photo session prep guide
All the information that you will need for your big day
First things first, THANK YOU for giving me the opportunity and honor of creating archives foryour family. My goal is to capture your children's spirit and individual personality, as well as your family’s magic, authentically.
For your children, I want to record all their little nuances, their big world, their funny facial expressions, and, of course, their huge love.
For your family, I strive to photograph the heart of your connection, to create a lasting record that will stand the test of time.
All that raw beauty and magic, as naturally as it unfolds throughout our day-to-day, can also be commandeered quickly by a number of issues. However, many near-disasters can easily be avoided, and the magic can be finessed, if we work together to plan and prepare for the best possible photo session for your family. My hope in making this guide for you is that it will help you be the most prepared for our time together, which will in turn help me ensure that you walk away from our session with both beautiful images to enjoy now, as well as an authentic record of your most cherished times together, years from now; a story captured that you can pass down to your children and their children and so on.
I'm so glad you're here
Through a phone call and a few emails, we’ll choose your location together.
My favorite place to photograph a family is at home, because it’s where you’re most relaxed and free. Anywhere with meaning to you works for me, though, even your local diner.
And because I’m a natural light photographer, it’s important that we shoot in the space that has the most gorgeous and inspiring light.
Just remember that as beautiful as a location may be, my top priority is to give you space to connect as a family. Permission to unplug and reset. To slow down and love on each other. Because when this happens, a special kind of magic is created from the collaboration of your vulnerability and my ability to meet you in that place.
Location
I imagine that the thought of planning out and prepping outfits for the whole family, making sure no one cuts their own hair, gives another a black eye, or shaves the dog in the week leading up to a photo session is stressful enough without considering the prospect of deep cleaning the entire house? Well, before you start dropping multiple f-bombs, I’m here to tell you, that level of cleaning is not necessary.
It is likely that we will take photos in the bedrooms, the main living area, any room with great windows, and the front porch/backyard; these are the areas you should tidy prior to our session. I want your home to have that lived-in (and loved-on) look, so please do not let the cleaning get you down.
Oh and don't bother making your bed as I’ll likely just mess it up!
I also ask that you not worry about turning on lights for me, as I prefer working with natural light whenever possible. Instead please spend a few minutes before I arrive opening curtains and making the home as naturally bright as possible. White sheets on the bed also help reflect the natural light from the
windows (though I’ve never met a colorful quilt I didn’t like!).
I live for little elements and details that tell your story – whether that’s a favorite toy, a wall gallery of kid-art, a pile of shells and rocks, or a beloved blankie – I want our time together to be all about what you want to remember.
With all of that said, I’d love it if any grimy child-sized hand smudges on glass doors or other windows at their level have been wiped away, mounds of shoes and piles of mail out of sight, lotion bottles tucked into drawers, and pet hair removed from furniture. And I’ll never object to a jar of fresh wild flowers
or a room full of plants, and may even move them around from room to room with us.
Home Session Prep
What To Wear
Here’s the most important thing: BE YOU.
I want you to look and feel your best, because that’s what the camera picks up. These are loose recommendations to help your photos reflect you, so take what works and leave the rest. If you love a styled look, go for it.
Next up, and just as important: if you're the one pulling this whole session together, pick your outfit first. Everyone else either complements you or chooses after. I will die on this hill.
Wear something casual in which you feel fantastic and something that is comfortable to move in (seriously, we will be climbing, jumping, running around, etc.). A good rule of thumb is to consider wearing something that is slightly nicer than what you would normally wear to the location that we'll be shooting. Aim for somewhere between a family trip to the farmers market and drinks out with your girlfriends.
For the feminine folx: layers, textures, long dresses that blow in the wind, thoughtful details (jewelry, nail polish, hair scarves).
Have fun with prints for kiddos, but please avoid large logos, large swaths of solid primary colors, or big bulky shoes like Crocs; bare feet, canvas sneakers, or little leather sandals are much preferred!
Consider the dominate color of the location that we'll be shooting in and use that color sparingly in your wardrobe choice. For example, a beach setting will have lots of sand. I would avoid wearing beige so that your body does not camouflage with the background.
Don't be afraid to play with different weights and textures of fabrics such as silks, knits, or anything flowy. Scarves are also great layering pieces and can serve as a playful prop.
