•THINK ABOUT WHERE YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR SESSION: I prefer shooting outdoors. The outdoors provides endless backdrops and beautiful lighting. I can also provide the typical studio-type photos, if desired. These are often best for small babies or maternity shoots. Even in the “studio” I often prefer to use natural window lighting for many of the shots. •THINK ABOUT WHAT TIME OF DAY WOULD BE BEST FOR YOUR SESSION: When shooting outdoors, I prefer early morning (before 9:30 or 10:00am) or late evening (6pm-sunset). These times provide the prettiest lighting. Mid-day can produce harsh light and shadows under the eyes. The one exception to this is shade. If you choose a well shaded area, anytime of day will work. When shooting babies and small children, first thing in the morning when they are fresh is best. Also good is after a nap. My sessions are relaxed and not rushed, so if baby needs to stop and eat or take a break it’s no problem. Small children often need breaks too. •THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF PORTRAITS YOU ARE WANTING TO GET OUT OF THE SESSION: Are you wanting a “baby parts collage”? A posed group portrait? Your children playing and having fun with natural smiles and laughter? One really good portrait of you and your newborn? A birth announcement? A collage of your child’s many faces? A great shot of the back of your wedding dress? The relationship between you and your fiancé? Black and White photos for impact? We will discuss your expectations prior to the session so that I can focus on your wishes. My style is shooting candid, photojournalistic-type photos. A typical child or family session will consist of me following everyone around as you play, interact, talk, and just have fun. If you are wanting a specific shot, please let me know in advance. •THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF CLOTHING YOU ARE GOING TO WEAR: The plainer the clothing the better. Flowers, patterns, logos, etc are very distracting and take the focus away from the subject. Solid color shirts or dresses and jeans or khakis all work well. Feel free to bring a couple of outfits. When photographing groups, similar dress works best. For example: jeans and pastel shirts or khakis and blue shirts. Also, when possible, bare feet work best. Shoes and soles of shoes can be distracting. Remember, we want the person to stand out, not the clothing. If we are doing “bare baby” shots, be careful not to dress baby in constricting clothing that might leave unattractive lines when the clothing is removed. Things such as tight socks, headbands, pacifiers, and shoes all can leave marks. When I am photographing small children or babies parents often end up in shots even if they don’t plan to be. Kids aren’t always comfortable away from their parents in a strange place and I often use parents as props. So, for this reason, I ask that mom or who ever accompanies the child wear plain, solid color clothing. Black or white work best if we are doing a studio session. Any complimentary color will work if we are outdoors.