FAMILY SESSION
A Guide for Melissa Berdis Photography Clients
WELCOME AND THANK YOU!
As a mom, I know first hand that convincing your crew that taking time out of your week or weekend to get dressed and stand in front of a stranger with a camera is not what they are most looking forward to.
So first and foremost I am beyond proud of you for making the first step and THANK YOU for choosing to do your session with me!
I am going to do my very best to make this a great experience for you and your family, which is why I created this session guide for you!
So that you leave your session feeling confident that your investment was worth ever penny!
MAKE IT A MEMORY
Booking your family session can already induce stress trying to get everything together for that perfect picture to hang in your living room. And in this guide I give you tons of tips to make that happen! But above all else, I hope you can make this experience not just another “to-do” item you check off your calendar each year, but make it a memory. A tradition! Something that your family can look back and say, “Remember when…”.
These are the good ol’ days. So lets cherish each other. Give our kids grace.
And make it a memory.
Because at the end of the day, nothing else really matters?
LETS TALK ABOUT STYLE
TIME FOR MOM TO SHINE
Alright mom, its your time to shine and purchase that long, flowy dress you’ve been eyeing from your favorite store! Or are you ready to show off your legs you’ve been working hard on with those perfect pair of skinny jeans! Have I mentioned hats! Y'all, I love brimmed hats! Your family’s outfits will be coordinated to match YOURS. Shocked. I know. As much as you love your kiddos, take this opportunity to make a memory where you feel your best!
Start doing your research now and feel confident and gorgeous for your session with your family!
And don't forget, add a little more makeup than you normally do. A colored lip and extra blush will really look great it pictures!
FAVORITE SHOPS
CHOOSING COLORS
And if you're on a budget, you'd be surprised how many cute, comfy dresses you can find on Amazon and Target (just make sure to read the reviews!).
The colors of your outfits can totally transform how your images ultimately turn out! If you LOVE that light, bright, true to color style that I do, then this section is super important to read! The camera loves shades of soft pinks and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown, navy, and white, but my style totally brings life to fun, brighter colors as well. So darker reds, brighter pinks and yellows can also be lovely too. But be careful we don't get colors so bright that they distract from your lovely faces. So stray from anything too neon, or too dark! Wear the colors that make you feel your best!
DRESSING DAD
I always think a nice pair of khakis or navy pants dresses up any neutral colored button up and could coordinate with almost any color dress you choose for yourself!
-Dress pants
-Khaki pants
-Nice jeans
-Blazer
-Button down shirts
-Polos
-Ties or bowties
-Suspenders, vests, watches
HOW TO PREP YOUR KIDDOS
Here are a few tips to help make yoursession less stressful and more enjoyable with the kiddos!
1. Talk about the shoot and what they can expect! Anxiety is the stealer of joy and the last thing we want is for our kids to be scared or anxious.
2. Show them pictures of past sessions so they know what they're going to be doing!
3. Bribe them with something special after the shoot! (We've all been there ;) Whether its ice cream treat, or a trip to the Target toy aisle!
4. Make sure the time of the session doesn't interfere with nap time! This is huge! If it does, please let me know and we’ll work it out!
5. Try on their clothes ahead of time to make sure they fit and aren’t “itchy” or “too tight”.We want a great picture, but if they aren't comfortable its not going to be fun for anybody. :)
6. FEED them! The last thing we need is for kiddos to get HANGRY in the middle of their session! You can also pack some clean snacks in the car on the way! (water, grapes, peanuts, cheese sticks, crackers)
7. Praise, thank, and be proud. There is nothing that our kiddos want to hear more than how proud we are of them, how great they did, and THANK YOU for doing this for mommy and daddy!
ADD A POP OF PRETTY
Alright friend, do you ever see photos of kiddos with a flower crown, a floppy hat or a beautiful tulle skirt?
It can be as easy as borrowing from a friend or a quick amazon prime purchase to dress up your sweet princess for her photo shoot!
ADD A SLICE OF STUD
Who says that boys aren’t fun to dress up? You can easily add a vest, suspenders, or a bow tie to any simple button up or polo to make him feel less like he's going to church and more like he's modeling for GQ!
THE DO'S AND DON'TS OF A FAMILY SESSION
DO:
-GPS the location
-Show up 5-10 minutes before your session time
-Wear a dress that makes you feel beautiful
-Wear an outfit that covers or hides your trouble areas
-Choose colors like neutrals, earth tones, pastels
-Choose soft colors such as blush, dusty blue, or cream orslightly brighter colors
-Wear solids or non-busy floral patterns
-Add a pop of pretty and a slice of stud
-Prep your kiddos with good naps, snacks, and treats
-Have the kiddos go potty before you leave
get excited and have fun!!
DON'T:
-Bring a ton of props- the focus should be on YOU.
-Bright neon colors or colors that distract from your lovely faces
-Wear outfits that cling to or exposes your trouble areas
-Underdress (t-shirts, old tennis shoes)
-Forget to match accessories to each outfit.
-Stress! I will do ALL the work!
ONE FINAL NOTE
Alright friend, I know I just gave you a lot to think about!
But I created this guide to take the guess work out of planning your outfits and to help you look your absolute best!
I really want to make this experience something that you all enjoy and can look back on as a sweet memory together!
At the end of the day, the outfits you choose and the accessories you select won’t matter nearly as much as your love for each other and the time you spent together.
Make this a memory. A tradition. Have fun together. Laugh a lot.
And I’ll take care of the rest!
DON'T FORGET
You’re already dressed up, so you make this an event and go out to eat together as a family to reward yourself for your hard work!
Or drop the kids off and make it a date night!