Welcome

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

I am so thrilled to be working with you and am counting down the days to your session! It’s perfectly normal to have some jitters about getting photos taken. Honestly, I still get the butterflies before having our family photos taken too - and I do this for a living! I totally get it. I put this guide together to help you get the best results! I'm going to take great care of you and am here to help every step of the way.

I am thrilled you pulled the trigger (Seriously just imagine the MAGIC we are going to create together!). Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your trust in me. It is an honor to create one of the integral parts of your family's legacy.

Please carefully read the topics I will cover, they will help you get the most spectacular photos ever! 

I know such an extensive guide can be a little overwhelming upon first glance... BUT believe it or not, "simple" is our key word! (You'll see as you read). Most of my clients are attracted to the very specific and unique look of my work (and now I'm blushing over here).

Hopefully you feel the same! I created this guide as a resource because I do need some of your help to achieve this look. I'd be in heaven if you read the helpful tips here, and as always, please reach out to me if you have any questions at all!

- Rachel

Are you ready for some good news? You really don't need to do much! Besides outfit selection (which I cover in this guide), all I ask of you is to enjoy your experience. After all, the best part of appreciating the photos on your walls is knowing you had an awesome time getting them taken.

I'm SO excited. Have I mentioned that yet?...

Before the big day

The Pre-Game

All of these are cool. Just... not so much when it comes to photos ;). Gum shows no matter how much you think it won't (hiding it behind your teeth can't last for every shot), transition lenses look like sunglasses (we want to see those beautiful peepers!) and even if a spray tan looks ammmazing in person, it really throws off the skin tones that I absolutely pride myself in capturing. Your natural skin color is the BEST!
If you wear glasses and have transition lenses, you can either remove the glasses altogether for the photos, or if they are an integral part of your look, you can change them out for a pair with traditional lenses. I will try my best to minimize the glare so we can see those gorgeous eyes!

GUM, TRANSITION LENSES, AND SPRAY TANS...

Helpful Hints

What if I don't know what to do?

I think most of us feel this way at heart. Luckily not only are my sessions extremely relaxed, but I fully guide you and your family into poses and give you prompts so you can have moments of genuine laughter and fun together. Often you won't even realize how amazing a moment is and I sneak a photo.

I'm here to see the beauty in what seems like ordinary moments.
It is one of the best and most fulfilling parts of my work

The Day of the Session

a few things to keep in mind

I am very passionate about creating a relaxing environment during these sessions. I know that this first few weeks with your newborn can be a beautiful but challenging time. I always set aside around 2 hours for newborn sessions, because sometimes, they need a little more time to feed, or need a couple diaper changes throughout our session. I always go by your babies lead and how YOU are feeling. Please always let me know if you think your baby needs something during our session, you are their parent, and I follow your lead.

Your baby leads our session.

Ok, ok, hear me out on this. I'm not telling you how to parent ;), BUT... for just the time we have together, pretty please don't worry a single bit about your child's behavior. Sometimes kids can sense that they are about to do something out of the norm (I mean, how often does your whole family get dressed up and head out to a field, amiright?), and they may get extra silly or start acting out. I totally understand you want them to be on their best behavior because I would feel the same with my kids! ...but in the spirit of just having a relaxing, fun experience (and getting good photos!), it works the very best if disciplining is paused during the session. More often than not it backfires anyway and the grumpy faces stick around longer. For what it's worth I rarely see this but I just wanted to plant a little seed that you don't have to worry about being "the bad guy" for the time we are together (hooray! Enjoy the vacation!). Trust me, I have 5 kids. If anyone has empathy for you, it's ME ;).

I have a "bag of tricks" that usually works if a child is having challenges. Also, if it is a full session (as opposed to a mini session), we have plenty of time to give them the pauses they need. I can stop and walk with them, talk with them, ask them about their favorite stories, shows, or toys. Worst case scenario? They stay grumpy and you will get some pretty entertaining photos. Some of my VERY favorite photos (and prints on my wall!) are of my babies with an extreme scowl. When my little brother was a baby, we had family photos done at a studio (hey there Olan Mills and early 1990's!). He screamed the entire time and my mom cried the whole way home. Well - you guessed it - that photo is our family's favorite EVER. .... do you see a theme here? ;)

So yeah, don't worry mama. We will get some great stuff. 

