Kids & Family Sessions

Kids & Family Sessions: $150 weekday or $200 weekend.

Please see the Investment tab for complete details concerning costs and what is included in your session fee.

Where should we have our session?

Every photo session is unique. All kids and family sessions are best on-location. You will choose where it will be best for you. Your photographer is trained to look for opportunity in any location, however, here are a few ideas to get you thinking: public parks, rail roads, ponds, lakes, large open fields, down town, your own yard(no expert landscaping needed), playgrounds, gardens, and much more.

Many are concerned with the beauty in the surroundings, but realistically, there are few locations where great results aren’t expected. The specialized equipment used for your unique session will accentuate the positive.

When should we schedule our session?

Young children are best photographed when they are well rested and fed. This may be early morning or after an afternoon nap. Sessions last between 1 to 2 hours, so a snack before is recommended. You should think about the temperament of your child. Most young children are in their best mood during morning hours. Because we want the best lighting conditions possible, sessions are scheduled within 2 hours of sunrise OR sunset.

What should we wear?

If we will be working with one individual child, anything goes. You can have them wear the same cute, fun, clothes they’d wear ordinarily. Clothes changes are acceptable. If you can’t decide, then bring a few options and we can look at them together. Kids will be expected to act like kids, so please let them enjoy the session without concern for keeping the clothes clean. When they get dirty, we can change them.

When working with a group of three or more, please don’t be afraid of color or pattern. The key here is to keep things similar, but not the same. You do NOT have to wear all white shirts or all khaki pants. There are lots of options out there. A quick look at family wear in catalogue ads can give you some ideas. And remember that in black and white, the colors don’t matter that much. AND, you can change clothes! For your feet, anything goes, even bare feet.

Please avoid clothes with large logos. Other than that, have fun with it!

What will we do?

The main goal for you is to enjoy this session with your family. We will walk around and talk a little as we scout out our location. It is perfectly all right for your kids to be themselves as they run, jump, shout, and play together or with you. Those are some of the best images. We should encourage hugs, snuggles, kisses, and laughter. Be silly with your children. Let things unfold naturally. Your photographer will give some direction as far as good places to stand or sit, but mostly it is the true character of everyone involved that we want to capture. With relaxed time constraints and permission to have a little fun, your session should be something everyone enjoys.

A few parent tips: 1- Please avoid threatening your child to smile or “say cheese.” Children are so beautiful, even when their expression is serious or unsure. Give them time to warm up. Being silly is the best way to coax out a smile. 2- Don’t be afraid to leave your child alone with the photographer. She comes with years of elementary education experience in her bag a tricks and is familiar with almost all personality types and typical behavior patterns in children. In many cases, children act up more with mom watching.

What should I bring to the session?

Nothing is required, but you could bring something your kids love to play with. For example, bubbles, a ball, jump rope, hula hoop, tea set, a stuffed animal for comfort, etc. Choosing just one or two things will be plenty. If the weather has left the ground damp, a simple blanket might be of good use. Colorful chairs are cute as well. It’s best to let your photographer know what you have in mind at the beginning of the session. Save those special extras for when they’re needed or as a nice surprise for the kids towards the end of the session.

What if my kids are wild or temperamental?

Don’t worry. They are normal. Here are a few things to keep in mind for children that are not as laid-back as others. Preparation is key, so start talking to your child in the days before the session. Let them know where you’ll be going and what you’ll be doing. Give them your simple expectations: have fun, play together, be yourself, hug mom and smile. Show them a few images you already have of them and maybe where you plan to put these new ones so they have an idea of the purpose of our activity. For kids old enough to understand, show them this website and let them look at the other children and families.

Copyright Notice: All images taken by Vanessa G. Photography are copyright protected by federal law. No reproductions, print or digital, should be made without written consent of the photographer. At your session you will be asked to sign a Session Contract and Model Release form acknowledging these facts.