THE PORTRAIT EXPERIENCE – WHAT TO EXPECT
My main goal when working with my clients is that they have a positive experience from our very first contact all the way to our final email. Booking a photography session can be overwhelming, but I hope to take a lot of the stress out of it for you! I’ll let you in on a little secret– the more relaxed you let yourself be on the day of your session, the more authentic the images will feel!
I keep the booking process simple, with everything done online. Once you’ve booked, I send you a prep guide for your specific type of session. This will go over what to expect, what to bring, what to wear, and more. I’m always an email, text, or phone call away if you have questions about anything at all.
Not only do I want you to love your photos, but I want the memory of your session day to be a fond one as well.
My clients appreciate my calm demeanor when we are working together and trust me to capture them in a way that truly reflects their love for each other. They don’t come to me for that classic everyone-smile-at-the-camera portrait, but instead for images that will tug at their heartstrings for years to come. I’m passionate about capturing beautiful moments and genuine interactions. If you’re looking for photos of your baby or family that make you feel all the feelings, we’d be a wonderful match!
THE PROCESS
Inquire
Send me an email if you think we’ll be a good fit.
Book
I’ll send you a link to pay your session fee, sign your contract, and fill out a pre-session questionnaire.
Prepare
Review your session prep guide and review client closet options for outfits for the kids.
Session Day!
I’ll confirm details a couple days beforehand. Get ready for awesome pictures!
Order
I’ll send your gallery three weeks after your session. It will be available online for one week for you to place your order.
STUDIO SESSIONS.
NEWBORN AND BABY MILESTONES
For newborn photography sessions as well as baby milestone sessions, clients come to my home studio in Lunenburg, MA. I’ve got a cozy setup for your time here, complete with couch, nursing pillow, water, snacks, sample albums, and more.
I’ve got a wonderfully curated collection of muted and neutral colored blankets and wraps– this means there is no need for you to bring anything with you but your baby! Easy peasy. Referencing your pre-session questionnaire, I prepare my setups prior to your session so you can see everything laid out when you get here.
For newborn sessions, I play white noise and keep the room very warm to keep them sleepy and happy. You can watch from the couch as I pose baby, or you can even sneak in a nap! Seriously, do it!
I do most of the handling of the baby during the session, but will sometimes ask for a helping hand or spotter to keep baby secure. Baby’s safety is the number one priority! Besides having two kids of my own, I have also been photographing babies for over a decade– I am comfortable handling tiny humans, and have taken a variety of workshops that go over best safety practices for newborn photography.
Babies can eat as often as they like while here. I always schedule a large enough block of time to account for extra feedings.
I will generally swaddle newborns for the beginning of the session to help get them into a nice deep sleep. From there, I will go through my workflow of poses to get a beautiful variety of images!
FAMILY SESSIONS.
AT YOUR HOME OR ON LOCATION
For your family portrait session we’ll pick a location in advance: your house, your favorite adventure spot, the mountains, the beach. Often, clients don’t have a particular place in mind, and I am more than happy to share some ideas for my favorite spots around Massachusetts that I know and love.
Family sessions include a detailed session prep guide, with tips on how to get comfortable for your session, what to expect, and what to wear. You’ll have access to my Client Closet, which includes stylish clothing items that photograph beautifully for babies and toddlers/ kids from size newborn up to 6/7 years.
A huge part of the reason many clients are drawn to my photos is the light. Nearly every outdoor family session I do is scheduled for sunset. In photographer lingo, this is the “golden hour” when the sun is low in the sky and shedding beautiful soft light. In the summertime when the sun stays up much longer, this can mean a late bedtime for kids after the session– but is so totally worth the one late night!
Cloudy days are wonderful for photos too! A cloudy day actually gives us even more flexibility with angles and locations.
Your session will last an hour or so and it will be spent having fun! Once we meet at the location, our adventure begins. We’ll wander around finding you cool spots to have tickle fights and snuggle fests. I do pose you and give prompts, but it’s also kept open ended and you’re encouraged to interact with each other. Have fun with it! Kids can run and move and jump and do what they do. My style is candid, and these moments are the loveliest to capture. We will make sure to get some smiling at the camera photos too, but be forewarned, there may be a bit of potty humor during our adventure to bring out those real smiles and laughs!
Your session will end as the sky begins to get dark. You’ll head home with smiles on your faces and good memories to share.
faq
GOT QUESTIONS?
How long have you been in business?
I have been running Aimee Liz Photography since 2011!
Did you go to school for photography?
I did. I graduated from the BU Center for Digital Imaging Arts in 2012 with a certificate in Photography.
What equipment do you use?
I shoot with a Canon R6. I love my Sigma Art lenses– the 50mm and 35mm spend the vast majority of the time on my camera. I also use a Canon 100mm macro lens for newborn detail shots. For lighting in studio, I use a PLM setup, and on location I prefer to use all natural light!
Do you travel for photo sessions?
Yes! I have a very reasonable mileage rate and regularly travel for portraits. I’m most often all over Massachusetts, but also travel to New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and even farther. I’m happy to go wherever inspires you.
Can we do the session at my home?
YES! Having a photographer document you in your own space can be so incredibly special.
What should we wear for our portrait session?
In general, you can’t go wrong with neutrals, earth tones, textures, and clothing with movement (like a flowy dress). When you book, you’ll receive a prep guide that goes more in depth with tips for outfits. There is plenty of guidance on what to wear, as well as special access to my baby & child Client Closet which has a large selection of stylish clothing in sizes newborn through 6/7 years that photograph beautifully. Many families like to take advantage of the Client Closet because it’s one less thing to have to search for, and desirable to have access to higher end clothing without the price tag for something they may only wear once. For studio newborn photography sessions, your baby doesn’t need any outfits, as everything we need for photos is provided here in studio.
What happens if it rains?
I always check in to confirm details a couple days before your portrait session. For outdoor sessions, if the forecast looks like we will get rained out, we will reschedule.
What if my child doesn’t cooperate?
Since my family photography has more of a lifestyle feel, we are able to make your session an adventure for your child(ren)! Letting them run around doing what they want typically gets them out of a funk. If kiddo is grumpy at the beginning, we embrace their mood and give them time to open up. This goes for newborn sessions too– if sibling/ family shots aren’t working at the beginning of the session, we give them a break for a while and try again later in the session. If your child or baby truly is miserable the entire time, you have the option of scheduling another session at a reduced rate. But for the record, I have never had a session where there weren’t any keepers– people are often pleasantly surprised when they see their gallery after what seemed like a tough session.
Do you also take pictures of us looking at the camera?
I do try to make sure to always grab at least one photo with everyone looking at the camera. Though my clients come to me for a more candid style, I understand that everyone has a grandma or aunt that will be looking for that quintessential “say cheese” shot!
How long after the session do I receive my photos?
Three weeks after your session, you will receive a link to an online ordering gallery, active for one week. Digital downloads get emailed to you shortly after payment, and printed products get delivered to you anywhere from one to four weeks from purchase (depending on the product).
How do I book a session?
Wander on over to the contact page and shoot me a message! To book, I will send you a link to do everything online– pay your session fee as a retainer, sign your portrait contract, and fill out your pre-session questionnaire.