This is the most common question I get. Social media can be deceiving, and it may look like all of my client's children are angels who sit and smile but the truth is, 95% of kids don't want to sit still and are incapable of smiling naturally on demand. To get the emotive, joyful and natural photos I strive for, I actually DON'T want kids who are sitting and saying cheese - I want kids who are giggly, a little naughty, and rambunctious - we will use that energy to snuggle, tickle, play games, and all sorts of other prompts that I will setup that will capture their real joy while still photographing your kids (and you!) in a flattering light. I work with kids EVERY DAY, and have strategies to work with just about anything they throw at me. Also, it helps that I'm not their mom - kids always cooperate more for strangers than their own parents. The only kids I struggle to photograph are my own!

Sunset really is necessary to achieve the soft golden light that really makes professional photos amazing. BUT, as a mom I totally understand that dreamy light is useless if your kids are all sobbing. With that said, most kids really can hang past bedtime - they have so much fun at our sessions and are so distracted that the meltdowns don't hit until we're done. However, if you aren't comfortable pushing it - I trust you, as you know your kids best. For an earlier session time, I recommend considering a fall shoot - at this time of year the sun sets very early, which is great for early bedtimes. Or, we can use a location that has shade to avoid harsh sun - I can recommend spots that work well for this. Either way, we definitely want to avoid mid-day and unfortunately the beach provides no shade, so isn't a good choice for anything outside of sunset.

For a family photoshoot, one outfit is advisable especially if your children are young. For a maternity photoshoot, most clients wear 2-3 different dresses/looks.

If you do a wardrobe consultation ahead of time, you will typically be given the clothes to arrived at the location dressed. Most locations do not have a bathroom, so clients typically change in their car or using a changing tent.

It is NOT required, but always recommended - it's a great way to make the day special for yourself and to feel and look your best!

To ensure I can give my clients the highest level of energy and customer service, I do take on a limited amount of clients per month. Weekend slots and very popular months (October!) sell out months in advance, so I do recommend booking as early as possible, especially if you need a weekend slot. I always try to work people in last minute when I can, but availability will be more limited.

Very rarely, but I do try to offer one - two days of minis per year. Minis are held on specific days and at specific locations. They are short and basic, and intended to get you some amazing updated family photos and photos of your kids. Be sure to follow me on Instagram to stay in the know when they are released.

I base my sessions more off of capturing a certain number of images and poses than working for a set time limit. This allows me to not keep families longer than needed if we we got what we came for more quickly, but also to give families who need it more time to capture amazing images even if we get off to a rocky start. Every family, child and baby are different, and we let them control the pace! Depending on the location and family, you can expect a family session to typically last between 45 - 70 minutes.

You will receive unedited proofs within one week to select your images from. Once your proofs are selected, you will have your edited images back you within three weeks. While my contract states three weeks for editing to allow for busy season, illness, and travel, I am typically ahead of schedule and deliver galleries sooner.