WELCOME GUIDE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Choosing the Right Photographer
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Your Investment
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Prep and Consultation
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Your Session
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Beyond Your Session
1. CHOOSING THE RIGHT PHOTOGRAPHER
1
FIND THE STYLE YOU LOVE
Everyone has a style they like, even if you canât put your finger on it. I have a vibrant, documentary style. I guide you through the session so that we can capture honest moments and authentic emotions.
Don't be afraid to call them and describe what you're looking for! A good photographer will communicate and listen.
Ask to see full sessions and spend some time getting a sense of their unique aesthetics. Notice their editing style and try to envision how that portrait look would incorporate into your home.
2
LEVEL OF SKILL
Photographers can vary in training, ranging anywhere from a novice amateur to a well-seasoned, classically trained professional.
Every kind of photographer has something to bring to the table, but each level of expertise is going to yield a different result.
Having your end goal in mind is going to help you decide what level of expertise matches your needs.
3
COMFORT LEVEL
A photo session is a personal experience. You will spend an hour or more with your photographer with all the attention on the details of your appearance, which can be a bit of a vulnerable place. You are creating art together-the story of your family.
Then you also want to be able to trust that they will go above and beyond your expectations. Professional photographers have years of experience soothing nerves and prompting natural smiles.
2. YOUR INVESTMENT
If you want someone to snap photos- you can easily find that and cheap. But is that what you want? Some people think, âI just need one photoâ or âI only need 20 minutes.â
A 20-minute session simply is not possible unless everyone in front of the camera is a professional model. I like to ensure that people have dynamic shots to choose from which takes patience and time.
How much will it cost you? Is the photographer upfront with their prices? Do you know exactly what youâre getting from them? Every photographer has a different way of working. Some will do viewings and in person sales, some will offer all-inclusive packages.
Donât forget the cost of your photos is not just down to the moment they press the shutter and take your image. You are paying for their knowledge and experience, processing, and equipment as well as experience.
3. PREP AND CONSULTATION
Preparation is key to a successful session. I will guide you through this process, and together we will be ready for a fun, stress-free session. The first step is for you to share your vision for your family portrait session with me, and from there we will build your experience.
Your sessions should reflect who you are as a family. What is your familyâs vibe? This is how we will decide on the details such as time of day of the session, outfits, and location.
After booking your session, I will share two guides: What to Wear and Choosing a Location. Our goal is to have clothes and details planned well in advance so that when you arrive at the location for our session, you are relaxed and you can be yourself.
4. YOUR SESSION
Light is everything in photography. I plan my sessions in the first 2 or last 2 hours of the day when the light from the sun is at a lower angle in the sky and most flattering.
We will schedule to meet 20 minutes before the first photo is taken. We will use this time to chat, and I will walk you through some easy posing tips. We will discuss the flow of the session and start the fun.
telling
5. Beyond Your Session
After your session, I will carefully cull and edit the best images from our time together. I typically produce 30+ images per hour and will will reach out to you in 2-3 with your proof gallery. Please look carefully through the images and send me any editing notes or concerns which I will address.
Once you are happy, I will send you the link to your online gallery which is private and very easy to navigate. Here you can download high resolution files to print and share as you like. I will also send you a link to download and share a mobile app of your gallery.