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Let's Get Planning
You'll find all the resources you'll need to plan your session with me!
High five!! You booked your family session!! Seriously, take a second to celebrate that!!
Ok, were back, now whats next? We will tackle what to wear, the location and any other questions you make have via email. Below you will the tips I've put together that will help you prepare your family.
My goal is to make you feel like a million bucks, create a laid back and enjoyable experience for your family. We are not after perfectly posed images where everyones eyes are open. Instead, our goal is to capture who your family truly is.
LOCATION: This is an essential part of the session and my advice is to pick a location that feels like you! I am here to help you, and I find it best to start with categories and narrow down from there. I've listed those HERE in a Guide: How to Choose Your Family Session Location. Check that out! Remember that your own home is always an option as long as it has enough natural light. For outdoor locations I have my favorites, but I am always open to seeing which places are meaningful to my families!
TIME: Light is the biggest factor in determining session time. An hour or two before sunset and after sunrise will create warm golden light! I have had families put kids down for a late nap to prepare for a later evening. Mid day sun is very harsh so I steer families toward the early day or evening times. Locations with large amounts of shade make mid day sessions possible, but please check with me before setting your heart on that time. In home sessions should happen when the sun is midway in the sky and brightly shining through windows. Around 10am is the best time for in home sessions.
LENGTH OF SESSION: A good question if you have little kiddos! Sessions with me are fast, with a variety of activities and I rarely go over an hour! I am able to get a wide range of images within that time!
WHAT TO WEAR: Remember this, wear what is comfortable, fits well, and feels like you! I created a What To Wear Guide that specifically describes how to pick outfits for everyone in the family. Click HERE to check that out! Focus on coordinating rather than matching! I am more than happy to help you pick out outfits via email, simply send me what you have or where you are starting and I can give you my suggestions! Also, check out my family portfolio for more inspiration!!
PROPS: I do not include props in my sessions, but if you have something you are thinking of bringing let me know!
THE KIDDOS: For preparing your little ones for a photo session I reccomend talking about the event ahead of time. For kids who are nervous or anxious this can help them understand whats going to happen. Telling them things like "Hey! were going to hang out with my friiend Emily and she's going to take pictures of us with a cool camera!!" or "We will get to explore and play silly games with a new friend!" Show them my picture on Instagram or here on the website too! Remember that our goal is to capture them as they are, so while will do things to prompt laughs and smiles, it is not a requirement of them. You can tell them that it is important to follow Miss Emily's directions, but they don't have to do something they don;t want to do. I focus more on directing you all to hug, or snuggle or simply be with each other. I make sure to get the "Smile for Grandma" aka "Money Shot" right at the beginning so we aren't fighting to capture it at the end. The rest of the time is all about connection, exploring, and running around. Setting expectations versus rules for our time with your kids can help a ton! Bring non messy snacks for the breaks or pick me ups that kids inevitably need!
PLEASE ARRIVE EARLY/ON TIME & BE READY TO START ON TIME: Since we are choosing the session time based on light it is important to be on time. I recommend arriving 15min prior to session start time. Think about traffic conditions and finding a parking spot when you are planning your travel.
DAY OF SESSION:
First thing I will do is try to contain my sheer joy at getting to meet another baby! I’m not joking, I LOVE newborns. After that I will take a look around to see where the best natural light is. Typically this is in the master bedroom, but other areas we would use would be the nursery and or living room. Having two kiddos myself I remember the overwhelm of newborn days, so please do not feel the need to your whole house. I would love to bless you and help clean up the areas we will be shooting in.
Your Baby: We will celebrate and document your unique newborn in a way that with a relaxed and comfortable. This means that I won’t need baby to be asleep to mold them into positions, they are the guide and we work with what they are telling us is comfortable. I recommend first putting baby in a plain onesie that fits snug so we can capture all the soft newborn features. We will take that off later so we can get some nude or close to nude images of baby. Please pick out 1 or two of your favorite swaddles to wrap them in. Feed baby as much as they want about 15 minutes before I arrive. Remember, the most important thing is that you all feel relaxed and at ease. We want to capture this fleeting time in an artistically beautiful way.
