Welcome

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

I'm so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait for our time together during your portrait session! It’s normal to be a little nervous about your session. I always tell people that I still get nervous before having my photos taken - and I do this for a living!

Your portrait session is the perfect opportunity to capture this special time in your life! Whether it's your annual family photos, celebrating your child's first birthday, or documenting your pregnancy, I am looking forward to working with you to create memories that you will cherish for a lifetime!

There is a lot to think about when it comes to planning a session and since I get asked the same things over and over again, I thought it would be the most beneficial if I put together a guide that walks you through everything you need to know. 

I’ll cover what to wear, whether to bring pets & how to manage them, location ideas and more! 

- Kate

Most of my sessions are planned based on a particular event,  such as holiday photos, maternity photos, or birthday milestones. 

Sessions typically last about an hour and when I can—I love to begin sessions about 90 minutes before sunset. I prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches. The first two hours after sunrise is also an ideal time to shoot.

I schedule sessions during what I believe will be the best light of the day - which means that it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises. 

When should we plan to take photos? 

TIME & LIGHT

Destination Portrait Sessions

While I take most of my portrait sessions in the New Jersey area, 
I’ve photographed sessions everywhere from Boston, Massachusetts to McAllen, Texas to Los Angeles, California. If you have a location in mind that is significant to the you, let me know because if our schedules align, I might be able to take your portrait photos outside of my normal area.

Travel fees may apply depending on the location and our availability.

Our dog was huge part of our family, which is why I love when my clients choose to incorporate pets into their session. Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location. 

I recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and then either dropping them off or having a friend take them home. We won’t use the pet in every single photo so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold him or her in between shots. 

If you’re going to bring a pet, I recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot. 

Pets

Outfits

TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST

When picking outfits I recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if your son is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, Mom might want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.

 

FOR THE LADIES

FOR THE LITTLES

FOR THE gENTS

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Heels lengthen legs but if your heels aren’t comfortable for walking, bring an extra pair of shoes to slip into in between shots.

Be careful if you are choosing a pattern. While some may look gorgeous on camera, some may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.

When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting softer, lighter tones and more muted shades. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. That softer color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments.

Wardrobe Tips

Dress it up

Accessories

Where to Shop

HaIr & Makeup

Manicure

Outfits

for the ladies

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Dresses and skirts look most stunning because they really flatter every female body, especially on camera! I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress instead. Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos.

Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement in the images. When considering the length of your dresses or skirts, it’s also a good idea to factor in whether or not there will be little ones in your photos. If you have smaller children, I’ll likely have you sitting or crouching on the ground to interact up-close with them. 

Dress It Up!

Dress It up

Accessories

Where tO shop

Hair & Makeup

Manicure

Outfits

for the ladies

find it fast

Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images, and be a nice tie-in when you’re coordinating with a group. Big statement necklaces bring a lot of pop to the photos, while the smaller, delicate ones help to quietly complete your outfit.

Belts, bracelets and earrings bring great visual interest, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention.

 

Accessories

Dress It Up

Accessories

Where to Shop

Hair & Makeup

Manicure

Outfits

for the ladies

find it fast

Rent the Runway
ASOS
Morning Lavender
J. Crew
Anthropologie
Free People
Francesca’s
Jessakae
ModCloth
Shop Ruche
Hazel & Olive

Favorite Shops

Lulu's 
Pink Blush
Baltic Born
H&M 
Shabby Apple
Vici Dolls
Nordstrom
One Loved Babe
Arden 
Pink Blush


Dress It Up

Accessories

Where to SHop

Hair & Makeup

Manicure

Outfits

for the ladies

find it fast

Professional hair and makeup is on the top of most of my clients’ checklists because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. It will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream.

If you’re working with a makeup artist, have her apply your makeup in natural light, if possible, so that it looks fresh and not too heavy.

Most of my clients feel like their professional makeup is “too much” at first, since it’s more than you would wear on a normal day, so if you feel that way at the beginning, don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it all just right for the camera — and my clients always love the final result

Hair & Makeup

Dress It Up

Accessories

Where To SHop

Hair & Makeup

Manicure

Outfits

for the ladies

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There will probably be times during your session when we’re shooting your hands holding your partner or child - which means it’s a good idea to clean up your nails before your session (this applies to the guys too!).

Manicure

Dress It UP

Accessories

Where To Shop

Hair & Makeup

Manicure

Outfits

for the ladies

find it fast

Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on his handsome face.

