You have booked. You have signed the contract. You have paid the session fee.

Now what?

This is the guide I send to every family before we meet, because the more relaxed you feel going in, the better the photos will be. So grab a cup of tea, have a read, and share it with everyone who is coming along.

All of you. Yes, even the grown-ups.

What to wear for your family photo shoot?

Honestly?!
First and most importantly: something that is you!
Not the outfit you think you should wear for photos. Not something itchy or uncomfortable or that you would never normally put on. Something you love wearing, that works with your complexion, that fits comfortably. The everyday you with a little extra sparkle if you wish.

A few practical things worth knowing and noting:

Melbourne weather is Melbourne weather. Dress for it. Layers are your friend.

We shoot outdoors, which means grass, sand, mud, tree-climbing opportunities and occasionally puddles. Whatever the kids wear may get dirty. Please don’t dress them in anything precious.

Shoes matter more than people think.
Something you can actually walk in. Cobblestones, uneven paths, dewy grass – comfort wins every time.

However, if you do want to coordinate, here is how:

Start with your own outfit. Once you have chosen it, lay everything out on the floor or bed together and look at it as a whole. Does it feel like your family? Do the colours and textures complement each other without being matchy-matchy? Have the Frozen and Superman t-shirts been quietly retired for the day?

You are not dressing for a catalogue. You are dressing for your own walls. Think about what colours you love in your home — your photos will most likely live there.

And if your family’s flow is that everyone picks their own thing and the kids dress themselves, no matter what. Please, I urge you to go with that. Tracksuit pants, a tutu, and a favourite t-shirt are a perfectly valid combination.
These are your photos. Be unapologetically you.

What to bring to our family shoot?

Travel light. Everything you bring needs to be carried. Too much stuff limits our freedom to move around.

The essentials:

• Snacks: something for a quick energy hit

• Water

• Wet wipes and tissues

• A change of clothes for the kids in case of emergencies (left in the car is fine)

• Maximum one toy per child, something they can carry themselves

• A rug/throw to sit on

• One small bag for phones, keys, wristwatches & the important things

Leave the rest in the car. We are going on an adventure, not a camping trip.

Let’s talk about the kids! (The section every parent needs to read)

I have spent a decade photographing children of every age, temperament and level of enthusiasm for having their photo taken. So let me reassure you about a few things.

Your kids do not need to be angels. In fact, I would prefer them wild and happy over still and miserable any day.

The quiet one will need a little longer to warm up. The energetic one will need a little longer to settle. That is completely normal and to be expected. We have time. I am not watching the clock like your boss.

Don’t tell them to smile.
Smile commands produce the least convincing smiles in the history of smiling. I will get a real one from them by being silly, by playing a game, by doing something unexpected. Trust the process & the unfolding of our session.

And the ice cream strategy?
There’s a difference between “one more photo and then we get ice cream” and “you won’t get ice cream if you don’t sit still."
My grandfather used to say: 'For ice cream there is always room; it fills in the gaps.’ I reckon you would all deserve a big ice cream at the end because you made some awesome memories together!

Make it fun. The photos take care of themselves.

What actually happens during the session

We hang out. That’s genuinely the best way to describe it.

We’ll move through different spots, try different things, take some direction when it’s helpful and ignore me when it isn’t. Sometimes I will be right in the middle of you. Sometimes I will step back and just observe quietly while you forget I’m there.

Some moments I will ask for a classic portrait for the grandparents’ mantelpiece, maybe. But mostly I am watching for the moments that can’t be asked for. The look between siblings. The way you hold each other without thinking about it. The thing that’s particular to your family and nobody else’s.

Those are the ones worth keeping.

After the session

I will work through everything and deliver your finished gallery. Typically you will get 50-100 or more images from a session (depending on the roll and duration of the session), fully edited in both high-resolution for printing and web-resolution for sharing.

When the gallery link arrives, make an event of it. Pull it up on the biggest screen you have. Gather everyone around. The first time you see your photos is always the best! Don’t scroll through them alone on your phone during your lunchbreak! I know it's hard – but totally worth it!

Then take your time choosing favourites, downloading everything, and deciding what goes on the wall, your desk or your wallet; what goes in a photobook for your kids keepsake album; and what will be gifted to the extended family.

One last thing

I will send you a short questionnaire before we meet. A few questions about your family to help me get to know you a little before the session. This is worth doing together. Think of it as getting ready.

I can’t wait to meet you all.

Kat

Are you ready to book your Melbourne family portrait session?

F*** Yes !!! I am ready! Its time to get these finally done, before the kids move out!

How to prepare for your family photo session. The honest guide.