Welcome!
Capturing sweet memories with your family is something that you will always cherish as your little ones grow and change through the years. My goal as your photographer is to not only take pictures, but to capture your true, authentic self. I tell your story through a series a images by having fun, play games and lots of snuggles, while getting a few posed shots in between.
THE PROCESS:
Look below to find what session is best for you!
Read the FACTS section at the bottom of the page to help with some common questions and to decide what session is good for you.
Click the contact page to start a conversation! I encourage you to tell me a little bit about your family and if you have any specific ideas in mind or if you are an open book!
To book there will be a small contract that outlines your session and then a $100 non-refundable retainer fee to lock in your date and the remaining balance is not due until your session date. All payments will be made through Venmo or Zelle unless there is a special circumstance.
Once we are booked, the planning will begin! Please let me know if you need styling help, I will give you a list of my favorite stores and how to carefully pick out everyone’s outfits so that you are looking and feeling your best!
I will reach out again 3 days prior to the session to confirm, but don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions beforehand.
Lastly, I run my own business, which means lots more goes into a business than just taking pictures. I also have a beautiful family that I love to spend time with when I am not working. My office hours are Monday-Thursday 7am-4pm. Please be respectful of my time off! If I don’t reply back to you right away, I may be at a session/wedding, with another client or out of office. I will reply back within 72 hours. If you message me on the weekend, I may not reply back until that Monday if I have plans or am working. Thank you!
For Family Sessions: please read the DOs and DON’Ts for your session at the bottom of the page.
WEDDING PACKAGES
Session Pricing and Packages
These sessions are stylized to capture your family special moments as you interact, play and venture out into one of our beautiful outdoor locations. Depending on the location, they will generally take place before sunset for best lighting. A styling service is included through style-and-select to help take the stress off of coordinating color schemes and find an outfit for everyone in the family. I start my sessions out very relaxed as it is only natural for your children to take a while to warm up and then that’s when the fun begins! Don’t stress about getting those perfect smiles and poses, they will come naturally as the session moves on!
Dress rentals (from a third-party source) and client closet are available for use! Rentals are subject to an additional fee.
*These sessions are done at sunset for best lighting. You will also receive a styling guide and service to help you look your best! Hair and makeup is highly recommended and can be booked through my venders for an additional fee.
Click on the photo above for more info.
FACTS—-Common questions
“All photographers do is put a filter on it, why does it take so long to get my photos?”
A: Yes, there does seem to be a specific style that every photographer has, however, every session is different, and every image is different. The location and what the clients are wearing affects the photo. We as photographers, must go through each photo and color correct, smooth the skin, eliminate distracting backgrounds, brighten the people, etc. to get the look we want. Simply putting a filter on it such as an IG filter, is not professional and won’t make for the best photos. I use two editing software’s, one for the bulk of my editing and another for more advanced edits. I will first upload, cull (go through and select the best images by rating them 1-5) and edit each of the selected images and that takes time!
After I find the best look for the gallery, I will create a preset to apply to the rest of the images, however I will still have to adjust the exposure, warmth, smooth, and slightly tweak each image so that it is a seamless gallery. From there, I will create your gallery and upload your images for easy download and viewing.
Secondly, I often have multiple sessions each week depending on the season and have specific days and times I set aside to be at my desk. 2-3 wks is my turnaround time for regular sessions depending on the time of year.
“I’m really awkward in front of the camera.”
A: This is one of the most common statements I hear from clients….and I totally get it! To be honest, I am not a fan of being in front of the camera either but know that I got you! Getting used to being in front of the camera takes time and not everyone’s a pro right off the bat. That’s why I am here to guide, pose you and make sure you are looking your best. That is also why engagement sessions are so important for my wedding clients so that they get some practice before their big day and also a chance for us to get to know each other.
“Can I bring my dog?”
A: Yessss!!! I love fur babies and they are a part of your family! They also make people happy and are a great tool for children to get in the mood to take pictures.
“My husband hates photos.”
A. I hear you! Often times its actually because they are uncomfortable in front of the camera and not necessarily that they hate photos. Reassure them that I am a professional and will guide them in every pose. If it helps to bring a beer or two to get them to loosen up then by all means bring it! Most sessions are once a year for clients, so let them understand that this is only for a short while and it is something that is very meaningful to you.
Can I purchase more photos if I want to?
A: Yess! Images are $15 per additional image or a discount to purchase the entire gallery.
When will I get my photos?
A: Your photos will be ready within 2-3 weeks and for weddings generally 4-6 weeks. Time will depend on the season (some are busier than others) and how many photos were taken. Once finished, they will be uploaded on a private online gallery for viewing, selecting and download.
FAMILY SESSIONS info:
I’m Stressed! What if my kids don’t cooperate at our session?
A: Every child is different and if you are a first-time client, keep in mind that I am a stranger to them! That is why I love my full sessions, because it gives us time to chat, play, look for bugs or simply wake up from a car nap. On our sessions, it is important that we GO WITH THE FLOW! We may not get the posed shots right away and that’s ok! If your child is upset, snuggle with them and give them love…that often makes some of the best images because they are REAL emotions
DO’s:
1. Pick the right season for you. Depending on the season, your session may be around your child’s bedtime especially during the summer. I would encourage a fall or spring session if this is worrisome to you or try to let your child take a later nap so they can hold out a little longer. All sessions are done about an hour before sunset unless it is a shady location.
2. Make their bellies full! Your child will be much happier and more inclined to cooperate if your child has a full belly.
3. Stay positive. Many children will pick up on how important these photos are to you, and sometimes a child will not cooperate on purpose for attention. Try your hardest to not lose your temper. If they refuse to be in the photo, we will move on and do some parent photos or photos with the other children and more often than not, they will start to feel left out and want to come back on their own. Light addressing the problem is ok, but we want to try and keep things positive. When it gets negative it is much harder to get them to cooperate after that.
DONT’s:
1. Please don’t bribe your child except for maybe something fun to do after the session. A mouth full of goldfish, a stain on the shirt, or a child may be more encouraged to throw a tantrum until they get the candy you have in your pocket. This will often make things worse.
2. Don’t cater to your child’s bad behavior. If they do not want to be in the photo, they may just need time to warm up. I also have lots of tricks to help get them excited to take photos. If your stressed, your photos will look stressed.
3. No busy outfits, logos, or wrinkles. For best photos, have only one person in the family wear an outfit that has a print on it and you can pull colors from that. More than one person wearing a busy shirt is very distracting and often does not match. Have someone double check your outfit that it is not see through and that it is pressed and ready to go! Please ask for help and my style guide for your session!
4. Shoes matter! Sometimes we are so worried about what we are wearing that we forget about our shoes. Shoes unfortunately will make or break what you are wearing. They should be comfortable, clean and add to your outfit. Cute sandles for the girls and a simple solid color for the boys to match their outfit will go a long way.