I want you to know how excited I am to work with you and your family in this season of your lives! During your portrait session, you're going to walk, laugh, hug, snuggle & play together and we're all gonna have some fun & create a little magic!
I've put together this helpful Client Prep Guide, to lend my expertise and to prepare you for an awesome session with me! The guide covers selecting outfits that slap, choosing the perfect location for your family, timing, prepping your children and much, much more!
Hopefully, this will help you to feel confident and fully prepared for our time together, but should you have any additional questions or if you need any advice, please feel free to reach out!
- Brittany
If fifteen years of industry experience has taught me anything, it's that portrait sessions involving children see best outcomes when parents let go of their expectations and all that pressure to perform and just go with the flow!
It's important to remember that it's totally normal and natural to feel a little anxious, nervous or self conscious about shooting portrait sessions! After all, we're not all models and it can feel really uncomfortable at first -- this is also true for little people!
They often find themselves in a new environment, meeting this new person who's holding this big camera and acting a fool and they're not entirely sure what's going on or why we're doing this and maybe mom and dad felt rushed or stressed getting ready, just before the session and maybe they can feel that tension...it can be a lot.
Just BE COOL. And know that it's ALL okay! I've got you!
All you have to do is focus on snuggles and tickles, hugs and kisses, laughing and playing with your people! That's it! I just want you to enjoy this moment with your family in this beautiful place and I promise you, I'll take care of the rest and it will be MAGIC!
The best thing you can do for your kids is to go with the flow and stay positive. The more you relax and have fun with it, the more likely they are to get on board (no matter their age)!
With young children, it's helpful to pack a comfort item, favorite toys and special snacks! If all else fails, the promise of ice cream afterwards usually works like a charm!
I'm incredibly patient with little people and I have a few tricks up my sleeves to help get even the wildest ones to cooperate!
Spring, Summer and Autumn are by far, my busiest seasons for Outdoor Portrait Photography in Charleston!
I am so incredibly grateful for the ability to offer my Maternity, Newborn, Milestone, Cake Smash and Family Portrait Clients a large, beautiful, bright, modern studio where we can shoot indoor portraits year round, no matter the weather! (which also eliminates the need to shoot a certain time!)
My outdoor sessions usually last (up to) an hour and a half and when we can— I love to begin shooting about an hour and a half before sunset! You might've heard this referred to as "golden hour" and that's because the sunlight during this time of day is warmer, softer and produces those creamy, dreamy photos you love! I prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright light. The tricky thing about shooting late in the day with little ones is that depending on their schedule, it can be during dinner time, during what's typically night time wind down and a little too close to bed time! If you have little ones, we can also shoot in the early morning (7-10am) for nice, soft, even light for your portraits!
I schedule portrait sessions during what I believe will be the best light of the day which means that it’s super important to be on time! If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises higher in the sky!
When is the best time to take photos?
In the warmer months, golden hour sunset sessions often fall during the dinner time. They may even fall during or after bedtime for our littlest ones!
As much as we love a consistent bedtime routine, if you want that warm, soft, evening, golden hour light -- in order to capture that, we're likely going to need to throw off your schedule a little bit.
If your session takes place close to dinnertime, I recommend bathing & feeding the kids (and yourselves!) before we begin shooting so that no one get's hangry during your portrait session! Snacks and water are always good to have on hand during your session and for some kids, the promise of ice cream afterward is an effective motivator!
If your children will be going to bed later, consider pushing their nap a bit that day, letting them sleep longer or packing pj's so that you can quickly tuck them into bed as soon as you get home!
charleston, south carolina photo Locations
my favorite places to shoot family photos in charleston, sc
Each year, I photograph hundreds of local families as well as families vacationing in Charleston and it's surrounding beaches! I am often asked to come out to beautiful vacation rentals to photograph the whole crew and I am happy to do that if it makes things easier!
The best session locations are often meaningful to my individual families; however, I'm also happy to make recommendations for your family based on your desires! From the historic architecture and vibrant colors of downtown Charleston, to the giant oaks, marshland and stunning sunsets on our beaches, the options for your family portrait session location in Charleston are truly endless!
