Preparing for your Family session
Hey There!
First of all, let me just say THANK YOU for choosing me as your newborn photographer! It means the world to me to capture these precious moments for you so that you can always remember the sweet newborn stage and your first few weeks with your newest little one.
There is a lot to think about when it comes to planning a session, so I've created this guide to help you get the most out of your photos. By the time you've read through this guide you'll have all of your questions answered and feel more than ready and prepared for your session. Then I'll take care of the rest. I’ll cover what to wear, whether to incorporate your pets & how to manage them, all things kids and more! I can't wait to get you in front of my camera!
MPP Client Closet
My client closet is available for mamas for all sessions. Check out my client closet here. You can choose 2-3 dresses for me to bring to your session to try on. All of my dresses are specifically chosen to be super flattering for pregnancy, postpartum, and all the time, even if you had your babies years ago.
And for styling the whole family, check out my outfit guide here.
What are my family sessions like?
Get ready to laugh, play, and create real family memories that you will look back on and cherish! I tailor my prompts and poses to each specific family in order to capture your personalities, your love, your connection, and the joy that you share as a family.
What do you want to remember about this season in your family’s story? The fact that your little boy still sucks his thumb? Your little girl’s adorable freckles? The fact that you can still carry two babies on your hips? The joy in the midst of chaos? Let me capture your unique family in an authentic way!
Moms, kids, and even dads have SO much fun during my family sessions. The dads always tell me at the end of the session that they are surprised at how much they loved it, and they can’t wait for the next photo session! My goal is to use fun prompts to create authentic family moments. I love candid photos filled with genuine connection. Your family will think of this session as a really fun family memory where they all got to play and love on each other.
Don’t worry, I take some good looking and smiling at the camera photos, too! I aim to create a gallery filled with tons of variety for you to choose from!
Pets
Dogs are special part of the family, which is why I love when families choose to incorporate pets into their session. I recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and then having a friend take him/her somewhere else. We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold him or her in between shots.
If you’re going to incorporate a pet, I recommend exercising your pet before the session and having your pet's favorite toy or treats handy! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot and have a lint roller nearby to keep your clothes looking fresh.
Prepping the family
Prepping the Little Ones
Snacks, treats, and lots of smiles. Before your session, grab a little bag with snacks, water, and any small, neutral-colored toys that your child loves (just in case the toy ends up in your photos). Those may help to get their attention when it's time for them to look at the camera. I also suggest having your kids avoid screen time the morning of your session.
Have Fun & Relax!
Get ready for laughs, games and snuggles. Snuggles and giggles are where we get the best shots. A lot of families discuss and choose something fun in advance as a treat or reward for a job well done, like an ice cream date or bowling adventure. They're little, and I know things don't always go as planned. Give them (and yourself!) lots of grace. I've seen it all and will make sure to deliver some beautiful photos, regardless of their moods. My goal is to make this as fun and stress-free as it possibly can be for you and your family!
Bribes
If you want to bribe your kids, no judgement at all! I’m a mama too, and I totally get it! One thing I’ve found over the years with kids is that when you bribe them with doing or getting something AFTER the session, it usually has the opposite effect that you’re wanting. It makes them want to be done with the photos and be “over” the session sooner. Bribes that you bring with you work much better. Toddlers usually don’t understand the concept of delayed gratification, so they need immediate rewards. Even just praise and affirmation is a great reward for toddlers, but a good edible reward is mini marshmallows. They are small and white, and won’t be visible or distracting in the photos.
How to Talk to your kids for our session
Talk to your kids beforehand about what we will be doing! I’ve found with my own daughter that talking her through what the session will be like beforehand really helps with making her feel excited about the process instead of scared. Kids pick up on our emotions, so make sure to act super excited about the photos! If you’re stressed, the kids will pick up on it. I promise to make the session as fun as possible for everyone! Talk to the kids about my camera and how fun it will be to hug and kiss and play together! If you’re excited, they will be too!
When to expect your photos
Within 1-2 weeks of your session, I will email your full gallery to you. From there, you’ll be able to choose your favorites for immediate download and order prints and albums if you’d like!
Thank You!
I'm so thankful that you chose me to be your family photographer! It means the world to me to get to capture your family right now in this stage of life for you to treasure forever. Please email me if you need any extra help! In the meantime, let's hang out on social media!
Instagram: Instagram.com/michellepoteetphotography