2015 Session Guide

“There never is a perfect time.

Life isn’t perfect. It’s wild & crazy

& busy & beautiful. What do I

want to remember about this

crazy ride? That I forced four

people to smile at the camera in

stiff clothes until they got “the

shot?” No. Not so much. I want

to remember it just as it is. Bare

feet. Squishyness. Giggles.

Sweetness. Love. & all the crazy

too. I want to capture US. Just

as we are.”

- Shawna, repeat client

Welcome to the KLP Family!

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for trusting me to take your

family photos. I’m so excited to work with you!

Because I know that having your photo taken can potentially be a

very stressful experience, I’ve compiled this guide to help you know

what to expect. Please don’t feel overwhelmed; I know there’s a lot of

information in here, but you can always toss this guide in the recycling

bin, show up on the day of your session, and I promise we’ll have fun

no matter what. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable

in your photos, and if this guide helps with that, then we’ll be ahead

of the game.

If there’s anything that I haven’t covered in this packet and you still

have questions after looking it over, please feel free to call or email!

You can reach me at (617) 651-1075 or kate@kateLphotography.com.

Happy reading, and I’ll see you very soon!!

xo Kate

Welcome to the KLP Family!

What to Expect at your Session

What to Expect at your Session

• I never shoot in one place for too long! We’re going to stay on our

feet, so don’t expect to get too comfy ;) Please bring shoes

that are easy to walk in, and try to minimize the amount of

bags you’ll need to carry with you.

• Sessions are super informal. We’ll spend a lot of time chatting --

I want to get to know who you are and what you’re about!

• We’ll set a general game plan before the session, but please be

preparedtobeflexibleoncewestartshooting. Some-

times I think we’re going to shoot at a certain location, but in the

car on the way there, I’ll see something out of the corner of my eye

and I’ll ask you to pull over. Just look at it as an adventure, and we’ll

have fun!

• Everyone has their own style of parenting, and I totally understand

if you are against bribes. BUT, if you’re willing to make an exception

for one day, alollipop,favoritetoy,ortripforicecream

afterthesessioncanmakeahugedifferenceinatti-

tude ;) If you do bring edible bribes for your kids to have during

the shoot, make sure to pack some extra wipes for messy mouths.

What Should We Wear?!

More than any other question, clients always ask what they should wear to their

familysession.Coordinatingyouroutfitscan be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have

to be! Here are some tips to help you with styling. If you get stumped, feel free to

textphotosofpotentialoutfitstomycell.

What Should We Wear?!

More than any other question, clients always ask what they should wear to their

familysession.Coordinatingyouroutfitscan be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have

to be! Here are some tips to help you with styling. If you get stumped, feel free to

textphotosofpotentialoutfitstomycell.

• The biggest misconception I get for portraits is that everyone in

the picture should be matching. This isn’t true! You probably

don’t walk around your house wearing white shirts

and khaki pants, so why should you do that in your pictures?

• Choose two main hues you love, and develop your color scheme

around them. Usethebrightestcolor—alsoknownas

theaccentcolor—sparingly.It’s okay to mix patterns and

fabrics as long as the colors tie everything together.

• People with lighter skin tones should avoid light colors like pale

yellow. Similarly, people with darker skin tones should avoid dark

colors such as navy, dark purple, dark brown, or black. Portraits

lookbestwhenthere’ssignificantcontrastbetween

skinandclothing.

• Neonisalsobestavoidedasitcreatesunflatteringskintones.

• Try to avoidwearingwhiteclothesinyourphotos. Eyes

naturally jump right to the brightest point of a photograph, so peo-

ple will be looking at your white shirt or dress instead your face.

If you have your heart set on white, try ivory or off-white instead.

Clothing: Choose Your Colors

Clothing: Choose Your Colors

Clothing: Consider Comfort

• Comfort is key! There’s no need to wear overly formal dresses,

suits,orskin-tightoutfits(similarly,avoidoverlybaggyclothing—the

camerawon’tadd10pounds,butill-fittingclotheswill!)

• Pleaseavoidstraplessclothing, as certain crops can make

you look like you’re not wearing clothes at all. It’s also no fun to keep

tugging your dress up all evening.