Don't discipline the kids.

Keep the room warm.

Our goal is a happy and sleepy baby. We start our session by making sure your little one's environment is set up for a sleepy. For in-home sessions, I recommend making the house a little warmer for a little while, just so little babe can stay lulled to sleep. If we will be in studio, I will bring my heater to make sure the space is the perfect temp for your sleepy baby.

Your baby may be hungry.

Make sure you feed baby around 30 minutes before I arrive at your home, or right before you leave for in-studio. It is not uncommon for them to start clusterfeeding within these first two weeks or need multiple feeds during the session. So don't feel discouraged if we need to pause multiple times because your newborn can't seem to get full, we go by your baby's lead. If we are going to be in-studio, definitely bring formula and bottles with you. I always start with big family shots in the beginning, so as we go, if baby needs a break, we at least completed those important shots.

Outfits

The biggest piece of the pie

Here we go! Depending on who you ask, this tends to be either the most stressful or the most fun part of the whole process (although I'm SO here to help you).

It's outfit time!

One of the analogies I use to describe photography is with... baking. (Yes, you read that right!) There are many photographers out there who have all kinds of different styles. It's like a bakery where you are choosing which cupcake you want. Well, I am honored you are choosing mine! Here is your part of the recipe we need so we can make the exact flavor you have chosen. I have a very specific style and strive to be consistent with my images so you know exactly what kinds of photos you will be getting from your session (dreamy, light, airy, classic, timeless, and glowy... if I do say so myself!).

So let's get baking

Light colors and soft patterns

the "overall aesthetic"

Perhaps you've noticed that mostly everyone on this guide is wearing light colors. There is a reason for this! A photographer's best friend is light. Light is my "paint," if you will. I use it to get a very specific look. When you wear light clothing, the sunlight bounces around, reflects back onto your face and anyone who is around you, creating a beautiful glow. It flatters your skin - making it creamier, and hiding flaws. It also helps create the overall aesthetic of the photo.

Another reason I highly recommend light colors is that flash combined with vivid colors (such as really bright blues, neon yellows, etc) will make for an unnatural color cast on your skin. With the lighting I use, if you are wearing bright green and it reflects back onto your face (...and it will....) it can make you look slightly sick and we don't want that! I want to make sure your skin looks vibrant, healthy, and true to color. 

My aim when it comes to clothing, is to have it NOT distract from your faces and expressions! I want the focus to be solely on those dimples in your baby's cheeks, your son's freckles, your daughter's beautiful brown eyes. When you are wearing simple and timeless clothing, the attention isn't drawn to your clothing... but to those amazing features I just mentioned. This is a great thing! When you wear busy patterns, it competes for that attention and your eyes are naturally drawn there.

- The biggest impact on your photos -

The squint test

When in doubt about a pattern, do a "squint test" - just look at it, squint your eyes, and if the clothing item looks like a solid color or close to it, it's good to go! If it still looks pretty busy and patterns can be easily distinguished, it's better to go with a more delicate pattern. 

While adorable in person, these kinds of patterns don't photograph well with my style of photography. The areas of high contrast (aka: light and dark colors close together) attract the eye and compete for attention... taking the focus from faces. This is one of those seemingly little choices that actually make a big impact!

Light and delicate patterns are softer and easier on the eyes (and the overall color palette). If you squint at these you won't see too much that sticks out. Once again, this clothing doesn't attract the eye, leaving it free to focus on the most important things - the faces you love!

color schemes

I talk about "overall color aesthetic" (or "color palette") a lot. Your clothing color takes up a lot of the space on the 2D surface of the photo, and the colors you choose make a big impact. At the end of the day, these photos are for YOU and go on your wall! They get passed down to your family and while I'm the one creating them, they are yours to enjoy in the most special of ways.

