Preparing for your session — Orkid Photography

Before your session

How to make the photographs better

None of this is compulsory. Read the section that applies to you, ignore the rest, and turn up as you are. The photographs will be fine either way, and slightly better if you did two of these.

What to wear

Pick one palette and stay in it. Two or three tones across the whole group, not a colour each.
Texture reads better than pattern. Linen, khadi, wool and silk all photograph beautifully. Fine stripes and small checks fight the camera.
For ceremonies, wear what your family actually wears. Traditional dress photographs far better than a compromise outfit, and it is what you will want to see in twenty years.
Bring the jewellery. Gold, bangles and heirloom pieces are half of why these photographs look like yours.
Iron everything the night before, including the children's clothes. Creases are the one thing editing cannot fix convincingly.

Timing and light

Outdoor sessions run in the ninety minutes before sunset. It is not a preference, it is the difference between good light and squinting.
For children under three, morning is usually better than evening, whatever the light does. A tired toddler beats good light every time.
Indoor ceremonies: tell me the schedule. I would rather arrive forty minutes early than miss the one ritual that mattered.
Build in fifteen minutes of slack. Nobody has ever arrived at a photo session early.

With small children

Feed them first. Every single time.
Bring the snack that never fails, and bring it in something that does not stain.
Do not warn them to behave for the photographer. It makes them stiff. Tell them we are going to play outside for a bit.
Expect fifteen good minutes and let me work inside them. That is normal and it is plenty.
One familiar toy or blanket is worth more than any prop I could bring.

For a newborn session

The room will be warm, around 78 to 80 degrees. Uncomfortable for you, right for the baby.
Feed just before we start if you can, and expect to feed again in the middle. That is the session working properly, not an interruption.
Have a plain sheet or two ready in white, cream or grey. That is genuinely all the setup we need.
Tidy one room with a good window rather than the whole house. I only need one.
A parent stays within arm’s reach throughout. Nothing is propped, suspended or balanced.

For a legacy or multigenerational session

Send me the list of who is coming, with ages, before the day. I will plan the groupings in advance so nobody stands around.
The eldest people get photographed first, while they are freshest. Everything else can wait.
Have chairs available. Two hours standing is not reasonable for a grandparent and the photographs are better seated anyway.
Think about one location that means something to your family, even if it is just the front room.
Tell me the names. Using them makes people relax, and it means the album captions are right.

For headshots

Bring two or three tops in solid mid-tones. Avoid bright white and pure black.
A haircut, if you are having one, should be at least three days before, never the day before.
Bring your own grooming kit. Blotting paper and a comb do more than retouching.
Think about where these will be used. LinkedIn, a team page and a conference bio all crop differently, and I will shoot for all three.

Common questions

Where will we be photographed? Anywhere that means something to your family: a favourite beach or park, or just as often your own living room. A place you already love beats a scouted backdrop.
What if it rains or the heat is unreasonable? We reschedule, or move to the studio or your home, at no extra charge.
Can we include the dog? Always. A short walk beforehand helps more than any prop I could bring, and bring their favourite treats.
How long does a session run? Ninety minutes for a Signature session, two hours for Legacy. Toddlers and larger multigenerational groups sometimes need a little more, which we plan for when you book.

What to wear, in color