Family Session Checklist

Make hair, nail, and/or makeup appointments before your photoshoot. Ensure your roots are touched up, and avoid wearing chipped nail polish.
Plan your outfits at least a week in advance—don’t wait until the last day. Organizing your outfits early allows you to shop for any additional pieces beforehand.
Prepare your kids with laid-back, low-key references to let them know what’s happening. Use phrases like "hanging out with our friend Katie on Saturday!" or "going to the park to play!" to keep things fun, lighthearted, and casual. Families have shared that this tip is especially helpful if they have a particularly shy child.
Make sure everyone gets a great night’s sleep and eats a good meal beforehand.

Dress for the weather to ensure everyone's comfort.
Avoid wearing identical matching clothes. No plain white (it tends to photograph blue!). Opt for ivory or beige instead.
Avoid tennis shoes, T-shirts, or shirts with large writing on them.
Wearing medium or long dresses for women is recommended as they capture movement and are more flattering for photos. However, not at all required.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you can move in.
Remember to remove bulky items like phones and car keys from pockets before we start snapping photos.

Any touchup items you might want, including lipstick, hairbrush, hairspray, etc.
Snacks and treats for the kids.
Walkable shoes for everyone, as we may walk short to moderate distances on unpaved trails (depending on the session location).
A change of clothes for the kids in case anyone gets muddy or dirty.
A beer. Just kidding! (kind of!) But seriously, if a beer will loosen up hubby a bit beforehand, I totally support it :)

You do not need to memorize anything; I will repeat all instructions for posing during your session!

No need to ‘Cheese’! I’m chasing natural interactions and unposed moments to capture authentic expressions. No need to coax your children into fake smiles!
Children around the ages of 5-10 will sometimes try to “cheese” in the photos because that’s what they’ve been conditioned to do when they see a camera. Help me create more candid shots by interacting playfully with your children.
Laugh, play, tickle, and snuggle for authentic moments.
Not everyone has to be looking at the camera. I usually encourage gentlemen to NOT look at the camera. Dads, focus on your partners and your kids.
When in doubt, smile and look at your family lovingly.
Stand close together, as close as possible.
Relax, slow down, and don’t force anything. Just be present with your family, and I’ll do the rest.
Expect me to move you around to different spots to capture images for variety.

WHAT TO EXPECT AFTER YOUR PHOTO SESSION:

I will work hard behind the scenes to cull the best photos, eliminating duplicates, blurs, and blinks. Your gallery is typically ready for download within 3 weeks of your session.
Download your photos. Please download a copy of your high-resolution images to a backup location for safekeeping.
Last step to complete your portrait experience: ENJOY YOUR PHOTOS! Share on social media, print all the prints, and gift to relatives and friends!

And that’s it! The complete checklist for guiding you through your session. Thank you for choosing me as your family photographer! -Katie