Prepare For Your Mommy + Me Session

What To Expect

Our studio is attached to our home. We converted our 2.5 car garage into a dedicated studio space. It is temperature regulated (we have heat and a/c). There is a changing area and mirror.

Mommy + me sessions are very creative in nature. We welcome your ideas and will also bring our own! Please know these sessions are fun and meant to capture the beauty that is motherhood!

What To Wear

CHOOSING YOUR WARDROBE

Our set is very wispy with neutral tones. A long flowing dress is very appropriate for this type of set. If you are not a dress type person, a classic white collared shirt with nice slacks or jeans looks nice. A third option (if you are neither of the two previous) is a pretty textured sweater look. Sweaters that photograph well are typically thin material, not too chunky. The option to drape over your shoulder is helpful.

Coordinate your outfits with your kids to ensure a cohesive look.

Don’t feel like shopping? No problem! Any of the dresses from our CLIENT WARDROBE are available to you. Please let us know ahead of time which dresses you would like us to have out for your session.

EARLY PREPARATION SUGGESTION FOR LESS STRESS

Prepare your outfits from head to toe well ahead of your session day. Once you have the outfits picked out, place them on hangers and put them on one side of your closet. Any accessories or shoes you want to wear with the outfit hand in plastic bags around the hanger with the outfit. Do this for any additional people that may be apart of the photo session. Then on the day of your session all you have to do is grab those ready-to-go hung up items (that you have carefully placed to one side of the closet) and head to your session. Planning this way ahead of time eliminates a lot of the day-of session stress. Do this for yourself and your children.

Makeup / Hair / Nails

Arrive with your hair styled and your makeup done but bring your hair and makeup kit with you for touch-ups. Plan extra time to get ready to allow time if anything doesn’t look right. If it normally takes you 30 minutes to get ready, plan an extra 15-30 minutes to apply makeup and do your hair.

We often see hands, so make sure your nail polish is freshly manicured and not chipping.

Working With Kids

WE SUPPORT BRIBERY 🥰

Bring water + small bite-sized snacks for young kids. For kids who can eat solids, we recommend the white chocolate cooking morsels (you get them in the baking isle). These are our absolute favorite snack for kids for photo sessions. They don’t stain faces and are quick to eat because they are tiny (so we aren’t standing their waiting for the child to finish chewing). We know this is not “parent-of-the-year” advice, but please know we don’t judge and we fully support you on all forms of bribery you may implement to make your photo session a success.

TALK UP THE SESSION

Before your session, talk about how much fun it’s going to be with your kids. Talk about how you are going to play together and cuddle and explore and take some really fun family photos! Get them excited and involved so they show up with smiles on their faces! This sounds silly, but it really works!

MAKE SURE THEY ARE WELL FED AND WELL RESTED

Hungry and tired kids are angry kids. ‘Nuff said.

CLIP HAIR BACK

If your child’s hair tends to fall in their face, opt for a hairstyle that keeps their hair away from their face so we can see their cute little expressions! If we are spending the whole session pulling their hair out of their face it will take away from the magic of the moments.

PREPARE YOURSELF MENTALLY

It’s not about having the perfect hair or the perfect outfit or posing the perfect way. It’s about capturing this special time in your life. If you are worried about your clothes, it will show in the photos. Your clothes may get dirty, that’s a normal part of the photoshoot process. Don’t wear anything that you care that much about.

Too often have we photographed families that argue through the shoot, picking at each other’s flaws. This makes for a very uncomfortable photoshoot process (for all parties involved). As best as you can, try to let go of any stress you have felt from the day and enjoy the fact that you are doing something creative! The moment you relax and just let the experience unfold is when the magic happens.