Portrait Session Guide
the helgesons
Outfit tips, what to expect, when you'll get your photos & more.
welcome
the basics
outfits
prepping the littles
seasons
checklist
schedule your Video Call
Ready to rock your session?
WELCOME
We’re so excited for your portrait session! We want you to know that we’re honored to be your photographers and humbled that you’ve trusted us with the responsibility of helping you create memories you’ll look back on and cherish for a lifetime.
Our goal is simple: for your session to be as fun and stress-free as possible! That’s why we’ve created this guide just for you! The following will help you get the absolute most out of your photos. By the time you’ve read through it, you'll have all of your questions answered and feel ready and prepared for your session!
This guide is packed with our best tips, tricks and insider secrets for scheduling and styling your portrait session –– and everything in between. Your only job is to be yourself, laugh a lot, have fun, and let us do the rest! We can’t wait to get you in front of our cameras and we’re so excited to see you soon!
When you’re planning "getting ready" time before your session (scheduling your hair, makeup, etc.) please give yourself a lot more time than you think you'll need. Make sure to account for things like traffic, getting lost and parking. So you can prevent unnecessary stress, arrive a few minutes early to your session and be ready to start on time. We’re only able to shoot when light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down!
Planning Your Time
Wondering how many outfits you should plan? We’ve got you covered!
Changing outfits during a session always takes more time than our clients expect, in order to maximize shooting time & give you the highest number of photos possible, we recommend the number of outfits (as follows) to keep stress low and the number of photos in your final gallery high. The simplest way to plan is 1 outfit per hour of coverage. For large groups, we suggest only 1 outfit.
Number of Outfits
A good rule of thumb is if local weather forecasts show a 50% chance of rain or more the session will be rescheduled. If the chance of rain is less than 50%, I will leave it up to you to decide whether to elect to use an alternate location or to reschedule the session. You will be notified at least 24 hours in advance.
What If It Rains?
1 Week - Sneak Peek
In the week following your session, we’ll post a sneak peek of one of our favorite photos from our time together on our Facebook page and Instagram account, so keep an eye out for that!
2 Weeks - Blog Post
About two weeks after your session, we’ll post a blog with some of our favorite highlights at www.thehelgesons.com/blog
4 Weeks - Full Gallery
One month after your session, we’ll send you a link to your online gallery with all of your final, retouched, high-resolution images. You can share the link with your family and friends, post to social media, and more! Your gallery comes with unlimited downloads for you, as well as the option to purchase prints from our professional lab and have them drop-shipped straight to your door. If you prefer, you can also upload the digital files to the retail lab of your choice (we recommend Costco for that!) and print them there. Note that your gallery will be live for 365 days and you’ll get a notice before it expires.
When can I expect to receive my fully edited gallery?
At some point, most of our clients say something along the lines of, “we’re not photogenic”. I always want to let you know, “I FEEL YA”. In all honesty, the first 5 minutes are going to be awkward. After that, there’s this magic moment where you get into a groove and everything starts to feel natural. I’ll walk you through all of the prompts and poses, and tweak them as needed to make sure it doesn’t “look awkward”. In other words, don’t worry about posing, and yes, I’ll tell you what to do with your hands.
How do i pose?
Choosing
Your Outfits
• Most families choose 1-2 main colors and give each person 1 of those main colors, all other pieces being neutral.
• The goal is to coordinate, not match
• Keep location + season in mind
• Pack layers and extra pieces just in case of weather changes or wardrobe malfunctions.
• If you’re unsure or have any questions, you’re . always welcome to send me your outfit ideas!
view our pinterest board
morning lavender
places to shop:
• Don’t be afraid to RENT! Rent the Runway and Nuuly have a fabulous selection of designer, fashionable outfits you can get at a lower cost than buying it specifically for your session.
• Heels look great, but if you choose a pair of shoes that’s difficult to walk in or may sink into the dirt, bring a pair of flats for between locations!
• Long flowing dresses and skirts tend to look most stunning on camera & flatter the female body.
For the ladies
• Many of our ladies love the opportunity for pampering and opt to have professional hair & makeup done.
• Choose your outfits based off of what you feel comfortable and confident in. You’ll feel 10x more relaxed!
• If you’re a manicure gal, now is a good excuse for a fresh one.
• We recommend that you do not get a spray tan before your session because it tends to photograph orange.
lulus
rent the runway
jcrew
kjp
ralph lauren
FOR THE Gents
FOR THE children
For the gentlemen
• Casual outfit: button up dress shirt with sport coat or sweater, dress slacks or dark denim, & dress shoes.
• Formal outfit: suit, dress button up, tie/bow tie, dress pants, dress shoes.
