WELCOME
Welcome, friend! If you made it here, that means you must be trusting me with your photos! I can’t wait. This guide is your one-stop shop to prepare for your photoshoot.
Showing up to the same location at an agreed-upon time is just not enough to create photos that you’re going to swoon over!
So get comfy and take 10 minutes to intentionally walk through this guide! I promise you, it will be every bit worth it!
Start with vision.
We could absolutely go to the nearest “pretty location” and take a bunch of pretty photos at sunset with you looking at the camera like models. And hey - if that’s your vibe, let’s do it! But if that doesn’t represent who you are, or your story, let’s go deeper.
I want to take an intentional and collaborative approach to these photos. From the location to what you wear, any themes, and beyond. The more vision and ideas you can give me, the better. Could even use a fun prop! Kite, books, blanket, food like strawberries, cake, ice cream, bike, binoculars- the list goes on. If you have a go-to date night that you love to do together, tell me!
And even if you don’t think that your idea is “photo-worthy”, ask me first! What makes photos meaningful is not the beauty/vanity, but the story they tell.
Need Location Ideas?
If you’re local to me, here are a few of my favorite places to shoot. If you’d like to see examples from any of these locations, I’m happy to send over a visual!
There are so many beautiful locations throughout the Gulf Coast, and these are just a few of the options. If you have a specific vision in mind but aren’t sure where to bring it to life, let me help you find the right spot.
Not shooting locally? Reach out directly, and I’d be happy to help with location ideas wherever your session takes place.
* Dauphin Island West End - 2 Sided Beach
* Dauphin Island East End - Rocks & Beach
* Dauphin Island Kayak Launch - Small Beach, Bridge in Distance, Wooded Boardwalk & Trees
* Dauphin Island Middle Beach - New pretty long wooded boardwalk to the beach
* Dauphin Island Bird Sanctuary - Wooded area with a wood pathway, pond overlook, & beach access
* Large Field Area in West Mobile (will send exact spot)
* Washington Square Park Downtown
* Bienville Square Downtown
* Downtown Parking Garage Rooftop
* Spring Hill College Oak Tree Tunnel & Golf Field Area - Stunning oak trees and a beautiful grassy area
* Japanese Flower Gardens - Weeping willow, pond, tree stump & small grassy field
* Outside of the Mobile Botanical Gardens - Wooded field area
* Mardi Gras Park Downtown (open area with RSA tower view & History Museum view)
* Outside the Mobile Federal Courthouse Building - White Pillars & Steps
* Inside the Battle House Hotel (have to get approval ahead of time)
* Bienville Square & Fountain Downtown
* Fairhope Pier - tall hill area with a stunning view on a hill; down the hill is a mix of wooded area, small white bridge, small beach, trees and pier
* Fairhope Beach Area - a little further down the road from the main pier is a little beach area with stunning trees and a small pier
* Downtown Fairhope - cute hallmark town vibes lol
**Locations that require a fee:**
* Oakleigh House Front Steps
* Bragg-Mitchell Mansion Live-Oak Tunnel
* Mobile Botanical Gardens - String lights last time I went, quiet garden area & benches
* Bellingrath Gardens - Beautiful garden walk with many different spots (large fee)
* History Museum of Mobile - Art hung everywhere
* Cornerstone Gardens - Small garden area with a gazebo
What To Wear & Picking Your Outfits
What you wear can make or break your photos! Take my word for it. :)
Imagine that we're painting a picture... the scene has been painted, and we're about to paint you into it! What you wear is like the quality of paint you use to create a piece of art. Poor quality, and the art suffers!
Take into account the location you are shooting at and the season you are shooting in. The location has its own vibe, colors, textures, and theme. Back to the painting analogy, think about your location as a painting that is already painted, and now we have to paint YOU into the picture.
What are we going to have you wearing? What will look best against the backdrop? What makes most sense in that scene?
Choosing Your Colors
I recommend wearing soft tones that complement the surrounding area we are shooting in.
Think: ivory, cream, oatmeal, beige, taupe, tan, chocolate brown, dusty blue, muted denim, olive green, and other soft tones.
You want to avoid logos, bright, or overly saturated colors that don’t naturally fit into the setting. These colors can pull attention away from you and end up feeling out of place in an otherwise natural, timeless image.
That said, one or two pops of color can be beautiful when paired with neutrals. If you choose a color like blue, let it be an intentional accent rather than adding several competing colors throughout the outfits. I have done a portrait shoot with greenery in the back, and she had on a beautiful pink dress, and it added a nice pop of color to the setting.
A note on patterns
Patterns can be beautiful! You don’t have to stick to solids. Small-scale florals, subtle stripes, and other patterns can add texture and visual interest to your photos. I would just avoid anything extremely bold, large, or distracting that could take attention away from you.
Pairing outfits with your partner
When choosing your outfits together, think coordinating rather than matching. You don’t want to both be wearing the exact same color or tone. For example, if one person is wearing ivory, the other could wear a muted blue.
The goal is for your outfits to feel connected without looking like uniforms. Mixing different colors, textures, and silhouettes will give your photos more depth and make the overall look feel effortless.
Make sure your outfits...
Have movement
Make sure you can move in your outfit very easily, and it's a huge added bonus if the piece itself moves as well! TRY: Flowy, airy, fun, textured, soft, etc...
AVOID: Stiff, crisp, business, starched, etc...
Are timeless
Look for something you won't regret wearing in 5 years. Maybe something that has already stood the test of time. Use what I call: "The 5 and 5 rule." 5 years ago, you could have probably worn it, and in 5 years you could still wear it!
Feel like you
Make sure it has that classic, trademark, YOU Stamp on it! Whether it's something old or new!
Avoid: crisp or starchy clothes that make you feel constricted, sports/athletic wear, big logos, and any trendy patterns.
FAQs
What if our shoot gets rained out or has bad weather?
I absolutely want you to be excited about your weather conditions, so I always keep in touch with clients in the days preceding our shoot if the weather looks yucky. Anything from cloudy to sunny is not something I reschedule for, but heavy rain or unsafe weather is something I am happy to reschedule with no extra fees.
What if I just do not know what to wear at all?
Let me know that! I have so many ideas, don’t worry. Message me photos or ideas! We’ll make sure you look amazing. :)
How soon will we get back photos?
My promise is that you will have sneak peek photos within 24 hours, and the full final gallery and slideshow within 2 weeks from our shoot date. :) Your final gallery will be delivered via an online Pixieset gallery. You will receive a link where you can download and your images. I highly recommend downloading directly from Pixieset. No screenshotting!
Do you offer photo retouching?
I do not. I believe that natural and real is the most beautiful and authentic way to be photographed, and it’s for that reason that I don’t offer heavy retouching and editing. I spot-edit temporary blemishes and smooth out skin texture.
Yay! Time to fill out your questionnaire!
I will send you a questionnaire regarding the topics in this guide for you to fill out before your session so I can best prepare for everything!
As a small business, word of mouth is everything! If you love your experience, I'd be incredibly grateful if you'd share my name with friends and family, or even just tag me in your pictures.