This guide will give you a sense of what to expect during our time together and answer some FAQs.
As always, reach out if you have any questions that I haven’t answered here!

WHAT WILL OUR TIME TOGETHER LOOK LIKE?

My aim is for our 90 minutes together to feel casual and relaxed.

When I arrive, I'll set up my camera and scope out the best spots for light. I'll happily show kids my camera—how it works, the noises it makes, and how silly it feels to have it pointed at you with someone hiding behind it. I'll start snapping pics right away, but my main goal is to make everyone feel comfortable with my presence. I always look forward to checking out favorite toys, chatting about Bluey, and chilling over snacks together!

For the remainder of the time, we are hanging out while I take pictures!

It’s great to mix it up with different spaces and activities for variety in photos, but kids naturally do this on their own, so no need to stress about this or plan too much. I'm all for snack breaks and downtime when anyone needs a breather—they often make great photos too!

I'll keep an eye on everyone and may gather you for a more 'formal' family portrait at times when it feels right. I never ask kids to pose; I focus on capturing natural moments between all of you. Sometimes I may ask you to stand in a different place or angle your body differently for a great shot, but please don’t ever feel like any of you have to smile for the camera or look a certain way.

What should I do to my house to get it ready?

As much or as little as you would like!

I'm skilled at working around clutter and actually find that kids' toys and everyday life in the background can make for great photos (and don't stress—I'm no stranger to dust, pet hair, or stray cheerios on the floor).

I do request that you turn off indoor lights. Cameras capture light differently than our eyes, so your photos will look best if we use natural light from windows instead of mixing in lamp light, even if it seems dim to us.

What do I wear?

Wear an old favorite! Use this as an excuse to buy something new!

Ultimately, I recommend you wear what makes you most comfortable.

If you love bold colors and patterns, that’s great, however, neon colors look really strange on camera, so please avoid those.

It's a good idea to go with a hairstyle that you don't need to fuss with much. If you're always brushing hair out of your face, it might hide you from the camera or lead to lots of pictures of you adjusting your hair.

What if my kid is cranky/my partner is hangry/my kid kept me up all night?

Life is messy. It is also beautiful when it is messy. It isn’t your job to make anyone act a certain way or behave in front of me or seem cheerful and upbeat if they are, in fact, feeling the opposite.

It is my job to photograph the beauty of your family at this point in time and I’m REALLY good at rolling with however things are going and making beautiful pictures for you no matter what.

However, I do want this to feel good for you, so please let me know if there is anything going on that I should know about so I can help things go as smoothly as possible.

And when in doubt, let’s take a quick break and feed everyone a snack.

How do you feel about pets?

I love them and I love including them in family photos! Please have them join us as much as you would like.

What else do I need to know?

This experience should overall feel fun and not stressful or overwhelming. If you have any other questions, please reach out and I’ll be happy to chat further!