I am super excited to be a part of documenting your current season of life!
Here is my guide to creating the best experience possible for your shoot and some of my pro-tips for planning the day.
P R O - T I P N O . 1
Plan your shoot with your kids in mind.
If your little ones are 5 years old or under, I recommend taking nap time into consideration and planing your shoot when they are typically at their most optimal state. For example, If they are super happy and calm in the mornings, maybe an early morning shoot would be ideal. If they are happier in the evenings, a sunset shoot would be perfect!
P R O - T I P N O . 2
Choose a location that best represents you.
My goal for your shoot is to authentically capture your family.
We are blessed here in Southern California with a plethora of beautiful locations to choose from, however I would consider choosing a location that has meaning to you as a family.
Do you love to hang out at home and make cookies together or play in your yard? Do you love beach days or hiking with your kids? Picking a place that means a lot to you and your family will make your experience so much more meaningful and it will show in the final product.
My ultimate goal is to capture your season of life in the most meaningful way possible to you so that you can look back and remember all of the great memories you have shared together.
If you just want a pretty spot and have a general look in mind, I am happy to offer guidance on that, too. Ultimately, I want you to have an amazing experience during our shoot and feel connected to the space and each other… not just take photos to take photos.
You can also check out my gallery for more inspiration if you’re undecided.
P R O - T I P N O . 3
Plan your shoot around optimal lighting.
If you want to shoot at a busier location like the beach, I suggest planning your shoot in the morning. Especially in summer months to get the beach to yourselves.
If you’re down to get up early and beat the crowds, sunrise typically has brighter and softer light than sunsets and allows for more free range of the location.
If you opt to do an in-home shoot, I suggest considering when you get the most natural light (typically between 11-3pm).
I will help you narrow down the perfect time, so don’t worry if you’re still figuring this out.
P R O - T I P N O . 4
Don’t wear clothes that are too busy or too hard move in.
For your photos to look as candid and natural as possible, we will be doing a lot of movement, so keep this in mind when choosing your outfits, especially for little ones.
Consider colors that would look good with the surroundings of your shoot and compliment each other. I recommend coordinating colors, but not matching outfits. Typically, neutral colors like white and tan photograph really well in any setting.
Dress comfy and cute.
Avoid busy patterns and big logos. Small patterns are okay but try to avoid more than one person wearing patterns. Also consider what your home decor is like so that should you choose to frame your photos you don’t clash with your aesthetic.
You can bring one to two outfits, but anything more tends to be too much. If you bring two outfits, I suggest bringing one casual outfit and one dressier outfit.
Keep it simple.
Ultimately, I want you to look good, feel like yourself, and be comfortable in whatever you choose to wear.
I hope this makes you feel more comfortable before stepping in front of my lens!
If you still have questions please feel free to shoot me an email, I am happy to help you and guide you more on this process!
