FAMILY & MATERNITY PORTRAIT SESSION INFORMATION

Step One: Scheduling Your Session

In order to reserve a date, you will sign some paperwork and pay a session fee of $250. If we haven't already, the easiest way to compare calendars is for you to email or call me with a few dates that work for your family - I always try to be as flexible as possible, and once we find a date, booking is 100% online and takes just a few minutes. As you pull out your calendar, here are a few things to consider:

● Given the beautiful colours and temperate weather, spring and fall are the busiest times of year for outdoor family photos in Vancouver, BC. If you'd like a session during one of those times (ESPECIALLY if you want a weekend spot), please get in touch as soon as possible!

● If you have a particular date or holiday by which you need prints or gifts (Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, etc.), be sure to book a date at least one month in advance of that date to ensure sufficient processing and printing time.

● Babies and young children are almost universally at their very best first thing in the morning, which just happens to also be a great time of day for beautiful light. If you have children under five years old, I encourage you to consider a session at or as close to sunrise as you can reasonably be ready.

● If you have older children or have one of those rare babies that doesn't do mornings, the other time of day that gives us great light is late afternoon/early evening... usually around 2 hours before sunset.

● Beautiful photographs can be made in any kind of weather, but I understand that there are some downsides to being photographed in the pouring rain or the freezing cold. I can and do reschedule sessions for inclement weather, but am also happy to use your home or semi-indoor locations if sticking to the schedule is a priority.

Step Two: The Session Itself

Once we've decided on a time and date and officially put your session on the books, I'll send you a getting ready guide that will walk you through everything from choosing outfits to strategies for getting kids to cooperate. That guide has been created and refined over years of experience, so it typically answers 90% of the questions that come up, but I'm always happy to set up a time to chat if you want additional help. A few days before our session is scheduled, I'll reach out to confirm our time and location... at that point, if the forecast is questionable or someone seems to be coming down with the flu, we can talk about our rescheduling options. Otherwise, that's the perfect time to ask any last-minute questions or let me know if you've come up with a fun idea we haven't discussed.

The day of the session, please block off 1.5-2 hours. Typically we're done within 90 minutes or so, but I don't charge by the hour, so if there's some kind of wardrobe malfunction or child meltdown, I like to stay flexible. Finally, take a breath and relax... I promise to give the grown-ups (and kids) breaks throughout the session as needed, and to make it as painless as possible for everyone involved.

Step Three: The Fun Part!

Within just a couple of weeks of your session, you'll receive an email from me letting you know that your photos are ready in a slideshow or in a watermarked gallery. The slideshow or the watermarked gallery will be open for viewing for 24 hours, and once the 24 hours is over, you'll let me know which collection you want to purchase. After that, you'll have a full month to select the specific digital files and print items you want to use to fill that collection... zero pressure!

What you're going to do with your images is perhaps the most important aspect to consider when you're planning for a photo session, but it's all too often the aspect that's overlooked... all that time and money invested deserve a better return than photos gathering dust on a hard drive somewhere. You'll never get the same feeling looking at your photos on a screen as you will seeing them on your wall or flipping through the pages of an album, so I include a substantial print credit with every collection. Below is a sample of some of the items you can choose among:

PROFESSIONAL LAB PRINTS:

Prints are our tangible memories that should be preserved for generations. Each print is made through a combination of premium quality professional paper (choice of semi-gloss or deep matte finish) and chemistry photographic printing to provide accurate colours and long-lasting print. These professional prints are available in a variety of sizes, and are perfect for framing and hanging on the wall or giving as a special gift. Options began at:

●      4x6 / $6

●      5x7/ $8

●      8x10/ $16

DECKLED PRINTS:

These deckled edge fine art prints are beautifully printed on fine art Giclee matte paper using pigment inks and hand torn for a beautiful and unique look. (Minimum quantity is 6 prints for fine art prints)

●      5x7 / $60

●      8x10 / $80

CANVAS:

Fine Art Canvas prints. Gorgeous and ready to hang. For the moments you want to share with everyone. These canvas prints are printed directly on professional Museum Grade Canvas using pigment inks to provide amazing colour and detail.

●      8 x 10 / $215

●      16 x 20 / $450

●      20 x 24 / $580

LAYFLAT ALBUMS:

These premium albums are printed on high-end photo paper with thick, lay flat pages. Layout and design options are limited only by your imagination, and can be further customized with your choice of covers. 10 spreads (20 pages) are included. Additional spreads (1 spread = 2 pages) can be added for $25/each. Options starting at:

●      8x8”/ $700

●      10x10” / $930

●      12x12”/ $1020