Your Photoshoot Guide

Before our shoot

Before our shoot, expect a little questionnaire to be sent to your email inbox. This helps me get to know you and your family better before we meet for our session. This is also where you let me know your preferences and priorities. We may be planning our session over text or email.

Choosing your outfit

It is very important that you and your children are comfortable during the shoot. Try to strike a balance between comfort and style. Make sure you try on your outfit before the shoot and that you can move freely in it. It’s not a good idea to wear an outfit that needs constant adjustment to be kept in place. If you have an active toddler (or a few) that you may have to chase after, wear something that allows you to move comfortably with them. Because your family photos are heirlooms, aim for a timeless look that will continue to resonate in later years.

Coordinating your look

While there is no need to dress everyone in the same colour, try to ensure that the colours that you and your family will wear that day complement each other. Complementary tones work best, and it’s a good idea to keep within 2 or 3 colours for everyone’s outfit, while mixing up the tones and shades. Play off each other's choices -- find a way to accent your outfit with the primary colour of your partner's. If one of you will be wearing bright, vivid colours, while the other has more muted tones, find a way to accent that outfit with your partner's brighter colours. Generally, light, soft colours reflect light beautifully and help the wearer look more radiant. Contrast prints and patterns with solids. If one of you will be wearing a patterned shirt or dress with prints, have the other wear a solid colour to avoid things getting too "busy". Outfits with texture show up beautifully in images. Also try to coordinate your style. If one of you will be dressing more casually, make sure that the others are not wearing formal wear. Above all, make sure that your outfit reflects your personality!

I am more than happy to take a look at outfits you have in mind and help you make your selection.

Dressing for the location

If your photo shoot is taking place outdoors, choose something that will keep you cool. Above all, make sure you feel confident in your chosen outfit. If you have chosen to do your photo shoot at home, dress shirts and shoes may feel a little out of place. A brightly coloured outfit could work really well on a beach location, and outfits that show movement always make images look more dynamic.

Consider your accessories: Shoes are important too! If you have an outdoors shoot planned, make sure you consider the terrain at your chosen location. For example, high heels may make walking on grass very difficult. Make sure your shoes are comfortable especially if we will be walking during our photo shoot. Remove your devices from your pocket and leave your smart watch at home — Screens and timeless don’t exactly go together. Lastly, if you wear transitions lenses or any photochromic lenses that darken outdoors, please consider contact lenses or taking them off during the shoot. Avoid T-shirts with lots of text, images or a prominent logo.

Hair and Makeup

It is not necessary to have your hair and make-up done before the shoot. However, if having your hair and makeup done before the shoot will make you feel more confident, then be sure to let your make-up artist know that you are doing a photoshoot and what the location is. I recommend light, natural make up, especially if the other members of your family aren’t going to be wearing make up at the shoot (e.g. men or babies). Avoid any major hair or makeup changes. You want to look great, but you also want to look yourself. I have a list of wonderful hair and make-up artists I’ve worked with across a range of budgets, so please feel free to ask!

During the shoot

Travel light. Try not to carry anything with you that you wouldn't want in the photos. It's best to leave whatever you don't need back home. I understand that you may need to carry more if you have young children with you – I highly recommend bringing a stroller if the terrain allows for it. It will allow you to leave your bags in the stroller during the photoshoot and move them easily. Keep items in your pockets to a minimum! Anything too bulky will show through your clothing and be a bit distracting. (Unless you've got a ring box in your pocket and are about to propose!)

Photographing little ones

If you have little ones coming along for the photo shoot, please remember to Leave the baby/toddler distracting to me! Do not point at the camera in an attempt to get them to look at me. Try to have them as well rested as possible before the shoot. Also make sure they aren’t doing the photo shoot before a meal (hungry = angry). Please be assured that I try to take a child-led approach whenever possible, BUT… the truth about working with little people is that despite our best intentions, they may not be in the mood for having their photo taken. They may be wary of the camera, or of strangers, or just reacting to a change in their routine. If this happens, we are presented with a unique opportunity for me to document the unconditional love, tenderness and grace that you give to your child.

Be present

While I absolutely believe in being as unobtrusive as possible, I understand that some of us need a little help getting comfortable in front of the camera. During the photoshoot, try to be in physical contact with a family member as often as you can. Play with your children as you normally would, and I’ll guide you along when you need it. Just remember to have fun and to enjoy each other’s company. Take the photo shoot as an opportunity to spend time being in each others’ presence.

after our session

For digital packages: Approximately 1 week after our shoot, you will receive an email from me with a link to a viewing gallery. From here, you can choose the photos that you would like me to work on. Remember that colour, exposure, perspective and cropping, as well as complexion are just a few of the many things I work on in post processing, which takes place after you pick your favourites! The sooner you make your selection, the sooner I can get to work on them. You may expect your photos approximately 3 weeks after you make your selection. Having trouble choosing? Any extra photos that you would like are priced at $40/photo.

For film packages: Your film will be sent to a professional film lab in Spain to be processed and scanned at high resolution. All good images will be returned to you after I make the final adjustments. You may expect your images about 4 weeks after our session. If you’d like your negatives back, arrangements can be made for a fee.

When the photos are ready, you will receive another email from me with a link to a password protected gallery you can download from. Feel free to share the link and password with friends and family around the world! But images sitting in a folder in your computer will forever be just that. I strongly encourage my clients to print their photographs, because that’s still the best way for memories to be shared and passed on from generation to generation. Please refer to the Photo Rikiki Heirloom Products catalogue for a beautiful range of durable products.