Prepping for your session.

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You have booked a session, now what?  First off thank you for choosing Abigail Troy Photography! I am excited that we will be working together to capture your memories. I will handling the posing, lighting, and what we are doing BUT there are a few things you can do to help ensure you love your photos!

Please read over this prep guide! It's important so that we can ensure a great session you will love! There's many things you might not of thought of in this prep, some great suggestions, and everything in here is something I have learned from past sessions. 

For all sessions: 

Outfit Selections

• When picking out an outfit go with something that would be natural for your family. These will be displayed in your home and you want it to match you/your style.
• Pick out clothing to match the season you are taking photos in and make sure everyone is wearing clothing that is for that season. Make sure it is also comfortable. Example: if it is summer make sure everyone is dressed for summer. Do not have one in winter style clothing and the rest in summer. Or vise versa. 
• Pick out clothing ahead of time, try it on, and be sure everyone in the photos likes the clothes for them. Giving kids and spouses a small say lets them be involved! This will help with complaints. 
• Patterns should be limited. Only one person per family, especially on large ext family shoots. Solids are very recommended. 
• Stick with a main color with a few accents. For example mustard yellow as the main color with navy and tan accents. If you need ideas please let me know!
• Neon colors are not recommended at all. The colors will “bounce” back and cause weird color casts.
• Wording and logos are not recommended on clothing. They can be a distraction, hard to read, and over all take away from photos.
• Everyone doesn’t have to wear the same thing. Let each person have a little personality in their outfits. Ex: everyone wearing plaid, or all white shirts with jeans is not recommended. 
• If a child can not stand alone then they should not be wearing over alls or jumpers. They tend to bunch up and cause more issues and become more a distraction.
• Babies and toddlers should have on a diaper cover and clean diaper (no blue lines!) You can also buy all white diaper online if the diaper cover is a little transparent. 
• Girls in dresses need shorts or something to cover their panties. We do a variety of poses and this becomes an issue often. They also like to play with their dresses often. 
• Accessories and jewelry: I do suggest to keep them simple. Long necklaces tangle, sometimes I might pose you laying down so they fall. SMART WATCHES: If you have a smart watch I suggest taking it off. They are very bulking usually and just take away from the photos. I suggest a traditional watch or bracelet in place of it. 
• Shoes are important. If we’re shooting outdoors remember heels sink so bring something to walk in. Make sure they match your outfits. Take the tags off the bottom too. 
• Wearing layers does offer benefits. You can have a few with a nice jacket, take it off for a different look. They can make great props. Scarves are the same way.

Tips to ensure a smooth session that is stress free

• Keep your expectations low, don’t put too much stress on your kids, spouse, or even yourself for perfect photos. Go with the flow and remember that Instagram is not real life. Kids can have bad days, the weather might not be perfect but at least everyone is together! We can make magic happen with what we are given, I promise!
• Feed everyone!!! Being hangry is a real thing for kids and adults! Don’t save eating dinner for after your session, especially if you’re doing a golden hour session. At least give them a quality/good snack if you want to eat dinner after. Don’t feed them in the outfit they are wearing for photos of course. 
• Look up where you are going for the session a few days BEFORE your session, not the day of. This seems like common sense but many do not until they are leaving and they end up being late as they under estimate how long it takes to get to the photography location. Always remember that there could be a wreck or road delay so make sure to give yourself an extra 10 to 15 minutes for travel. 
• Let everyone have a say in their outfits. Don’t force dresses, certain shoes, colors people hate, etc. It’s totally fine to give them option 1 or 2 but let them help! People prefer to have say and it makes everything go smoother. 
• Plan your outfits when you book your session! That way you have time to get them, try them on, and not wait until the last minute to get them. Give yourself at least a month before the photos, it will be way less stressful than waiting until the week before or even a few days before. This includes shoes. Select clothing for the hardest person first and then build everyone else’s around that. 
• Bring help for pets and/ or kids if needed. There’s nothing wrong with that. If you don’t have anyone local if you give me a heads up I can possibly have someone to help. It just depends on the date and time. 
• Bribes are ok. Remember kids can have bad days and there’s nothing wrong with telling them about a fun thing, special treat, or new toy if they do photos. Same with spouses. 

Hair and Makeup

• Makeup is a great tool for sessions. Make sure you wear it how you like and don’t try anything too out of your normal range. I always suggest it for shoots, even if you normally don't wear it. It does help even out skin tones, hide blemishes, and just gives a more polished look.
• Make sure hair cuts and colors are done before the shoot. Just don't do anything drastic that you are not sure you will love! This goes for everyone. 
• Professional hair and makeup is always recommended. 
• Nails should be clean, ensure that if you have polish on that it is complete and not peeling. I do not fix nails for free as that lands outside of the basic editing. If you do not have times to do your nails then please make sure that nails are clean. This applies for children and adults! Fixing of nails is not covered in the basic editing. 

Glasses, sun glasses, and hats. 

