Your session with Ellen Wagner Photo is just around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited! I know how busy our lives are , which is why I always strive to make your photo experience as stress free and enjoyable as possible.
I have put together this guide to help you prepare and know what to expect during your upcoming session, so grab a cup of coffee or tea and read on ...
- Ellen
One thing I've learned working with families is that our experience of our children is different from what others experience.
For a totally fictional, definitely didn't happen example... if you’re at Target with your four year old and she starts yelling about wanting the biggest, best Barbie Dream house the toy aisle contains, you probably think she’s irritating other customers more than she actually is. Most likely, those other customers just see a cute (slightly loud) four year old with a passionate love for all things Barbie.
The same holds true for photo sessions.
Your child is in a new element and I'm a stranger holding a big camera in front of their face. They’re likely not going to entirely be themselves - at least not at first. They may show off more than usual or suddenly become shy.
I'm a mama too, I've seen it all, and I promise no matter how crazy it feels, you and your family cannot throw me for a loop!
My priority is documenting your family in a way that feels comfortable and without pressure. Just as with my own children, I will not force your child to do anything they don't want to do or aren't comfortable doing. When you notice me chatting with your little one, just interact with them as you normally would - be a calm, familiar presence, and allow me to capture the moment.
Managing
little ones
The best thing you can do for your kids is to go with the flow and stay positive.
I know it feels crazy, but no matter what is happening, try to stay relaxed and with a pleasant look on your face.
Nuzzle into your partner as the kids run around.
Close your eyes and hug that sweet two year old tight.
We are so accustomed to moving fast, take a moment and let everything slow down.
The more you relax and have fun with things, the more likely your littles will follow your lead. Often those chaotic moments feel out of control, but photograph beautifully.
You might remember me mentioning bringing Smarties or mini-marshmallows to your session. As long as you've given me the okay, I will speak to your child directly, and offer a treat for following instructions.
I want you as the parent to know, your kiddo is going to get the treat either way and I will never withhold from them or praise one child over another for behavior during a session.
A word about treats:
This is a season when you might not quite feel like yourself. I have a client closet full of flattering, comfortable dresses that I selected specifically with my maternity and post-partum clients in mind.
I will drop off a few dress options you're interested in at your doorstep the day before your in-home session. No need to shop online, do any laundry, or stress about what to wear.
I've also got some organic cotton bodysuits in a soft color palette for baby if you'd like to borrow for your little one. Older siblings? I've got options for them too - little boy and girl outfits that coordinate well with mama options for kids under 5T.
Dear Mama,
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Hi. I'm your photographer, Ellen, and I am a closet messy person.
Now that I've cleared the air, PLEASE do not feel the need to make your house look like an Instagram photo. It is helpful if any spots that you want photos taken are relatively clear of clutter, but I've been known to push stuff out of frame and just keep living life. That really is just this season of life, and honestly, there are many days I miss it. Do what you can, and I'll take care of the rest.
Preparing your home
Feed and change your little one’s diaper right before I'm scheduled to arrive. This helps ensure that they are ready to go as soon as I arrive. Since babies tummies are so tiny, its likely they will need a feeding and change while I'm there.
Please remember - I'm a mama to little ones too. I. Get. It. No amount of baby fussiness, toddler meltdowns, or exhausted mama tears will scare me away or make me uncomfortable. I'm here to support you and will do whatever I can to make this experience enjoyable for you.
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Preparing your Baby
Is there a brand new family member joining us for the session? Here are a few tips to make sure things go smoothly.
Newborns
a note about
Shop the Client Closet
Sunset & Bedtimes
In the warmer months, evening sessions would ideally be scheduled around what is your child's normal bedtime.
As much as I love a good bedtime routine, those summer evening sessions are worth throwing off your schedule a bit. I've found taking some family nap/rest time when we've got a later session helps the kids get through the session without meltdowns.
PS - are your kids early birds like mine? Sunrise sessions held in the first few hours of the day are a great alternative to sunset sessions! If the idea of keeping your kiddos up past bedtime makes you nervous, let's chat about meeting at 7:30 or 8 am instead!
