PREPARING FOR YOUR FAMILY PORTRAIT SESSION
Hello there! Thank you so much for allowing me the honor of creating beautiful photos for your family. It is my hope that together we craft not only awesome memories, but gorgeous, timeless images as well. My style is photo journalistic. I love capturing families playing, snuggling, being goofy, and just loving on each other. I will always do my best to get that one desired shot of everyone looking and smiling at me, but for the most part, will be giving piggy back rides to your kids, encouraging dads to show off their kid flipping skills, having little ones give you their BEST hugs EVER, and fun stuff like that.
All sessions will be held 90-minutes prior to sunset. The time will vary depending on the season and the sun. We will discuss this more in detail if we haven’t already. Please take some time to read through the following information as you prepare yourself and your family for your session. Looking forward to meeting with you!
Prior to Your Session
Kids
Preparing your kids for our session often takes the timidness out of the evening. Please make sure kids know this is FUN! No Threats, as they usually bring about tears and added stress. Don’t even bother to tell them to smile or “be good”. My goal isn’t to get a picture of your child “being good” or just “smiling” but having fun and interacting. Some kids who have been coached to smile for the photographer get so nervous that they are fighting laughing and relaxing because they are so worried about having their picture taken or making their parents happy!
Instead, I’m a huge advocate for bribery- (ice cream after!) is always a great idea for the ones who need a little extra encouragement. However, please don’t bring sweets for bribing during the shoot. They tend to end up being a distraction. That said, I do bring Smarties as a last resort should we need them.
**Maternity clients: Please rest and fuel for your session: Hydrate leading up to your session and brings snacks + water to keep you going during your session. You’re growing a human and will tire out much quicker than usual. This is why getting enough rest, water, and food is crucial on the day of your session.
Dads
Spouses, I’m speaking to you. Is your husband feeling less than thrilled about your upcoming photoshoot? A little bribery seems to work well here (though, maybe something better than ice cream!) too! But seriously, let your husband know that the shoot will be relatively painless and to try to focus on having an hour to play with the kids, hold your hand and just savor the moment!
Home (lifestyle sessions)
Tidy up in the spaces you’re hoping to use. It doesn’t have to be perfect, but take care of your everyday items: dishes, electronics/cords, wrappers, random socks your family loves to leave as reminders that they still live there, Kleenex boxes, knickknacks, etc.
You can plan an activity for your family to do if you wish: baking, playing a board game, reading books or playing outside- this could be anything, or it could just be snuggle time with the kiddos.
If you have pets, allow them to bomb your photos because they’re part of your life, too!
Be prepared for me to move things around so I can set you up for the best lighting scenarios- I apologize now.
Instead of focusing on the camera, focus on each other; be playful and loving- that’s what I want to capture!
Dressing your Family
GENERAL CLOTHING TIPS
WANT A FAIL-PROOF FORMULA?
Put most of the family in different neutral shades (i.e. ivory, gray, beige) and then add a few pops of coordinating color. See the sample palettes further down this post!
START WITH ONE PERSON.
It’s way easier to visualize the whole puzzle once you know what one piece looks like! Try starting with mom or daughter, since women’s clothing tends to have more colors and prints.
COMPLIMENT, DON’T MATCH.
The day of all-white shirts and khaki pants is long past! We want colors that generally complement each other: so for instance, soft colors (light blue, gray, blush) or warm colors (brown, orange, burgundy), If you want colorful images, then you should choose a more vivid color scheme for your outfits!
Generally, solids work best.
Pops of patterns can definitely look great, but if you’re looking for a fail-proof family combination, go with solids. To keep things from looking boring, include textures (think chunky knits, tulle, lace, etc). Avoid tiny prints, especially small plaid, and small stripes.
CONSIDER YOUR HOME DECOR.
If you’re planning to hang your images in your living room that’s decorated in all white, you probably don’t want your clothing to be dark. If you’re hanging them in a colorful nursery, then wear vivid outfits.
PLAN FOR THE WEATHER.
Nothing is worse than being miserably uncomfortable in a perfect outfit. If you’re planning an outdoor session in November, think about coats, gloves, and hats. In the summer, dress in layers that you can easily take off if you get too hot.
DON’T FORGET SHOES!
