Family Prep Guide
It doesn’t have to be painful
There can be a lot of anxiety and frustrations surrounding the thought of taking professional family photos. But I’m here to promise that it doesn’t have to be that way!
My family sessions are slightly posed, but mostly engaging. I want you to play, laugh, hug, and move.
Location
Family sessions can be done outdoors or inside my studio, Collective. My regular hours are Mon - Fri, 9:30 am - 2:30 pm. After hours require a $49 fee.
Outdoor sessions are mostly done during the “golden hour”, which is the hour before the sun sets.
For siblings in school that you want included in your session during my regular hours, I recommend treating this like any other appointment. I have school excuses available if requested.
What if they’re crying?
Sometimes it’s bedtime, they’re hungry, or maybe even scared of the camera. I try not to force smiles or have parents coax the little ones. The goal is to get at least one traditional photo where everyone is looking at the camera, happily smiling, but my personal belief is that it’s the more genuine photos that we cherish the most.
So what do we do if they’re crying? You hug them, you comfort them, you play with them, tickle them.
And I take the picture.
Clothing
To match the style you see in my portfolios, I recommend neutral colors: browns, creams, whites, tans, greys, and black.
It’s also helpful to pick a theme. Do you want to be dressy or casual? Modern or classic? It’s important that not only your colors complement each other, but that the theme is also matching.
You wouldn’t want mom to be in an extravagant gown while dad is in blue jeans and a t-shirt. That would feel out of place.
Just be yourselves
While it’s my job to provide recommendations, it’s important that you remain true to yourselves. Don’t be afraid to stand out! Bring the guitar that you serenade your kids to sleep with. Let your son wear his favorite hat that he never takes off. It’s okay to bring real life and let your personalities shine through your photos.
You can do all of this while still maintaining a coordinating color flow and theme.