Session Info

What to Expect When You Book a Session:

After we confirm a date for your session, we will chat via email or on the phone. We will talk about what you want to get out of your session, what style of photos you are looking for, and discuss location & clothing ideas. On the day of the session it's all about having fun and capturing you and your family just as you are! It's not easy to feel comfortable in front of the camera, so I will do my best to help you to relax by taking some time to talk to you and get to know you a bit better before beginning to click away with my camera.

After the session I will post a few preview images on my Facebook page and/or on my blog. Then approximately 2-3 weeks after your session you will receive an email from me stating that your photos are ready, along with a link to an online viewing gallery. At this time I can work with you to create announcements or holiday cards (if part of your package) or I can assist you in ordering prints. I will then mail or deliver to you a DVD of your images and any prints that come with the package that you chose.

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The three things that I get asked about the most are where to take the photos, what time of day and what should you wear. Hopefully this information helps you to answer your questions! 

Location

I believe that a great location adds a special touch to a photograph. Whether the location is somewhere that means something to you personally or just a place that you love the look of…I am up for just about anything (within reason of course!).

Some places that are always great are Urban Settings, Nature Settings, and Museums, etc. If you have a place in mind, just let me know and I will do my best to incorporate it into your photos. Just remember that lighting and time of day have a huge impact on the location that you choose. I will work with you to find the best time of day and lighting for your location of choice.

I also have a list of places that I can suggest for you depending on the look and feel that you want for your photos.

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Time of Day & Lighting

I am first and foremost a natural light photographer and I believe that the best, most natural, flattering light comes from the sun and I prefer to do sessions outdoors.

The best time of day is in the morning or late afternoon/evening to take advantage of the best light possible. This time is known in the photography world as the “magic hour” and is the hour just after sunrise or the hour just before sunset. I understand that this might not be the best time for your session and we can adjust our timing and/or location to shoot in the general morning time or late afternoon/evening hours. (Midday hours are not ideal because the harsh direct overhead sunlight causes hard shadows, squinty eyes and here in Arizona the high temps make for grumpy, sweaty families.) 

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Clothing

The three most important things to keep in mind when choosing your clothing is:

1. Be comfortable; 2. Keep it simple; 3. Be yourself.

First and foremost, you must be comfortable! It’s so much harder to make beautiful portraits when you’re not relaxed or feeling like yourself. Second, try to keep it simple by avoiding patterns, big logos, or distracting prints. You want to be the most interesting thing about the photo, not your clothing. And finally, make sure your clothing choice accurately depicts your personality and sense of style.

My photography style is very bright and vibrant so wearing bright colors and adding layers and texture will really help your photos to pop. I personally do not encourage my clients to be matchy-matchy (try to coordinate your colors, don't match!) or overly formal and I ask that you try to stay away from basic black, white or khaki. The more color the better!