Session Guide
Hey there! I’m Emma & I’m all about capturing the details of life & love with an affinity for authentic connection over artificial perfection.
It’s an honor for me to be invited into your life to document some of the moments that mean the most to you.
I’ve been lucky enough to have many of my most precious life-events photographed, so I know first-hand what treasures the images we receive from our trusted photographers are. Thank you for your confidence in me to be the one to give you such an experience!
This guide is packed with helpful information to ensure your session goes smoothly & I’ve taken the time to carefully organize it so you can easily find what’s most relevant to you. Be sure to take a moment to read through the sections that pertain to your session type & use the table of contents to quickly navigate to the info you need!
Alright well, if we’re already friends you know I can’t wait to spend time with you for your session! If we haven’t had the chance to meet in person yet, I’m so looking forward to connecting & sharing this time with you!
Styling Tips
I think it’s important to remember that having photographs taken is somewhat of a special occasion. A photoshoot takes place because there’s something worth documenting; another year watching your children grow, the pregnancy or birth of a new baby, graduating from high school, or any other time that carries meaning for you.
Though your wardrobe is certainly not the most consequential detail of your photo session (authenticity & connection are the highest priority), approaching it with careful consideration will help to represent your session as the valued event you want it to be. I’ll be there to help you through the whole process – I love to create wardrobes with my clients! I have an ever-growing Client Closet & a virtual styling tool we will use to make planning as simple as possible for you!
Things We’ll Consider:
- When coordinating multiple outfits, incorporating several complementary colors rather than just matching with one or two is the way to go – neutral colors in earth tones are timeless, flattering to all skin tones, cohesive with natural surroundings & always photograph well
- Including different color values will create separation between family members – utilizing both light & dark shades between your outfits will prevent you from fusing together in your images
- Choosing clothing pieces that can add visual interest, items that have unique textures, show movement & catch light
- Layers & accessories add texture, detail & variety as they can be added or removed – jackets, sweaters, dusters, hats, jewelry, cardigans…
- Well-planned patterns, like florals, plaids, or subtle stripes, can be an intriguing element – we’ll keep them simple & limited to one or two
- Avoiding solid-colored T-shirts & button ups as they can become a stark focal point in photos – opt for fades, heathers, or knits to soften & give variation
- Be mindful of a proper fit – all attire should be tried on before session day to ensure it’s comfortable, flattering & allows unrestricted movement
- I recommend shoes be relaxed & understated – easy to walk in on uneven ground
- For indoor sessions, bare feet are best
- If you are a nursing momma & would like breastfeeding images, be sure you have an outfit that will allow for this
- Have back up options available in case of spills, spit up or snags
A Few of my Favorite Shops
- WOMEN – Free People | Joyfolie | Vici | Baltic Born | Altar’d State
- MEN – Old Navy | Gap | H&M | Target | Amazon
- CHILDREN & BABIES – Joyfolie | Reverie Threads | H&M | Indie Blue | Target | Amazon | Etsy
Family Sessions
Documenting your family each year with a photo session is a powerful gift. The images we create together will be your keepsakes to cherish & your legacy to pass on for years to come. That being said, please believe me that on your session day I want you to take a deep breath, relax & trust that we’re going to have a lot of fun!
Remember, you are welcome & encouraged to come as you are & to be true to that the entire session. This time will be all about your authentic connections & natural affection. The love that you & your family share is what will breathe life into the still frames of your finished gallery. I will absolutely prompt certain interactions when needed to keep the session flowing, but only as an extension to what I’ve already witnessed is present.
So hug your children, kiss your spouse, hold on tight to each other & don’t fuss over perfection because that’s certainly not what I’m expecting.
Quick Tips for an Easy Breezy Session
- Make your session the highlight of the day! Help your children get excited about it being a fun evening together, avoid doing too many strenuous activities so no one is worn out & please, oh please, NO threats!
- Let your whole family know ahead of time they’re off the hook for staring at the camera & saying “cheese!”
- Arrive a little early so everyone has some time to warm up & settle in
- Bring water & snacks to ward off thirst & hangry-ness
- If you have little ones, a stroller can be handy in case one of them needs a break, when we want to capture some parent-only images & to carry essentials like diaper bags, extra clothes, blankets, food & drinks, etc.
- Relax, I expect your children to act like children & I welcome it – if they’re naturally shy, playful, sweet, wild, or otherwise, that’s just how I want to capture them
- Be ready to go with the flow – things don’t always go as planned & that’s okay!
Maternity Sessions
What a truly exciting event that is happening in your life right now – I’m honored to be the one to capture it for you! You deserve to have beautiful, timeless images that will bring you back to these days over & over again, reliving the wonderful moments & remembering all of the details that made it remarkable.
Maternity sessions are intimate & focused on you. I know, that may feel a little intimidating, especially if you’re not used to being in front of the camera. But I promise it’s going to be easy, fun & so rewarding.