If you still, through-and-through, prefer a bit more vibrant color, that is completely up to you and I'm still SO happy and honored to be the one to take your photos! Here are examples of different color schemes to shoot for: 

Soft color schemes: pastels, creams, neutrals

vivid color schemes: Jewel tones mixed with neutrals

nah....

yeah!

Pets are welcome to be involved in your session! Please let me know ahead of time so we can ensure time for your sweet furbaby to make an appearance in your portraits.

I recommend planning for your furry friend(s) to be at the beginning of your session - I won’t use them in every single photo (unless that is what you prefer!) so it is also really helpful to have a friend available to help "behind the scenes."

If you do want your fur babies in these portraits, I recommend letting them get plenty of exercise before the session and have their favorite treats and toys ready to go.

Pets

FOR THE LADIES

FOR THE gENTS

find it fast

When the ladies wear dresses, it really helps create that timeless look. I highly recommend maxi's for mama's! The floor length flatters, and when a little breeze flutters by it helps create motion in the photo. (psst... wearing dresses is NOT an absolute must, but it really does help create the aesthetic you often see in my work!). If it's cold outside, I recommend bundling up for sure. Don't worry about wearing a dress if it's too cold! Clothing colors matter more than clothing styles at the end of the day.

For little girls, you can go very simple! Just a solid colored, plain dress can be perfect. You can also add texture with sweaters, boots, bows, etc.

Wardrobe Tips

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

I realize that as mommas/women we all have areas of our bodies that we are self-conscious about. I hear you and want you to look and feel your best. Always let me know if there is something that you normally don't love in your photos, so I can pose to avoid/minimize that. Here are some tips for body types: 








Wardrobe Tips

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

> Pear Shaped: To show off your curves, focus on cinching the waist with an A-line design that flares at the bottom.

> Apple Shaped: An A-line style with gradual flow from the waist to the legs is always flattering. This shape is also great for a dress with texture and/or a deep V-neck.

> Busty: Scoop and sweetheart necklines offer support and open up the decolletage, so the focus is on the face rather than the bust.
  
> Small chest: Look for textured or ruched styles to create fullness in the chest area.

> Plus sized: Empire-waist dresses are super       flattering and emphasize the smallest portion under the bust to create the effect of a slender silhouette from top to bottom. If your arms make you feel self conscious - I recommend flutter sleeves.

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While it isn't 100% necessary, feel free to go all out! Professionally done hair & makeup stand up to the "test of time" nicely, and if there is humidity or wind, it is a great decision.

With the settings I use to shoot, pretty please go a shade or two darker with your blush and lipstick than you usually do (these things will photograph lighter than they look in person). Not heavy! Just a *tad* darker. Feel free to put a little bit of blush on your kiddos as well if you think they need it! (I do that all the time in photos with my kids) ;)

Hair & Makeup

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

Anything neutral, light and/or NOT distracting works!

In the Summer, I love kiddos in bare feet if the terrain allows. As for babies who can't walk - if it's warm enough, let's see those cute toes!

If it's cold out, neutral boots are adorable, or just about anything as long as it's not a bright color. If mom is wearing a maxi dress, often times we won't be able to see those shoes so no pressure there. When all is said and done, I just want to make sure the shoes don't attract too much attention. We want that attention going to your faces!

Shoes

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

I'm not big on tons of elaborate props (I like to keep the focus on your beautiful faces!), but I'm ALL for a meaningful prop or two in a select handful of images; especially florals! If you bring flowers I will get a big, awkward smile on my face that might be hard to erase.

Props

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

First off, this is just a suggestion and not the end of the world, but... clothing that is cream or ivory, photographs white. Clothing that is "WHITE-white," photographs blue(ish)! Cream clothes are softer on skin tones and luckily easier than ever to find...(this hasn't always been the case!). So if you can, go with cream pretty please.

*The exception to this is if you are using a lot of gray in your clothing! Grays and whites go better than grays and cream! Think cool tones vs. warm tones.

