WELCOME.
session information & guide
At La Luna Photography, I believe everyone has a story.
A personal ‘footprint in time’ that must be captured visually to be shared, enjoyed and treasured for years to come. It is my greatest privilege to become part of your daily life and preserve your ‘story’ in beautiful images.
Whether documenting the arrival of your newborn child, the bonds that bind your family or a special milestone, La Luna Photography is known for skillfully, tastefully - perfectly - representing this moment in time.
What Happens Next?
You are booked in, paid and your shoot date confirmed. Now you are wondering what the process is from here...
Before your session...
It's time to plan what to wear! Below I have a few suggestions on how to plan your family's attire for your session.
On the day...
Your session is here! This guide will let you know what to expect and how best to prepare. The day before, you can expect a text to confirm your session, make sure everyone is happy, healthy and ready to go. If you need to reschedule for any reason, I would love as much notice as possible.
After your session...
Approximately 2 weeks after your session you will receive an email linking you to your personal online gallery - from here you can download your whole session or individual shots, and share with friends & family. Rush Delivery is available for an additional fee of $75 (delivery within 3 days of session.)
Your gallery is linked to my online store, from which you can purchase prints, wall art, albums and keepsakes.
I would love if you could share your positive experience with your family and friends, and a shout out on social media if your share your images would be appreciated! My business thrives on word of mouth bookings which is the biggest compliment.
Custom Artwork
You’ve heard it a million times: “a picture is worth a thousand words.” But I disagree. Pictures are truly priceless. They hold the heart of a million little memories. They preserve feelings of the past that will help guide you to the future. Each photo is a priceless and permanent reminder of a life well lived and loved. Photographs out live us, they tell our story for years to come, they are a family heirloom that will be looked back on for generations.
You’ve taken the time and energy to document your family during your session with me…but where do your images live once you get them? As a busy mother myself, I am so guilty of not printing our photos like I should (and want to!) I don’t want to have folders and folders on my computer holding these most important moments.
I’ll take care of this for you! Imagine having stunning gallery walls and gorgeous albums so your images can live in your home and in your hands.
What to Wear
Finding the perfect outfit for your family session may take a little bit of work, but you probably have great pieces already in your closet that could work together! Use these tips below to help formulate a plan.
5 Tips for Families
1. Coordinate your outfits by finding a color palette you love and finding pieces that compliment one another. Soft, muted colors and neutral tones look great for my style of photography, please avoid bright/neon hues.
2. It is important to be comfortable and relaxed and feel your best! A mix of small patterns or prints can often look great mixed in, but in general, less is more. Avoid small stripes as these do not photograph well.
3. Please try to avoid anything too bold, too matching, any logos, or all black as these do not photograph well.
3. My photography style is light and airy, so light colors/pastels are a great option and can look stunning in monochrome images.
4. A floaty long dress pr skirt always works well for mothers and provides beautiful movement on camera, but anything goes! It’s all about capturing your personality and style.
5. For babies and newborns, have a handful of simple onesies/outfits on hand and neutral swaddle blankets. Avoid bows and dresses for babies.
What to Expect at Your Session
My aim for each and every session is to create a relaxed, friendly environment for all children and families. I know how stressful having your family photographed can be, and I'm here to help make it a positive experience!
Expect lots of fun. Lots of laughs. Lots of hugs, kisses, and snuggles. I can guarantee you that having your family photographed in an authentic, lifestyle-like approach will help you hold on to these moments - your pregnancy, the baby years, the toddler years, or any precious moments you are hoping to capture and remember forever.
During your session, the most important thing is to relax and enjoy the moment!
To begin, I will have a quick look around for the best light and spots. I will then guide you in to semi-posed situations based on the light and the compositional space I want to photograph you in. I shoot with natural available light (no flash) and often you wont realize that the camera is even there, but rest assured that I will capture soulful, gorgeous, and playful images.
There is no pressure to perform or “smile” – I want my session with you to be fun and stress free. Often, my favorite photos arise from genuine moments of interaction, when I can capture those truly real moments of connection in an artistic way.
My style is very natural and organic – but I do also aim to get a great family photo where everyone is in place, looking good and looking at the camera. My sessions are carefully designed to be fun, fast moving and very candid.
After your session, I will be working hard behind the scenes to edit the best photos (eliminating duplicates, blurs, and blinks.) Your gallery is typically ready within 2 weeks of your session.
Last step to complete your photo session experience: ENJOY YOUR PHOTOS! I am passionate about printed art because then you can view it and appreciate it in your home every single day. I can’t wait to help you create something beautiful, timeless, and meaningful, just for your unique family.
How to Pose During Your Session
No need to say ‘Cheese’! I’m chasing natural interactions and unposed moments. I strive to capture and encourage authentic expressions. No need to coax your children into fake smiles!
On a related note, children around the ages of 5-10 will sometimes try to “cheese” in the photos, because that’s what they’ve been conditioned to do when they see a camera! Help me create more candid shots by interacting playfully with your children.
