Love, Allie
I'm so honored that you've trusted me with capturing you! I'm looking forward to creating some magic with you!
In the mean time, this guide is designed to help you create a stress free session!
Thank you again for choosing to work with me and feel free reach out at any point if you have any questions!
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
WELCOME
SCHEDULING YOUR SESSION
indoor sessions
For indoor sessions, the main decision to make is: do you want to do a studio or an in-home session?
If you want to do a studio session, I will send over a few options for you to choose from! I have worked at quite a few studios in the Twin Cities, and only want you to have the best experience! Please note: The cost of the studio rental is not included in your session price. If you choose to rent a studio, the cost will be added to your invoice.
If you want to do an in-home session we will want to consider what time of day your home gets the best light! Pay attention over the next few days to the room you would like to have your session in, and what time of day that room is glowy and bright!
outdoor sessions
For outdoor sessions the main decision to make is: morning light or evening light?
Morning Golden Hour- Are you an early bird? Me too! Did you know there is a golden hour in the morning too?! For the hour after the sun rises the lighting is similar to the lighting during golden hour in the evening that we all know and love.
Mid-Morning (9-10am) is a great time for lighting as well! With the sun above the horizon, but not directly above you it creates a wonderful backlight for portraits.
Evening Golden Hour- This is the most popular time to take outdoor portraits- and for good reason! The light is so warm and strong, it always makes for stunning portraits.
When you are getting ready the day of your session, allow yourself more time than you think for everything! Schedule buffer time after appointments (hair/makeup) in case they go longer than expected. Allow time for ironing outfits, or finding last minute grab-and-go items. Schedule extra time for traffic, parking, taking the wrong turn, etc. I want to use our time as wisely as possible, and give you the best experience, which happens best when extra stress is eliminated!
Day-of Planning
01. IS there a special place that you want to be captured at?
I LOVE capturing people in places that mean something to them! Think about places that mean a lot to you... could we take photos there?
For couples: where did you meet?
For seniors: Where is your favorite hangout spot?
For Families: Do you love a specific park?
02. wide Open spaces are better!
No one likes to be cramped! Choosing a location that is open gives a sense of ease and comfortability. It also allows me to get a variety of shots if I have room to move around.
03. what time of day you want to take photos?
It is important to consider the time of day you want to shoot at, and your location. We always want the light to be behind you! For example: if we want to do a golden hour session at the lake, we will want to meet on the east side of the lake so we can get the sun hitting the water behind you!
LOCATION
04. have you considered a destination location?
It is not uncommon to travel for a portrait session! Again, I want you to be as comfortable as possible, and if that means we go to your favorite cafe in your home town in another state, then shoot- I'll meet you there!
Please note: Travel is not included in the session price. Please inquire with me further for more info on destination pricing.
The location you choose is completely up to you! Here are a few things to consider when choosing your location.
Still can't decide on a location? That's okay! Below are a few of my favorite recommendations.
Mill Ruins Park - MPLS
City + Nature
Brick + Greenery
Good Evening Location
Beautiful All Year
Arneson Acres Park- Edina
Nature
Trees, Flowers, Fountain
Beautiful All Day
Beautiful All Year
Minnehaha Park - MPLS
Nature
Trees + River
Good Morning or Evening
Beautiful All Year
Stone Arch Bridge - MPLS
City
Skyline + River
Great Evening Location
Beautiful All Year
Coldwater Spring- MPLS
Nature
Fields + Trees
Morning or Mid-Morning
Beautiful All Year - Especially Beautiful in Fall
Lake Minnetonka - wayzata
Nature
Lake + Greenery
Beautiful All Day
Best in Summer
Nature
Lake + Trees
Good All Day
Beautiful All Year
Greneral Mills Nature Reserve
MN River Vista Overlook - Eden prairie
Nature
Field
Best in the Evening
Summer or Early Fall
CLOSE
OUTFITS
Changing outfits during sessions always takes more time than expected, so to maximize shooting time and giving you the most amount of photos possible, here are the number of photos that I recommend (by session type).
Family Sessions
how to Plan
Engagement/Couples/
Maternity
Seniors/Headshots
1
1-2
2-3
Below you'll find some handy tips for nailing down the perfect style.
no way, jose
- Being "matchy-matchy"
- White Socks That Stick Out
- Big Logos and Writing on Shirts
- Small, Intricate, Busy Patterns
- Something that just isn't YOU
- Something uncomfortable that needs constantly adjusted
- Professional Hair and Makeup
- Complementary color schemes
- Comfortable + easy to move in
- Flowly skirts or tops that show movement
- Something you feel AMAZING wearing - we want you to feel confident and look your best!
- Dress it up! There is no such thing as too dressed up for your portrait session,
yes! yes! yes!
Portrait Session Styling Tips
what to wear
STYLING TIPS
A FEW HELPFUL TIPS + TRICKS
Choosing Colors
The camera loves sophisticated colors! I recommend light colored neutrals, neutral pastels, or deep muted tones. Bright, bold or neon colors are very distracting and take the focus away from you and your session!
White, Cream, Beige, Blush, Khaki, Baby Blue, Navy Blue, Black, Charcoal Grey, Forest Green, Olive Green, Cranberry.
Coordinating the looks
If you're coordinating outfits with your partner or your family, remember that you want your outfits to be cohesive instead of matching. I actually recommend avoiding matching outfits for portrait sessions. Think about similar colors in different shades, having a main pattern and building off those colors.
Example: If you are wearing a white dress with tan and terracotta embroidery on the sleeve, your partner could wear a maroon button down shirt and dark blue jeans.
Accessories
Pairing your outfit with an accessory adds extra dimension to the image! Whether it's a hat, belt, necklace, earrings, silk scarf, floral crown or bouquet, it brings great visual interest to your photos and can be used for really easy-going posing!
STORYTELLING THROUGH PROPS
Because I specialize in documentary type sessions, I love props! Whether it be the ball of the sport you play, an instrument, a cool old film camera you love, or a vintage car. Using a prop (especially one that means a lot to you) can help tell you story through the lens. Plus it's something to interact with during our session that could make you feel more comfortable!
Portrait Session Checklist
get nails done
schedule hair + Makeup
Choose Outfits
The night before the session:
steam/iron clothes
pack extra outfit with shoes and accessories
pack props
coat or coverup (for colder sessions)
Remove all hair ties from wrists
pack snacks for littles if needed
"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."
- Dr. suess
IMAGE DELIVERY
IN A CURATED ONLINE GALLERY
view a sample gallery
sample gallery
HOW IT WORKS
One of my favorite parts of my job is delivering your beautiful gallery of images! When your photos are edited and ready, you'll receive a link to your online gallery. This is a URL where you will have access to all of your images at high resolution. You can scroll through, view, and download, and print them at any time. You'll also be able to share this link with friends and family so they can relive your best day with you!
Time Frame
Portrait galleries are delivered within two weeks from your session date!
Photos from ALlie HAleyphotography
SITE DESIGN BY RACHEL KICK
Thank you for trusting me to capture your special day! If you need to contact me at any point during the planning process, feel free to shoot me an email!