Prepare for Your Session

Coordinate without matching. You don't need a new wardrobe.

Start with two to four pieces you already own and like. Build a loose palette around those. Mix solids with a pattern or two — one or two patterned outfits against complementary solids almost always photographs better than everyone in identical solids.

Try to avoid strongly clashing colors, everyone in competing patterns, big logos or text unless they're intentional, and neon shoes if you can help it.

Fall: dark green, brown, cream, maroon, burnt orange, muted seasonal tones. Spring and summer: blues, pinks, yellows. Bright and cheerful is fine — just not so loud it pulls the eye off your faces.

Shoes: clean, reasonably neutral. Don't overthink them; they're often barely visible.

Seniors: clothing and accessories that reflect who they are. A hat, scarf, sunglasses, a jersey.

Maternity: solids photograph particularly well.

Couples: coordinate rather than match, and avoid two competing patterns.

Hair and makeup: look like yourself. Your normal routine is perfect.

With babies and toddlers: a favorite toy, a stuffed animal, a meaningful blanket, a snack, a drink, wipes, and a backup outfit if it makes you feel better. Go easy on anything that stains right before we start.

This is not a mandatory checklist. Bring what you'd bring to the park anyway.

Things that mean something: a grandmother's quilt, an instrument, medals, baby shoes, special clothing, a meaningful vehicle, sports equipment. These are the props that matter most and they're always welcome.

Things I already have: a white and cream quilt, a wooden children's bench, a vintage camera, a maternity announcement board, and four-foot lighted GRAD letters. Optional, never necessary.

Grey is not a problem. Overcast light is often kinder than bright sun.

I start watching the forecast about three days out and check in with you as it gets closer, again around 24 hours, and again the morning of if it's close. Often the answer is shifting your start time by half an hour rather than moving the whole day.

If I'm the one who decides conditions won't work, rescheduling never costs you anything.

Arrive about five minutes early if you can, dressed and ready to go. If you're running behind — which happens, especially with kids — just send me a quick message.

I usually get there ten or fifteen minutes early and I may ask what you drive so I can spot you. I'll send exact meeting and parking details privately beforehand.

We'll start with introductions, a short walk, and a bit of conversation. If there are children, that walk is doing real work — it lets them get used to me before a camera is pointed at anybody. A few test frames, and then we're going.

Session times are approximate shooting time. Walking between spots and letting a toddler reset are part of it, not deductions from it.

Outdoor locations may have limited restrooms or none at all. Plan accordingly, especially with young children — check the Locations page, which lists what I've confirmed at each spot.

For senior and multi-outfit sessions I have a pop-up changing tent I can bring. Just tell me ahead of time. Extended sessions have natural breaks built in between locations and outfit changes.

Nothing is due when you book. Payment in full is due by the date of your session, invoiced through ShootProof.

Life with young children doesn't cooperate with a calendar. Fevers turn up the night before. Someone doesn't sleep. The morning falls apart for reasons nobody could have predicted.

I've raised young kids myself, and I'd far rather move your session than photograph a child who feels awful. With at least 24 hours' notice we'll find another date, no trouble at all. If something happens the morning of, just tell me as soon as you can and we'll work it out.

And if the weather doesn't cooperate and I'm the one who calls it, rescheduling never costs you anything.

Your finished gallery arrives within 7–10 business days and stays open for 30 days.

Every professionally edited photograph selected for your gallery is included. You don't pick a handful and you never pay to unlock the rest. What gets removed is test frames, blinks, missed focus and duplicates — nothing good is held back.

You get personal printing and sharing rights: print it, make albums, give gifts, post it, crop it to fit a frame or a social format.

If you significantly recolor, filter or re-edit an image, please don't tag it as my work — only because the editing style then isn't mine. Ordinary social media auto-cropping is completely fine.

If something genuinely looks wrong to you, tell me within about 7 days and I'll take a look.

Please download the full-resolution files while your gallery is open. Screenshots are low resolution and won't print.

Keep them in at least two places, and make one of those somewhere other than your phone — a computer, an external drive, or cloud storage. Phones get lost.

Long-term storage after your gallery expires isn't guaranteed. If yours has closed and you need it back, ask me. Sometimes I can help. I can't promise it.

RAW files aren't delivered.

Message me or text. I'd rather answer five questions now than have you wondering about something on the day.