WELCOME TO YOUR OUTDOOR SESSION PLANNING GUIDE.

All sessions are shot in the evening for optimal lighting - the time frame of this will depend upon the season, the sun, the location and the type of session you’ve chosen. All these details will be picked and sent to you after we receive your ‘client questionnaire’.

Outdoor sessions are done 1 -2 hours prior to sunset depending on location, session type and season. All sessions are for IMMEDIATE FAMILY ONLY.

family/child session prep

We will always do our best to get that one desired shot of everyone looking and smiling at us, but for the most part, we will be giving piggyback rides to your kids, encouraging dads to show off their kid-flipping skills, having little ones give moms their BEST hugs EVER, and fun stuff like that.

No bribes or threats during our sessions, please. We like to keep things calm (with a little bit of the crazy) and bribes always tend to backfire in these situations. A child is easily upset when getting yelled at in front of strangers. We can work around a cranky kid pretty easily!

PARENT TIP :: It is up to all of us to have a successful session and we ask all parents of young children to help us be set up for a successful session. Please be sure your child comes to our session well rested and fed. Sleepy and hungry toddlers are not going to have fun. We encourage snacks for children, but to avoid any spills, stains, and dirty cheeks, messy snacks should be avoided.

There will not be any props, just a blanket that is used for snuggling on the ground.

couple/maternity session prep

We try to get as many different poses and looks as possible so that you have a lot to choose from. We love to capture emotion more than posed smiles, so you don't have to worry about feeling awkward in front of the camera. We will just tell you to do something and walk around you, let us be the weird ones.

Simple sessions are not allowed outfit changes. If you would like to change outfits for a full session, changing outside can be challenging and will eat up some of our precious sunset time. If you need to change, wearing layers is a better option. If you are wearing heels, think of bringing comfortable shoes along since we will do a lot of walking.

There will not be any props, just a blanket that is used for snuggling on the ground.

some things for everyone

Please be on time! We are natural-light photographers, so the sun dictates how long we can photograph you. Please make proper considerations for traffic, hair delays, and fashion emergencies! ;) So if you show up 10 minutes late, the session is not extended, but, rather, ends at the regularly scheduled time. Please don’t think ill of us...we just want to be honest in advance and let you know that we want the BEST photography experience for you and all of our other clients. And being on time achieves exactly this! 

If pressured to “smile”, natural expressions may be lost. Many of the great images we capture are the “in-between” shots, when the subject relaxes & smiles. Photo sessions are work for both subject and photographer but we’ve got tricks that make it fun & easy so don’t worry and don’t try too hard!

weather + reschedules

Outdoor locations means that we are at mercy to the weather. If the day turns out to be extremely hot, which can be dangerous and frustration for the family, we’ll find an alternate date for the photos. Similarly, for rainstorms, snow or extreme cold, we’d rather reschedule than push everyone into an uncomfortable place. We will be in communication the day of the session to discuss any challenges that may arise and deal with them in the most convenient way possible.

Sessions will almost always been called about 3 hours prior to the session. Reschedules will depend on weather during the session, as well as rain prior to the session. No one wants to sit down in a puddle, but urban sessions are amazing after a good rain! If it doesn't rain, but is overcast, we will do the session as planned.
Sessions are not rescheduled due to overcast weather.

what to wear | styling your session

CHECK OUT OUR FREE CLIENT STYLING WEBSITE
STYLING WEBSITE - code is CEDARMOSS

Find a color palette that you love and choose outfits that compliment each other without looking too matchy-matchy.

We always suggest that the woman choose an outfit she feels confident and beautiful in. Then plan the color palette and everyone else's outfits from there.

If you have a fun patterned outfit you would like to use, limit it to one person. That way they will pop and still coordinate with everyone else. Multiple patterns can look busy, and this way they won't be competing with one another.

Add dimension and interest by mixing up the texture of the clothing material and accents.

Keep our backdrop in mind when choosing your clothing. If we are on a beach, aim to dress in clothes that are light and flowing. If we are surrounded by fall leaves, layering in great textures is a great option.

Here is our Pinterest Board that we are always adding to and updating.

after our session

In regards to your photos, as we sort through all of the images from our session, we choose to edit the ones that best represent you. We love to give you the images where there are beautiful expressions, and priceless moments being captured. While we do not edit and/or share every image from our session, we do strive to deliver the best photo(s) of each pose.

We will aim to have your gallery portraits edited and ready within 2 - 3 weeks of our session. You will receive your photos on a personalized, password protected, online gallery. This allows for the quickest delivery of the images, for you to easily view and share your photos.

From there you are welcome to order print products through us, or you can create prints with your own preferred lab. You have full printing rights to these digital images. We suggest a professional lab and not Drug Store quality.

THINGS TO AVOID ::

• All little ladies wearing dresses or skirts need to wear bloomers or shorts underneath.

• Transition Glasses - We cannot fix when they turn into sunglass mode.

• large texts or logos.

• Neon colors.

• Spray tans