The portrait session process:

Planning your session:
First - plan to book your session at least two weeks in advance. During the fall and holiday season, we are often booked out up to a month in advance. Once your session date is determined, we'll help you choose a location and time. Approximately one week before your session, we'll contact you to confirm the date and time of your session. If you have any questions about scheduling a session, you're welcome to contact us at the studio or stop by.

What to expect at the session:
For sessions taking place at our Old Town studio, I begin by hanging out for a few minutes with the kids to get to know each other. After that, I usually start with some in-studio images, and then depending on the age of the child, weather, and other factors, we may venture outside to get some outdoor images using our favorite spots near the studio. For on-location sessions at your home or chosen location, I'll begin by taking a look around to find the best light.

For newborn sessions, a sleepy baby is best. I love to photograph newborns as fresh as possible - around 10-20 days old is perfect. I always plan for plenty of breaks for feeding, changing, etc. Newborn sessions usually last between 1.5-2.5 hours, depending on how young and sleepy the baby is.

For toddlers and young children, it's best to schedule the session when your child is happiest - mid-mornings after nap time is usually a great time. Full tummies are also important, and non-messy snacks are suggested. (We keep a stash of Cheerios on hand just in case.) You're welcome to bring a few changes of clothing to add variety to the images and change things up a bit. I'll focus on capturing images that display their developmental stage (sitting, walking, etc.), as well as their personalities and expressions. These sessions usually last about an hour.

For family sessions, I usually try to get all of the "must-have" group portraits completed first, while I still have the kids' attention. After that, I'll focus on smaller groupings and individual shots. These sessions usually last about 1-2 hours, depending on the number of people in the images.

After the session:
You will receive an email 7-14 days after your session with login information to access your online gallery. Your gallery will be available for seven days and can be shared with friends and family, and all orders can be placed online through our secure shopping cart system. You're also invited to schedule a complimentary in-person ordering session at your home or the Fresh Focus studio (full sessions only, not available for mini-sessions). At the ordering session, you will be able to view 5x7" prints of all of your images and we will help you with any ordering decisions such as sizing, framing, etc. All print orders are usually ready for pick-up or shipping within 2-3 weeks. Specialty items such as canvas, framing and albums may take up to 6 weeks.