How to Prepare for Your Session
Small Children: Small kids are so fun to photograph! They’re typically energetic and full of giggles if they
are in a good mood. But like anyone they can get cranky if they’re hungry or tired. A great idea is to plan
your session time after your child's nap so they’re fresh and ready. Bring snacks in case your child gets
hungry or treats (that won’t stain fingers and tongues) to help them sit still during posed family shots. If
your child has a favorite toy or something that makes them giggle, share that with us so we can incorporate it
behind the scenes to make the session fun for your child. And keep it light! Try not to scold children during the
shoot. This typically leads to tears and/or strained smiles and stress for everyone.
Older Children: If your child brings a device like a phone or tablet to the session it’s a good idea to leave
it in the car as it can be distracting if it’s in their pocket. Let them be involved in choosing their outfit so
they are comfortable. Older kids can sometimes have a hard time “loosening up” for their shoot so it
helps if they feel good in what they’re wearing. While we will do posed shots, candid shots are the ultimate goal,
so feel free to tickle, joke and be silly with your older kids! Try to make them laugh!
The Nitty Gritty: Kids of all ages can get boogies in their noses, have dirty faces or crazy hair! Try to
check your children thoroughly to make sure their faces and noses are clear of anything you might
not want showing up in your images. All photographs are professionally edited and we'll do our best to edit out
any stray crumbs, but you’ll make our job a lot easier if their faces are clean and ready to go! Bringing some wipes and a hairbrush is
a great idea for last minute touch ups. Sometimes you’ll even need to pull them out during the session and that is totally fine!
Check your child during your shoot to make sure they’re still boogie free.
Adults: Preparing your family for a photo session can be stressful on both parents. Try to use the drive
to your session as a time to lighten the mood. Listen to your favorite songs, play a game along the way
or crack some jokes. If you’re not happy in the pictures it shows!
What to Wear
Choose several complimenting colors and
stick to them. Pick some of your hues that coordinate
well together and stick to them. What are your family’s
favorite colors? Don’t choose one color for the whole
family - multiple colors will add dimension to your
images.
Pick one pattern and go from there. Avoid dressing
the whole family in patterns. A good idea is to choose
one item, a dress for example, with a pattern containing
the colors you love. Then choose colors from the item
that you love for the other family members to wear.
Be comfortable. Make sure that everyone’s clothing
fits properly and is weather appropriate. If you’re hot
or cold during your session it’s less likely that you’ll
appear happy and relaxed in your photos. This is
especially true for children. If you feel good in your
clothes it shows!
Do: Wear layers. Layers add dimension and depth to your images. If
it’s hot outside layer with accessories - cute belts, necklaces, bracelets,
etc. If it’s cool weather cardigans, vests, scarves, boots and hats are all
great examples. Avoid graphics on clothing - accessorize instead!
Do: Purchase clothes that fit your body. It can be tempting to buy kids
clothing a size bigger so they’ll have room to grow, but for photo sessions
it’s not the best idea. Avoid looking sloppy by wearing well fitting garments.
Do: Start with one outfit and build the rest of the family clothing from there.
It can be overwhelming trying to choose all the outfits at once so start
small and build from there. Everything doesn’t have to be new, shop your
closet!
Don’t: Wear neon colors. They don’t photograph well and cast colors onto
the skin of those who are wearing them. No one wants a bright yellow face!
Don’t: Match! Matching is out, coordinating is in. Remember, it doesn’t have
to match, it just has to GO. Outfits should complement each other, not match
each other.
Don’t: Choose colors that match the scenery. If you’re doing a lot of outdoor
photos for example, avoid wearing a lot of green as you’ll blend in too much
with the background. Of course pops of green here and there are fine!
Don’t: Wear solid black or solid white clothing. These colors don’t show
dimension when photographed and make for dull, boring images.
