So, you have a family session coming up!
… and you’re probably starting to wonder “what do I wear” “where should we go” “how does it work” “how do we prepare”
Don’t worry. This page will help you prep for your session and make sure you get the full experience from start to finish.
Let’s start with the first question, where should we go?
There’s a few options when it comes to location ideas based on the season of your session. We can either go outdoors (in the Hamilton area), at your place (again, in the Hamilton area), or my cozy studio! Here’s what the different options could look like.
my studio
I have a beautiful studio space located in Hamilton. We are constantly changing the decor, getting new props/set-ups, and changing the vibes. I’d say it always has a modern/boho/earthy/loft vibe.
The studio is free to use - HOWEVER please note… I use my studio PRIMARILY for my boudoir photography. There will be boudoir photos on the walls, and props we photograph with that are NOT suitable for kids. As the space is set up to be the home of my boudoir sessions, the boudoir decor remains up all year. If you have a newborn that doesn’t quite understand or see things yet - you’ll be fine. Smaller children, however, will be very inquisitive.
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I have a second studio space in Hamilton that is a little more on the safer side of things. No boudoir images, and primarily used for families. It is a smaller space, as shown in the image on the left. This space is ONLY available for Thursday & Friday sessions.
outdoors/nature
Conservation areas & forest green space are great options for nature vibes. There’s tons of these in the Hamilton area, we can give you some great options if you just want forest/trees.
DUNDURN CASTLE
One of my favourite spots in Hamilton for family sessions! You get the best of both worlds - nature and architecture. The white walls of the castle are beautiful to photograph against as well. There’s SO much to work with here.
at your home
At home sessions are beautiful! Especially for newborn sessions. We really get to document YOU as a family - exactly as you are! Get comfy, let’s get those candid moments.
at a studio of your choice
If you have a specific studio in mind (there are some really nice ones in the Toronto area.. check out Mintroom or LOVT), we can definitely go to a studio space for your session! Please note, you will be responsible for covering the costs of the studio rental.
okay, now what do we wear?
I’ve put together some Pinterest inspiration boards to help you with that. A good rule of thumb is to wear neutral tones, and stay away from BRIGHT neon colours. Here’s some do’s and don’ts, and the links to the Pinterest boards for more visual inspo.
DO
Wear similar outfits, but not IDENTICAL. Try to coordinate your outfits by colour scheme, rather than the same shirt/pants for everyone. For example, if you’re doing a brown/beige theme… mix up the pants/shirts. Have someone wear khaki’s and others maybe a white dress or opposite colour pants. Kids can be mix-matched but stay within the same colour scheme
Brown, beige, white, cream, mustard yellow, army green, blue, soft pink,
Wear something comfortable! You’ll be moving and playing with the little guys, so you want something that you can move in
Think about the colour scheme of your home. Will these be printed for you walls? Make sure your outfit colours will match with your decor :)
don’t
Don’t wear neon coloured outfits. They don’t photograph well. (Hot pink, lime green, bright vibrant yellow etc)
Don’t wear clothing with big logos, or any logos at all. You want the focus to be on YOU, not the adidas logo :)
If you’re wearing fancier outfits, don’t wear casual shoes that are TOO casual. Men, I’m looking at you. Don’t wear Nike runners with dress pants. Not a vibe. Try to think about your shoes!
Again, don’t wear identical outfits. It looks MUCH better when your outfits compliment each other, not match.
PINTEREST LINKS
frequently asked questions
Do we get all of the images from our session?
It depends on your package. If your package has a set number of images, you’ll be asked to choose your favourites and it will allow you to download that set number for free. You’re welcome to purchase additional photos afterwards, OR the entire gallery as a whole. This really depends on what options you chose upon booking, and what type of session you have. If you’re confused with this part, shoot me an email.
Can we bring pets?
Yes! If you’re bringing a pet, I’d recommend bringing one person to watch them while we do the rest of the shoot. Unless you want them in EVERY single photo, it’s a good idea to bring a friend or family member to watch them while they aren’t in the photo.
What should we bring to the session?
For starters, if you’re making your final payment in cash - bring the cash with you! Just make sure to have the exact amount on hand as I don’t usually carry change. If you have little guys, bring some snacks or toys they like to entice them to smile. Sometimes we need to pull all the stops to get them to cooperate. So, bring anything you think would distract them or entice them to smile. Snacks are always a great move. You’re welcome to bring an additional outfit to change into, however this will count as session time. As we only have limited time, you don’t want to spend too much of that time changing outfits. Especially with toddlers, this can be a recipe for disaster haha. I’d recommend sticking to one outfit, but if we can squeeze both in I don’t mind. Also, it doesn’t hurt to bring some spare backup outfits anyways. Stains, spills, and baby throw up happen WAY more often than not - haha!
How long will it take to receive our images?
You should get your final gallery of images within 6 weeks of our session. I’ve decided to eliminate the sneak peeks to speed up the editing process as a whole, so I’ll be sending the entire gallery as quickly as possible for you to make your selections :)
Do you offer print products?
Yes! I offer albums, wall art, prints, USB Heirloom boxes and tonnnns of other products right through your gallery! It’s linked to a professional printing lab based out of Toronto, all you have to do is order online and it ships right to your doorstep! One less thing you have to worry about :)
Our session is with your associate photographer, will you still be editing them?
Yes! I’ll be the one editing all of the photos to keep them in line with my signature editing style. My associate will hand over the RAW images, and I’ll take it from there :)
Does your associate photographer have a portfolio we can view?
We’re working on it! I only want to showcase work he has done for me, as it is a representation of me & my brand, and what you’ll be getting. He has LOTS of photography experience, but edits in a very different way. I don’t want to confuse you if you don’t have a photography background as it will look much different than my images do. We’re working on putting together a KMP portfolio for him soon :)
Who is the associate photographer?
His name is Adam, and you’ll LOVE HIM! He’s very friendly, great with kids, and a dad/husband in his own life. He has plenty of experience with the little ones, and knows how to get the kiddos to smile in photos! I promise he’ll keep you laughing the whole time - and he will do ANYTHING to get the shot. :) Adam comes with 15+ years of photography experience and we are so happy to have him join the team. He’s been extensively trained by Katie, and we trust him fully!
If you have any other questions, feel free to reach out in the meantime!
Whether your session is with me, or one of my associates - we’re so excited to work with you and can’t wait to see you soon!!
- Katie & Team