Final Prep for Family Photos
Get Ready to Shine! Your Family Photo Session is Almost Here!
We're so excited to capture some beautiful memories with you in just a few days! To ensure everything goes smoothly and you can relax and enjoy the experience, here's a little rundown of what to expect and a few important reminders:
Final Logistics Check-In:
Studio Sessions: You have a reserved parking spot waiting for you! Please use these directions to find us: Studio Parking Lot
In-Home Sessions: We've confirmed your address and parking details.
Outdoor Sessions: You should have already received a Google Maps link with precise coordinates, parking suggestions, and our designated meeting spot. Please take a moment to review this information now to familiarize yourself with the location. As for the weather, we've likely already touched base, but we'll keep an eye on things!
A Few Important Notes:
Feeling Under the Weather? Unexpected Conflicts? If anyone in your family isn't feeling well or if a last-minute event has popped up that will impact your arrival time, please reach out to the studio as soon as possible to discuss options. We offer full refunds for sessions cancelled with more than 24 hours' notice.
Little Bumps and Scrapes: Did your little one have a minor mishap? Don't worry too much! Send me a quick photo via text, and we can assess if it's something easily taken care of in post-processing.
Respecting Our Time Together: To ensure we have ample time to capture all those wonderful moments, our session will adhere to the reserved time slot on your booking confirmation. Please note that late arrivals will unfortunately result in less shooting time, and refunds cannot be provided in such cases.
Bringing an Extra Helper or Wanting a Few More Photos? Wonderful! Just give me a heads-up beforehand. Knowing the exact number of people helps us plan the session effectively and allows for more opportunities to capture great shots of everyone.
Making the Most of Your Session:
Pack Smart: Don't forget your essentials! Here's a helpful list: Family Photo Prep
Set Expectations and Share Your Vision: Chat with everyone in the family about our upcoming session. For the little ones, keep it light and fun: "Remember our friend Jenn? We're going to see them soon, and she’s bringing her camera!" For the adults, please let me know if you have any specific photo requests, poses you'd prefer (or want to avoid!), or any concerns at all. Your comfort is my priority.
Hold Off on the Bribes (For Now!): We'll have some fun surprises ready during the session to encourage those genuine smiles!
Skip the Forced Smiles: Instead of practicing "cheese," let's focus on fun! Sing favorite songs, make animal sounds, tell silly jokes, or play quick games like "Simon Says" or "I Spy." We want your smiles to be natural and joyful, just like playtime!
Extend the Fun! Adults deserve treats too! Consider planning a fun family activity after your session. If your session is at the studio, there's even a coffee shop in the building!
What to Expect During Your Photo Session:
No matter the journey to get here, my goal is to capture truly beautiful family photos that you'll cherish. I promise!
When you arrive, please feel free to take a moment to get settled: change anyone who needs to, feed little ones, and use the restrooms.
At the very beginning of our session, we'll briefly discuss our goals for the day, any planned outfit or background changes, and address any last-minute questions or concerns you might have. We'll then tuck away any items not needed for the photos (diaper bags, car seats, phones, etc.) so they don't end up in your beautiful images, and then we'll get started!
My posing guidance will be light and natural. Every family is unique, and we want to capture your connection, not force anyone into awkward positions. My go-to advice? When in doubt, look at your partner and smile. Give your kiddos a squeeze with your eyes closed. Hold hands and stand close – those genuine smiles and loving moments will happen naturally! Here are more details about how we will handle posing during the session.
We can't wait to see you soon and create some wonderful memories together!