Arrive at your photoshoot location feeling confident with these helpful guidelines...


Family is everything. They are the roots that provide nourishment, the foundation that keeps us grounded, but they are also the wings that help us soar. We love to celebrate our loved ones because they make us who we are; whether you're blood-relatives or steps; a mother, father, daughter, son, sister, brother, grandmother, grandfather, a Great, a cousin, extended, in-law, and so on! As life goes on, we experience change. Old chapters end and new ones begin. To commemorate the love, experiences, memories and connections we have with our family members, we take pictures.


Have you ever looked back on an old picture with admiration, except there was that one thing that just stood out to you to the point where it's all you could see, and you wish you could go back, fix it, and retake the picture? I do this all the time with my own pictures. We are all our own worst critics, but it's important for you to feel confident in knowing you are picture ready to avoid that feeling later on, and I hope these tips help. Note: these are just minor and common suggestions and you may have others in mind that aren't listed below. That's okay! Add these to your mental list.


For the kids:


  1. Bring tissues, because you never know when you might need to wipe away those boogies.
  2. Bring wet-wipes, because you never know when your kiddo(s) might get dirty, or you may not notice a smudge of food on the inner lip-line or on their cheeks until it's too late. (they're saving it for later)
  3. Bring snacks and water. You can never go wrong with bringing refreshments for kiddos. Their favorite snack will boost their endorphines and bring out their smiles.
  4. Make sure nap-time is well over with before the shoot. We don't want cranky kiddos or sleep-marks on their face. You know your kiddos best. Either way, during the photoshoot, I always aim to photograph the kiddos first, with important group shots and individual shots out of the way because kiddos get antsy fast. (some get over it real fast, while others bounce around all over the place wanting pictures everywhere) I'm here for all of it.
  5. For babies, bring their favorite toy so I can do my best to get their attention like Goofy did in A Goofy Movie, minus the Goofy impression unless you're here for it.


For the ladies:


  1. Don't try a new hairstyle or new hair product in your hair on the day of the shoot. This is just my humble advice. I have curly hair and I've done this once and my hair did not like it at all, but it was too late for me to fix it before the big session. I had used a curling iron to enhance a few longer curls in the back that like to stretch out and turn wavy, and it looked good (at first) until the curls cooled down and then somehow, those curls lost their bounce and fell flat. I had a lot of straight locks mixed in with my curls and let me tell you, it's one thing I dislike about my own hair... So, from now on, I stick with what I know works and I don't try anything new on my hair on picture day.
  2. If you plan on wearing your hair down for your pictures, make sure you don't have it up in a tight bun or ponytail that day because your hair will have a crimp in it and I promise, you won't like it.
  3. Try not to wear extra hair-ties on your wrist before the shoot because it will leave a hair-tie imprint on your wrist. (No worries, if you or I forget, I can edit it out)
  4. If you're wearing heels for your shoot, bring extra shoes to change into for those walks in-between changing location backgrounds.
  5. Bring a small mirror and anything you'll need for touch-ups. It's on us, ladies, because men won't tell us what needs to be touched up, because they love us the way we are.


For the men:


  1. Make sure your cellphone, or your dip container (if you have one), or anything else that will cause your pockets to bulge outward are not in your back or side pockets.
  2. Make sure your clothes are not wrinkled.
  3. Try not to goof around too much during your shoot because your lady or partner will not be pleased.
  4. Your hair is important, too! Make sure you like it before you head out the door. If you wear a hat because you're comfortable that way, but you know the lady or love of your life will want pictures with you not wearing your hat, don't wear it before the shoot because it will create imprints on your scalp. We can take hatless pictures first and then go about the normal routine. Your comfort matters, too.
  5. Don't let the kiddos stress you out. I am a mom-tographer and I am patient. I know how it is and I am not judging your kids for being kids, I promise.


As the big day approaches, I want you to remember that this is supposed to be fun and freeing. During our shoot, we don't need to rush. I know that it sometimes feels awkward standing in front of a camera and having someone take pictures of you. Sometimes, we don't know what to do with our hands. I will pose you all and give you prompts to help ease your mind. I also love candid shots and if you don't know what to do with your hands, the power of touch is a beautiful thing! Holds hands, lock arms, hold kiddos, use your pockets, or just relax and let it all happen naturally.


Last minute tips: Make sure your clothes are stain-free, logo/brand-free (unless it's a branding shoot, of course), wrinkle-free, and pet hair-free. I will always have a lint roller in my car if you need one. Make sure you all wear complementary colors. You don't all need to wear the same color. That would be too matchy-matchy. Check out this website for some inspiration for your family's wardrobe! You can always do a quick Google search, too. Type in "family photoshoot wardrobe inspiration" and go to images; the easiest and best results will pop up.


As always, I am here to help. If you have any questions about what colors to wear, think about what season it is and think about the color-scheme of the natural landscape of our photoshoot location, and we can talk about what style you're going for and how to make that work. The best thing you can bring to a photoshoot is confidence, and to be confident, you need to feel confident, and deciding what to wear as a family is always the most important place to start... everything else will fall into place.