timing

Arrive early! Be sure arrive a few minutes before so you are ready to shoot AT your scheduled time and allow for parking. Sessions are booked back to back so if you are late, you will only have the remaining time to complete your session.

what to wear

Coordinate your outfits by finding a color palette you love and finding pieces that compliment one another. Soft neutrals, warm earth tones, and colors like rust, olive, oatmeal, and dusty or navy blues photograph beautifully; please avoid bright/neon hues, anything too bold, too matching, any logos, or all black as these do not photograph well.

Keep it comfortable. It is important for everyone to be relaxed and feel their best! Kids move, run, and snuggle. Make sure they’re wearing outfits they can play in. Keep patterns and prints to a minimum - in general, less is more. Please try to avoid anything too bold, too matching, small stripes, any logos, or all black as these do not photograph well. Soft, well-fitted clothes (nothing too tight or scratchy) help everyone feel relaxed, which is key to capturing real connection and emotion.

Say yes to movement. Flowy dresses, long skirts, and oversized sweaters create beautiful motion in photos. Movement adds life to your images and reflects the natural, candid moments we’ll create together. I recommend starting with choosing Mom’s outfit, and then coordinating everyone else’s around yours.

during the session

My aim for each and every session is to create a relaxed, friendly environment for all children and families. During the session, 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. As a mother of two and thoroughly experienced photographer, I’ve seen it all before, and know that we can still capture beautiful images. I love to capture action shots of kids playing and in motion, and when in doubt, just smile and look at your family lovingly. Trust the process and we will get through it! 

kids

Tell kids that they are going to play and have fun while they have their pictures taken, but don’t spend too much time with rules or guidelines or what to expect in the days before. You don’t even need to tell them to smile big for me - I’m chasing natural interactions and unposed moments. No need to coax your children into fake smiles.

I recommend feeding your kids with a snack or meal before the session.  Telling your children how important the photos are, or how they need to smile or act a certain way, can cause stress on little ones. Set them up for success by making it as casual as possible, and just encourage them to be their (best) natural selves.

weather

I will be monitoring the weather in the days before our session and will be in touch if there is any doubt. If it is raining or very wet, we will reschedule. The sessions will go ahead on cloudy days or in the event of a light drizzle. Cancellation due to weather is at the photographer’s discretion.

pets

Fur babies are welcome to join your session - our location allows for dogs. If you bring your pup along, make sure they get some brisk exercise before coming. This will allow for a (hopefully) slightly calmer canine during your shoot.  I also recommend bringing their favorite toy or treats. Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot. 

policies

All mini-sessions are intended for immediate family - there is not alot of time for additional family members to be photographed. No outfit changes. No props.

There are no refunds given for mini-session fee upon cancellation or due to no show. Twenty-four hours notice of cancellations is appreciated.

gallery

After your session, I will be working hard behind the scenes to sort and hand edit the best images from our session. I love to give you images where there are beautiful expressions and candid moments being captured. You will receive your final images in an online gallery, within 2 weeks of your session.

digital & print images

Your gallery will be available for 3 weeks after your session. During this time you can purchase your images from my Print Store linked to your online gallery. Here you can purchase digital images, photo prints, wall art, and albums. While digital photos are most popular, I always urge my clients to also invest in prints. Having a print that you can hold in your hand makes your memories all the more meaningful and has a lasting impact that digital photos can’t match. Physical prints and albums are a profound way to remember, look back on, and cherish these moments with your children. Ordering directly from your gallery is seamless and simple way to get professional quality prints and physical products that will display your photos beautifully. Don't let your photos stay stuck on Instagram or your phone forever! Print them, love them, share them, adore them!

After 3 weeks, the gallery will expire and you will no longer be able to access your images online. Please be sure to complete all purchases and downloads within this time frame.

I ask that proper photo credit is given anytime you share an image online. That means adding a link to my website whenever possible, and for Instagram, tagging me in the image and/or in the caption as the photographer.

additional info

Mini-sessions are so much fun and really the point is for them to be as easy on you as possible. My best advice for you is to think of it as a fun activity for you and your family and enjoy the process. I’m there to guide you through the session and create memories of a beautiful day. I encourage all my clients to be in the moment and not stress about the end result. We will get some beautiful photos, I can promise! Relax, enjoy the time spent with your family, and I will capture some precious moments for you that you can cherish forever!

I hope these tips are helpful, but if you have any questions about anything written above, or just about the session in general, please do not hesitate to ask. I look forward to working with you soon!