What is a personality session?
I like to call this the "anti school photo" experience! Yes, there's a stool to sit on and a backdrop behind them, but a personality session takes place in your home where kids are most comfortable and everyone can be relaxed andnot rushed. All final images are black and white, so no worrying about coordinating colors between siblings -- and are shot from the top-half up, so there's no fussing with details (like shoes!).
What happens during a personality session?
When I arrive, I just need to be pointed to your biggest natural light / window spot in the house and in about five minutes I'll be set up and ready to start shooting! Your child can come sit in front of the backdrop and we'll chat, shoot, make some goofy faces, ask some deep questions, and get allllll of their RIGHT NOW expressions locked in the camera for safekeeping. Sometimes the shooting process takes only a couple of minutes to get PLENTY of keepers...others may take some warming up and we can stop and start again as needed, but in my experience the point of diminishing returns is after the ten minute mark...kids have places to be and things to do!
What should my child wear?
Comfort is ALWAYS key with littles, and overly busy patterns can be distracting. Aside from that, details near the face always add interest, whether that's a collar, extra layer of top, buttons, etc. Don't overthink it though and go with what you know they will be happy to wear!
How do I know if my child will cooperate?
The million dollar question! Truthfully, Personality Sessions may not work for every child. Ideally, babies are sitting age for the best shots (although we can make this work with the teeniest babes, too!) but for the range of expressions and personality we're after, I recommend waiting until 6-9 months or older.
As for toddlers and older, you know your kiddo best -- if they're in an overly clingy or shy phase, this may not be the best time to try this kind of session. All of the above said, I will ALWAYS keep snapping to capture as much as possible. **PRO TIP: No one is above bribes for sitting for a session and sometimes shooting a frame or two with a favorite lovey is a great way to get a session rolling!
What do I need to do to prepare for a personality session?
Very little! I just need a naturally lit space and a few square feet of open room to set up. Other than clearing a little room if needed, just focus on well rested and well fed kids!
Can we do a sibling photo as part of our session?
The style of photos I am shooting is truly intended for individual portraits, but I will happily grab a quick snap of your whole kid crew at the end if time allows.
What is the turnaround time to receive our photos?
My goal is always to get your gallery of images back to you within one week of our session.
Where you do recommend printing photos?
Included with your session is a print release to print wherever you please. My forever go-to for prints, canvas pieces and coffee table quality albums is mpix.com. Reasonable pricing, fast shipping, and amazing quality. For this particular style of portrait session, I especially love SmallWood Home for framed prints and wall hangings.