My hopes in photographing a lifestyle session for a child or family is to capture personality. I steer away from stiff posing and rather give direction as to how I would like a sequence of photos to look, and leave room for everyone to be expressive and relaxed. I do watch and follow current trends but I also urge my clients to do less with props in order to keep the session real and not made-up looking. I currently photograph sessions on location around Chetek, Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire. I am available for travel too!
Spring Sessions (March 20th – June 20th)
What to wear for spring sessions can be a little tricky. We don’t have lush greens and we no longer have white snow to work with. I love jeans instead of khaki. Don’t be afraid of pattern and denim looks great on kids. Put them in clothes that don’t need to be adjusted every time they move. If they feel and look comfortable, the photos will also look that way:)Cute rain boots are fun too if we can find a puddle to finish up the session in 🙂 Most importantly, dress your child/family in clothes they would actually wear to keep the photos genuine and true to who they are.
Summer Sessions (June 21st – September 21st)
Just about anything works for summer photos! I enjoy shooting in natural settings & near water. With daylight lasting until almost 8:30p.m., we can begin photo shoots much later than during the other seasons. I start some sessions as late as 6:30 or 7:00pm (depending on when is good for the kids). As with spring sessions, I think if you dress your child in something they can move in, then we will have to do less clothes adjusting. Most importantly, dress your child/family in clothes they would actually wear to keep the photos genuine and true to who they are.
Fall Sessions :: October & November
Fall is the most popular time for photo sessions. Most people inquire about getting their photos taken during the “peak” of fall. I personally believe that window of intense color can get over powering in photos and I actually prefer it when we are past the peak and more leaves are on the ground. November sunsets are my favorite. Fall weather in October & November is unpredictable. It can be warm or very cool. It’s important to plan for it. Layered clothing looks great, as do some even warmer items like coats, hats and scarves. Until we have daylight savings, beginning sessions around 4 or 5pm is typically the warmest part of the day and offers pretty light. Morning sessions are great too, however it is considerably cooler in the mornings.
Newborn sessions
Newborn sessions are photographed in-home. I know how hard it is to get out of the house with a newborn, especially during the cold months so I can bring my studio to you. All I require is a location in your home near a window that provides natural light. Newborn sessions can take up to two hours. Baby should be warm, fed and sleepy. 🙂
I do have neutral blankets and baskets to use, but I also encourage clients to plan ahead if they would like a cute hat or wrap for their newborn. Please order a few weeks before the session. Etsy.com is a very popular place to order custom hats and things for your baby.
A maternity “mini” session can be added if also scheduling newborn photos. The cost is $150. It includes the session + edited images + copyright release to those high resolution images (via dropbox). These sessions take 30-45 minutes and are photographed on location.
Pricing & Details
Sessions require a $250 $199 deposit to reserve the session time. All of your deposit will go towards purchasing a package. The deposit can be paid via paypal or by sending a check and is transferable if the date is moved or refunded if the session is cancelled within 24 hours notice.
Clothing Options
Sessions include two outfit changes. Any clothing change beyond that is an additional $25 per outfit. The entire deposit still goes toward your order but the additional cost per outfit change, does not.
Digital Files/Pricing
All high-resolution digital files + print release $375
Fall Session sale! $349 Includes all edited, high-resolution digital files + print release.
Prints
All prints 8×10 & larger come mounted on gator board unless otherwise specified.
4×6, 5×7 $15
8X10 $30
10X10 $35 with stand-out $40
11X14 $45 with stand-out $50
16X20 $55 with stand-out $65
20X20 $60 with stand-out $75
Q&A:
Do you photograph on weekends? Sometimes. During the months of May – October, I work every Saturday photographing a wedding, so Sunday’s are usually reserved for family time. If you only have weekends available, there is a $100 charge to schedule a Sunday during wedding season (May-October) . Please remember, if you are looking for an outdoor session, evening is the perfect time to do it! The light is breathtaking a couple hours before sunset.
How do I reserve/book a session? It’s pretty simple. Once we agree on a shooting time/location a $200 deposit is due. All of that money goes toward your order. The remaining balance is due the day of the session. I accept cash/check/cc.
Photo tips:
On sunny days, the best shooting times are morning and late afternoon. The midday range from about 10:00-2:00 limits locations because we don’t want the sun to interfere with the lighting (casting shadows under the eye). When the sun is high in the sky, there is less availability to find shaded areas, or places where the sun would be at our backs. It’s definitely something we can work around, but if you are looking for photos with that soft light illuminating the subject from the back, midday is not the time to capture it.
Wear weather appropriate clothing. It can look silly to be out in the snow with short sleeves just like it would look silly wearing winter coats during the summer months. Choosing clothes that fit the conditions makes the photos look more real and natural.
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