what to expect

What to expect:

My sessions are pretty relaxed. I will start by engaging the kids and getting them to play a little before we start.  My years as a camp counselor, nanny, babysitter, and mom work well for me. Having a Psychology degree doesn’t hurt either.  Kids like me! I won’t take my camera out right away, as I want to get to know you and your family without the pressure of a big ol’ camera in your face.

It’s important that the kiddos are familiar with me before I start clicking away. My goal is to capture the heart of your family, so try not to think of me as “the photographer” and just act like I’m an old friend.  Just hang out and interact with each other as you normally would.

I do a combination of both posed and more candid, non-posed pictures.  I may loosely pose you and then just step back and watch what happens, giving suggestions as needed.  Please, let me worry about getting your children to smile and engage with me.  You never need to “say cheese.”  With young kids, I may act goofy.  With older kids or teens, I may pull them off to the side to get to know them a little bit.  Gaining your family’s trust is important for me to be able to capture more genuine moments.  I know family portrait time can be thought of as a stressful time, but I want you not only to enjoy your images, but also the experience of making those images.  I love that previous clients told me that they had FUN at their session.

By the time we have our session, I will have talked to you and gotten to know a little bit about you and your family.  I’ll know what you like to do.  I’ll know a little bit about everyone’s personalities.

I’ll be ready.

YOU can be ready by being prepared to let loose and be open.  I’ll help you coordinate your clothing and accessories in the weeks leading up to your session, so that by the time your session arrives, all you have to do is show up and be ready for some fun!  Just be sure to give yourself time to get to the session location!  The photos that we will make will help keep the memory of this time alive. So be ready to be happy. Love life. Show that love!

Location Location Location:

Once you book your session, we can discuss where the session will be. If you have a special place in mind, let me know and we can determine if that location will work!  I typically hold my outdoor sessions in the late afternoon.  The best light is usually 2 hours before the sun sets, depending on location.  If you don’t have a place in mind, I can suggest locations. For indoor sessions, bright rooms with good window light are best.

For newborn sessions, please contact me before the birth of your child so I can plan my schedule. Then be sure to notify me once your little one arrives so I can ensure a date is reserved for you. The best time to photograph newborns is within the first 2 weeks of life. Not only do newborns tend to sleep more, making them easier to pose, their skin is usually much smoother.

What to Wear:

If you are drawn to my work, then you may just have a thing for COLOR! Clothing definitely affects the overall look of a portrait. Avoid busy prints and large logos as they can be a distraction from your lovely family. If more than one subject is being photographed, I highly suggest outfits that compliment each other. They don’t necessarily all have to be the same color. Bare feet are great for family portraits, too.

If you have any questions, I can help you determine a color palette that will compliment the location we have chosen.