Things To Do Before Your Session:

1. Make hair, nail, and/or makeup appointments for before your session. Make sure your roots are touched up and you aren’t wearing chipped nail polish to your session! These are small details, but we want everything to be perfect.
2. Plan your outfits at least a week in advance—don’t wait ‘til the last day, trust me! You want to wake up feeling relaxed and prepared, so plan these details out early. Group them together, including your accessories, socks and shoes to see it all together.  Iron and lint roll clothes so you won’t have to worry about it the morning of your session.
3. Prepare your kids (and husband!) with laid-back, low-key references to let them know what’s happening. Tell them you will be “hanging out with our friend Dendra on Saturday!” or “going out to play!” and keep things fun, lighthearted, and casual. Families have shared that this tip is especially helpful if they have a particularly shy child.
4. Brainstorm about specific props, mementos, or special types of images you want captured. Some families bring heirloom quilts, a special stuffed animal, an embroidered keepsake, etc. Some families know they want a very specific type of photograph taken. If you have these preferences, be sure to brainstorm them in advance and let me know as well!
5. Make sure everyone gets a great night’s sleep and eats a good meal beforehand.

How to Dress for Your Session:

1. Dress for the weather and bring layers when needed.  We want everyone comfortable!
2. Wear colors in a complimentary color palette, such as earth tones and neutrals.
3. For a more polished look avoid tennis shoes, T shirts, or shirts with writing on them, but opt for more solid colors, wrinkle free clothes and nice dress up shoes.
4. Be careful about undergarments.  Choose clothes that properly covers your undergarments, in all types of movement scenarios.
5. I recommend women wear medium or long dresses instead of pants because they capture movement and generally photograph more flatteringly. Short dresses will be a challenge when we do any seated photos, so keep that in mind.
6. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you can move in. If your dress gets suddenly too short when you bend over, or your pants are too tight to sit down in, opt for more breathable pieces. Be prepared to move!
7. Do opt for accessories! Hats, flower headbands, beautiful flowing dresses and skirts—these create visual interest and movement in your photos, and really help the images stand apart.
8. If you have a little girl with bright or chipped nail polish on, consider removing it or paint with more natural tones. Neon and vibrant colored nails will almost undoubtedly clash with your beautiful wardrobe choice, and yes, it will show up in the photos.
9. Remind gentlemen to take bulky items like phones and car keys out of their pockets before we start snapping photos.

What to Bring to Your Photo Session:

1. Any personal appearance touchup items you might want, including things like lipstick, hairspray, hairpins or a hairbrush.
2. Snacks on snacks on snacks, and if necessary, treats to bribe kiddos with! (However, it’s best not to tell kids about the treats before the session; wait until the kids start getting fatigued before you pull out candy card! They’ll usually perk right up then!) *Tip - make sure the snacks/treats won’t stain lips or fingers!
3. Walkable shoes. We will probably be walking short/moderate distances on unpaved trails, possibly with hills. Walkable shoes are a must!  Bring your nice shoes to change into before we start shooting.
4. A change of clothes for the kiddos, in case anyone gets muddy or dirty. As a photographer, I love when kids interact fully with their surroundings, and I’m thrilled to photograph them playing in water or running through the grass. As a parent, you might not be too keen to let them back into your car, covered in mud. Feel free to bring a change of clothes or shoes. Maybe even a towel. You never know!!