Welcome

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

I'm so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months! I am honored that you considered me to capture the best of your family and have my editorial style photographs make time stop - if only for a moment. 

I am always inspired by families like yours and do my best to capture the beauty and uniqueness that makes your family special.  I love what I do, its been my passion for over 13 years and is my outlet for the need create beauty.  I would be honored to have you share special milestones, celebrations and moments in your lives with me.  

- Anne Marie

Thank you again for choosing to work with me and please don't hesitate to let me know if I can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process!

I love natural light because I believe that natural light, from the sun and its reflections, create photographs that feel fresh, timeless and truest to you. I begin all portrait sessions two hours before the scheduled sunset during “the golden hour,” when the light is the dreamiest. Use a sunset calculator online to determine the scheduled sunset for the date and location you’d like to do your session. Then, just subtract two hours to figure out your start time. 

Choosing Time & Date

The location of your portrait session is up to you!  For most of my sessions, outdoor, open-air environments are always the first choice. I love shooting in wide-open natural spaces because the light is divine, especially during golden hour. There are great options all around, I'm always up for exploring a new spot together!

This is the time to think outside the box! I encourage you to brainstorm unique locations that you might have special access to that most people don’t. For example, maybe you, or someone in your personal or professional network, can secure permission to a location that would otherwise be off-limits, like a beautiful private estate, country club or resort. Maybe it’s a family ranch, upscale hotel or even a boat, airplane hangar or a rooftop view. The sky is literally the limit! Spend a few minutes thinking about it and checking around. You’ll be surprised with what you come up with. Plus, if something seems out of reach, just remember: you never know until you ask! 

Location

QUICK TIP: my weekends fill up fast and far in advance, as does my fall season.You can get a Fast Pass to the front of the line by scheduling mid-week or off-season.

Our clients have secured permission to some pretty amazing places in the past. If you get stuck or need inspiration, I have some great go-to locations around town that we can always hit, too. Just let me know which type of session you’d love and we’ll go from there! Easy. Peasy.

Your portrait session includes travel time anywhere within 50 miles of my home area. If you’d like to go somewhere outside the city, I'm up for the adventure! I call these my Adventure Sessions. I love traveling to the beach, mountains, desert, or lakes. We can walk, explore, dance, snuggle, and leave no stone unturned as a family. I will be right there with you photographing everything.  I've done different types of sessions from coast to coast and  everywhere in between. 

Location
Outfits
Shoes
Accessories
Props (if any)
Bribe Candy
Hair pieces and jewelry

 Portrait Session Checklist 

Want your photos to look more editorial? Bring a little extra something with you! Fresh flowers bring an extra “wow” factor to just about everything, especially when they’re attached to something else, like a bicycle basket, tree swing, tent, picnic basket, balloons or car bumper. Whether you want to incorporate larger items like classic cars or bikes, or smaller ones like blankets or hats, even planning for just one extra styled item could be a fun way to make your session more unique.
Have you thought about rocking a romantic gown, tulle skirt or flower crown but just never had an occasion for it? This is your chance to do it up! Remember: There is no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your portrait session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! If you don’t want to add a new permanent piece to your collection, a lot of our clients love Rent the Runway for their session because it’s such an affordable way to feel like a million bucks. Other clients love having a great excuse to bring a new permanent piece (or two!) into their closet!

Styling Your Session

quick Tip: THere is no such thing as too dressed up

Dresses and skirts look most stunning because they really flatter every female body, especially on camera. I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress or two instead. Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature, like the desert, forest, plains or beach. Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement in the images. I will likely have you sitting or crouching on the ground to interact up-close with children. If you have little ones in your photos, a floor-length dress or skirt, or perhaps a cute midi-skirt, will make moving around with your kids much easier, and look perfect on camera, too. Expecting mothers look great in  floor-length gowns or maxi dresses. These dresses create the best silhouettes to flatter your figure and really highlight your bump. A lot of our expecting mothers love to incorporate flower crowns or headpieces as well.

When choosing colors for your outfits, we recommend coordinating and not matching.  Matching is for the 90's.  Your images will be more timeless if you choose a color palate for your family.  There are lots of ideas on Pinterest or I am happy to help you shop.  If you are concerned about flattering your shape try choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features. Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, so be on the lookout for an option with a longer length sleeve. You could also bring a cute jacket, blazer or cardigan along, too. Skinny straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on arms on camera, so we recommend avoiding those whenever possible if your goal is a set of slimmer-looking arms. Heels elongate women’s legs, making them look fabulous. Closed-toes heels in particular look great on camera 

because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your feet show. These little tricks make all the difference! Quick Tip: Bring a pair of easy-to-kick-off flats to wear when moving from place to place in between photos. 
Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images, and be a nice tie-in when you’re coordinating with a group. Big statement necklaces, belts, bracelets and noticeable earrings bring great visual interest. Fresh florals in a crown can be a really romantic touch for you or your girls as well
Professional hair and makeup looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own.  It will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. Most of our clients feel like their professional makeup is “too much” at first, since it’s more than you would wear on a normal day, but it will photograph amazing!

