Tips for timing, choosing a location, outfits, keeping kids happy and more!
Portrait Session
PREPARING FOR your family or newborn
to THE MAIN WEBSITE
I am so excited to work with you and capture the season of life you're in! My goal is to make your session as stress-free as possible, and to document moments that will fill up the walls in your home!
I put together this guide to hopefully ease any anxiety and answer any questions you may have about your photo session. Please do not hesitate to reach out if there is still a question on your mind!
- jen
For all of my family sessions I bring my bag full of silly puppets, noisy rattles to grasp your baby's attention, and a bubbly personality to connect with your kids. I know it's easy to worry how your children might behave for photos, but I promise to keep it lighthearted and fun for them by playing games and making goofy faces from behind my camera!
My full family sessions are 60 minutes for a reason. This grants the kids enough time to explore and warm up to the camera, while not feeling rushed to get the "perfect" family portrait. Please don't worry if your child is shy, or even if there are a few tears mixed in. We will definitely capture smiles and their sweet personality as-is. Your only job is to put your trust in me, and make sure you're smiling at the camera too! :)
Keeping
little ones
happy
Having three children of my own, I am incredibly patient and will never rush your session. I have a few tricks up my sleeve to bring out those sweet giggles! Come into your session expecting to let the kids lead and to go with the flow, and I promise you will love the outcome!
I will send over a questionairre before your session to get to know your kids a little bit better! Things like their favorite song (I always have my speaker), or things they find funny! Knowing this ahead of time will help me connect with your little one(s) throughout the session,
I love to start sessions about two hours prior to sunset. I prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. This is also when we can catch those beautiful golden hours, if it's a sunny evening. HOWEVER, your schedule comes first and I understand this can sometimes interfere with bedtimes! The first two hours after sunrise is also an ideal time to shoot.
Is there a "good" time to take photos?
TIME & LIGHT
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Spring is such a beautiful time for photos! I recommend sticking to light neutrals such as dusty rose, sage, cream, mustard, etc. Light blue and denim also look great in the Spring!
april showers bring may flowers
Spring
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Summer is easily a favorite season with the gorgeous golden sunsets and luscious greenery of fields in Minnesota! Different shades of blue, white, cream, and muted greens tend to look great on camera during these months.
golden hours & so much greenery!
Summer
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The busiest time of year for family photos! Who doesn't want pictures with the stunning changing colors? :) Earthy, neutral colors (as pictured) look amazing and pair perfectly with the orange and red leaves! Creams, browns, olive green, maroon...you can't go wrong.
If only these colors were year-round
Autumn
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If you your session takes place during the winter, chances are we will begin shooting at 2:30pm to catch the early sunset! I always recommend layers, especially for kiddos, and wearing hats. Little ones get cold fast in the Minnesota temps, and having a hat on will keep them much happier! Olive green, burgundy, and other deep tones will pair great against the white snow or evergreen trees.
cute cozy hats & layers
Winter
each season: what to wear
Locations
my favorite places to shoot
The best session locations are often meaningful to you; however, I am also happy to make recommendations! Below are a few of my favorite spots.
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Whitetail Woods Regional Park
Tamarack Nature Center
Fields, tall grass, tall pines
Ritter Farm Park
Rock Island Swing Bridge
Lebanon Hills Regional Park
The Cowling Arboretum (Senior Favorite)
Bridges
Downtown Northfield (Senior Favorite)
Downtown Hastings
Downtown White Bear Lake
Downtown/Buildings
The above locations are all beautiful but I also love to explore new places!
If you're wondering if you should bring your fur babies or leave them home, I will ALWAYS recommend letting them tag along! If you choose to do so, I advise having a helper come too for when they aren't in the photos. It's nice to have someone available to hold him/her in between shots, but don't worry if no one is available-I have taken photos while holding pets, too!
I recommend bringing some of your pets favorite toys and treats to the session. This way I can help get them to look at the camera and they get a reward :)
Bringing
furry ones
A lot of my clients tell me that this is the first time in front of the camera, or that they are worried they will look awkward! I promise to guide you through the session and rather than pose you, I focus on movement and offer silly prompts that end up posing you naturally. I want you to feel entirely relaxed throughout your session!
"What do I do with
my hands?"
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
Newborn
Spit up happens! I recommend having a change of clothes for both you and baby, as well as other family members, in case an accident happens.
04
You're doing amazing! I highly recommend pampering yourself for this session. You just went through a life-changing event, and I know all too well that time for yourself is sparse these days. Whether it's browsing online for a new outfit or getting your hair done, use these photos as an excuse to do something for YOU!
Dear Mama,
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While your entire house doesn’t need to be spotless, I do recommend lightly cleaning up the nursery and any places you think we might shoot. This might include making your bed, the couch or a spot in your home near windows with beautiful natural light. Please do not worry about dishes or bottles in the sink. I've been there, and I promise I do not care!
Preparing your home
backup Outfits
I recommend changing your little one's diaper and feeding them right before I arrive. However, due to the tiny size of their tummies, it’s also likely that they’ll need another feed (and maybe a diaper change) during the shoot. Please do not worry if we have to pause photos-your new baby is the biggest priority! I always plan extra time for newborn sessions.
For outfits, I recommend keeping it neutral. A soft, earth-toned color like cream for your baby photographs wonderfully! Textures like knit are always great, too. I will bring some fabric diaper covers as well as wraps for solo shots of your newborn.
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Preparing your Baby
Tips on preparing for your in-home newborn session with your new best friend.
Newborns
a note about
Yes, you are welcome to print the images on your own. Every session include a print release that allows you to print photos from wherever you choose! If you do this, I recommend making sure the printer does not automatically color correct the images and making sure you are using a high-quality service.
For maximum quality, I LOVE offering prints to my clients through their online galleries. Photos will be delivered directly to your front door and I can guarantee beautiful results!
A:
Can I print the images on my own?
q:
My 60 minute sessions include 75 retouched images. There will be a mixture of color and black and white versions!
A:
How many images will I receive?
q:
I guarantee that your images will be online for three months. While your galleries may stay up longer than that, I recommend downloading all high resolution images to several devices, including an external hard drive for keepsake.
A:
How long will I have access to the images?
q:
While turnaround times can vary by season, I aim to deliver all images within 3 weeks of your session.
A:
When will I receive my images?
q:
Frequently
asked
Questions
You are absolutely welcome to share images on social media! I love seeing the photos you share. To ensure that my work is properly represented, I ask that you refrain from applying any filters or editing the images. I also ask that you please provide photo credit as this helps me grow my business and reach more people in our community!
A:
Can I share the images on social media?
q:
I am so excited for your upcoming photo session! If this guide didn't answer a question you have, please email me!