• Glasses sometimes cause issues. I always suggest being prepared to remove them for photos. They cause glare and if they tent in the sun then we can’t see your eyes. Sometimes if they have the blue light guard on them they cause a weird color cast making you have purple or blue tones on your eyes. If you really feel like you look odd without glasses I would suggest bringing a pair of frames without lens for the shoot.  If you buy a cheap pair from Walmart,  Amazon, or another place please try them on before the shoot and pop the lens out if there is ANY glare at all. 
• Sunglasses are not recommended at the shoot. I suggest leaving them in the car so we don’t brake or lose them. We need to see your eyes. They sometimes leave marks on your face from wearing them. 
• Transition lens are always an issue for outdoor photos. Please bring regular glasses or be prepared to remove them. They are the same as sunglasses and really take away from photos. Lightening them is not part of basic editing and costs extra per image. 
• Smart watches should be removed. They really take away from photos, even with "cute bands". Replace with a traditional watch that is pretty or bracelets if you have a tan line. 
• Hats can be fun! If you do decide on a hat suggest make sure it matches your outfit and the season we are photographing in. Just know they can cause shadowing on your face/eyes. I suggest on baseball hats not to have a logo or writing on it. So with a solid one that’s less distracting.  Cowboy hats are usually a better option over baseball hats. 

Remove everything from pockets when you arrive and no hair ties on your wrists. Please keep cell phones in the car. They are usually a huge distraction. 

Bring items to make your children laugh or smile. If they like a toy bear, cars, and so on. We hope not to have to have it in the photos but sometimes kids just need a comfort item. If you bring something be ok with the child holding it! Sometimes bringing a snack can help also with children and I am not above bribing kids. Telling them there’s a reward for being good is a great way to get them to smile and be involved. When picking out toys the more neutral the better! Wooden toys are great. 

Please let me know if there are any special needs when booking. For examples: grandma uses a cane, grandpa can't walk far, my child is autistic, shy, has ADHD, and so on. If we need a chair or something I need to know ahead of time. If there is a wheel chair bound person this is very important as well. Large groups I have a sheet to fill out to help. If your kids are shy or out going is important too. Letting me know the ages of kids helps ensure I have proper poses for them. 

Props. If you are bringing props let me know too so I can work them in. If you have an idea on something let me know because I might have the props you’re looking for. If you have pose ideas send them before hand too. 

Prep your family. Tell them we’re doing a session, that it will be fun, and if they just go with the flow it will be over before they know it. I have a goody box to go through for kids even when coming onsite. Feed your family before arriving, give extra naps and take it easy the day of session! Do not plan birthday parties or other family events for before the shoots. Your kids will be too tired for the shoot. Do not go swimming, shopping, etc before the shoot! Trust me, they will be tired and cranky! Take it easy the day of the session. 

Seniors

Make sure that you know any and all school restrictions and requirements if you plan on these being in a year book. Along with deadlines for the year books. Every school has something. You should have received that info from the yearbook director. Most larger schools have an early fall deadline on turning the photos in, usually in mid to late October.  While smaller school it’s usually around the first of the year or the start of 2nd semester. When booking make sure you are finding out this information. I do not know all the schools in the area restrictions and deadlines.

Seniors do not have “rules” on clothing like regular sessions since it just them. Make sure to get colors that you feel you look good in, no neon colors, rules on hats is still good to go by and same with shoes. Make sure you are in the right season too but you can wear patterns, if you go with wording on shirts make sure it’s clean and the same goes with images on shirts. 

Senior shirts are great too! 

Bring props that match you! Bring your favorite pet, sports items, your vehicle, band items, or whatever you are into. I have no issue with hunting items as well. (We will ensure they are unloaded with safety precautions of course) 

Make sure you have clean nails ect like suggested in the rest of the prep. 

Pets 

• All pets must be on leash / caged when not in use if no leash, have manners and be friendly. Leashes are required with no exception due to wildlife in the field, I have an outdoor pet, and there are sometimes stray dogs, and my neighbor has a large in their fence. There’s too many distractions to just allow a pet to wonder around unfortunately so for everyone’s safety a leash is required. 
• I do not suggest a bright colored collar and leash nor the retractable leashes. Harnesses are ok but can be distracting for photos. 
• I do not handle pets so please bring someone who can handle your pet once we are done with them if they will not be in every photo. If no one is around to help they will need to be placed back in your vehicle. 
• Please bring treats and whatever they like to get their attention. 
• I do not care what type of pet you bring. We have photographed everything form horses, snakes, lizards, cats, dogs, birds and I am always up for new pets. 
• If you decide to go off site and not your own property you are responsible to check if they are allowed at the location you’ve selected. Leash laws will need to be followed if inside city limits. If there’s any fees to take your pet to the shoot you are also responsible for that.

Newborn, older baby, toddler prep. 

