I understand that time is precious. The kids are growing up (too) fast and the family dynamic is constantly changing. And that staircase wall is begging for more photographs.
Whether you are having lifestyle portraits of only the kids, the immediate family, or a lifestyle newborn session, there is always planning involved to capture the candid, everyday moments of life. Ultimately, your goal for the session helps guide us to create a successful session.
Planning can include thinking of where these images will live – on walls, in books or albums. There is also the question of what to wear, as well as where to capture these moments. Newborn sessions tend to be in your home and portrait sessions can be there too, if you wish.
I like to help with all of these questions. I will happily come to look at your blank walls and staircases and plan your wall galleries. I will also help you figure out how to coordinate your outfits so you all feel good and look great.
A few weeks after our session, we will meet at a mutually convenient time to preview the gallery of edited images.
My approach to portraiture is to capture a mix of lifestyle and candid portraits along with a handful of formal and posed portraits.
Before your session, we will spend some time determining your goals for the images captured (wall art, album, etc), help out with what to wear, as well as pick out the best location. For a newborn session, you may want a mix of large wall prints for your home, along with a small keepsake album or all digital files so you can create your own prints.
As your children grow up, you may want to capture them every few months or every year and add to your family gallery wall. Seeing how your children grow from year to year is special. A family session may be a great time to get portraits of everyone together and portraits of the kids for your parents and to create that large wall canvas of your family for the mantle.
Extended family sessions, we plan to capture not only a multigenerational family portrait and also to create portraits of the families that comprise the large group. These sessions are special and with careful planning can be a great time together.
PORTRAIT SESSION DETAILS
Q: What is included in a portrait session fee?
A: The portrait session fee ($200) {newborn info below} includes a 60-90 minute session with your immediate family at a mutually agreed location. For an extended family session, please add $150/family. An online gallery of approximately 30-40 unique images for your review online and an in-person session. I am also available for a post-session consultation to help pick out images, help create a gallery wall, or select images for an album. Please not that the session fee includes travel to and from the portrait location, before and after consultations and my time during the session and does not include prints or digital files. I am also available for a post-session consultation to help pick out images, help create a gallery wall, or select images for an album.
Q: Can you tell me what I should expect from the portrait session experience?
A: Your goals for these images help define our time together. During our time together, I get to know all of you. The more comfortable you are, the more comfortable you will be with me and the camera. With your goals in mind, I work to create poses that will result in images you want. I do encourage that if you are looking for specific poses or looks, please save an idea board on Pinterest and share it with me before our session. While I do not like recreating other photographers’ work I am happy to take a look to get a sense of what you have in mind. Being natural and being “you” tends to be the most important ingredient in a successful portrait session.
NEWBORN SESSION DETAILS
Q: What is included in the lifestyle newborn session fee?
A: A newborn session fee ($200) includes a photo session of roughly 1-2 hours in your home; most of our time together will be spent on lifestyle photographs with a few posed newborn shots. I am also available for a post-session consultation to help pick out images, help create a gallery wall, or select images for an album. Please not that the session fee includes travel to and from the portrait location, before and after consultations and my time during the session and does not include prints or digital files. I am also available for a post-session consultation to help pick out images, help create a gallery wall, or select images for an album.a photo session of roughly 1-2 hours in your home; most of our time together will be spent on lifestyle photographs, with a few posed newborn shots.
Q: What can I expect from the lifestyle newborn session experience?
A: Newborns are precious and are tiny and sleepy for a limited amount of time, allowing for a narrow window to capture their innocence and beauty. Newborn sessions should be booked in advance of your due date; I pencil in your due date on my calendar and finalize the date and time once your baby is born. I do ask that you put me on your contact list so I know when your baby is born and can accommodate your session accordingly. A lifestyle newborn session will result in mostly lifestyle images, with a few posed newborn shots.
Q: When should the newborn session occur?
A: The best time for a newborn session is when they are still young, the earlier the better. However, a lifestyle newborn session can occur anytime in the first six weeks. That said, if your session occurs at three weeks or later, expect less sleepy, bendy baby pictures.
Generally, captures during our time together include lifestyle candid moments with mom and dad. If there are siblings, I aim to capture the interactions between the siblings and the new baby. Pet siblings can also be included and are encouraged, if you are comfortable with this idea. I also capture some sleepy, swaddled and posed baby poses. My newborn sessions generally include the whole family as well as solo newborn posed photographs in your home, such as your master bedroom, the nursery and the living room. At the time of booking, we can discuss and plan for your session goals and pencil in your due date.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Q: What is your generally photo processing style?
A: After photographs are captured, your images are digitally processed with a timeless style in mind. My color processing focuses on true, bold colors; my black & white conversions are rich with a hint of warmth. I tend to avoid trendy filters, as I feel your images will look dated when you look at your prints and enlargements in the future.
Q: How do I book a session?
A: Once we have settled on a date, a signed contract and session fee will hold your date.
Q: What do we wear for a portrait/newborn session?
A: I had this same question myself recently when we had our own portrait session. Everyone has this question so you are not alone. My first rule for what to wear is that you must feel awesome and comfortable in the clothes you have chosen. Wear clothing and shoes that you feel comfortable in and are you. Comfort is also very important for children. I know my daughter lives in leggings, so putting her in jeans may not be the best move. Once you have comfort down, think about what colors work well together, as well as patterns. I believe keeping it simple and complementing leads to a successful photo session. I am happy to take a look at color schemes and outfits so please feel free to reach out.
Q: What happens after the session?
A: When the gallery is ready for viewing, I will contact you to release your online gallery for 7-10 days. During this 7-10 day time frame, I am available for in-home consultations to examine where images may look best, sizing concerns, and am happy to do an in-person ordering session with you. I know that your time is limited and sparse, I love to work with you to help you make decisions during this 7-10 day window. You may place your order online or in-person as previously mentioned. Once your order is placed, turn around time varies by product purchased and is generally between 7-21 days.
Q: Is there an expected minimum investment?
A: After spending time together during our session, I hope that we have met the goals of your session. We have invested time together in this session and I want to ensure that you are able to make use of these images. As a result, I offer a few small print options, books and digital collection options. I also have an a la carte menu with a minimum purchase amount. Since I have worked together with my clients to understand the goals of the session, I find most clients invest at a minimum $500, which is my minimum purchase threshold.
Q: What kind of products are available to me?
A: I have a wide range of options available including proof sets, matted prints in a keepsake box, prints as wall art, ready-to-hang canvas, albums, as well as digital files collections. Please contact me for more information about pricing of products as well as collections.
Q: Do you offer mini-portrait sessions?
A: Yes! I do offer both on a very limited basis. I advertise my limited dates on social media or please feel free to contact me for further information.
