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.
If we need a little help in that department, I always carry my trusty speedlight to help fill in the shadows.
If it is really dark on the day, I like to have a “rainy day” backup date – usually the following day or a day that suits both of our diaries.
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.
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.
Neutral colour clothing (ivory, creams and greys) is often best teamed with pops of pastel accent colours.
Soft floaty fabrics fall beautifully, whilst fitted tops and dresses really accentuating the bump – so don’t feel limited to just one outfit 🙂
If children will be present, remember they 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, to encourage natural interaction rather than inhibiting it.
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 possible!) – if you’re tired it will show in your face and body. For red eyes – Eyedrops are your friend.
FACE & SKIN
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.
HAIR
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 wall art credits.
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 or stiff poses, however having some ideas for inspiration 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 yourself. Have fun – chat to each other and share a laugh… It will result in unique and personal photos.
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 some full edits 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 within one week, where you can choose your favourites.
EDITING & RETOUCHING
Your favourites 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.
Thank you for reading these tips – I’m so looking forward to our session together!