GENERAL TIPS
Eat well and hydrate. Drink plenty of water in the days before your shoot to make sure your skin looks its best. Try to avoid lots of salt, sugar, or alcohol the day before your session. Moisturize your skin – face and hands!
Get a good night’s sleep. Easier said than done, I know. The more sleep you get before your shoot, the more relaxed and rested you’ll feel. It shows!
Choose clothing carefully. Avoid trendy looks that will soon look dated, bold logos and branding, loud prints, and super fine patterns that produce moiré in camera. Solid colors, classic styles, and the occasional pattern are smart choices. Couples/families should coordinate (not match!) outfits. Let me know if you need advice on what to wear, or bring options so we can decide together. There’s a steamer at the studio, but try to iron out wrinkles before you arrive to save time.
Get ready for some close ups. Brush your teeth right before the session – Everyone looks and feels better with some fresh pearly whites! You don’t need to wear tons of makeup to look great in your photos – Less is usually more on camera. Let me know if you’re feeling unsure about hair and makeup in advance, and we can discuss having an artist who specializes in getting you camera-ready. Don’t forget the details – If you bring jewelry or accessories you may want to shine/clean them in advance, and make sure hands and nails are good to go if they’ll be in the shots.
Avoid big changes. I don’t recommend a new haircut or color at the last minute, or a straight razor shave if you don’t usually do it. A new style might not turn out the way you envisioned, or you might have an adverse skin reaction. Stick to your routine, and the results will be authentic and genuine.
Relax and be you! Everyone is weird in their own way, so bring your sense of humor. Don’t be afraid to laugh. Try to forget the camera is there, and let’s focus on telling your story!
STUDIO SESSIONS
Directions – Open in Google Maps: The studio is near the end of a cul de sac on Winchester Avenue, just south of Lawrence and east of Damen. From Lawrence turn south onto Damen, left onto Leland (one way), and left onto Winchester. Or from Wilson turn north onto Winchester, and the studio will be at the end of the block past Leland.
Parking – View a detailed parking map and instructions here.
- Free 8am-5pm on the 4700 block of Winchester
- Free at all times on Wilson (one block south) between Damen and Ravenswood
- Free after 5pm on Ravenswood
- $2/hour 8am-10pm, Mon-Sat (free Sundays) on Lawrence* and Damen. *Once parked, take the sidewalk between McPherson Elementary and their playground/parking lot to Winchester.
Arrival – The entrance is on the northwest corner of the building (*not in the courtyard). Walk through the far left archway, and the door is directly to the right (mailbox says JOHNSON). If you are having trouble finding the studio or parking, call 312-291-1981 and I will help direct you or meet you outside.
This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer you are. You can come back at any time to make more changes.
The studio is dog-friendly. I sometimes have my Pugs, Josie and Humphrey, at the studio. They make for very lazy assistants, but they're expert lap dogs. Please let me know in advance if you have pet allergies or would prefer a dog-free shoot so I can be sure to leave them at home.
LOCATION SHOOTS
Arrival – Call my cell, and I’ll let you know where we should meet.
Weather – We can’t control it, so if it will prevent us from taking great photos we may need to reschedule. A little rain or snow never hurt anyone, though, so let’s not throw in the towel before discussing our options. It can add to the story we’re telling, or maybe we can switch to an indoor location or two. Make sure to factor wind, rain, or snow into your clothing and hair decisions. Check the forecast and be prepared with coats and umbrellas if necessary!
Flexibility – Sometimes locations are unexpectedly unavailable or unsuitable for our shoot. Don’t stress! We can improvise and still take great photos. Just remember, you are the star of your story and the location is just the background.
This is a paragraph. Click edit and enter your own text. You can make changes like making the text bold, underline or italic. This is a great place for you to tell your clients more about your story and to describe the type of photographer you are. You can come back at any time to make more changes.
PHOTOGRAPHING CHILDREN
Be patient! With children, we are documenting the moment – whether it be laughter or tears. They don’t (and shouldn’t) have the same expectations we do as adults. For little ones especially, their attention span or mood may dictate how many photos we take or how long we can go. Be prepared to call it a day if they just aren’t cooperating.
Because kids are kids, I may ask for parents to occasionally step outside or out of view. This is to ensure the best, most natural images possible since children have a tendency to react differently when parents are in the room. I encourage snacks for children, but choose wisely be careful to avoid any spills, stains, and dirty cheeks!
