What to Expect and FAQs
Thank you so much for booking with us! We are just as excited as you are to create fun nostalgia your family can cherish for years! Our lifestyle sessions are set to make you giggle, laugh, and connect with each other. There will be candid and sweet moments as well as embraces, kisses, cuddles, and longing gazes. We are here to capture your gestures of love for one another, as butterflies in a garden.
We draw inspiration from spontaneity and being fully immersed in each moment your family is wrapped up in. We will review your questionnaire answers that will be sent before your session and customize our approach to model the way you want to be seen. This may come in the form of frameworks and initial prompts on getting started but ultimately we want this session to showcase your authentic selves and genuine expressions. We will be your guides to help inspire the scene but you will be the muses in your own story.
Our style is about showcasing your family’s emotional connections so there may be photographs where everyone looks at each other and not at the camera directly or the wind may be in someone’s face but where we draw our strength is in the feeling each image evokes, instead of stiff posed compositions. Our goal is to highlight your family bond and the unique dynamics that make each family special. So let’s get out there and create beautiful uplifting memories together!
Where should we meet?
Location will be sent via email and a drop-pin as necessary within 24 hours prior to your session. For mini sessions, this will be a location as determined by us that we know can photograph well but for Chapter and Journey packages, the location can be requested. To be fully transparent, the booking time is approximate. Session time may change to accommodate the location and weather so please plan with this in mind when booking.
How do I get my kids to cooperate?
We are parents too and we totally get it—kids have limited attention spans and it’s more than ok! Honestly, we love that they are absorbed into everything and every aspect of being in a place that they can’t be still. This gives us a variety of movement and spontaneous expressions to photograph, so no need to give specific instructions for them to smile or look at the camera unless directed by us. For babies and small children, we are definitely favorable keeping them together with parents. For older kids, we can do some separate and together photo sessions to give them a break and keep them engaged while still get some great photos.
Some of the best pictures come from ones where kids can be kids to run and roam around wherever they desire because we know when they see their parents having fun with the photoshoot, they will eventually return to make for big fun surprises. Your priority as parents is to remember to smile and enjoy your time in the session. Ensure the kids get enough food, rest, and sleep, and we will take care of the rest with the kids for the session! If you’d like us to know anything that your kids like and enjoy, we will be sure to include them in the photo session (such as favorite food, songs, shows, etc.).
What to expect for a Newborn Session
If you booked a newborn session with us, thank you for choosing us! It is such a special privilege to be there in those tender, early moments with you, and it is a responsibility we do not take lightly. Because those first weeks of life are so delicate, and because we know how difficult life can be, we offer the option to come to your home or to have you come to us. If you choose to come to our studio, we will have all the backdrops and props all set up for you ahead of time, which may save time if you live near us. If you prefer for us to come to you, additional time is needed for setup but we also get to photograph in the comfort of your home and also take some precious shots around your natural home setting. To prepare for the session, we recommend selecting 2-3 outfits for baby and coordinating outfits for family shots as well. We have found it best to plan to do family/sibling shots first, then focus on baby the rest of the session.
In terms of scheduling a date, we recommend between 7-14 days after birth, or in the case of premie babies, 7-14 days after coming home from the hospital. Unless you have a pre scheduled birth (i.e. planned caesarian section or induction), we understand the actual due date is in flux and because of this, we are more than willing to accommodate rescheduling requests should changes arise. If you have any other questions/concerns before the shoot, feel free to message/email us and we can set up a time to meet virtually go over more details. Congratulations and see you soon!
When should I expect to receive my gallery?
Gallery turnaround time is 21-30 days. We may do some sneak peaks but not guaranteed as they slow down the turnaround time. You will receive your gallery via the email you provided when booking. Please download all images in high resolution and please do not take screenshots, filter, or alter your images in any way when you share them. They have already been artistically edited and presented in their finished form to you. If you have questions or concerns regarding the finished photos, please reach out to us directly and we'd be happy to assist.
What about photo retouching?
As photographers, we love both capturing photos and editing them in a style as showcased by our photography portfolio. We hope that by booking with us, you appreciate our style and trust us to optimize your photos to match your family, the setting. the lighting and time of day. We have both a consistent style but also adapt our photos to each environment. As a result, we spend a great deal of time paying attention to little details during the editing process, which includes picking the best photos to showcase, then fully editing the entire gallery before submitting to our clients. In contrast, some photographers choose to send a large gallery of unedited photos to their clients first (to have them choose their favorites before editing), whereas our style is to edit them all beforehand and present to you our best work. It's a more time consuming choice, but one that we want to uphold for artistic vision.
In consideration of this, we totally understand if you would still like additional edits or retouching after the final gallery is delivered! We are open to your suggestions and our goal is to help you fully realize your vision for your photo gallery. Due to the additional time it takes for us to complete this process, which can add up over time between multiple client requests, we charge an additional fee of $40 for each 30 minutes of additional retouching and we'll send you an additional invoice for this payment at the final completion of the gallery. Thank you for understanding and for supporting us!