These are often the forgotten last element, but they can really make or break your outfits! If you can’t find shoes you love, consider going barefoot (just bring walking shoes to get from point A to point B). Steer away from athletic shoes and bright white sneakers.
TRY ON YOUR CLOTHES WELL IN ADVANCE!
Check your outfits from all possible angles in the mirror, not just the one you like best. Try sitting, squatting, leaning forward, etc. The kids’ clothes should work well in motion so that we can play during your session (think flying, tickling, and hanging upside down).
LET THE KIDS HAVE INPUT.
If your daughter hates wearing dresses, don’t force her to wear one for picture day. If your son thinks that bowtie is uncomfortable, ditch it. Happy kids make for happy photos!
Say Yes to:
COMFORT: Above all, if you feel good, you will look good! Choose clothing that gives you freedom of movement, keeps you warm/cool, and won’t require a lot of maintenance throughout your session.
TEXTURE: Add some visual interest to your images with unique fabrics. Some examples: are lace, cable knits, chambray, tweed, herringbone, chambray, faux fur, wool
PATTERNS: Don’t be scared of patterns and prints! They can work great in moderation. Try one statement piece (for instance, a colorful floral dress for mom) and one subtle pattern (maybe polka dots for baby girl), and then keep the rest of the family more simple. Large prints and patterns work best – I recommend avoiding small plaid/stripes.
LAYERS AND ACCESSORIES: These are the quickest way to take your outfits from average to amazing! Think scarves, blazers, cardigans, belts, jewelry, fun socks, and hats.
FITTED CLOTHING: We don’t want your clothing to be too baggy or too tight. Properly fitted clothing looks put together and will show your shape. For women, your upper half and lower half should be balanced: so for instance, blousy shirt + skinny pants, or tight shirt + flowing skirt.
CLASSIC CHOICES: Try to steer away from current trends, since they’ll date your photos 10 years from now.
Say No to:
FORMAL CLOTHES: Let your clothing match your surroundings. A tuxedo or formal dress will look out of place in the woods.
BRIGHT WHITE: If you love white, try off-white or ivory instead.
NEON COLORS: These create skin tone/color cast issues.
VERY SATURATED COLORS: I.e. bright red, bright yellow, etc. Instead, try more muted versions of the same color: so for instance, replace bright red with dark red; replace bright yellow with mustard, etc.
LOGOS & TEXT: Words will draw attention away from your face.
TRANSITION LENSES: If you wear glasses every day, please wear them in your shoot! However, lens glare and shaded lenses will keep your eyes from being seen. You can have an anti-reflective coating added to your lenses or wear just the frames.
ATHLETIC SHOES: Self-explanatory!
TINY PLAID, SMALL STRIPES, & COMPLICATED PATTERNS: These don’t always translate well in-camera.
**Maternity Clothes: Pick something comfortable but will show off that bump of yours.
SAMPLE COLOR PALETTES
Weather
A quick but important note: if the weather turns out warmer/cooler than you anticipated when putting together outfits, please adjust what everyone is wearing. Doing a session when it's sweltering and kids are over dressed is never fun. Likewise, if a cold front comes through unexpectedly, please put sweaters on your children, as I can't photoshop out goose bumps and blue lips. I will most likely cut sessions short if I think the kids are too cold/overheated.
**Winter Prep: PLEASE layer your children’s outfits. They don’t have to wear big, bulky jackets to be outside, just be mindful that they do need some level of layers to keep them warm. When my kids do outdoor photos in the winter I always put them in a long sleeve undershirt, a knit sweater, and a 3rd layer. This 3rd layer could be a pea style coat, a fur coat, or even a leather coat with a liner. I always make sure there’s at least 3 layers. As far as hands go, those get cold FAST so don’t hesitate to put gloves on them. I recommend something simple without bright colors, characters, or crazy patterns. Finally, HATS- have fun with this one! They could be a simple Carhartt hat, a hat with pom poms, even a “cousin Eddy” hat….IYKYK. You can even incorporate scarfs if you wanted to. No need to go overboard, just have fun with it!
In case of rain, I will be watching the radar all day. If it doesn't rain, but is overcast, we will still shoot. However, if it’s muddy outside and no rain, we will reschedule.
As you all know, weather is forever changing here in N.Y., so don’t expect me to cancel a session until 1-2 hours prior to your session time. The cancellation will depend on how long it will take for you or me to drive to the chosen location