The Process
Am I the right photographer for you? Because one size does not fit all when choosing someone to document your family. Here's what a Family Session with me looks like, from start to finish.
Keep an eye out for *Pro-tips* and *Little tidbits* below!
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PRE-SESSION
Plan the basics. We will briefly discuss via email to determine date/time/location for your session. Once we determine the date and time, I'll put your session together for you to confirm. *Little tidbit* If we don't have a time figured out yet, I'll create a placeholder time. And location can always be determined in discussion later.
Confirm your session. You will then receive a link via email to confirm your session where you will 1) Sign the photographer/client contract, and 2) Pay the retainer fee (this fee goes towards your total balance and it is refundable, because life happens)
Plan outfits and complete questionnaire . I will send you a personalized questionnaire and a styling guide to help us both prepare for your session. I also love communicating via text during this time. Send me pictures of your outfits or whatever questions you have. I'm here and I love it!
Review and finalize details. About a week before your session, you will receive 2 final emails from me:
- Final Invoice (due within 24 hours of completing your session).
- Final Session Information (includes date, time, location, package information, where to find me, and plenty of tips for a great session).
THE SESSION
Touch base beforehand. Before your session, you'll receive a text about where you can find me/my car. I always aim to arrive to the site beforehand to get set up and get my camera ready.
Warm up to the kids. I'll chat and play a bit with your kids, especially if they're shy at first. Every child is truly different, and with very shy kids myself, I feel like I know how to approach and handle even the shyest and quietest. I will prioritize making them feel comfortable before we start.
Let the shooting begin! Once everyone is ready, we'll start with some basic "poses." We'll work through some different locations and poses, I'll offer some prompts for more natural photos, and then typically the fun really begins! From beginning to end, I won't stop shooting, and I'll continue to capture those in-between moments and interactions.
POST-SESSION
Have a little sneak peek! With your permission, I will share "sneak peeks" from your session to my social media pages within a day or so after your session. Remember: these are not final edits! *Little tidbit*: mini and half session sneak peeks will have my watermark; full sessions will not. Sneak Peeks are not high resolution, and they may not even be yours if you didn't purchase a full session!
Here are some dos and don'ts of your sneak peeks:
- Do share my post to your page and with others.
- Do credit your photographer, please!
- Don't print these photos.
- Don't keep /use these photos if you didn't purchase a full session.
- Don't use these as profile/cover photos (for 2 reasons: they're not high res, and they are not yours if you purchased a mini or a half session).
Let the waiting begin. This is the part that consumes most of my time! Not the planning, not the shooting- the editing and magic that goes into turning your beautiful photos into art!
Know your wait time! The time of year often determines how long editing your photos will take me. If your session will be delivered to you late (beyond the latter estimate below), I'll be sure to let you know! Your photos will be completed within:
- 1-2 weeks (mini session)
- 2-3 weeks (half session)
- 3-4 weeks (full session)
Keep an eye out for that email! I will email your photos when they are completed! There will be instructions in the email. *Pro-tip*: Please read it all before asking me questions! I put a lot of time into trying to create clear and comprehensive instructions for you, so give it a look first, but of course, I'm more than happy to answer questions! No question is dumb in my opinion. Even if you're asking a question that was clearly stated in my instructions- I totally empathize with you. And mom brain is real.
Choose your favorites. If you purchased a mini session or a half session, you will not be able to download photos until you pick your 15 or 30 favorites. There will be instructions on how to do both!
Download. Again, don't forget to download your photos! Do not screenshot them. They lose quality this way.
Enjoy! Hopefully you love your photos, and if you do, please let me know! Please also let me know if I missed the mark somewhere and how I can make it right.
Spread the word! Share photos with friends and family, and please share my name if you enjoyed your experience with me! Word of mouth is like gold.
Share my name! And lastly, please tag me in your post/photos and leave me a review on Facebook or Google!
