Client Family Guide

Hello!

Thank you so much for allowing me the honour of capturing your family. It truly means the world to be invited into this season of your lives. My hope is that together we create not only beautiful memories, but timeless, authentic images you’ll treasure for years to come.

My style is lifestyle and (un)posed. I love documenting families as they really are. Playing. Snuggling. Being a little goofy. Loving on each other. While I will always make sure we capture that classic everyone looking and smiling at the camera photo, because those do make the best Christmas cards, most of our time together will focus on genuine connection.

I will gently guide you into flattering positions in the most beautiful light, and from there I’ll prompt natural interaction. I might have your children play little games with you, ask for the biggest hugs ever, or encourage dads to show off their impressive “throw the kids in the air” skills. These playful moments are where the magic lives.

All sessions are photographed in the evening when the light is soft, warm, and most flattering. The exact timing depends on the season and sunset, and we will go over those details together if we haven’t already.

Please take a few moments to read through the information that follows as you prepare for your session. I cannot wait to meet you and your favourite people.

The Children

A little preparation goes a long way in helping your children feel confident and relaxed during our time together.

If professional family photos are new to them, start talking about it as soon as we book your session. Let them know we’re going to have fun, play little games, and tell jokes. Build it up as something special, not something they have to perform for.

It also helps to talk about me like I’m already a friend. When your kids see that you’re comfortable and excited, they naturally feel more at ease too.

Please don’t worry about coaching them to smile. Sometimes when children are told to “smile for the photographer,” they get nervous and try so hard to do it right that it actually makes it harder for them to relax. I promise you, genuine smiles and real laughter always photograph best. Let me draw that out of them naturally. During our session if there are any jokes, songs or special things you do to make them smile and laugh we will incorporate that into our time together.

If I need your help to loosen them up, I’ll let you know.

And yes, I am a big fan of a little incentive. Ice cream after the session is always a solid plan for anyone who needs extra motivation. Treats or snacks during the session are completely fine too. Just choose options that won’t leave sticky or messy faces, fruit snacks work great! Try not to have too much color that could get onto clothing or stain their tongue (skittles, smarties, chocolate, etc.)

We’re aiming for relaxed, playful, and real. The more pressure we remove, the more magic we create.

Dads

Moms, this part is for you. Is your husband feeling slightly less than thrilled about your upcoming session? Completely normal. Truly. Chances are, he already knows how much this means to you, and that’s exactly why he’s showing up. Sometimes they just need a gentle reminder that it’s going to be painless. Let him know my approach is relaxed and easy. There’s no stiff posing, no standing, no performing. He’ll simply be spending time with his family. The adults usually end up having just as much fun as the kids. More often than not, I receive messages afterward from moms saying their husband admitted it was far less painful than they expected. I’ve even had moms tell me their husband suggested booking another session the following year. When dads are the ones reminding moms to rebook, that feels like the biggest win of all.

Moms


You deserve to be in these photos too.


Getting in the frame is just as important for you as it is for your kids and your partner. So often, moms are the ones behind the camera because documenting everything is always on our minds. We are the memory keepers. The planners. The ones making sure it’s all captured.


But one day, when your children are older and flipping through albums, you never want to hear, “Where were you, Mom?”


You were there. You were always there. And it matters to have proof of that.


It’s completely normal to feel nervous leading up to your session. I do the exact same thing when it’s my turn to be photographed. You want everything to be perfect. You’ve likely planned the outfits, coordinated schedules, and thought through every little detail. That’s a lot to carry.


Here’s all I ask of you: come as you are. Be present. Take in your children. Let yourself enjoy them.


If something needs adjusting, I will gently guide you. That’s my role.


Your only job is to show up and love your people.


That is more than enough.

Styling and What to Wear

Ah yes, the age old photoshoot question. Styling is something I truly love helping with, so please never hesitate to reach out if you’d like input. The biggest goal when choosing outfits is this: wear something you would realistically wear again, just slightly elevated. You want to look back at your images and still feel like you.

Think Layers

Layers are often the difference between a session that looks great and one that looks incredible. They add texture, depth, and interest without feeling overdone.

For little boys, think:

• A t shirt with a button up layered overtop

• Suspenders with cords or chinos

• A light jacket for texture

• A fedora for a subtle, stylish touch

For little girls:

• Leggings with a fun skirt

• A tank layered with a cozy sweater

• A simple dress with tights

• Tasteful hair clips or a smaller headband that doesn’t overwhelm

A Quick Style Note

Try to avoid:

• Neon or overly bright colours

• Ball caps

• Large logos or clothing with wording

These can date your images quickly and tend to pull attention away from everyone’s beautiful faces.