• Checkyouroutfitsfromallpossibleanglesinthemir-

ror, not just the one you like best. Try sitting, squatting, leaning for-

ward, etc. to make sure nothing hangs out that shouldn’t. ;)

• Ifyouloveanoutfitbutneedhelpkeepingitinplace,Ihighlyrec-

ommend fashion tape. You can pick this up on Amazon or in

most department stores.

• For outdoor sessions, don’t forget to bring shoes that are

easy to walk in! We’ll be on our feet a lot during your session.

Clothing: Consider Comfort

Clothing: Extra Tips

• Layer it up! Layerscreatevisualinterest and will keep you

warm and cozy, especially during the colder months. Think tights,

cardigans, hats, blazers, and scarves.

• Don’tforgetaccessories!Pieceslikesuspendersoraflowery

headband will take your ensemble to the next level of cute.

• Avoid logos, busy patterns, and anything that will take attention

away from your face.

• If people wouldn’t recognize you without glasses, then wear glasses

in your shoot! However, lensglarecandetractfromyour

eyes in photos. You can have your lenses removed from your

frames for your shoot, or you can visit an inexpensive company

online and buy a suitable pair of duplicate frames without breaking

your bank account. I love WarberParker.com.

• You’re welcome to bring an extra outfit for individual

photos of your kids. Thinkoutsideof thebox for these—

dress-up clothes can make for especially fun photos (Halloween

costumes, princess dresses, etc.)

Clothing: Extra Tips

Style Inspiration: Fall/Winter

Style Inspiration: Fall/Winter

Session Timeline

“Having our pictures taken is

always so much fun. It’s like a

family outing with lots of laugh-

ing and playing. We interact like

we normally would while Kate

gives us a little direction, and the

outcome is always perfection.”

- Ashley, repeat client

Session Timeline

BeforeYour

Session ONE WEEK BEFORE YOUR SESSION:

• Pickoutwhatyou’llwearforyourphotos.Once we’re at

your session, I can give you additional help with your clothing if you’d

like,oryoucantextphotosofpotentialoutfitstomycellphone.

• If applicable, checkoutyoursessionlocationonGoogle

Maps to make travel plans.

• Consider bringing personal itemsthatreflectyourfamilyto

help make your session more meaningful. Some ideas to get you started:

books that you like to read together, a jump rope, chalk, bubbles, bal-

loons, giant lollipops, costumes, sunglasses, Radio Flyer wagons

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE:

• Pleasefilloutaclientinformationformandsignthe

studiopolicies.Those links can be found on katelphotography.com

under the Clients tab.

• Submit your session deposit. This deposit is required to reserve

your session date and is non-refundable. However, in the case of bad

weather, illness, or emergency, this date may be rescheduled for no ad-

ditional fee. If you would rather not submit your session deposit online,

please make checks payable to Kate L Photography and mail to:

Kate L Photography | 51 Melcher St. | Floor 7 | Boston, MA 02210

THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR SESSION:

• Just a friendly reminder that yoursessionbalanceisdueinfull

on the day of your session. Please review your invoice link and

bring a check made out to Kate L Photography.

• Ironyourclothesandhangthemthenightbeforeyour

shoot. If you’re wearing something that wrinkles easily, don’t wear it in

the car on the way to the shoot – just change at the location.

• Avoidcolorfuldrinksorlollipopswithin24hoursofthe

shoot, and don’t let your kids eat or drink anything that will stain their

face, teeth or mouths.

During & After

Your Session 7-14 DAYS AFTER YOUR SESSION:

• Yourimageswillbeavailableforyoutoreviewinanonlineproofinggal-

lery. This gallery will be live for 7 days. After your gallery expires, a $25

re-activation fee will apply, so please place your order before this time.

Feel free to share this gallery with family and friends if you need help

selectingyourfinalimages.Icanalsogiveinputifyou’dlike.

• Ifyou’vepurchasedCollectionsB,C,orD,wecanmeetatmyoffice

and work together to design your album and/or wall display. I’m happy

toshowyouproductsamplesandwalkyouthroughdesignoptions—

I want to make your life as easy as possible! If you don’t live in Boston,

we can meet over Skype instead.

ON THE DAY OF YOUR SESSION:

• Due to the time-sensitive nature of sunlight, try to allow plenty of time

fortrafficand/orlostUberdrivers.Ideally,pleaseplantoarriveatleast

10 minutes before your scheduled session time to avoid stress.