City Market
US Customs House
College of Charleston
Old Charleston Museum Ruins
Marion Square
Dock Street Theater
French Quarter
Old Charleston Jail
Patriots Point
McLoed Plantation
Middleton Place
history & architecture
Waterfront Park
Hampton Park
Colonial Lake Park
Charles Towne Landing
Palmetto Island County Park
Mount Pleasant Waterfront Park
James Island County Park
Demetre Park
Smythe Park
I'ON
Riverfront Park
Old Wide Awake Park
Ocean Walk @ Pitt Street Bridge Park
parks
Church Street
Meeting Street
The Mills House
The Battery
Rainbow Row
Legare Street
Anson Street
King Street
Philadelphia Alley
Longitude Lane
City Market
Shem Creek
White Point Garden
Magnolia Gardens
Middleton Place
Charles Towne Landing
Cypress Gardens
Botany Bay
Sailing / Boating
Paddle Boarding / Kayaking
Kiawah Island
Seabrook Island
popular landmarks
gardens
adventures
Isle of Palms
Folly Beach
Heritage Lighthouse Preserve
Kiawah Island
Seabrook Island
beaches
The above locations are all beautiful but I also really love exploring new & meaningful locations with the families that I serve as well!
- Dress according to the season we're in!
- Dress in a way that is flattering and makes you feel confident and like the very best version of yourself!
- Iron or dry clean your clothing to be sure it's free of wrinkles,
- Bring a lint roller to be sure your clothing is free of lint or pet hair etc. before your session!
While wardrobe fads may crush it on the gram, if you’re hoping to hang these images on your walls, you'll want to dress in a way that is timeless!
My advice is to look at the existing color pallet in your home, choose colors that would look complimentary with your existing decor & color pallet at home, since these images will be hanging on your walls!
I often encourage my portrait clients to choose either a theme color or color pallet and build wardrobe around it! (examples: jewel tones, earth tones, neutrals, fall tones, etc).
To take this a step further, go to Pinterest.com and search color pallets, the results will give you tons of beautiful options of preselected color pallets! Choose one you like and send it to everyone so that you're all on the same page with the shades you want for outfits (bc it's not enough to just say blue, there are a million shades of blue!) Instruct everyone to build their outfit selections using the color tones in that color pallet, subtly weaving those shades throughout!
If you’re looking for outfit advice, feel free to send ideas my way! I'm happy to give feedback or to help curate your wardrobe! You can check out my portrait session wardrobe inspiration pinboards here:
Seasonality
things to keep in mind:
SPRING
After the shorter days and colder temps of winter, we're all looking forward to those glorious spring blooms accompanied by longer days and warmer temps!
Spring is definitely the season that I simply can't wait to arrive each year and Spring time in Charleston is legendary for all of the spring blooms appearing throughout the city!
Spring Portraits typically begin as early as late February - early March with the Azalea blooms in Hampton Park, Middleton Place or Charles Towne Landing!
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Summer
In spite of the heat, I'm a big fan of those lovely sun soaked summer sessions! Because of the later sunset during summer months, portrait sessions on the beach in Charleston often begin as late as 8pm. The beach is my favorite place to shoot during the heat of summer (because of the breeze coming in off the ocean!) If you’re scheduling a session during the summer months, I recommend dressing accordingly (in light, breezy fabrics)! Remember to bring plenty of water, makeup for touchups, towels and a backup shirt incase of sweat. (If you're particularly sweaty, you might wait to change into your portrait wardrobe until we begin shooting!
Hot Pro Tip: don't forget to use anti friz product in your hair!
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autumn
Autumn is a popular time for Family Portraits in Charleston because many families send holiday cards to their family and friends during the holiday season! Because of this, my shoot calendar fills up very quickly for Autumn Family Photos in Charleston beginning in October. If you have your heart set on an Autumn. Family Photoshoot in Charleston, I strongly recommend scheduling it in August or September to ensure date / time availability!
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winter
Winter in Charleston is by far the most underrated time of year for Family Photos in Charleston! If you live here, you know that the mild temperatures beginning in November give way to smaller crowds in the city, in the parks and on the beaches! The gnats or no-seeums as they're called by locals, move on and shooting outdoor Family Portraits in Charleston becomes down right pleasant during the winter months! If these things sound appealing to you, perhaps a winter Family Photoshoot in Charleston is just what your family needs!
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When choosing outfits for your family, Keep the word “complement” rather than “match” in mind. For example, if Dad is wearing a plaid shirt, then Mom may want to choose a solid color dress that is one of the colors found in dad's shirt.
I recommend choosing either a theme color or color pallet and designing your wardrobe around that!
Hot Pro Tip: head over to Pinterest.com and search color pallets! For example: earth tone color pallet, fall color pallet, jewel tone color pallet, etc. The search results will return a lot of beautiful pre-made color pallets that will make designing your wardrobe much easier if you're sticking to a color pallet!
Lastly, don't be afraid to incorporate subtle patterns, cool accessories and interesting textures (such as cordoroy, velvet, tweed, faux fur, etc) into your wardrobe choices!
