How To Prep For Your Portrait Session

Lifestyle candid portraiture has been a favourite of mine for over the last decade. There’s so much magic to be found in the everyday moments that are often overlooked. I love seeing new parents swoon over their little babe, the chaos that naturally surrounds families and the love shared within a new couple. I’m excited to be invited into your life to capture these memories & emotions!

“Should I get my hair & makeup done?“

It’s not essential but this will help bring your photos to the next level! If you haven’t booked anyone yet, I can offer some suggested vendors.

“What happens if the weather is bad?”

I try hard to foresee bad weather but sometimes mother nature has other plans. I can only make the call on the morning of whether or not to reschedule. Sometimes we just need to adjust the timing a bit on the day of the shoot. If rescheduling isn’t an option due to our limited availabilities, we can aim to shoot at some indoor locations such as your home or a studio.

“What should we wear?”

Steer clear from intense patterns, logos or really bright colours. I want the focus to be on you and not loud clothing or accessories. Wear something you’re comfortable in that represents your personal style. Please iron or steam out any wrinkles, so we can just avoid the awkward “Can you just photoshop that out?” question lol. For family sessions, outfit changes aren’t recommended, unless they’re quick and easy. Sometimes a different outfit for kids can be great, but only if it won’t trigger a breakdown!

For larger family sessions, I don’t think matching outfits does everyone justice, as I think it’s better when everyone sticks to a similar theme (like pastels! See examples here + here). This way everyone can wear something that they feel their best in.

For Indoor Shoots & Maternity: Feel free to include up to 4 outfit changes. Sweaters with texture that open in the front are ideal. Also anything that hugs or shows off your baby bump! Lingerie is an excellent outfit to finish in for a more boudoir look for your maternity photos! We’ll only go as revealing as you feel comfortable with!

“Help! I need location ideas!”

For newborn shoots, I recommend only shooting at your home or in studio, where your baby will be comfortable and warm. For family shoots, the beach or a park works really well! As long as the location also offers some shade to escape to!

“When’s the best time to shoot?”

It all depends on the time of year, but I like to shoot 1.5hrs before sunset for outdoor shoots and before 2pm for all indoor shoots.

“When should I schedule my Maternity or Newborn Session?”

For maternity photos, the best time to shoot is 30 to 34 weeks. For newborn photos, I like to shoot within the first 4 weeks as your baby will be super tiny and super sleepy then. It’s possible to shoot later, the photos will be just a bit different as your baby will be more interactive. For the day of the shoot, let’s aim for a specific time when your baby will be their happiest, aka well rested and fed. You know what’s best! We’ll take a bunch of little breaks during your newborn session as to not overwhelm your little one.

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“I’m so nervous! I hate having my photo taken!”

I think 99% of the people I photograph tell me this, then later on tell me that they actually had fun! It’s my job to make you feel comfortable and at ease. I’m silly gigantic photo nerd and I love photographing real people and real love. Don’t worry about perfection, it’s boring anyways!

“What about if we’re running late?”

Things happen and stuff comes up, but I can’t stress enough how important it is to be on time, I often schedule multiple shoots in one day and according to the lighting on that specific day. Our shoot time begins at the scheduled time so if you’re late, you’ll be cutting into your shoot time unfortunately.

“Do you bring any props?”

I don’t bring any props to shoots as my style is more candid photojournalistic and I prefer not to carry anything other than my camera gear. For newborn shoots, I stopped bringing props for sanitary reasons. A swaddle for your newborn that has a great texture without prints is a perfect prop. Feel free to include any props that are important to you!

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