HELLO!

Thanks for booking a motherhood mini session. I'm so honored you chose me to capture this season of life for you. This little guide shares more about the session, tips on what to wear and more. I'm looking forward to seeing you!

- Emily

MEETING LOCATION

6 Pidgeon Hill Drive Suite 307
Sterling, VA 20165

THE STUDIO

There is a parking lot on-site with plenty of free parking. Many of the buildings look similar. Mine is located in the one with a big "6" above the doors. Take the elevator to the third floor. Turn left and go through the open doors. Follow the hallway until you find suite 307. I'll be there to greet you!

Plan to arrive a few minutes early to ensure we start your session on-time. 

Get directions →

WHAT TO EXPECT

These mini sessions are designed to be short, sweet and stress-free! During the session, I'll put you in the best light and provide just enough posing guidance. I always leave a little room for fun, especially for the little ones. After your session, your edited images will be ready within three weeks.

IF YOU UPGRADED TO THE FULL GALLERY (12 images)...

You'll receive a link to your gallery with all the edited images, immediately available for download. 

IF YOU CHOSE THE STANDARD OPTION WITH 5 IMAGES OF YOUR CHOICE...

You'll receive a link to all the edited images. After viewing all the photos, you'll choose your top 5 favorites by selecting the heart icon on the images. Once that's done, I'll send you a new gallery link with those 5 images available for download.

If you're considering upgrading but didn't do so when booking, that's ok! You can still upgrade for the discounted price of $99 as long as you pay before the session. Just send me an email letting me know you want to upgrade, and I'll send an invoice to pay online. If you decide to upgrade after the session, it's $199.

Either way, your images will stay in the gallery for one year, so free free to share with friends and family! All photos will be delivered as high-res files. You'll also have the option to purchase professional prints and heirlooms directly if you choose, or you can self-print since the mini session included a personal print release.

WHAT TO WEAR (& OTHER TIPS)

- Your photos will look best when your outfits complement each other without fully “matching.” Soft neutrals such as cream, ivory and gray pair beautifully with navy, dusty blue, blush, soft greens and leather brown. Aim to be in the same color palette (for example, cream, navy, dusty blue) just in different shades and tones. In general, avoid bright colors (especially neon).

- Neutral colors also tend to be a bit more timeless as they allow the photo to focus on your connection with each other. 

- Don’t be afraid to dress up. Getting your photos done is a special occasion, and when everyone is dressed up it really stands out. For women, I typically recommend dresses. Maxi, midi and knee-length dresses are always beautiful! For men, wearing either dress pants or nice jeans can make all the difference. I recommend avoiding shorts, t-shirts with logos on them, and flip-flops.

- Make sure everyone can comfortably move in their outfits. If you like your outfit only at one specific angle, that’s going to make it very challenging for you to relax and get natural looking photos. A good test is to put on your outfit, walk around, sit down and see how it feels. Also, make sure all undergarments are not visible. 

- Arrive fully dressed in your outfits and ready to go. Mini sessions are quicker than regular sessions, so you want to make the most of the time we have together.

- Many families like to go barefoot or wear socks in the studio for a more "lifestyle" feel. If you prefer to wear shoes, you are more than welcome to do so!

- If your littles are going to wear dresses, it’s best to have a longer dress so they can play without worrying about it riding up. This is especially important for babies and toddlers, since when you hold them the dress often doesn’t sit just right. It can also be helpful to have them wear spandex shorts underneath them so they can still play.

- If you’re getting a haircut or color, I recommend doing so at least a few days before the session. The same goes for everyone else in the family too! Haircuts sometimes need a little time to settle, so you’ll want to avoid getting it done immediately before.

- Always allow extra time to get ready the day of the session. It’s super important we start right on time. Adding buffer time never hurts and lets you start the session relaxed and ready to go! With mini sessions, it's important to make the most of your time slot, so building in extra time is always worth it. 

Favorite shops for mom:
Morning Lavender
Baltic Born
ASOS
Show Me Your Mumu

Favorite shops for kids:
ZARA
Baby Gap
H&M Kids
Bitte
Soor Ploom

If you have any other questions, send me a note at info@emilyalyssa.com. I'm looking forward to seeing you soon!

VIEW THE PINTEREST BOARD WITH OUTFIT LINKS HERE →

Favorite shops for dad:
ASOS 
J. Crew
Banana Republic
Nordstrom