Choosing Outfits
for everyone
Dress in a way that makes you feel confident and comfortable. like the very best version of yourself!
Personally, I love maxi dresses on moms! I love the way the fabric catches the breeze, it gives movement to your photos! Baltic Born has tons of beautiful dresses at a reasonable price point! In the fall, I also really love sweaters with leggings, paired with riding boots or jeans and a cute fall blanket scarf! In the winter, I'm way into sequins, velvet and fur (reason enough to consider a winter session!)
A note about shoes: heels lengthen legs but if your heels aren’t comfortable for walking or we'll be in grass, bring an extra pair of shoes to slip into in between shots!
I love the way larger patterns and interesting textures photograph - just be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Wardrobe Tips
for the ladies
NEXT
The way you accessorize your outfits really sets off your photos! Consider adding awesome shoes, suspenders, a trendy felt or tweed hat or a cool belt, etc!
Statement jewelry is great way to add color or pattern to a simple dress.
Dresses with sleeves are a great way to help slim arms.
Interesting textures such as linen, tweed, cordoroy, chiffon, velvet, lace, leather, suede. tulle or faux fur really bring depth and dimension to your images!
Accessories
for the ladies
next
It’s so important that you look and feel your best for your portrait session! Investing in professional hair and makeup can go a long way towards creating photos you love for years.
Professionally done hair & makeup lasts longer and tends to hold up better in wind and humidity.
If you choose to go this route, we recommend staying a bit “classic”. Now probably isn’t the best time to try out that new dramatic smokey eye if it's not a look that you're used to seeing on yourself!
If you’re planning to do any spray tans, waxing or laminate, schedule those for a few days before the session to give your skin time to recover.
Hair & Makeup
for the ladies
next
You can’t go wrong with crisp button down or consider layering a blazer or sweater with jeans.
Cozy sweaters layered over button downs are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months.
Be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Softer, muted colors tend to photograph better than bright colors.
Don't be afraid to incorporate interesting accessories (a cool hat or tweed cap, suspenders, fresh kicks or a bow tie etc.) and textures (linen, cordoroy, suede, leather or tweed) into your wardrobe choices!
A note about shoes: stylish, trendy boots, suede clarks or a cool lifestyle sneaker are all good choices. Please do not wear athletic sneakers or flip flops.
Wardrobe
for the gents
next
Wardrobe
for the gents
next
Rent the Runway
ASOS
Suit Supply
J. Crew
Zara
Leather & Cotton
Jack Threads
Frank & Oak
Nordstrom
Cuts
H&M
Urban Outfitters
Madewell
Lululemon
Everlane
Banana Republic
Mango
Reiss
Alex Mill
Untuckit
Amazon - GoodThreads
Bonobos
Abercrombie
Rag & Bone
shop my PRIME favorites
Kate Quinn
Zara Kids
Quincy Mae
Rylee & Cru
Noralee
Target - Cat & Jack, Art Class, Q by Quincy Mae
H&M Kids
Crew Cuts by J Crew
Roolee
Alice & Ames
Favorite Shops
Smallable
Fin and Vance
Little & Co.
Briar Baby
Jaime Kay
Childhoods Clothing
Spearmint Love
Gap
Old Navy
Boden
Hanna Andersson
for the kids
shop my PRIME favorites
next
If you're scheduling a winter portrait session, we could begin shooting as early as 3:30pm.
I love winter sessions because your wardrobe can interesting textures that you just can't incorporate at other times of the year!
Think: Sequins, Velvet, Cordoroy & Fur!
Although it's typically pretty mild year round in Charleston, I definitely recommend dressing in layers and maybe even having a warm blanket or jacket on hand to throw on in between photo locations so that you can stay warm! Don't forget to bring a little extra makeup for touch ups and tissues in case your nose begins running!
sequins, velvet and fur coats, oh my!
Winter
I typically begin shooting spring portrait sessions as early as late February / early March, as soon as the azaleas begin blooming in Hampton Park or Middleton Place! I'll continue shooting those beautiful spring sessions through mid May! I recommend booking your spring session in January to ensure date availability!
Spring Blooms, pastels and light airy fabrics!
Spring
In spite of the heat, I'm a big fan of those lovely, sun soaked evening summer sessions! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 8pm. If you’re scheduling portraits during the summer, I recommend dressing in light, breezy fabrics, bringing plenty of water, makeup for touchups and a couple towels for sweat! Shooting on the beach is a nice option in the summer because that breeze off the ocean is everything in the heat of summer! We'll walk slowly so as not to get too sweaty but I definitely recommend wearing a different shirt and changing before we get started to avoid any sweat stains on your clothing!
there's nothing quite like those Lovely, summertime south carolina sunsets
Summer
Who doesn't love fall wardrobe!?
