Preparation Pays Off
Getting Started
I’m so excited for your portrait session! Whether I’m photographing your sweet family or your graduating senior, or doing a session to celebrate a special moment in your life, like your wedding anniversary, a pregnancy or a newborn baby, I want you to know that I will be honored to be your photographer and humbled that you’ve trusted me with the responsibility of helping you create memories you’ll look back on and cherish for a lifetime.
My goal is simple: for your session to be as fun and stress-free as possible! I’ve created a guide just for you that you will receive once you schedule your session! It is designed to help you get the absolute most out of your photo session. By the time you’ve read through it, you'll have all of your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session!
This guide is packed with my best tips, tricks and insider secrets for preparing for and styling your portrait session –– and everything in between. Your only job is to be yourself, laugh a lot, have fun and let me do the rest! I can’t wait to get you in front of my camera and I’m so excited to about the possibility of working with you!
Scheduling Your Session
I photograph many portrait sessions outdoors, predominantly in natural light, because I love images that are clean, bright, fresh and timeless. Images that look and feel like you! That’s why I begin all of my outdoor sessions 1-2 hours before the scheduled sunset –– during the magical “golden hour” –– when the light in the sky is the softest, dreamiest and most flattering. You can also choose to have your portrait session in my home studio.
We will use a sunset calculator online to determine the ideal time for the date and location of your session. When scheduling your date, it’s important to remember that the sun sets much earlier during the colder months of the year and much later during the warmer months, so make sure to factor that in –– especially if you have small children with a specific eating or sleeping schedule, or if you (or your spouse) will need to leave work early to get ready for the session and arrive on time. If you don’t have plans after your session, I always recommend going out for a fun date night since you’re already dressed up!
My weekends can fill up fast and in advance, but my weekdays are much more flexible. So if you’d like to do your session sooner rather than later, scheduling mid-week is the way to go!
Planning Your Time
When you’re planning "getting ready" time before your session (scheduling your hair, makeup, etc.) please give yourself a lot more time than you think you'll need. Make sure to account for things like traffic, getting lost and parking, so you can prevent unnecessary stress, arrive a few minutes early to your session and be ready to start on time. I’m only able to shoot when light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down!
Choosing the Location
The location of your portrait session is completely up to you! As you’ll see throughout this guide, most of our clients love showcasing the natural beauty of our home state. For most of my sessions, outdoor, open-air environments are always my first choice but my studio is also available and I have several backdrops from which to select. I love shooting in wide-open natural spaces because the light is divine, especially during golden hour. There are great options all around the area, so even if you've never seen me photograph in a specific place before, I’m always up for exploring a new spot together!
Think Outside the Box
When it comes to choosing a location, don't be afraid to think outside the box! I encourage you to brainstorm unique places that you might have special access to that most people don’t. For example, maybe you (or someone you know) have access to an amazing location that would otherwise be off-limits, like a beautiful private estate, family ranch, exclusive country club or luxury resort. Spend a few minutes thinking about it and checking around with people in your personal and professional network. You’ll be surprised with what you come up with! If something seems out of reach, just remember: you never know until you ask! You can also consider Airbnb or other property rental sites. In the past, my clients have secured permission to shoot in some pretty incredible places!
If you need some location ideas and inspiration, I have plenty! Check out my blog post on locations: https://www.learheaphotography.com/blog-post/location-location-location. And also look through the Family Gallery images on my website. If there’s a certain session you really love, just let me know which one and we can go to that location!
Ready to schedule your photography session? Click the button below to schedule your complimentary phone call and get your questions answered and book your session!