• Patterns like tartan and dress plaid are okay! Do be mindful with tight vertical or horizontal lines. They can be distracting and look warped in photos.
• Avoid open toed shoes, tennis shoes, big logos, and graphic tees.
• Empty your pockets (you can put your phone, wallet, keys, and sunglasses in my bag if you want!)
• For colors, we recommend neutrals and soft, warm tones that complement the woman’s look. When selecting your pieces, we recommend choosing a different “weight” for the pants and coat. So for example, navy pants (darker) and a heather gray coat (lighter). Or gray pants (darker) with a soft powder blue shirt (lighter).
FOR THE ladies
FOR THE children
places to shop:
llbean
ralph lauren
kiel james patrick
brooks brothers
banana republic
For the children
• Casual outfit: girls - dresses & rompers
boys - oxford shirt with chino, corduroy, or wool trousers/shorts
• Formal outfit: sports jacket or a sweater over an oxford shirt, dress slacks, chino, corduroy, or wool trousers, & dress shoes.
• Bring additional pieces in case of weather or wardrobe malfunctions.
• Avoid open toed shoes, big logos, and graphic tees.
• Patterns like tartan and dress plaid are okay! They tend to look best under a sweater or as the top/bottom to a second solid colored half.
• Do be mindful with tight vertical or horizontal lines, and repeating patterns. They can be distracting and look warped in some photos.
• Please have children wear flat or low heeled shoes, we often ask children to run and play.
FOR THE ladies
FOR THE gents
places to shop:
gap kids
ralph lauren
old navy
jcrew
h&m kids
Outfit Tips
styling tips for groups
TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST
The goal for coordinating a family’s outfits is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom (like everyone in blue jeans with white shirts). The more you can mix it up, the better! We encourage you to think about planning each outfit with “dominant colors” and “accent colors” in mind. A dominant color is the color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate. When you’re planning each family member’s outfit, if you can aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’ll look great all together.
For example, if you’re wearing a blush dress, soft blue earrings and nude heels (blush being your dominant color), then your spouse could wear a navy coat with a white button-down and gray pants, paired with brown leather shoes and maybe even a blush pocket square (making navy his dominant color). Your daughter could wear a soft blue top with a white skirt (making a soft blue her dominant color) while your son could wear light beige pants with navy suspenders and a white button down (making white his dominant color). Now each person has their own dominant color while still incorporating a few touches of the other colors that will pull all the looks together. This will visually break up all the colors and highlight each person and their individual personality. Most of our moms choose their dress first, and then build the rest of the family’s outfits based on that.
How to Mix Colors
coordinating the looks
As you’re coordinating your outfit with your family, keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palette and wardrobe pieces coordinate, but don’t actually “match.” In fact, we recommend that you avoid thinking about “matching,” and instead think about what “fits” together. This will create more visual interest, and allow each personality to shine through.
mixing up the pieces
If you have multiple children, don’t feel like you need to put them all in the same type of outfit. For example, if one of your daughters wears a dress and flats, the other can wear a skirt and boots, if that’s more of her style. If one of your sons wears a bow tie, the other can wear suspenders. Mixing up the wardrobe pieces will bring even more visual interest to the photos.
Prepping Your Little Ones
Before your session, pack a bag with water and your kids’ favorite snacks. If they’re too young to follow directions, bring any objects that you think might help me get their attention (like small toys or stuffed animals, toys that squeak are great for this) when it’s time for them to look at the camera.
If your little ones are old enough to understand you, it’s a good idea to prepare them for what’s to come before the session starts. Explain how much the photos mean to you so they know to be on their best behavior. A lot of families pick something fun to do –– as a treat after the session –– if their kiddos are good listeners. Like dinner at their favorite pizza place or an ice cream cone!
It also helps if your kids' bellies are full and they’ve had some good rest before the session. After you do your best to prepare them, give yourself (and them) some grace! We have a lot of experience working with kids, so if they’re “in a mood” or aren’t cooperating perfectly for some reason, rest assured that we’re not judging you (or them). We’ve seen it all and know how to get great photos no matter what! Our goal is to make this as fun and stress-free as it possibly can be for you and your family! This season of life feels long right now, but in the grand scheme of things, it's short. So even if things don't go exactly as planned or as you'd hoped in terms of your kids’ behavior, one day, you’ll be so glad you took these photos.
Setting expectations before your session is the key to great photos and happy kids
Styling Your Session
If you want your portrait session images to look and feel a little more editorial, we recommend bringing a few small, simple props with you, like fresh flowers to hold or a blanket to sit on. If you want to set up a picnic or incorporate another special element into your session, just let us know! Maybe you have access to some larger props that have a real “wow” factor, like a boat, classic car, vintage bicycle or hot air balloon. This is the time to dream a little bit and decide what really feels like you! Props aren’t a must by any means. Some of our clients love them and go all out. Some pick one or two items to bring. Others stick with just their outfits –– and that’s great, too! The most important things you need to bring to your session are love and laughter. We'll take care of the rest.
