Hi! It's wonderful that you're here! It is so important and so special to document your love, and I’ll be cheering you on every step of the way.

We are going to work together to create images that catch bits and pieces of who you truly are, both as individuals and as a couple, while also creating an environment for connection (connection to yourself, connection between you and your love, and connection between you and me), calm, and confidence.  I’m really truly so happy to be a part of this experience with you! We’re going to dive into a few topics that will allow you to feel as comfortable and prepared as possible for your session.

What to Expect

So what does a session typically look like?  More than anything else, it's important that you and your partner and I connect on a human-to-human level before anything else. I'm human, you are human. We are creating an experience together which requires trust on both ends. Before I even pick up my camera, we'll just have a chat! Let's talk about what brought you here, how you're feeling, how we ended up in this space together and let’s definitely talk about dogs.  If we’re in my home studio, I’ll make you tea or coffee.  I find that I do my best work when people are willing to let me in and tell me about their hopes and dreams and experiences in life. Once we've spent a little time getting to know each other (or catching up if we've met before!), we’ll set out to create images together.  I’ll coach you through the poses and prompts from one moment to the next, but I’ll also step back to give you space to breathe and move in whatever way feels good to you.  We’ll work to find the right balance for you: a push and pull between guided movement and self-directed movement.  Every person is different, so the first several minutes of shooting are all about finding what works for you.  We’ll take a little breather every now and again- there’s no point in rushing and packing a hundred poses into our time together.  I prefer to find a slower and more intuitive pace to keep things easygoing and natural. We’re here to have fun!

After the session:

We’ve just created something magical together! Give yourself a high-five and celebrate with some ice cream. I understand that it’s not always easy to be in front of the camera, but you did it! Within a few days after the session I will send you one or two sneak-peek images, and the rest of the edited images will be delivered within a few weeks of the session. The final edited images will be delivered to your email address via a private online gallery. From there you can download the images and enjoy them for the rest of your days!

Styling Tips

My number one tip for you is to wear something that makes you feel confident. You will feel so much more comfortable if you choose something that you don't have to fidget with or adjust every five minutes. If you feel comfortable and confident in what you're wearing, you will be more relaxed and more present during the session itself; this in turn allows for more authentic moments in the image-making process! 

 Location can play an important role in your styling choices. For instance, a beach or a forest will have a particular colour palette, and it can be helpful to integrate that palette into your outfits.

It is also important to emphasize the importance of dressing appropriately for the weather and the terrain. It’s difficult to feel relaxed and natural if you are too hot, too cold, or if you’re wearing heels on the beach. Feel free to bring an extra jacket, an alternative pair of shoes, or any additional “just in case” items!

A few general pieces of advice: neutral colours are best (black, white, grey, light blue/pink/yellow, tan, etc). I highly recommend staying away from extremely bright colours (neons are a no-go), loud patterns, and anything with a visible logo.  If you are unsure about anything, I encourage you to text me a photo or two of the outfit you have in mind!

 Outfit changes are welcome; if you would like to bring more than one outfit, I highly suggest no more than one outfit change every 30 minutes.  Keep in mind that outfit changes cut into shoot time and not all places have a spot to change.  Layering is a good way to give the appearance of an outfit change! 

Preparation + Mindset

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: connection is SO important. This starts before you even arrive. It starts now! Take some time to sit with yourself and with your partner; think about why this session is meaningful to you and how you want to remember this experience. Mindset is everything.

There is a certain level of vulnerability that arises when you step in front of a camera. I’ve experienced this myself: it’s really easy to find yourself suddenly hyper-aware of what you may consider to be even your smallest flaws, and to fixate on those things (and to loop back to what I said earlier, this is one of the reasons that we take a slower pace during your session- this gives us time to address any worries that come up as we shoot). But- and I cannot stress this enough- the honest truth is that you really truly are perfect as you are. SO. I like to take a proactive approach: before your session, take five minutes to write down five things that you consider to be your strengths, and five things that you love about your partner. I want you to mentally return to that list over and over again as you stand in front of my camera. Reflect on the things that make you beautiful and worthy of love. I try to follow this approach not only when I’m standing in front of a camera, but also in everyday moments when I’m just living my life. I promise there’s a lot of power in it.

Also: stay hydrated! Remember to eat something beforehand! Create a playlist of your favourite tunes and blast it on the drive to the shoot!

CAN WE include our Pets?

YOU MOST CERTAINLY CAN!

If we’re in your home, no extra preparation is needed. I’ll just show up and hang out with your cat and it may be hard to get rid of me afterwards.

If we’re shooting in an outdoor or public space, please bring a pet-sitter! That way, we can catch some great moments with you and your fur baby, but we can also take some time to focus on you and your partner without worrying about how to look after your four-legged friends at the same time.

Communication + Trust

I’m a big believer in the idea that the more openness and information we can share with each other, the more successfully I can show up for you as your photographer, cheerleader and friend. Please please please tell me all about your visions, your expectations and your dreams for this session. Please ask me any and every question that crosses your mind. Please tell me how you’re feeling- excited? Nervous? Emotional? Tired? Joyful?

Help me help you by creating a two-way flow of information. I won’t know that you want photos of you and your partner half-submerged in the ocean waves unless you tell me about it (although I might ask you anyways because it’s one of my favourite moments to photograph!). I try to ask as many questions as possible to make sure I’m not missing anything that may be important to you. My top priority, forever and always, is to make sure that we’re creating an experience and capturing moments that are meaningful to you- so please tell me about all of your ideas! I’m here for it all!

BONUS TIP: Make a date night of it!

If you’re going to get all dressed up, make a day or a night of it! It’s so much fun if you and your partner can finish up your session and head out for dinner or dessert to celebrate. You’ll look and feel amazing and you’ll probably be feeling relaxed and a bit hungry by the time the shoot is over! I’m always hungry after a shoot, so I imagine you’ll feel the same. You deserve some snacks for sure.

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