Coordinate, Don’t Match

When thinking about your colour palette, imagine your family as one complete piece of artwork. Each outfit should complement the others while still feeling individual. Instead of everyone wearing the same shade of blue, consider layering tones and accent colours. Neutrals and earth tones are always a favourite of mine but every season offers beautiful colours to work with. I am happy to offer help finding the perfect palettes for you. We can find something timeless, classic, and won’t date your images years from now. Tip: Find an outfit for the hardest person to dress and add and layer from there.

If you’re unsure, send me photos of options laid out on your bed. I’m always happy to help you build something cohesive.

Head to toe. Don’t forget the shoes. They show more than you think. For boys, avoid scuffed runners. Solid coloured runners can work, but skip anything neon or overly bright that will draw attention in your images. For girls, try to stay away from character shoes or sporty styles. Think Mary Janes, boots, or simple neutral footwear that complements the outfit rather than competes with it. Shoes can either elevate a look or distract from it.

What NOT to wear. Remember the era of khakis and white button downs? That’s not the kind of matching we’re going for. Coordinate, don’t match. Dads, instead of defaulting to a plain polo, choose something that complements your partner’s outfit. Texture photographs beautifully, think knits, structured jackets, layered pieces. When it comes to patterns, less is more. Ideally only one person wears a pattern, often mom, and everyone else pulls complementary colours from that piece. Too many patterns can become distracting and take the focus away from your connection. And hats. Ball caps tend to hide faces or cast shadows in certain poses. If a hat feels absolutely necessary, choose a solid colour without logos. I promise we can create even better, closer cuddling images without them.

Moms! If you are thinking about doing hair and makeup professionally for our session, I highly recommend Fallyn from Posh Beauty. Find her on Instagram under @poshbeautyco and facebook under Posh Beauty Co.

During The Session - If you’re not in the frame, I kindly ask that you let me interact with your child unless I need a little help. It’s very natural for parents to stand behind me trying to grab their little one’s attention, but this often pulls their focus away from the camera or distracts them from doing something naturally cute. I love giving children space to warm up and connect with me. It’s completely okay if big smiles don’t happen immediately. Trust the process. When you are in the photos, focus on connection. Keep good posture. Be mindful of where your hands are resting. Stay close. Hips together. Hold hands. Wrap arms around each other. Look at one another. Smile at one another. Love on one another. Unless I specifically ask you to look at the camera, you can simply interact with each other. Please don’t feel pressure. I have plenty of little tricks to help create genuine smiles and moments organically. One more gentle reminder: be aware of your own expressions when you’re trying to make your child laugh. You are in the photos too. If you make a silly face to get a reaction, just reset your expression right after so your silly face isn't in the photo. I am a moment based photographer. My goal is to capture the in-between, the connection, the things that might otherwise be forgotten. I’m also watching for small details that might need adjusting. That’s my job! Yours is to show up, be in the moment and trust the process.

Weather

A quick but important note about weather.

If the temperature ends up warmer or cooler than you anticipated when planning outfits, please adjust accordingly. Overheated or freezing kids rarely lead to happy, relaxed photos. If I feel little ones are too uncomfortable, I may shorten the session to protect the experience.

I will be watching the weather closely in the days leading up to your session. If it’s simply overcast, we will still proceed. Some of the most beautiful light happens on cloudy evenings.

If the forecast shows a 60 percent or greater chance of rain, we’ll connect and make a decision together about rescheduling based on both of our availability.

Your family’s comfort always comes first.

Illness and Late

Just as important as the weather is your family’s health.

There is nothing harder than trying to photograph a child who isn’t feeling well. It’s tough on you, and it’s even tougher on them. If anyone in your family starts feeling sick, please reach out as soon as possible and we will reschedule for the next available date.

During busy seasons, my calendar can fill quickly, so the sooner you let me know, the easier it is to find a new spot.

Running Late

Life happens. I get it. I have two kids of my own.

I try to book only one session per evening, but during peak season I may have two. Because of that, I’m able to wait up to 15 minutes before needing to leave for the next family.

If you know you’re running behind, please call or message me right away so I can plan accordingly. My contact information is included in every email I send.

I truly love capturing genuine, authentic memories for your family to cherish for a lifetime, and I cannot wait for you to see your final gallery.

If you have any questions or concerns at all, please reach out. I want you to feel completely confident walking into this experience, knowing it will be relaxed, meaningful, and truly special for your family.

Thank you for taking the time to prepare so thoughtfully. It makes such a difference.

We are going to create something beautiful together. I promise.