Children

A bit of careful planning can make all the difference in your portraits. Please keep the following points in mind while preparing for your upcoming session.

Feeding and Naptime
Please make sure that your child is well rested before the session. The day of your session is not a day to skip a nap or to be rushing around town running errands! Please take care to schedule your session around your child’s regular naptime.

A small snack before the session is a great idea. Just make sure it isn’t something that is messy or colored.

Before you leave the house it is always a good idea to clean your child’s face with a warm washcloth, taking care to clean their mouth, eyes and noses. Please do this before leaving home…we don’t want to upset them at the portrait session.

We realize that this is an investment for your family and will completely understand if your child is feeling under the weather. A sick child is not a happy child and doesn’t photograph well. Please call to reschedule if necessary…we will understand!

During the Session

Parents role

Bribery

What to Wear
Our motto is “keep it simple”. Simple clothing will give your portraits a timeless feel and keep the focus on your child’s face. We do, however, encourage color and the use of texture and layers (knit sweaters, linen dresses, denim, scarves, hats, hair
accessories, etc).

Below are some general guidelines for dressing your child for their portrait:

• Toddlers and older children look great in dresses, simple play outfits and jeans or pants with a solid shirt.
• Layered outfits always photograph well. Vests, jackets, tshirts under a button down, and sweaters, are perfect!
• We love hair accessories, knit hats, tutus, petticoats, etc. – bring your own or we have several to choose from.
• Don’t worry too much about shoes and socks. Bare feet are perfect for children’s portraits.
• Stay away from shirts with collars or overalls on children who aren’t yet standing. They tend to bunch up and cover their faces.
• Always avoid bold patterns and logos of any kind.
• You may also bring a special stuffed toy or favorite blanket to be photographed with your child.
• If your child has a favorite outfit, dress-up costume, or even their pjs, bring it! It is always more personal and memorable to bring clothing that is meaningful to your child.
• We recommend bringing several outfits to your session. Before the session begins Jenny will review the clothing items you have brought and will make recommendations as to what will photograph best.
  

Siblings

Wardrobe choices for sibling shots, like those for family images, should be complementary but far from “a matching uniform.”  A tried and true formula for a boy/girl sibling duo includes a patterned dress or skirt for the girl, with the boy in a solid shirt pulled from that pattern.  If the little girl is wearing a solid shirt with a patterned skirt, have the boy’s top match a different color in her skirt, so that their shirts don’t match precisely.  Trust me, it works!  While many parents have the urge to put their boys or girls in the exact same outfit, mixing it up a bit–while still creating a pleasing overall combination–creates a considerably more interesting color palette and image.