A Few Things to Avoid During Your Photoshoot

I absolutely love being a photographer. I love getting to meet new people, explore beautiful locations, create images that feel true to my clients, and, most of all, I love getting to be a small part of so many important seasons of life.

Over the years, I’ve learned that there are a few little things that can make a big difference in how a session goes. None of these are meant to be “rules,” and I’m certainly not sharing them to make you nervous before your session! My goal is simply to give you a little insight into what happens behind the camera and how we can work together to make your experience as relaxed and enjoyable as possible.

So, here are a few things I recommend avoiding during your next photoshoot!

“Can We Recreate This Photo I Saw Online?”

Absolutely! Send me your inspiration!

I actually love when clients send me photos they’ve saved from Pinterest, Instagram, or even from one of my previous sessions. It gives me a better idea of what you’re drawn to and what you’re envisioning for your own photos.

The one thing to keep in mind is that your photos probably won’t look exactly like the inspiration photo, and that’s a good thing!

Every session is different. You are different. Your family, your personality, your outfits, your location, the weather, and even the way you naturally interact with each other will all affect the final image.

I’m always happy to use inspiration as a starting point and put my own creative spin on it. My goal isn’t to copy someone else’s photograph; it’s to create something that feels like you.

So bring me all the inspiration you want! Just trust me to make it your own.

The Phone in the Background

This one is especially important for weddings, but it can apply to any session.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a quick behind-the-scenes photo of your friend, family member, or loved one. But when multiple phones (or even multiple cameras!) come out during a moment I’m photographing, it can make it really difficult to create the clean, intentional images you hired me to capture.

Imagine I’ve just lined everyone up, found the perfect light, and everyone is looking at me… and then suddenly three phones pop up beside my camera. Now everyone is looking in a different direction!

For weddings especially, I love encouraging couples to consider an unplugged ceremony or at least asking guests to put their phones away during important moments. It allows everyone to be fully present, and it gives me the opportunity to capture those moments without a sea of phones in the background.

Trust me, I’ll make sure you get the photo. You can just enjoy the moment!

Arriving Late

I know life happens. Traffic happens. Kids decide they absolutely cannot find the shoes they wore yesterday. We’ve all been there!

But whenever possible, please give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your session.

I choose session times very intentionally, especially when we’re working with natural light. That beautiful soft, glowy light we all love doesn't stick around forever!

Arriving late can mean less time in front of the camera, a more rushed session, and potentially missing some of the best light. I want you to be able to arrive, take a breath, and ease into the session instead of feeling like you’re racing against the clock.

My best advice? Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early. You’ll have time to get settled, fix any last-minute hair or wardrobe issues, and start your session feeling relaxed.

“You Must Have a Really Good Camera!”

Okay, this one always makes me smile.

Yes, I have invested in beautiful equipment, and I’m very thankful for it! But a good camera is only one small piece of the puzzle.

Photography involves understanding light, posing, composition, location, movement, camera settings, editing, and, perhaps most importantly, people.

I spend a lot of time learning and improving my craft because I want to be able to walk into a session and know how to make the most of whatever we’re given.

Sometimes the light is perfect. Sometimes it’s cloudy. Sometimes your toddler refuses to cooperate. Sometimes the location looks completely different than we expected.

My job is to know how to work with all of it. Which means I’m not just pointing a fancy camera and pressing a button. 😉

“Can I Have the RAW Files?”

This is a question I occasionally get, and it’s a completely reasonable one!

RAW files are essentially the unedited files straight out of my camera. They aren’t the finished product that I deliver to my clients.

When you book me, you’re not just hiring me to take a picture. You’re hiring me for my creative eye, my experience, my editing style, and my ability to turn those photographs into the finished images you see in your gallery.

That’s why I deliver fully edited images rather than RAW files.

Think of it like this: the photograph coming straight out of my camera is only the beginning. The editing process is part of my art and my style, and it’s an important part of creating your final gallery.

“Can You Photoshop This?”

Sometimes, yes!

There are plenty of little things that can be adjusted during the editing process. Maybe there’s an unwanted distraction in the background, a temporary blemish, or something small that takes attention away from the photograph.

However, more extensive retouching can take quite a bit of additional time.

Things like changing body shape, extensive skin retouching, removing multiple people or objects, or making significant changes to an image aren't typically included in a standard session.

I always want you to love your photos and feel confident in them, so if there’s something specific you’re concerned about, please tell me before your session! We can often find ways to photograph you that make you feel comfortable and confident without relying heavily on Photoshop later.

“Can You Make Me Look Thinner?”

This one deserves its own little mention because I hear it more often than you might think!

I know that being in front of a camera can make people feel vulnerable. It's very normal to have things about yourself that you feel self-conscious about.

But I promise you, you don't need to come to your session worrying about looking “perfect.”

One of my favorite parts of being a photographer is helping people see themselves a little differently. I’ll guide you into flattering poses, pay attention to angles and light, and help you feel comfortable in front of the camera.

You don't need to know how to pose. That's my job.

Scheduling Your Session in the Middle of the Day

If you’ve ever wondered why photographers are always talking about sunrise and sunset, there’s a reason!

Natural light is one of the biggest factors in creating the soft, warm, flattering images that I love. The hour or so before sunset, often called golden hour, is especially beautiful.

Midday sun tends to be much stronger and creates harsh shadows, squinting, and less flattering light.

That doesn't mean a midday session is impossible! Sometimes schedules, work, school, or little ones simply don't allow for an early morning or evening session. In those cases, we'll find the best possible location and look for open shade to make the light work for us.

But if you have flexibility in your schedule? Trust me on the golden hour.

“Oh, And My Whole Family Is Coming Too!”

I love big families!

However, there’s a big difference between planning a family session for six people and discovering at the beginning of a session that six additional people are joining us.

Every type of session requires different preparation. A family session, maternity session, couples session, and graduate session all have different approaches, locations, posing, and timelines.

If you know you’d like to include additional family members, siblings, grandparents, or anyone else, just let me know before your session.

That way I can plan accordingly and make sure we have enough time to capture everything you’re hoping for.

And if you're wanting both maternity photos and a family session? Even better! Just tell me ahead of time so we can plan the session intentionally!

Most Importantly: Don't Stress!

If there’s one thing I want you to take away from this post, it’s this:

You don't have to know how to take photos. That's why you hired me.

You don't need to know how to pose, where to stand, what to do with your hands, or how to make your kids cooperate.

You just need to show up, be yourselves, and trust me. I'll guide you through the rest.

My goal is always to create photographs that feel natural, beautiful, and true to you, not photographs where you look like you were simply told to “stand here and smile.”

So bring your Pinterest inspiration. Bring the crazy kids. Bring the nervous husband who insists he “doesn't like pictures.” Bring your sentimental moments and your imperfect, wonderfully real family.

I'll take care of the rest. ♡