• Let them take a nap and eat before the session. We want them happy and in a wonderful mood! If it’s a later shoot and they nap early normally try to get them to take a later nap so they will be rested for the session. Maybe even wake them a little later than normal in the morning so they will nap later. Anything to keep them happy. A happy baby will be best. Sometimes we might need to add on more time due to them taking longer to warm up — be ready to go with the flow of your little one. 
• Parents — be ready to jump in the photos.  You might be a prop or in a quick photo. Some kids just do better holding your hand or having you hold them. It happens and we have to go with the flow. 
• For newborns a sleeping baby is what we want! Please keep the baby awake and arrive 15 minutes early. I highly suggest to feed and change them then put them to sleep on site at the shoot. Older babies for to arrive 10 minutes early to change their diaper when you get here so that they are dry and ready to go. Also don’t put them in the outfit you want for photos to travel.
• White diapers are suggested for all kids! All white, you can buy them online. Sometimes diapers show through the lighter clothing. You can buy them online. We do not want to see a blue line either in photos so bring a fresh diaper for the shoot. 
• If you decide on shoes make sure they match your outfits. Take the tags off the bottom too. Bare feet is a great option. Baby toes are so cute! Socks usually get pulled off. Most babies hate shoes so don’t force it. 
• Newborn wrapped / swaddled photos are always a great choice. Babies loved to be wrapped and swaddled and do better that way for photos. Most little outfits are way to big!
• No over alls unless your child can walk on their own. They bunch up and get in the way. 
• Indoor shoots for newborns will be HOT so that baby can sleep well. If siblings are in the shoot we will do them FIRST usually so please bring help if you need it for them so that after we can focus on the baby. I suggest removing the older siblings afterwards as babies tend to do better with out distractions. 

Boudoir Prep

• A few days before and the day of the session: I do suggest not to eat anything heavy before you come in. Think light
• Get plenty of sleep the night before.-- no bags and we want rested eyes. 
• Remember to not wear tight clothing when you are headed to the session. We don't want lines (socks, panties, bra, jean marks)
• If you added on hair and makeup: The shoot will take about 1 hour AND hair and make up will take up to an hour itself if you are having it done by my HMA. Arrive with clean hair and moisturized face. 
• Moisturize your whole body because dry skin is not sexy. 
• Moisturize your lips starting a few days before as well.
• Tan lines, do not have them. They are a huge distraction and look bad. If you decide to do a tan or spray tan do your research and pay for a quality one. Do not do it the day before either as it will still be too fresh to look real. Do it a few day before just in case it’s a little too dark or orange. Removing tan line costs extra, keep that in mind with summer swim suites and what you select to wear for the shoot. 
• Have clean or nice nails (both hands and feet) We will be seeing everything! They don’t have to be perfect of course but just either done or clean. They should match your outfits too. Do not do seasonal nails either, it never matches right. 
• If your feet are dry start about 5 days before the session when you go to bed put a good thick layer of Vicks vapor rub on your feet. Then put on socks and sleep in them. They will be smoother and it will look much better than dry feet. 
• You get up to 2 to 4 outfit changes depending on which package you selected. including an implied nude and or topless. Pick outfits you like and that you know your spouse will like. 
• If it’s a color you normally wouldn’t wear then keep looking until you find something you love. 
• Bring heels or boots. 
• Any jewelry you like but simple is better when it comes to that. 
• Wear your wedding, promise or engagement ring if you have one. 
• If you normally wear earrings wear some. 
• If there is a special piece of jewelry to you or your spouse bring it. Maybe they bought it for you. Maybe you all got it on a trip together. Whatever the story is let’s include it so the photos are even more special. 
• Wires are your friend on tops! They hold the girls up and you will be more confident. 
• Bras should be fitted! No gaps when you lie down, if anything size a cup down. 
• Panties: if you are curvy don’t do a string thong, it makes your butt look larger than what it is. Have a good fabric to booty size ratio. Look at the examples for this. I have many on there. 

Outfit Ideas: 

• Spouse’s work shirt or a shirt they were often. 
• Sports shirt if they love sports or if you do too. 
• A sexy sweater with tall socks. 
• Tall fishnet stockings are always nice.  
• Matching nice bra and panties. 
• If you like to read or are a teacher bring a book and some glasses., even a ruler. Apples work well too.  
• Nurse, police, firefighter — endless ideas there. 
• If you or your spouse is in the military bring items from that (hat, jacket, dog tags)
• Casual clothes can be very sexy. Such as cut off jean shorts or just short shorts, tight jeans, simple t-shirts, or shirts that you/them love can always work great. White tight t-shirt or tank tops work very well.
• Vail, garter, and flowers from your wedding or upcoming wedding. 
• Lingerie is always nice but isn’t the only option. 

If you need help coming up with outfits please let me know. We can work together to get the best ideas for you. I have a ton of ideas and base it off your body type. 

If you have any poses you’ve seen that you love please send them to me. We can try to work in your ideas too. I come with visuals to every session so that it’s easier to see what we’re going for with a pose.

FILL OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT for HMA and myself. I need to know how to pose you and that helps. It helps HMA plan for your shoot.