Prior to Your Session:
Once you book your session, I will send you a link to complete my online Client Agreement Form. This form will not only give me information about you, your goals for the session and the products your are interested in, but it will also help to familiarize you with all of my policies & procedures. I will then mail you a “welcome packet” and will give you a call about a week prior to your session to answer any last minute questions that you have, to get to know you some more and to go over what to expect.
Wardrobe is ultimately at your discretion. It is a good idea to try to “coordinate” the colors in your outfits. Most importantly, everyone should wear something that they are comfortable in, ready to play in, and makes them feel good! For more wardrobe information and suggestions, please read the “What to Wear” section of this site. If you ever need any help or would like my professional opinion on outfit selections & styling, please don’t hesitate to ask!
If you have small children, please make sure that they are well rested and fed before your session. Try to avoid “talking up” the session in the days prior. While it is nice to let them know they will be having their photos taken, there is no need to drill them about it which often makes them feel intimidated and inhibits those natural smiles that I am looking for. If your child is simply not a smiler, don’t force them or threaten them to smile. I will get some nice photos of them regardless. Be prepared to possibly leave the room or take a walk around the corner if your little one(s) are not exactly cooperating. Often times children will open up and interact a little more when they know mom and dad are not standing right over their shoulder.
The Day Of:
My “typical” photo session lasts between 1-2 hours. My goal is to get the best images possible of your family, and so I try not to pay attention to the clock. We can take breaks as needed for snacks, potty breaks, wardrobe changes, etc. Some photo shoots may end earlier, but some may go longer, so please schedule a time when you can relax and get into the moment with your kids—preferably not when you have another appointment soon to follow.
While early morning and late afternoon/evening are typically best for lighting (1-2 hours after sunrise or before sunset), the best shots will come when your children (and you) arerested, relaxed, and ready to have a good time. When I arrive to your session, I will take some time to get to know your family and give you a game plan of sorts. If we are doing an outdoor session, we will get started right away, probably by having you & your kids play a little before we jump into any posed photos. If I am in your home, I will take a few minutes to set up my and or take a look around to find the best light. I’ll then give your kids some time to warm up to me before I start snapping away.
My goal is to capture your family in its natural state, so be prepared to play and have fun. Of course, most people want some posed “everyone looking & smiling” images so we’ll be sure to get a few of those as well 
. A lot of parents ask me when they should look at the camera. The best answer I can give is to treat me like another person in the room/yard/where ever we are, just pretend I don’t happen to have a camera. When your child does something cute, funny, or just flat out adorable, it’s often natural to look at the others in the area to share the moment and see if they noticed it too. It’s the same idea with me being there. Try to relax and be engaged with your child—looking up to me will hopefully still come naturally at times.
I usually bring plenty of things with me to keep little ones engaged. Most times, the only props I bring are chairs (which are great for corralling toddlers) but I also have buckets, boxes, a wagon, rocking horse, etc. Please let me know ahead of time of there is anything in particular that you’d like me to bring along. I also bring with me an arsenal of bribery items and attention grabbers. Usually, my feather tickler, lens/ camera buddies, stickers, smarties & dum-dum lollipops do the trick!
After Your Session:
We will set up a time to meet (usually in about 10-14 days) for your in person image premier & ordering consultation. Ordering consultations can be done in the comfort of your own home or a central meeting place (coffee shop, bookstore, etc). During your ordering session, I will first show you a slideshow of your final images. I’ll then show you a complete line of sample items, talk with you about what items you are interested in and let you flip through your images to make your selections. The ordering session is not meant to be a high pressure sales pitch. My goal is to present you with your images, give you my professional opinion regarding selections (and I only do this when asked specifically), help you decide on wall art or displays and answer any questions that you have. You should be prepared to place your order at that time so it is imperative that any decision makers be present. Payments can be made via cash, check or charge. After your payment clears (which could take up to 7 days depending on the method used) I will process your order. Most orders require 7-10 days for completion. As soon as it is ready, I will contact you to schedule drop-off or pick-up arrangements (shipping is also available).
