Hi! It's wonderful that you're here! I think there is something so important and special about documenting these moments for yourself - whether for branding, self-discovery, or keepsake documentation.  Whatever your reasons for being here, thanks for being here.  

We are going to work together to create images that catch bits and pieces of who you truly are, while also creating an environment for connection (connection to yourself, 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 to me that you 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 both 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 the movement 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 three 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! 

 A few practical pieces of advice: neutral colours are best (black, white, grey, light blue/pink/yellow, tan, etc). I highly recommend staying away from super bright colours (neons are a no-go), busy 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 more than 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! 

Location

Portrait sessions can be either on location or in my natural-light home studio. If you have a spot that is particularly meaningful to you, I’m happy to hear all about it! If you’d like recommendations, I’m also happy to give you ideas.

Importantly, your session location goes hand-in-hand with the time of day that you would like to schedule your session. If you’re looking for golden evening shoot, the city centre will lose light more quickly than a field further out in the countryside because the buildings block out the light. With that in mind, you’d probably want to plan for an hour or two earlier if you’re leaning towards an urban session, whereas a more natural, open location (like the rolling fields of the Soers region or Annapolis Valley) will have good natural light for a longer period of time because there are fewer obstructions.

Preparation

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; think about why this session is meaningful to you and how you want to remember this experience. Mindset is everything. Also: stay hydrated! Remember to eat something beforehand!

There is also 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 ten things that you consider to be your strengths. During the shoot, I want you to mentally return to that list you created. Reflect on the things that make you beautiful and wonderful. Fill your mind and body with positive affirmations to leave less room for self-doubt. 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.