PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE GUIDE
janet henry photography
hi there!
I'M JANET
I'm a lifestyle portrait photographer
based in Nashville, Tennessee
specializing in families and newborns.
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I'm a wife and mama of three and
I'm so excited to serve you
and your family!
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Let's get started!
hey friend,
I'm so excited to help you capture this sweet season with your family! Whether it's milestone moments for your kids like first birthdays or graduating seniors, or just capturing life together, I'm honored that you chose me to serve your family!
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This Portrait Experience Guide is full of information about the client experience, including guidance on what to wear, how to prep your family, where to meet, and more so you will be completely prepared to capture some beautiful memories during your session.
janet
what to expect
Portrait sessions are relaxed and fun. We will laugh and play for those authentic smiles. We keep things light and fun and moving so everyone stays engaged and has a great time making memories together as we document those special moments. Here is more about what you can expect before, during, and after our time together so you will feel fully prepared...
BOOKING CONFIRMATION + CLIENT QUESTIONNAIRE
Your booking confirmation email will have a link to a client questionnaire that will help me get to know you better and learn your priorities for our time together so we can plan a successful session. This questionnaire is short and taken care of easily online.
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PREPPING FOR YOUR SESSION
The week of your session, you will receive a final info email covering all the details for your session, including location and parking directions, weather information, and last minute reminders so you will have all your questions answered and be fully prepared for your session. You will also receive a reminder two days before your session to pay your remaining balance.
BEFORE
We will spend 30 minutes together for your session. For outdoor sessions, I will arrive early and assess the light that day so I can share a game plan for that specific location as soon as you arrive. For studio sessions, everything will be set up and ready for us to get started as soon as you arrive.
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There's no need to worry about knowing what to do or how to pose yourself when we start taking photos. I have a mental playlist of all the shots we need for a beautiful gallery, so don't worry about missing anything. I will tell you exactly what to do as we go along so that we can make the most of our time and flatter everyone in your photos.
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If you have small children, I will bring lots of energy and playful noises to get their attention and make them laugh matching what is effective for their personalities. If you feel like your littles are struggling to cooperate, please don't stress! Keeping the energy positive during your session will help give you the best results and you'll be surprised what we are able to capture even with squirmy littles. I'll give plenty of guidance along the way to help direct little ones and we will follow their lead for needed breaks so everyone stays happy.
DURING
SNEAK PEEK
Everyone is excited to take a peek at their images, including me! A couple days after your session, you will receive a sneak peek via text/email. I will also share sneak peeks on social media with your permission (covered in your client questionnaire and portrait contract)
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GALLERY DELIVERY
You can expect to receive your images within 2 weeks of your session. High resolution edited digital images are delivered in an online gallery. You will receive access to your gallery via email with all the information you need for accessing, downloading, saving and shopping your session gallery. The gallery has an easy to use print store built right in to order high-end prints and wall art shipped right to your front door!
AFTER
WHEN + WHERE TO MEET
I will send a final info email the week of your scheduled session with all the details you need about your session, including exactly where to meet with an address and/or map pinned location and labels for where to park. That email will also contain my contact information so you will know how to get ahold of me if you have any problems. It's best to plan to meet 5-10 minutes before your scheduled start time to make sure we are able to start your session on time.
FOR OLDER KIDS (5+ years), working out a reward to earn at the end of a good session is a great way to get good cooperation and the best smiles from your kiddos.
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FOR YOUNGER KIDS (1-4 years), having small mess-free treats such as fruit snacks or favorite cereal are perfect immediate rewards for following directions during our time together. Just remember to choose something that your kids can eat quickly without making messy faces so we can quickly move to the next pose without needing to stop for a clean up.
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Bring small snacks and waters to keep in the car or in a small bag with you during the session in case we need to take a break. If your littles are involved in a full family shot, keep in mind that it's most helpful for parents to keep looking at me and smiling while I get the kids' attention. That way I can sneak in a shot as soon as they look at me to get everyone smiling at the same time!
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Letting me know on your questionnaire what their interests are will help me grab their attention and get them comfortable and smiling. I'm happy to sing any theme songs I know to get some laughs or happy dancing! You know what makes your kids laugh best, so come prepared to sing and dance and be silly! When you have fun, they will have fun and that will make for great memories and awesome photos!
PREPPING kids
what to wear
I know choosing outfits and coordinating your whole family can sometimes be stressful, but I'm here to help! Lots of mamas find that it's easiest to find something for themselves that they love and feel good in first and then coordinating everyone else's outfits around their own. Remember to choose something comfortable that you and your family feel good in! No one wants to be uncomfortable the whole time we are together! Solid neutral colors, like shades of white, tan, navy, maroon, and grey go best with nature and the green trees of an outdoor session. Similar colors in addition to shade of sage, rose, and gold are beautiful at the studio.
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Dresses and skirts are great for the girls. Pants and closed-toe shoes are best for the guys. Clients typically choose to go barefoot or sock-foot for studio sessions for a more cozy, relaxed feel. Use accessories like scarves, necklaces, hats, bows, and ties to bring in a pop of color and tie everyone together. Alternating colors on top and bottom between family members is a great way to avoid being too matchy-matchy while still tying everyone together.
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When styling the whole crew, it's helpful to choose a color scheme of 2-3 colors and layering different textures to add interest to your photos and coordinate the whole family. You can also mix solids and subtle patterns for added interest.
There are so many great stores out there! Sometimes it can be overwhelming to know where to start shopping. Here are some of my favorite stores for the whole family when shopping for picture outfits.
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For more outfit inspiration scroll down to my favorite color schemes and outfit ideas to get you thinking about how you want your gallery to look. I personally like to choose a color scheme that goes well with my home decor so large prints of our photos are like magic on display in our house!
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You can also check out my Amazon List for even more outfit ideas!
Express
J. Crew
Banana Republic
Gap
Target
Everlane
Amazon
for KIDS
for MOM
for DAD
Family photo stylist, Whitney Irene, also has amazing recommendations for coordinating your family HERE!
FAVORITE stores
Thank you for taking the time to read through this Portrait Experience Guide! As you prepare for your session, contact me with any questions you may have. I'm always happy to help! I can't wait to help you capture this season for your family!
SEE YOU soon!
I can't wait to serve you and your family!
We are going to have such a great time together!