You’ve probably already thought about what everyone is wearing, whether the kids are going to cooperate, and how on earth you’re supposed to get everyone out the door looking remotely presentable at the same time.

We can help with the rest.

Here’s everything you need to know before your session, from what to wear and what to expect once the camera comes out to what to bring, how we work with your kids, and what to know about our outdoor locations.

If you haven’t seen your questionnaire yet, check your client portal! It helps us get to know your family a little before we meet and gives us some of the details we need to plan your session.

And one last thing: your family doesn’t need to be perfectly poised for us to make beautiful photographs.** Come as you are, let your people be themselves, and we’ll take care of the rest.

Your session definitely won’t be an hour of standing in one spot and smiling at the camera.

We’ll move around, try different things, and give you plenty of direction along the way while making the whole experience as entertaining as possible.

Some photos will be more traditionally posed, while others will involve walking, playing, cuddling, talking, or just being together. We’ll give you prompts when we want a specific interaction and guide you into different poses when we have something particular in mind.

You don’t need to know what to do with your hands, where to stand, or how to pose your family.

That’s our job!

We’ll also photograph the little moments that happen naturally between everything else. A kid laughing, someone fixing their hair, a quick cuddle, everyone looking at each other instead of the camera. Those in-between moments are often some of our favorites.

We know you want the beautiful photo where everyone is smiling, looking at the camera, and nobody is making a weird face. And we do, too!

But we also want to capture the little moments that make your kids yours.

A perfectly posed portrait can be beautiful, but if the memory behind it is everyone being frustrated, forcing smiles, and counting down until the session is over, it can definitely take away from the photo.

We want to capture their personalities, their little quirks, the way they interact with you, the things that make you laugh, and all the tiny details you already know you’re going to miss someday.

So if they’re not smiling at the camera every second, that’s okay. If they want to play, need a little break, or suddenly become very interested in something happening on the ground, let them. We’ll work with it.

One little tip for parents: try not to spend the whole session trying to make your kids smile or stop being silly. It’s easy to get so focused on getting them to cooperate that you forget you’re on camera too!

Most of our family sessions take place outdoor on private property, which allows your family to let loose, get wild, and feel like you’re on your own little adventure.

That also means you should expect actual outdoors. Dirt, rocks, uneven ground, mud, bugs, sticks, tall grass, wind, and occasionally some wildlife.

Basically, nature doing nature things.

You do not need to keep everyone perfectly clean. In fact, please don’t spend your whole session worrying about it.

If we’re shooting near water, there are a few extra things to keep in mind. Rocks can be slippery, the creek bed can be uneven, and there may be mud, tall grass, bugs, and other little bits of nature along the way. These locations are used frequently and we’ve never encountered anything scarier than a bug, but we just like to make sure everyone is on the same page about what it takes to get to our beautiful locations.

It’s the same kind of stuff you’d expect from camping, hiking, or spending a day at the lake. We’ll use common sense, keep an eye on the kiddos, and have a good time.

And if hiking around in the dirt and creek isn’t your idea of a good time, just let us know! We have easier-to-access location options too, and we’re happy to find somewhere that works better for your family.

If you’re the one getting everyone dressed, fed, packed, and out the door, this is for you.

When it comes to outfits, think cohesive, not matching. Choose colors, textures, layers, and pieces that feel like your family and work well together. Keep the location in mind too. If we’re heading to the creek or into a field, you’ll want to be able to move comfortably. And if you’re stuck between outfits, send us pictures! We’re happy to help you choose.

We also have a client closet that we can use if needed. It tends to lean more fantasy/dramatic, but we have a large selection of women’s formal gowns, some very fluffy robes, and a small selection of girls’ dresses and men’s items.

Let us know ahead of time if you’d like us to pull some items for you to try!

For outdoor sessions, wear comfortable shoes to get to the location and change once we’re there if needed. For creek sessions, bring shoes you don’t mind getting wet and dirty, or plan to go barefoot.

Before you leave, feed everybody. Bring water, snacks, diapers/wipes, bug spray, and any comfort items your kids might need.

And give yourself a little extra time so you aren’t arriving already stressed. If someone is having a day, that’s okay.

We’ll work with it.

You made it through getting everyone dressed, out the door, and in front of the camera.

Now you get to enjoy the best part.

After your session, we’ll go through all of your images and carefully choose and edit the photographs that tell the story of your family. When your gallery is ready, you’ll receive an email with everything you need to view and download your images.

We know you’re eager to see your images before then, and so are we! We aim to send out gallery previews within 48 hours of each session.

Want to see your photos somewhere other than your phone? We offer professional prints, albums, and wall art, all printed through a professional lab to ensure the quality we expect for your photographs. We highly recommend ordering directly through us so we can make sure everything looks exactly as it should.

If you’d rather print your images somewhere else, we also offer a one-time copyright release that allows you to have your images printed through the lab of your choice.

Interested in prints or products? Just reach out and we’ll be happy to walk you through the options