welcome
I can't wait for your session!
Let's make your session amazing from wardrobe selection, to location choice, to tips for cooperative children. Before the session I will help you prepare with this helpful welcome guide. At the session I’ll direct every moment. Sessions are laid back yet orderly because I come with a flow in mind. Games and fun with be incorporated for the kids, making it enjoyable for everyone, even dad. I can't wait to photograph your family!
contents
1 - STYLE GUIDE
2 - CHILDREN
3 - COLD WEATHER
4 - extended familY
5 - LOCATIONS
6 - FAQs
7 - QUESTIONNAIRE
1 - Style Guide
Inspiration
Tip: Use the pause button in the lower left corner and then manually advance left or right using the arrows.
or view the full size PDF by clicking here
What to Wear
TIPS AND GUIDANCE
COMPLIMENTARY COLORS
Rather than wearing all the same or similar colors, choose complimentary colors for your family to wear.
GO NEUTRAL
I highly recommend choosing outfits that follow a more neutral color palette. It's great to have a mix of earthy colors that compliment, yet pop against the backdrop. Neutral colors are also a great way to make sure your images are timeless and beautiful.
START WITH A PRINT YOU LOVE
In addition to the already done for you examples above, another helpful way to figure out the color scheme for your session is to start with a print you love and select the colors for everyone to wear that are found in the print (whether you wear that particular print or not). This puts everyone in a variety of colors that compliment one another. A huge bonus is that the print colors were chosen by a designer, so you're guaranteed to choose a combination of colors that will make your whole family look amazing together! Keeping the neutral theme in mind, you can choose pastel versions of a particular color found in your print. In other words, if the print has a darker color in it, you can choose a lighter version.
ANOTHER TIP FOR WHERE TO START
Begin with the hardest person first (usually yourself). Once you've found your outfit, coordinate everyone around you.
CONSIDER YOUR BACKDROP
Something else to keep in mind is your surroundings. Choose colors that will contrast (stand out) in the environment and won’t blend in too much with your backdrop. For example, in the spring and summer choose colors that pop/compliment green since there is a lot of green in the backdrop. In the late fall and winter when the foliage colors become more dry and muted more colorful hues are nice to help your family stand out among the yellows and browns. Avoid too many light tans, browns, and yellow in later fall. It's always wonderful to add just a couple lighter neutrals like cremes and oatmeal colors to the mix any time of year.
REPEAT COLORS SUBTLY
Once you've begun to select your color pallet, remember that it's pleasing to the eye to subtly repeat colors throughout. Also, try to combine a mix of prints and solids. For example, a floral, a plaid, and some solids go really nicely together.
HOW MANY COLORS SHOULD WE HAVE?
Select about 3-5 main complimentary colors for everyone. If you're an extended family session, keep reading, I will have some additional recommendations just for you!
THINGS TO AVOID
Avoid black and other dark colors. Also avoid bright colors (no magenta or red--these don't photograph well) and avoid large patterns like stripes. Stay away from large geographic prints, graphic tees, and logos.
Finally, I recommend that you don't select holiday specific outfits. For example: Christmas or halloween colors. Consider what you will love hanging on your walls all year long that are complimentary to your home. Beginning with the end goal in mind can have big rewards.
More Wardrobe
Inspiration
Tip: Use the pause button in the lower left corner and then manually advance left or right using the arrows.
For Your Boys
SHIRTS AND PANTS
Consider long sleeve button downs with chino pants for a polished look. Flannel prints on the boys pair well with florals on the girls, adding in a mix of solids too. Sweaters and half zips look great in cooler weather or short sleeve button downs for warmer weather. Color in the pants is nice, like a forest green, khaki, or caramel color . If you have more than one boy in the family, include a mix of pant styles/colors and shirt styles/colors.
ACCESSORIES
Select accessories that enhance your boys' outfits, like suspenders for young boys, hats with small brims, stylish jackets, and nice vests.
