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WHAT TO EXPECT
If you're looking at this Client Guide, we've got a date on the books and you should start getting excited!
what's the session experience like?
A few days before the session, we’ll have a scheduled phone chat. I've developed a checklist of common questions and worries and "how to get ready" items I like to go through. We'll also talk about the weather and hammer down the details of timing.
BEFORE THE SESSION
A few weeks before your session date, I'm going to send you a digital client questionnaire. The point of this is for both of us to get our wheels turning on your hopes for the session and to help me get to know who you are as a family right now.
We can chat at any point over email or phone about your questions, concerns and ideas about the session.
BEFORE THE SESSION
BEFORE THE SESSION
SOME THINGS WE'LL TALK ABOUT DURING OUR PHONE CALL:
- Pets - how we include your furry family members.
- Kid Behaviour - how to "spin" this an experience you all get to have together.
- Clothes - strategies for deciding what to wear.
- Activities - for some age groups, it's a good idea to plan a family activity or two that will help get everyone's mind off the camera.
The one thing that’s the same for all, though, is that the ultimate goal is to relax. Babies cry, toddlers act up, teenagers grunt and grimace. Let them do what they do during the session and allow me to bring them around to the things we want them to do. I’ll capture them at their real and at their best. You’ll thank me for it.
Through the questionnaire and the chats mentioned above, we’ll also talk about specific considerations for your family. Newborn sessions obviously have a whole different list of things to think about than sessions with toddlers and little kids, which have an entire different list of factors and concerns than a session with teen and pre-teen kids.
Once our session begins, I take what I call a “catch and release” approach. Parts of the session will be almost completely documentary -- you doing your thing, me capturing it all. Kids playing. Brothers wrestling. Diaper changes. Breakfast eating. Morning hugs. Your routines (and your kids) lead the way. If it’s happening organically, I don’t mess with it.
When I arrive, I’ll want to look everywhere to find the best light and form a loose game plan for our time together. We’ll be using all natural light, so please open all the shades and curtains and turn off all artificial lights before I get there if you think about it. It is helpful if you tidy up a bit, but the house doesn’t need to be spotless. It’s your home and part of your story. That said, even if your house is immaculate, I’ll probably move some things around while I’m shooting -- a tissue box, a phone charger -- that kind of thing. Please know that I do this to everyone and I’m not judging your housekeeping skills!
Once I leave, if you’re missing something, look behind couches and under beds -- those are my go-to stash areas. 😉
I call it a "catch and release" approach, but it has nothing to do with fishing.
DURING THE SESSION
I’m going to try to remember to give you that shot you don’t even know you want -- one of you and your spouse without the kids. You haven’t gotten a good one like that since your wedding, I’ll bet.
In between the more documentary bits -- usually when I see an awesome spot or beautiful light or an object that reminds me of something you’ve told me you want to remember or I sense that you’re feeling a little adrift and could use some direction -- I’ll boss you around a bit. “Hey, let’s everybody pile on that couch and play a game,” or “Can you show me your favorite thing in your room?” or “Psssst ... do you want to jump on the bed? I won’t tell Mom!” That kind of thing.
I’m also always looking for the best opportunity to grab those shots I know you want. That one of the kids all in one frame smiling at the camera, for example, and the one of the whole family together.
Once we're done, I head home to tackle the always overwhelming job of curating the images we captured into a gallery of hand-edited photos that reflect this chapter in the story of your family's life. I somtimes post a “teaser” on my Facebook and/or Instagram pages (are you following me there?).
About three weeks after the session, I’ll send you an email with instructions on how to access a low-res preview of your images. Don’t be overwhelmed by the sheer number of photos -- my products and collections are designed to tell your whole story and I’ll help you figure out what the best way to do that is for you.
There's no set time frame for my sessions, but they typically last about 90 minutes or so. We flow through several "catches" and several "releases" until I feel like we've gotten the whole story together and I start to notice that one or more family member is starting to tire of the process. At that point, I'll check in with you and see if there's anything we haven't done or captured that you'd like to prioritize in the remaining time we have.
after the session
How much time?
There’s lots more info about things like the cancellation policy for weather or illness, location fees and copyright ownership in the digital Client Agreement you complete when you book your session. Don't forget to be sure to review and complete the digital Session Questionnaire by a few weeks before your session date, too -- in addition to getting your wheels turning on hopes and ideas for your session, it’s the best way for me to get to know YOU and your family beforehand and to help make your session GREAT!
Once your collection order has been placed, any necessary design work can begin at my end. You'll also then get access to your gallery of full resolution images for download and your online Gallery Shop! You'll have 30 days to spend your included Gallery Shop print credits.
Depending on what you order, you should have your finished products within approximately 2-6 weeks.
