Cathie Saxton | PO Box 1052 | Pawleys Island, SC 29585843-421-0014 |www.freckle-face-photography.com

Session Guide2011

Thank You for choosing Freckle Face Photography

Custom portrait photography is an investment in your future, gifts to leave your children, moments that will be shared for generations to come and memories you will treasure for a lifetime.

This session guide is meant to walk you through the process and answer common questions along the way.

YYour investment begins with a session fee of $100. The session fee covers my time, talent, travel and post-processing of your images. This fee does not include prints or digital high-resolution images. For families over 5 people, please add an additional fee of $25. For groups of 11 or more, please add $50.

Session fees are due at the time of booking to ensure you are scheduled on the date you choose.

What To Expect During Your Session

This should be FUN, not something your family is dreading!

Sessions typically last from 1 to 2 hours. Some children take longer than others to warm up to the idea of having their portraits taken… and that is okay! I expect it! We will never rush a session.

My goal is to captuMy goal is to capture who my subjects are and not just what they look like. I do pose clients for several images, but also strive to capture the unexpected moments of laughter and playfulness, as well as the quiet unspoken moments of love that will touch your heart for a lifetime.

YYou can expect a laid back, relaxed experience. We will probably sing songs, play peek a boo, even make silly noises. Jumping in puddles and playing games are not deal breakers! Don’t be surprised if your child even becomes the “photographer” for a few photos of you! And most importantly… I will never ask your child to say “cheese”!

NewboNewborn and infant sessions generally last a little longer. With these sessions we will take breaks to accommodate the baby’s schedule. Nursing, feeding and changing are always welcome and encouraged! If your newborn session will be in your home, please turn up the heat half hour before I arrive. Some of the most cherished portraits will require very little clothing. The warmer they are, the better they will do. Soft music is also encouraged to drown out the sounds of my camera.

What happens next?

AppApproximately 2 weeks after your session, I will email you a link to a password protected online gallery. Each image in your gallery is individually edited and processed, so the 2 weeks in necessary to deliver the level of service, and quality of work, expected with custom portrait photography. Your password protected gallery will feature a one of a kind slideshow , as well as 30-50 (sometimes more!) images from your session. Please free to share this link with friends and family. Galleries will remain active for 2 weeks. After the two weeks, there will be a be a re-hosting fee of $25.

Orders can then be placed online through the gallery, in person during a one-on-one consultation, or over the phone.

Once your order is placed, please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.

A full catalog of custom items are available in addition to prints. Our boutique items include albums, wall displays, jewelry, birth announcements, special occasion cards and wall art. Please contact Cathie for more information and pricing.

I look forward to meeting you and your family soon!

What Should We Wear?coordinate... but not matchy-matchy

I know there is more to you than jeans and a white shirt!

Although many clients love the look of jeans/khakis and a white shirt for the classic beach portrait, don’t be afraid to throw in some color too!

Most impoMost importantly….just be you! I want you to be comfortable. I want to capture you and your family as you are right now. I know how hard it is to get your toddler out of that tutu and rain boots… so bring her just like that! You might find it silly now, but 30 years from now your heart will melt when you look back at those images and long for the days of mismatched clothes and crazy outfits!

IIf you are a casual family, don’t worry about dressing in your Sunday best. If your husband only has one tie and wears it only to weddings and funerals, don’t make him wear it! Just be you!

VVibrant colors are wonderful. Try to avoid large logos and busy patterns. We want the focus to be on the person, not the clothing. I always tell clients to “pick a color”... then carry it throughout the family. If you love navy blue on your 2 year old, then have dad wear dark jeans, have sister in a cute sundress with navy accents... and mom... find a fabulous scrarf or jacket to tie it all together!

KKeep in mind that unexpected things may happen (especially with babies and small children) so think ahead and always have a spare outfit for them. Up to 3 outfit changes are welcome.

Location and Timing

All sessions are shot on location. One of the best advantages of custom photography is that I travel to you! No need to worry about the chaos of the mall!

Sessions aSessions are available in your home, in your yard, at the beach or another location of your choice. I am always excited to discover new places, so if you have a favorite spot, or a location you are interested in trying… I am up for anything! Outdoor sessions provide for a relaxed environment and (usually) the best lighting. If you choose to use your home, I will need a room with ample lighting. When I arrive you can give me the grand tour so we can select the spaces in your home that will produce the best light. Donthe best light. Don’t be surprised if we have to move a few things around to do so!

Please note: Beach portraits are generally done an hour or so before sunset. Please let me know if that will not work with your children’s natural schedule.

Newborns

TThe best time to plan your newborn session is during the first 2 weeks of life. During these first few weeks, babies tend to sleep more soundly and are not bothered by a whole lot. Schedule your session before your baby is born! We will pencil you in. Babies have a mind of their own when it comes to entering the world… so if you deliver early or late… just have Dad call to confirm and, if need be, adjust the date of your session.

WWhen I arrive to the session, it may look like I am moving in... but no worries... it’s just blankets and pillows and fabrics to create several differ-ent looks for your baby’s first session with me. I always bring a few hats and props, but please feel free to look around and pull your own favorites (like cute hats or the crocheted blanket that was given to your husband when he was born). Anything that will bring special meaning to your portraits. Several outfit changes are welcome.

Be prepared to be involved in the portraits as well. Even if you aren’t feeling your best, simple things like holding their tiny hands with yours, or the profile of your face kissing theirs, will instantly turn into some of your most cherished images.

Illness and Weather

Life Happens! If someone is sick, however, let me know as soon as you can so we can reschedule. If at all possible, please try to give 24 hours notice for cancellations. If I am feeling under the weather, I will always reschedule newborn sessions.

I neI never trust weather reports, especially on the South Carolina Coast! So unless you hear from me otherwise, we’re still on (some of the best light is on a cloudy day). However, if it’s storming, and it doesn’t look like it will be letting up anytime soon... we will fit you in on the next available open day.

Boo-Boos and Tattoos

I do complete I do complete retouching on all of your proofs, so please don’t let a boo-boo stop your from keeping your appointment. (That also goes for the pile of silly fake tattoos that your 5 year old decided would be fun to put on today!) Photoshop can be an amazing tool when it needs to be!

When is the perfect time for portraits?What if my home/yard/hair/weight isn’t perfect?

Should I wait to do portraits? NO!

There is no time like now. If not for yourself, do it for your kids. Will there ever be “the perfect” time for your family portrait? Probably not.

TToo often we worry that we don’t have the right outfits, our child has a silly haircut, we need to wait until summer when everyone is tan, that life is too busy, or that we haven’t reached our goal weight. I guarantee you that in 20 years, your children are not going to look back at portraits and say: “I really love this family picture... I just wish mom had waited until she lost some weight…” Your children see you every day. THEY love YOU… chins, rolls, bad haircuts and all. all. They won’t care how you looked in the picture, they will just be happy you were in it!!

Don’t let the opportunity to capture your time together get lost in the midst of busy lives and excuses…make this a priority.

We will have fun. We will laugh. The kids will giggle. You will have a chance to hold hands. You will re-connect as a family. My goal is to capture the love between your family members... the Real Life. That’s what I’m after.

The Perfectly Imperfect.