Let's Get Started!
- Contact me here to get the ball rolling.
- I will send you my questionnaire so I can provide the best possible experience for you.
- We will pick a date.
- I will send you a contract and an invoice for a deposit.
- A couple days before your session, I will check in to see if you have any questions and to look at the weather forecast. If the weather looks good, we are all set!
- The day of your portrait session, you will receive an invoice for the balance.
- Relax, have fun, be yourself.
What Should I Expect?
For a family portrait session, we will spend about an hour to an hour and a half together. I will start with whatever pose is most important to you (usually this is an all-family shot). We will then do smaller groups, like one parent with the child(ren), just children, just parents, and each child alone. By now everyone is relaxed, and I will take some “playing” shots. I will bring everyone back together at the end, just to make sure we get lots of variety with the all-family shot. I tend to keep things relaxed and playful. If your children are active, I make it work! I am not judging anyone’s behavior or parenting skills. Trust me! I have my own kids, and I know family photos can be high stress. You never have to worry about what’s going through my head. I let active kids take the lead, and I always get great photographs.
Carey photographing a kiddo in the shade of a tree at Mellon Park
What Should We Wear?
Wear something you would feel comfortable sitting and squatting in, which might mean avoiding short skirts. Avoid busy patterns, large logos, or neon colors. Avoid too many patterns within your family. Pick a few different colors and select outfits within that color palate. Not a bad idea to wear reasonable shoes, as we might be walking through grass. I suggest picking an outfit for yourself (yes, you!) and plan everyone else's clothes around you. You get to win!
Family-of-three with a backdrop of autumn colors at Mellon Park
When Should We Do This Thing?
We want to pick a time that strikes a balance between having good light and ensuring that kiddos are fed and well rested. For outdoor sessions, generally the two hours before sunset or the hour after sunrise is best. For in-home sessions, depending on the position of your house, mid-morning or mid-afternoon works best.
Brother and twin sisters bathed in golden sunlight at Highland Park
Where Should We Go?
Some of my favorite places to photograph include Mellon Park, The Frick Pittsburgh, The Frick Environmental Center, and Highland Park. A lot of families choose to have their family portrait session in their own front or back yard or inside their home. I am happy to make other suggestions based on your location and the feel you’d like your photographs to have.
What Happens Next?
After about a week, you will receive an email with a link to your online gallery. You will have the ability to download your entire gallery of high-resolution images, in both color and black-and-white.
How Much?
The fee for a family portrait session includes my time and talent and all of the high-resolution retouched digital images. No need to make hard decisions about which images to select. You, my friend, get them all. I do not include any prints, but I have a print store built into my website which makes ordering professional-quality prints really easy. I also offer beautiful custom designed albums, if you are interested in displaying your images in a long-lasting, compact way.
FAQ
What if it rains?
We pick a new date! I usually only schedule one session per week, so I will have lots of flexibility to reschedule, and I will make rescheduling your shoot a priority.
What should I bring?
Feel free to bring a favorite toy, book, or stuffed animal. If you want some fun action shots, you could bring a ball, kite, or bubbles. I often have families sitting on a blanket in the grass. I carry a navy blue blanket with me we can use, but if you would like a different blanket in the photos, feel free to bring one. None of these things are required, but just ideas to personalize your session.