How awesome that you've booked in for the Christmas mini session. Here is lots of info so you can prepare...
Set Up
Here is the set up for the Christmas photoshoot:
If your kids are old enough to understand, it sometimes helps to show them what it is going to look like so they can prepare. And if you always refer to the photoshoot as something that is going to be really fun, it is more likely to be a great experience. I will also do my best to make it fun, relaxing and special for everyone.
What do you need to bring?
Most importantly, a nice relaxed mood for you and the kids alike. There is no need to stress if a child is shy at the start or if anyone has a tantrum at any point. We will pull out all the tricks.
Other things to bring are snacks (ones that don’t cause stains) and a comfort item if your child has one. Try to hide the item at first and only bring it out if we really need it.
How should you dress for the shoot?
I have a blog post called What to Wear For Your Photoshoot. There is lots of advice in there that can be used for this mini session too. The most important thing is that nobody wears a brown top, because that will make them blend in to the background too much.
What if you can't make it (on time)?
If you find that you won't be able to make it or you think your child might be cranky/hungry during that time, just send me a message as soon as you figure that out and we can try to book you in for a different time or date. Postponing/cancelling the shoot is fine and there are no costs involved.
For most shoots, I don't mind if people are a bit late (better than showing up super stressed because you were trying to get there on time), but these mini sessions are a bit trickier. If you think you will run more than 10 minutes late, I will find you another timeslot. It is no problem, as I have allotted a few breaks for myself and would be able to move that around for you.
If you want to make sure you don't miss out on this spot, you can also come super early, park the car across the road and go for a little walk. Across from my house there is the college with a big field of grass and play equipment for kids from around 6 years old. There are some nice pedestrian paths in my neighbourhood as well.
If anyone is not feeling well, please postpone as we don't want to put anyone at risk.
What happens during the shoot?
We are going to be taking photos for about 15 minutes. We might go over if we need more time or we might be done sooner if it's gone great or your child is getting overwhelmed.
For families and/or multiple kids, we will do photos of everyone individually and together - in whichever order seems easiest.
It is usually a good idea for shy kids to start with family photos - (grand)parents and/or siblings - before we go for the individual photos. Grandparents/aunts/uncles are more than welcome to come along to the photoshoot. We can only fit in 5-6 people in the frame at once, so it might not be possible to get one big group photo on this occasion, but there should be enough time for the grandparents/aunts/uncles to have a turn for a photo with the kids.
Pro Tip: If you have a shy kid and you weren't planning on being in the photoshoot, make sure you still dress for it in case your child needs you close by at the start. Sometimes parents who join in spontaneously don't realise how great those photos can turn out to be and they wish they'd put on a different outfit.
A note on pets
Unfortunately I can't have any animals near my backdrops and equipment due to allergies of future participants, so pets are not allowed to join.
How can you help during the shoot?
To start, I prefer not having anyone try to get your child's attention so I can have them focused on me. Please feel free to give me any tips on what makes your child laugh - a favourite song, a word they find funny (fart is often a good one), or they may love peekaboo.
If I feel I might need your help, then please come and stand right behind me and as close to the camera as possible (not too high and not too low) so we have your kid looking the right way.
A video on your phone is sometimes good, but it doesn't get the best expressions so I would only use this as a last resort. The phone will have to be as close to my camera as possible to work.
What if your child is not cooperating?
For families with kids of a tricky age, you might be worried about your children listening and sitting still. Please don't feel embarrassed or anxious about this, I see this behaviour all the time and I remember my own kids at that age. I have lots of tricks and techniques to get the best possible outcome, and as long as we all stay calm and laugh at the absurdity of it all, we will still have a good time.
Sometimes, we might need to have a little break and or even a big break if we notice the child is hungry or tired. If you brought snacks/bottles, this might be a good time to have that. We might even decide to try a time later in the day or on a different day. If we really cannot get any good photos out of it, and you are unable to come on another day, I will not charge you for any photos. We will probably have better luck next year :) But don't worry, most of the time I can make it work.
What happens after the shoot?
I will edit the photos within 7 days and send a link for you to view the photos. You can let me know about anything that might need to be re-edited or any other concerns you might have. The photos will have watermarks on them at this point, but the final photos won't.
Once you are happy with the photos I will send a little invoice with all the payment info. When I see the payment has come through, I send the high-resolution unwatermarked files through WeTransfer. You get all the photos, so no need to choose. The invoice will be for $100, or if you are a repeat client, it will be $90 with the repeat client discount applied.
Sharing the photos
If you've said 'yes' to sharing on my business socials, I will then send you my picks for photos I would love to share on my FB/Instagram/website and you can let me know if that is all good. You can still choose at that point to keep the photos private instead. You are welcome to share the photos yourself, and you are allowed to have the photos printed at your preferred printing place.
You are now all set to show up for your mini session! If you have any questions, or if you have found your way here but haven't booked in yet, get in touch with me now.
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