Preparing for your upcoming session

Mini sessions are a shorter, less expensive and more casual version of our usual photography session. Mini sessions are scheduled in marathon fashion, one after the other at one location with a chosen theme. They work particularly well for kids who have trouble being patient through a whole photo shoot. While many clients will chose a full photography session to commemorate a major life event, such as a new baby, first birthday, high school graduation, or engagement, mini sessions are perfect for documenting those in-between times that are no less important.

Preparation is key!! We cannot stress this enough. Take some time to read through this document well in advance of your session date. Arrive a few minutes early for your session to ensure your arrival is calm and organized. Take a few moments to check diapers or make a trip to the bathroom, wipe faces and noses.

HAIR: If you’re getting a hair cut for your shoot, do so about two weeks beforehand, just in case it goes wrong – you just never know. For men, a fresh cut a couple of days before the shoot is fine.

SKIN: If you or your children tend to have dry skin, ensure that they days or weeks (if you have the time) leading up to the shoot you are liberally applying lotion and chap stick. We are happy to remove the odd blemish here or there, but evening dry skin and lips (although possible to do) is a very extensive edit and is not included in the regular session price.

CLOTHING: Try to avoid flash prints Have your clothing chosen way in advance and make sure that your outfit choices are comfortable and attractive. What do your dream family photos look like? If they are soft and elegant? Chose neutral colours with soft, flowing fabrics.... think creams, very soft pastels, oatmeals, light browns, tans, greys, and slate blues.
Want to showcase the fun and spunky side of your family? Choose coordinating colours (but not matchy, matchy) with bold accent colours, such as hues of grey with yellow or bright red accents. Adding fun accessories like scarves, headbands, hats, etc. can add a modern twist and sassy flair to your images. always recommend Pinterest searching under 'What to wear in a family session' ex, What to wear in a family Fall session.

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HAIR ACCESSORIES: If you’re shooting outdoors, be ready to put your hair up and make it look nice in case of a windy day. Bring bobby pins, hair clips, headbands or any other favorite accessories.

GLASSES: If folks wouldn’t recognize you without glasses, you want to wear glasses in your shoot – however, the glare on glasses can detract from your eyes in photos.

RED EYES: Visine is your friend. Not getting drunk the night before your shoot helps too:) {I’ve shot plenty of hung-over clients.}

LIPS: You will probably wipe or lick your lips during your shoot, so bring fresh lip gloss or lipstick to do touch-up. Use lip balm for a f
ew days in advance of your shoot to make your smoochers look their best.

BREAKOUTS: don’t cake on a lot of make-up to try to hide blemishes. It’s almost always easier to Photoshop away pimples than to clean up overdone make-up.

MAKE-UP: Please keep makeup as simple as possible. Dark/heavy makeup do not mix well for outdoor portraits as you will be moving around and will probably sweat a little.

FACIAL HAIR: Men, be freshly shaved, trim up your board, sideburns, moustache or goatee.

SUN BURNS AND TAN LINES: Be mindful of clothing tan lines, sunglass tan lines, hat tan lines, etc.

MOMS: often you rushing around before a photo shoot, making sure that their family is dressed and ready. I always encourage mothers to have their hair and makeup professionally done. This will prepare mom for her

pictures and when mom is feeling pretty and confident, this will reflect on the rest of the family as well. Leave plenty of time for showers, baths, dressing, and grooming. When a family shows up to a family photo session rushed and disorganized, it sets the tone for a rushed and disorganized session. Give yourself extra time so that you are ready before it’s time to head out that door.

DADS: please cheerfully participate. I know that many dads dread the family photo session, but fathers, please understand how important capturing your family is. These images will be left as a legacy, when your children are grown, with families of their own some day. Family photos are treasured forever and they are so important. Please, please, dads... cheerfully participate in your family photo session. Once you see your happy wife and amazing photographs, you will be so glad that you gave this time to your family.

CHEESE IS FOR CRACKERS: Please, parents... leave the “cheese” at home. Cheese is for crackers. So many times I have found parents who stand behind the photographer and scream, “Say cheese to the lady kids!” Yelling and demanding young children to look at the camera to smile will only stress your children out (not to mention the photographer) and will result in strained, unnatural and often unflattering photographs. Step back, and allow the photographer to naturally interact and talk with your children. This will result in natural, gorgeous smiles. Help the photographer capture the true essence of your child’s personality by talking with and coaxing out those smiles naturally and easily. The best photographs are often the ones where everyone is engaged or interacting with each other. Understand that not every picture needs to have everyone looking at the camera and smiling at the same time. If you are engaged as a family and loving on each other, your eyes will be on your family members and your smile with be natural. These are the photographs that you will cherish most because they depict your family connection and your love.

PARENTS: if you are not in the shot, take a seat and relax, let us do our jobs. Of course keeping your eye on the action to ensure we have no runaways (It’s hard to run with a big camera!)

YOUR TIME SLOT: as busy parents we are the first to appreciate how precious time is. We ask that you arrive a few minutes early for your session to do some last minute grooming and even have your kids watch what's going on. Sometimes just seeing other kids participating can help others to feel more comfortable. Just remember to stay far to the side or behind the camera, no photo bombers, please and thanks! Now, by a few minutes early, we mean 5, not 30, not 45. IF you arrive this early because the traffic Gods were happy with you that day, please, please, please go for a walk, hang in the car, grab a quick coffee. Because, even if we start your session right on time, you will already be worn out and done with the whole process. And if your one who tends to wear your heart on your sleeve, the camera will capture every bit of it. As for us staying on time, we truly try to stay on time, or even ahead of the schedule. We ensure there are many breaks throughout the day to play catch up if need be, but sometimes it's just not enough and we fall behind. Please be patient with us, we hate being late as much as you do. However, sometimes we have a shy kid, or someone with disabilities... or sometimes clients are late.

Please note, photographer is not responsible for editing stray hair (see general advice, under hair), food in teeth, redness, bruising or swelling of eyes and face.

We will not liquify ribs, alter ears, eyes, give nose jobs or slim a child. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE WHATSOEVER.

If resorting to Pinterest to inspire ideas for posing and or composition, please note, that as Pinterest can be a great tool for inspiration we will try not to limit our session to capture "posed" or "reproduced" images....Two little Bells like to capture the individual organically. We focus on each clients natural ability to speak to the camera.

In conclusion, you will probably think we are showing up like a bum to your session. We normally wear tights, boots and either a blouse or sweater. You will see us mostly rolling around in the dirt (yes, we are very dirty after each session) or you will be seeing us trampling through mud. We take this job very seriously for our clients!

Please feel free to contact us with any questions you have regarding shoot preparation, and we will do our best to answer them!