There are 6 crucial and easy steps needed to effectively plan your lifestyle session with minimal stress and optimal outcome. In completing these 6 steps below, your session will be planned quickly and will make the most of our time together creating beautiful long-lasting memory keepsakes of your time as a family!
I’d highly suggest taking a few moments to envision your session before starting the steps below. Jot your ideas and dreams down on a piece of paper or on your notes on your phone. That way you will already have an idea of what you want before the planning process begins. This will also help in reducing the number of decisions you have to make which ultimately makes it less stressful! I am so excited to work with you soon!
Step 1: Pick the Season
What season would you like to have your session in? Some families decide to have it during a slow season when they have a bit more time on their hands and others plan it around their favorite time of year. You might also consider what you are wanting to wear, how hot or cold it might be, and the reason behind having your photos taken. Each of these will impact your decision on scheduling your lifestyle session. Ultimately, this decision is entirely up to you! Will it be during the spring, summer, fall, or winter?
Step 2: Choose a Date
I schedule sessions on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays first before any other day of the week. I am not available on Sundays unless the weather becomes an issue and a reschedule is required. Once we narrow down the season, I will send over some available dates that I have in my calendar.
Step 3: Narrow Down a Time
This will be either in the morning or evening depending on my availability and your preference. Both happen during the golden hours which are within 2 hours of the sun rising in the morning or 2 hours before the sunsets in the evening. Specific times will be determined based on the season that you choose and the date that works for us both.
Step 4: Pick a Location
Rural or Urban. This is one of the most popular questions I get about lifestyle sessions. First of all, you will want to consider what you envision your session to look like. Do you picture it in nature with a rural setting or do you picture it next to beautiful architecture with an urban setting? Maybe both?
After that, I typically suggest that with your vision in mind, consider using a place that has significant meaning to you all. Maybe it is where you went on your first date or where you love to take walks. Maybe it is family property that you love visiting and has fond memories. That will help narrow things down and make your session more special/personalized.
The following are some location options to consider…
– Sentimental settings: family property, proposal site, your home, a park you love to walk at, your college, where you met, etc.
– Other settings: nature parks, Shades State Park, Turkey Run State Park, Eagle Creek State Park, the canal in downtown Indy, creeks, ponds, streets, allies, old downtowns, coffee shops, etc.
Step 5: Plan Your Outfits
This is a very important step to consider when planning your lifestyle session. This is a wonderful chance to dress up, be models for a day, and have fun at a photoshoot! If you are investing in this session, then it is totally worth it to go the extra mile and dress up a bit! Why not get your nails done, splurge on some cute clothes, and specifically plan each of the outfits? Trust me, putting a little bit of extra effort into this step will make the biggest difference!
To help with this step even more, I’ve created a few Pinterest boards full of outfit inspirations catered to each of the seasons. These are designed to inspire and mimic what you could choose to wear for your session…
Step 6: Plan Ahead And Prepare Your Kids
After photographing families with little kids for years, rest assured I have a few tricks up my sleeve to get your kids to smile! However, to be totally honest, kids tend to struggle to behave during sessions just because it is out of the norm for them and I am likely someone they have never met. Bribing with snacks and/or ice cream definitely helps make kids more cooperative. If you can, avoid napping in the car before a session. If they wake up in a bad mood or disoriented, it can take a while to coax them back to normal. If they are really little, I’d suggest talking to them early and often about meeting me and having their photos taken so that they are not uncomfortable with a stranger interacting with them. Do not give them snacks in the car if they are wearing their outfits. Too much of a chance of getting it messy. You might even consider changing them into their clothes once you arrive at the session if you are really worried.
I hope these steps help you plan your session easily and with minimal stress. Of course, I am happy to help even more with outfit planning or anything else you need all you have to do is reach out! Send me your photos/questions if you want to step up your session even more and create the most stunning photos ever! I look forward to our time together during your lifestyle session. It’s going to be so much fun!!
