SEE YOU SOON!

I’m excited to see you soon! To help you feel prepared and excited for your shoot, I’ve included a few pointers below.

Things To Do Before Your Session:

Plan your outfits before that morning—don’t wait until that morning, trust me! You want to wake up feeling relaxed and prepared, so plan these details out beforehand. Feel free to text me (402-613-1054) photos of your wardrobe if you’re having a hard time choosing! I’m happy to help.
Prepare your kids with relaxed, fun references to prepare them for what they’ll be doing. “We are going to see our new friend Elizabeth on Saturday!” or “We are going to a new park to hike!” Keep things pleasant and casual. (Families have shared that this tip is especially helpful if they have a particularly shy child.)
Of course, make sure everyone gets a great night’s sleep and eats a good meal beforehand.
I will have snacks (some could call them bribes) available.
If your child is shy, come to the shoot with some of their favorite things in mind. I am not a great (or even good) singer, but I’ll croon “The Wheels on the Bus” for your little one.

How to Dress for Your Session:

Obviously, dress for the weather! We want everyone comfortable!
Don’t wear matching clothes — Instead, wear colors in a complimentary color palette. I find neutral colors to look the best in photos. By neutral I mean: tan, cream, dark khaki, chambray, olive green, light and dark grey, and navy. Small patterns are great to throw in.
No tennis shoes, T shirts, or shirts with writing on them!
Be careful about undergarments. While I am very experienced at Photoshop, editing out bra straps or undergarment lines is very difficult and time-consuming. Choose an ensemble that properly covers your undergarments, in all types of movement scenarios.
I recommend women wear medium or long dresses instead of pants because they capture more movement and generally photograph more flatteringly. Short dresses will be a challenge when we do any seated photos, so keep that in mind.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you can move in. If your dress gets suddenly too short when you bend over, or your pants are too tight to sit down in, opt for more breathable pieces. Be prepared to move!
Do opt for accessories! Bowties, suspenders, hats, headbands, scarves, beautiful flowing dresses and skirts—these create visual interest and movement in your photos, and really help the images stand apart. Photos are a special occasion; take advantage of this fun opportunity to dress up a little more.
If you have a little girl with bright nailpolish on, go ahead and remove it. Neon pink and vibrant turquoise nails will almost undoubtedly clash with your beautiful wardrobe choice, and yes, it will show up in the photos.

How to Pose During Your Photo Session:

I’m aiming for some good posed photos and then I’m after something to surprise and delight you. I’m chasing natural interactions and unposed moments. I strive to capture and encourage authentic expressions. No need to coax your children into fake smiles!
On a related note, children around the ages of 5-10 will sometimes try to “cheese” in the photos, because that’s what they’ve been conditioned to do when they see a camera! Help me create more candid shots by interacting playfully with your children.
Laugh, play, tickle, and snuggle. This is how we’ll capture the REAL moments.
Not everyone has to be looking at the camera in each shot. I like to especially encourage my dads to focus on their partners and their kids.
When in doubt, just smile and look at your family lovingly.
Stand close together. Actually, as close as possible :)
Relax, slow down, and don’t force anything. Don’t feel pressured to make everything perfect! Just be present with your family and I’ll do the rest. And don’t stress if any of the kids get fussy! As a mother of five and thoroughly experienced photographer, I’ve seen it all before, TRUST ME. Just snuggle your kiddos and we can still capture beautiful images :)
Expect me to move you around to different spots to capture images. The more variety we get, the bigger your gallery and the more great shots we have the opportunity to create together!

Elizabeth Santo Photography, Hinsdale Ave, Littleton, United States