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 you or 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. I will give posing instructions, however I am just your guide, should a pose not feel natural to you, we can skip it.

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! 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.

Hair and Makeup

If you are getting professional hair and/or makeup done, be aware of that salon’s rescheduling policy. We are at the mercy of the weather, sometimes it’s obvious the day before that we need to reschedule, but not always. Make sure you are able to reschedule either the day of or the day before without penalty.

Viewing and Ordering

Within five days of your session, I'll send you a link to view your images. (If anything comes up on my end that causes a delay, I'll always let you know!) Once you've had a chance to look through your gallery, we'll schedule an ordering session together to go over your options and choose what's right 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!

A family of four posing outdoors on a grassy area with rocks, plants, trees, and a wooden bridge or structure in the background. The family includes a girl, a woman, a man, and two boys, all smiling at the camera.

Dark colors with a dark background

A large group of people, including men, women, and children, posing outdoors in front of trees and bushes during daytime.
Family group standing outdoors on grass with bushes and trees in the background, smiling at the camera.
A young woman in a white dress and high heels standing outdoors between stone pillars, smiling at the camera.

Light colors with a light background

A young couple holding hands and walking barefoot along Galveston beach at sunset, with a city skyline in the background.
Young woman in a white dress sitting on a wooden swing with greenery, smiling indoors.
A family of four standing on a wooden bridge surrounded by greenery, including a man, woman, and two children, with all smiling.

Neutral colors with a neutral background

A group of six children sitting and kneeling on a wooden bridge in a park with trees and greenery in the background.
A family standing on a brick pathway in a park with large trees in the background. The family includes a mother, father, two young boys, and the mother is holding a young girl. They are all smiling and dressed in casual, light-colored clothing.
A young woman with long blonde hair smiling, wearing a black off-shoulder top and light blue jeans, standing outdoors in front of a brick building with greenery.

Matching colors and tone to background

Family of four, two women and two men, holding hands and walking together outdoors in a park with large leafy trees.
Young woman standing on a wooden bridge in a park with green trees in the background, smiling at the camera, wearing a green dress and beige high heels.
Three children, two boys and one girl, holding hands and flowers in a field of bluebonnets and orange wildflowers.
Young woman standing outdoors in a white dress and cowboy boots, smiling at the camera, with trees and a pathway in the background.
A family of three with two dogs standing on a brick pathway in a park surrounded by trees, all wearing coordinated green outfits.

Matching clothing

Three young girls and one baby girl, all wearing matching striped dresses, walking barefoot down a city sidewalk together, holding hands and smiling.
A family of five standing on a brick pathway in a park with large trees in the background, smiling at the camera. The family includes a father, mother, and three children, all dressed in casual blue and neutral-colored clothing.
A family of five standing behind a wooden window frame in an outdoor setting, smiling at the camera. The family includes a man, a woman, three children, and a girl.

Example of how clothing, one little yellow dress, can overshadow the people

Group of diverse people, including children, adults, and seniors, posing together in a brick arched hallway at Rice University
A diverse multi-generational family group posing together in a brick and archway corridor at Rice University, smiling at the camera.

These are just guidelines, what’s most important is that you like the way you look and feel comfortable in what you are wearing!