STEP ONE : SCHEDULING YOUR SESSION

In order to reserve a date, you will sign some paperwork and pay a session fee of £150. If we haven't already, the easiest way to compare calendars is for you to email or call me with a few dates that work for your family - I always try to be as flexible as possible, and once we find a date, we will get it in the diary.

As you pull out your calendar, here are a few things to consider:

• Weekend dates are limited and popular, so it is advisable to chat about dates as soon as possible as immediate weekends are likely to be booked already.

• Given the beautiful colours and better chance of dry weather, summer and early autumn are the busiest times of year for outdoor family photos for me. If you'd like a session during one of those times (ESPECIALLY if you want a weekend spot), please get in touch as soon as possible!
  If you have a particular date or holiday by which you need prints or gifts (Mother's Day, Father's Day, Christmas, etc.), be sure to book a date at least one month in advance of that date to ensure sufficient processing and printing time.

• Babies and young children are almost universally at their very best first thing in the morning, which just happens to also be a great time of day for beautiful light. If you have children under five years old, I would really encourage you to think about a session at or as early in the morning as you can reasonably be ready. If you have older children or have one of those rare babies that doesn't do mornings, the other time of day that gives us great light is late afternoon/early evening... usually around 1.5 hours before sunset.

• Beautiful photographs can be made in any kind of weather, but I understand that there are some downsides to being photographed in the pouring rain or the freezing cold, and that living in Northern Ireland means that we are on constant weather watch. I can and do reschedule sessions for inclement weather, but am also happy to use your home if there is sufficient natural light in even one or two rooms, if sticking to the schedule is a priority.

STEP TWO : THE SESSION ITSELF

Once we've decided on a time and date and officially put your session in the book, I'll send you a guide to getting ready that will walk you through everything from choosing outfits to strategies for getting kids to cooperate. That guide is based on over 15 years of experience, so it answers most of the questions that come up, but I'm always happy to set up a time to chat if you want additional help.

A few days before our session is scheduled, I'll be in touch to confirm our time and location... at that point, if the forecast is questionable or someone seems to be coming down with the flu, we can talk about our rescheduling options. Otherwise, that's the perfect time to ask any last- minute questions or let me know if you've come up with a fun idea we haven't discussed. And I am up for all the fun ideas you can throw at me!

The day of the session, please block off around 2 hours (3-3.5 hours for a newborn). We're usually done within 90 minutes or so, but I don't charge by the hour, so if there's some kind of wardrobe malfunction or one of the kids needs some time to chill and reset, I like to stay flexible. In particular with newborns, the happiness and comfort of baby is the priority, so please don’t stress about feeds, changes or dancing your baby to settle them. Similarly, if a parent has to leave for an important business meeting but the rest of the family is still available, that's fine too... just let me know ahead of time so I can focus on getting that parent in the frame more while they're still available. Finally, take a breath and relax... I promise to give the grown-ups (and kids) breaks throughout the session as needed, and to make it as painless as possible for everyone involved. And if a glass of something should be required to settle the pre-session nerves, well I won’t be the one to stop you!

STEP THREE : THE FUN PART!

Within just a couple of weeks of your session, you'll receive an email from me letting you know that your photos are ready. You will get to view them via a slideshow which you will have access to for 48 hours. This allows you to see the photos as a whole, and while you may be desperate to see them closer individually, I know you will understand this part of the process once you see your slideshow (often through a haze of tears!) When you've had a chance to view the slideshow and marvel for a bit at how amazing your family is, you'll let me know which collection you want to purchase. After that, you'll have a full month to select the specific digital files and print items you want to use to fill that collection... zero pressure!

Print credit

What you're going to do with your images is perhaps the most important aspect to consider when you're planning for a photo session, but it's all too often the aspect that's overlooked... all that time and money invested deserve a better return than photos gathering dust on a hard drive somewhere. You'll never get the same feeling looking at your photos on a screen as you will seeing them on your wall or flipping through the pages of an album, so I include a substantial print credit with every collection. Below is a just a small sample of some of the beautiful items you can choose from:

It is my sincere hope that - like most of my clients - you will be thrilled with the whole process, from booking your session to hanging prints on your walls. I’ve covered most of the details here but if you have any further questions please just give me a call and I will be happy to chat through anything at all, from clothing choices to locations!