So we’ve nailed down a date for your session and you probably have a million questions.

Cool! I’ve got a million answers…

Wardrobe + Hair + Makeup

The goal of these photos is to document YOUR family…and that includes your personal style! My advice is to go with the styles you’re most comfortable with, but bump it up a notch or two. Are you a jeans + t-shirt type of gal? Perrrrfect. Throw on some earrings or a cute necklace to spice it up! Have never worn a hat in your life but think it might be fun? Maybe save that for another time. If you’re feeling awkward or uncomfortable in your outfit, it’s more likely to show up in your photos. This goes for everyone in your family! Don’t stick hubby in his first ever pair of skinny jeans on photo day (if you’ve booked far enough out and you’re reading this… start now! Get him used to those BEFORE your session! ;-))

I’m asked a lot what colors are best for photos and the truth is: whatever color looks best on you will be your ideal choice. I will say that my personal preference is to shoot neutrals: black, grey, white, denim. This really helps to draw the attention up to your gorgeous faces! But as I said above: my goal is to capture you. If bright colors and fun prints are your jam, rock it! I love to mix it up and when you feel confident, your photos will be AH-MAZING.

Finally…Your hair and makeup matters just as much as your outfit choice!  If this isn’t your thing, call in a friend or professional to help! Even if you never wear makeup, I do recommend wearing at least a little bit…your face will really pop in your images a LOT more with a polished face!

Location

So your look is good to go. Let’s talk about location. This will set the tone for your session, so think about what you’re going for: Do you want a relaxed, beachy vibe? Rustic + woodsy on a trail? Urban? Or super casual + comfy in your own home? Below are my suggestions for locations in the OC area!

*Location requires a permit. I am comfortable shooting at a location without the required permit (I have rarely seen them enforced), but if we are told to leave, the cost and rescheduling fees will be your responsibility.

Bad Weather + Rescheduling

If weather is looking like it might not go our way, I will touch base with you a few days before. Please don’t text me a full week out based on the forecast…we all know how much that can change over the course of week, so I prefer to discuss potential rescheduling within a few days of a session. If you have a session that is difficult to reschedule (family reunion, event, etc.), I will do my best to secure an indoor or covered location. The good news: rain is rarely an issue in sunny SoCal!

If you need to reschedule due to any other reason, please email me as early as you can.  I’m a mom and I get that kids get sick last minute, so don’t worry about texting me night before or day of if a serious illness comes up. Don’t bring me your stomach bug, PLEASE!

Logistics

To get the most out of your session, I HIGHLY recommend arriving on time. I’m sure you value your time and I value mine as well (and I often have a sitter at home with my kids who also values her time!) For these reasons, your session will begin at the agreed-upon start time and end at the agreed-upon end time. If you’re late, it will cut into your session time. There is a 15-minute grace period for arriving late…after that, you will need to reschedule your session. Please see the terms and conditions for details about rescheduling.

As a chronic late-arriver, I know how HARD it can be to get out the door on time, especially with little ones! Here are some tips to help you arrive on time:

• Give yourself an extra 15-20 minutes for parking, putting on shoes (WHY do kids always take them off?!), fixing hair, etc. If we are meeting somewhere that parking is especially difficult (like the beach), make that 30 minutes.

• Consider the time it will take you to walk from the parking lot to our meeting location. Add that in to your drive time.

• Booking hair/makeup? Schedule that appointment AT LEAST three hours before your session time. Often, those take longer than you think!

• If you can, have grandma/auntie/your BFF come over and help get the kids dressed + out the door. Do the few things you’re picky about (like your daughter’s hair. I know, Mom…no one does it quite like you!) and have their outfits laid out for someone else to put on while you get yourself dressed!

• Last, but not least…keep an eye on that traffic! Check your app an hour before you need to leave. Obviously things happen, and if there’s a major pileup I will likely be stuck in it too, but keep an eye on how long your drive should take you.

Your Stuff

I know kids require a ton of stuff, and maybe you do too! We will be moving around quite a bit during your session (gotta chase that light!), so please plan to bring as little as possible along with you. I will have my gear and need to be able to crouch, jump, bend to get the shot…so please don’t plan on me carrying your stuff! If you need to toss some keys and a phone in my bag, no biggie…but I can’t carry a diaper bag and my camera bag!

For littles, I do recommend having some wipes and treats (for bribery) on hand. If you feel like you need to bring a lot with you, or are planning on an outfit change, a stroller is a brilliant way to tote all your stuff without having to carry it. Otherwise, please put everything in a bag that you wont mind setting on the ground!

Now, about those kiddos:

Is this your biggest stressor about your session? I TOTALLY get it. Kids can be such a wild card with family photos because honestly, they just don’t care. Truth is, I’m really good at getting kids out of their shells, but here are a few tips to help you out!

• Make sure to schedule your session around any typical sleep times. I know I’ve told you the ideal time of day for the best light, but if that interferes with bedtime, tell me! Priority is a happy kiddo.

• With babies, bring a stuffed animal or light up toy that they love. I’ll hold it to get them to look my way!

• I know this will be hard, but TRY NOT TO GET FRUSTRATED with your kids! This raises the tension and sometimes it’s hard to get kids back from being scolded! Take a deep breath and remember that even if we don’t get that perfect looking-at-the-camera-and-smiling shot, we can still get TONS of sweet candid moments between you and your kiddos if you keep the mood light! “THIS IS FUN! WE LOVE EACH OTHER! I’M NOT EXHAUSTED AT ALL!” are your mantras. Collapse in the car afterwards. You can do hard things, mom!

• Lastly…my number one, tip top piece of advice for parents to get their kids to cooperate: BRIBE THE HECK OUT OF THEM. If they are old enough to understand delayed gratification…talk it up before the session. Plan a trip to McDonald’s for happy meals, family movie night with ice cream, or a trip to the toy aisle at Target. You know your kid’s currency, USE IT! Bring treats to the session for the younger ones (smarties or fruit snacks are my favorite, try to avoid anything like m&m’s or skittles that will melt in or stain their hands/lips) and reward them every so often with a piece. This is the most effective tool to get your kids to cooperate, TRUST ME!

Thanks for reading! This is going to be FUN, and I can’t wait to see you, on time, for your session!