this is a great place to start to get some general information about photo sessions with me. the most important thing to know is that the style and feel of the session is a complete collaboration between you and i. i always have ideas rolling around in my head of…”oh, this would be cool”, or “i’d love to shoot in this location”…..and when you call me as a potential client, i’m sure you have ideas rolling around in your head too!
the most important thing with any session is clear communication between you and i with our ideas and expectations. i am always willing to throw out some ideas as far as location, attire, props etc, but if you have specific ideas in mind, please SPEAK UP! i want you to be absolutely excited about your time with me and i want you to be satisfied with the final product. and i want to have fun too, or else i wouldn’t be doing this!
to see specific work that i’ve done…newborn, family, kid etc…go the “categories” header on the blog and click on the category you are interested in. it will bring up all blog posts under that category!
my philosophy:
my first priority in our time together is to get fantastic photos. my second priority is for you to have fun in front of my camera. believe me, i would probably make the worst client, because i do-not-like (my mom, and now my kids, don’t let me say “hate”) being in front of a camera. i am so much more comfortable behind the lens. the first part of our session is always a bit of a warm up so we get comfortable with each other, and then let the good times roll!
the most important thing when hiring a photographer is that you feel like you click….pun fully intended. look at my work, and we can figure out if our styles and expectations match!
i want you to know that i am not a crank-em-out kind of a photographer when it comes to booking clients. i limit myself to 2 sessions a month for a reason. i don’t want to get burned out, and i want to feel creative when i am planning my time with you and when i’m taking the photos. i do this because i love it, and i want to keep it that way!
how long do sessions last?
it all depends, but generally about 2 hours.
can we shoot in multiple locations?
absolutely. oftentimes, especially with child sessions, we may start at your home, and then go to another location we agree on.
can we wear multiple outfits?
um, yes. i don’t know about you, but i’m not sure i would want 100 pictures of me in the same outfit. especially with kids and babies, there are just too many cute clothes out there to just pick one outfit!
what should we wear?
please don’t all wear jeans and denim shirts, or jeans and white button downs. i’m sorry, but that is what my family picture looked like in 1991 at olan mills right before my sister got married. i’m surprised we didn’t put the dog in denim. if that is your outfit of choice, i may not be the right photographer for you. i am happy to render my opinion either before or at the start of your session to determine what would look best in photographs.
do you pose us?
hopefully by looking at my website and blog, you can get a feel for my photographic style. yes, i will typically pose you, but then the last thing i want is for you to keep that pose as if a statue and just stare into my camera. i want you to interact during your session….oftentimes, no….almost always…..the best photographs come from kids and families interacting with each other. i will let you know when i need to you look at me. the entire session is just a long dialog between you and i….conversation….interaction. i will not painstakingly pose you like i was during my senior portraits in 1992 or at prom….which i never attended. moment of silence for never going to prom……i’m ok.
do you use props?
i have to say, i always told myself i would never be a prop photographer. well, never say never. i really like props. i typically just use things from around my house….the yellow velour butterfly wing chair…..my antique metal baby bathtub…..my old wagon…..a chalkboard…..but please don’t think every photograph i take of you will include a prop. i just like to have 1 or 2 to work with each session. i should use a different word than prop, because honestly, when i hear the word prop, i think of the wicker-victorian-looking baby pram with a baby inside that is covered in lace from head to toe.
any other questions?
just ask!!