Q: Do you have a studio?
A: I work exclusively on location at this time. I use natural light 100% of the time. Sunlight is my light source and I’m very skilled at finding the best light in all situations. Sometimes this means we stay in the shade for soft, even light. Sometimes it means we venture out into the bright sun and try some back lit, sun-filled photographs.
All sessions are planned and customized to show the uniqueness of your family. For some families, being in the home is the truest representation of who they are. For other families it might be playing in the river or at the beach, walking around downtown among old buildings, getting ice cream, or seeking the serenity of a woodsy trail.
Q: Where are you located and where do you work?
A: I’ve just relocated to Montana and it serves as the base of my business operations. My service area continues to include the San Francisco Bay Area and now also includes Western Montana (including Missoula, Bozeman, Whitefish, Kalispell and beyond).
Q: What’s a session like?
A: It’s tons of fun and then some! We’ll play and chat and laugh. And there will be lots of clicking sounds (that’s my camera) and “oohs” and “ahhs” coming from me because I never get over how adorable little ones are. Sometimes I might tell you to do things but most of the time we just hang out and follow your little one’s lead. I often hear afterwards that it was a fun family activity — not uncomfortable or stuffy!
Q: Can I buy a disc of all the photos? How much does this cost?
A: Yes, digital packages are available for purchase after your session (not included). Please contact me for current package listings.
Q: When is the best time to have professional pictures taken?
A: I recommend having portraits done around 5 to 7 months of age to best capture “babyhood” within the first year. At this age, babies are sitting up but not yet crawling. They are very attentive, engaged and smiley. However, every age offers a unique perspective on your child. A 4 month old is at the perfect stage for some classic tummy time photos. A 10 month old is an active crawler and we can capture what the world looks like from his point of view. A 15 month old is an explorer of his world and seeks out new experiences but always comes back to mama and daddy’s arms for security. So every stage holds a different set of experiences and relationships to photograph.
Q: I’d like some family portraits. Do you do that too?
A: Of course! I love photographing the little ones AND the big people. That said, my style is not traditional. You won’t see many photos from me of a family nicely posed for the camera. I tend towards capturing moments and relationships. I feel the most beautiful portraits of a family are taken in the small moments when they are truly being themselves, like when crouching down to explain something to a toddler or scooping a fussy baby in the air to distract them from their mood. Or when mama and her little one are nuzzled up for a hug. Take a look at galleries 5 and 6 {being loved} for lots of samples.
Q: what if the weather is yucky on the day of our shoot?
A: An overcast day is actually great for photographs as it gives nice soft light. If we’re planning to be outside for our session and it’s raining or snowing, we’ll talk the night before or morning of to evaluate whether we should reschedule.
Q: what do I do with all these photos? how do I decide how to print them and where to hang them?
A: All digital collections come with my Inspire and Create Guide which includes resources for having prints made and ideas for creating fun wall displays.