior photography. When you look at your photos, I want you to look like you, not a 25 year old version of yourself. Here are a few tips to help prepare for our time together:
Location: We will decide on this together. I have several locations in the area that I photograph regularly. Think about the types of environments you enjoy and feel most at home in. That's probably a great place for you! This guide might be helpful as you are thinking about it. An ideal location for senior photos has many different settings for a lot of variety without having to use our session time to drive long distances between locations. On your session form you will share the location types you enjoy and we will choose a location that will incorporate as many of your choices as possible.
Time: Light matters a great deal in photographs and the best time of day is about an hour/hour and a half before sunset. All the images in my portfolio are taken during this time.
Length of Session: The session will last about an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the location. The time typically allows for 2-3 outfit changes, depending on your preferences and enough time for us to move around and use several different spaces in one location or drive to a couple different nearby locations.
What to Wear: Your clothing choices should reflect who you are and help you feel comfortable and confident. This is probably not a time to try a brand new style that makes you feel uncomfortable. You also want to be able to move. In the summer, you might also consider tan lines. If you have major tan lines on your arms, a tank top might not be the most flattering option. And don't forget about accessories! Shoes, hats, jewelry, scarves. Accessories add a special touch! Check out this Outfit Inspiration Guide by Twig and Olive Photography for pro trips, color palettes and outfit examples. The examples are families but the tips are still relevant!
Don't forget, your session is scheduled according to light so it's important to arrive on time. Keep in mind the possibility of traffic if heading to locations outside of Vancouver, especially.
COMPLETE YOUR SESSION CONTRACT IF YOU HAVEN'T