SIBLINGS:
This is a big time for your family, especially for older siblings. I am aware of this and take specific time to connect and engage with them individually so that they are excited to be involved. This looks like asking them to show me how to hold a baby or where they would like to sit when the family is all together. We will start with sibling and family shots so that they are free to watch or go play as soon as possible. That way we aren’t struggling to get the family shot later on in the session. I will not force them to do anything they don’t want to do. Similarly with family sessions, the more you talk about me coming beforehand, the better prepared your kiddo will be. Tell them "Miss Emily is coming to take pictures of the new baby and she want to take some of just you with baby too!”
MOM&DAD:
You will be feeling all the things and you may be overwhelmed and exhausted. Please know that you do not need to put on a “I’ve got everything together face” for me. My goal is to come in and be a blessing to you but getting the space ready, giving you a chance to take a break during the solo baby shots, and encouraging you in all that you’re doing in these newborn days. I have had two kids myself so I have been in your shoes before. This helps me reassure you that you are doing an amazing job and I will capture beautiful memories of this time for you to treasure long after the newborn fog has lifted.
WHAT TO WEAR:
I recommend neutral colors because the will highlight the connections you have with your family. Bright bold colors can take away from who you all are together. Please visit my PINTEREST BOARD for inspiration and full family outfit ideas. I am super happy to help you pick out outfits with you! And remember, you feeling comfortable is the most important!
My desire is to come into this time of your life and capture all the goodness that newborn days hold. Your family has just completely changed and it is a wonderful thing to be remembered.
Here is what you can expect from your newborn session:
My hope is that this helps answer some questions and ease preparing for your session. Whether this is your first or fifth pregnancy there is joy and significance in the expecting of new life. You will not regret creating memories of this time. There are things to consider with maternity sessions that do not apply to other sessions so below are tips and what to expect. The uniquely beautiful thing about this time of life is that it is honoring the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.
You are here because you are drawn to my way of capturing so you know that I will not ask you to wear something you are not comfortable with or make you float in a lake with flowers. Unless you want that, then we can talk! These session hold an immense amount of meaning, change and beauty. The highest goal I have is to honor this new life and your connection to it as mama. Beyond that we will celebrate the connections you have to your husband and potentially your other kiddos. I want you to have tangible memories of what your family looks like in the final time before baby.
LOCATION: Outdoors, downtown or in a cozy studio are all options for a location, we will decide this together. You are also welcome to do them in your own home for a uniquely close and comfortable feel.
Who is included in the session:
Immediate family as well as fur babies. You, your spouse and children if this is a subsequent pregnancy. I thrive with kiddos so do not worry about the energy and antics that might happen. We will give them freedom and draw them in to connect with you.
WARDROBE: You are gorgeous and I want you to feel that way during your session. Typically long flowy dresses work the best for maternity and I have a few sites that offer really beautiful options.
I want you to feel your best. I find that long dresses seem to be the most comfortable and allow for easy moving, however it is entirely up to you. See my Pinterest board for some ideas. I am happy to discuss this with you further if you would like. Baltic Born & Pink Blush have amazing options. You can also look at my PINTEREST for inspiration! Whatever is comfortable, makes you feel like a million buck is the way to go!
If you have any other questions, please send me a message. I am already dreaming of the tangible memories we will create.
I know how intimate and sacred this time is whether it is in a hospital, birth center or at home. I cannot think of a more perfect space to document all the little baby rolls and toes, all the emotions and core memories being created. My own kids are 3 and 5 now and I count the images of their first days and hours as my prized possessions I have crafted an very hands off documentary style approach to these sessions. I make it a priority to be a blessing in this space and not an added stress. I do this by shooting efficiently and thoroughly. I will be in an out in roughly 30 min so you can soak in the newborn goodness before the adrenaline wears off and the many night feedings start. If you deliver in a hostpital I will come before discharge. Deliveries at home or a birth center i will come within the first 48 hours. Birth center discharges happen quickly, so we will connect when you go into labor and we will decide where at that time.
All you do is text me when the baby arrives and I capture the baby in the first 48 hours. If you deliver in a hospital, I come before discharge. If you deliver at a birth center, discharge is rather fast, so I typically meet you in your home, however depending on the time of day or night the birth is, I may be able to make it. If you deliver at home, I come to the home in the first 48 hours. I capture all the little details of the new baby, genuine interactions between family members, nursing, and all the moments in between. This session is designed to be stress free. I simply observe and capture.
