Yay! You’ve booked a session. So, now what?

Via email, or a videocall we’ll discuss location selection, wardrobe selection, and answer any questions you might have.

I am excited to capture you and your loved ones. Custom photography is unique because it not only captures what you look like at a certain point in time, it captures who you are. I strive to capture in the moment, honest photos of your family. My goal is not to get a stiff and posed shot with everyone looking at the camera, but to capture your family’s emotional connection.

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your session with me:

Location
Together we will decide on a location for your photos. I have many locations that I love to shoot at regularly, but I am always open to new locations as well. You should pick a location that fits your style and personality, and that is meaningful to you and your family. There’s also the option to shoot in your home, as long as your home has adequate natural light. Sometimes clients prefer to have the session take place in their home, because of the intimate and personal feel it provides. I can help you along with this decision.

Time
If we are having our session outdoors, we will shoot either in the morning or in the evening. The light is usually too harsh mid day. Use of light and the time of day that your session takes place have a huge impact on the way your images will look. If your children are up for it, shooting one or two hours before sunset provides gorgeous light and a beautiful atmosphere. Maybe having some down time, or a late afternoon nap will help with preparing your kids for the evening session.  

If we are shooting in your home, I prefer late morning for indoor sessions because that’s the time of day when homes are usually lit up the best.

Length of our session
My sessions usually last around an hour. This gives me enough time to make sure you’ll get a diverse and adequate gallery.

What to wear
Wardrobe should be comfortable and reflect who you are. What colours do you look best in? What makes you feel confident? Those are the colours you should wear. Also, what are you going to do with the photos? Will you be hanging them in your living room? What are the colours in there? Consider coordinating with your home decor so it all works well together.

Allow personalities to shine with colours and textures. I do not recommend matching but rather coordinating. Pick a couple of colours and choose clothes that will fit in that colour scheme. Personally, I enjoy having an outfit in the mix that has all the colours in it. Consider picking one outfit for your family photos that has a lot of colours, nice textures and maybe a fun small pattern. Choose that outfit first. This gives you plenty of colours to choose from to pick your coordinating colours. Small patterns are fine, as long as they won’t detract from your faces. Avoid large, bold plaids and super contrasty stripes, logos and neon colours. Because more often than not, less is more! Don’t forget accessories to go with your outfits. Accessories not only add to your outfit, but they can be fun to use in photos. Consider a fun scarf, cute coat, or stylish a hat. The possibilities are endless.

Props
I don’t use props during my sessions, but if you have something in mind please let me know.

Your Children
Children are usually not fond of being told to pose or smile. It is best if we just give the children time to relax and try to capture their natural self. Don’t worry if your child is running about and active, I love to capture young children while they are busy playing and exploring.

To get the family shots, I usually ask the parents to just simply ‘be’ with their child or hold the child and we’ll go from there. To make the most out of our session, make sure that your little one has rested. Of course we can take breaks during our session for snacks and play, however I will probably still shoot during the breaks. Make sure to bring dry, non messy snacks so their little faces stay clean during the session. 

I recommend to prepare your child for the session by letting them know that a friend will be taking some photos of them, it’s best not to surprise them.

Please arrive on time or be ready to start on time:
Your session is scheduled according to light. It is important that we start on time. Please plan for traffic or parking constraints. It’s best to arrive early.
 
I am so looking forward to capture your family! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.
 
See you soon!
 
Angela Kievits