What if the weather isn't looking good for my session?

Please don’t follow the forecast, let me do the weather worry for you!

• In the PNW, things change SO quickly. Because of this, my advice to all clients is to avoid the reports leading up to your shoot! I myself don’t even look until 24hrs in advance and even then, I don’t take it too seriously. The morning of your session is when I’ll closely view the hourly forecast and watch the Doppler radar to let you know if there is any concern about rain, snow, etc.

• I know it’s hard, but we kindly request that you do not contact me regarding the weather days in advance of the session. I will reach out to you (day of) if I see something that will get in the way of ideal shooting conditions for your scheduled date and time. We would never ask you to go out in the rain or extreme cold! Our climate here requires a little patience and flexibility at times...we are armed with both and ask that you trust our guidance.

• If we are in fact dealing with a wet day, my first goal will be to find a dry hour on the same date to still shoot. If possible, please keep your schedule flexible on session day so we can move things around if need be. If it’s impossible to find a rain free window, I’ll then offer rescheduling options.

What should we wear?

The outfits you choose will have a big impact on how the photos turn out! Here are some guidelines to help with your process...

Planning for a Family Photo Session

• Select a color scheme! Depending upong how many people are participating in your shoot, I recommend choosing 3-4 colors max to mix throughout. Earth tones and light neutrals photograph beautifully year round.

Earth tones: rust, burgundy, cream, mauve, sage, warm grey, grey blue

Light neutrals: ivory, cream, beige, blush, soft blue, navy

• Please avoid bright or neon colors altogether. Your clothing will reflect onto your skin tone (along with those around you in the photo) and we want that to be flattering as possible. Bright white has a tendency to wash people out, so I would lean more towards cream if you are thinking about going that direction. Colors like bright red, orange, pink or yellow are examples of what to stay away from (if possible). I would recommend burgundy, rust, mustard or blush in their place, as these are more muted versions that will photograph well. We want to keep things soft and neutral to highlight you looking your best! Some pattern is wonderful, but do be selective about how much you involve in outfits. If one person has clothing with a lot of print, consider keeping everyone around that more neutral. Fun accessories like hats or scarves add personality and charm to images!

• A note for the ladies! Once you've selected a color scheme, work on finding an outfit that you can feel confident in. Long, flowing dresses in a solid color with accessories will never go out of style! Jeans look great with sweaters or dressy tops. Fancy sandals or fun boots (ankle or knee height, depending on the season) are a really great shoe choice. Avoid heels or wedges that are too high to easily get around in. Let style, comfort and function guide your choice in footwear. Consider wearing a little more makeup than you would in regular, every day life, as it tends to photograph well. False eyelashes always pop in pictures!

• A note for the gentleman! Please avoid wearing tshirts with a logo or golf shirts. Logos can be distracting and golf shirts are made of very thin material, so you can see through them easily. Consider dressing like you're going out to a nice dinner or heading to a job interview. Button-ups of any kind are comfortable and casual. Light sweaters or sports jackets can elevate you to a more dressy level. Fancy is not required, but we do want clothing that has nice structure. Avoid sneakers and/or shiny dress shoes if you can.

• Tips for dressing children, teens and young adults! Please make every effort to provide clothing options for your child, teen or young adult that fit them well! If something is too big or small, it often makes them feel uncomfortable and will photograph as an exaggerated version of why it's too big or too small. Meaning, this will be way more noticeable in pictures. Denim works really well whether it's in pant, short, overall or dress form! Jumpers, rompers, dresses and flowing skirts are also cute. Button up shirts, sweaters, and jean jackets all work great. Avoid sneakers if you can, the bright colors are not flattering in images! Consider a soft, neutral color palette so we can showcase their personality without any distractions! Special note: if you have a young baby/toddler/child in a dress, PLEASE either use bloomers or form fitting shorts underneath to hide diapers/underwear!