I know, I do!
Layering Fabrics, Cozy Sweaters, Autumn Tones...
Autumn in Charleston is a pretty popular time of year for Family Portraits in Charleston because many families send these portraits in their years Christmas Cards to their friends & family!
If you're hoping to shoot a fall vibes family session, I recommend shooting mid October - mid December!
my favorite of them all!
Autumn
A few things to keep in mind during each season:
Honestly, you don't need to worry about this at all! I've been doing this for a very long time and my methods are fool proof! I'll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. Instead of "poses" I often use prompts instead to achieve natural movement and posing. If I ask you to do something that feels ridiculous, it’s probably because I know that it’s going to make everyone laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually after!
Expect to laugh with each other, to hug and kiss, to snuggle and play together and the session will be over before you know it!
"What do I do with
my hands"?
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
I don't know, Ricky Bobby, what do you want to do with your hands!? (kidding)
Things to keep in mind:
- Bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet friendly location.
- Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might be a good idea to groom them before the shoot.
- Bring a lint roller if your pet sheds.
- Exercise your pet prior to the session so that they're nice and mellow for the session.
- Bring your pet's favorite toy and treats!
- Bring a friend! We'll plan to photograph your pet at the first part of your session. We won’t use your pet in every single photo so it’s nice to have someone available to hold onto them between shots.
Managing
fur babies
We will plan to touch base via text the week of your portrait session to confirm our plans for meeting time and location. We'll keep an eye on the forecast and in the event of inclement weather, we will simply re-schedule your session for a different time on the same day, before or after the rain comes in. In the event that it's a total washout, we'll simply re-schedule your session for the very next available date / time. If you are unable to re-schedule for any reason, you will be issued a gift certificate in the entire amount received at the time of booking to be used at a later date.
Inclement Weather
what to do if it rains
If you have booked an Extended Family Session (more than one household, grandparents, etc), I've got a few tips to help make photographing this larger group a bit easier on everyone!
Extended Family Sessions
Tips for larger groups
Please email me a family tree or list of all family groupings ahead of time so that I understand who should be photographed together.
While you don’t need to draw me an actual family tree (although, bonus points if you do!) something like this would work well:
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Grandma - Jean
Grandfather - Max
Sam (son of Jean + Max) and Tina.
Their Kids: Jason (10), Julianne (5) and Jack (2)
Elizabeth (daughter of Jean + Max) and Paul
Their Kids: Austin (9) and Claire (6)
Nailing your wardrobe is probably 85% of the battle! Photographs typically turn out best when families choose a theme color or color palette over trying to match exactly (the everyone wear jeans and a white shirt look is corny & dated.)
Hot Pro Tip: head over to Pinterest.com and search color pallets! For example: earth tone color pallet, fall color pallet, jewel tone color pallet, etc. The search results will return a lot of beautiful pre-made color pallets that will make designing everyone's wardrobe much easier if you're sticking to a color pallet!
Send a screenshot of your chosen pallet to everyone so that you're all on the same page about which color shades to use (because there are million shades of blue!)
Outfits that feel a bit special (your “Sunday best”) but that you still feel comfortable in generally result in the best images.
If you need any advice in this area, just let me know, I would actually love to help!
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When it comes to choosing a location for larger groupings, there are a few extra elements to keep in mind. Locations should be easy to access and be safe for young children.
While we can get away with shooting small families in the city / in a downtown setting, for larger families, we’ll need a bit of space to spread out. Vacation rentals on the beach or homes with larger yards are best. Also, parks, gardens or plantations typically work well for extended families!
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After your session, I will deliver an online proof gallery that will be accessible to everyone in your group.
Please let me know ahead of time who should have access to this gallery. If you send me a list of the email addresses, I can set those up at the time of delivery to give everyone gallery access. Once your proof gallery is delivered, you will have seven days with the gallery to either order Heirloom Print Collections or to order from the A La Carte product list!
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Entire family
Grandparents + Grandchildren
Grandparents + Their children + spouses
Child A + Child B
Grandparents + Child A + Child A’s Family
Grandparents + Child B + Child B’s Family
Child A + Child A’s Family
Child A + Spouse
Child A’s Kids
Child A + kids
Child A spouse + kids
Individual photos of all members of Child A’s Family
Child B + Child A’s Family
Child B + Spouse
Child B’s Kids
Child B + kids
Child B spouse + kids
Individual photos of all members of Child B’s Family
Example Extended Family Shot List
Please note that this list is just a starting point and that I am happy to shoot any requested family portraits as long as time allows!
