Thank you for booking a session with me, I’m truly grateful for the opportunity! So, what happens next?

Via e-mail, I will guide you in location selection and answer any questions you may have. I’m here to help make this process smooth and easy.

I am looking forward to capturing you and your loved ones. I strive to capture natural photos of your family and children and not an entire gallery of stiff and posed shots with everyone looking at the camera. Sure, I will get a few of those photos but the goal is to capture your family exactly as you are. I take a lifestyle & documentary approach to photography and hope to create some timeless memories that you will always treasure. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for our session together.

Location: Upon booking, I will send you my location guide. Together, we will decide on the best location for your family depending on what vibe you are going for. We are lucky that San Diego has so many beautiful locations to choose from. I have my favorite locations that I love to shoot at but I am always open to new ones as well. The location that you choose should fit your personality and style. I’m also more than happy to shoot in your home as long as there is sufficient natural light. Lifestyle newborn sessions are held in the comfort of your own home.

Time:  For an outdoor session, I typically schedule my sessions either in the early morning or in the evening. The light is usually too harsh mid-day. If your children are up for it, shooting one hour before sunset aka “golden hour” provides the most beautiful light and scenery.  This is my favorite time to shoot. The majority of the images displayed in my portfolio were taken during this time of day. The use of light and hour of day your session takes place plays a huge role in the outcome of the images.  If we are shooting in your home, I prefer late morning at 10:00 am because that is usually when homes have the best light.

Length Of Session: My family portrait sessions last up to an hour long.  No worries, I shoot quickly and take TONS of photos. I can easily get a wide variety of compositions within this timeframe.

What To Wear: It is important that wardrobe is comfortable and reflects exactly who you are. I highly recommend coordinating, not matching.  For color inspiration, I recommend starting with one focal piece (i.e. what Mom is wearing), then coordinating the rest of the family from there with 3-4 colors. I strongly advise against wearing all white or black since a lot of detail tends to get lost. Also, please avoid any large logos or lettering. If you need additional guidance, here’s a short BLOG POST ON WHAT TO WEAR for inspiration.

Props: I do not use props during my sessions, however if you would like to include something in the session, please let me know.

Your Children: Remember that children are unpredictable! But don’t worry, it is my job to be ready for anything. Sometimes parents get frustrated because the sessions don’t seem to be going perfectly but those small moments in between all the tantrums and chaos are beautiful. Kids aren’t usually a fan of being told to smile or pose and they will feed off your energy. 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, this is exactly how I want to capture them, when they’re playing and exploring. Please don’t direct them to keep looking at the camera. To get the family shots, I usually direct the adults to hold their kids and we go from there. To get the most out of your session, make sure that your kiddos are rested up with happy tummies. We can take breaks for snacks and play but I never really stop shooting. Bring dry snacks that aren’t messy and will keep them clean during the session.  Please prepare your kids for the session by letting them know that a friend will be taking some photos of them. I usually greet the kiddos first without my camera to hopefully get them comfortable and establish that human connection. It’s also great to have chapstick, tissues and wipes handy to keep their little faces fresh. For beach sessions, I highly recommend towels and extra clothes since we usually end up in the water!

Please arrive on time or be ready to start on time: I highly recommend arriving 15 minutes early to your session to give you time to unwind and be ready to go. Since your session is scheduled according to light, it’s important that we start on time. Please plan ahead for any traffic or parking constraints.  

I can't wait to have some fun together! Please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime with questions. See you very soon!

Your Family Portrait Session