• In case of bad weather, we’ll decide whether to shoot about 3-4 hours

before your scheduled session time. Please have your cell phone with

you so I can reach you if plans need to be changed.

• If your child is still of napping age, make sure they nap before the shoot.

• Double-check that you’ve packed all your clothing and props.

• Please make sure everyone has eaten, washed their faces, and gone to

the bathroom before you leave.

1 WEEK AFTER PLACING YOUR ORDER:

• Your retouched digital images will be ready for you to download, and

youcanbeginusingthemimmediately.Yourflashdrivewillarriveshort-

ly after that with a backup copy of your images. Please make your own

imagebackupaswell—it’sbesttohavemultiplecopiesincaseofhard

drive failure.

2-3 WEEKS AFTER PLACING YOUR ORDER:

• Any image products you’ve ordered (including prints, canvases, and

albums)willbereadyforpickupatmyoffice.Iinspectalloftheseto

make sure they look gorgeous before you take them home with you.

Location-Specific Tips

Location-Specific Tips

Natural Outdoor Locations

MOSQUITO SPRAY

They seem to bother me more than other people, but it’s better to

be safe than sorry during mosquito season!

SOMETHING TO SIT ON

I often ask people to sit down so that I can shoot from a higher

angle.Ifyou’reconcernedaboutyouroutfitgettingdirty,please

bring along a small towel or blanket that you can sit on.

COMFY WALKING SHOES

Bring shoes that are easy to walk in, preferably ones that cover

your toes. These will help protect you from bugs, itchy grass, other

not-so-lovely things.

CHECK FOR TICKS

In my 8 years of shooting, I have never encountered a tick.

However, they are present in Boston. Immediately after your

session, check your skin thoroughly to make sure you don’t

have any unwelcome visitors.

Natural Outdoor Locations

Urban Outdoor Locations

Urban Outdoor Locations

PARKING

Be prepared for parking challenges - it’s helpful to have quarters

on hand in case you have to park at a meter. It’s also a good idea to

have cash on hand for parking garages.

LEAVE VALUABLES AT HOME.

I will never take us to a dangerous area of town, but it’s still a good

idea to leave valuable items at home instead of in your car.

COMFY WALKING SHOES

Bring comfy shoes for walking from location to location. Nothing

makes a session less fun than blisters!

BATHROOM BREAKS

Bathroomscansometimesbehardtofind,sobringanextrabed

sheetortwoforprivacywhilechangingoutfits.

Home Sessions

LIFT THE SHADES

Raise all of the blinds in your home completely before your session

to let in as much natural light as possible. We’ll take a tour when I

arrivetofindthebestroomsforphotos.

STOP CLEANING!

Don’t worry too much about cleaning, since we’ll move things

around as we go (and I’ll put them back after we’re done). I’ve seen

it allll as a family photographer, so nothing fazes me. Promise!

STEP LADDER

If you have a small step ladder I can use, I would greatly appreciate

the extra height!

PETS

Unless we’ve discussed that your pets will be part of the session,

please leave them outdoors or in another room.

Home Sessions

Tips for Newborn Sessions

Tips for Newborn Sessions

Please call me immediately when your baby is born

so that we can schedule a time for your session.

Ideally, I photograph babies between 7-14 days old.

Babieschangeimmenselyintheirfirstweeksoflife,

so we want to capture them when they are as tiny

and new as possible! For early deliveries, we’ll aim to

schedule your session around the time of your

original due date.

Most importantly, the safety of your baby is my very

firstpriority.Pleasestaywithinanarm’sreachof

your baby at all times during the session. If you feel

uncomfortable at any point, please say something!

Tips for Newborn Sessions (continued)

HOUSE PREP

Don’t worry about cleaning before I

arrive! Most newborn photos are taken

using a very small amount of space.

Turn the thermostat up to 80 degrees

about two hours before the session. We

might be a little sweaty, but your baby will

be nice and toasty.

Please open all shades/curtains so I can

easilyfindthebestwindowlightwhenI

arrive.

Sometimes we take family shots on the

bed, so it helps to have it made ahead of

time.

BABY PREP

Please keep babies awake for TWO hours

before the session. This might be tricky,

but it’s important so that they’ll sleep eas-

ily during their photos. Please feed them

15 minutes before the session. Two hours

awake + milk = sleepy babies!

However, if they don’t want to sleep,

that’s OK too! It’s normal to need lots of

breaks. Newborn sessions can last longer

than regular sessions, so be prepared to

spend some time relaxing between shots.

