Fur Family Session Prep Guide
So you've booked your photo session.. Now what?
THANK YOU for choosing me, The Furry Folk!
I truly appreciate your trust in me to capture the unique beauty and personality of your furry companions. This guide has been created to help you prepare to get the best possible outcome during your fur family photography session.
My Intention
As your fur family photographer, my job is about more than just taking a pretty photo. It's about creating a meaningful experience with you that encapsulates the joy and love that you share with your furry best mate/s.
It's about rebelling against the typical pet portrait photography and leaning into the real, authentic story of YOUR life and YOUR love story.
Together, I want us to create something magical that becomes a tangible heirloom piece of art for your home.
What's to Come?
- Take all the time you need reviewing this prep guide.
- A few days before your session I'll reach out to confirm details one last time and make sure nothing has changed.
- Again- reach out as often as you'd like with questions. I'm here to help!
PREPARING FOR YOUR SESSION
CHOOSING YOUR LOCATION
When it comes to a photoshoot with your pup you want to choose a location that is both meaningful to you and also photogenic.
I will work with you to find a location that works at the chosen time (sunrise or sunset are my favs) and even consider incorporating activities you enjoy doing with your pup like a swim, paddle boarding or even a mountain hike.
I adore capturing moments at the beach, but I am flexible and can discuss the location that best suits your pup's personality and your vision. We'll consider locations which are dog-friendly/off-leash areas for those that do enjoy being off leash, as well as how your dog interacts with other dogs. Some locations and times are going to be naturally quieter than others and your choice (with my guidance) will be dictated around these things.
Other things I like to consider for the sandy locations are the tides and of course what the light is doing at that location at the time you have chosen for your booking. You've probably realised by now I plan photoshoots during the golden hours which are the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset. That's so we can capture that soft, warm glow.
If you're booking in the Sunshine Coast or the Victorian Surf Coast, I have listed some of my favourite shoot locations especially for you. Click on the button below.
PREPARING FOR YOUR SESSION
WHAT TO WEAR
Choosing the right outfit can greatly enhance the overall look of your photos. Whilst I want you to feel comfy, I also want you to feel fabulous! So aim for clothing that helps to achieve that ... (that will be different for everyone).
In terms of colourings, I find that plain, neutral, or earthy colours, such as browns, mustards, dusty pinks, earthy greens, cream, or white, tend to photograph REALLY well. Avoid clothing with logos or large text as well as heavy patterns. If you're in a group it's okay to have complimentary colour palettes rather than matching outfits and go for soft patterns if necessary.
Texture is your friend - think linen, waffled sleeves, lace, or chunky textured knits for cooler months. Skirts or dresses look great with a bit of movement. And for those that prefer, a plain shirt paired with beige or dark tailored shorts or pants, or light coloured jeans also works well.
If you are looking for something a little bit extra but don't want to purchase something you may only wear once then I highly recommend having a look at Mama Rentals who have stunning dresses for both maternity and family shoots as well as a few outfits for the children as well.
Bare feet can add a lovely touch for the beach locations.
Avoid wearing polo shirts, watches & hairbands around the wrist and take off the sunglasses. Please only bring with you what you absolutely need for the shoot and remove any bulky items in pockets.
It also pays to take extra care with things like bra straps. Try and make sure you have those bad boys tucked away so it doesn't become the only thing you see when you view your images.
See below for some of my clients that chose well or for further inspo click the button below.
WEATHER
Please keep in mind that a session may be rescheduled the night before or in the morning of the session if the forecast shows rain, unusually thick cloud coverage (preventing that beautiful golden light), or strong winds. I will contact you via the phone number you provided me upon booking and I will work with you to reschedule you back in at the earliest possible time for us both.
Some other considerations...
BABIES
Schedules are important for babies. However, a full baby is a happy baby. For the smoothest session possible try to feed your little one right before we start and take as many breaks as you need to feed throughout the session. If your bub is not happy I will work with that and focus more on your pup at that time. I am flexible and can easily work under pressure (something I gained from my previous life as a police officer).
young children
Young ones can be tricky. If at all possible try to bring snacks to the session (who doesn't love bribery?). Things like cereal or snack crackers are good options. Prepping ahead and telling me things to help me bond with your child are helpful too!
pups
If your pup is EXTRA energetic it may be a good idea to get them out for a walk or run in the morning of your shoot (it also may not help at all). At the end of the day.. we will capture the real, raw, authentic personality.. the sandy noses and the wet paws are all part of it!