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Winter
snowfall, hot cocoa and cozy coats
If you’re planning to take your family photos during the winter, we recommend dressing in layers so that in between photos you can warm up.
Add a peacoat, tights, scarves and heeled booties to a form-fitting cocktail dress to stay warm.
Make sure you bring a little extra makeup, hand warmers, and tissues in case your nose begins running. A few of our families have brought along hot apple cider or cocoa to warm up in between photos, and not only does it help but it can add some extra cozy sweetness to your photos.
apple cider
hot cocoa w/ marshmallows
blanket
antique sled
wreath
ice skates
prop ideas:
Spring
fresh flowers and sunny days
Spring is a very welcomed season in Wisconsin, and we're so ready to get out and shoot with you. Because it's a little here and there with weather, we suggest bringing a few extra wardrobe pieces in case of unexpected rain or a chill in the air.
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fresh flowers
picnic basket
blanket
books
charcuterie board
wooden boat
prop ideas:
Summer
walks on the beach hand in hand
In spite of the heat, we’re big fans of summer sessions! If you’re taking your family photos during the summer, we recommend bringing extra makeup and a few towels to make sure you stay fresh throughout your session. Water bottles for everyone is always a good idea too!
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fresh flowers
wooden beach chairs & umbrella
lemonade
beach toys
picnic basket/charcuterie
sail boat
prop ideas:
Fall
colorful leaves and snuggling close
Fall is one of the prettiest times of the year in the Midwest, because of the perfect weather, beautiful colors, and soft sunset! We suggest dressing in layers since the weather can be a bit chilly as the sun sets especially along the lake.
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wild flowers
picnic basket
fruit pies
caramel apples
charcuterie board
apple cider
prop ideas:
Vendors
WHO WILL MAKE YOUR session INCREDIBLE
Over the years, we've learned the vital role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free portrait session. We've worked with each of the vendors below, and we can't recommend them enough! This is not a paid list - we chose these vendors for both the quality of their work and their professionalism.
Ebb & Flow, De Pere
Blossoms Flower House, Sister Bay - grab & go option
Ginger Birch, De Pere
Roots on 9th, Green Bay
Clare's Corner Floral, Green Bay/Suamico
House of Flowers, Oshkosh
Maas Floral & Greenhouse, Sturgeon Bay
floral designers
Dana Michele Makeup - Appleton
Barbara - Door County Makeup Artist
K Charles Beauty, Makeup Artist - Neenah
Dame Salon, Hair & Makeup - De Pere
Meghan Kostelny Collective, Hair - Appleton
Mint Salon, Hair & Makeup - Green Bay
Belleza Hair & Makeup Artistry - Green Bay
Savannah, Piccola Salon, Hair - MKE
hair & makeup
dresses
1. Email Danielle to schedule a video call.
2. Danielle will send you a Client Portal Guide which contains the directions on where to find all your forms.
3. Fill out any forms. Model Release, any necessary Waivers, and your Questionnaire in your Portal.
4. Schedule hair and makeup appointments.
5. Review Style Guide for outfit inspiration.
6. Choose your outfits (drop off at dry cleaner if needed!)
7. Get your nails done.
8. Create Spotify list for yourself and/or your kiddos with favorite songs to dance to! Make sure to mix up fun fast beats with a few slow dances.
9. Pack a bag with:
- flats or flip-flops for walking between photo spots
portrait session checklist
- outfit two (including shoes and accessories) if applicable
- touch-up makeup
- props
- water bottle
- coat or cover-up (for colder sessions) hand warmers are great for sticking in boots or in pockets.
- snacks for little ones
- small eye-catching toys to grab little kids' attention
one final note
Get in touch
We know we just gave you A LOT to think about! Don’t panic :) Just take it one step at a time. We provided a Portrait Session Checklist for you below to help you stay organized and on top of things! But if you have any questions at any point, please know we’re here for you! If you’re deciding between two dresses and can’t commit, no problem! We’re here. If you need a recommendation of any kind, we’re on it! Remember, we’re just one email away :)
At the end of the day, though, the outfits you wear won’t matter nearly as much as the fun we'll have together and the memories you'll make. The style choices you make will definitely enhance your photos, but the most important accessory to bring with you is joyfulness –– which is the one that makes the biggest difference in your photos anyways. You don’t need to have prior experience in front of the camera. Just show up with a smile and we’ll take care of the rest :)
We’re so excited! See you soon!
Danielle & Troy
