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The style guide
Outfit inspo, location ideas and tips for planning an amazing session!
when to schedule...
for engagement portraits
Anywhere from 4-6 months before your wedding is ideal.
Your e-sesh allows you to be more creative with the season, style and location.
for Family portraits
Reach out to me 1-3 months before your desired date to lock it in and ensure availability.
time of day
I photograph portrait sessions on Sundays only within a couple hours of sunrise or sunset. Below are some good times on sunny days. Indoor sessions are perfect mid-day to get all that glorious afternoon sunlight coming in!
what to wear...
Be you
Accessorize with statement pieces and don't be afraid to be bold. You can stay within your personal style but elevate the look
comfort meets style
Personally, I go all out when dressing my family for portraits. I have photographed everything from a couple in a velvet blazer + backless gown to a couple with ripped jeans and a leather jacket with sunglasses. Be stylish but comfortable so you are not constantly self aware that something has to keep being adjusted :)
hair and makeup
I always encourage makeup and a hairstyle that matches your outfit. A pop of lip color can do magical things on camera too. Makeup setting spray (especially on warmer days) and hairspray (especially on windy days) is a YES!
match something
I legit choose color palettes and styles to match rooms in our home where the photo prints will be displayed. Consider matching your wedding colors if these photos are for your save the date or do a fun theme!
colors
I get asked this a lot and honestly there is no wrong color
patterns
Mixing patterns/prints is fun and you can coordinate them other with solids or textures
weather
It's important to take weather into consideration. Spring and Fall are ideal for outdoors sessions so you aren't sweating your booty off or freezing your booty off. In cases of rain, snow or strong winds we will reschedule. Most of the images you see on this site are sunny evening golden hour times and each session will vary depending on the time of day, weather and overcast that day.
Spring
7AM or 7PM
Fall
7AM or 5PM
Summer
6AM or 8PM
Winter
8AM or 3PM
some favorite colors to wear
some favorite colors to wear
location ideas
sherwood gardens
variety of flowers and plants, gardens are very colorful in the Spring + Fall
cylburn arboretum
gardens, mansion, woods, open fields, really cool trees, variety of colorful flowers
Baltimore Murals
Baltimore has so many beautiful murals + painted buildings around the city that would be the perfect background for any session
choose your own
Choose a setting that you love, you want to feel in your element.
Some cool ideas:
your home, your backyard, library, museum, city streets, waterfront, woods, beach, bar, brewery, boat, studio space, art gallery, greenhouse, coffee shop, bookstore, vintage shop, restaurant, rooftop, empty tennis court, empty basketball court, monochromatic studio set
info + Travel
You are required to get permission/permit/pay fees for any location that requires it. Please reach out to the location prior to selecting it. Keep in mind it needs to be within 20 miles of Baltimore, Maryland 21234 or a travel fee will apply.
loch raven reservoir
water, tall trees, woodsy, beachy area
liriodendron Mansion
mansion, gardens, vine covered porch, woods, elegant
north point state park
beach, sandy trails, woods with tall trees, tall grasses
hampton mansion
historical mansion, tall trees, pretty garden area
Oregon ridge Park
we got married here! woodsy, trails, tall grasses, all of the trees
Historic ellicott city
historic small town vibe, tree lined trail
Cromwell Valley Park
rustic white buildings, woody trails
jerusalem mill
rustic vibe, stream, open field, lots of trees
Tide Point
waterfront, cityscape, industrial
fells point
city, cobblestone streets, waterfront, pier, colorful buildings, ivy wall, pretty doors
rawlings conservatory
greenhouse, cactus room, palm room, rain forest room
clipper mill
industrial, edgy, brick buildings, parking garage, old glass windows
federal hill
city, view of Baltimore Harbor, park with trees
AVAM
Outside of American Visionary Art Museum
Patterson Park
the pagoda, butterfly garden, woodsy pond
Mt Vernon Place
historic Baltimore vibes, monument, fountain, park, garden
Bromo selzter arts tower
giant clock tower, industrial
Baltimore museum of art
sculpture garden, museum steps
things to know
What should I do with my hands?
The goal is to never leave your hand dangling next to your side awkwardly so I suggest putting your hands in pockets, holding hands, linking arms, placing on your partners chest or lower back, resting your hand on someones shoulder, holding onto your jacket, holding a dress to the side, brushing your hair away, adjusting your glasses, under you chin, holding your partners face.
posing tips
Always slightly lean your head + neck forward towards the camera when facing it from the front or side. Don't scrunch back when you smile or to make your face or body closer to someone else. The goal is to feel flexible for more photos options. so don't wear anything that is too tight, needs constant adjustments or is not comfortable to move around in.
How to look and feel your best
It's all about your mindset and knowing your personal preferences, but also please know that I got you and often shoot a wide variety so you have options for favorites. We are human and it's normal + natural to not love every single photo because nobody is used to seeing every angle of their face/body. Practicing in a mirror is helpful and communicating with me is also helpful because being overly critical and hyper-focusing on insecurities can be eased with an open line of communication. We all love flattering photos where we think “dang I look good” and my goal is to give you that!
how to make it perfect
An open line of communication. I do everything in my power to create amazing portraits. You are hiring me for a reason and I want you to have the best experience! If there is something that you are concerned about before or during the session please just open up and tell me in the mini questionnaire I send you so I can make notes and be mindful during our time together.
empty your pockets
The goal is to be hands free without anything noticeable in your pockets or having to always set a bag down. Leave bags in the car. You can throw your keys and phone into my camera bag or I can carry them in my pockets. Minimalism is best.
set your tone
Make your session the highlight of your day! Unless it is a morning session then don't run a bunch of errands and pack your day full. Pad your timeline for hair/makeup/nails/barber. You can set the tone by being relaxed, allowing enough time to get ready and be prepared as you possibly can be. For families, consider nap times and meal times for your littles when scheduling.
how many images?
This is dependent on each session as no two sessions are alike. I provide an estimate of the minimum number of images you will receive and galleries range from 15-100 images. I deliver digital files so you can print on your own.
50% candid + 50% prompts = 100% chill experience
Typically the photos I take are half prompts and half candid. I will direct you but I also keep clicking to capture natural interactions.
work mode
When I am photographing sessions or events I go into work mode. My eyes are scanning the area and I am forever searching for the best light. Sometimes I stop mid-sentence to take a photo and that's because I am in the zone. I will dive into giving you directions and prompts but feel free to stop me at any time to offer suggestions, adjust or throw around some ideas too!
after your session
Portrait and Engagement galleries are ready within 6 weeks. I send a link to your online gallery via email and you are able to download the images and print on your own, there is also an option to print directly through the online gallery at the professional lab. Pro tip: print your photos first and/or select your favorites for an album. Jumping straight to sharing them on social media often delays printing them out.