Preparing for your Lifestyle Photo Session with Lindy
Thank you for choosing Aurora Lane Photography to capture some beautiful photos for your family
There are a few things you can do to help you prepare for your photoshoot with me. Whilst I want this photoshoot to reflect who you are as a family there a few things you can do to help me capture who you are on camera.
Please remember to fill out the questionnaire as this helps me get to know you better for the photosession and tailor the photosession for your famil
Welcome
The Shoot Itself…
Please arrive on time for your photoshoot especially if we are shooting at the golden hour. I will have timed your photosession on the time the sun dips below the mountain. Don’t stress over 5 minutes, but 30 minutes could mean we miss the light needed for the photos.
The photos I take will be a combination of you looking at the camera, and you looking away from the camera. I will give you prompts and help with posing so you know what to do and don’t feel like you are just standing around.
What to Wear
Your clothing should reflect who you are and must be comfortable for you. A few things to consider when looking through your wardrobe.
Do
- neutral, earthy tones photograph really well. Also a mix and match of one colour tone can work , or a mixture of one pattern and plain colours. Textures can photograph really well too. I am happy to help with outfit selections. If you want to take photos and send them to me via Facebook messenger I can let you know what works best.
- textured clothing photographs well, eg corduroy trousers and knits.
- Consider your accessories. Do you want that bracelet in the photo? Do you want sunglasses on? A hat on? A necklace? Does your phone give your pocket a bulge or a hang? Is your nail varnish chipped?
- do you need to take off or re apply nail varnish?
- do wash hair for the photoshoot. Generally washing hair the day before works best, but you know your own hair better than I so do whatever works best for you)
--Consider footwear. Take into account the location of your photo session. If it is in the hills wear comfy shoes eg not high heels, but also consider if they will stand out, eg bright, neon or white trainers. It’s best to choose shoes that blends with your outfits.
Avoid
- avoid clothes that have really small patterns as they do not photograph well. An example of this is shirts that have those tiny tiny squares on them or something with close knit weave. Usually this is with men’s shirts.
- Avoid t-shirts that have logos on them..
- Avoid wearing matching outfits for the whole family eg everyone wearing jeans and the same t-shirt.
- avoid using too many patterns. Whilst it can be good to mix a pattern outfit with a plain outfit, you don’t want all the outfits to be different patterns as this will clash and take the focus away from you.
- I recommend not choosing pure black, pure white or bright colours. We want the focus of the session to be on you and bright colours can take away that focus in the photograph. Pure black and white photograph differently from colours and shades of black and whites. I am happy to photograph black and white if those are your favourite colours but can be too heavy or light in the photograph.
Preparing Children
Children photograph the best when they can relax and be themselves. I find if there is too much pressure on children to act or look a certain way then they can quickly become uncooperative or really unhappy. My photography is about capturing the essence of childhood and the joy they bring just by being there. The goal of my photosessions is to be totally natural in your environment, you are just being who you are together, doing what you normally do.
You don’t need to tell your children they need to look at the camera or to smile for me.
Children usually do better with some quiet time beforehand, food in their tummy, and to be told they are going to have some fun with your family, but that I will be there to take photos of your family together. During the shoot, just relax and enjoy it. If you are relaxed and having fun, children usually relax and have fun too.
At the start of the shoot I will take a few minutes chatting to your children so they can get to know me. I don’t have any set duration for family photoshoots as I like to work with your children. Some children get right into the photos for the first ten or twenty minutes and that is when I get the best photos. Other children can take a little white to open up so the shoot will be longer.
Please note that I do not, and will not, ask you to throw your child in the air, nor do I want you to do this either. I may ask you to lift your child in the air if you are comfortable but never to throw them up and catch them. It is not part of the health and safety plan I follow and there have been too many sad accidents involving children by people doing this very thing.
The Day of Your Photo Shoot We will have already arranged a time and place to meet. I have a light blue Toyota pruis. If you think you are going to be late or have problems finding me please call me (Lindy) on 021803114.
The Photoshoot Itself your photosession will take approximately 45 minutes to 75 minutes depending on location, and how happy the children are. If we need to take a ten minute break in between for the children, we do. I stay until I have enough photos for a good gallery for you. The session is meant to be relaxed and stress free so the focus is on happiness and how many images I have. The time is just a guidance to you so you know how long it will take. The average session is usually finished in the 45 minutes.
Sickness
If I am sick or there is sickness in my house I will postpone the photo session.
If you or your family are sick please let me know and we will postpone the photo session until you are all well. You can postpone your session due to illness once without paying any fee.
I adhere to the Ministry of Health Guidelines regarding Covid-19 when preparing for and photographing your family session.
Editing Your PhotosYour digital photos will be returned within 2 to 4 weeks of the photo session. After our photo session I go through the photos and choose the best ones for you. They will be delivered as a private online gallery which you download to your computer. Photos, framed prints and albums are also available to purchase and you are able to do this through your online gallery that I send to you afterwards. I print my photos and artwork through Queensberry, the professional-photographers’ printing company who produce high quality prints and albums.
If you have something important where you need the digitals back sooner please let me know and I will do my best to get them to you.
Social Media and Referrals My business relies on posting on social media and referrals. In the contract I have a model release clause for you to consider. If possible I would love to post your photos to my website, facebook page and instagram. However, if you wish to have nothing posted on my website and social media accounts, please let me know and I will respect your wishes.
I am looking forward to photographing your family. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask.