Pre-Session Prep
i suggest you book your maternity session between 28-34 weeks. When you have a good belly going but you aren't at the stage of everything being swollen. Things to think of before your session location & outfits.
Hair, Nails, BRING YOUR WEDDING RING...if you have one and if it still fits you :)
I suggest you arrive 5-10 minutes early to find a spot to park. Please remove anything on your wrists that don't match your outfit. (Fitbits, Apple Watches, hair elastics etc.). Cell phones out of your pockets or leave it in the car.
A gentle reminder your session time is your start time not your arrival time.
Where to meet/poor weather:
Because Ottawa is unpredictable with the weather, I only reschedule session if severe weather is predicted. Sessions are only rescheduled under severe weather. If there is more than 80% chance of a lot of rain I will reschedule the session. I will text around 1.5-2 hours before your session, letting you know if we are going ahead with the session or if we will need to reschedule. A little bit of rain can clear up quickly and make for a fun photo shoot.
Things to remember:
Please ensure you have researched the location and you are familiar with where you are going!
Mini sessions are back-to-back, meaning everyone’s start time relies on the people ahead of them! If you are running late, it will cut into your session time.
Always be touching, be sure that you’re always touching someone. Whether it's a hug or snuggle, or just a tender hand on the shoulder. Make contact with your family. This shows connections and love.
Have fun! This is so important that you and your kids enjoy this experience because it will show up in your photos if someone just isn't having it. Relax and love on your family.
Photos will include the whole family unit, individual shots of children, children in a group on their own, parents on their own, etc.
Don't stress: if your kids are nervous or acting a little wild, that's totally OK! I embrace children in every aspect of them. We're focusing on moments, so a shy kiddo can get extra snuggles and a wild one can have extra run time. It's all about your family in this season! Remember that.
LAST, BUT NOT LEAST…
Be in the moment and don’t stress about the result. We will get some beautiful photos; you do not need to worry. You will be more emotionally attached to the images if you have FUN while taking them. If you are worried about how your children are smiling, or if Dad is irritated (they usually are, and it’s ok!), then you will think of that every time you look at your photos. Relax, enjoy the time spent with your family, and I will catch some amazing moments for you that you can cherish forever!
Hopefully this has been helpful, and please don't hesitate to message me if you require more help.