Welcome
We are so excited for your portrait session! I want you to know that I’m honored to be your photographer and humbled that you’ve trusted me with the responsibility of helping you create memories you will look back on and cherish for a lifetime.
My goal is simple: for your session to be as fun and stress-free as possible! That’s why I’ve created this guide just for you! The following pages will help you get the absolute most out of your photos. By the time you’ve read through it, you'll have most of your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session!
This guide is packed with my best tips, tricks and insider secrets for scheduling and styling your portrait session –– and everything in between. Your only job is to be yourself, laugh a lot, have fun and let me do the rest! I can’t wait to get you in front of my camera and I’m so excited to see you soon!

Scheduling your session
I PHOTOGRAPH PORTRAIT SESSIONS THE WAY I LIKE TO BE PHOTOGRAPHED MYSELF:
Outdoors, in natural light, because I love images that are clean, bright, fresh and timeless. Images that look and feel like you! That’s why I begin all of my sessions 1-2 hours before the scheduled sunset –– during the magical “golden hour” –– when the light in the sky is the softest, dreamiest and most flattering.
You can use a sunset calculator online to determine the scheduled sunset for the date and location you’d like to do your session. Then, just subtract two hours to figure out your approximate session start time. If you’re wearing one outfit, we’ll start your session about 90 minutes before sunset.
Planning your Time
ALLOW YOURSELF MORE TIME THAN YOU THINK YOU'LL ACTUALLY NEED
When you’re planning "getting ready" time before your session (scheduling your hair, makeup, etc.) please give yourself a lot more time than you think you'll need. Make sure to account for things like traffic, drive time, and arrival, and arrive a few minutes early to your session to be ready on time and prevent unnecessary stress. I’m only able to shoot when light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down!


CHOOSING the LOCATION
The location of your portrait session is completely up to you! As you’ll see throughout this guide, most of my clients love showcasing the natural beauty of our home state. For most of my sessions, outdoor, open-air environments are always my first choice. I love shooting in wide-open natural spaces because the light is beautiful, especially during golden hour. There are great options all around the state, so even if you've never seen me photograph in a specific place before, I’m always up for exploring a new spot together.



Think outside the box!
I encourage you to brainstorm unique places that you might have special access to that most people don’t. For example, maybe you (or someone you know) has access to an amazing location that would otherwise be off-limits, like a beautiful private estate, family ranch, exclusive country club or luxury resort. Spend a few minutes thinking about it and checking around with people in your personal and professional network. You’ll be surprised with what you come up with!



How many Outfits?
Changing outfits during a session always takes more time than my clients expect, so in order to maximize shooting time and give you the highest number of photos possible, I recommend the number of outfits (as follows) to keep stress low and the number of photos in your final gallery high.
1 hour shoot: 2-3 outfits. This works best to have 1-2 full change and some layered changes so we maximize our time. Make sure the location you choose has places to change
2 hour shoot: 4-6 outfits. To maximize your time have a combination of quick changes and full outfits. Make sure the location you choose has places to change.
3 hour shoot: 6+ outfits. To maximize your time have a combination of quick changes and full outfits. Make sure the location you choose has places to change.



Styling your Session- Props
IF YOU WANT YOUR PORTRAIT SESSION IMAGES TO LOOK AND FEEL A LITTLE MORE EDITORIAL, I RECOMMEND BRING- ING A FEW SMALL, SIMPLE PROPS WITH YOU, LIKE FRESH FLOWERS TO HOLD OR A BLANKET TO SIT O N . For your senior session, props help bring out your personality!
Think about your hobbies: Maybe you like to read? bring a book. Other ideas are sports equipment, guitar or instrument....Maybe you have access to some larger props that have a real “wow” factor, like a boat, classic car, vintage bicycle or hot air balloon or even regular balloons can add color and style. Bubbles, Flowers, or your pet! The skies the limit!



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Styling your Session
This is the time to dream a little bit and decide what really feels like you! Props aren’t a must by any means, but some of my clients love them and go all out. Some pick one or two items to bring, and others stick with just their outfits –– and that’s great, too! The most important things you need to bring to your session is a great attitude and be ready to have fun!. I'll take care of the rest.



