Tips for Getting Ready for your Session

I have put together a few tips to help you get ready for your upcoming session. For more information, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Getting ready for your Senior Photo Session

As part of your senior session, you can choose up to five outfits. This can range from anything to street clothes, something fancy and sports or music uniforms. The sky is the limit.  When you are choosing your outfits, please choose something you will be comfortable in and something you feel represents you and your personality. Or if you have a theme you are going for, think about how you want to that look in terms of your outfits. We can even do cap and gown images as well.  Try to avoid clothing that is too trendy. I don’t want you to look back on these photos in ten years and cringe. Please try to stay away from overly bright colors, large, busy prints and large logos as they will take the focus off you and put it on your clothing. Please avoid pin stripes as they do not photograph well and mess with my camera’s sensor. Simple, neutral, solid coordinating colors from the same color family are always best. Patterns and accent pieces can be fun too.

Don’t forget to pay attention to your shoes as they will most likely show in pictures. Nails also show in pictures and look best when clean and without nail polish chips.

If you are getting your hair and/or make-up done prior to our session get that booked early to ensure you get the date you want.

Accessories can add fun detail to photos; sports gear, musical instruments, college t-shirts, sunglasses, favorite items etc. If there is something special you would like to use, please let me know and we can incorporate that into your session. Don’t forget to bring it with you.

Getting ready for your Newborn Photo Session

The most important thing to getting ready is just to relax and try not to stress about anything. Go about your normal routine with baby. If baby is unsettled a nice warm bath a little before the session may help.

Photographing a newborn is best when baby is in the first two weeks of life. We still want them to be in that “sleeps all day” phase. This really helps us to achieve those sleepy, curly poses that we all love so much. But if that does not work for you then please rest assured I have had a lot of success with older newborns.

Babies are sleepiest when they are nice and full so I will probably have you feed baby once you arrive to help us move them into a good sleep. If baby needs to eat before you leave then it should just be a quick snack then before we start.

Please dress baby in something that snaps on or zips up. This keeps me from disturbing them too much when I am undressing them if they are asleep.

If you would like photos with your baby, please dress in simple coordinating, neutral colored clothing so we do not distract from baby’s gorgeous face. Make sure to wear something comfy and bring a change of clothes just in case of “accidents”.

Have fun!

Getting ready for you Maternity Session

Maternity sessions are best done when you are between 28 and 35 weeks along. Unless you want to do some sort of progression series images then we will need to talk about getting you in to the studio right away.

When choosing your outfit, wear something you are comfortable in, and that coordinates well with anyone else in the photos with you and shows off your baby bump. Please avoid clothes that have large prints, logos, pin stripes and bright colors. Soft neutral colors work best.

I have beautiful maternity gowns for you to choose from as well. If you are interested in wearing one, please bring nude colored strapless bra and panties with you. Don’t forget to ask me about my gown buy back program.

Be mindful of your shoes and nails and they will show in your pictures.

Don’t forget to relax and put your feet up.

Getting Ready for your Family and/or Baby Session

When dressing your child for their session please choose something that they will be comfortable in and fits well. Clothes that are solid and neutral colored photograph the best. Please try and avoid large logos and pictures, small and/or pin stripes and bright, neon colors. If more than one child is being photographed, choosing outfit colors from the same color family that complement each other will be best. If your baby is not walking, please choose something that is not overly baggy and fits well.

Family sessions have room for a little more fun in outfit choices. Choosing coordinating colors from the same color family really bring the image together. When you first start thinking about what to wear, find one outfit first. I call this my “hero outfit”. This outfit is usually for mom or daughter. It could be a busy outfit or a large accessory. All other family member outfits should pull colors from or coordinate well (same color family) with your hero outfit. Patterns are ok when doing family pictures as long as they work well with each other. Adding textures and layers to your outfits really makes them pop and gives depth to your images. Please try to avoid large, bright patterns and thin (or pin) stripes and large logos and pictures as these do not photograph well and can be distracting.

Be mindful of your shoes as it is very likely they will show in your photos. Accessories are a fun option as well. Keeping them small and not over bearing (unless they are your hero’s piece) will

photograph best. We do not want them to take the focus from your family’s faces.

Cake Smash Sessions

When choosing a cake for your session, please bring a white or light cake with pastel or white frosting while savings the darker colors for accents. Chocolate cake does not photograph well.

Definitely bring a change of clothes for your baby and yourself as well as an extra towel for cleanup. These sessions can get messy.