-Make hair, nail, and/or makeup appointments before your session. These are small details but we want everything to be perfect.

-Plan your outfits at least a week in advance—don’t wait ‘til the last day, trust me! You want to wake up feeling relaxed and prepared, so plan these details out early. Feel free to text me photos of your wardrobe if you’re having a hard time choosing! I’m happy to help.

-Prepare your kids (and husband!) with laid-back, low-key references to let them know what’s happening. Tell them you will be “hanging out with our friend Olivia on Saturday!” or “going to the park to play!” and keep things fun, lighthearted, and casual. This tip is especially helpful if you have a particularly shy child.

-Brainstorm about specific props, mementos, or special types of images you want captured. You can bring heirloom quilts, a special stuffed animal, an embroidered keepsake, etc. Some families know they want a very specific type of photograph taken. If you have these preferences, be sure to brainstorm them in advance and let me know as well!

-Any personal appearance touchup items you might want, including things like lipstick or a hairbrush.

-Snacks on snacks on snacks, and if necessary, treats to bribe kiddos with! (However, it’s best not to tell kids about the treats before the session; wait until the kids start getting fatigued before you pull out the candy card! They’ll usually perk right up then!) Also, make sure the snacks/treats won’t stain lips or fingers!

-Walkable shoes. We will probably be walking short/moderate distances. Walkable shoes are a must! If you just love your wedges, bring them to change into before we start shooting.

-A change of clothes for the kiddos, in case anyone gets muddy or dirty. As a photographer, I love when kids interact fully with their surroundings, and I’m thrilled to photograph them playing in water or running through the grass. As a parent, you might not be too keen to let them back into your car, covered in mud. Feel free to bring a change of clothes or shoes. Maybe even a towel. You never know!!

-A beer. Just kidding! (kind of!) But seriously, if a beer will loosen up hubby a bit beforehand, I totally support it :)

- Neutral, coordinating colors. Do not match!

- Mix colors that go well together but are not exactly the same. This is easiest done using neutral colors, which will also weather the years better than bright, bold colors.

- Patterns like plaids, stripes, and florals. You can even mix-and-match them, and don’t be afraid to layer them with solid colors and denim.

- Avoid dressing your little ones in short dresses as they have a tendency to ride up. Be sure that the outfit you’ve chosen to dress your little one in is play-time appropriate.

- Be careful with accessories. Often children don’t want to wear hats or scarves and will remove them. In other cases they’ll use them to hide from the camera. Remember that the important part is not the outfit, but the moments that are captured of your family.

- No need to ‘Cheese’! I’m chasing natural interactions and unposed moments. I strive to capture and encourage authentic expressions. No need to coax your children into fake smiles!
On a related note, children around the ages of 5-10 will sometimes try to “cheese” in the photos, because that’s what they’ve been conditioned to do when they see a camera! Help me create more candid shots by interacting playfully with your children.

- Laugh, play, tickle, and snuggle. This is how we’ll capture the REAL moments.

- Not everyone has to be looking at the camera. I like to especially encourage dads to focus on their partners and their kids.

- When in doubt, just smile and look at your family lovingly.

- Stand close together. Actually, as close as possible :)

- Relax, slow down, and don’t force anything. Don’t feel pressured to make everything perfect! Just be present with your family and I’ll do the rest. And don’t stress if any of the kids get fussy! As a teacher, I’ve seen it all before. Just snuggle your kiddos and we can still capture beautiful images :)

- Expect me to move you around to different spots to capture images. The more variety we get, the bigger your gallery and the more great shots we have the opportunity to create together!

- After your session, I will be working hard behind the scenes to cull the best photos (eliminating duplicates, blurs, and blinks) Your gallery is typically ready within 7 - 10 days of your session.

- Depending on your package, I will soon deliver a watermarked proofing gallery so you can select your favorite images to keep.

- If you wish to upgrade your session and keep additional photos, a fee of $5 per photo will be applied.

- No RAW photos will be available to clients.