Preparing for your Family Portrait Session

first & foremost — thank you.

Thank you for trusting me with your family portraits.

I want you to know that I consider this an honor and a huge responsibility. My goal is to make artful, soulful portraits of your family as a whole, of each individual, and of the unique connections between you all – like the bond between husband and wife, between sisters, between mother and son. That is a lot to accomplish in about 90 minutes, so I’m starting to prepare right now, by setting some expectations, and hopefully answering some questions you may have :) This may feel like a ton of info, but this is what I found myself emailing people about over and over again! Please read through this, and please let me know if you have any questions!

a recap of the basics :

-> I ask $550 for family sessions. This is an all-inclusive price that includes our time shooting and an online gallery of my selections of lightly retouched, high-resolution digital images, with printing rights. 

->  Every family is a little different, so every family session is a little different – but I usually plan for 90 minutes, either outdoors at sunset, or in your home, where timing is more flexible.

-> Expect to run, to twirl, to snuggle, to explore, to kiss, to laugh, to speak kind words to each other.

->  I will direct you, but it probably won't sound like, "Hold still for one more second!" or, "Everyone look here and smile!"  I will tell you to look at one another, hold each other even closer, ask questions that lead to smiles and warm fuzzies, and I'll get everyone moving. 

->  I have some tried and true spots around Nashville, but I would also love to hear if you have an idea for the location of our shoot. Shooting in a place that is already special to your family can make the photos more meaningful, and help everyone relax. I also love shooting at families' homes, and pristine landscaping is not required for that to be a wonderful option!

->  I will deliver an online gallery within three weeks after our shoot, of at least fifty final images. You can download the files to keep forever, and you have the option to order beautiful-quality prints of your favorites, small or large, through the gallery, which I highly recommend, and which is in addition to the $550. If you'd like to see those print prices beforehand, please let me know.

->  My outdoor family season is May – mid-November. If you would like a family session in your home, we can do that year-round!

-> A $200 deposit is due at the time of booking, and is non-refundable; the remaining balance is due at our session!

time of day

If we’re outside, I want the closest to sunset we can get, without your kids throwing a tantrum :) In the summer, sunset is pretty late, so we can absolutely plan for a little earlier in the afternoon, if you think that is best! But if you think they can make it to 8:00, I will say that my favorite light lasts until the fireflies come out, and the sun is all the way down. :)

If we’re shooting inside your home, then timing is much more flexible, and we will probably start earlier in the day, so we have light coming in the windows. I would love your help if you can watch the light in your home and tell me if it is really dark or really pretty in the morning/afternoon!

what to bring

Snacks can be a lifesaver, when kids get tired. I always love fruit in the summertime, or apples in the autumn - things that will be pretty in photos, and are healthful! Or planning a treat, like donuts, popsicles, etc. can be really fun. I definitely recommend having a snack ready that would be cute in photos, and letting the season influence your choice is awesome, too :)

I keep a simple grey blanket in my car, in case you want to sit on that, or put it under a blanket or quilt of your own! This is not a have to, just if you’d like it.

If we’ve talked about dipping our toes in a creek, etc, just think through your shoe choices, or bring a pair for the water. And a towel to dry off!

Having some music on your phone can be helpful with kids of any age.

And you probably won’t be sorry if you have some bug spray in the summer!

kindness is crucial

Sometimes Picture Day can be stressful. It’s just the truth. I know that these photos are important to you, and if surprises do come up, I promise everything will work better if you work hard to keep stress to a minimum. I think it helps to concentrate on the being best version of yourself, the version that you want to remember as you look at these photos for years to come. Please encourage everyone to speak to each other with kindness and grace, because having your photo taken is already a vulnerable thing, especially for adults, and one frustrated comment can make it even harder.

I think it helps to let your kids know that these photos are important to you, and do everything you can to set them up for success in our time together — but please don’t threaten them into acting a certain way. Think “kindness before, kindness during, and reward/gratitude after.”

I almost always prompt you to give each other compliments and share kind words to get you smiling. :)

what should I wear?

You should look like yourself, just with a little extra polish. I want you to be comfortable, and feel confident - whether that means wearing an old favorite, or using this as an excuse to buy something new.

I think neutral colors and classic styles (just be wary of really trendy stuff) are best. I also love a pop of color, but choose it intentionally! This is another area where I encourage people not to overthink — just lay out some things beside each other and see what looks good together.

I always love when Moms wear a pretty, casual dress - and that could be a great way to add a pop of color. Two brands that have a ton of great dress options are Piper & Scoot and Called to Surf — they don’t pay me to say that, I just have been really glad to discover them! They have a lot of different styles, some are even nursing-friendly, and I think they’re both very affordable. Moms, I think this is a great way to “treat yo’self” for less than $100. :)

I made a Pinterest board for you, if you want some inspiration!

payment

I am so grateful for your business and support. I want you to know.

I can take cash, check, Venmo, or Cash App.

A $200 deposit is due when you book and is non-refundable. A check in the mail or Venmo/Cash App work best for that. The rest is due at our photo session!

Thank you for reading this! So excited to see you soon, and please let me know any questions you have for me.