Here are some tips for your session!
PLAN AHEAD
Let’s face it. The most important (and sometimes the most difficult) part of pictures is choosing what to wear. I recommend that you begin choosing your wardrobe and accessories early to eliminate stress. It’s a lot like party planning. If you save everything for the hour before guests arrive, you will run out of time for everything. Likewise, you (the planner), will help everyone in the family arrive in good spirits if you are not stressed the day of pictures by having planned everything in advance. Don’t worry, I’ll help with some additional, really awesome tips for choosing the right combination of patterns, textures, and colors in a welcome guide prior to your session.
PREP OUTFITS DAYS/WEEKS BEFORE
Just like planning the wardrobe in advance, prepping the wardrobe in advance is HUGE! Need to take that item to the dry cleaners or be sure those favorite pants get in and out of the wash? Need to iron everyone’s outfits? Beginning this process days in advance (or the week prior) is so helpful!
LAY IT OUT EARLY!!
The day before pictures lay outfits out for each family member, including socks and accessories so there is little conversation needed the “day of” pictures. Having these conversations early can sometimes help the “pickiest” of family members come to terms with their selected outfit and show up in happy spirits (we ALL have at least one of them!).
REWARD THOSE HARD TO COAX KIDS PEOPLE
I’m very sensitive to those who don’t love the idea of family pictures. Whether it be your four year old, your teenager, or dad <wink>. My aim is to make their experience surprisingly enjoyable! But it can help if they have something to look forward to when pictures are done. Don’t think of it as bribery (ok… who am I kidding, it IS bribery). Whether it be ice cream afterwards, or a treat at their favorite bakery. For your young ones, maybe it’s extra TV time, or video games – anything special you can think of. Tell them that just for showing up, they will get their reward- and I’ll be sure to follow through on my end by making our time together better than they expected.
I LOOK FORWARD TO TELLING YOUR STORY!
