Meredith Clark Photography: The Nitty Gritty--2012

In this post, I hope to tackle some frequently asked questions and give a bit more information about photo sessions with me. Please feel free to email me any time at meredithclarkphotography@yahoo.com if you have any additional questions!

1. Investment & Details:

Family, Child or Senior Sessions typically last one hour at an outdoor location of your choosing within the Rogue Valley. Newborn sessions typically last two to four hours, and I prefer to shoot in your home (I find it's less stressful for mom and baby, and easier for us to stop and feed as needed!). You are welcome to change outfits as many times as you'd like during the session. Within 48 hours, you can expect to see a "sneak peek" (one to three images) on Facebook or this blog. Within approximately two weeks, you can expect to receive a disc of 30-40 high resolution edited images and a printing release so that you can print them wherever you'd like! I *highly* recommend Costco for printing, as they allow you to turn off auto-correct, which is ideal since your images will have already been edited.

For all sessions, I do require a photo release, which you can download and print off here (I'm also happy to bring a copy to our session if that's easier for you--just let me know!).

2. Location:

Except for newborns, I prefer to shoot outdoors--the Rogue Valley has so many beautiful places that can act as the perfect backdrop for your session, whether you prefer a more natural or urban look. I love to do sessions at locations that are meaningful to YOU, so let's chat!

3. What to Wear & Other Session Details:

First, when it comes to photographing children, I always recommend bringing some sort of special, non-messy snack--fruit snacks, crackers, yogurt melts, jelly beans, etc. These are GREAT to pull out when kids get fussy, and often aren't visible in the photos themselves. Second, sometimes for younger kids, having a themed session (such as a picnic, ice cream, etc) can be helpful in getting them to participate and relax--again, if you think this would be a good idea for your family, let's chat!

Now, when it comes to what to wear for photo shoots, there are really so many possibilities! Here are a few suggestions to help:

I would recommend against wearing white whenever possible--cream, light grays, and light beige are all fine!
Usually, it's best to pick 2-4 complementary colors (i.e. jewel tones) and try to dress within those parameters rather than having everyone wear the same color.
Pick one person's outfit first, and then base the other outfits around the colors in the first outfit. OR, pick a fun colorful blanket/quilt to use in photos, and then pick outfits that coordinate with the blanket.
Solids tend to photograph best, but prints can be okay (especially on children) so long as there aren't multiple contrasting logos and patterns amongst other family members. That said, if you really love prints and feel confident in mixing various prints, go for it! Here's a great example of mixing prints for a photo:

Source: amelialyon.net via Meredith on Pinterest

If you plan to display the photos in your home, keep your home decor style in mind--there's no need to be super matchy-matchy, but if you chose a color theme of pink, yellow, and turquoise for family photos and wanted to display them in your burgundy and gold living room, you might not be as pleased with the results as if you'd chosen a theme of navy, red, and cream.
Think of changing shirts (or adding/removing a jacket or sweater) once during the photo shoot so that you have a few different "looks" you're able to display in your home--I always suggest women/girls wear a cami for easy changing regardless of our location!
Don't stress too much about it! Truly. And above all, wear what you're comfortable in.