What to Expect During Your Family Session
Your session runs about 45 minutes, the flow adapts to your kids, and you don't need to memorize anything before you arrive.
This guide walks through the three things that shape every family session: the lead-up, what actually happens during the hour, and what to expect after you leave.
01 · Before We Start
A note for parents of toddlers: If your kid is wary of strangers or in a clingy phase, that's okay. I'd rather they take ten minutes to warm up than have you trying to convince them to perform from the first frame.
By the time you're reading this, your session date, time, and location are already locked in. The lead-up is meant to be light. The prep guides (you're already in them) handle the rest, and I'll check in as we get closer.
What this looks like in practice:
A few days before, I check in about weather (for outdoor sessions) and confirm everything is still a go
If anyone has been sick or anything has shifted with the kids, that's the moment to tell me. Rescheduling for sickness is automatic with no lost retainer
Plan to arrive 5 to 10 minutes early so you're not rushing through the parking lot
The first few minutes are saying hi to the kids, getting them comfortable with me, and easing in. Nobody jumps in front of the camera the second you arrive
02 · During the Session
The session is built around your kids, not the other way around. We start with a few guided shots so everyone settles in, then shift into prompts and play. The hybrid approach gives you both the classic portraits that work on a wall and the in-between moments that look like your actual family.
What this looks like in practice:
The first few minutes are guided. I'll tell you where to stand, where to look, and what to do with your hands. You don't have to figure any of it out
Once the kids are warmed up, I shift into prompts. Things like "tell your kid a secret" or "show them what you were doing when you were their age" pull real reactions instead of forced ones
Breaks are built in. If a toddler needs a snack, if a baby needs a feed, if anyone needs to regroup, we pause. None of it breaks the session
Outdoor sessions follow the light. We may walk to a few different spots in 45 to 60 minutes, especially if we're working with sunset. Studio sessions stay in one space with controlled light and climate
03 · After You Leave
When the session wraps, you go home and don't have to think about it for a while. The next thing on your plate is just receiving your gallery.
What this looks like in practice:
We end on time. Outdoor sessions follow the light, so the last few minutes usually happen as the sun is setting. Studio sessions wrap on the clock
You leave with no homework. No favorites to pick, no proofs to review, no follow-up forms. I handle the rest
Galleries are delivered based on your package: three weeks for Essential, two weeks for Signature, one week for Premium
The gallery arrives through Cloudspot with full download access. You can favorite, share, and order prints directly from the gallery if you want to