Family Session Planning Guide 2024

FOR FAMILIES

Welcome!

I'M SO EXCITED TO WORK WITH YOU!

Thank you so much for choosing me as your photographer! I am both honored and ecstatic to be working with you to document this chapter of your lives

It’s normal to be a little anxious about your session. You’re a busy family with quite a few things on your plate

That’s actually one of the reasons why I put together this guide It covers things to keep in mind when it comes to choosing a location, outfits, prepping kids and more.

Hopefully it helps you feel fully prepared for our time together, but should you have any other questions or if you need advice, please feel free to reach out!

I look forward to meeting you all! Kellyn

My style of photography is both posed and lifestyle. I love capturing families playing, snuggling, being goofy and just loving each other I will always do my best to get those posed photos where everyone is looking at the camera but it is the true non-posed photos that make your family unique!

Not only am I passionate about capturing and curating gorgeous, authentic, and timeless images to tangibly keep memories forever, but I seek to connect with my clients and build relationships My desire is to tell your story, and have you leaving each session feeling beautiful, loved, and empowered.

HONESTMOMENTS,REALSMILES

Taking photos can be intimidating Even THINKING about everything involved might be enough to stress you out

I totally get it! Getting photos of your kiddos can be tricky, but my goal is to make the experience easy, stress free and (date I say it?) FUN for everyone involved

Over time I've had a chance to develop a process that takes the focus off of the traditional " sit still and smile" approach to family photos, and instead gets you and your little ones (or big) moving and interacting

My promise is that you will have beautiful family photos, without all the stress. Sound good?

Without further ado, let's dive into some tips and info to prepare for your session

WHAT TO EXPECT

First off, if you've never had photos taken before - It's going to be way easier and more fun than you probably expect

A typical session will start off by spending a few minutes together just hanging out. This gives your kids a change to get used to me and let off a little bit of energy in the process.

Once we're ready to start the session, rather than traditional poses, we will start off with a playing a few games. This keeps your kids engaged and focused and helps bring out those natural smiles, laughs and connection. On your questionnaire please tell me if your child loves a certain game ie: hide and seek, peek-a-boo etc

My goal isn't to get a picture of your child "being good" or "just smiling" but having fun and interacting! If they don't cooperate, don't stress Family photos are for documenting memories - and this is part of the life stage you're in, right?

Once your kiddo(s) have had a chance to let out this energy, grabbing a few formal photos is far more simple and easy

And that's essentially all there is to it!

MANAGING LITTE ONES

One thing we ’ ve learned over the years is that our experience of our children is different from what others experience For example, if you ’ re at the grocery store with your three year old son and he starts yelling, you probably think he’s irritating other customers more than he is. Most likely, those other customers just see a cute (slightly loud,) three year old.

The same holds true for photo sessions. Your child is in a new element and a stranger is holding a big camera in front of their face. They’re likely not going to entirely be themselves. They may show off more than usual or your extrovert may suddenly become shy. Rest assured, it’s all okay

The best thing you can do for your kids is to go with the flow and stay positive. The more you relax and have fun with things, the more likely your little one (or big one,) is to get on board

It can also be helpful to pack a few treats and bribes for younger children. Favorite toys, special snacks and the promise of ice cream afterwards work wonders

I am incredibly patient with kids and that we have a few tricks up our sleeve to help get even the smallest ones to cooperate.

DADS

Mom, I am speaking to you! Is your spouse feeling less than thrilled about your upcoming photo session? A little bribery seems to work well here!

Let your husband know that the session will be relatively painless and to try to focus on having an hour to play your kids, hold their hand and savor the moment.

STYLE GUIDE

OUTFIT RECOMMENDATIONS

The outfits you choose for your session are one of the most important factors in your photos Not only do they play a huge role in the visual aspect of photos, but whether or not your child feels comfortable has a huge effect on their mood and energy.

Below I have some suggestions for outfits, but the single most important top I can give you is to ALWAYS place comfort at the top of your priority list!

Choose complimentary colors

A good place to start in choosing colors for your outfits is to choose a color palette that has colors that compliment one another, rather than too many of the same or similar colors It's also important to make sure colors don't clash.

Go neutral

I highly recommend choosing outfits that follow a more neutral color palette Especially when your session is at location in nature, it ' s great to have Earthy colors that compliment, yet pop against the backdrop. Neutral colors are also a great way to make sure your images are timeless and beautiful.