Fashion Tips for Him

The Best Fit - Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on his handsome face. So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts, sandals and jeans at home, too, as well as any pants that are loose or baggy. Fitted dress pants or fitted colored pants work best on camera. Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong compliment to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye. We also recommend staying away from graphics and logos.
Layered Looks- Layers on men look great on camera, so even when it’s hot outside, trust us when we say that it’s worth an hour or two of discomfort for photos that will last you both a lifetime. Adding another layer will bring extra dimension and visual interest to your photos. Blazers, vests and coats up the level of any look. If the temperature permits, he could even consider adding a v-neck sweater with a pop of color from a long-sleeved collared shirt and tie underneath. 

Quick Tip: Confidence. It’s always the best accessory.

It’s All in the Details- Brown leather dress shoes compliment almost every look, whether he’s wearing a full suit or a blazer and colored pants. Ties, bowties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests and watches are sharp compliments to any outfit for men and boys alike. 
How to Prep Your Man- Most men aren’t overly excited to take photos for two hours, because they don’t have an expectation of what’s to come and why it’s so important to you. Take fifteen minutes to educate and empower your guy. Tell him why you chose us and our style of photography. Show him your three favorite sessions that we’ve done, explain why you love them and express to him how much it means to you. Trust us, once he knows it’s important, he’ll light up the camera for you! 

 The goal for coordinating a family is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom. The more we can mix that up, the better. We encourage you to think about planning each outfit with “dominant colors” and “accent colors” in mind. A dominant color is the color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate. When you’re planning each family member’s outfit, if you can aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’s going to look great all together. 

Coordinating the Crew

quick Tip: Start with moms outfit and coordinate from there

For example, if you’re wearing a blush dress, soft blue earrings and nude heels (blush being your dominant color), then he could wear a navy coat with a white button-down and gray pants, paired with brown leather shoes and maybe even a blush pocket square (making navy his dominant color). Your daughter could wear a soft blue top with a white tulle skirt (making a soft blue her dominant color) while your son wears light beige pants with navy suspenders and a white button down (making white his dominant color). Now each person has their own dominant color while still incorporating a few touches of the others that will pull all the looks together. This will break up the color visually and highlight each personality. Most of our moms choose their dress first, and then build the rest of the family’s outfits based around that.

 The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. Feel free to vary the shades of the colors, too. That softer color palette fits beautifully into a natural environment, and can easily be paired in so many different ways. I love warm color tones too, make sure you are bringing your personality to the session as well. 
If you have multiple children, don’t feel like you need to put them all in the same type of outfit. For example, one of your daughters could wear a dress and flats, while the other wears a skirt and boots. One of your sons could wear a bowtie, while the other one wears suspenders. Mixing up the wardrobe pieces will bring a great visual interest to the photos.

Before your session, pack a bag with snacks, water and any small objects (like toys or lollipops) that might help us get their attention when it’s time for them to look at the camera. However, keep them as a surpise for during the session if they are needed.  . If they are old enough to understand you, it’s a good idea to prepare them for what’s to come before the session starts. Explain how much the photos mean to you so they know to be on their best behavior. A lot of families discuss and pick something fun in advance as a treat after the session if they’re good listeners, like an ice cream cone, for example. It also helps if they’re bellies are full and they’ve has some good rest beforehand. Once your prepare them physically and mentally, then feel free to give them (and you!) grace! They’re little, and we know that some days don’t always go as planned. We’ve seen it all and will make sure to get you great photos, regardless of their moods. Our goal is to make this as fun and stress-free as it possibly can be for you and your family!

Some helpful advice about dressing for a Timeless Family Portrait:

Begin with Neutral Fabrics
Start with solid (or lightly textured) outfits in one of the Color Palettes below. Add a minimal splash of color and pattern with the children’s outfits or adult’s accessories (ie: a shirt or blouse under a jacket, a scarf, jewelry, etc).

Don’t Mix Whites and Darks
Unify the group with a “dark-on-dark” mix of clothing, (OR) a mix of “light-on-light” tones.
Do not mix dark and light tops and bottoms. Especially in larger groups, this can create a “cluttered” look. Ideally, no outfit will compete for attention with your beautiful faces.

