Here are a few tips to help you get ready next time you’re planning a photo shoot!

Choosing a location

Here are a few ways you can pick a location:

• Is there a place that’s meaningful to you? A place where you like to go to clear your mind, enjoy nature, maybe a spot where you have lots of good memories?

• Where have you been wanting to explore? Maybe a beautiful lake, beach, or forest that you’ve heard other people talk about or have seen photos of.

• What do you enjoy doing? Choosing an activity, like a picnic, coffee date, campfire, hike, or walk in the park – these are all activities that lend themselves really well to candid moments and capturing photos of you doing something that lights you up!

Outfit styling

The main goal of what you wear is to accentuate the overall mood/vibe you’re going for, and not distract from the connection with the other people or from the location we’re shooting in.

• Think about incorporating interesting layers of clothing, like a knit sweater, heavy denim, a flowy dress – things that add visual interest.
• Stay away from distracting logos, words, graphics and patterns – unless you’re specifically going for a statement outfit and you’ve chosen those things intentionally.
• Consider how you can accessorize to complement the colours and style of your outfit.
• If this is an engagement shoot, consider scheduling your hair and makeup trials for the same day as the shoot!

A few tips specific to groups:

• Decide on a group colour palette – For example, earthy colours like brown, burgundy and olive green, or cool colours like muted blues, greys and forest green.
• Limit patterns, less is more here. (Solid colours look best in group shots. You can have a few pops of pattern, but make sure it’s not going to look too busy when you’re all standing next to each other.)
• Avoid logos and words on clothing. (The simpler, the better!!)
• Don’t all wear the same colour pants, so you’re not one solid colour on the bottom half – have some people wear tan pants, black pants, blue jeans, grey pants, a different colour. 

Click here for a pinterest board with outfit ideas!

Stay in the moment

I love getting you to laugh, move, and interact! My method of shooting photos is by guiding poses and giving ideas for movement, and then stepping back to give you space to connect and be present in the moment. I don’t want to over-direct, but you can count on me to make sure you’re looking your best.

Here are some typical posing directions for a couple or in a group:

• Say things/tell insides jokes that you know will bring on some smiles and laughs
• Give cheek or forehead kisses
• Always be interacting with each other in some way
• Run towards / after each other
• Group hug
• Walking holding hands

If you want music to set the mood, that often helps you to feel more at ease and playful. A good song can relax you or inspire some fun dance moves!

Don’t worry about stray hairs or looking perfect – be in the moment!

Sessions with kids

Parents, this is for you: child-led poses are so fun and can be the best photos!! Kids tend to do better in photo shoots when they’re not feeling forced. Let them pick up sticks and run around! If they need a moment to sit or if they don’t want to smile, give them space to do what they need to.

The photos will turn out so much better than trying to make them do something they don’t want to, and capture the energy and wonder of being a kid.

Your mindset, and the expectations that you put on your kids, are so important to manage as the adults. When we take the pressure off of the kids to “act perfectly” during the session and allow it to unfold, it will be a much better experience for everyone.

We don’t want family sessions to come with feelings of dread or resentment for kids – we want them to feel excited to explore a location, have fun connecting with their family, and to know that there will be space and respect for their emotions and preferences during the session.

I’m excited to capture the beauty of your connection!

Want to learn more about what it’s like to work with me? Head on over to my bookings page!