FAMILY SESSION PREP GUIDE

You've just booked your session with The Moment Photography, 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.

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!

If you still looking for photo location inspiration before booking, check out this Link to see if there’s anything that resonates with you!

What do I wear to my shoot?

This is a common question and is an important part of the photo shoot to consider, as it will have a big impact on the overall images. As a general guide, I recommend:

Colors

Stick to the same TONES, but don’t overly match (don’t all wear blue jeans and a white t-shirt)
Neutral colours are always good – use 3-4 neutral colours as your base, then everyone can use these to coordinate their outfits (e.g. grey, tan, cream, blue, lighter brown and white)
Primary colours or versions of them, tend to work well (e.g. yellow/mustard, red/maroon, blue/navy/royal)
When adding colour, choose 2-3 main colours, and 1 accent pop of colour
Avoid fluorescent or really bright colours – strong colours can look great, but not fluorescent. If you wear strong colours, then make sure it’s more of a feature colour rather than the whole outfit (e.g. mustard jumper with denim jeans), and avoid EVERYONE wearing a strong colour
Avoid too much black where possible – especially if someone is in a lot of black, and someone else is in a lot of white
With newborn shoots, stick to simple colours (grey, black and white with pops of soft blues and pinks) and simple clothing
Think about the location of your shoot – if you are at the beach, wear colours that you would see at the beach (e.g. white, cream, soft blues), if your shoot is in the park – consider contrasting with the greenery with warm colours such as red, oranges or yellows, in addition to some neutral colours.

Patterns

Avoid clashing patterns – patterns can be great, as long as not everyone is wearing them. Florals are beautiful for little girls and women. Stripes and spots can also be great, but stick to one person wearing them
Avoid logos or writing on clothing

Style

Textures and layers look great – think layers of a kimono/shawl over a singlet, lacy or textured material, textured beanie on a cold day, scarves and boots, Think about the style of clothes matching location
Dresses and skirts look most stunning because they really flatter every female body, especially on camera. What's more, a full and flowy skirt is like a built-in "prop," giving you something to twirl and swirl, and adding effortless movement and interest to your photos. I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress instead.
If you don’t know where to start, pick one outfit you really love, and style the rest of the outfits around that
Make sure you (and everyone) feel comfortable in the clothes Show off your personality in your clothes – don’t feel that you need to dress plain if your personality and style is eclectic – you want the photos to represent the real YOU
Think about your shoes – if you’re wearing a nice dress, pair it with a nice pair of wedges, boots or heels – not old thongs or sneakers
The most important thing is to feel comfortable in your choices. There is no need to go and buy a new outfit (although it’s always a good excuse if you’re looking for one!)

What to expect: "What will our session be like?"

You might be thinking, “okay, we’ve got our location and we know what we’re wearing, what else is there to know?”

My main focus is to capture your family in this season of your lives! I want to capture moments not poses. 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 a couple standing and sitting poses. 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.

Its 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 your 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 themselves. We're focusing on moments, so a shy kiddo can get extra snuggles and a wildling 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.

It is really important to arrive on time or be ready for me to come to your house on time. We are booking your session according to the light so we may be limited. It's best to plan to arrive early. I can't wait to capture your family!

And what do you do if you need more information?! Send me a message! I’m here for all of your needs!

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. My turn around time for your full gallery is between 2-3 weeks. I pick the best moments to edit and share with you. But I do guarantee at least 20 images. Once I've finished editing your session, I will upload it to PASS. This is a photo gallery hosting website. They also have a great phone app. Then I send you the link and you are free to download, print, and share your images.