Preparing for Your Lifestyle Session
Tips for a Successful Lifestyle Session
WARDROBE
1. Wear complimentary colors and weather appropriate outfits with no large logos and nothing too trendy that will quickly date your photos. However, these rules can happily be broken if you want to document your crazy Christmas sweaters, your support for your favorite sports team, or a Halloween costume. Above all, your wardrobe should be a reflection of YOU.
2. Our overall goal is to create an image that reflects your personality and style while also capturing the group as a whole. Try to make sure there is not one person who sticks out more than the others.
3. If you do want your family to be coordinated, just remember that coordinated doesn't have to mean matching. Wearing complementary shades of the same color is better than trying to find exactly matching shades. This gives more depth to the image.
4. If you have more than three people in your family, lay the outfits out next to each other to make sure they don't clash. Feel free to send me a picture if you need additional input. You may also want to bring an extra outfit, especially for the kiddos in case there is a spill or accident.
5. Most importantly, make sure you choose an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident!
For Families With Small Children
BRING PROPS
If you family has a favorite book, toy, or board game, feel free to bring it to our session! Anything that is familiar and exciting to children will draw out their natural enthusiasm and create authentic moments to capture.
PREPARE WELL
You know your family best, so make sure you do all you can to ensure a successful session. Plan your outfits ahead of time, get plenty of rest, and make sure you are all well fed.
ARRIVE EARLY
Arriving at least 10 minutes before your scheduled session time gives your children some time to explore their surroundings and become comfortable before the session. It also gives me a chance to meet, observe and learn a little about them without having to immediately start taking images.
Most Importantly
HAVE FUN!
Every time you look at these pictures, you will see more than the image itself - you will remember how you felt when it was taken. I don't want you to be reminded of how stressed or overwhelmed you were leading up to or during the session. I want these photographs to remind you of a unique and enjoyable experience with people you love. Above all else, I hope that you can RELAX and ENJOY your session. Just be yourself and have fun with those who are most important to you, and trust me with the rest! The pure moments between your family will be the ones you treasure most.
Amanda & Jordan | Perimeter Chapel & 550 Trackside | Atlanta Wedding Photographer
This gorgeous wedding at the Perimeter Chapel and 550 Trackside in Lawrenceville, GA was one for the books! I've known Jordan my whole life, so it was a special honor to capture this day for them. The family and support system surrounding these two was beautiful to witness and experience.
The whole day was a dream, but here are a few things that were especially memorable for me:
1. Seeing how giddy and excited Amanda was before the ceremony
2. Watching the dynamic between her and her bridesmaids - such a sweet group of friends
3. Jordan's spiffy watch *wink*
4. The music during the ceremony, especially as Amanda walked down the aisle
5. Jordan's mom made the cakes, and I just wish I had been able to try each of them. I chose a dark chocolate paleo cheesecake that was to die for!
6. The incredible amount of energy on the dance floor. So much fun!
“When I’m with you I’m no longer wandering.
And when I’m with you, I swear I can breathe.
When I’m with you, I know who I am and who I want to be.”
Vendors
Hair & Makeup: Katie Fowler
Dress: Wedding Angels
Church Venue: Perimeter Church Day Chapel
Reception Venue: 550 Trackside
Ceremony Musicians: Jennifer Earnest, Jonathan & Lauren Becker, Andrew & Wesley Arasmith
DJ: Keith Berryman
Planner: Christa Slyman
Flowers: Karen Kee
Cakes: Linda Maphet
Catering: Scrumptious Fare
Preparing For Your Mini Session
Tips For a Successful Mini Session
Wardrobe
1. Wear complimentary colors and weather appropriate outfits with no large logos and nothing too trendy that will quickly date your photos. However, these rules can happily be broken if you want to document your crazy Christmas sweaters, your support for your favorite sports team, or a Halloween costume. Above all, your wardrobe should be a reflection of YOU.
2. Our overall goal is to create an image that reflects your personality and style while also capturing the group as a whole. Try to make sure there is not one person who sticks out more than the others.
3. If you do want your family to be coordinated, just remember that coordinated doesn't have to mean matching. Wearing complementary shades of the same color is better than trying to find exactly matching shades. This gives more depth to the image.
4. If you have more than three people in your family, lay the outfits out next to each other to make sure they don't clash. Feel free to send me a picture if you need additional input. You may also want to bring an extra outfit, especially for the kiddos in case there is a spill or accident.
5. Most importantly, make sure you choose an outfit that makes you feel comfortable and confident!
For Families With Small Children
Bring Props
If you family has a favorite book, toy, or board game, feel free to bring it to our session! Anything that is familiar and exciting to children will draw out their natural enthusiasm and create authentic moments to capture.
Prepare Well
You know your family best, so make sure you do all you can to ensure a successful session. Plan your outfits ahead of time, get plenty of rest, and make sure you are all well fed.
Arrive Early
Mini Sessions are run on a very tight schedule. Please arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled session time. This will give your kid(s) a few minutes to explore their surrounding and become comfortable before the session.
