Welcome to Your Portrait Session Guide!
I am so excited you've chosen me to document this season of life! Whether it's your growing family, a milestone, or just because you deserve beautiful photos of the people you love most, this guide will help you feel prepared and confident going into your session, so we can focus on what matters . . . making memories and having fun!
Lighting
Outdoor sessions are scheduled around the best natural light of the day, that magical last hour before sunset, often called "golden hour." (Sunrise offers the same gorgeous light, but let's be honest, unless we have an infant, most of us prefer the sunset option!) You can actually Google "sunset [date]" to get a general idea of timing depending on the time of year. I'll always confirm your start time when we finalize your session details.
Location
Certain locations work better for certain types of sessions, and I want yours to feel just right. We'll chat about your vision and choose a spot that fits your family's vibe and the look you're going for.
Weather
Houston weather has a mind of its own, and that's okay! If the weather doesn't cooperate on your session day, we simply reschedule — no stress, no rush. We'll keep rescheduling until the skies play nice. One heads-up, if you have a hair and/or makeup appointment scheduled, we may need to make the call the day before your session to avoid any cancellation fees with your salon.
Props
Have something that's totally you . . . a meaningful sign, a hobby, a musical instrument, bring it! Props that reflect your family's personality make for the most authentic, memorable images. That said, they are completely optional, not everyone brings something, and that is perfectly okay.
Posing Style
Your gallery will include a mix of traditional posed portraits (looking at the camera and smiling) and lifestyle images (candid, in-the-moment shots that capture how you actually interact with each other). Those are often the ones people love most.
Large Groups
If you're bringing the whole crew, don't worry, we'll photograph everyone together and then break into smaller groups to make sure we capture every combination that matters to you.
Pets
Fur babies are absolutely family and are welcome at sessions! Just a heads-up, if your pup tends to get a little excited around new people or new places, consider bringing a friend or family member along to help with wrangling duty so we can keep things moving smoothly.
Outfit Changes
You are welcome to change outfits as many times as you'd like! Just keep in mind that since we're working with natural light, more time changing means less time shooting — which means fewer images in your gallery. Depending on the purpose of your session, this may or may not be a concern, and we can talk through what makes sense for you.
What to Wear
Clothing can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be! The simplest rule to remember is keep it simple and solid. You want the focus to be on the people, not the outfits, so save the busy patterns and bold logos for another day, unless it’s for a styalized session or a specific reason.
For larger groups, the most important thing is matching your tone, think all lights or all darks. Everyone doesn't have to be in the exact same color, but keeping the palette in the same color family makes a huge difference. Smaller children have a little more flexibility since they take up less visual space, so don't stress too much over the littles.
It also helps to think about where we're shooting. Lighter, softer tones tend to photograph beautifully at the beach, while deeper, richer tones really pop against a lush, green backdrop like a forest or park setting.
As for how "matchy" you want to go, that's totally up to you! Some families love the coordinated look, and others prefer to stick to a color scheme or neutral palette where everything just flows together. Check out the examples below for some inspiration!
Dark colors against a dark background
