Frequently Asked Questions
General Photography Questions
Will you pose us?
I will direct you some yes. I will make sure you are in good light, that your angles look flattering. The best way to not look awkward in photos is to look and feel comfortable. We are here to capture your connection with your people. All I ask is that you come as you are, love on your people and let me worry about the rest.
What should I wear for my session?
Wear something that is comfortable, flattering and makes you feel amazing. For more tips on what to wear for you session check out this blog post all about choosing your outfit.
Should I get hair and makeup done for session?
This is totally up to you. Again, I encourage my clients to come as their favorite version of themselves. If that means getting your hair and makeup done, great. If that means wearing your hair in a messy bun, cool. You want to look and feel like yourself and your images should reflect who you are. If you are interested in hiring a hair dresser or make-up artist I am happy to give you a referral. Just say the word.
You shoot film? I do! I love the look, colors, and the process of analog photography. You can learn more about why I shoot film here.
If you shoot film how do I get the images?
After the session is over, the film is sent off to my trusted lab for development and scanning. When the lab is all finished with the images they send me a digital copy of the images. Those digital copies are what I finalize and send to you in your final gallery. The lab also archives the film negatives for me and send them to me for safe keeping.
Where will the photo session take place?
The location for your photography session should be chosen based on what you are wanting to communicate or remember about this particular season in life or the purpose of the session. Try choosing a location that is meaningful to you, whether that be a specific outdoor location or in or around your home. If you don't have a location in mind for your photo session, one can be recommended based on what you want. You can find more information and insight into finding a great location here.
What time of day should our outdoor photography session take place?
When deciding the best time of day for outdoor photography we need to keep a couple of different things in mind. Lighting, access and crowds are always something to consider when choosing your start time for your photography session. Depending on the location, lighting will be more ideal at certain times compared to others. Also consider access to the location for example: does the location open or close at a specific time? Finally, keep in mind when the crowds will be smaller. Avoiding people during a shoot can be done but is easier when less people are in that location.
When is the lighting best for an outdoor photography shoot?
Many photographers prefer to schedule their photo sessions during what is called the “golden hour” this is typically when the sun is lower in the sky making the light a bit softer. The golden hour will depend on your geographic location and time of year. Both of these factors will result in when and where the sun will rise or set. Keep in mind that I also love capturing certain locations in a brighter light allowing the sun to be a bit more over head can allow for the colors of a location to pop more. For these situations a 9am or mid afternoon start can be perfect.
What time of day should our in-home photography session take place? The start time for your in-home photography session is really dependent on you and your home. Things to consider for choosing the right time for your in-home session is: when are my people happiest and when is the light brightest in my favorite rooms. Typically midday will work for in-home sessions but keep in mind that morning is typically better for east facing rooms and afternoon is better for west facing rooms. If you have an outdoor space that you also want captured it is best to choose a time when there is even shade on that spot.
How long is the photo session? All photo sessions are allotted 1 hour for the actual session unless specified differently for certain session types (example: newborn). Depending on you and your people we may cut our time a little shorter or we may go slightly over 1-hour. I understand that some families with smaller kids prefer to book shorter sessions for attention span however, 1 hour will go a lot quicker than you think. Children will have breaks and not have to be “on” the full hour. Finally, many families take a while to warm up to being in front of the camera. If we find that kids are just not having it before the hour is up, we will end the session when I am confident that we captured what we intended to capture.