I know that some family members just happen to be furry, and I love when families choose to incorporate pets into their session. Please keep in mind that bringing a pet along means your session will need to held at pet friendly location (typically Kiesel Park or Ag Heritage Park) or your personal property.
Please make sure to let me know if you're going to bring your pet with you! I recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and having a friend to take them home or sit with your pup on a leash while we do photos without your furry friend.
It is best to plan on arriving to the session location early so your pet can get oriented before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats. Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
Bringing the
family pet
If your session takes place in the fall or you plan on using photos from the session for Christmas cards, it can be tempting to dress in Christmas colors or full-family matching outfits.
What you wear for your session is the one of the important things to determine the final look and feel of your photos. Red and green would make a perfect Christmas card photo, but will it look as perfect framed in your home?
I always approach a session with the intention of creating beautiful images that will hang on the walls of your home as family art.
Keeping this in mind, ask yourself: Will these photos look timeless displayed on our walls in ten years? If the answer is yes, we are on the right track :)
Styling
things to keep in mind:
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I offer clothing from my client wardrobe for convenience, but if you feel better in something else, please do not feel any pressure to wear something that isn't your style.
If you feel good, you will look good!
Choose clothing that gives you freedom of movement and won’t require a lot of maintenance throughout your session.
Always feel comfortable
tip #1
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Choose a color palette you love and go from there. I recommend that you start by selecting a base of 2-3 colors and carry those through the outfits so that everything "goes" together but doesn't match.
Mix neutrals with some accent colors. Neutral colors create a soft and elegant style, and will give your images a timeless feel.
Coordinate your outfits
tip #2
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Layers are a great way to add a pop of color or a variety to your outfit. Consider throwing on a cardigan or jacket over a dress. For the boys, think about adding a jacket.
Textures are wonderful too! Think textured fabrics like wool and linen, and details like ruffles and lace.
Patterns can make your wardrobe look less boring. When choosing patterns, look for small simple patterns in soft or neutral colors. This plaid was a perfect choice for this fall session!
Layers, Patterns, and Texture
tip #3
A few styling tips for your session
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When picking outfits we recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if Dad is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, the Mom may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.
A good rule of thumb: pick 3 or so colors and spread them throughout the family. Don't be afraid to mix a few subtle patterns (gingham, florals, plaid) or textures (linen, knits).
And always keep the location in mind. If we're shooting in a green field, light green dresses might blend in too much with the surroundings.
Choosing Outfits
for everyone
My advice is to start with mom first (or whoever is the more 'difficult' person to dress). Interestingly, I find this person is commonly the one who booked the photos ;)
Find something that makes you feel unique and beautiful, then coordinate everyone else after that. When you are choosing your outfit, try mixing it up with textures : I love linen, chiffon, knits, and long dresses or skirts to get some movement in the photos. Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin.
Full session clients - Don't forget, borrowing a dress from my client closet is always an option!
Wardrobe Tips
for the ladies
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Morning Lavender
Anthropologie
Free People
Pink Blush (Maternity)
Vici Dolls
Baltic Born Clothing
Madewell
Favorite Shops
Nothing Fits But
Hill House Home
Rachel Pally
Christy Dawn
Rylee & Cru
Shopbop
for the ladies
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My favorite look for the guys is a button down, either in a soft-toned solid or a gingham/small plaid pattern, a solid tee for warmer days (these from Target are fantastic), paired with chinos - gray or brown tones - or denim.
Adding a jacket of some kind helps add some interest, but totally not necessary!
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin.
Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months.
Wardrobe
for the guys
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Wardrobe
for the gents
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Old Navy
J. Crew
Nordstrom
Cuts
H&M
Madewell
Target - Goodfellow
Everlane
Banana Republic
Amazon - GoodThreads
Bonobos
Abercrombie
Jamie Kay
Kate Quinn
Zara Kids
Quincy Mae
Rylee & Cru
Noralee
Target - Cat & Jack, Art Class, Q by Quincy Mae
Crew Cuts by J Crew
Alice & Ames
Little Planet by Carters
Favorite Shops
for the kids
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No worries if you aren't comfortable in front of the camera - spoiler alert, MOST PEOPLE AREN'T! I spend a lot of time behind the camera, and feel like an awkward turtle as soon as the camera gets turned on me!