You & I will work together from beginning to end to create the experience & the images you really want. Here are just a few super simple things you can do to help make our time together great:
- Trust me – I’m not going to claim to know it all, but I will guide you with experience & the one goal of making you feel comfortable & look wonderful
- Try new things – maybe you’re not used to having your photograph taken (not many are!), but be brave & just go for it! Relax, smile, laugh, move & go with the flow
- Talk to me – if you have an idea, share it! If you’re not feeling something, let me know! This time is all about you & I don’t want to miss a thing
It’s best that you have 2-3 outfits to work through & I encourage that you take the opportunity to make them distinctly different. Sticking with the same color scheme will keep your gallery cohesive & flowing, but switching up styles, patterns, & accessories will add diversity.
Newborn Sessions
First, I want to congratulate you on the arrival of your new baby and thank you for choosing me to photograph this incredibly special time! I have a deep love & appreciation for newborns, and I’m honored to have the opportunity to capture this occasion for you.
Whether your session takes place in your home or at the studio, my approach remains the same — relaxed, baby-led, and focused on genuine connection. My goal is for everyone involved to feel comfortable and enjoy this time together while I document it with care & intention.
If your session is in-home, we’ll plan to use the spaces with the best natural light — often the master bedroom, nursery, or living area. I’ll turn off overhead & ambient lighting for the most flattering results, and you’re welcome to tidy or adjust the space beforehand if you wish. (But please know I arrive completely judgement-free — homes with newborns are meant to look lived-in!)
If your session is in-studio, everything will be prepared ahead of time so you can simply arrive & relax. The studio is filled with soft, natural light and designed to feel calm, minimal, and welcoming — the perfect backdrop to focus on your family’s connection.
No matter where we meet, I’ll bring a curated selection of wraps, props, and accessories for baby’s solo images — carefully styled to create timeless, natural portraits that complement your family’s look & feel cohesive with the rest of your session.
Lastly, please know that the safety & wellbeing of your baby is always my highest priority and will remain my main focus throughout your photoshoot.
Couples Sessions
Whether you’re celebrating an engagement or simply honoring your relationship, this session is all about documenting the details of your unique love story & creating images that will beautifully reflect the journey you’re on together.
Your bond is truly one-of-a-kind & this session is designed to showcase that! We’ll focus on capturing the genuine moments that highlight your love & connection.
To make your session feel more like a fun date, consider these tips:
- Engage with Each Other: Focus on your partner & let your love shine. Connect, laugh & show genuine affection so your images feel like you!
- Act Natural: The best photos come from natural interactions. Let your true personalities & the best parts of your love for one another show!
- Go with the Flow: Relax & enjoy each moment. I’ll guide & direct to keep the session moving, but the most beloved images often come from the real, quiet moments when you’re really engaged with each other.
- Be All In: Think of this session as a special time for just the two of you! Without the distractions of everyday life, you can be fully present & truly enjoy one another’s company.
Milestone Sessions
Milestone sessions are a beautiful way to preserve your baby’s growth during these fleeting early months. As time passes, those little details you treasure today can feel like distant memories tomorrow. Capturing them now ensures that you’ll always have a visual reminder of how much your little one has changed. These milestones are a celebration of your baby’s unique personality & the joy they bring to your life, which means booking this session is an investment in holding onto those memories forever.
Now, here are just a few simple things to help you prepare for our time documenting your little one…
- Do your best to make sure they are well-rested & fed before the session to ensure they’re cheerful & ready!
- If you think your little one might need extra comfort, feel free to bring along their favorite snacks, stuffed animals, or lovey items like a blanket
- Since the backdrop is a light, neutral color, outfits in soft, neutral tones are most complimentary. We can do 2-3 different looks & I also have some beautiful pieces available in my Client Closet that you’re welcome to use!
High School Senior Sessions
Senior sessions are designed to feel relaxed, natural, and reflective of who you are during this exciting season of life. My goal is to create images that feel confident, genuine, and timeless — something you and your family will love looking back on long after graduation.
Most seniors bring 2–3 outfits that reflect different sides of their personality — something casual, something that represents their style or interests, and something slightly more polished.
A few simple tips when choosing outfits:
- Choose pieces without large logos or bold graphics so the focus stays on you
- Neutral tones and earthy colors photograph beautifully outdoors
- Avoid wearing mostly green, as it tends to make you blend into the background instead of standing out
- Select outfits that feel comfortable and authentic to your personality
Styling guidance — along with optional access to the Client Closet — is always available if you’d like help planning your looks!
After Your Session
We’ve now had our time together & I already know I can’t wait to dive into editing your precious images, curating a beautiful, emotive gallery for you to fall in love with.
Delivery of your gallery can take 4-6 weeks, especially during busy season. I select all of the best images from your session & I hand edit each one, so I give myself a comfortable amount of time to complete that labor of love.
As soon as they are finished, your images will be uploaded to an. online gallery presentation site where you will have the convenience of viewing, downloading & sharing them, as well as ordering prints, wall art & additional photo books (more on that on the next page). Your gallery will remain active for 30 days after delivery to you, so make sure you download & save all your images before its expiration.
