The practical answer is my clients and I talk extensively before our sessions about all the particulars during our pre-meeting. That is when wardrobe, location, and special requests are figured out so on the day of our session we are ready to go. During our time together, I really try to "read the room" and react accordingly. Often little ones are a bit freaked by a stranger trying to engage then from behind a big black camera so I slow it all down. I let them lead the way and eventually they become comfortable and I'm able to capture them happy, not anxious. Older kids can range from self conscious to major hams and once again patience brings everyone to a comfortable level. Adults are sometimes the most challenging to get to relax but with them I have a few trick too. 

The main rule is no big prints or graphics. We want the emphasis to be on faces and expressions and a big flowered dress or shirt with the Nike logo competes with smiles and usually wins. The second suggestion I have is feel as comfortable as as much like yourself as you can. For family photos there's no need to be matchy-matchy where everyone is wearing the same color shirt. I have put together a What to Wear guide to help you choose and we will talk about it at our pre-meeting.

If the area is on the small side I can easily edit it out in Photoshop at no extra charge. That goes for blemishes too. However a black eye or large contusion would not be so quick and easy so an extra editing charge would be applied. The main thing is to let me know beforehand so we can assess the situation and do what ever is necessary to have a great session and wonderful art for your home.

Above all I want happy people in front of my camera and that goes double for infants. We should plan our session around their schedule. That said, I know babies have their own ideas about schedules and even the best laid plans can go astray. I usually pad an hour of wiggle room before and after infant shoots to accommodate the sudden shifts in napping or eating so I will happily work with you to ensure the best experience for everyone.

Being a natural light photographer means the best quality of photos, I mean nothing beats the sun as the light source, but it also means we are subject to the whims of the weather. I will be in touch with you the day before our session and if inclimate weather is a possibility, we will make our Plan B then. For better or worse, weathermen are not always accurate so even the most dire forecasts don't always come to pass but rescheduling is always an option. We can also choose use the rain to our advantage, I have wonderful, clear umbrellas, enough for the whole family, and nothing is cuter than a little one stomping about in puddles, so there are many options beyond rescheduling.