A guide to help you prep for our session.
inside the experience
I know it takes a little while for everyone to get comfy and get into the groove of being in front of the camera (plus the kiddos take some time to warm up to a new person!). But don’t worry mama, I know how to tackle your chaos so take a deep breath—we’re going to have a blast!
What To Expect:
Once we've checked the Christmas Card smiles off of our list, we can relax and play! Spin, dance, run and laugh! Then fall into one big cuddle puddle for some snuggly family photos. Don't worry, I'll guide you the whole way. I work my magic to catch smiles and laughter of the little ones, alone and with their siblings. And no need to stress if the kiddos are not wanting to cooperate! Trust is HUGE for photographing kids and I know exactly how to get them comfortable enough to open up to and flash me a gallery wall worthy smile.
here's a sneak peak on how it'll play out:
Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by a photo your husband has taken of you and your kids. Let’s capture the beauty of motherhood while you’re actually *feeling* beautiful… because as important as those every day iphone photos are, it can be nice to have a high quality photo of you and your children while you’re wearing makeup. I will also take a few moments to get some photos of dad and the kids as well so we can highlight the importance of each of your roles in your children’s lives.
here's a sneak peak on how it'll play out:
Lastly, take a few breaths and get into the right mindset! I am SO SO aware of how stressful it is to get everyone ready for a photo shoot. I know first hand that it can be an emotional rollercoaster! Trust me, each of those beautiful images that you’ve seen on my social media and website were shot in between tantruming children, sweaty dads, and a mom who wasn’t sure how well this was all going :) Despite the chaos, I promise that we’ll get some amazing photos!
Inclement Weather? Don't panic! Since we live in Nebraska where the forecast changes by the minute, I usually wait to make a decision about rescheduling until about 2-4 hours before our session. P.S. storm clouds can make for some epic photos!
Prep with your spouse on what to do if a kiddo misbehaves or doesn’t cooperate. No yelling! I promise, it’s the last thing that will help a kid smile. We can catch more bees with honey by picking them up and spinning them around, holding their hands and swinging them, sing their favorite song, dance with them, tell a silly joke, and when all else fails let out some bathroom noises! If an epic breakdown happens, take them to the side to breathe and calm down, validate their (probably nervous or overwhelmed) feelings, and ask if there’s anything fun they’d like to do for a photograph.
Hype it up! Get them excited for our session before the shoot so it’s something they’re looking forward to! Maybe plan for dinner or ice cream afterwards to top off the night/have something to bribe them with along the way!
Make sure the kiddos have a nap and a meal beforehand! I always recommend bringing some (unmessy) snacks just in case because we don’t want any hungry littles (a little bribe to cooperate does the trick!)
If you’re thinking, “oh gosh, how am I going to do this!” don’t fret mama. Here are some tips to prepare the fam for our session:
how to prepare:
Old Navy, Gap, Amazon
clothes for dad:
Old Navy, Gap, Amazon (search girls/boys linen clothing)
clothes for kiddos:
Lulus, Amazon (search women’s boho maxi dress), Baltic Born, Reclamation, Vici
dresses for mama:
Some recommendations of brands to think of:
view my amazon wish list to see what kind of clothes i love to photograph!
If you need help, I’m here for you! Feel free to send me your favorite combos, inspo, and outfits you’re considering. We’ll work together to find the perfect outfits!
Complement and coordinate, but don’t get too matchy! If you don’t know where to start, hop on Pinterest and search "Family Photo Color Palette". Pick one that you love and choose outfits that work well together (without clashing). Neutrals with a pop of color or softer palettes allow for a wide range of shades and tones to play with.
Aside from all the prep you have to do, figuring out what to wear may seem like an impossible task! Here are my best tips to help make this a breeze:
what to wear
When in doubt, limit fun patterns to only one person and play around with texture to add dimension and movement. Denim and linen are timeless fabrics to think about. Try to avoid logos, large text, and unflattering colors (think: neon). Remember, you don’t want to have too many things going on or else it’ll look busy!
Aside from all the prep you have to do, figuring out what to wear may seem like an impossible task! Here are my best tips to help make this a breeze:
what to wear
Accessories can pull together an outfit and make it look complete! Feel free to bring any cute ones to incorporate (scarves, hats, jewelry, etc.)
Aside from all the prep you have to do, figuring out what to wear may seem like an impossible task! Here are my best tips to help make this a breeze:
what to wear
Keep our backdrop/location in mind when selecting your outfits! Fun, flowy layers are great for nature shoots, while sleeker outfits work best for urban environments. Reminder that high heels are not fun to walk through fields in!
Aside from all the prep you have to do, figuring out what to wear may seem like an impossible task! Here are my best tips to help make this a breeze:
what to wear
Pro tip: mama should choose an outfit that she feels confident and beautiful in and then plan everyone’s outfits from hers!
Aside from all the prep you have to do, figuring out what to wear may seem like an impossible task! Here are my best tips to help make this a breeze:
what to wear
My editing style is vibrant, so feel free to play that up with punches of color!
Aside from all the prep you have to do, figuring out what to wear may seem like an impossible task! Here are my best tips to help make this a breeze:
what to wear
Comfort is key! Make sure your outfits are comfy so your confidence will really shine through your photos!
Aside from all the prep you have to do, figuring out what to wear may seem like an impossible task! Here are my best tips to help make this a breeze:
what to wear
Aside from figuring out what to wear and how to prep, don’t forget these essentials to bring for your session!
what to bring
If you have a special blanket you’d like to use, feel free to bring yours. Otherwise, my car is FULL of ones to use.
I like to keep shoots classic and simple so I tend not to recommend using a lot of props, but if you want something incorporated please bring it!
Comfort toy for the babes and littles. It’ll be a great add to help them warm up and get their attention!
Snacks that won’t stain. Goldfish are great! We'll try not to use these unless we absolutely need to because they can become a distraction.
Water! It’s so important to stay hydrated, especially for super hot summer sessions.
My job is to make you feel completely at ease and have the best experience possible. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