For Your Girls
A LONG DRESS FOR MOM
I invite mamas to consider wearing a floor length dress, gown, or flowy skirt. Long dresses are trending in the photography world and will elevate your pictures making you look like a million bucks. Any outfit that welcomes movement adds a special touch as we tell your story. If you’re not a dress person, this may not be for you and that’s okay! Most importantly, stay true to yourself! Wear something that makes you look beautiful, is comfortable, and feels like you.
SHOES
We will do a considerable amount of walking, even dancing and running in some cases, so girls should choose shoes with this in mind. Often we are off-path in grasses and rocky terrain. Shoe changes between shots (for example, tennis shoes for walking and heels for pictures) are "okay," but keep in mind we do move around a lot and my aim is to keep us fast paced so we don’t lose the attention span of family members who may not love to wait. You know your crew best!
HAIR ACCESSORIES
I LOVE hair accessories on young girls like petite bows and flowers. They add a special touch. Try to choose hair accessories that stay on well with movement and don’t need constant adjusting. You’ll want them looking good even when they are spinning, jumping, and running.
There are times when a hairbrush is useful. Hairspray can be especially helpful on location for flyaways or wind.
2 - The Key to Successful Sessions with Children
HAPPY KIDS!
THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS HAPPY KIDS
If you want to arrive at your session with happy kids, there are four key ingredients: full tummies, not tired, warm, and getting away with more than they would at home to a reasonable degree <wink>.
FULL TUMMIES
First, have children arrive with full tummies, especially babies and toddlers. Empty tummies usually translate into cranky kiddos, no matter their age (even dad--so be sure no one is hungry and can last the duration of the session)! It's fine to bring a snack along if you think they may need it. But I find the flow is far better when young ones don't need to pause to eat and they are full, content, and happy.
NOT TIRED
Secondly parents are fully aware that tired kids are unhappy kids. Let's give your little ones as much help as possible by giving them a nap (if they are at the age they still take one) and by making sure the session isn't too close to bedtime. Sessions are typically later in the day in the summer months for the best lighting. So let's discuss the options together if the session time I've suggested is questionable. Happy kids take priority!
WARM
Third, dress them according to the weather, especially if it’s cold or windy. In my experience, cold kids can get cranky and uncooperative. This tip is often overlooked or underestimated. Trust me, it will affect the outcome! I'll give you a few tips in the next section for especially cold weather.
LET THEM GET AWAY WITH MORE THAN USUAL
Lastly, plan to let your little ones “do their thing” without much direction from mom or dad. We want to keep it light and fun (not disciplinary, which kills the smiles). Let both mom and dad know this important ingredient in advance. If your kids are being goofy, I will play off of that. If they are being difficult, I will engage them. It is my aim to make our session so fun and enjoyable for them that we get the results we are all hoping for!
ONE LAST THING
Your kids will naturally pick up that I am in charge at your session. However, you should know in advance that your young kids will be kids and I don't have expectations of them greater than what they can give. Sessions with kids are unpredictable, energetic, full of real life, occasional meltdowns (this is ok), and I love engaging them and connecting with them on their level.
3 - Cold Weather?
TIPS FOR DAYS COOLER than 60°
MY BEST TIP FOR COLD WEATHER
If your session is in the early spring, late fall, or winter, here is my best tip for keeping everyone warm: Layer, layer, layer!!!
In cold weather (I'd say anything below 60°) it's always a little cooler feeling than you think it will be because we primarily stay in the shade and it gets cooler the closer we get to sunset.
Your layering should be under your stylish outfits. Did I mention you should layer? Even when you think your family will be hardy (we're Coloradans after all, right?), still provide them with a bit more warmth than normal to keep their mood happy.
LAYERING IDEAS
~Add t-shirts, tank tops, or long sleeves under your stylish shirts
~Double socks
~Long johns (or for kids, tight PJ bottoms under their pants)
~Tights for girls and shorts under their dresses
~Stylish warm vests
~Stylish warm hats
OTHER COLD WEATHER TIPS
Rather than bringing coats to stay warm, I find we can move a little quicker and with less effort if you bring blankets to wrap up in between shots. I will have a wagon to help you carry these items. Hand warmers (the disposable kind) can be a life saver!
