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Preparing for your session – choose a location

indoor family portrait with dog

August 21, 2018

I’m Dana.
I'm a high school senior and personal branding photographer in sunny Northern California. I help my clients to step into their greatness so we can capture their beauty - inside and out.
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So you’ve decided to do a photo session and you’ve chosen a date. The next step is deciding on a location.

Location is everything

Choosing a location can be a daunting task. You generally have four options:

  1. In a studio with backdrops
  2. In a studio that’s styled with furniture
  3. Outdoors
  4. In your home

The location you choose will depend on the type of photos you want. My style of photography involves either outdoor or in-home photography. I love these two options because, let’s be honest, I don’t have a studio. But I don’t have a studio because I love being on location. I like the variety it offers, for both my clients and myself.

Outdoor session

Some clients prefer to be outdoors. Two popular options are nature or urban. I suggest you choose a location based on your personal style. If you love hiking or if your kids want to run around, a nature session would be perfect. If you want something a little more sophisticated, an urban area would work great.

Luckily for us Californians, we have beautiful weather year round. With the exclusion of a few rainy weeks, we don’t really have any scheduling challenges. However, I like to schedule my sessions during golden hour (a few hours before sunset). This time of day produces warm colors that infuse your photos with positive energy. Because the sun is lower, you won’t have harsh shadows on your face. And depending on the location, we may be able to get some awesome silhouette or backlit photos.

In-home session

Clients that prefer in-home sessions are often looking to document their daily lives. They want me to capture them in their environment. Incorporating all the details of their home is important to them. They want to remember what life was like at this moment in time.

If you’re worried that your home isn’t clean enough or that it doesn’t look like it came from a Pottery Barn catalog, please don’t worry. Your home is beautiful and unique in its own way. It is the place where you create memories. It is a place that is full of love. And that’s what makes it perfect.

I don’t expect you to do a marathon cleaning session before I arrive. However, I do suggest that you put away distracting items. Clear the floors of toys, bags and things that don’t belong in that area. Clear counters and table tops. So tidy up as if you were expecting guests.

Don’t stress about choosing a location. We can discuss your preference and we will find a place that will work for you.

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