I haven’t done this before and I’m nervous my kids will act up on the day!
Don’t worry. I’ve been doing this since 2007, so there’s not much in terms of behaviour I haven’t come across! As a mum as well as a professional photographer, I’ve learned how to help children relax and enjoy their sessions.
Food: In advance of the session, making sure you've all eaten so that no-one will feel hungry during the shoot is important (please note that for healthy and safety reasons, food and drinks other than what is required for babies aren’t permitted in the studio).
Sleep: If you know your little one needs to sleep at a certain time, let’s organise the session so that it suits nap time. A rested baby is a contented baby!
My top tips for portrait styling…
Textured fabrics (such as wool, linen etc) can work really well.
If you are having your portrait taken with more than one person (for example in a family session) try and coordinate a colour scheme instead of having everyone in the exact same colour. For instance, if you love blues, try one person in navy, one in baby blue, and another in sea-blue.
For couples and very small groups, complementary colours can work really well.
Be yourself! Wear what represents you and makes you feel comfortable.
What should I wear for a portrait session?
You want to look and feel like ‘you’ in your portrait, so don’t wear an outfit if it doesn’t fit your style. I always recommend bringing a couple of outfits with you on the day of the shoot, and we can discuss what works best. I create timeless portraits, so if you’re unsure of clothing, contact me in advance and we can discuss your styling ideas.
Adults: As general rule, avoid patterned clothes, distinctive brand logos, and large jewellery (including watches).
Children: It’s best to avoid big logos or icons such as printed superheroes (or anything you think might date) on tops.
How long do you keep images for after a shoot?
If no photos are ordered within 6 weeks of the photography session, all files from the session will be deleted.