It’s such a letdown to get your hopes up so high for a photo session only to be delivered images that aren’t exactly what you expected. Sometimes it is the photographer’s fault. I’m not claiming that we’re blameless here. At the same time, though, there’s only so much we can do on our end when walking into a less than ideal situation. Here are a few ways you can prepare for your photo session to ensure that you’ll get the most out of it!
1. If at all possible, listen to your photographer’s recommendation on the best time of day to shoot. There’s a reason she doesn’t want to schedule your session at 1 PM. The lighting at that time of the day is harsh, and it’s going to look harsh in your pictures. That golden buttery light happens right after sunrise and right before sunset, and it is without question the most flattering light. You will look better in your pictures if you adhere to this recommendation. I promise.
2. Think about your outfits. Coordinating is key. Matching is NOT! For instance, you don’t want to wear a blue dress and have your fiance wear a blue shirt and jeans for your engagement photos. Instead, wear colors or patterns that complement each other. So have him wear a yellow button down and jeans when you wear the blue dress. Or he can wear the blue shirt and jeans and you can wear a light pink dress with blue polka dots. If fashion isn’t your forte, ask your photographer for recommendations! We’re always happy to help.
3. If you’re doing an in-home session, clear clutter from the room. If you don’t want to see it in your pictures, you need to remove it. This, of course, only applies to the area of the room that’s being photographed. So if you’re only using the bed in the master bedroom, then just make sure that that area is clean. You can literally pile everything up on the other side of the room and no one will ever know. I once had a client put all of her baby’s toys in the shower, because clearly we’re not photographing in the bathroom. It worked like a charm.
4. Make sure everyone is rested and well-fed! This applies more to kids, although I will say that my husband can get a little grumpy when he’s hungry 😉 In all seriousness, though, happy kids photograph better than kids throwing a tantrum because they want a snack. I know there’s only so much you can do to appease your children in these situations, but starting off on the right foot certainly won’t hurt!
5. Show up on time! Remember that light that I talked about? It ends at sunset, and then your session is over. So if you show up 20 minutes late, then your session is going to be 20 minutes shorter. So plan ahead, map out how long it will take you to get to your predetermined location and leave early in case you run into traffic.
There’s no magic solution for making your photo session go perfectly, but completing these steps ahead of time will not only help, it will make you feel more confident walking into it.
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