So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts, sandals and jeans at home, too, as well as any pants that are loose or baggy. Fitted dress pants or fitted colored pants work best on camera. Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong complement to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye. I also strongly recommend staying away from graphics and logos.

The Best Fit

Layered Looks

Details

Where To Shop

Outfits

for the gents

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Next time you walk by a store like J. Crew, you’ll notice the male mannequins and models are always wearing several layers at once. Layers on men look great on camera, so even when it’s hot outside, trust me when I say that it’s worth an hour of discomfort for photos that will last you a lifetime.

Adding another layer will bring extra dimension and visual interest to your photos. Blazers, vests and coats up the level of any look. If the temperature permits, he could even consider adding a vneck sweater with a pop of color from a long-sleeved collared shirt and tie underneath. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with layers!

Layered Looks

Layered Looks

Details

Where To Shop

Outfits

for the gents

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Brown leather dress shoes complement almost every look, whether he’s wearing a full suit or a button down and colored pants. Ties, bowties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests and watches are sharp complements to any outfit for men and boys alike. 

Details, Details

Layered Looks

Details

Where To Shop

Outfits

for the gents

find it fast

Rent the Runway
ASOS
 Suit Supply
J. Crew
Zara
Leather & Cotton

Jack Threads 

Frank & Oak 

Nordstrom 
H&M
Urban Outfitters

Wardrobe

Layered Looks

Details

Where To Shop

Outfits

for the gents

find it fast

The goal for coordinating a family is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom. The more you can mix it up, the better.

I encourage you to think about planning each outfit with “dominant colors” and “accent colors” in mind. A dominant color is the color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate.

When you’re planning each family member’s outfit, if you can aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’s going to look great all together!

Coordinating the Crew

Mix It Up

Prepping The kids

Where To SHop

coordinate

for the littles

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If you have multiple children, don’t feel like you need to put them all in the same type of outfit.

For example, one of your daughters could wear a dress and flats, while the other wears a skirt and boots. One of your sons could wear a bowtie, while the other one wears suspenders. Mixing up the wardrobe pieces will bring a great visual interest to the photos.

Mixing Up The Pieces

Mix It UP

Prepping the kids

Where To Shop

coordinate

for the littles

find it fast

Before your session, pack a bag with dry snacks, water and any small objects (like toys or dry snacks) that might help me get their attention when it’s time for them to look at the camera.

If they are old enough to understand, it’s a good idea to prepare them for the session. Explain how much the photos mean to you so they know to be on their best behavior. It also helps if they have eaten and had some good rest beforehand. 

Once you prepare them feel free to give them (and you!) grace! They’re little, and I know that some days don’t always go as planned. I’ve seen it all and will make sure to get you great photos, regardless of their moods. My goal is to make this as fun and stress-free as it possibly can be for you and your family!

Prepping Your Little Ones

Mix It Up

Prepping The Kids

Where To Shop

coordinate

for the littles

find it fast

Crewcuts
Mini Boden
H&M Kids
Janie and Jack
Nordstrom
The Tot
Mango


Favorite Shops


Mix It Up

Prepping The Kids

Where To Shop

Coordinate

for the littles

Inclement Weather

what to do if it rains

I’ll check in the week of your portrait session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. I know it takes a lot of time to get your family ready for a session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain. Let me know what works best for you - but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, I typically try to make the call at least 12 hours in advance. 

Props

If you’re planning to bring props to your portrait session, I recommend including them only if they’re meaningful to you. Shots of a family picnic in the park is perfect if that is something you do together; however, everyone roller skating when it's not something you've ever done may come off as contrived.

Signs for a special announcement are also a great idea to incorporate into your session!

When it comes to posing for your session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I will guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because I know it’s going to make all of you laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually looking for. 

Throughout your session, I will keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together! 

"What do I do with
 my hands"?

"What do I do
 with my hands"?

POSING

A Special Treat

Many families pick something fun as a treat for after the session.
 It's also a great way to get your children on board for the session and helps them to focus and be great listeners. Some families choose ice cream, or a special dinner, but be creative and pick something you will all enjoy together as a family!

I typically deliver 2-3 sneak peeks within 48 hours of your session. Your full gallery will be ready in 2-3 weeks and will be delivered via an online, password protected gallery where you can download and share your images.

Keep an eye on my instagram as I tend to share images from my sessions there as well!

When to Expect Your Images

I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your engagement session! However if there is something I've missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email 
kate@katevodaphotography.com

THANK YOU!