I will bring some tasty treats and a squeaky toy in order to make friends and get your pups attention when I want to. Please let me know if your pup isn't allowed to have my regular treats and if they're on a special diet please bring some of theirs along.
I also need to know if we need to chose a location based on limited mobility of an senior pup (or other family member for that matter). Some of the locations I choose have lots of stairs etc. so best avoided in these cases.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE SESSION?
preparing for your session
While posed shots certainly have their place, candid moments often steal the show! Relax and have fun as you would if I wasn't there! Allow your dog to be themselves and embrace their natural behaviour. I will softly guide you to an area and make some suggestions for you however the unscripted moments will create cherished memories that truly reflect your dog's personality. I will be ready to capture those spontaneous, joyful instances that will warm your heart for years to come.
AFTER YOUR SESSION
Directly after your session I will show you some samples of the products on offer including different sizes so that you can start to get a feel about what would work well in your home.
We will also choose a mutually convenient time to conduct your viewing/purchasing appointment which will be conducted 2-3 weeks after your session.
I will then get to work on culling your images down to the very best of the best (typically between 30 - 40 images/session).
At your purchasing appointment you will see your beautiful gallery for the first time!
I will ask you at the start of the appointment what you have decided in terms of product and quantity and I will work with you to help you choose your best images. This is NOT a hard sell. I'll be simply working with you and your budget to get the most out of your purchase and walk away feeling blissfully happy with your choices.
Once you've selected your product we will take full payment over the call and I will complete any additional editing / enhancement to the images you have selected. I will then order your products and they'll be shipped directly to you within 3 - 4 weeks.
Digital Files
If you spend over $595 in product you receive the digital files of all ordered images in the size that you ordered.
These will be sent to you at the same time as the product order goes off to the lab.
Downloading your files:
The process is simple: select the images and use the down arrow in the upper right corner of your gallery - click on that and the system will walk you through the download process. The images will download as a zip file, which you can double-click on to expand. I suggest you make a second copy of the expanded files, then save the two copies to two different locations - I generally recommend that one copy be saved to an easily accessible drive (either on your computer or on an external hard drive), and that the other get saved to the cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.).
Copyrights (and wrongs)
Once you've got your digital files in hand, you are free to print them when, where, and as often as you wish - you can use them to make holiday cards, share on your social media pages or personal blog, etc. The only things you can't do are related to the resale of your photos or use for commercial/business purposes. For instance, if you authored a book, you'd need additional permission to use one of the photos on the dust jacket, and you wouldn't be able to enter one of the photos into a contest and win prize money for it. Otherwise, you've got free reign!
PRINTING YOUR IMAGES:
While everything that I offer is printed in professional labs and guaranteed to be beautiful, I also recognise that you may want to print additional copies of your images yourself, and thanks to those digital files, you absolutely can! I recommend Streets Imaging or Atkins Pro for online prints. Be sure to de-select any colour correction options, and be sure to upload the original files you downloaded, not copies.
We've partnered with..
hooper ruff
Hooper Ruff dog boutique offer personalised Australian waterproof collars and leashes. They are hand made in Australia and of an exceptional quality. They are perfect for active dogs and outdoor adventures. We have teamed up with the founder Amelia who has provided $10 off PLUS $1 per letter and FREE phone number on the inside.
Use the promo code FURRYFOLK24 at checkout.
Phew we did it!
I am SO looking forward to working with you and your fur family. Again, please please please do not hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns. I'm here to help! Below you'll find a sampling of the items available in my store. Feel free to look through and start thinking about what you'll use that print credit on!
Narelle
info@thefurryfolk.com
0424 815 659
Products & Pricing
Whether you are looking for simple prints, stunning wall art or luxury albums, we have it all!
My promise to you is that you'll find something to suit your budget and your needs.. no matter what they are!
Below is just a sample of what's available..