I clear my schedule for newborn sessions

to allow for the feedings, diaper changes,

and mood swings that can and do occur.

We’ll do some of the photos without

diapers (posed modestly!). So that your

baby doesn’t have any diaper lines in the

photos, please loosen diapers about half

an hour before the session.

Tips for Newborn Sessions (continued)

BABY PREP

Please keep babies awake for TWO hours

before the session. This might be tricky,

but it’s important so that they’ll sleep eas-

ily during their photos. Please feed them

15 minutes before the session. Two hours

awake + milk = sleepy babies!

However, if they don’t want to sleep,

that’s OK too! It’s normal to need lots of

breaks. Newborn sessions can last longer

than regular sessions, so be prepared to

spend some time relaxing between shots.

I clear my schedule for newborn sessions

to allow for the feedings, diaper changes,

and mood swings that can and do occur.

We’ll do some of the photos without

diapers (posed modestly!). So that your

baby doesn’t have any diaper lines in the

photos, please loosen diapers about half

an hour before the session.

HELPFUL ITEMS

The following items are always useful to

have around:

• A hair dryer to use for white noise

• Any blankets, baskets, or props you’d

like to use (pictures ahead of time

would be useful). If it’s ok with you, I’ll

also bring a couple of my own clean

blankets. I use non-scented baby de-

tergent for washing newborn props.

• Trash bags for layering in between

blankets (for the diaperless shots)

• Ifyoudohaveaspecialoutfit,I

recommend keeping it to just one

as babies tend to get cranky during

outfitchanges.

“Life is hectic and with a hus-

band, a dog and two little ones,

there is never a dull moment.

Each year I am amazed by how

much our family has changed

and how my kids have grown.

I never want to forget these

moments and often want to

freeze a certain image in my

mind. Luckily, I always know I can

count on Kate to capture our

family ‘right now’.

- Shika, repeat client

Frequently Asked QuestionsHOW DOES RESCHEDULING WORK?

In case of inclement weather, illness, or emer-

gencies, we’ll reschedule your session as soon

as possible for no additional fee. If something

comes up, please contact me at least 48 hours

before your session so that I can reserve a new

time for you. As Boston’s weather is notoriously

unpredictable, I typically do not call off a session

due to weather until the day of.

WHERE SHOULD I PRINT?

I recommend mpix.com, which is an online-

based lab that offers professional-quality prints.

Afteryouuploadyourdigitalfiles,theymailthe

prints straight to your home. While slightly more

expensivethanlabslikeShutterfly,Mpix’spaper

and colors are much better. I give clients more

detailedprintingadvicewiththeirflashdrive.

HOW MANY PHOTOS DO YOU TAKE?

Igenerallyshootatleastfivetimestheamountof

photos guaranteed for your session in order to

make sure that we end up with great photos! For

50finalproofs,I’llshoot*atleast*250frames

and then narrow them down for you later.

CAN YOU PHOTOSHOP BLEMISHES?

100% yes!! We’ll work together to make sure

you’recompletelyhappywithyourfinalfiles,

and I ask for any particular editing requests

Frequently Asked QuestionsexpensivethanlabslikeShutterfly,Mpix’spaper

and colors are much better. I give clients more

detailedprintingadvicewiththeirflashdrive.

HOW MANY PHOTOS DO YOU TAKE?

Igenerallyshootatleastfivetimestheamountof

photos guaranteed for your session in order to

make sure that we end up with great photos! For

50finalproofs,I’llshoot*atleast*250frames

and then narrow them down for you later.

CAN YOU PHOTOSHOP BLEMISHES?

100% yes!! We’ll work together to make sure

you’recompletelyhappywithyourfinalfiles,

and I ask for any particular editing requests

before and after your session. Bruises, blemishes,

scratches, wrinkles, and moles are just a few of

thethingsthatcanbeeasilyfixedinPhotoshop

—thesoftwareisquitemagical.Withallphotos,

I also lightly smooth skin in a way that still looks

natural.

DO YOU PROVIDE HAIR/MAKEUP?

While I don’t work directly with a hair/makeup

artist, I’m happy to provide a list of recommen-

dations upon request. Please be sure to allow

plenty of extra time in case your appointment

runs late.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to

email me at kate@kateLphotography.com!