Laugh, play, tickle, and snuggle. This is how we’ll capture the REAL moments.
Not everyone has to be looking at the camera. Actually, I usually encourage my gentlemen to NOT look at the camera. (they seem to prefer that, as well!) I like to especially encourage parents to focus on their partners and their kids.
When in doubt, just smile and look at your family lovingly.
Stand close together. Actually, as close as possible.
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. And don’t stress if any of the kids get fussy! As a mother and thoroughly experienced photographer, I’ve seen it all before, trust me. Just snuggle your kiddos and we can still capture beautiful images.
Expect me to move you around to different spots to capture images. The more variety we get, the bigger your gallery and the more great shots we have the opportunity to create together!
Location
Where will we shoot?
The first thing to remember when it comes to picking a location for your family session is figuring out the vibe you want. Do you want to go on an outdoor adventure or have a quiet snuggle session at home? Do you want to splash around at the beach or frolic in the gardens? When you know the vibe and style you want, that makes it easier to narrow down your location choices.
My personal favorite sessions are a combination of beach and park/greenery at Sherwood Island, but I can certainly help you select your perfect spot of you are undecided.
I usually offer outdoor morning sessions 2 hours after sunrise or afternoon shoots about 2 hours before sunset, dependent on weather and the location. I love this lighting and it lends a lot to my creative style. Indoor session timing is more flexible.
In-Home Sessions
I love in-home family sessions because the background of your home helps tell your family’s story. You, your spouse/partner, or your children will one day look back at these pictures and see the love and feel the nostalgia of a specific place and time. Your home will reinforce the emotions that viewers have towards the images!
Of course, some parents stress out about having a photography session in their home. It’s too messy! It’s not Pinterest-worthy! It’s too small! The lighting is not great! But I am here to help you through all of that…keep reading for tips to help you prepare your home for an in home photography session.
Clear away any clutter as best you can!
Clutter is usually an inevitable part of family life, so before the session check the rooms we’ll be using for anything you wouldn’t want to appear in your photographs – paperwork, laundry, remote controls, laptops, games consoles…etc. My aim is to give you a memory of the best bits of family life, and having these bits and pieces out of the way will make those memories all the sweeter.
Find a safe hiding place for toys It can be hard for young children to enjoy a photo shoot when they can see all of their favorite things out of the corner of their eye! Having said that toys and books can make a wonderful addition to photographs. I suggest choosing some toys and books that you’d like to include in the photographs (hard back books and wooden toys work particularly well) and then make sure everything else is safely tucked away out of sight.
Consider the living room and bedrooms
The main living area and couches/chairs are great spaces for family photos. Do you have any throw pillows or blankets that you love or hate? Add them or remove them before I arrive.
I love using the master bedroom for sessions – the bed provides a wonderful, big space for everyone to snuggle on. So that your lovely family is the main focus of the images, I recommend using neutral bed linen – white works particularly well. I recommend keeping the bedside tables and coffee tables as clear as possible and perhaps only choosing a few books, a candle, decorative bowl/box or fresh flowers to keep out.
And remember this
When I photograph you and your family, I am primarily focusing on the light and how it hits your face. After that, I am scanning the setting behind you so that it looks as minimal as possible. This means that if you didn’t have time to prepare your home, I do my best to photograph in ways that minimize clutter. I may make suggestions that we should move something while I am there so that your photos look even better. So please don’t stress about the condition of your home when it comes to an in-home family photography.
FAQ
How long is the photo shoot?
Family sessions usually last one hour… However, we allow for extra time if needed sothere is no rush. At newborn sessions, two hours is standard, in case little one needs feeding or settling throughout.
Can we include our pet?
Absolutely, if the location allows dogs! Fur babies are most welcome. 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.
What happens if my child is not behaving?
The most important thing is to relax and go with the flow…I am a mother and wife myself, and understand that meltdowns are unavoidable and sometimes photoshoots can be tough! I advise to have a few toys on hand to keep the little ones entertained and if the mood turns, it’s not a problem, we will work through it. I’ve seen it all and love to capture action shots of kids playing and in motion. Trust the process and we will get through it!
What should we bring?
Treats for the kiddies (bribery perhaps?), water, your little ones favorite toy..... a relaxed and positive vibe.
What if we are sick?
If anyone is sick, we reschedule! Simple as that. Working with children I have come to expect that last minute texts or calls will occasionally happen. We want this to be a positive experience, so there’s no need to force it if anyone is unwell.
What if the weather is bad?
If it is wet and soggy, we will reschedule. I will be monitoring the weather and will be in touch if there is any doubt. If it is overcast but dry, we will go ahead as some of my favorite sessions have taken place on cloudy days. For outdoor sessions I often book a back-up date when the initial date is set.
If you have any questions or concerns about any of the information in this guide, or anything else,
I am happy to arrange a pre-session phone call or meeting to go through it with you.
Thanks again for choosing me and I look forward to connecting with you during our session!