2019 will be my thirteenth year working with local families, and over the years I been working to make the process as simple and friendly as possible.
Here is the most important tip for a successful session…Try to relax!
You have invested time and energy in this and you really want it to go well, and getting everyone to the session looking nice is hard work, I know. You’re worried that someone will have a meltdown or your dog will be crazy or someone will fall in the mud. Kids notice when their parents are edgy, stressed or nervous and will often act out accordingly. Try to plan clothes, shoes etc. ahead of time to cut down on last minute problems. We want to make some nice memories to go along with these photos, so take a deep breath and just enjoy your family. If you are having fun, I am getting good photos!
Booking
First you’ll choose your session.
The North West is my all-around session for those ever-popular sunset sessions with big Oregon views, general relaxed family portraits, in-home lifestyle sessions, and in-home baby sessions. Here is all the information about the North West session.
The Park is a little session available in Corvallis at limited park, downtown and campus locations, just right if you want some simple shots of the kids or the family. Here is all the information about the Park session.
I’ll send you a link to an online booking form and invoice for your deposit. We may chat on the phone or via email at this time to plan your session, or we might wait until later. Either way, you are welcome to contact me any time with questions. Your balance is due on or before your session date. The summer months do tend to book up quickly, so book your session as early as possible to get the date you want.
Location
Your first decision is the type of location you would like. For the North West session, you might choose a beautiful view, a park, the forest, the river, campus or downtown. I have lots of local favorites and I will suggest a spot that will suit the look you like best. If you have somewhere special in mind, that can work too. Maybe you’d like to have the session at your home, or you have access to a farm, or there’s a particular viewpoint or park that you love. For the Park session, choose from a park, campus or downtown look.
If you would like some ideas, take a look through my website and tell me your favorites.
Timing is important – soft, flattering light is a must-have for successful outdoor portraits. Locations with a view are always scheduled just before sunset. Other locations with shade from trees and/or buildings offer more flexible timing.
The Session
We’ll meet at the session location and chat a little before we get started. Usually I will already have the session planned out, and we might take a short walk. Remember that the most important thing is to relax and enjoy your family. The best photos happen when people are engaged with each other. Make someone laugh, give them a cuddle, whisper you love them…or maybe chase someone and spin them around or have a piggy back race. I’ll give you lots of prompts and things to do. I usually work quickly with families as attention spans can be short, but if someone needs a break or some extra time to warm up we can easily switch gears.
Extended family sessions
These are a fun and important part of your family history. I don’t charge extra for lots of people. If you’ve got family visiting, let’s get some nice photos of the kids with their grandparents, or all the cousins and aunties and uncles getting together.
It can be a quick and simple outdoor session, or even a home session to commemorate the sweet chaos of that time you had four families and countless under-fives under one roof for Thanksgiving!
After the session
I will get to work processing your photos and preparing your gallery. About two weeks after your session, you will receive an email entitled “Gallery Information” with all the information you will need to view your photos. Be sure to read this – it’s a very simple process, but even simpler if you read the email!
Your private online gallery can be shared with friends and family anywhere in the world. This is really handy if you have family on the East Coast, or in China, or anywhere – you can send them the link and they can see your photos. You can also download the digital images from the gallery. Your session includes your full gallery of digital images, and you can use them for whatever you want – prints, photo books, gifts and other items.
It’s really important to have prints and other tangible keepsakes. You can’t cuddle on the couch with digital images! Your gallery includes your own personal store where you can purchase professional-quality prints and other items, and your session includes a print credit to spend there.
Your digital images
All of my sessions (except for those donated to auctions for schools and non-profits) include your full gallery of digital images. You will receive color and black and white versions of each image. Your digital images are delivered via digital download through your gallery. Just click the download icon at the top of your gallery and a zip file will be delivered via email. You can also download individual images.
You can use your digital images to make prints, books, gifts and share them online too. Make sure to get your favorite images printed – you and your family will love looking back on these photos in years to come. Some printers may ask for a usage or copyright release – you will find this as a pdf document attached to your gallery email.
My favorite places to order good quality prints, books and cards are Artifact Uprising, MPix, Pinhole Press and Minted.
The best quality prints will be the ones ordered through your gallery – these come from a top-quality professional lab, are printed on thick, beautiful paper and are reasonably priced.
Top Tips
Relax, enjoy your family, and don’t forget to print your photos!
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