3 Ways to Make Your Session More Unique
A guide for clients
Choose a location that’s meaningful to you
For couples, maybe it’s where you had your first date. For expecting mothers, maybe it’s the spot where you found out you were pregnant. For families, maybe it’s your grandparent’s home where you spent countless hours with your siblings & cousins running and playing as kids.
What matters most is how the place makes you feel. If you’re concerned it won’t look ‘aesthetic’ — don’t worry about that, I’ll make sure it looks beautiful in your final images.
Moreover, I bet you’ll love the pictures regardless of the inherent beauty of the setting, because when you look back at the pictures the place itself will make you feel joyful & nostalgic.
2. Show & Tell
For this one, bring items with you that describe you.
For example, for an engagement session instead of bringing a regular bottle of champagne to cheers with, bring the first drink the two of you shared. Maybe that drink is chocolate milk because you met in high school during lunch, or maybe it’s a cheap beer because you first met at a party in college. This idea may seem silly right now, but during your session this super specific drink will bring back memories, stories, and laughter. Plus it’ll be a fun story to tell when you hang the picture on your wall and have to tell guests why you cheers’d with such an odd drink.
This is just one example! There are tons of really creative ‘props’ you can bring to your session!
Some more quick ideas are: a funny sign, a picture in remembrance of a loved one, a stuffed animal your child absolutely loves, your dog, your favorite game to play (yard game or board game), etc. The key here is to think of something that really identifies you, or that you have a strong connection to, and bring that to your session.
3. Create a vibe
Make a playlist of your favorite songs. Play it on the drive to your session & I’ll keep playin’ it during the session!
For couples, choose songs that make you think of each other, or songs from different “eras” of your relationship.
For individuals, pick what ever music is going to make you feel confident & empowered. Or if you want to be more moody, play some sad, indie music that will make you really feeeell something. May I suggest, Noah Kahn, Hozier, or Bon Iver.
For families with young kids, sing-a-longs and/or your kiddos favorite jams are going to be key to making sure they start your session in an happy and bubbly mood. If they need to nap on the way to the session, let me know their favorite Disney soundtrack and I can have it rockin’ when you guys get there!
Music is ~ key ~ to cultivating the emotional atmosphere for your session. The way you feel during the session will translate into the photos and affect your attitude towards the images years from now. If you felt super in love, or joyful, during the session when you look back at the photos years later you’ll feel those same emotions still.
