What to expect
hi extended family!
This session guide was put together to give you a peace of mind, and hopefully answer any questions you have about our upcoming session together! This guide will go through the potential stresses before the session, during and after, and is here to add some guidance and reassurance for everyone. If there are any issues or questions about your upcoming session that isn’t answered in this guide, do not hesitate to reach out to me, as I am here to help and make this a fun and positive experience for you and your families!
I can not wait to meet you all, and work together to capture your beautiful extended family, in all your wildness!
Wardrobe Tips
Choosing outfits for everyone can be a very stressful tasks, as everyone has their own preferred style. So to help take that pressure off your back, I've got a few tips and tricks to help your family come together whilst still being authentically yourselves! The goal is for your family to look like your family in your photos, so do not feel like you need to change your whole wardrobe to get beautiful looking images.
Colours, Textures and Patterns
- Colour coordinating outfits is a great way to make your photos feel more cohesive, whilst still showing everyones individuals personality. For example, choosing An Earthy colour scheme (recommended) with muted greens, browns, blacks and beiges will blend together nicely. If you are more of a colourful fam, choosing neutrals as a base, then some complementary colours like red and blue, as a pop of colour in your outfits is a great choice too! Sometimes the best way to try and coordinate, is to finish one outfit first, and build everyone else's around it. So have mum or grandma choose an outfit they love, then build everyone else's around her outfits colours/patterns.
- Patterns and Textures are another great way to add cohesiveness into your outfits. Patterns like plaids, stripes, gingham, and florals. It's easy to over do it with patterns, so don't think everyone needs to be wearing the exact same thing, just like the colours, choose a few that works together and space them out between a few outfits. For example, florals and gingham look nice together, plaids and stripes etc.Textures like denims, wool, fleece, corduroy, knits, and linens can also help coordinate everyones outfits without making everyone look the same. Like a few pairs of jeans, and knitted dresses/sweaters.
Layers and Accessories
- Layers and Accessories also help add personality to your outfits. Like jackets, scarves, a sweater over a dress etc! These help to bring dimension into your outfits and create some beautiful looks!
Logos and Graphics
- Logos and Graphics are usually not welcomed in family portraits, as they can be distracting in the image. But as long as it's not neon coloured or super large, you are more than welcome to wear it for your photos!
Matching Outfits
- When it comes to Matching outfits, it isn’t recommended. As it can take away from each family members place in the image, or look a bit awkward. Unless you are going for awkward family photoshoot, I don't recommend matching.
Comfort
- Lastly, the most important thing to remember when choosing your outfits is comfort! I shoot in the great outdoors and nature, so making sure you are comfortable with your outfit is one of the most important things of your session, as we will be doing a lot of moving around and playing whilst capturing your family. So think flowy dresses and skirts, comfy sweaters and movable pants like jeans or leggings, and of course boots!
- If you still are unsure, you can ask me and I'll to help pick out your outfits, or you can find some great inspiration on Pinterest too!
Before the Session
- Double check you've got everything packed and ready to the night before! You definitely do not want to be stressed out the morning of wondering where you put your wee babes travel bag.
- If you are bringing snacks, make sure they are non-staining and messy, if you can help it!
- Make sure everyone has study the route to the location. This can help ease the stress of travel for you all, especially when journeying with younger kids, and seperatly. Being confident in where you are heading, makes for a more relaxing drive!
- Have your outfits ready the night before your session! This is so important, as you do not want to be running around stressing over where everything is the morning of.
- Get your family involved in the session. Talk to your kids and family members and let them know whats happening. If the grandparents/kids or sister has any questions about the session, time or just a really good recipe they'd like to share, feel free to reach out as everyones comfort is my no.1 priority, and second is a good old home cooked meal!
Day of Session
For the session day, we will meet up at the preferred location 10 mins before starting time. This will allow everyone to get ready, say hi and check in before we get started! During the session we'll focus on some slow shots, exploring and lots of movement! This will helps us get some memorable candid moments of your family together! if the little ones aren't wanting to cooperate, do not stress, as we can flow with how everyone is feeling in the moment. These sessions are made to be relaxed, family focused and of course fun! If feeding or nap routines coincide for anyone within our session, you can let me know as this is something we can work around during the session, or incorporate into it.
These sessions are built to be an experience, a chance to explore, and spend time with your family. So get wild, connect and of course have fun!
After the Session
After the session, I will get started on your families photos. The delivery time for your beautiful photos, is by the end of 2 weeks from the session date. When your family's photos are ready, I will let you know via text/email, and send you a link to your own online gallery!
Photo Edits
Your Images will be edited in my style, with colour and B&W options. If you have any issues regarding editing styles, I am more than happy to adjust minimal issues you many have.