WHERE ARE SESSIONS HELD?
​
Sessions can be held at your home or on location in Burlingame, San Mateo or neighboring cities.
Commuting to Half Moon Bay, San Francisco, Belmont and beyond may require an additional travel convenience fee.
​
​
​
WHAT SHOULD WE WEAR?
​
Plan your outfit(s) about a week prior to your session and lay them out somewhere in your home so you know they are clean and ready to go. Trust me, making this effort will make the day of the shoot go SO much smoother - no searching for pants or finding them in the dirty laundry with a big stain. And don't forget the shoes!
Take a moment to read the info below, and check out these blog posts for inspiration:
​
Family Photos:
-
Starting with neutrals is always a good idea, and I usually recommend looking for whites, creams, grays, blacks or blues as these are typically easy to find across family members.
-
From there, add coordinated pops of color and/or texture to add interest to your photos - pops of blue and pink, black and red, mustard and purple, a fur vest - whatever you seem to be able to find across multiple family members. Keep in mind that not every single person needs it - a pop of color on just mom and baby totally works if everyone else is neutral.
-
That said, bold prints and patterns should generally be avoided as they will likely clash with others, and can be unflattering in photos. Subtler, lighter toned patterns can be okay if they are coordinated in terms of color with other family members.
-
If you're going to be in a grassy area, stay away from a lot of green so you don't blend into the background!
-
Accessorize! I can't emphasize this enough - think hats, headbands, vests, ties, necklaces, tights, etc. - adding texture and interest will make your photos stand out.
-
Lastly, don't feel like you have to get super dressed up! Think stylish rather than fancy. Frilly party dresses and suits can look great in the right setting, but usually casual is completely fine and looks more natural as long as it looks stylish and pulled together.
-
All that said, if you have a certain look in mind and you've already pulled it all together, I say go for it! This is YOUR family and the pictures should absolutely represent who you are.
​
Newborn Photos:
-
Because these are taken in the comfort of your home, often on your bed or the living room couch, the name of the game is looking nice, but in a casual, relaxed way. Nothing too fancy. Think relaxed, casual, light and airy.
-
Dad:
-
I usually like dad to wear a white or very pale colored collared shirt, and any neutral pants - jeans, khakis, gray pants are all great choices.
-
A knit short-sleeved collared shirt can also work. Just no patterns or bold logos!
-
-
Mom:
-
I also like white, cream, ivory, pale pinks or pale blues. If you want your photos light and bright you need to wear light colors.
-
Lace or embroidery on the dress or top is a plus - it will add interest and texture to close-up shots.
-
Simple, casual dresses are great as they eliminate the need to worry about pants and the dreaded postpartum waist-line (ugh, I've been there!).
-
Loose fitting tops with loose cotton pants are also great options. Most newborn photos only photograph mom from the waist up or in a sitting position, so don't worry too much about your physique - it will be covered - promise!
-
Bare foot is fine for newborn shoots, so don't worry about shoes.
-
-
Siblings: ​
-
Anything light colored and neutral that compliments the other outfits. No bold prints or patterns.
-
​
Maternity Photos:
-
These photos are all about the baby bump! ,
-
Wear a form fitting shirt or dress that shows off the bump, or a flowing shirt/dress where you can place your hand underneath to show the curve of your belly.
-
Make sure your shirt or dress also shows good definition at the top of your bump. Shirts that tie or have elastic in that area work great - too loose shirts can result in a uni-bump which is not a good look!
-
As with family photos, try to coordinate with your husband and children. Neutral colors are easiest and I recommend picking mom's outfit first, then coordinating dad and any siblings to go with it.
​
​
​
SHOULD I BRING ANYTHING FOR THE KIDS?
​
I know it's shocking to hear, but the truth is, kids generally don't have a ton of patience for taking photos.
They'll need a little breathing room during the session, and you will 100% want to bring some water and a snack (and by snack I
mean bribe) for them to have during or after the shoot. I have no problem taking a quick break during a session
when a kid needs a little pick-me-up. It happens ALL the time.
​
HOW SHOULD I GET BABY READY?
​
For a family shoot that includes a baby, remember to schedule it between naps! A well-rested baby will be much easier to handle.
​
For a newborn shoot, you'll want to be sure your house will be quiet and relaxed during the session (i.e. no gardeners outside, cleaning crews scheduled, or dogs running around). Change and feed baby just prior to my arrival so she is nice and full and (hopefully) sleepy and clean. Leave their little diaper on, but no clothes (unless you want to use them for the shoot) and wrapped in a blanket. That way, if baby is asleep when I arrive we can hopefully keep them that way while I put the swaddle on for the shoot and won't have to remove any clothing.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT WITH YOUNG KIDS?
​
I try to always remind clients with young children (about 7 and under) to set their expectations. When it comes to photo sessions, kids can (and will) take complete control. It is completely normal for kids 4 and under to have zero interest in sitting still and looking at the camera - but that's okay! There are ways around it and the session will likely be more focused on playing. Grab her hands and swing her around. Put him on your shoulders. Throw him up in the air. Anything to get a smile and some giggles. For kids 5 and over, they may sit still and smile for a little bit, but they can also quickly lose patience. We'll grab those sitting family shots as quickly as we can, then set them free for a snack and a quick break before asking them to do any more. It's easy to get frustrated when you feel like your child isn't cooperating - just try to remember that it's
completely normal, and keep smiling!
​
​
​
WHEN WILL I RECEIVE MY PHOTOS?
​
After we wrap our session, you can expect to receive a link to your online viewing gallery within two weeks.
This gallery will include all retouched files included in your session with a PIN to download your hi-res files straight from there. If you've ordered a flash drive as well, you can expect to receive that in the mail within 3 weeks.
​
​
WHAT TYPE OF PAYMENT IS PREFERRED?
​
Payment is made in full after our session is complete - check (made out to Lindsay Morris), cash or Paypal are accepted - thank you!
​
​
​
HOW DO YOUR PRICES COMPARE TO OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS?
​
This is a great question and one that many people ask - check out my featured blog post to get more insight!
​
​