Welcome Guide
Hello, and Welcome!
For me, it’s all about connection.
I’m so excited that you’ve chosen me to capture this special moment in your family’s journey. As a mom and former preschool teacher, I understand how important it is to prepare and set expectations for a great photo session. To help make the experience smooth and enjoyable, I’ve put together this welcome guide.
I hope you’ll take some time to read through it and feel more confident and comfortable as we embark on this photography journey together. Thank you again for choosing me as your photographer, and I look forward to working with you!
our session path
1
LET’S START WITH A CHAT
Book Your Google Meet Consultation
Use the link in your email to schedule your Google Meet and fill out the questionnaire. Booking early is key—it helps us get a head start on planning and ensures we’re on the same page from the beginning.
2
getting ready
Day of Preparation
Before our Google Meet, I’ll create custom styling boards tailored just for you. You’ll also receive shopping links, a detailed prep guide, and timely reminders to make sure you’re fully prepared. With everything in place, you’ll be relaxed and ready to enjoy those special moments.
3
Picture Perfect Day
Your Session day is Here!
Today’s the day to bring your vision to life. I’ll guide you with light posing and prompts to highlight natural connections. Our session will last about two hours, giving us the time and space to create photos you’ll love.
4
Your Memories, Handcrafted
FINAL TOUCHES AND GALLERY REVEAL
You’ll receive about 10 fully edited images and a Black & White proofing gallery in about 2 weeks. You’ll select your favorite images from the proofing gallery, and after you purchase your collection, the final images will be fully retouched and added to your online gallery in both color and black & white. You can download, share, and use your print credit for 30 days after delivery.
Planning Outfits
let your style shine through
What you wear really matters for your photos, so I include a styling chat with every session. We’ll go over everything you need to know to dress you and your family. After you book, check the link in your confirmation email to set up a time for us to chat at least 6 weeks before your session. You can also see my do’s and don’ts for outfit tips. When we meet online, we’ll pick out outfits that look great and make you feel comfortable and confident.
Choosing a location
You can choose one of my favorite outdoor spots for your session. There’s a questionnaire in the Google Meet booking process where you can share your preferences. We’ll work together to pick the best location for you. All outdoor sessions are scheduled during golden hour, which is about 1 hour after sunrise or before sunset. Since we’re working with natural light, it’s important to be flexible with timing on the day of the session.
Here are some things to take into consideration when making our final decision:
Comfort
We want a space where you feel comfortable to be in front of the camera. If you, or some of your family members have shy personalities, we may want to factor a less public space into your decision.
Character
What makes your family unique? Choose a location that fits in with who you are as a family. Do you enjoy spending time in your garden or a park? Perhaps you spend lots of time hiking or on camping trips? Your location should speak to your family’s personality.
Convenience
Take each member of your family into consideration. What are their ages and needs? For example, if you have two toddlers then an open field might be a great location to allow for space for them to be active and explore.
A few of my favorite locations
Kinder Farm Park
Patapsco Valley State Park
Howard County Conservancy
Beverly Triton Nature Park
and growing…
A Quick Note about Newborn Lifestyle / Hybrid Posing
In newborn photography sessions, I mix lifestyle and posed images to create a diverse gallery. I focus on lifestyle shots of your family holding and cuddling your baby to show the love and connection between you. I also capture close-ups of your newborn’s tiny features, which change quickly at this stage. I include some traditional poses, gently wrapping and positioning your baby for solo images while making sure they are safe and comfortable. Handling newborns needs special care, so I take every precaution to keep your baby safe and secure throughout the session.
… I encourage you to communicate with me and ask questions as I work with you and your baby. in person
Make the most out of your Session
- Schedule hair cuts/coloring about a week or two prior to your session.
- Try on your outfits a week before to be sure everything fits and is comfortable.
- Have everything cleaned, steamed, and ready to put on the night before.
- Talk to your kiddos about the session in the week leading up. This will ensure they have time to process what to expect and help the session run a little smoother. You can show them my picture from my ‘About Me’ page, and explain I’m a friend they’re going to see to take pictures while you hang out and play.
- Schedule down-time before the session to rest, and make sure everyone is well hydrated and fed.
- Photo sessions are a special opportunity to celebrate your family, if possible plan a special outing (like getting ice cream) for afterwards. Sometimes this helps if we need to encourage a little cooperation during the session.
- If you have any questions leading up to your session, please send me a message! I’m happy to help.
This tip is so important, I had to give it it’s own tab. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to arrive on time. All my sessions are scheduled according to light. Please arrive on time. Map the route out before your session day, and allow for a buffer of 15 minutes between your arrival and your session start time. If you arrive late to your session it can greatly reduce the amount of images in your final gallery or cause your session to be cancelled.
For baby:
- Milk
- Pacifier
- Diapers
- Wipes
- White Onesie
For parents and siblings:
- Water bottles
- Non-staining snacks. Avoid things like gummies, chocolate, or goldfish crackers (can stain or get stuck in teeth) instead opt for cheerios, mini marshmallows, even smarties.
- Brush, hairspray, and clips.
- Makeup bag for touchups
- Small bag/backpack to hold personal belongings like phones, wallets, and apple watches. That way they stay out of pockets where they can create bulges.
- A change of clothes, especially for kiddos.
- Bug Spray (check for ticks after)
- The most important rule is to let go of expectations and focus on relaxing and having fun! This is so important because it really sets the tone for your session. Take the time to be present, relax and love on your family.
- I have a planned session flow for my sessions to ensure that we get all necessary images, and my goal is to pose and prompt you in ways that allow natural moments to unfold. I have two simple tips that help encourage natural connection and candid moments: One, (especially for the adults) is to avoid looking at the camera,
- And, two, always be touching someone. Whether it’s a hug or just a tender hand on the shoulder. Make contact with your family. This makes the love and care you feel for one another, visible.
- Don’t stress if your kiddos are a little shy or acting a little wild. As a mom and former preschool teacher I have worked with so many children over the years and I have seen it all. We’ll follow their lead. So perhaps a shy kiddo gets extra snuggles, whereas the wild one gets more time to be active and explore. It’s all about who your family is in this very moment. I want you to embrace that.
I carefully review all your images and take time to narrow down your gallery to the very best moments. My turnaround time for your full gallery is about 1 month. I don’t offer sneak peeks because focusing on your entire gallery helps me deliver your images more quickly and enhances the excitement when you see them all at once. Since my sessions are moment-based, I select the best moments to edit and share with you, and I guarantee approximately 40 images in your gallery.
Once I’ve finished soft-proofing your session, I’ll upload the gallery to Pic-Time. I’ll send you the link to view your images, and you can choose the collection that fits best for you and your family. After you’ve made your selection, I’ll fully edit and retouch the chosen images. Your final images will be uploaded to your gallery within about 1-2 weeks. You can then download, share, and purchase prints/products for the next 30 days. Make sure to download your images before the 30-day period ends, as your gallery will be archived after that. There is a fee to re-upload a gallery.
I have worked to curate a collection of high-quality, professional grade prints and products available for you to purchase in my Pic-Time gallery store. There is no requirement to purchase prints from me. However, I cannot guarantee the color or print quality from third party printers. Outside of my shop, I recommend Mpix for prints and Artifact Uprising for other print products.
I am so excited, and can’t wait to get started!
Feel free to email me any time if you have any questions!
I will be back in touch soon to start planning your session!