Limit patterns and big logos

This tip is especially crucial when choosing outfits, as busy patterns and big logos can be extremely distracting and if there are too many outfits with patterns in your group, can clash Incorporate mostly solids in your outfits, and include patterns only when the majority outfits are solids, and when patterns are not as distracting

STYLE GUIDE

OUTFIT RECOMMENDATIONS

Start with mom ' s outfit

Women's clothing comes in a multitude of designs, colors, and styles, and most times, women are more particular with their clothing than men, so having this as a foundation for the other outfits makes it easier to choose a color palette and style for your outfits Start with one outfit, and build on it one-by-one

Add Layers

Probably the biggest difference between sessions that look great and sessions that are WOW are when clients add layers to their wardrobe. Boys, in a t-shirt with a button up over it, along with a blazer, girls wearing leggings, fun shirt, sweater with headband, parents wearing dark jeans that have a grit are always a great choice especially for the husbands A shawl, dress or loose jacket will accentuate movement in photos These are just some examples Accessories just as necklaces, hats, scarves, bracelets etc. add an extra little touch to an outfit and translate really well in photos.

Confidence is key

The most important factor in choosing your outfits is to wear something that you feel comfortable and confident in You'll want to choose something that fits you well and makes you feel good about yourself!

STYLE & SELECT

As stated, your choice in wardrobe can truly elevate a photo, or in worse case scenario completely detract from the most important part of the photo which is YOU! I understand that choosing the right outfits for your family can be overwhelming Your time is precious which is why I have partnered with style and select to save you from the stress of running from store to store trying to coordinate outfits for every member of your family!

When you book a session with me you have access to a personal stylist + personal shopper + style guide all rolled into one! Best of all you can shop from the comfort of your home!

Style and Select will help you pick out the right colors and outfits for your entire family That means no more hours wasted shopping for the wrong styles or if you are anything like me - scrambling in a panic at the last min to get your family outfitted and looking presentable!

WHAT TO WEAR

WHAT TO WEAR

WHAT TO WEAR

WHAT TO WEAR

WHAT TO WEAR

LET'S TALK DETAILS

WHAT TIME SHOULD WE CHOOSE?

Lighting is the number one most important element in creating breathtaking photos! The best light is about an hour before sunset, called the "Golden Hour".

WHERE WILL WE GO?

I have several different location recommendations depending on the look and feel you are going for We will discuss this at your consultation

CAN WE BRING OUR DOG, CAT, PET TURTLE?

YES! I love pets in the family photos! If you want to bring along a pet please let me know ahead of time

DO YOU TRAVEL FOR SHOOTS?

Yes! I love to adventure and explore Session rates may vary depending on the location, so just let me know what you have in mind and we can go from there

CAN WE DO MULTIPLE LOCATIONS?

Because we are limited to time and light, I don't like to schedule multiple locations

WHEN AND HOW WILL WE RECEIVE OUR PHOTOS?

Post processing typically takes about 2-3 weeks. Photos are delivered via digital download for instant access and easy sharing

LET'S TALK DETAILS

DO YOU PROVIDE ALBUMS & PRINTS?

Absolutely! While your session fee includes the session and digital files only, I also offer custom designed albums, prints and products

DO I HAVE TO USE YORU STUDIO FOR PRINTING MY DIGITAL IMAGES?

Many studios add a watermark or force you to print through them - I'm not a big fan of that route While I offer albums and prints, the way we see it is you ' ve invested a lot of money for great photos, so you should have the freedom to print them whereever you want for personal use I will mention that my lab is calibrated to the way I edit and can only guarantee the quality if you go through my studio.

WHAT TO DO IF IT RAINS

It’s typical for us to schedule two session dates A primary date and a rain date Having two dates helps us make sure that your photos happen in a timely manner.

Coordinating schedules can be tough and we ’ ve found that the best way to make sure our families get the look they have in mind for their photos is to schedule two dates at the same time.

I will check in the week of your session to confirm the time & location we ’ re meeting and the weather. We know it takes a lot of time to get ready for session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain Let us know what works best for your family, but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, we typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance

I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK WITH YOU!

I cannot wait to capture some amazing memories for you. Please let me know if you have any questions before your session I'll see you soon!

@kellyn wilson

Kellyn