How to Plan for Your Session
Things To Do Before Your Session:
Make hair, nail, and/or makeup appointments for before your session. Make sure your roots are touched up and you aren’t wearing chipped nail polish to your session. These are small details but I don’t want you to have any regrets on the day of your shoot.
Plan your outfits at least a week in advance—don’t wait ‘til the last day. You want to wake up feeling relaxed and prepared, so plan these details out early. Feel free to text me photos of your wardrobe if you’re having a hard time choosing! I’m happy to help.
Bands on braces - Be sure that your child is wearing colored bands that you’re okay with being photographed. I’ve had clients in the past with bright orange and bright green bands on their braces. They ultimately weren’t happy with photos showing their child smile with those bright colors. A neutral color photographs best.
Brainstorm about specific props, mementos, or special types of images you want captured. Some families bring heirloom quilts, a special prop. Some families know they want a very specific type of photograph taken. If you have these preferences, be sure to brainstorm them in advance and let me know as well.
And of course, make sure everyone gets a great night’s sleep and eats a good meal beforehand.
How to Dress for Your Session:
Obviously, dress for the weather. We want everyone comfortable.
Don’t wear matching clothes— no more jeans-and-matching-shirts these days. Instead, wear colors in a complimentary color palette, such as earth tones and neutrals.
Be careful about undergarments. While I am very experienced at Photoshop, editing out bra straps or undergarment lines is very difficult and time-consuming. Choose an ensemble that properly covers your undergarments, in all types of movement scenarios.
I encourage women to wear medium or long dresses instead of pants because they capture more movement and generally photograph more flatteringly. Short dresses will be a challenge when we do any seated photos, so keep that in mind. However, if you’re more comfortable in pants, wear pants. I’m a pants girls, so I usually opt for pants for myself.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you can move in. If your dress gets suddenly too short when you bend over, or your pants are too tight to sit down in, opt for more breathable pieces. Be prepared to move!
Do opt for accessories! simple/timeless jewelry, layered clothing (highly encouraged, especially for boys/men), hats, chunky scarves, beautiful flowing dresses and skirts—these create visual interest and movement in your photos, and really pull the whole image together.
What to Bring to Your Photo Session:
Moms are already super prepared, and you know your family better than anyone, so you probably have your own tricks for managing your kids! But here’s a few things you might want to add to your list:
Any personal appearance touchup items you might want, including things like lipstick, chapstick or a hairbrush.
Snacks on snacks on snacks, and if necessary, treats to bribe little ones with! (However, it’s best not to tell kids about the treats before the session; wait until the kids start getting fatigued before you pull out candy card! They’ll usually perk right up then!)
Water! No matter what time of the year your session is, we live in the desert so hydration is very important. Bring plenty of water.
Slip-on walkable shoes. We will probably be walking short/moderate distances, often on unpaved trails, possibly with hills. Walkable shoes are important. Then you can change into your preferred shoes, boots, sandals at the specific location.
A change of clothes for the kiddos, in case anyone gets muddy or dirty. As a photographer, I love when kids interact fully with their surroundings, and I’m thrilled to photograph them playing in water or running through the grass. As a parent, you might not be too keen to let them back into your car, covered in mud. Feel free to bring a change of clothes or shoes. Maybe even a towel. You never know!!
What to Expect After Your Photo Session:
After your session, your work is almost done! You can let your hair down, put your feet up, and relax a little bit. I will be working hard behind the scenes to cull the best photos (eliminating duplicates, blurs, and blinks) Your gallery is typically ready within 2 weeks of your session. I will reach out to you when your downloadable gallery is ready. Yay! The whole process will be worth it in the end. I’m excited to be working with you!