Making the portrait a family heir loom:

Ever said, what should I wear when thinking of your photoshoot? Well here are a few do's and dont's for your session. These aren't set in stone rules - but simple pointers on how to get the best of your session time. These *rules* generally apply to your standard portrait session. If your looking for something edgier - then ignore them, as the world is your canvas!

Some Things to Do:

• Think where you would like to hand your portrait. Deciding on the location first makes it beneficial as we can decide whether the shots should be oriented towards a horizontal layout or a vertical one.

• When doing group/family shots - try to coordinate the clothing (everyone in blue jeans and a white shirt for example.)

• Between *flashes* - slightly adjust your facial expression (more smile/less smile etc.) Also slightly adjust your head position - but avoid major changes unless instructed. And be ready to hold a certain pose - as we may find that ideal *shot*.

• Make sure you've gotten some rest - showing up stressed out or extremely tired will be noticeable later.

• Relax and enjoy yourself - getting stressed out or being nervous won't help anything.

Some Things to Avoid:

• Sleeveless clothing in head & shoulders type shots - it draws too much attention away from the face/eyes.

• Bright colours or strong patterns as again, it draws too much attention away from the face/eyes.

• Shorts in group shots - as all that skin competes for the viewers attention.

• Ladies, heavy makeup - especially if applied to only the face will show in the finish print; ie. you have a tan on your face, but your neck is lighter.

• Clothing that makes you feel uncomfortable - if your not happy wearing it, don't: cause your face will show it!

• Standing sqaure to the camera's lens. Very rarely is flattering for anyone - think driver's license photo's and the horror that those can be.

Suggestions on making your Maternity shoot Successful:

First off, I would like to stress that this is your special photo session (which helps to celebrate an incredible time in your life) and you are in control of what we shoot. I want the session to be a fun experience and would never push someone outside of their personal comfort zone. Everything written below is simply a guide for you to help make decisions on what you want done during our time together. First will be some clothing ideas and then some general tips/reminders:


• Avoid wearing anything tight for 2 - 3 hours prior to our shoot. The marks left on your body are difficult to hide and really distract from a beautiful image!

• Black pants/outfits ~ as many of the darker poses that fade into shadows work best with darker fabrics.

• A fitted non-maternity top - as the the goal is to have something that hugs your shoulders and chest, but showcases your beautiful belly.

• Your pre-pregnancy jeans (unbuttoned / unzipped) - as this will also help showcase your beautiful belly.

• For a more artsy shoot - a long silk scarf that can be draped over your breasts and behind your back. A tube top or any smooth bra can help if you're more modest.

• A button down shirt (your own or one of your significant other's shirts). You can button the top part over your breasts and leave the bottom part unbuttoned over your belly. Or you can leave the whole thing unbuttoned, revealing the curve of your breasts. This can be done either braless or with a sexy bra.

• Baby booties or a stuffed toy you have purchased for the baby - actually any "to be first worn" items work well.

• Keep in mind that your hands will be prominent in some of these poses. Natural looking nails, or a french manicure photograph much better than dark nail polish colors (draws too much attention away from your belly).

• Your other children or husband - coordinate your clothing with your husband’s or child’s clothing (example: everyone in jeans and black shirts).

Tips for staging your home:

To help make sure your house is a perfect "10" when we come to your home to photograph it, here are a number of simple things you can do to ensure your house is at it's best. If you have any questions on how to best stage your home, speak with your agent or contact us and we can arrange to visit your home prior to the shoot. Also, late afternoon or evening shoot's generally make the house appear regal - so try to plan for those times.


• Check your house's curb appeal. This is where buyers make their first impressions, so make sure the impression they get is a good one. Remove any clutter in your yard, repair cracked or uneven driveways and walkways, tend to your lawn and flower beds, and ensure your windows, walls and doors are clean and freshly painted.

• Inside, greet homebuyers with a clean, clutter-free and well-lit interior, preferably with a fresh coat of paint on the walls and trim.

• Make sure all lights work - as an odd light out will show up in most pictures. Also try to make sure all bulbs in the home or a given area are of the same colour temperature (you will see things advertised like: "cool white", "warm", "daylight" etc.) This will help to keep colours of your painted wall's looking the same from shot to shot.

• In the living and family rooms, bedrooms and den, keep furniture and family memorabilia to a minimum, and ensure that there is an easy flow of traffic through each room. This helps the buyer imagine the home as their's - not your's.

• In kitchen and bathrooms, clean all appliances, sinks, tubs, and toilets; repair any leaks or drips, and clean cupboard handles. Glass doored showers need to be streak/soap scum free to show up best in the photo's.

• If you have done custom work in the garage, get rid of any broken, useless or discarded items, and use cleaning solutions to remove any oil stains from the floor.

• Finally, speak to your agent if there are any shots you really want before we show up. This helps to plan out what will and won't be shot.