Thank you for thinking of me to document your next collection of family photographs. In this guide you will find more info on what sessions with me look like, as well as tips that have been helpful to clients for their sessions.
No holding back- this session is all inclusive, meaning you receive all the best images from your session deemed acceptable by my review (40+ images).
- Lisa
LET'S LEVEL UP YOUR
IN HOME SESSION
If it’s intimate and candid you’re looking for, you’ve found the right place. Let’s put the iPhone away and update that camera roll (and those walls) with the images that tell your story. Everything you do at home- from the quiet moments swaying the baby to joking around with young teens- I'm there to document this for you.
As a mom, I understand that photos can be stressful, but I'm here to remind you that they don’t have to be. These sessions include a mix of relaxed portraits with my storytelling approach which allows moments to unfold naturally; and though I may give slight direction I encourage natural interactions to tell your story with simplicity + honesty. My objective isn’t just to take pretty pictures, but to capture the genuine interactions within your family. The best moments always happen organically, so I encourage a lot of movement with each other to bring out those natural reactions and capture those candids we all love.
For my families with littles, let's allow your kids to run, to dance, and a bring lot of tickles. What little one doesn’t like to dance around being held on mamas hip or ride on dad's shoulders (maybe even tackle dad to the ground)? It’s also important to allow your littles time to open up to me and allow a stranger in their space. It may be very intimidating to have someone be near them, so make sure to embrace them, because those comforting moments will also make for some beautiful documented moments.
For my families outside of the toddler stage, I have a pocket full of prompts and directions to still get interactive with you! Asking engaging questions helps me get to know you, but also brings out those natural reactions. Something as simple as asking which sibling has the messiest room can create a gateway for me to document your family.
These are the things that add to your story and truly embody the connections between your family.
Get close + cozy to someone. Touch them, nuzzle them, kiss them, make someone laugh. That's where the fun is.
I promise, it's that easy.
...but how can we take this up a notch?
As a tip, in home sessions are great when you have something to do. I encourage you to think of what you like to do as a family and how we might be able to incorporate that into your session. Some simple ideas like:
games (play dough or benga, anyone?)
books you like to read
chasing bubbles
sidewalk chalk
baking banana bread or cookies
roasting hot dogs or marshmallows
running through the sprinkler on a hot summer evening
or something as simple as making coffee or hot chocolate and sitting at the table or on the couch.
Have another idea? Let me hear it!
VIDEO ADD ON | $225 + GST
Optional to add to your session- Includes a 1-2 minute video of your session put together with licensed music (sound from the session will not be recorded). My priority of focus will always be images for your gallery first, and I will collect video through the session where I can. It’s important to note that images and video may or may not directly copy/ overlap each other in scenes from your session (not every video clip will be available as an image, and vice versa). Keep in mind that videos are more real + raw, and things like wrinkles in clothing, tan lines, items in backgrounds etc. cannot be removed in photoshop the way they can in images. These videos can absolutely be done as a general in home family session, such as a six month or one year session.
My goal is to leave you with a beautiful, emotive and irreplaceable video of your family loving on your new babe. You have up until the session day to decide if you would like to include the video. Please reach out if you have any questions.
Q + A
Where do we shoot?
Your living room, nursery, and primary bedroom are common shooting areas. Since I don't bring any lighting equipment, it's important to keep those blinds wide open for natural light. If the weather allows, let's head outside!
What should we wear?
Photo sessions are an event and should be dressed as such. Ensure it’s an outfit you’ve worn before and you know it's comfortable- a dress, jeans with a dressy top and cozy cardigan or a cozy oversized knit sweater, etc. Siblings can wear a dress, leggings, jeans or khakis with a neutral tee or dressier sweater, and men might simply wear jeans and a black top or of course dress that up as well. I suggest to stay away from any clothing with too many patterns or large, bright logos as they tend to be very distracting, with bare feet as it looks most natural in a home setting. Please remember to remove things like fitness watches, scrunches, etc. if you do not want them in your images.
Neutrals and cream tones do photograph best, and you can compliment outfits by pulling different shades of a colour for different articles of clothing on family members. Keep in mind that if everyone wears the same very dark shades, you will all blend together and we want to try avoid that.
For a baby I recommend a neutral onesie, sleeper or pants without feet (think earthy tones- forest green, mauve, tan, cream etc. or plain white). Although they're cute, bulky outfits don't photograph well. Full sleepers are great, but I'm gonna wanna get at those toes ;) My favorite places for minimalist baby clothing are H&M, Old Navy, Gap, Baby and Beyond, and Carters, just for some suggestions. Small nylon headbands with bows will leave minimal marks on the little girl babes.
I'm available for wardrobe consultations if you find it hard to make a decision!
What do I need to do to get my home ready for photos?
I only recommend removing distractions or anything you don't want in your photos (think tissue boxes, dirty dishes). I don't need you to have a spotless home- you live there. Life is crazy. Sometimes I need to move a coffee table- I promise I'll put it back. Any sort of music playing from Radio/ TV/ Bluetooth etc. might help relax you and your family, it's nice to have something to listen to while we work together!
Let me know about any heirlooms or items you'd like to incorporate and have them nearby when your session starts.
Does the weather affect our session?
The only weather I truly dislike is rain- it completely takes away our sunlight and most homes are left incredibly dark. Since I work best with natural light to keep the tones consistent in my work, I may consider rescheduling if it ends up raining the morning of your session (but you will hear from me!).
I hope you've found the information in this guide helpful in preparing for your session, and remember that you can always contact me with any questions you have.
View my Instagram page here to get to know a little more about me, what I'm up to, or view recent work + availability updates.
I look forward to working with you very soon!