Thank you so much for booking a lifestyle shoot with Kelly Martin Photography! I LOVE lifestyle photography because it really captures the true essence of the family members. Real life – in the raw – no posing or fake smiles – truly candid moments. My goal is to capture your family “as is” and show the personalities of each family member as well as the interactions and emotions between each of you.
Here is some information regarding your upcoming lifestyle shoot as well as some tips to help you prepare:
Space and light - Make sure there is space and good light coming through windowns in the rooms you want to utilize. I suggest opening all of the blinds in the rooms we’ll be in before I arrive (and turn off all overhead lights). I’ll take a quick tour of the house with your assistance to get acquainted with my surroundings and to make suggestions about the rooms with the best light. IMPORTANT: If you do not have good natural light in your house, results may be compromised and/or we’ll be confined to certain areas next to windows. If it is a super cloudy and dark day, we may discuss rescheduling.
Plan a few fun activities for your family – ideally things that you normally do with each other. Each activity doesn’t have to be a big ordeal – simple things like baking cookies, playing a quick board game, giving the kids horsey rides, & playing catch are great photo opportunities. If you need any suggestions, don’t hesitate to ask me beforehand or we can discuss when I arrive. Don’t feel like the whole family has to be involved in each activity either – girls can bake some cookies while the guys wrestle around in the living room (or vice versa) (:
Even though planned activities are key – so is some downtime where the kids can do their own thing and play like normal. I love watching kids play and find it provides some really fun pictures when they are in the zone.
Most of the session will be done indoors in your house. If you want to plan some outdoor activities, let me know and we’ll work with any shade we have or we’ll strategically deal with the sunlight (direct sunlight does not make for very flattering photos). If it’s a cloudy day, then we’ll have an easier time getting good outdoor shots.
I will try to be a fly on the wall as much as possible, but I may make suggestions or subtly ask that you move slightly into some better light. I may strike up some conversations with the kids to get them to open up a bit, if needed.
Plan on the session taking 1.5 hours.
Tidy up and declutter – I’m not talking about a massive spring cleaning but a room full of scattered toys can cause distractions in photos. You might even put away some items that are normally out in the open – just to ensure that your family will be the focus of the photos, and not the clutter. This is when it IS okay to shove stuff in the closet (:
Details and angles – I love getting creative with shots so you may find me standing on a chair hovering over you to get a shot or laying on the floor to get down to the kids’ level. It’s all about the angles. If I’m taking too many liberties in your house, let me know.
Let Loose! I know your house may be chaotic, especially if you have young children. Don’t worry about it! I’m here to capture your family and its candid moments – even the crazy moments. So take it all in stride and relax. Pretend I’m not even there and I’ll do my best to be as hidden as possible.
If you have any further questions about your lifestyle shoot or prepping for it, please don’t hesitate to message, call, email, etc.
I look forward to spending some quality time with you and your family!
