THANK YOU FOR YOUR BOOKING!
So, what’s next?
If I haven’t yet received all of your details, now is the perfect time to get them to me.
I always provide clients with a small questionnaire to fill in – this not only keeps all of your info in one handy place, but it also helps me ensure that we are making the best of our time together.
Included in all pricing packages is some valuable information to help you prepare for your session – this not only helps us make the most of our time together, but also ensures the best visual outcome for some stunning images.
Read on to see how these tips can help you.
WHAT TO EXPECT
I photograph with a relaxed and natural lifestyle approach, which is less about posed portraiture, and more about capturing candid moments with you just being YOU.
My outdoor photography sessions aim to create a carefree, fun experience that will bring out the best in you and your family, capturing your true essence, and resulting in photographs that are unique and personal which you would be proud to display in your home.
WHAT IF IT’S NOT A SUNNY DAY?
Don’t worry if the sun isn’t shining – in fact overcast weather is often the best for photo shoots, as the clouds act as one giant softbox by evenly diffusing the light.
I will of course keep an eye on the weather forecast – although in my experience this is often unreliable. I have had so many sessions go ahead with the clouds parting when rain was forecast.
If it is a complete downpour, I like to have a “rainy day” backup date – usually the following day or we can make a plan either after school or the following weekend.
WHAT TO WEAR
The all-important common question: “What should we wear for our session?”
Comfort is key. The last thing you want is to be constantly readjusting, and any underwear, straps, or nappies showing will slow down the editing process, meaning your gallery will take longer to get to you.
Children respond better when their parents are at ease, so keep in mind that comfort is key if you don’t want to keep re-adjusting yourself and want to appear relaxed…. Dress comfortably as you normally would as a family, to encourage natural interaction rather than inhibiting it.
You are not expected to go out and buy new clothes (unless of course you want to), but I HIGHLY recommend avoiding strong patterns, stripes or very large logos, as they can be too distracting.
If you intend to display the images in your home, think about neutral and complimentary colours.
It’s not essential that everyone look identical, just as long as you don’t clash…
Floaty dresses always photograph well outdoors, and for colder months this can be teamed with boots and scarves.
Keep in mind that:
a) Any discomfort will come across in the pictures, and
b) Take location and practicality into account (i.e. mud!)
The best way to decide on outfits is to choose neutral tones, mixed with a pop of colour.
Warm tones compliment this season beautifully, such as deep plums, mustard yellow and denims which team well with the rich autumnal reds and oranges.
Below is an example of some colour palettes that would work well for a family, no matter which location you use: Neutrals mixed with linen, denims and warm tones.
PREPARATION TIPS
Please note that these are only helpful hints to help you look your best – whilst editing is possible I am not a magician, and these tips speed up the editing process which in turn means you get your images sooner :)
Take from it what you like to ensure you get the best results from your session.
GENERAL APPEARANCE
Try to get a good night’s sleep the night before – if you’re tired it will show in your face and body. For red eyes – Eyedrops are your friend. Not getting drunk the night before your session goes a long way, too.
FACE & SKIN
The fresh Spring air tends to get noses streaming… Please have baby wipes on hand to wipe away eye boogers and crusties for younger kids – it is always quicker and easier to simply use a baby wipe rather editing out your darling child’s snot in each and every image.
Scrub away flaky facial skin the day before, instead of the morning of, to avoid redness.
Don’t feel like you need to cake on make-up to hide blemishes – it’s almost always easier to Photoshop away pimples than to clean up overdone make-up.
The same goes for fever blisters – They happen. Don’t stress. They won’t ruin your images.
Please be mindful of the sun and tanning during the week preceding your session – clothing tan lines are not a great look, and postponed sessions due to tangerine look-a-likes will be charged for.
HAIR
If we’re going to be outdoors, be prepared in case of a windy day – bring bobby pins, hair clips, headbands or any other favourite accessories.
If you’re getting a haircut for your shoot, avoid doing it less two weeks beforehand, in case it goes wrong – you just never know.
For men, a fresh cut a couple of days before the shoot is fine. Have a fresh shave or trim, and use a new razor with shaving cream and a moisturizing after-shave lotion to limit bumps and redness.
NAILS
Make sure your nails look tidy and clean, including the cuticles.
A fresh coat of nail polish for ladies and girls will make a world of difference in your photo shoot. Pick a neutral colour that won’t distract in your shoot or clash with your outfits. If doing this the morning of the shoot, be careful not to scuff it while getting ready.
GLASSES
It’s worth considering the glare on glasses can detract from your eyes in photos, however if friends and family wouldn’t recognize you without glasses, you’ll want to wear glasses in your shoot. You could have your lenses removed from your frames for your shoot (Hollywood does this to avoid glare in movies), or you could loan a pair of similar frames. But also not imperative.
CHILDREN
Please make sure small children are rested, fed, dressed and ready to go for their session.
It is perfectly okay (in fact sometimes encouraged!) to bring bribes to a photo shoot – given a stage and being the centre of attention, it’s like our kids know exactly when to act their worst.
Some cereal, treats or anything else that won’t stain teeth can help a short photo shoot go by smoothly.
Avoid colourful drinks or lollypops before your session, or anything that will stain their face, teeth or mouths.
It’s a good idea to keep a favourite toy/ cuddly handy for little ones.
WHAT’S NEXT?
WHAT’S INCLUDED AGAIN?
If you have booked onto one of my seasonal mini sessions, then your package includes your allocated 30-minute time slot on location, as well as 5 chosen images provided via digital download.
Full family sessions include up to 2 hours on location, with packages starting with 10 digital images and fine art prints.
BALANCE DUE
Unless you have been gifted a voucher, you would have paid a session fee to secure your time slot.
The balance payment will be your chosen package, due the day of your session, before any images are shared.
If once you have seen your gallery you love more images and can’t narrow your choices down, then you are welcome to upgrade to any other family package, by simply paying the difference.
All details including pricing options for family collections can be found in the families section (just scroll down to “How To Book”).
ON THE DAY
It’s time to have fun!
I don’t use props, however a favourite toy or snuggly can go a long way in avoiding stiffness and helping little ones relax. If you have something special in mind, feel free to incorporate it into your session.
Be silly. Have fun – tickle, crack jokes, do what you normally do to make the little ones laugh.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a break if you need one during a longer photoshoot – sometimes even sitting around enjoying a snack or picnic helps capture spontaneous natural moments.
Most of all enjoy every moment – you will look back on these pictures in years to come and warmly cherish the memories.
GALLERY PREPARATION
On completion of your session, a selection of images from the day will undergo a clean edit, with a full edit provided as a sneak peek to give you an idea of what you can expect once your chosen images are finished.
A secure online gallery will be created for your personal Viewing Session, where you can choose your favourites.
EDITING & RETOUCHING
Once you have chosen your favourites, they will be fully edited, including removal of any distractions from the background.
Any specific retouching such as blemish removal, smoothing of fine lines etc can be requested in the notes section of your gallery’s favourites list.
ANYTHING ELSE?
Once your chosen images are edited, your digitals will be provided via a link with a download PIN, which will enable you to download them directly to your computer or device.
You will also receive an email with your personalised app, so that you can keep all of your favourite images with you wherever you go.
We can then begin the customization and ordering process for any products included in your chosen package, as well as any additional items you may want, once you have confirmed that you are happy with the edits.
Thank you for reading these tips – I’m so looking forward to our session together!