What to Wear
This is your chance to do it up! Remember: there’s no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your portrait session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! For your senior session you might consider one nicer outfit and then something that reflects your personality. Some of my clients love having an excuse to go shopping and purchase a new permanent piece (or two!) for their wardrobe Whatever works for you!
What to Wear
Dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera because they really flatter the female body — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! I recommend choosing flowy dresses or skirts because they’re flattering on all body types, look amazing on camera and bring extra movement and dimension to your photos. Dresses will give us the best “twirl factor,” add more romance to your walking photos and look especially gorgeous when juxtaposed with nature, like the forest, fields or beach.
Cute, shorter cocktail-length dresses or midi skirts photograph beautifully as well. My clients who choose to bring two dresses will sometimes choose one short and one long! If you are doing multiple outfit changes, I recommend one dressy, one casual and one sport or hobby.



Flattering your Features
In my experience, every woman (regardless of her size or shape) has an area of her body that she’s self conscious about. Recognizing the areas you’re self conscious about when selecting your outfits is key. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos. Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, so be on the lookout for an option with a longer length sleeve.



Flattering your Features
If your outfit has shorter sleeves (or no sleeves) consider bringing a cute jacket, blazer, cardigan or pashmina to incorporate into your look. Skinny straps or strapless outfits have the opposite effect on arms on camera so stay away from those. If it’s colder outside, I suggest bringing a warm coat (the longer, the better!) to wear when we’re not shooting so you don’t freeze in your dress.
Looking for something different and want to try something glamorous and Couture? Try renting through Fairy Godmother Couture https://your-fairy-godmother-couture-rentals.myshopify.com/collections/size-adult?page=3
The Shoes
For shoes, keep in mind that heels elongate women’s legs and force constant tension in the calves –– which makes them look more toned. Closed-toed heels, in particular, look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your toes show. If you have a change of close, consider bringing a variety of shoe styles that fit your personality. Lastly, make sure to bring a pair of flats/ flip flops to wear when moving from place to place. Your feet will thank you later!



Make a statement
Although it might seem counter-intuitive, I recommend that you do not get a spray tan before your session (even a few days prior) because it tends to photograph orange even when it’s applied subtly and by a professional. Your actual skin tone will photograph most beautifully.
PAIRING AN ACCESSORY OR TWO WITH YOUR OUTFIT CAN REALLY HELP BRING SOME EXTRA DIMENSION TO YOUR IMAGES. Whether it’s a necklace, belt, bracelet, earrings, hat, or scarf, bringing an accessory or two can bring great visual interest to your photos, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention when paired together. For example, if you go with bolder earnings, you might want to choose a more humble necklace, or maybe even no necklace at all. Fresh florals in a crown or bouquet can be a really pretty touch as well.



Choosing Colors
THE CAMERA LOVES SOPHISTICATED COLOR. I RECOMMEND LIGHT-COLORED NEUTRALS, PASTELS OR JEWEL TONES. When choosing outfits, think about the feel you want your pictures to have and what colors will match the location. For example, if you are shooting in nature, you can never go wrong with light neutral colors like cream, taupe, camel or light gray. The camera loves shades of soft pinks and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light-colored neutrals. If you are shooting in two locations like city and nature, you can choose a different feel for each.
If you are shooting in two locations like city and nautre, you can choose a different color scheme for each. Stay away from bright colors. for example instead of Red - opt for maroon. Stick with softer colors. Black photographs well too. If your not sure, check out pinterest for inspiration.



Fall And Winter
When seasons change and temperatures drop, sometimes it’s just too cold for a dress and heels (no matter how warm your coverup overcoat is). So I have some suggestions for late fall and winter that will still help you be fashion-forward and keep your color tones camera friendly.
First, let’s talk about color palettes. Just like in warmer weather, I recommend muted hues over bold, primary colors. During fall, warm neutrals like camel, taupe, cream, champagne, and gray are still going to look great.
If you’d like to incorporate color, choose sophisticated jewel-toned versions instead of bright primary colors. Here are some examples: mustard over yellow, crimson or burgundy over red, camel over orange, sage or emerald over green, and powder blue or navy over blue. These jewel tones will photograph beautifully in any season.