Knoxville and Gatlinburg Photographer
It's that time! Time to think about your fall family photos and Christmas card images here in Knoxville. I'm hearing that the foliage should be AMAZING this year, way better than the past two or three Autumns. I'm SO excited; fall is my very favorite season.
1. Book Your Knoxville Photography Session Early
Seriously, please don't wait! I'm even a bit late writing this. October and November for photographers has been compared to April for an accountant. Those two months are CRAZY busy here in Knoxville, and even more so for my Gatlinburg and Cades Cove sessions. My October/November weekends are sometimes booked 2-3 months in advance. I absolutely hate to turn people away, so I'll do everything in my power to make room for your session, but sooner or later, I run completely out of slots. So especially if you have a hectic schedule and need certain dates, book as early as you can.
2. Carefully Consider Wardrobe
Your wardrobe can make or break your session, the feel and look of your images. You should absolutely use this to your advantage.
If you have a "problem area", use clothing to direct attention away from it, so you love the way you look in your photos. Personally, after two kids, my stomach is problem area, so I try to go for looser tops or high-waisted dresses that flow away from the body
Avoid too many large and crazy patterns and neon colors. A pattern or two mixed in is great for a bit of texture, but too many distract from your beautiful family. I love soft neutrals with a pop of color for family portraits. IF you need help, I'll be happy to point you in the right direction.
3. Prep The Little Ones
Taking some time in the days leading up to your session to explain to your kids what to expect during the session and what you expect from them can work wonders. I find when littles are prepared, sessions go super smooth. I'm not above bribery with own kiddos, and find that going to the store and picking out a small toy ahead of time ( They're SUPER into blind Shopkin packs), that they can have if they're good listeners and patient during their photos, helps boost their morale a bit. Of course a good nap and a full belly before your session is also a great idea if you can swing it.
4. Keep Calm
I'll be the first to tell you, family pictures almost never go as planned. From the planning phase, to the actual session, little things go wrong and things aren't always perfect. We will work together to make your session just as amazing as possible, but if we hit a bump, roll with it. It's so easy to get stressed out when little ones running around when they're supposed to be posing for your stunning family portrait. I promise they're not the first, and you will come out with amazing images, even if we have to play three rounds of ring-around-the-rosie to bring out those smiles.
5. Have Fun
Seriously, relax and have a good time. Play with your kids, embrace the crazy, and realize almost no one has a "perfect" photography session. Kids have meltdowns, clothes get stains, and husband's sometimes scowl. Come to your session with a playful attitude. I personally love a mix of playful pictures of playing with kids in the air, or running and picking flowers and your above-the-fireplace posed portraits. I promise we'll get great shots you'll love <3