You've booked your family session! Yay!

Before your session...

We both want your photos to be everything you dream of! Here are some things you can do to prepare prior to your session for the best possible results!

Styling your family

For in-home sessions

While you want to be comfortable during our session, please avoid leggings, sweatpants, sweatshirts or yoga pants. Think more like you’re dressing to have friends over for a nice dinner. I always recommend a casual dress for mama as dresses are always flattering! If you need some outfit ideas, you can check out my Pinterest board here. 

If you don't already have a dress picked out for yourself, one perk to working with my is that you get full access to my client closet.

Remember to match all outfits to same general feel. If mama is wearing a gorgeous maxi dress, make sure dad isn't in just a t-shirt! Think more like a nice sweater or cardigan! Please leave baseball caps at home.

Avoid being too matchy. Coordinating is great, but we don't want you to blend into a each other! I also have a Pinterest board of colour palettes to help you if you need it! I recommend finding a palette you love and pulling some outfits with those colours. I'm happy to help with this at our pre-session consultation as well!

Don't be afraid of patterns, but not too many or too busy is best.

Avoid logos or written sayings on clothing and make sure no phones or keys are in any pockets!

During these sessions, we'll utilize the places in your home that have the best natural light. Light permitting, I like to use the living room, master bedroom and any minimally decorated kid's room, but any little nook next to a window will work if necessary!

Please ensure these spaces are free from clutter, as I do not edit mess out of images. 

I recommend a neutral or solid coloured bed spread or blanket for your bedroom to keep images from feeling busy. White is ideal but any lighter colour should work!

Timing

The best time of day for an outdoor family session is right after sunrise, or just before sunset. However, it's best to steer clear of bedtime and is best to plan for a little bit earlier than end up with exhausted children!

For in-home sessions, the best time is whenever you have the most natural light in your home! Of course, it's also best not to plan the session too close to either side of nap time!

The Day of our session...

Children

What to expect

My style is all about the natural connection between parents and their children, so we don't do too much sitting and smiling at the camera. I'll be gently directing you throughout the session - where to sit, who to stand next to, to lay down or tickle each other, but mostly I want you to interact with your family in a natural and normal way.

My sessions are play-based and I like kids to act like kids. When you tell a child to look at the camera and smile, it often results in a cheesy, unnatural grin or a downright defiant scowl! It doesn't capture their personalities or reflect the beautiful relationship that is unique to your family. As a parent in the session, it's your job to relax, be natural, and lead your children. Try not to stress if your kids are being crazy, that's who they are, and that is exactly what we want to capture! 

Toddlers and pre-schoolers can be unpredictable. As your session date approaches, try to talk excitedly about the photoshoot and get them excited about participating. 

I don't recommend bribing your children for participating in the session as children will then be focused on the treat they get for behaving. I do recommend bringing some healthy, secret snacks that you can give to your children if their energy seems to be getting low. 

I also recommend saving all discipline for after our session. It's much harder to get children to interact and play happily if they've been disciplined shortly before or during our session.

After your session

I try my best to post a sneak peek from our session on my Instagram account within 24 to 48 hours after our session because I know it's hard to wait! It can sometimes take a day or two longer depending on how crazy my children are that week!

Within one week, we'll schedule a date for your reveal! We'll meet up on zoom and I'll show you each of your stunning images. You'll get a chance to tell me which are your favourites, and where you envision displaying them. Once you've chosen your favourites, I'm here to help you figure out the best size or style to display them around your home! However, I'm so confident you'll adore your images that if you purchase your artwork prior to your session, your order is 20% off.

Once you've chosen your images and artwork, I get designing and ordering. Usually artwork arrives within three weeks from ordering, but I unfortunately am unable to guarantee turn around times from the labs I work with or shipping estimates.

Seeing your images

Wall Art & Albums

Being a mom is an amazing privilege, but it generally comes with a major decrease in free time! I know how hard it is to find time to print, frame, and hang your images, which is why I do it all for you - well, except the hanging! I will, however, help you measure the space to find the best size of wall art for your home!

I offer:

       Custom Framing

       Gift Prints

       Custom Lay-Flat Heirloom Albums