How do I book a session?
Once we’ve locked down a time and location I will send you a booking form with all the information needed to complete our photography session!
Whether it is a hosted mini session or a private full session, booking is completed once you’ve  filled out and returned the booking form. I will keep in touch a day or so before to confirm any last minute details! 


What is your style?
I consider myself a documentary photographer capturing the expressions and personalities of those in front of the camera. This is a time for you to have fun, not to pose stiffly for an hour! For kids, it’s a time for them to play and explore and this is how the great expressions are captured.


What do I wear and can we change outfits? 
Who else loves pinterest?! My pinterest board with outfit inspiration will be provided once we book our session. I recommend neutrals - tans, beiges, and creamy whites go with just about every setting! I recommend steering clear of everyone in jeans and bold colors. You do not need to be match-matchy! The days of family photos at the beach with the whole group in matching jeans and white tee's are long gone! Mix-up textures, patterns, and layers.
For families and children, go casual and comfortable. I do not recommend is logos or shirts that have sayings (but if your child is obsessed with spiderman and must wear a spidermen shirt that it will make for epic memories!) For newborns and babies, anything cute and adorable!

For engagement sessions, I recommend getting dressed up! Fun and flow dresses for the bride-to-be and something complimentary for the groom-to-be. For one-hour sessions, feel free to change midway through the session to a more casual look if you would like to mix it up. 

How to prepare kids for a photoshoot?
For me as a photographer, I am never bothered by kids’ behavior…from those that run wild to others that are super camera shy .  It’s all apart of who the kids are and capturing their personalities is what I’m striving for at every shoot.  But as a mom during a photo shoot it’s STRESSFUL!!!  I get it.  You’ve done all the work…booked the photographer, picked everyone’s outfits, and got everyone out the door on time.  You want the experience to be fun and the pictures to turn out amazing.  Here are a couple of quick tips to make that happen:

• Bribes and Rewards.  Bribes are an excellent way to have children behave nicely during a photoshoot.  Lollipops, toys, ice cream afterwards…anything that you child finds exciting and can be rewarded with after the photo shoot is a great way to get them to comply with all of the things we ask them to do during the shoot.

 

• Stay Positive and have fun! Your kids will pick up on your mood so try to take some deep breaths and relax and enjoy the experience.  Nothing needs to be perfect.  I’m capturing your family just as you are at this point in time. I am all about having fun and embracing the stage you are in. Our session will be filled with time for traditional poses followed by lots of snuggling, laughing, and I even have a few fun games for kids to keep them engaged! 

 

• Talk to your kids before about the photo shoot.  Give your kids a head up before the day of the photo shoot about what we’ll be doing and talk to them about how much fun it’s going to be.  If your child is old enough, set the expectation of how you would like them to behave during the shoot

 

• What if my children still do not cooperate? I will do everything I can to get some memorable photos. Most sessions with children are limited to the 30 minute mini sessions - due to the limitations on time I highly recommend arriving early to get your children adapted to the setting we are in, do snacks before hand, diaper changes, potty breaks and anything else! Unfortunately, no refunds are given if children do not cooperate. Your kids are going to be kids! We know it's coming and it's just a regular Monday night for me! I promise I've seen it all. We will still get great photos and the only reason we might not is if you panic and shut down too. Keep smiling!! If you look happy, the photo has a much higher chance of being a successful one

 

• You look amazing! Yes, you! Just as you are. My biggest goal is to provide you with images where you can see your loved ones looking at you..so you can see how beautiful you truly are, and how much YOU mean to those kids, and your spouse. Leave your insecurities and your spanx at home 

 

• You will love your photos so much more if you come to have fun and just laugh when things get crazy, or do not go as planned. Start raining? Look up and laugh and dance in the puddles with your kids. You will never forget that memory- Lets make it a happy one!

 

• If your spouse booked these photos and you have zero interest in them, it will show. I will see that you do not want to be there and so will your spouse. Likely, you have a handful of candids from your daily life- the spouse who booked the photos has none. Do this for them, happily 

Do you reschedule if the weather is bad?
Bad weather happens. Rain and wind are inevitable. Especially here in the Bay Area! I keep a very close eye on the weather forecast and will reschedule your outdoor session as soon as possible if I feel the forecast is unworkable. Typically, rain is the only major cause for rescheduling. 

Can we bring a dog? 
The answer is yes! I love when couples and families bring their fur babies. Please keep in mind locations if you plan on bringing a dog. Not all locations allow dogs. I highly recommend when bringing a dog to bring a friend of family member to help assistant. With each different backdrop that we get on location we will be doing some poses with your dog and some without. During those times without your dog we will need someone to hold onto your dogs leash, take them for a walk, and give them treats. I DO not recommend tying your dogs leash to a tree when your dog is not being photographed. Your dog will indeed have FOMO (fear of missing out!) and the barking is really distracting when we are trying to have fun! I also do not recommend letting your dog off leash - even if your dog is well trained I've found in the past other people walking their dogs near by get annoyed with dogs off-leash and anyone else's sour attitude can be a real buzz-kill to our fun!