PREPARING FOR YOUR SESSION
A little guide to help you feel relaxed, prepared and excited for what's to come.
Before We Meet
Firstly, thank you.
I'm so glad you've chosen me to capture this chapter of your family's story.
Whatever season you're in right now, whether you're in the thick of the baby days, chasing toddlers, watching little personalities grow or wondering quite how your children got so big, there's something really special about pressing pause on it for a little while. Family life changes so quickly, often without us really noticing it happening, and these photographs are about holding onto a little piece of what it feels like right now.
I know having your photographs taken can feel a little daunting, especially when you're also wondering whether the children will cooperate, but I promise you don't need to arrive knowing what to do, and they certainly don't need to be on their best behaviour! My job is to gently guide you through the whole experience, while leaving plenty of room for your family to simply be yourselves.
This page is here to answer all those little questions that pop into your head before a session, from choosing a location to deciding what to wear, so that by the time we meet, you can simply look forward to it.
A little reminder...
You don't need to know how to pose.
You don't need to worry about everyone looking at the camera.
You don't need your children to be on their best behaviour.
You just need to turn up.
I'll take care of the rest.
One of my favourite parts of planning your session is finding the backdrop for your story.
Whether you're drawn to the coast, woodland or somewhere that's already special to your family, I'll help you choose somewhere that feels right. Somewhere that adds to the story without ever taking attention away from what's most important.
If you're not sure where to start, don't worry. Below are some of my favourite locations, each with their own feel, and if you have somewhere else in mind I'd absolutely love to hear about it.
Not sure which one to choose?
Tell me whether you're dreaming of the beach, woodland, long grasses or somewhere completely different and I'll happily help you decide.
Locations
Choosing What To Wear
One of the questions I'm asked most often is, "What should we wear?" The lovely thing is that there isn't a right or wrong answer. I want you all to feel like yourselves, just perhaps a little more intentional than you might dress for a trip to the supermarket!
The clothes you choose can have a huge impact on the overall feel of your photographs, but not because they need to be expensive or perfectly coordinated. My aim is always to create images that feel timeless, so years from now you'll still love looking back at them without feeling like they belong to a particular trend.
I tend to recommend soft, earthy or neutral tones and natural textures that work together rather than perfectly match. Think about your family's outfits as a whole, choosing colours and textures that complement one another while still allowing everyone to feel like themselves. This helps everything sit beautifully together while keeping the focus exactly where it should be... on you and your family.
Making It Your Own
The most important thing is that everyone feels comfortable and like themselves. You don't need to buy a whole new wardrobe or have everyone perfectly coordinated for your photographs to work beautifully.
Rather than matching, think about choosing pieces that sit well together. Soft, earthy and neutral tones, natural fabrics and plenty of texture tend to photograph beautifully. Knits, linen, denim, cotton, cord and flowing fabrics can all add a little interest without taking the focus away from you.
For children especially, choose things they can comfortably move around in. We'll likely be walking, exploring, playing, cuddling and, depending on where we are, possibly getting a little sandy or muddy along the way!
I do have a small selection of pieces available to borrow, including dresses that work beautifully for mums, some baby pieces and the occasional piece for toddlers and younger children. If you'd like to see whether I have something that might work for you, just ask.
And if you're planning everyone's outfits and would like a second opinion, you're always welcome to send me a few photos. I'm more than happy to help.
Looking for a little inspiration?
Whether you're treating yourself to something new, shopping for the children or simply looking for ideas, these are a few of my favourite places to browse.
ZARA • FREE PEOPLE • H&M • NOBODYS CHILD • RIVER ISLAND • VINTED (of course!)
Some ideas for you… What to wear
A little tip...
When choosing outfits for the whole family, think coordinated rather than matching. Pick a few tones that sit beautifully together, then mix in different textures like linen, cotton, denim, cord or knitwear. It gives your photographs depth while still feeling natural and relaxed.
Our Time Together
If you've never had professional photographs taken as a family before, you might be wondering what actually happens during a session, especially if you're already thinking, "but what if the children don't cooperate?"
The truth is, you don't need to worry about knowing what to do, and I don't expect your children to either. I'll gently guide you throughout the session, giving you little prompts and things to do rather than expecting everyone to stand still, look at the camera and smile.
We'll walk, explore, cuddle, play and make the most of the beautiful light as the evening unfolds. There'll be moments when I offer a little more direction and others where I simply step back and photograph what's happening naturally.
We'll capture a mixture of you all together, the children on their own, different relationships within your family and those smaller moments that happen in between. The way they reach for you, the cuddles, the laughter and all those little details that feel so ordinary now but won't always stay the same.
And if things feel a little chaotic at times, that's absolutely fine. Children don't need to perform for me and there's no pressure to get everything "right". Some of my favourite photographs happen when we let go of that expectation altogether.
I'll be there throughout, gently guiding when you need me and leaving plenty of room for your family to simply be yourselves.
The Weather
Living in Cornwall, the weather doesn't always like to follow the forecast! If it's looking unsettled, don't worry. I'll keep an eye on it and be in touch if I think we need to adjust our plans. Some of my favourite sessions have happened under dramatic skies, so unless it's unsafe or pouring with rain, we'll usually go ahead.
What to Bring
You really don't need much, but these little things can make the session a little more comfortable.
Comfortable shoes for walking between locations
A warm layer to pop on between photographs
Water, especially on warmer evenings
A few non-messy snacks for little ones if they might need them
Wipes (because... children!)
A spare outfit for babies or very little ones, just in case
Any sentimental items you'd love to include
Try not to bring too much with you if you can help it. We'll often move around during the session, so the less we have to carry with us, the easier it is.
Timing
I'll always ask you to arrive a few minutes early so we can settle in without feeling rushed. Most family sessions last around an hour to an hour and a half, depending on the light, the location and how everyone is feeling on the day.
There's no rush to get everything within the first few minutes. We'll give little ones time to warm up, explore and get used to me and the camera.
Dogs
If you'd love to include your dog, just let me know beforehand. They're always welcome where the location allows it.
It can be helpful to bring a lead, a few treats and, if possible, an extra pair of hands. That way, once we've captured some photographs with them, they can have a little break while we concentrate on the rest of the family.
Toilets & Changing
Some of Cornwall's most beautiful locations don't have the most glamorous facilities, and a few don't have any at all! I'll let you know anything you need to be aware of when we confirm where we're meeting, but it's always worth making a quick toilet stop before you arrive, especially with little ones.
Just a Few Things
When Your Gallery Arrives
This is one of my favourite parts.
Within four weeks I'll send you a link to your private online gallery, where you'll be able to look through all of the carefully edited photographs from our time together.
My advice?
Don't rush it.
Pop the kettle on, curl up on the sofa and give yourself a little uninterrupted time to look through them. Family life has a funny way of changing right in front of us without us really noticing. The little things that feel so ordinary now won't always be, and I hope these photographs bring you straight back to what this season of your family felt like.
From there you'll be able to download the photographs included in your collection, choose your favourites and, if you wish, order additional digital images, prints or artwork.
See You Soon
Thank you for trusting me to capture this chapter of your family's story.
I genuinely can't wait to meet you all and create photographs that hold a little piece of your family as you are right now, for you to look back on for years to come.
If you think of any questions before your session, no matter how small, just send me a message.
Now all that's left is for us to meet.
I can't wait.
Georgie x