Planning for a Senior Photo Session

Hey Seniors! Above all else, it's very important to me that you feel both comfortable and confident in whatever you choose to wear at this shoot. Here are some basic guidelines, but don't hesitate to reach out if you would like advice on your specific selections.

• Please avoid bright or neon colors altogether. Your clothing will reflect onto your skin tone and we want that to be flattering as possible. Bright white has a tendency to wash people out, so I would lean more towards cream if you are thinking about going that direction. Colors like bright red, orange, pink or yellow are examples of what to stay away from (if possible). I would recommend burgundy, rust, mustard or blush in their place, as these are more muted versions that will photograph well. We want to keep things soft and neutral to highlight you looking your best! Some pattern is wonderful, but do be selective about how much you involve in outfits.

• Most seniors like to select 2 different outfits for their session: one more dressy and the other more casual.

Ladies: flowing dresses of any length always photograph beautifully. You can even add a denim jacket for warmth and style in the cooler months! Transitioning from that into a look with jeans and a cute top or sweater makes for a well rounded shoot. Have fun with the casual outfit and let it represent your style! Maybe the jeans are ripped or you want to incorporate fun accessories...go for it!

Gents: jeans or khakis are a really easy base to start with. Dress it up or down with a collared, button up shirt or your favorite jacket. Please avoid logo wear tees and golf shirts. If you're more casual and want to do a high quality zip up for a 'sporty' look, that's a great option. Do avoid sneakers with bright colors and opt for more neutral looking footwear.

How do I pay?

No deposits are required!

• Your session cost will be due in full on shooting day. Payment is contactless and you will be emailed an invoice directly following your shoot. All major credit cards are accepted.

When will I receive my photos?

All of your beautifully edited images will be delivered via online gallery within 2-3 weeks of your shooting date!

Please use the PIN number provided within the gallery email to download high resolution photos.

• You can expect 20+ pictures for all mini sessions and 40+ pictures for all standard sessions
• RAW files are never given to clients
• Printing rights are included, so you are free to print wherever you like

Please do not change or alter the images in any way (i.e. IG filters) before printing or posting. Your finished product is to be used as is.

How do I prepare for a lifestyle newborn session at home?

Lifestyle newborn sessions are meant to be more relaxed, but here are a few tips to help both your family and brand new baby be more comfortable for the shoot...

• Consider an extremely neutral color palette for your outfit selections

Ivory, cream, beige, blush, soft blue or even light grey will provide us with a canvas that allows your family to really shine through in the pictures. We don't want clothing to compete with home decor in the backgrounds, so this is why I suggest going extremely neutral for a newborn session!

• Try to time a feeding for baby to happen just before we arrive

A milk drunk baby is the happiest and most easy going for a shoot! If we can begin with a full tummy, the chances of catching those sweet, sleeping shots will be much greater.

• Have baby in a fresh diaper and clean, plain onesie

Unless you have an outfit you want your newborn dressed in, I will provide professional swaddling wraps in a wide variety of colors for your use. Newborns don't love getting dressed and undressed, so it's very helpful if you can start us out with having him or her in nothing but a fresh diaper and plain onesie. This way, I don't have to undress baby in order to begin my swaddling process. Simply wrap them up in a blanket as you await our arrival.

• Clear the clutter

We know you are likely operating on very little sleep with your brand new infant and potential siblings! Don't feel obligated to do a bunch of cleaning, but if you can clear the main areas of clutter to have them photo ready, that would be so helpful. I'll always shoot in rooms that have the most natural light...these are commonly found in the family/living room, master bedroom and nursery. We are happy to assist with moving things around once there if need be!

• Plan for patience

Newborn sessions revolve around the comfort of your brand new baby and any young siblings involved! We come prepared to take our time so that we can ensure there is ample opportunity for feedings, diaper changes, etc. The average newborn sessions takes 2 hours to photograph, so plan on our visit lasting at least that long!

Please feel free to contact me with any additional questions as you prepare for your upcoming session!