Session Checklist
Right Now:
Schedule your session.
Pay retainer fee in order to lock in your session appointment.
Complete shoot agreement, model release & questionnaire to complete the booking process.
Plan outfits and ask me for advice on clothing if you need some help. (See 'What to Wear' below)
Night Before:
Lay out your outfits, and pack anything else that you may need.
Make sure everyone gets a good night’s rest!
Day Of:
Make sure everyone has eaten before our session. Hungry kids make for a less-relaxed session.
Don’t forget to plan ahead for travel and parking time. Please try to arrive 5-10 minutes early, before our start time.
Feel free to bring snacks or treats for kids if needed (just be sure that the food items won’t leave a mess or any color on faces or clothes.
Have fun and don’t stress! Relaxed families make for beautiful portraits. So be prepared to enjoy the session – sit back, relax, and trust me to capture some special memories for your family.
What to Wear
Here are some helpful tips and ideas for deciding what to wear for your upcoming photo session:
Also, visit my Pinterest Board for What to Wear?!
Coordinate outfits: This doesn’t mean everyone has to match 100% with khakis or jeans and a white shirt! You want to complement each other’s outfits by choosing colors that work well together. Coordinate VS. Matching….there is a difference.
Colors & patterns & textures oh my!: Colors you use should coordinate with each other. When picking patterns, choose smaller ones that won’t distract attention away from the main subject(s). Use patterns sparingly…. if one person is wearing a print, try to avoid putting someone else in a competing pattern. When thinking about texture, choose different ones that will give photos some interest such as lace, corduroy, denim, etc. Avoid logo’s, emblems and graphics which will typically distract attention away from the subject. Avoid bright florescent colors like yellow or orange that reflect onto the face.
Be timeless: Pick outfits that are not considered too trendy, but will be able to be enjoyed and displayed for many years to come.
Let your little light SHINE: The purpose of these photos is to hopefully capture each individual as they truly are, to capture the family, the relationships, and people in the photos just as THEY are. Forcing children to wear outfits that are uncomfortable and unfamiliar to them may cause some anxiety and stress to them which in turn will inhibit really capturing their personalities during the session. Same goes for adults. Wear clothing that YOU feel good in and the pictures will emanate those feelings. If your child wears a pair of rain boots everywhere he goes, it makes the most sense to have him wear them for pictures as well. Remember, you want to capture everyone as they are now...life as it is now.
Dress for the season & location: Obviously you want your images to make sense. One typically wouldn’t be wearing jeans, boots, and a jacket to the beach in the Summer so why would you for pictures? Dress the part and be aware of your location. For example, if you are shooting at the river, ladies wear a pretty dress and sandals, put dad in a short sleeve shirt and shorts OR pants (which you can also roll up), put your little girl in a sweet Spring or Summer dress, etc. If Mom and Dad are wearing long sleeves baby should be too. You will want to make sure that everyone is on the same page and coordinates in both colors AND styles.
Layering: Not only will it provide more visual interest in each photo but it will also allow a lot more variety in your pictures. Add a sweater, jacket, scarf, hat or some jewelry and you have an entirely different look.
It's all about you: These are YOUR images and you want them to represent you and your family's personality. You are welcome to bring “props” and accessories that will help compliment who you are. Bring along items that will represent who each individual is AND who your family is collectively.
Home Sweet Home: Think about the color and style of your home when selecting outfits or locations. Chances are, at some point after your session, you will be ordering prints or digital files. Keeping your decor in mind will ensure when you hang your photos, they blend with the interior of your home.
Ladies & their shoes: I’m all for a sassy pair of shoes, however they may make for a very long and painful session. If you plan on wearing heels, be sure to bring a pair of flats or flip flops that can help you get from point A to point B without any pain. You can just swap them out as you need to. Also keep in mind the location chosen and you're not walking in heels through a forest or the beach. Bare feet in pictures in the Summer months is a look that I love, just make sure those toes have either color or no color, not chipped fading color.
Basic Steps:
Keeping your location and season in mind, start with one person. Don’t try and think of everyone at the same time. I find that mom or a little girl makes the most sense since they would typically be the ones wearing a print. So mom will be wearing a floral print dress (small pretty pattern that is) or something with texture like lace.
Now move on to the next person. You will be pulling colors from mom’s dress so begin to think about who in the family would look good in what colors. Work through each member...remember coordinate, not match.
Then start to come up with ideas to personalize the session. A little boy may have a teddy bear or toy fire truck that he loves…. be sure to bring that with you. Mom loves daisies… on your way to the session pick some up. Just let me know ahead of time so we can plan to incorporate these gems into special shots.
What to expect after photoshoot?
Once full payment is received, I will post a sneak peek from your photoshoot on Facebook/Instagram. Within 3 weeks from your session, you will receive a link to your full gallery via email. Once gallery is received, you have one week to select your favorite photos that you would like included in your package and, any additional prints or products you would like to purchase. If purchasing digital images, they will be available for download for one month. After a month, your gallery will be archived.
Travel
The session fee includes travel within a 30 mile radius of Grafton, MA. For travel beyond the 30 mile radius, a cost of $1/per mile will be added to the session fee.
For more information or questions about products, offerings or pricing, please contact me!
EMAIL: Southernlovephotography5@gmail.com
PHONE: 774.277.0901