Styling Suggestions

I recommend choosing clothing that makes you feel pretty and confident but is also comfortable; remember that this transitional time for your body (no longer pregnant, but not quite how you felt pre-pregnancy) is also part of your and your family’s story during this sweet season
Keep in mind your surroundings, how your home is decorated, and stay true to your family's personal style
For indoor sessions, shoes are optional. You can start with a pair of shoes that go well with your outfits, and if we want to remove them during the session, we can, or don't bother with shoes--really it's whatever feels right to you!
Parents typically wear one outfit for the entirety of the session. It's up to you if you want to have multiple options (for newborn sessions, having a back-up outfit is a good idea in case of the classic unforeseen spit-up situation)
I suggest having a blanket on-hand that will photograph well in case we choose to wrap baby up for some photos

I would suggest staying away from solid black or all white clothing because those extreme shades can throw off the exposure of a photograph (but of course there are exceptions, so if you have a black or white outfit you want to wear, you could shoot me a picture and I can give you my thoughts)
Neon or very bright colors can reflect onto your face and cause color casting, so stay away from those
Avoid clothing with graphics/text or distracting logos
Avoid having everyone "match." Instead, you want to aim to coordinate. You can start with one piece and build from there for the rest of the family.
- It's usually easiest to start with mom or a girl in the family because men are typically (though not always!) easiest to style.
- Once you have a piece you want one of you to wear, you can pull from the colors of that outfit. If the outfit you started with has a pattern, start finding complimentary clothing pieces for other family members in the detail colors of that first selection. If it's more of a solid, look for complementing colors that coordinate with that first choice but do not match

How to Prepare

Feeding baby just before the session is a good idea so he or she is more likely to be content for the duration of the session (but if baby struggles with acid reflux, you may need to feed further beforehand; you know your baby best!).
If at any point during the session you need to take a break to feed baby or change baby's diaper, just let me know!
If you can turn up the temperature in your house a little so that it's warmer by the time I arrive, that will help baby be comfortable if we decide to just have baby in a diaper or light blanket

Make sure the kids are fed and as well-rested as possible before your session time (hungry, cranky kids have a tendency to be less than thrilled about photos/everything in general, am I right?)
I know any time you’re trying to get the whole family dressed and prepared for a special event on time, it can be stressful. However, please try to at least appear relaxed while getting ready and preparing so your kids will also feel relaxed and not stressed during the photo session
Both before and during your session, please refrain from scolding, yelling at, or disciplining your child. Of course, you know your kid best, however, if possible, we’ll let our session be a window of “letting the small things go,” and we’ll try to stay relaxed and focus on helping little ones have fun during the session
• Tell your children in advance that someone is going to come over and take photos of the whole family having fun together, snuggling, and hugging/kissing so they know what to expect aren’t caught off guard by a stranger suddenly showing up with a big camera pointing at them!

I'll get to your home at your scheduled session time and look around the house to assess the best rooms/areas of the house for the session (I'll be looking for a lot of natural light).
- If it's okay with you, we may move some furniture around slightly if needed in order to get the best images
- Don't worry about having a perfectly clean house or rearranging anything before the session; we can figure that out once I get there
If you have older children, one of the first things I’ll do (before taking a look around) is introduce myself and talk to them/get to know them.
- It’s important for me to develop trust with kids who I’ll be photographing so they can be their authentic selves during the session, and so they don’t feel like their personal space is being invaded
- Giving me a good idea of who your kids are before the session by filling out your pre-session questionnaire will be incredibly helpful so I can anticipate whether your kids are extroverts and ready to jump in, or if they like a little more time to warm up to people

Get ready to interact with each other! If you’d like, we will do a few “posed” traditional family photographs (everyone smile and look at the camera!), but we will primarily focus on documenting your authentic connections and interactions
- I’ll prompt you on different ways to interact with each other, but mostly you’ll be focusing on enjoying your time with each other and soaking in the moments
Remember, if at any point during the session you need to take a break to feed baby or change baby's diaper, just let me know!
Babies and kids are unpredictable much of the time, so we will go with the flow if baby wants a change of position or if siblings have their own ideas of how they want to interact with baby (safely, of course!)

After your photo session, I will edit your photos, and when your gallery is ready, I’ll send you a link to view watermarked photos in your gallery
You’ll then select which digital collection you’d like to invest in, and upon purchasing, you’ll download your photos right away
You can then quickly and easily order prints from my professional lab through your gallery