4 - Extended Family
provide three main color OPTIONS for everyone to choose from
THREE MAIN COLORS
If you're an extended family, or larger group, provide everyone with three main, different colors to pick from. It is likely that you may find some color variation within everyone's selections, which can look great. For example, if one of your selected colors is blue, you may get some lighter blues and some darker blues. It all compliments well. If you're worried about everyone coordinating okay, you can ask your group to text you a picture of what they plan to wear to approve it.
Solid colors are fine. A mix of solids and small prints looks nice as long as you keep the prints on the small side so it doesn’t get too busy with a large group. It's always great to layer with some neutral colors in clothing like pants, vests and other accessories of any kind.
COMBINATION REQUESTS
As far as the session flow goes, I will request a list of the group combinations (in the questionnaire below) that are important to you so that I can arrive with an order in mind that will help us maximize our time together.
Here's a sample:
Full family
Individual families
Grandparents with grandkids
Cousins and/or siblings
Individuals of each child
YOUR LITTLEST FAMILY MEMBERS
I work quickly with large groups so we can accomplish as much as we can in a relatively fast period of time. Although I don’t put any limits on the amount of time we shoot, the littlest ones will, so please keep their limitations in mind when considering the amount of groupings you hope to get with them. We will aim to get all the shots with young ones in your group first and then wrap up with adult only shots. I start with the highest priority shots so we can ensure the kids are at their best for the shots that matter to you most!
5 - Location
you have options
INDOOR AND OUTDOOR OPTIONS
Visit the family locations page to see your indoor and outdoor options. You will indicate the location you've selected on the questionnaire below, so take note of the title once you've found the one you love!
6 - Family FAQs
When will you send the location address?
I will provide an address right before your session so that everything is handy.
Should we bring anything?
If you'd like, you can bring a blanket for the family to sit on. If you have little ones, bring a stroller for the shot we'll want to get with just mom and dad to ensure their safety.
Can we bring our pet(s)?
You may bring your pets if you'd like. In that event, I will request that a separate pet handler come along to be responsible for your animal when he/she is not in the photographs. I prefer to get the animal shots at the end. Also, managing kids and pets adds an element of challenge (and sometimes chaos) so I don't recommend pets with young kids. If you decide to bring your animal, please let me know below...and do bring treats!
What should we do when we arrive?
If you arrive at the location before I do, please keep your children in the car until I am there. This helps establish in their minds that this is my domain. Our first shots will be when they are a little uncertain or shy, which is perfect to get the smiling at the camera pictures we need at the beginning before we get them running around, playing games, and being kids.
Should we wear glasses?
To prevent glare, if it is an option not to wear them, then don’t. If you are simply not yourself without them, then by all means wear your glasses! However, try taking the lenses out if they are made to do that, especially if you have transition lenses (the kind that darken in the sun).
What if the weather is bad?
In the event of inclement weather (rain, snow, extreme wind) we will either move your session to a different date, or consider an earlier start time. I will be watching the weather closely as your date approaches so we can be as proactive as possible.
How many outfits do we need?
With family sessions, I recommend only one outfit in order to keep the session flowing and young ones engaged.
Do I need to sign a contract?
Yes! Once I've received your completed questionnaire, I will send you an online contract that can be signed digitally.
When is payment due?
Payment is due at the time of the session. No deposits are due in advance. Please indicate your payment preference on the questionnaire. I will send you the appropriate invoice right before the session.
Are the photos edited?
Yes! Every single one of your photos are professionally hand edited.
How soon will I receive my photos?
Your photos will be delivered within 2 weeks of your session.
Do you offer print services?
Yes! Printing through me is optional and conveniently available in your gallery with customizable products you will love. I make it easy for you! You will also have printing rights to print on your own if you prefer.
7 - Questionnaire
thank you!
Feel free to leave any fields blank that are not applicable. The fields with an asterisk (*) are required. Your answers will help me plan for our time together. Once your questionnaire is received, I will send you an online contract within a few days (watch your inbox). Once that's signed, we're all set until your session!