Family Session/Mini Session Prep Guide

You've just booked your session with Photography From The Soul, and you're super excited (as am I). But you're probably wondering: "what's next?" This guide will help walk you through the steps you need to prepare your family for your photography session with me, Jenifer. I'll go over everything from wardrobe to how to get the kids (and dad) ready. I'm so excited to work with you and your family. If you have any questions along the way, please just let me know. I love to help!

Wardrobe: "What will we wear?"

The hardest question everyone asks themselves after booking a photo session is: "What will we wear?” I totally understand! And I'm here to help!
When you start styling your session, I suggest starting with Mom and then working out from there. Whether you want to purchase all new clothes, or you want to use that dress you love, it's a great place to start. You don't have to start with mom's outfit though. Just pick one item first. Then you can pull your colours and textures and build up from that starter piece. Another good starting point is to think of the colours in your home (these images will be on your walls after all) or maybe your favourite colour, then go from there.

Things to keep in mind:
 
    comfort: you want everyone to be comfy at your session. We'll be moving around on our adventure, so make sure you put yourself and the kids in something that moves with you and isn't itchy or too tight. You'll be hearing about it all session, trust me.
    accessorize it: hats, scarves, jewellery, blankets, headbands, suspenders, etc. All these things are a great way to add another layer of your style into your session.
    patterns: I love fun patterns, but my favourite is floral! Mixing patterns is a great way to add interest to your photos.
    textures & layers: Layers add texture and textures add interest. Denim, chunky knits, lace, cords, etc. I love the way a chunky cardigan looks. Or a denim shirt tied at the waist. These are all great ways to incorporate your style.
    colour: make sure the colours you choose complement each other. Colours that will stand out best are muted, earthy tones. Some examples are: mustard yellow, mauve pink, browns or khaki, dark blue, hunter green, dark reds/oranges
    MAKE IT YOUR OWN: this session is about you! And it's so important to make sure that your family's personality shines through in every aspect.
 
Things to avoid:
 
    giant logos: shirts that have giant logos on them can distract from your beautiful faces. Just say no.
    neon colours: just say no to hot pink and lime green
Having different colours, patterns, textures, etc. is super important to create interest and diversity in your family's images.
 
 
What to expect: "What will our session be like?"

My main focus is to capture your family in this season of your lives! I want to capture moments not poses (don’t worry I will still guide you) and I want to embrace all the beautiful imperfections. At our session, we will play, adventure, snuggle, run, jump, and maybe even get a little dirty. We'll start off our session by getting that perfect posed "Christmas Card Photo" out of the way. I usually like to do one standing and one sitting pose. And then we'll start our adventure.  Be thinking of things that you like to do together as a family, little games or small things you want to remember. An example would be how my son doesn't like to get kisses on the lips, so we kiss on the cheeks and forehead.
If you are booked in the evening, please remember that even though this is a hard time of the day for kids, this is also THE MOST flattering light for pictures. 
I know this is hard with children’s routines, but I promise you, it is worth it. If this time is not possible, do not worry, afternoon photo-shots are great too.

The week before:

"How do I prep the kids for our photo session?"

The week or two before your session, start bringing me up in conversation. You can refer to me as Jen, Jenny, Jenifer or even just the photographer/camera lady. Tell your kids about the fun adventure we'll be having. I am totally not above bribery. A fun ice cream date after our session or a yummy snack is always a big hit. Just make sure you let the kids know we're going to have fun! If they get worried about behaving perfectly then it will show in the images. I love taking time to connect with your kids to get those fun images of them.

"How do I prep dad for our photo session?"

Tell dad we're going on an adventure too! Let him know that all he has to do is relax and have fun loving on his wife and kids. Take the pressure off. He'll do great!

"How do I prep myself, mom?"

Relax! Pamper yourself. Get your hair or nails done (if that's your thing). Don't stress, and remember to just have fun with your family. This is the time to be your true self with your beautiful family, enjoy it.

Need help? Just ask:

I am here to help in any way that you may need, from helping with wardrobe choices, or deciding between whether or not to bring your child's lovey. I want to make this session awesome for you, and I love getting involved in all the details. So if you have a question about anything, please don't hesitate to ask. You can email, text (226-600-7892), or send a Facebook message.
 
Session Day:

"It's finally here!" The day of your session is here! We've picked out the perfect time and location, and your wardrobe is ready to go. You've spent weeks preparing, and it's finally time. I'm getting just as excited as you are.

Things to remember:
 
    Have fun! This is so important that you and your kids enjoy this experience because it will show up in your photos if someone just isn't having it. Relax and love on your family.
    This time is about you and what makes your family special. We'll spend the first little bit getting to know each other. We'll knock out the "Christmas Card" photos (ones where everyone is looking and smiling), and then set off.
    Moments over poses: after we get the poses out of the way, you don't have to look at the camera anymore. You totally can if you want, but it's not required.
    Always touching: be sure that you’re always touching someone. Whether it's a hug or snuggle, or just a tender hand on the shoulder. Make contact with your family. This shows connections and love.
    Don't stress: if your kids are nervous or acting a little wild, that's totally OK! I embrace children in every aspect of them. We're focusing on moments, so a shy kiddo can get extra snuggles and a wild one can have extra run time. It's all about your family in this season! Remember that.
    Bring snacks, water, a blanket, jackets/cardigans (if it's cold), more water and snacks, and extra change of clothes in case someone gets too messy for the car ride home.
    Have fun and don't stress!
 
After the session:

"How long do we have to wait to see our photos?"

That is a great question! I take great care to go over all of your images and pick out the perfect moments. When I get home from our session, I immediately back up your images so they are safe. Also, I don't delete the images from my memory card until after I have edited your pictures. Once they are safely backed up, I pick my favourites. Then I edit one or two for a sneak peek. These will be posted on my Instagram and Facebook page in the day or two following our session. My turn around time for your full gallery is between 2 weeks ( and 2 to 3 weeks during busy seasons). You will get the amount of images that you purchase and will have a chance to purchase more single images or the whole gallery ( lots of savings if  you purchase the whole gallery*) Once I've finished editing your session, I will upload it to a private gallery through ShootProof/or SproutStudio ( i am transitioning from Shootproof to Sprout). This is a photo gallery link. You will choose the pictures that you like best that are included in your package, but if you like more photos, I will let you know how many extra you chose and the added price. Then I send you the link with only the final chosen photos and you are free to download into your devices. This link you can share with your family and friends. You will receive a zipped file via email to download your images. Please note that for higher quality prints, I recommend you print from the images that I email you.
 
I do appreciate it when you tag Photography From The Soul on social media, this helps promote my business.
Oh and feel free to leave a review on Google or Facebook!
;)
Jen