Avoid Bold Patterns or Logos
Experience shows that strong patterns and stripes can date a portrait quickly. For a timeless and more artistic effort, employ solids and subtly textured fabrics.

To Slenderize
Dark clothing tends to slenderize. Longer sleeves are generally more flattering than short cap sleeves. Wearing the same tone on top and bottom tends to lengthen and slenderize your body visually.

Eye Glasses
People who wear their glasses all day often want to keep them on for their portrait. Glasses, however, can produce glare and reflections covering the eyes. This is not retouchable. Anti-reflective coating helps greatly to reduce the reflections. Otherwise we recommend borrowing a similar pair of empty frames from your optometrist, or going without.

For a Natural Look
Layering with sweaters and jackets adds depth and dimension to your portrait. Layers can also allow you to move more naturally and look more comfortable. Outdoor portraits are best with “outdoor” casual outfits, which allow you to sit on the ground if needed. Consider jean-style pants and long, flowing skirts for this reason.

For a Formal Portrait
For a stunning formal portrait start with a blend of rich, understated colors. Add a little dark-on-dark pattern with accessories. Don’t be afraid to spice it up with a color splash, flattering necklines and jewelry. Layers of darker tones work well to simplify the overall look, while adding depth.

Lay it All Out
Try laying out everyone’s clothing in the room where your portrait will live. Replace outfits and add accessories until you achieve a complimentary and exciting look for that room. After laying out your clothing choices, take a quick snapshot with your phone. This can be helpful when sharing information with other family members and when shopping for the rest of the family.

Finally… Bring Options
We highly recommend bringing extra clothing options for each member of your group. Often we find that changing a top or bottom at the last minute can greatly improve your portrait design.




Extended Family Sessions: What to wear

During the session, I will setup unique and styled compositions for your portraits.  My "unposing" approach to photography will highlight both people and details while still allowing for an authentic experience to be photographed. Resist the urge to say "cheese" with the kids.  We can do one or two posed images but most will be just an enjoyable time with your family as you live it captured by me.  

Session Success

Young kids don't want to be forced to sit and smiles when their nature is to explore.  We can all explore together and keep the kids happy by not forcing poses or smiles.   Believe me when I say that I understand how parents can get frustrated by uncooperative kids.  I want you to know that if you come to the session planning on perfection, we wont get that. However, we will get connection, authenticity, vulnerability, and honesty.  I don't aim for perfection but I capture the way we connect as humans. The way we love and others love us. The way others make us feel. And that feeling always resonates in our images because that is the best parts of our legacy we leave behind.

Sure, beautiful clothes and locations and light are a plus. It’s a great feeling to dress up or show our best sides. But the honesty always shines through most. That for this moment in time, we were here and we had our whole world in our arms. You can manipulate a lot of things in a photograph, but you can’t fake true love. All the beautiful skies, epic locations and perfection can’t trump that.

Despite the transition to social media to share photographs, I still love producing something you can touch.  Nothing is better than putting up the gorgeous family of yours on the walls of your home.  
I offer my clients the highest quality products and prints on the market that will last for generations.  I offer prints, wall art, canvases, and albums.  Pricing can be found in your online gallery once images are delivered.  
I look forward to creating artwork for you to enjoy and share with your friends and family for years to come.  

Portrait Investment

Preserving Portraits

*product images supplied by lab

Select your portrait package
Pay for your session
Read and sign online contract
Confirmation of your session will be sent via email
Outfit guide sent via email
Session questionnaire sent via email
Session time and location will be finalized one week prior to date


The Portrait Experience

Within 30 days after your session, you will receive an email with a link to access you fully edited gallery.
Make your product selections and download your images.
Your custom portraits will be delivered in about two weeks from the time the order was placed.






Arrive ten minutes early and be ready by the scheduled session time
Relax! I'll create the promps and ideas for your adventure for your portrait package while honoring your requests.
View print samples before you head out!

after your session

before your session

During your session

Final Note

I know I just gave you a lot to think about. I created this guide to help make your portrait session experience something you’ll look back fondly on for years and years to come. At the end of the day, though, the location you choose and the outfits you select won’t matter nearly as much as the memories you make together. Your future memories are the most important thing to us, and we want your session to be a time for you to just be yourselves and enjoy it. Have fun together. Laugh a lot. And we’ll take care of the rest!

I can't wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! Feel free to email me any time at hello@annemariesphotography.com.

If you have any questions or would just like to chat, I'm here for you. I hope this guide help give you some ideas to work with.  The purpose is to offer suggestions of what you can do.  Don't feel like you have to do anything in this guide, I want to session to be about you and what you want.  I can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my guide!

THANK YOU!