Preparing for your Session- Hawaii Edition

I know how stressful it can be to get ready for a photo shoot, especially if you're not a seasoned pro, but I want you to know that it's all going to be great! No need to worry if you have a zit, or if the little one bumped and bruised her head- I've got you covered. Photoshop is a wonderful tool I use to remove those types of blemishes.

If your session is on the beach please be aware that it's often quite windy. I recommend wearing your hair up/tied back/braided, wearing a Lei Po'o (Haku) flower crown, or simply embracing the natural look of windswept hair on the beach. I've had people be concerned while at the session that their hair is doing crazy stuff, but then absolutely loving the way the photos turn out, so please don't stress- it's all going to be awesome no matter what!

Be on Time

One thing I can't control is the natural lighting outside, so please try to arrive 10-15 minutes early to allow yourself time to park and walk to our meeting location. If you are running late be sure to let me know as soon as you can. Try to keep in mind that any amount of time you miss will be less time we have to shoot. However, I'm a very "go with the flow" type of person, so we'll make it work.

Relax

It’s totally normal to feel nervous! I'm not expecting you to be models. It's my job to direct and pose you, so try to not to stress. Just relax and have fun, and I guarantee we will create some stellar photos together!

Add some Hawaiian flair

My favorite way to to do this (besides just letting the beautiful scenery speak for itself) is with Leis. They really do make it feel like an extra special occasion and are the perfect wearable prop that help to add some personalization. There are so many colors, styles, and types of leis to choose from! If you want recommendations I'm more than happy to help!

Not knocking Hawaiian shirts, but leis are much less cheesy ;) Don't get me wrong, I love a good Hawaiian shirt every now and then.

Children

Make sure kiddos have a snack and drink on their way to or shortly before our session (preferably something not messy, or in clothes that don't matter) so they're not hangry. Also, contrary to popular belief, most kids are not happy to be woken up from a nap to take photos, so please try to keep them awake on the ride there if at all possible (because we all know how hard it is to wake them once they're out). Kids are often less cooperative when they're groggy from a nap, so I can't stress this enough. I almost always have little toys and fruit snacks to hep coerce the smiles, plus I'm super goofy, but I can only do so much :p

Dogs

I absolutely love when clients bring their dogs to sessions! If you'd like your pup to join us, let me know ahead of time because some locations don't allow pets. If you are bringing your dog, you can help set us all up for success by taking him/her out for a nice long walk or a trip to the dog park to let out some energy before heading to your session. And don't forget the treats! :D

What to wear

Read through the style guide here. The password will be in your confirmation email.

I'm super excited for our upcoming session and I can't wait to work with you!

Please, let me know if there is any additional way I can help you prepare for our time together.

Thank you so much! See you soon!