What should we wear?

I always tell my clients to wear what makes them feel best and comfortable, especially when it comes to kids. If a child is uncomfortable they will not enjoy the photo session and it will show in the photos. If the weather is chilly please dress the children in layers. If you have a super cute outfit you really want them to wear but it is not a warm one try putting tights on under the pants, put on long socks that go up their shins under their pants. Layer one or two shirts on under their top or sweater. Bring jackets, hats, gloves & a blanket to warm them up between photos. A cold child is not a happy child!

As far as color schemes I don’t recommend matchy matchy outfits, you know where everyone is in the same exact color top and pants. If everyone is in the same blue color shirt what ends up happening is that the kids heads look like they are floating in a sea of a blue!

What always looks great is coordinating colors. Start with your most picky dresser and choose their outfit so they are wearing something they love. Then choose coordinating colors for the other outfits. Pull the colors together by choosing accessories that match each other’s outfits. See the photo below for a great example. The mom is in magenta, the youngest daughter has magenta flowers on her dress, the older daughter has an aqua top that matches her sister’s skirt and the dad has blue in his shirt that matches the older daughter’s skirt.

The only color I suggest avoiding is solid red. It tends to reflect a red hue on to the skin.

You can check out my portfolio for other examples of color coordinated families.
 

Can you suggest a location?

Absolutely! Family portrait sessions can be anywhere in center city that you would like. Other locations outside of center city are possible for a travel fee. If you don’t have a specific location in mind I can suggest numerous beautiful locations around the city. I take the ages and personalities of your kids into consideration and will give you a few suggestions.

Mini sessions are held at a specific location that will be announced when they open for booking. The location of the mini sessions is not flexible due to the large number of clients I shoot in one day.
 

What happens if it rains?

During our consultation before the session we will discuss different options for a rain date. If you are not flexible on the date of the session then we will find an indoor location that suits you. If you are flexible on time and date of the session we will find an alternate date that fits both of our schedules.
 

Do you photoshop every image?

I will do some minor adjustments like cropping on each image I show you. I only do major edits in photoshop (like removing an object in the background, swapping the smile from another photo, smoothing out wrinkles) at your request if you have purchased a print 11x14 or greater.
 

How long does it take before I see my images?

My turn around time for our reveal appointment is typically 2 weeks.  

Can we bring our dog?

Absolutely! But you’ll need to bring an extra person who isn’t being photographed to pass the dog off to after a few photos. Dogs have even shorter attention spans than toddlers and don’t normally last for the entire photo session.

What if my kiddos don’t cooperate?

Kids will be kids and the harder you try to get a kid to smile and sit still the more they will refuse! I always take the time in the beginning of the session to get to know you child and set the atmosphere of a playdate and not a stiff and painful photo session. No matter the age of your kids I have quite a few tricks up my sleeve on how to get them to relax and smile for the camera.

Can I keep my images private?

No problem! In the contract for the session you can request that your photos stay private and they won’t be used in my portfolio, marketing material and won’t be put on social media.

Do you have a question that wasn’t answered here? Shoot me an email and I will answer you within 24 hours!