Finally, please know that I am always happy to re-open a gallery after it has expired for additional print & product orders – I understand that life happens & it can be easy to forget to place them! Many people appreciate the access to the professional print lab to order holiday gifts as well, which is so lovely.
Prints & Products
In an effort to provide as much convenience & service to you as possible, I am so excited to offer the ability to order prints, canvas wall art, custom holiday, graduation & baby announcement cards, as well as custom photo albums right from your online gallery!
I partnered with the White House Custom Color print lab for several reasons, not one of the least being that they are based here in Minnesota. I love supporting local businesses whenever possible, plus their proximity means super-fast shipping! Their numerous print options & obvious high-quality products give you every opportunity to get exactly what you want for your images.
Because I love nothing more than when clients are able to hold their beautiful photographs in their own hands, I created a few print collections which allow you to receive a variety of sizes & products at a discount. Please check out all that is available to you for purchase below & I can bring examples of every type of print to your session for you to experience in person if you’d like.
Of course, if you already have a favorite print lab, you will absolutely receive a print release from me so you can have your images printed wherever you prefer.
Print Options
- Lustre: A semi-gloss paper with vivid colors & excellent skin tones
- Deep Matte: A true, non-reflective paper providing a rich, matte finish
Fine Art Options
- Smooth Matte: 100% cotton hot press paper. It has the smoothest surface of the fine art papers
- Torchon: A pure cellulose watercolor paper with a distinct textured surface – this is the highest quality fine art paper
Other Products
- Canvas Gallery Wrap: These Fine Art Canvas prints have a tight & consistent weave that match the texture most people think of for an artistic canvas, with a semi-gloss laminate coating for a slightly reflective finish
- Custom Photo Album: Your very own custom-designed, 20-page, 10×10, lay-flat, panoramic, hardcover photo album to timelessly display a beautiful variety of your treasured images
- Custom Cards: Celebrate special moments, share announcements, send holiday well-wishes & more with a collection of customizable designs or create your own
- Metal Prints: With a non-reflective matte surface that offers added depth & richness, this uniquely durable print maintains its metallic look without the shine. Because it’s printed on a clear metal base, the raw, brushed metal texture is able to show through your image more clearly, especially in white or light-colored areas. Arrives ready to hang, mounted on a ¾” thick Gatorboard that creates the subtle yet stunning illusion that your image is floating on the wall
- Acrylic Blocks: Created by mounting a glossy, professional-quality fine art print on 1-inch thick, polished acrylic, this product provides exceptional detail reproduction & enhanced colors & contrasts. They’re also UV-resistant, waterproof & scratch-resistant so you can put them just about anywhere with total peace of mind
Using Your Print Credit
When your final gallery is delivered, you will receive a one-time use print credit in the amount determined by your chosen package! This print credit will act as a single-use coupon, so it is important to understand the following things:
- Single Use: The print credit can only be used once. Any unused portion of the credit will be forfeited & will not carry over for future use
- Expiration: The print credit must be used within 30 days from the date the online gallery is delivered. After this period, the gallery will expire & orders cannot be placed. Please let me know if you need more time, I am happy to provide extensions!
- Non-Transferable: The print credit is non-transferable & can only be used by you!
- No Cash Value: The print credit has no cash value & cannot be exchanged for cash, refund or any other form of compensation
- Application of Credit: The print credit will be applied to the total amount of the order at the time of checkout in the online gallery. If the order total exceeds the value of the print credit, you will be responsible for paying the remaining balance
Print Product Pricing
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The Home - Save 20% $410.00
4 - 4x6 Deep Matte Prints | 2 - 5x7 Deep Matte Prints | 4 - 8x10 Smooth Matte Fine Art Prints | 1 - 11x14 Smooth Matte Fine Art Print | 1 - 16x20 Smooth Matte Fine Art Print | 1 - Custom Photo Book
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The Room - Save 15% $203.00
2 - 5x7 Smooth Matte Fine Art Prints | 2 - 8x10 Smooth Matte Fine Art Prints | 1 - 16x20 Smooth Matte Fine Art Print
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The Desk - Save 10% $58.00
2 - 4x6 Deep Matte Prints | 2 - 5x7 Deep Matte Prints | 1 - 8x10 Deep Matte Print
Wall Grouping Inspiration
Effortless Ideas for a Beautiful Display
Bring your timeless images to life by transforming them into a stunning feature wall in your home! My print packages are thoughtfully curated to include a variety of sizes that work beautifully together & I’ve created examples to inspire you as you plan your own unique display. These layouts are meant to spark ideas & show how easily these prints can come together to elevate your space. With a little creativity, you can frame, hang & enjoy a beautiful reminder of this season of life!
Thank You
“In the end, we’ll all become stories…” I am so grateful to participate in visually telling your story, to be a part of freezing time & space, holding you exactly as you are in this moment & preserving the details of your life that our minds can so easily misplace.
Thank you, friend.
