WHY LIFESTYLE?
Let’s remember your family. Your family has a story to tell. These photos will not be your standard look at the camera and “say cheese” type of photos. As long as you know that going into the session and trust me, your session will go amazing! I will be guiding your family during the session and we will be planning it ahead of time. You will walk away with interactive family moments that you will cherish forever. There are so many times where we say, “gosh, I wish I had someone here to caputre how we are acting as a family right now.” Well, now you do! With a little help planning what to wear, what activities to do in order to get genuine reactions out of your children, this session will be incredible and one you will cherish forever.
Our step by step plan for making your session great!
Don’t worry! We will be planning this together. The very FIRST thing I need for you to do (if you have older children), is start brainstorming about what your family dynamic is like and fill out the questionnaire! For first time parents, the questionnaire isn't necessary. The questionnaire will give me an idea of how to guide our session together. Please let me know, when filling it out, where you plan on putting the photos we take during your session. Will some go on your wall? Do you like books and albums (a lifestyle session favorite since we get so many out takes and detail shots). Do you have certain shots you MUST have? Are there rooms in your home that you love that you want to take photos in? Rooms you could do without in photos? Put it ALL on there. I want to make sure we shoot for you.
Many clients worry about not having the “magazine” home. Or a home with enough light. Rest assured the majority of the sessions you see in my portfolio were “typical” homes, not ones off of pinterest. It’s my job to take a window and make magic with your family. If we need to, we will move furniture, go into areas you may not think are ideal, but very well may be! Also keep in mind, that many of the photos of your family I will be taking are of you interacting. What is in the background does not matter. We do not have to use rooms you don’t like of course and we will plan which rooms in your home will work best for what we are going for! If you do have a home with fun elements, we will of course use them!
Fun Activities for You and Your Family
Not sure about what will be fun during your session....especially if you have kids already? I have a few ideas that always go over well kids and adults alike! Breakfast in bed, make pancakes, cute pj party, messy snack time, bubble party, doll house, tea party, army guy fights, coloring, make cookies, airplane, bubble in the sink, bathtime fun, party with your pets, etc. Try to brainstorm ideas that YOUR family likes to do!
How to Prepare
Your completed questionnaire will help me prepare for your session. All I need for you to do is to start thinking about outfits and what 'clutter' you would like to keep out of your images or what you would like to clean up. If we have talked about using any meaningful items during your session, please have them out and ready to go. If you are planning on an outfit change, have that ready to go as well! Please know that I will take over once I arrive so there is no need to be nervous about the flow of the session. Plan on having lots of fun, interacting as a family and being flexible! We all know that kids will be kids and sometimes we just have to go with the flow!
What to Wear
COMPLEMENT & COORDINATE BUT DON’T GET TOO MATCHY! Find a color palette that you love and choose outfits that compliment each other without looking too matchy-matchy. We want everyone to look unique and portray their individual style. Opt for neutrals with a few pops of color or a softer palette that has different ranges in tone of the same shades. Stay away from ‘blue jeans and a white t-shirt’ for everyone or outfits that don’t allow personality.
We are creating a memory of your favorite day. I want you to choose clothing that reflects who you are as a person and makes you feel beautiful and confident. The following are my personal recommendations and I am happy to help you select the best clothing for your session!
For newborns, I like simple short or long sleeve onesies. Solid colored ones or a small pattern on them. I also like very simple one-piece rompers. Plan for the time of year with your outfit of choice for the baby to make sure they stay warm. A short sleeve onesie might not be the best choice in the middle of winter. I would also have a solid color swaddle ready to go to help comfort baby if necessary.
For women and girls: long flowy dresses or loose fitting shirts that help create a feeling of movement and emotion in your images. Choose solid colors or timeless prints that compliment your skin tone. You can find amazing pieces at Free People, Lulu’s, Jen’s Pirate Booty, Forever 21 and ASOS. I also highly recommend wearing your hair down for added impact in your images
For men and boys: Solid colored t-shirts, graphic tees with something simple, and button ups in a color like chambray with the sleeves rolled up. I prefer when men wear jeans or casual tan or gray pants. Formal khakis like what your husband might wear to work don't photograph well.
Dressing up the kids is SO much fun. However, do they always like to get SUPER dressed up? If so, go for it! If not, let’s stick with what they typically wear, but a “clean version of it”. Have a t-shirt kid? Find a fun one with minimal things on it that won't date the image TOO much (logos, etc). If you are going with the clean and minimalistic look, grey, white and taupe all look awesome in photos. The biggest decision with clothes and kids is, do you go fun and colorful or do you go clean and neutral. That is totally up to you and your family’s style. Like both? Grab a fancy fun outfit for part of our session. Little girls love tutus :) Grab fun hats, layers, etc that will make for fun color pops in your photos. Plus, kids love to play with accessories!
Don’t forget about accessories! I love lots of rings, beautiful long necklaces and hats of every kind!
When you book a session with me, you will be directed to curated pinterest boards for specific season and session types. This should serve a as a good example of what looks good together. In addition to Pinterest, you will also have access to my styling assistant program. It's so easy to use. You fill out a questionnaire with the number of members in your family, gender and sizes. You'll also enter in which colors and what general clothing style you are thinking of using during your session. The program will then automatically pull up different outfit choices for each member of your family that will coordinate together! Outfits will be selected from common stores like Target, Old Navy, Lulu’s, Gap, H&M, Carter’s, etc. You can then click on the outfit and it will bring you directly to the store's site to purchase it! Even if you don't want to buy all new outfits for your family, this site will be a valuable tool in creating ideas on how to style your own family! I am really so excited about being able to offer this to you all! Great outfit choices really do help to make your photos look that much better!
Tips for your Session
1. Don’t worry! Things happen. Kids are cranky, dads are cranky, outfits don’t arrive, kids are fighting, it’s OK! The session will still be great.
2. Please feed your baby before I arrive. I usually plan on feeding breaks during the session but it helps to start the session when baby has a full belly.
3. Have your house ready BEFORE you go to bed. There is nothing more stressful on parents trying to get the house ready in the morning, the same time as the kids and themselves!
4. Have an extra outfit JUST in case of a mishap. :)
5. Know that during lifestyle sessions, we capture interaction. You may feel like we are not shooting enough but I am capturing things you don’t even realize. :)
6. Have anything out of the children’s you want photographed. Lovies, etc.
7. I will probably be moving around furniture to get the best light! I may need some help. :
8. Tell the kids (if older) that morning that a new friend is coming over to play!
9. Maybe grab some fresh flowers for the session. They make everything better. :)