1. How long in advance should I book my session?

3-4 weeks for a weekday session, and 4-6 weeks for a Saturday appointment,in general. You may refer to the following table for other major events

2. What should my children wear?

Here are a few points to keep in mind when choosing the clothing for your session.

Timeless clothing which is simple and classic will help your portrait stand the test of time. Your child is the focal point of our work, therefore it is of utmost importance that clothing choices compliment and not distract from the overall balance and focus of our image. Black or white clothing both work very well, as does denim. It is your child's face that you want to remember, not their outfit.

Hats on small babies often look oversized or awkward and cover the child's face.

Overalls or outfits with straps on children that cannot sit up well are not advised, as the straps will "ride up" on them when we place them in our posing pillow.

Bold colors on small children do not always work well. Very light whites, khakis, and pastels work best.

On babies, small children, and toddlers, bare feet are STRONGLY recommended. Shoes only work when the child is in a standing position. Otherwise, if they are sitting on the floor or in a chair, the bottom of their shoes is what shows up in the photograph.

Skirts don't work on small children. If we have them sit in any way, we'll probably end up photographing "up" their skirt. It also limits the ways they can sit comfortably.

3. Do you have clothing available?

YES! We have a growing selection of dresses and bows for girls. Overalls for boys and girls. Black turtlenecks for black and white portraits

4. What should I expect during my session?

When you arrive, we will greet your child and spend a bit of time getting to know them, helping them to "warm up" to us as well. Yvonne is generally the "entertainer" while it's Stacey's job to photograph, therefore, Yvonne will do most of the bonding. If Stacey hangs back and lets Yvonne talk to them, don't take it personally, it's just what Stacey sees will work best for the child. Also, many times parents are able to sit back and watch the session. Don't worry, if we need you're your help, we'll ask!

5. How many changes of clothing should I bring?

We know that great images take time and concentration. Our advice is to pick a style or mood and focus on it. Too many clothing and background changes leave little time to focus on what truly matters. Two clothing changes is the maximum that we recommend. As we're sure you have seen at home, children generally do not like to get dressed or have their clothing changed. Too many changes make them irritable and upset and that's not always a mood we can reverse in the camera room, so it's best to minimize the changes. We may do some "naked baby" or "diaper" shots with younger ones between changes of 3 months and one year. Babies and small children won't tolerate much more than this. Parents may bring more outfits if they would like our opinions on what would photograph best.

6. How long will my session last?

This totally depends on your child. The "window of opportunity" with children is short. We always make sure we have enough time to devote to your child. The shoot itself normally takes only 20-30 minutes, but we do allow time for clothing changes, feedings, diaper changes, and some "warm up" time in the beginning.

7. Can I bring other family members with me to the session?

When doing individual portraits we strongly suggest that you keep the number of people you bring with you to a minimum. If only one adult can bring your child, that is ideal. Although it may seem like a good idea, bringing your child's "favorite" person (especially if your child is between 1 and 3 years of age) tends to work against us in the camera room. They tend to cling to this person and it becomes very difficult to create the separation. It is also my experience that too much commotion during a session can cause distraction and unhappiness in small babies and toddlers, so we try to keep this to one to two people maximum.

8. Can I photograph my children individually and together in one session?

You may have one child individually photographed and two together in one session. Individual shots of two children require separate sessions. If you wish to do two back to back individual sessions, one of your children must be six years of age or above. Two children under the age of six will not be able to last through two sessions and we get the images that you are looking for. If two back to back session are done, the session prints must be purchased separately, as well (i.e., you may not put color prints and black and white prints into one package.)

9. Can I get black and white and color images in one session?

Black and White and color sessions are done separately. Some choose to pay for two sessions at once and will do both at the same time. We would not recommend this for younger children due to the time requirement.

10. Can I have my pet in my photograph?

Unfortunately, I'm unable to accomodate animals in the studio.

11. Should I bring a small snack to my session for my child?

Generally speaking, snacks are not a good idea in the studio. Once they get the first bite, children just tend to want more, and in their eyes, the session is over. Even if we are able to continue the session, the children are chewing during the session, which doesn't produce ideal images. If you do bring a snack, please ask us before getting it out of your bag, it does have the potential to ruin a session.

Choosing Your Images

What to Expect