I generally recommend to keep a pleasant look on your face, no matter what is going on (yes, even when your kid insists on doing cartwheels instead of holding your hand), and try to always be touching someone. I know that sounds strange, but one of my favorite things to document is the connection between individuals, and whether it a gentle hand hold, a kiss on the cheek, or a scratch behind your dog's ears, that touch conveys a lot of emotion that makes for a powerful image!
I will give you some general directions - "casually walk to that pink bush while I follow behind" or "sway back and forth like you're dancing" (yes, sometimes I bring music too!). Do whatever feels natural and focus on your partner and family unless I specifically ask you to look at me.
If I'm not talking or giving your specific direction, that means you look AH-MAZING, and I'm in the zone!
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
Yes, the digital files come with a print release and allows you to print the images at your lab of choice.
If you do this, I recommend making sure that the printer does not color correct the images (many automatically do this.)
I also recommend looking for a high quality printer. While 10 cent prints sound great in theory, the cheaper printing quality often won’t do your images justice. Paper quality, color correction and a handful of other factors play a big role in the way your prints turn out.
This is one of the reasons why I offer artwork credit in my full session packages and multiple print options from my professional print lab partners to my clients. You've invested in these images, I promise it is worth investing in a high-quality printer to have your work beautifully displayed in your home.
A:
Can I print the images on my own?
q:
While I don’t guarantee an exact number of images, I will make sure I capture your family thoroughly.
Most families should expect to receive at least 30 edited images in their gallery following their session.
A:
How many images will I receive?
q:
I guarantee that your images will remain in an online gallery for at least 30 days. While your galleries may stay up longer than that, I cannot guarantee it.
Once your gallery has been delivered, I highly recommend downloading all high resolution images to several devices. Consider investing in a portable, waterproof external hard drive.
A:
How long will I have access to the images?
q:
Your gallery of digital images from your session will be ready within two weeks (14 days) of your session.
Due to the lab processing time of film, sessions where film images were shot may take up to four weeks.
A:
When will I receive my images?
q:
Frequent
Questions
You are absolutely welcome to share images on social media. To ensure that my work is properly represented, I ask that you do not edit or apply a filter to the image.
I also appreciate image credits and tags as it is helpful to grow my business! I'm @ellenwagnerphoto on IG and Facebook.
A:
Can I share the images on social media?
q:
By default, the creators of images always own the rights to the images.
However I give you a release to use, print and share your images (see the print release portion of your session agreement).
A:
Do I own the rights to the images?
q:
I typically plan about 60 minutes for sessions. While I likely don’t need to be shooting this entire time, this does give us the flexibility for location changes, rowdy kids and time to warm up.
A:
How long should we plan for the session to take?
q:
I do light retouching on all images.
This means that if there are any glaring objects that should be removed (such as a bump from the tumble your toddler took that morning, apple watch tan lines, obvious blemishes) I'll remove it.
Otherwise, I let your family's natural beauty shine :)
A:
Will you retouch our images?
q:
As soon as possible after your session is complete, I'll back up your images and get to work on editing. Unless I've indicated otherwise, you can expect your gallery link to land in your inbox within 2 weeks (14 days).
Reminder - film photography from your session may take a bit longer due to lab processing times and may be uploaded separately to your gallery.
If film is used at your session, all usable images will be gifted to you in addition to the images included in your session fee as I explore how to integrate this medium into my client experience.
Your Images
When to Expect
I'm a big believer that images aren’t meant to solely exist in a device. One day, you'll have forgotten your Instagram password, your phone will be replaced, and images that you can physically hold in your hand will be the best way to remember those precious moments we captured.
I bet your family still has images from your grandparents (maybe even great grandparents.) And that was likely from a time period when cameras were expensive and prints were harder to come by.
I'll send recommendations over for images that would be ideal for printing for wall art and suggestions to ensure you get your beautiful moments on your walls.
Bring Your Images to Life with
prints
I know that was a lot, but I hope I've provided you with some valuable information to prepare for your session!
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out!
hello@ellenwagnerphoto.com
334 - 744 - 8452
Thank you!
2022 © Ellen Wagner Photo, LLC