You can, but I wouldn't recommend it.
I would strongly encourage you to order prints for framing and display in your home from your online gallery as I cannot guarantee the quality of prints ordered from consumer labs. These labs are not equipt to properly preserve the color profile of professionally edited images and often the finished product from these labs has an obvious pink or green tint because the papers are incredibly thin and not uv resistant and as a result, the print just looks terribly cheap.
A:
Can I print the images on my own?
q:
You'll receive a proof gallery of at least 40 images.
A:
How many images will I receive?
q:
You'll have 7 days with your online gallery to choose either an Heirloom Print Collection or to order from the A La Carte product list.
You can access information on that here:
A:
How long will I have access to the gallery?
q:
You'll receive your proof gallery within 7 days of your portrait session. During peak months (October - December), delivery may take up to 14 days,
A:
When will I receive my images?
q:
asked
Questions
Absolutely! To ensure that my work is accurately represented online, I ask that you refrain from adding any edits or filters to my work. I also really appreciate image credits and tags as they help me to continue to grow as a business.
A:
Can I share the images on social media?
q:
By default, the artists / creators of images always own the rights to the images they create in perpetuity. However I will give you a release to print and share your images. The only thing that you won’t be able to do is sell or publish the images commercially without my written permission.
A:
Do I own the rights to the images?
q:
Portrait Sessions are typically scheduled for 90 minutes although the session may not take that long! While we likely don’t need to shoot this entire time, having 90 minutes does give us the flexibility for location changes, rowdy kids and time to warm up, etc.
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How long should we plan for the session to last?
q:
Your proof gallery will be delivered with partially edited images (they will have been processed through lightroom only). Once I receive your order details, I will complete hand edits on your chosen images in photoshop prior to sending them to print. (This step is where I'll be smoothing skin, brightening eyes and teeth, enhancing colors, removing bugs, flyaways or other distractions and generally just giving your images a little pizaz!) Once I'm finished with hand edits, I will replace the images in your gallery and will send another link for you to download the selected digital files!
A:
Will you retouch our images?
q:
investment details
Your portrait session proof gallery will be delivered within 7 days of your session.
Then, you will have 7 days with your online gallery to choose either an Heirloom Print Collection or to order prints, wall art, albums or digital files from the A La Carte Product List.
Your purchased products will land on your door step in a couple weeks, ready for display!
Your Images
When to Expect
Images were never meant to solely exist in the digital space.
You'll download the included digital files, you may even share a few online and then...
Technology isn't reliable and it changes rapidly (RIP CD Rom Drives) hard drives crash, get lost or damaged all the time and I will only archive your images for one year following your session date.
Fine Art Portrait Photography is an investment no matter how you square it. Wouldn't you rather walk away with Gorgeous, Heirloom Prints, Albums and Wall Art to show for it!?
I want you to have these beautiful pieces to display in your home, products that will bring you joy each time you walk by them, heirlooms to pass down to your children... it's your family's history and it's incredibly valuable.
these beautiful images just sit on a hard drive somewhere...
i certainly would!
XO - Brittany
For those who value legacy. These heirloom albums are a wonderful way to house a large number of images in a beautiful way. Leave them on display as coffee table books or protect them with a legacy box.
Albums
Framed and matted prints are the perfect way to fill your walls with memories. With a variety of frames to choose from, I’ll help you select the perfect image pairings for your space.
Prints & Wall Art
Details and ordering instructions will be delivered with your gallery.
Easy to hang and easy to change out. Canvases are one of my favorite ways to decorate a space.
Canvases
I know that this guide is long and hopefully it answered all of your questions and gave you everything you need to know to prepare for your portrait session.
If there's something I missed, or you need feedback on outfits or a recommendation, please feel free to email me using the link below! Also, don't forget to schedule a pre-session consultation call with me to chat about location options, timing, wardrobe and logistics ahead of your session!
Thank you!
xo - Brittany & Noah
We had an awesome experience having our family photos taken by Brittany. She's so calming and kind, and did such a wonderful job capturing our family. We truly loved all the images! Even my teens said the session was fun and were happy with their photos - no small feat!
daniel Island, South Carolina
the lobb family
We had such a wonderful experience with Brittany! She had excellent, fast communication. I warned her that we have a very happy toddler, until she is in front of a camera. From the very first photo, our little girl had a smile on her face! I will treasure these photos. Thank you for capturing such a fun, but chaotic time in our lives!
Charleston, sC
THE SANDHU FAMILY