If you’ve made it to the “researching photographers and opening 37 browser tabs” stage, you probably have questions.
How much direction will you get? What happens if your toddler decides they’re absolutely not participating? Do you need to know how to pose? What if your house doesn’t look like it belongs in Architectural Digest?
Here are the things people usually want to know before booking a photography session with me.
Do I need to know how to pose?
Absolutely not.
You don’t need to know what to do with your hands or show up with a Pinterest board full of poses. I’ll keep things easy, help when you need it, and give you plenty of room to actually interact with the people you came with.
I’ll give you enough direction that you’re never wondering what to do, without making the whole session feel overly posed or awkward. The goal is for your photos to look like you, just on a particularly good day.
Will you tell us what to wear?
Yes.
You don’t have to buy an entirely new wardrobe unless you’re looking for an excuse, in which case I fully support you.
I’m happy to help with colors, coordinating outfits, deciding between options, and figuring out what will photograph well with your location.
In general, I recommend coordinating rather than perfectly matching. Think colors and textures that work together without making everyone look like they were issued a family uniform.
What if my kids don’t cooperate?
They’re kids. I assume at least a little chaos is coming.
Some kids warm up immediately. Some need ten minutes. Some have very strong opinions about everything happening around them.
We work with it.
I don’t expect young kids to stand perfectly still, smile on command, and behave like tiny professional models for an hour. We’ll move around, play, take breaks if we need to, and adjust based on their mood.
A lot of my favorite images happen in the middle of the chaos anyway.
What if my baby cries during our newborn session?
Also normal.
Lifestyle newborn sessions are intentionally relaxed because newborns are unpredictable little people with zero concern for our schedule.
If your baby needs to eat, be changed, rocked, cuddled, or take a break, we do that.
There is no prize for finishing your newborn session as quickly as possible.
Do you photograph newborns in a studio?
My newborn photography is primarily lifestyle-focused, which means sessions typically happen in your home rather than in a traditional newborn studio setup.
Instead of elaborate props and heavily posed newborn setups, I focus on your baby, your family, and what this stage of life actually looks like.
That might mean your baby sleeping in your arms, siblings piled onto the bed, details around the nursery, or your dog trying very hard to remain the favorite child.
You can see examples in my maternity and newborn portfolio.
Does my house need to be perfectly decorated for an in-home newborn session?
No.
I promise I am not arriving with a clipboard to evaluate your interior design choices.
We typically use a few areas with the best light, such as the nursery, primary bedroom, or living room. You do not need your entire house spotless.
Clear the nightstands. Hide the random water bottles. Toss the laundry pile somewhere outside the frame. Open some curtains.
Done.
How far in advance should I book?
The earlier, the better, especially if you already have a specific date or weekend in mind.
September through November is my busiest stretch thanks to fall photos and holiday card season, and weekend dates can fill up months in advance. If you’re hoping for a fall session, I definitely wouldn’t wait until fall to start looking.
Outside of those months, there’s usually a little more flexibility, but once you know you want a session, it’s best to get on the calendar rather than waiting for the perfect time.
For newborn sessions, we’ll typically plan around your due date and adjust once your baby actually arrives because babies are not particularly concerned with our scheduling plans.
What happens if it rains?
Atlanta weather likes drama.
For outdoor sessions, I keep an eye on the forecast as we get closer. If the weather genuinely looks bad, we’ll figure out whether it makes sense to adjust the time, location, or date.
I don’t automatically cancel because an app shows a 30% chance of rain five days away. Georgia forecasts change constantly.
And honestly, overcast skies are some of my favorite lighting to shoot in. Soft, even light without everyone squinting into the sun? Yes, please.
Where do photography sessions take place?
I photograph families, maternity sessions, couples, and newborns throughout Metro Atlanta and North Atlanta, including areas like Alpharetta, Milton, Roswell, Canton, Woodstock, Marietta, Smyrna, Brookhaven, and Atlanta.
Your session location depends on the type of session and the look you want. That could mean a park, open field, neighborhood, urban location, or your own home.
If you have no idea where you want to go, that’s fine too. I can help.
Can we bring our dog?
Always yes, unless the location specifically doesn’t allow pets.
Pets are part of the family too, so if you want them in your photos, bring them.
Just know there is a very real possibility your dog will look directly at the camera while every human in the photo is looking in four different directions.
Dogs are overachievers like that.
How long are sessions?
My full sessions are typically 45–60 minutes, while mini sessions are about 20-30 minutes long.
You can see current session options and pricing on my Packages & Pricing page.
How many photos will we receive?
Full sessions include 50+ hand-edited images while mini sessions include at least 20.
I don’t hold back great images just to hit an arbitrary gallery number. If we get more great photos, you get more great photos.
Can you Photoshop something?
Normal retouching and editing? Yes.
Completely rebuilding reality? We may need to manage expectations though AI does some impressive things these days.
I edit every final image for things like color, exposure, cropping, and overall consistency. I’ll also take care of temporary distractions when appropriate.
My editing style is meant to keep people looking like themselves.
What if I feel awkward in photos?
You are in very good company.
Most of the people I photograph are not professional models and do not spend their weekends practicing candid laughter in front of a mirror.
You don’t have to perform for the camera.
I’ll give you enough direction to keep you from feeling lost, but the best photographs usually happen once everyone stops thinking quite so hard about being photographed.
How do I book a session?
Start by heading to my contact page and tell me what kind of session you’re looking for, who will be there, and approximately when you want to schedule it.
From there, we’ll figure out availability, location, and the details.
You can also take a look through my family photography portfolio, maternity and newborn photography, or couples portfolio depending on what you’re planning.
And no, you still don’t need to know what to do with your hands.
