Family Session Prep Guide

I am so excited that you have chosen Helga Photo&Video to capture the best of your family! Thank you for trusting me. Here are some tips to help you prepare and understand what to expect during the session.

Before the session

  • Select your package, pay the deposit, and complete the contract online.

  • Fill out the questionnaire.

  • Decide what to wear for your family photos. Clothing can really affect the outcome of your end products. You want to create a look that is timeless and flows well together.

    • Wear something that is comfortable and feels like YOU. If you don’t like what you see in the mirror then you are not going to like it on camera.

    • Try moving or dancing in front of the mirror to see how the clothes feel.

    • Choose neutral colors with soft, flowing fabrics…. think creams, very soft pastels, light browns, tans, grays, and slate blues.

    • Knitwear always looks great on camera — sweaters, cardigans, anything with texture adds warmth and depth, especially in neutral tones.

    • You might also choose coordinating colors (but not matchy-matchy) with bold accent colors, such as hues of gray with yellow or red accents. 

    • Do not wear all white or all black, skip shirts with logos or numbers, crazy patterns or thin stripes. Stick to something you would normally wear.

    • For in-home sessions, solids and neutrals work great. This keeps things simple and not distracting. Neutrals work best with any home decor.

    • Feel free to send me photos if you have questions.

Defoe_family (1 of 31).jpg
 

During the session

  • Arrive 10 minutes early and be ready by the scheduled session time.

  • Relax! Enjoy the time with your family. We’re so busy, our life is busy. We’re so rushed all the time. Take this moment, take this time to just sit and enjoy your family. Think about the session as an opportunity to slow down and spend time with people you love.

  • My focus is on emotion and realism, not ultra-sharp posed perfection.

  • It’s natural to want beautiful smiling pictures of your family. I'll always try for a few smiling shots, but the in-between moments often turn out to be the ones you love most.

 

After your session

  • Within 2 weeks after your session you will receive an email with a link to access your edited gallery.

  • Download your images.

Have FUN during the session. Laugh. Giggle. Joke. Embrace. Kiss. Snuggle. Play. Doing these things will allow me to capture the emotion and true beauty of your family. 

I don’t need your kids to be on their best behavior. Kids should be kids, even during a photo session. You'll still see love. Don’t worry about me, about the camera. Deal with any situation as you normally do.

ENJOY this day.