TIPS

When to Schedule?

If you're wanting to book a specific date then it's best to reach out to book your session at least a month in advance. If you're interested in a fall session, my available dates often fill up pretty fast so it's best to get those peak fall dates scheduled sooner than later.

Spring usually starts around April
Tulips are around April
Apple blossoms mid April - Mid May
Green vibrant nature photos are in the summer and early fall.
Wild flowers are late July to mid September
Dahlias July - September

Roses can be found in the summer leading into September
Sunflowers are early September
Fall colors are around late September to early November
Pumpkin patches are late September to mid November
Cityscapes are lovely most anytime of year

What to wear

When planning family, couple or engagement photos it can be hard deciding on the perfect outfits for everyone.

You don’t need to stick to one color. Try complimentary colors. This will help give your photos some diversity.
Stick with colors that look good on you.
Fabrics with texture are always a lovely plus. They can change an ordinary photo into something far more interesting.
I would suggest men steer away from plain white t-shirts. They tend to look more like undershirts in pictures.
In the end the most important thing is that you feel fabulous and comfortable. It will show in your pictures if you feel uncomfortable in what you are wearing. If you’re having a hard time deciding what to wear, feel free to reach out to me with your outfit choices and I'd be more than happy to help you decide.

Props

If you have some props that you would like to take pictures with then please bring them along. These pictures are to capture you and your family and if props would help, that’s great! Blankets, picture frames, instruments, signs, you name it. It will be fun to incorporate whatever you bring along into the photo.

Time of day

Lighting is a key element in photography. The time of day that usually offers the best light is early morning or near sunset. The very middle of the day is often too bright to get those crisp evenly lit photos that we all love. That being said, if you need to do pictures in the middle of the day I have a few tricks to help with less than perfect lighting.

Location

Planning a location can be difficult. It's always good to keep in mind the lighting options that will be available. I like to mostly work with natural lighting so my suggestion is to pick a location that has both well shaded and open areas that we can work in. This will help to guarantee our success in getting wonderfully well-lit photos. I have a list available of photo locations around the Kansas City area that I'm happy to share with you for location consideration.

Poses

If you're feeling a little nervous about how you'll look in front of the camera, worry no more! I've had so many people tell me they aren't photogenic, but really they just needed a little help with their posing. I'm here to pose you!

Also, I know we are all always looking at Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. If you come across a pose that you would like to try during our session, please let me know. You could send me a picture beforehand, or bring examples along with you to the shoot and we will try it out. Two heads are always better than one so I totally love it when people bring their own ideas to the shoot.

Kids

I love taking pictures of families. I will try my best to get comfortable fun family pictures for you. If your child has a favorite toy they would like to bring along to have in the picture that is just fine with me. Also, I am not opposed to bribery during a shoot so if your kid has a favorite little treat, like fruit snacks, feel free to bring those along as well. I want this to be a fun experience for everyone so if you’re okay with it, chances are I will be as well.

Pets

You would like to have your pet in the picture? That's a wonderful idea! Dogs, cats, ponies, chickens, guinea pigs; whatever your fuzzy family member happens to be I would love to have them join us. I just ask that you please give me a heads up. And remember it's a good idea to bring along their favorite toys and treats to keep them feeling comfortable and help me get their attention for the pictures.

Parents

Parents, let me start out by saying that you are amazing. Raising kids is no easy task and you are rocking at your job! I've photographed enough kids to know that they don't always like to cooperate so your job is to just have fun during the shoot. If you stay happy chances are they will too. Mom and dad, focus on having a fun time with your family and I'll try to make sure to snap pictures of all those moments be they silly or happy.

Be Creative!

This is your photoshoot and I want to tailor it specifically to your tastes. Lets find the perfect location to capture your vision. Bring props if you'd like! Have your pet or friend tag along. This time is yours to capture those things that are special, fun and unique about you and your family or friends. The sky is the limit so don't be afraid to think outside the box!