Can We Bring Our Dog/Pet to the Shoot? How Would That Work?

Absolutely! I LOVE pets (I have an adorable little Maltipoo myself) and don’t mind working with some playful jumping, slobbering, or whatever else at all. As you play and naturally walk or engage with your pet, I’ll still be finding those cute, candid shots of you guys, so there is no need to worry about your pet being too crazy or energetic to pose. That being said, if you do have a larger or more energetic dog and specifically are wanting a couple shots without them, I would suggest bringing along a friend to help “wrangle” your pet for those shots. You are always totally free to bring alone as many friends or “support buddies” for your shoot as you like!

What Do I Do if I Want to Change Outfits During the Shoot?

Sometimes there will be a public restroom available to us during a shoot, but that’s not always a reliable option because of different park schedules and closures. More often than not, my clients simply opt to use their own vehicle to change or swap out outfits and that is totally fine! However, if you’re not comfortable with that, that is also totally ok and we can definitely chat about getting a special “pop-up” tent for the shoot just like the kind models often use. 

What Are Some Ideas for Fun, Candid Activities That Make for Great Photos?

I believe that doing some kind of fun activity rather than just “posing” makes for the best images! The following list is by no means meant to be exhaustive, but rather a springboard to get us brainstorming about things that would be most fun and meaningful to you as an individual, couple, or family.

Some ideas include picnicking, reading a book, playing a game, making a craft, hiking or exploring along a trail, biking, coloring or painting, pumpkin carving, strumming a guitar, just hanging out and blowing bubbles, picking flowers or playing in a garden, enjoying a cute dessert like popsicles, ice cream, coffee, or whatever your go to is, or playing with your pet.

Do You Have Location Suggestions?

Yes! There are several park locations in the Bucks County area I love to use again and again because they offer a lot of really helpful factors for shoots — open space, variety in the background, not overly crowded, easy to get to, etc, and of course, they’re absolutely beautiful, whether that’s with lush green in the summer or gorgeous foliage in the fall! We’ll chat on our consult call about a location that would work best for you. 

Even your own backyard can be fantastic for photos as well — kids and/or pets get to relax and play  in their own “space” they’re familiar with (which can be awesome for that super candid feel), and it’s easy for everybody to change outfits/get to a bathroom/grab a snack if needed. 

If you already have a specific location in mind that’s awesome as well and I can’t wait to hear about it! 

Do You Have a Photography Studio? What Do We Do About Cold Weather or Rain?

I do not currently use a photography studio, so all shoots would either need to take place outside or at your own home if you prefer. The warmer spring, summer, and fall months are definitely my preferred time to shoot (if possible!) because all that lush green color and plentiful sunlight shows up absolutely beautifully on film.

For very cold weather during the winter months, I would recommend a more relaxed session at home, such as in your own living room or kitchen. Reading with the kids on the couch, making cookies or sipping coffee at the counter — these can make for such cute moments and photos! For the very best images, I would suggest we find the brightest area of your home where windows let in a lot of natural light, and I may need to bring in an extra light or two because film requires a lot of light to look its best!

If it’s warm enough outside but raining, typically most clients like to reschedule the shoot, but if you’re down for some moody, carefree images running around in the rain, let’s do it! I would bring an assistant along to help me wrangle an umbrella over my camera while I chase you guys around.

I’m Thinking of Getting Prints Made For My Walls. How Will That Work With Your Film Photos?

35mm film photos print very nicely with most standard print sizes. However, if you are looking for very large prints for your walls they might not be the best option for you. They print very nicely up to about 16x20 but can begin to show more grain and quality loss larger than that. Also, it’s good to keep in mind that even high quality film photos will always have a slightly more “grainy” or “vintage” look and may not appear quite as “crisp” as a digital print. 

What Should I Wear? Do You Have Outfit Suggestions?

Definitely! There are a couple of general tips listed below I always give about dressing for shoots, and I’m always happy to send you over personalized ideas or inspo images if you’re interested. At the end of the day, though, you should wear what you really want to wear and what makes you feel comfortable, so I always tell clients to “take it or leave it” when it comes to these tips!

1. Wording, graphics, patterns, stripes, or saturated chrome colors on clothing tend to draw the eye away from the star of the show - you! - so it is best to minimize these or use them as a singular color pop in an otherwise neutral outfit. 

2. Using primarily neutral or pale pastel colors will be your best friend for looking awesome in any photoshoot environment. Greens, browns, whites, pinks, earth tones - these play nice with the natural color palette of most locations and focus the attention on you. 

3. Materials like denim, linen, or wool show up beautifully on camera and can add to that classic, “vintage” feel. 

4. Extra accessories like hats, bags, overcoats, shoes, etc. are always great because they give us options for posing and add some fun visual interest to the photos. 

5. For couples or families, try wearing a mix of colors within the same complimentary color palette - i.e. everybody in a range of greens, tans, and white - rather than exactly matching outfits.