Client Lounge
Thank you for booking a session with me! I’m so excited to meet your family and make some beautiful memories together! Read on for information on how to make your family’s session amazing.
I have a lot of information to share with you so please feel free to come back here at any point before your session.
Does the thought of choosing outfits feel overwhelming to you? Let me help! I have an online styling service for all my families to use. Some families choose to purchase outfits directly from the site, others use it as inspiration only and pull pieces from their closets. However you use it is totally up to you, but regardless, it’s a fun little tool and I highly recommend playing around with it.
Access the styling service here.
Passcode: ALP2025
If your session will take place outdoors, please plan for it to be in the last hour before sunset. If this is in summer, it may be quite late. Please check out this blog post for some tips to make the evening go smoothly.
My session is at home, does my house need to be perfect?
NO!!! I photograph families how they are, not some fake version of them. However, since I do photograph families in their homes, if there are things you don’t want seen in photographs, please put it away. I will assume anything left out is okay to be seen :) I do recommend giving your house a quick clean before I arrive. Any clutter should be put away, but still try to keep your house feeling like you. I typically photograph in the master bedroom, the living room, and the kids’ rooms or nursery so if you want to tidy, focus on those areas.
Still stumped on what to wear?
The most important thing is that you’re comfortable and you feel like you. If you’re not sure where to start, I recommend starting with Mom’s outfit and working around that. Long flowy dresses or cardigans, jumpsuits, or leggings with a slouchy sweater are all fun and comfortable. Keep kids comfortable in clothes that they’re used to wearing. I recommend bare feet for all at home sessions.
What will happen at my session?
Sessions typically last around one hour. If your session is outdoors, we’ll be shooting at a location I’m familiar with. Once we meet, I’ll lead you to my favorite areas and we’ll start the session. There will be a lot of playing and snuggling with your kids
If your session is at home, the first thing I do is look around for the best light. We’ll do a quick tour of your home. Please don’t apologize for any mess. I have kids. I get it!! Once we determine the best rooms to shoot in, we’ll get started.
I always give kids time to warm up to me and I take their lead. If they’re energetic, then we’re going to start with action shots. If they’re shy, then we’ll start with snuggly images. My goal is to capture your family just how you are, so while I will direct and guide, I’m not going to fully pose you. I may ask you to fly a child on your feet if that’s something they like doing, but I’m not going to ask you to perfectly sit and smile at the camera. I want your images to look like YOU and we’re only going to achieve that by you being yourself.
A few tips:
Eat! This is so important and it’s often overlooked. Please make sure you and your family have had something to eat before our scheduled start time. There’s nothing worse than feeling hungry during a session.
Try not to get changed until after you’ve eaten, preferably just before our session so that your clothes stay clean.
Please make sure you try on your clothes ahead of time and make sure they fit everyone well.
Remove any chipped nail polish.
If your session is at home, make your bed! I often photograph families there.
If your session is outdoors, make sure you plan your shoes. Sometimes you put so much effort into choosing outfits only to realize on the day that all the shoes your kids own are brightly colored sneakers.
When can I expect my images?
If you have given me permission, I will post a sneak peek from your session to social media (Facebook and/or Instagram) within 48 hours of your session. I may sporadically post a few more over the next week. You will receive your gallery within three weeks from your session date.
I loved my session but now what?
The first thing I want you to do is to print your photos! Images are meant to be displayed, not kept on your computer. I always recommend Mpix.com for prints. Next, if you feel inclined, I would LOVE it if you could leave a review either on Facebook or Google. If you post to Facebook or Instagram, please, please, please tag my business. That really helps my small business continue to grow. Word of mouth referrals are the best compliment I could ever receive, so if you have friends or family searching for a photographer, I would love it if you could tell them about your experience with me. Lastly, keep in touch! I love, love, love to see my families grow!
About those newborns…
I will photograph newborns at any time during the first month. I can never guarantee that they will sleep but if you want sleepy images the best things you can do is make sure the room is warm, and book your session for the first two weeks of life. I recommend dressing baby in something that fits well and is neutral or a plain color. Onesies or sleepers work perfectly for a newborn session. It’s also a good idea to have some muslin swaddles and/or blankets on hand. I treat newborn sessions much the same as family sessions. The whole family will be included. Everyone in a family has a new role to play when a new baby arrives, and all those new roles should be celebrated!
None of this would be possible without you. I can’t wait to celebrate your beautiful life!