And for the love of all things, try to keep it coordinated (but not too matching) among you and your family.
Babies
They usually look best naked or in just a diaper since they'll be held most of the time and clothes will just bunch up. If you prefer some clothed shots, choose a simple outfit that doesn't require it to be slipped over their heads. Keep colors and prints neutral too because bright colors can be casted onto their skin.
Pregnant?
Look for tops or dresses with an empire waist line that accentuates your bump at the top and/or bottom. Scooped necklines and slouchy shoulders are also flattering. If we're shooting in a more intimate setting, kimono-style robes pair beautifully with any undergarment.
Toddlers
They love lifting their dresses up, so it's a good idea to have something underneath that you don't mind in photos. If your child loves getting in the dirt, you may consider bringing an extra change of clothes.
Nursing mamas
Think about wearing something you can nurse in easily without having to change. Nursing pads will also aid with any surprise leaks.
Don't feel like you have to keep everyone's clothes on the whole time. Resident nudist? Let's capture it. Roughhousing in undies? I'm there for it. Catching waves at the beach? Splash away...but let's do so at the end of our session.
If you're feeling inspired, I've also created a Pinterest board of clothing for families and expectant mothers that photograph beautifully. Please approach this as a very loose guideline and not as something that is required.
Head to toe neon
Anything with logos or writing
Anything too formal (suits, gowns, blazers, etc.)
Shoes for home sessions because nothing says "I'm home" like bare feet, so shoes will be off unless absolutely necessary for safety/medical reasons
Thin stripes—they create a strange moiré effect with the camera
Transition lenses and sunglasses—either get some clear glasses, pop in your contacts,
or be a wee bit blind for the session
Phones—do not store them in pockets
Diapers with wetness indicators—that's not information we need in your photos
Anything that doesn't feel like YOU. And this one goes for everyone, including kids. If your children don't like what they're wearing, they're going to look at the whole session as a chore rather than a playdate. I'm not saying to not give input, but make sure that everyone is really on board with what they're wearing.
And please, NO MATCHING OUTFITS
What not to wear
Easy Prep
YOU'VE GOT THIS!
02.
Mornings with kids are chaotic enough, so a little prep the night before helps. If you can, steam the clothes and get the diaper bag ready with wipes, non-messy snacks, and water. A favorite picture book or a beloved stuffed animal is a sweet thing to tuck in too, since it’s easy to carry while we move around and gives you a reason to connect.
On the day, do whatever helps you feel like you.
Hair can be combed or messy, as long as it’s dry. If you want a haircut, get it 2 weeks before the session, so that the cut softens and you have practice styling it.
A little moisturizer on your hands never hurts.
Makeup is totally optional. If you wear it, mascara and clear lip balm are my favorites. A tinted moisturizer is lighter than foundation and looks more natural. Bring your lipstick if you want to touch it up.
03.
01.
Get your one thing and let the rest go. Be honest with yourself about what you actually need. I need a very natural set of false lashes to feel like myself. Yes, I know the irony is not lost on me, but I make sure that happens, and then everything else is allowed to fall apart.
Session Day
I'VE GOT GOOD NEWS FOR YOU
When It Comes to Your Kids, We’re a Team
My job is to gently guide the kids into the moments that tell your story. Your job is to love them like you always do, and to let them be exactly who they are, as if I weren’t even here. I’m a parent too, so I get it.
Roll With It
If your children do melt down, shy away from me, cry, hide, or otherwise “flip out,” just know that as a mother of an imaginative, sensitive, and intuitive child, I get it. Please don’t stress or be embarrassed in front of me. I have been there on both sides of it and I promise the best response is a no-stress, “ain’t no thang” attitude.
The rule while we are together is all rules are off the table (seriously, I will more than likely ask your child to dance on the table or climb on something they normally wouldn’t be permitted to). I am going to do things to make this as enjoyable for your children as possible. If I have to whisper potty words or make monkey sounds to help your children relax, so be it. If your children act up, refuse to cooperate, etc. Please just let me do my thing, and trust that I will get you what you want.