White vs. Cream

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

Joyfolie
Ivy City
J. Crew
Ele Story
Adored Vintage
Pen & Nash
 
Baltic Born
Morning Lavender
ASOS
JessaKae
Needle & Thread


Jamie Kay
Noralee
Pink Blush
Nothing Fits But
H&M

Favorite Shops

Hair & Makeup

Shoes

Props

where to shop

Outfits

for the ladies

whites

find it fast

For the fellas, SIMPLICITY is the best bet! For shirts, I recommend a button-up dress shirt (rolled up to the elbows if the temperatures allow! It helps create a dressy, but not stuffy look). I would avoid polo shirts, at least for my particular style.

For bottoms I highly recommend keeping them light. This can make a HUGE difference in the photo aesthetic. Khakis, tan pants or light grey will work. If you'd like to go the denim route, make them very light. I discourage dark pants (black, navy, dark brown, etc.) because of the contrast it creates with other light colors. Your eye will go right to it!
*Adding layers and textures by way of blazers, suspenders, vests, etc. is always a good idea as long as the colors stay muted.

Keep it simple!

WHERE TO SHOP

Outfits

for the fellas

find it fast

J. Crew
Zara
Leather & Cotton
Jack Threads 
Frank & Oak 

Nordstrom 
Urban Outfitters 
Rylee + Cru 
Nordstrom Rack
H&M
Penn & Nash

Wardrobe

WHERE TO SHOP

Outfits

for the gents

Locations

From to gorgeous studios and in-home sessions, the options for newborn sessions is endless. I ultimately just need a neutral room with great window light, and I'll do the rest.

Local Studio Options

Second and Main Studios (Middletown)
Mill Street Studios (Cincinnati)
Be Changed Studio (Columbus)
Remedy Studios (Dayton)
Locust and Vine (Cincinnati)

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Arrival

 - The Session Flow -

Upon arrival, I'll bring in all my gear. If we are doing an in-home session, feel free to show me the space you had in mind for your photo session. 

From there, I will set up my gear, and we can chat about any last minute outfit changes and pick out which color wrap you would like to use for your newborn. I will also check the environment and make sure we are set for good sleep conditions.

Introductions and setup

During Your Session

cuddles and snuggles

Once I have everything set-up, I will wrap your newborn up in the wrap of your choice. Make sure they are all snug and sleepy, don't be surprised if they sleep the best they have since those first few hours. Having babies of my own, I know the best ways to get them into that deep sleep. 

We will start with the whole family shots then if there are other siblings, we will pivot to photos with their siblings. Then I will get some glamour shots of your little one while they are still sleepy. After those are complete, we will get some photos of everyone individually with him or her. 

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Baby's Closeup

little toes, little nose

For closeups of your little one. I will place them either on your bed, or in a comfy boppy-like pillow on the floor. I will prop them up with pillows and capture all their sweet little details, from their toes to their little nose. 

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Individuals with baby

mommas eyes and daddies nose

After the full family shots and close-ups of your new addition, we will get photos of baby with you each individually. This is the time to get those super snuggly and nose touching portraits that really highlight that special bond you have with your baby.

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Well, ideally we leave the session and you say, "Wow, did we really just take photos or just hang out?" Or... "She was the best. Rachel for President." 

On my end I will come home, give my own kids some hugs, and then start downloading your photos. From there I will need two weeks to properly go through the images, weed out multiples and blinks, and then edit them in my specific and unique style. Two weeks after the date of your session I will send you an email with a link to your gallery. From there you will be able to view your photo proofs and make selections for your download.

And remember... I'm here to assist you in every step along the way.

When to Expect Your Images

.... At the end of the day, my greatest wish is that you, your children, and grandchildren ADORE these photos forever. Your sweet baby looks back on these photos, years from now, and smiles at the love they see from the family around them. After all, your family is what life is ALL about, and one of my greatest joys is that I get to be a small, behind-the-scenes part of preserving your legacy.

Some Parting Words

I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your session! However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to text or email 
roguestatephotography@outlook.com
513.265.8702

THANK YOU!