Most Importantly
Have Fun!
Every time you look at these pictures, you will see more than the image itself - you will remember how you felt when it was taken. I don't want you to be reminded of how stressed or overwhelmed you were leading up to or during the session. I want these photographs to remind you of a unique and enjoyable experience with people you love. Above all else, I hope that you can RELAX and ENJOY your session. Just be yourself and have fun with those who are most important to you, and trust me with the rest! The pure moments between your family will be the ones you treasure most.
Preparing for Your Newborn Session
Tips for a Successful Newborn Session
Timing
Babies tend to sleep through their session best within the first 14 days of life. Newborn acne and colic also can sometimes flare up after 14 days, so I do recommend scheduling your session as soon as you feel up for it. However, I know adjusting to life with a newborn and labor recovery is not easy so please make your comfort and sanity a priority! I want you to look back on these images and remember a sweet time with your little one, rather than stress and discomfort!
We will pick a time of day that you feel works best for your little one. Some babies are very cranky in the evenings while others sleep peacefully after 5:00pm. Every baby is different, and often unpredictable, but try to notice during that first week if your little one has a "happy hour."
Right before your session, please feed and burp your little one to ensure a happy, sleepy, "milk drunk" baby. I'm also happy to take a break if baby needs to re-fuel at any point. A well fed baby is a happy baby!
Environment
Please open all of the blinds and curtains prior to my arrival for the session. I prefer to use natural light whenever possible, although I will come prepared with my lighting equipment if it is needed.
Babies will sleep much better in a warm environment! I will bring a space heater to keep the space that we are working in warm, especially if we decide to undress your baby. If you can handle it without being drenched in sweat yourself, you can even crank up the thermostat to 75-80 thirty minutes before I arrive.
If you have older children in the house that might be loud, try to find a friend or family member to keep them away and occupied while we get the required images of your little one. If you would like your other children included in the shoot, we can bring them in at the beginning or end for the required time to shoot them. I will also bring a white noise machine if we find that helps the baby.
Wardrobe
Above all else, wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident! You just had a baby, so I know the last thing you want to do is get dolled up, but make sure you dedicate plenty of time to spend on yourself. For some, this might mean getting your hair and makeup done by a professional, or treating yourself to a manicure - whatever it takes to make you feel confident!
Avoid large patterns or too many bright colors since we want your baby to stand out in all of the images. You can coordinate with your spouse/children, but don't feel like you have to make your outfits match exactly! There will be more depth to the images if we have a variety of tones and shades.
Be Patient!
Please don't feel stressed or impatient if we have to stop and burp after 3 minutes! Or have to change a diaper. Or feed again. Or stop and offer a pacifier. I understand that is all part of the process, and staying relaxed to create a calm environment will be the best thing you can do for your little one!
Engaged // Kellie&Khris
This session was definitely one for the books for a few different reasons. I had met with Kellie and Khris for our initial consultation just a few days prior. Because we only had a little over a month before their wedding, the date we picked for this session was realistically our only option to get an engagement session in before the wedding. It was a VERY wet weekend, and the forecast had a two-hour window where the chance of rain dropped to 25% for the exact time we were supposed to be shooting - perfect!
Not so perfect: on my drive over to Rome from Canton, my truck started hydroplaning on a particularly wet curve. I was sliding right toward another car on the side of the road, with a man standing right in my path. SUCH A SCARY MOMENT. I really thought I was going to hit him. Thank God he dove out of the way and I ended up going into a ditch and back up again before ending up stopped on the side of the road with a flat tire - and no other damage miraculously. The man (who was not exactly small of stature) started running toward me, and for a split moment I wondered if I should be scared of him since he had every right to be furious since I nearly drove into him. But he ran up and gave me a big hug and asked if I was OK. This good samaritan was there to check on another car that was in the same ditch (which I also just barely missed hitting). I think that was the best hug I've ever received. I was just so relieved that he was unharmed. Things could have gone very differently that afternoon.
After getting the truck to a service station a mile down the road, I gave my clients a call and they were awesome to drive an extra 40 minutes to pick me up and take me to Berry for our shoot. The rain held off and we were able to get some great images despite a rough start to the day! I had been wanting to shoot at Berry for a long time, and was super excited when I heard Khris say he wanted the session to be there. It did not disappoint! We spent close to 2 hours, and I felt like we only scratched the surface of all the gorgeous spots on campus.
North Georgia Wedding Photography // Ashton & Nick
This beautiful May wedding at White Oaks Barn in Dahlonega, GA was breathtaking and one of the sweetest weddings I've photographed.
This beautiful May wedding at White Oaks Barn in Dahlonega, GA was breathtaking and one of the sweetest weddings I've photographed. Ashton and Nick are such a fun couple and the entire bridal party, family, and venue
“We’re all traveling through time together, every day of our lives. All we can do is do our best to relish this remarkable ride.”
