portrait info . . .

where: all portrait sessions will be held in my studio during the colder months unless a specific outdoor session is requested (example, family in the snow). during the warmer months sessions can either be held in studio our outdoors (large families are only scheduled outdoors). if a location session is chosen, there may be a fee based upon miles traveled; generally anything within the Grand Rapids area is included with the session fee.

time: sessions take place with no hourly limit in mind - I like to allow as much time as needed to capture the images we are looking to get! so relax - you can feed the baby, water the kids, take breaks, change clothing; whatever you and your family need to do! a typical session generally lasts from 30min-90min, although newborn sessions are much more unpredictable!!!

attire: I have had a lot of families ask me what I think they should wear. my first response is always to choose something that best represents you! however, that being said, there are generally some ideas to keep in mind when deciding on your attire; choose something that isn't too busy (ie, plaids and lots of stripes), and if it is a family group, coordinate your colors. this doesn't mean that you have to match - juut blend well! please let me know if you need any more tips or recommendations!

payment: payment for your session is due in full at the beginning of your session. this fee covers my time and talent, and possibly local travel fees if we are heading to a destination within the Grand Rapids area. proofs will be ready to view within 2-3 weeks of your session (however, during the busier months this cannot always be guaranteed). reprints are ordered a la carte unless specified otherwise within a particular package. please visit my reprint page here for reprint pricing.

 

a few notes for baby and child sessions . . .

Here are some helpful bits of information to prepare you for your upcoming session.

getting to know you

As a mother, I know babies and children can be shy around new people. I always respect a child’s personal space and gently work on getting them to open up to my camera and I. If you have an older child I like to spend the first few minutes of the session on their level getting to know them a bit. If they are old enough, I will ask them their name and ask them to pick out a special name for my camera. Kids love this! If we are outdoors, I will lead them to interesting locations and watch them explore. I will take cues from your child to help capture their natural spirit.

older children

For children around three or four and up, sometimes I ask for a bit of space while I am taking their portraits. Why? Often times a child feels the need to perform in front of a parent, and that in turn can lead to un-natural smiles and expressions. I want to present to you images of your child that are natural and real, and sometimes having the parents not hovering right over them helps them to act more natural. Now, keep in mind I will let your child be our guide. If he or she starts to fuss, you may be asked to briefly step aside until they are more comfortable. I want you to be comfortable too! When I say “space” I usually mean a few feet, but always have your child and I within view.

say cheese?

Those are two words you will almost never hear me speak at your child's session, and I would ask that you would refrain from using them, or any words/phrasing that is similar, as well. To explain; I strive to get honest and natural expressions from your child. When a child is asked to 'say cheese', he or she will not give a natural smile, but rather they are performing, and this will be apparent in the images. Please give me room to get on your child's level, and make them comfortable with my camera and myself so that they open up with me.

food considerations

A full tummy helps keep babies and children happy and satisfied during their portrait session, but please be careful of what foods they eat before their session. Carrots and sweet potatoes are a sweet treat for baby, but can sometimes leave an orange tint on baby's skin. This tint may not always be noticeable to the human eye, but the camera's lens can pick up on such skin discoloration. Other foods such as spaghetti, lollipops and candy may also color the skin. Also, if you feed your baby lots of orange foods, their skin may give off an orange glow around the nose and mouth, but unlike food, this cannot be wiped away.

If your child has a cold, please be sure to wipe your child's nose and mouth thoroughly, because again, the camera can pick up what eyes may not notice.

feeling under the weather

If your child is sick or feeling under the weather, kindly call me to reschedule. I'm a mother myself, and I understand that sometimes children get sick. I want your child to enjoy the photo session, and a sick child may not feel like having his or her portraits taken. It would be appreciated if you could call to reschedule as soon as it's apparent he or she is ill. Thank you for your consideration!

Also, there is no need to be concerned if your child gets a small boo-boo on his or her face days before the photo session. Minor re-touching is included!

 

what to expect, and how to prepare, for your newborn session

Here is some information on my newborn sessions that I hope you will find helpful. If you have any more questions, please feel free to ask!

• I absolutely love to capture the essence of a newborn by capturing them at their best - in their birthday suits! If you plan on having your new little one photographed au natural, I highly suggest following these little clothing tips before you head out the door for your session!

Before you leave for your session, loosen baby’s diaper just a bit so that there are little to no imprints on their little tummy or back when it comes to picture time.

Take baby’s socks off and dress him/her in a simple layer of clothing (like a loose fitting sleeper or something similar). Instead of having a layered outfit to keep them warm on the way here (especially in the cooler Michigan months!), layer them with blankets! This makes it really easy to get them ready once you arrive!

You are probably worried already right now because your baby more than likely HATES being undressed and naked! Don’t worry; you aren’t alone! Before your session I turn the heat up in my studio so that we have a warmer environment to work in. I also like to take our time; if baby is upset once they are undressed I’ll just have you wrap them up in a blanket until they are calmed again, and then we can go from there.

• I do like to photograph a newborn mostly in little clothes as I have already mentioned, but feel free to lie out a few outfits that you may want him or her in if you would like. I will advise you in what would photograph best, if you wish. Please note that many clothing changes may make your little one upset, so it is best to limit to one or two changes.

• Please feed your baby before you leave for your session so that he or she has a full tummy. I always expect that your little one will probably become hungry again during the session, and that is not a problem at all. I’ve been there too! It just seems easier to them to start out full and happy :)

• I often use the parents as backdrops for baby, so please wear a black top if possible. Don’t worry or rush out and buy one if you don’t have one however! I do have an extra piece of black fabric I can drape over you if need be! And, of course, Mom and dad are welcome to join for pictures with baby at no extra charge.

• Please know that there is no rush with a newborn session. I like to give special attention to each client, especially newborn sessions! I am more than happy to wait while you nurse/feed or change baby, or take a break to soothe your baby.

• When doing poses where the baby is completely undressed, it is normal (and okay! I promise!) for him or her to "relieve" him or herself on my backdrop ... or anywhere else. I can assure you this happens all the time and I am not upset or offended. After each newborn session I launder all of my backdrops and other items the baby comes in contact with. My only suggestion would be to bring an extra shirt for yourself if you would like some portraits taken of you holding your bare baby. You just never know what might happen!!!

• If you have a special blanket (perhaps Grandma made one), a meaningful toy or something similar that means a lot to you please feel free to bring it along for the session! I am more than happy to incorporate things that would mean so much to your family.

• I like to have soft music playing in the background during your session to help sooth your baby (and possibly even you if you have been feeling a bit stressed!). But if you have CD’s of your own that you would like to hear please feel free to bring them along!

As a last note, many parents ask me how long to expect for their newborn session. I wish I could give you an accurate timeframe! I let your little one set the pace of the session, which means it could take as little as an hour if they are sleeping peacefully through the whole thing, or as much as 3 hours if they are, well, slightly less than happy! Both of these extremes, as well as anything in between, are completely normal.