What will not get you those free-spirited, gorgeous, and cheerful family photos you’ve hired me to take, is if your child gets disciplined for misbehavior, or feels as if they’re being forced into something. While that seems obvious, it can feel incredibly stressful when they act up during that hour or so you just really need them to behave! I know, I completely get it, but the best results will come if you just relax and hand the
reins over to me (and should I need you to step in, you better believe I’ll ask for help!).
Cut the Cheese
I would really prefer that you not instruct your children to say “cheese” as it tends to transforms a child's naturally lovely face into a strange and strained smile. Instead, I ask questions that evoke natural expressions and actual laughing smiles rather than the contrived photo faces kids learn to put on.
Shy Guys (Gals & Non-binary Pals)
There are some children who are very resistant to being photographed. If you have one of these children, talk to me about it. Although I am very familiar and comfortable with this situation, it is something we should discuss and strategize ahead of time.
What to Expect
When I arrive, it will be without much fanfare. I'll greet your children as if I am just a friend coming over to play. I will get down on their level and talk to them without letting on that I have any expectations from them (and I don’t, really, other than for them to be themselves). I will take a look around and may even ask your kids for a tour (depending on their age and receptiveness), and will then decide where we will start.
I generally like to begin with a more classic family shot, as kids tend to be their most cooperative right when we begin (when they haven’t yet figured out that I have a goal!). This photo may be the more posed family portrait, if this is something we have discussed you wanting. What it will not be is stiff or formal; we will play games, laugh hard, and enjoy ourselves even at our most serious moments. There is no screenplay for our session; if your kiddos or I decide we should start off just with one of them in their rooms, or doing whatever they were doing when I arrived, well so be it. We will casually roll from one situation/pose/area to the next, and if all goes as planned, it will feel natural and effortless
as we move through our time together.
The Kids
01. keep it low-key
Getting ready can feel like a lot, and kids pick up on stress. Try not to call it a “photo session.” Just let them know I’m coming to play, and keep it fun. No one is at their best when it feels like a big deal.
03. A word on rewards
A reward is your call, since you know your kids best. If you use one, make it a surprise treat for after. I never want them racing to the end or feeling they have to perform.
02. FEED THEM BEFORE AND DURING OUR SESSION
Kids are grouchy when they're hungry. I suggest feeding them before our session and having some non-messy snacks on hand, just in case. The same goes for water too.
The grown-ups
And let's not forget...
If you’re thinking, "Okay I hear you, you’re making me feel better, but what if I just absolutely despise being in front of the camera?" OR "My partner would rather mow the lawn/watch the game/DO ANYTHING other than be photographed…"
Well then here’s my advice: talk to them about how important this is for you and for the family, and assure them that we will make it as much fun as is humanly possible. I will guide you into good light and ask you to readjust if something looks awkward. You will not be expected to just know what to do. But I will not push you around (too much!) or make you feel staged or awkward.
My approach is very easy-going, and I assure you it will not feel strange once we start rolling. You will not be modeling; you will be loving on your people, while I stand by with my camera. It is hard to be uncomfortable or nervous when your kids are being themselves because they don’t know how else to be! They will force you
to pay attention to them, and in turn, you will (hopefully)
forget I’m even there.
I promise to give the grown ups (and kids) breaks throughout the session, as needed, and to make it as painless aspossible for everyone involved. If it would ease tensions to crack open a beer before I arrive, serve mimosas with breakfast, add a little CBD to your latte, etc., well then I say go for it!
After the session
Your gallery will be ready 2-3 weeks after our session. I use that time mindfully in the post-edit. Every family has their own energy, mood, and personality, and I want my editing to reflect that. I revisit each session and edit in a way that honors how it felt to be in that moment. As a person of color, accurate skin tones matter deeply to me too.
The first time seeing your custom art is always the most magical, so I treat this moment with the scale it was meant to be seen. More often than not, a little sneak peek will find its way to you before your gallery arrives. Gather your family around and watch it on the largest screen possible.
You'll receive everything. No packages, no picking and choosing. Just a beautifully edited gallery that's all yours to enjoy for years to come.
THE MAGIC CONTINUES AFTER OUR SESSION AS I MAKE FINAL EDITS and CURATE YOUR GALLERY
Congrats!
You've made it to the finish line
Thank you for taking the time to read this over. I hope that it helps you feel more comfortable about our time together. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
carmen@carmendunham.com / 415.577.3399
I am so excited to make some magic with you!