Session Info

July 30, 2020

Preparing for Your Photo Shoot | A Guide for TLP Friends

I’m so excited that you are considering booking a photo session with me! Hopefully this blog post will help you plan and prepare for a smooth shoot!

Time + Location

First thing’s first, once we have your shoot on the calendar, there are 2 things to think about: time and location. I love to shoot (and try to plan every shoot) just about 2 hours or so around sunrise or sunset. This time of day provides the softest and best lighting for my style of shooting. If we can’t shoot at this time of day, we will do our best to find the most flattering light any time of day. As far as location, this all depends on the look you want for your photos. If you have somewhere in mind, I’d love to hear about it! Otherwise, I can get an idea of what you want and send you some options.

These are some of my favorite locations shot at my favorite times of day:

*See more of Nicole + Charlie’s shoot here!*

What to Wear

Now that we have all of the logistics laid out, it’s time to start thinking about what you should wear for your portraits. What to wear is definitely one of the top questions I’m asked. The answer I always give is something you feel good in! If you feel uncomfortable and self conscious it will show. Here are some tips when considering what you should wear:

-Always have everyone try on their outfits before the day of the shoot (and try sitting down in them as well!) to avoid any day-of outfit meltdowns!

-Think coordination over exact matching for group shots. There’s no need to put everyone in the exact same colors. Choose a few colors that compliment each other well and build off of those with layers.

-Accessorize! Accessories are an easy way to add to your photos. Hats, necklaces, and statement pieces are always fun!

These are some of my favorite outfits that I’ve shot:

*I loved how their outfits worked together as a whole group and for each individual family!*

*Dad’s shirt pulls Mom’s and Wade’s outfits together!*

*I loved that this family didn’t all wear one color, just colors that flowed together really well, and even went with the balloon colors!*

*The girls matched and the boys’ shirts played off of the color in the girls’ dresses, an easy way to pull a look together. See more of their photos here!*

*Different blues with a vest to break it up that worked perfect for a maternity session for baby boy #2*. *See more of their shoot here!*

FAQs

–How long will our shoot last? Typically we will spend 1 to 1.5 hours together at your shoot.

–Should we bring props or anything else with us? A good attitude and your awesome smile is all you need! I don’t shoot with many props, I love to focus on you and your family. With that said, I still love sentimental stories and if theres something special to you that you’d like to include in your photos, I would love to do that for you! If you have little ones you may want to bring a drink and snack (ones that won’t stain if dropped on clothes!) just to keep them happy and smiling! During Summer shoots, consider bringing a water bottle for yourself, we all know how hot South Carolina Summers can be!

–How many photos do we receive in our final gallery? I don’t guarantee a specific number of images. I edit all of your images that are keepers (eyes open, everyone looking at the camera, etc.) and deliver those to you in an online gallery.

–How do we access our online gallery? As soon as your gallery is ready you will receive an email from me with the link to it, you can also share the link with family and friends!

*This is what I actually look like when you book with me!* *SO excited!*

the shoot

So now that you are prepared, what does our actual shoot together look like?

A lot of smiling, a lot of laughing, and a lot of fun all while capturing your memories! At least that’s my goal! So often, people dread having their photos taken and don’t take time to enjoy the process. My hope is that when you look back on your photos you’ll remember what a great day it was with your family. Sure, I’ll try to put you in the best lighting and pose you but some of my favorite images always come from the candid in between moments. We’ll spend our time together taking tons of photos and getting to know one another. After your shoot, I’ll showcase your session right here on the blog and deliver your images for you to see, share, and download in your online gallery! Then, hopefully you’ll print, hang, and cherish them forever!

If this all sounds like a plan, click here to book with me! I can’t wait to work with you!

-Tay