Session Tips

Think of what you want out of these photographs. Is there a style you are trying to achieve? Do you want something more country, urban, rustic, traditional? As you browse my gallery, what photos are you drawn to and why? Is it the colors, the clothing, the backgrounds, the editing effect, the pose, the angle? Feel free to be very specific in what you want.

What to Wear

If you are going for fancy, fancy, ties and lace, that is fine. But I find that your "everyday best" photographs really well in most outdoor locations. Accessories can add a lot of visual interest and really make your photos pop. (think scarves, jewelry, hats,etc.) Wear nice shoes. They do get photographed and I've seen a bad pair of shoes ruin the photos.

You want to be Coordinated with one another, not matchy-matchy. Pick 3 or 5 colors and then try to incorporate them within your outfits. An example of this would be:

Don't be scared of bright colors, they can really make a great impact.

I do not reccomend graphics and wording on clothing. Mixing more than 1 pattern can be fun, but beware of your clothes appearing to busy.

And of course, keep in mind the little things like trimmed fingernails, moisturized skin, lip gloss, etc.


For Family Sessions
We can always do the 'posed, stand-up-straight, look-at-the-camera-and-smile' type of photos, but some of the best photographs are the candid ones of your family. Imagine your family on an outing having a good time together, and I am just there capturing those moments for you.
It is always fun to shoot a family doing an activity, so please let me know if you would like me to photograph you in action (on a row boat, playing croquet, flying kites, washing the car, the possibilities are endless. Your photos turn out better when you are having fun with one another, trust me.

For Kids
Prepare your kids in advance. You don't want to feel rushed to get to the shoot on time. You will only be frustrated and it WILL show in the photos. Get them excited about looking their best. I want to capture your kids being themselves and getting genuine smiles.
Kids tend to get more excited about the shoot when props are involved. I love props, so bring anything you want (a chair, an umbrella, hats, scarves, violin, sport equipment,etc.)

For Seniors
I don't put a limit on clothing changes, so feel free to bring extra clothes and acessories. Sometimes the parents want a nice formal pic, and the senior wants to wear their everyday clothes. So go ahead, bring both. Don't forget make-up and hair!

For Newborns
I like to do newborn shots within the first 10 days of life. We can schedule a tentative shoot date, and give ourselves a little flexibility for when baby decides to come.
Not all babies want to strip down to their birthday suit, so if that is what you would like, have a space heater available or turn your heat on to make baby comfortable.