family session guide
Expect lots of fun. Lots of laughs. Lots of hugs, kisses, and snuggles. Whether booking a mini session or a full lifestyle session, I'm so excited for you to consider me to document this special time in your lives. I can guarantee you that having your family photographed in an authentic, lifestyle-like approach will help you hold on to these moments - your pregnancy, the baby years, the toddler years, whatever years you want me to document and freeze time for! I know how stressful having your family photographed can be, and I'm here to help make it a fun experience, but I'm committed to telling your family story as honest as I can, and how crazy it may seem ;)
HOW TO BOOK YOUR SESSION
Step 1
Inquire about my availability. Many times I'm booked months in advance, but contact me to see when my next openings are!
Step 2
Book your date! Pay $100 deposit to hold your session date. This $100 counts towards your entire session fee.
Step 3
Fill out the questionnaire which tells me more about your family, and anything special to include in your session.
2024 FAMILY SESSION INVESTMENT
Mini Sessions $395 | Family Sessions $650
Once your date is on my calendar, your deposit paid, and the questionnaire is filled out, you'll hear from me about a week before your session to finalize the location and time. I’ll also check in to see if you need any help with styling options, but see below for some guidance!
session q&a
WHEN WILL MY SESSION TAKE PLACE?
I love to shoot families when the sun is working to my advantage. In summer this means evenings work best, but in the spring and fall, both early mornings and evenings may be possible! I've even booked sessions in the winter (with snow!!) so if that is something you are interested in, don't hesitate to reach out!
I also love to shoot milestone and family sessions in your home or backyard if you are comfortable with it. Your home must have great light for this to be an option - we can determine together if this will be an option.
Where will MY session take place?
Most sessions will take place within the Waukesha county area. I love to shoot in a variety of settings and have favorite spots always picked out, but I am also finding new locations constantly. If you have a certain preference as to location setting, I will do my best to accommodate that.
*There is a travel fee for any session that takes place more than 15 miles from my location in Pewaukee. Inquire to find out more information. Mini Session Days will always be in a pre-selected location.
WILL YOU USE PROPS?
Lifestyle sessions are all about telling an honest story of your family, I like to keep props to a minimum - all we need is your family to tell that story. Depending on the location, I will always have a blanket/quilt with me for us to use, as well an old box/crate.
If you have questions about including certain items/props in your photo session, don't hesitate to contact me!
What happens if the weather isn’t favorable?
If the weather isn’t favorable, it is best to reschedule and I’ll reach out with some options. Typically we wait until the day of to determine if a reschedule is needed, as weather can change suddenly.
OTHER TIPS...
A few other tips to help the session run smoothly...
Relax! You may be stressed out and worried that your kids are going to cry, have no interest or pull out their stranger-danger faces. But if you set the tone for your family that this will be a fun, relaxed, stress-free session, your kids will feel that vibe too.
I'll get a few "everyone smile and look at the camera" shots, but if you've looked at my work (hopefully you have) you'll see that I love to capture authentic, honest family moments, and that's usually achieved when having fun, exploring and just playing and loving on your kids!
Bringing snacks/bribes with you may help should your child need extra incentives, but only use them if they are needed!
planning your outfits
My light and airy photography style is achieved with a three part formula: the right location/light + the right outfits + the right editing = magic.
While the right location and the right editing is completely for me to take care of, I need your help to create magic by wearing outfits that compliment the light & airy look - which means light, neutral, timeless outfits. By wearing light, neutral and timeless clothes, it allows the focus of the photos to be on you, your family, your faces, and your love. If you wear dark clothing, bold patterns and bright contrast it will compete for the eyes attention and I want all the attention of the photos to be on you instead.
A Few Tips
For patterns, look for light and delicate patterns, versus bold and contrasty patterns - light florals, eyelet patterns and light stripes photograph beautifully. For starters look for creams, tans, whites and light grays - add a little color with muted pinks, blues, and greens. I recommend finding the ladies outfits first. Dresses really help to capture that timeless look and I always love to recommend mamas wear dresses too. A light breeze or a simple twirl really adds beautiful motion to a photograph when you wear a dress.
For the guys, I recommend simple henleys, button up shirts or sweaters. For pants - khakis, tans or light colored jeans are recommended. Next, layer and add accessories with a hat, jacket or vest for the boys, or a headbands and necklace for the girls. Shoes: Remember that you'll want to be comfortable as we move around, but please stay away from character themed shoes, athletic shoes, and bulky soles.
If you are looking to purchase new clothes, my favorites are Old Navy, Zara, Gap and Target, as they are affordable, coordinate well from baby sizes to adults sizes and have timeless pieces that photograph well. A few other places to look for beautiful pieces are: Morning Lavender, Jamie Kay, Pink Blush, and Roolee.
Inspiration
If you need some visuals, here's a couple of pinterest boards of style guides to help get some ideas of great outfits that work well together and what works best for my photography style...
Spring & Summer Sessions
Fall Sessions
Winter & Studio Sessions
after your session
Once your session is over you'll receive your digital gallery within 2-3 weeks. You'll receive your digital images in both color and black and white. You'll be able to download them all, along with a PDF for the printing rights. You'll also be able to share with family and friend easily. You will have the option to order prints and products through the online gallery which is the only way I can guarantee 100% color accuracy. I always love to post a sneak peek on social media (Facebook and instagram) within 1-2 days. So watch for that!
Thank you for allowing me to capture this special time in your families lives, it means SO much!
Recent Family Sessions
