A Guide to At-Home Portraits
Environmental or "editorial" portrait sessions are much different than a studio session
These photos will have a more narrative & candor so they're ideal if you're trying to tell the story of you, your creative process, or business
Having one's portrait done can be affirming and timeless, and environmental sessions are best for those in search of honest images rather than a standard headshot.
Here's what to expect & how to prepare
The Process
PREP includes a discovery call, styling & FAQ guides, location consult & mood board + I can set you up with a hair and makeup professional who really suits you. I put a lot of care & compassion into each session, even before the shutter gets pressed - my tried & true way of helping you feel comfy & prepared.
SHOOT Treat our shoot day like a self-care day! I honestly think of these sessions as more of a nice easy hang out at home or wherever we are. Hair and makeup will take care of you before I arrive if you've booked it.
PROOF Together we review your portraits over a video chat. I'll help you navigate the gallery and narrow down your selections from a big collection of my favorite shots. This is the best time to make any light retouching requests.
DELIVER You'll receive your edited portraits + a curated selection of detail shots or candids in a private online gallery. You'll be able to download high res or web res versions.
REFERRAL Most of my clients find me through word of mouth and I love it. It feels organic and I'm always excited to meet your peers. If you refer someone to me who books their own session with 6 months of receiving your gallery you'll get to choose 2 more portrait edits from your proofing gallery.
Benefits of At-Home Portraits
ACCESSIBLE Avoid the stress of traffic & transit. Change outfits in the comfort of your own space or take breaks in the places you normally do. I can bring a plain backdrop if you'd like the studio look without going anywhere!
INTIMATE but never invasive. Having someone in your home requires trust & a a former house-cleaner I appreciate the delicate nature of being in someone’s home. I honestly & truly I don’t care if your dishes aren’t done - the focus of your portraits, no matter where we are, is always you and your energy
VARIETY & DETAIL your home or studio doesn't need to be a pinterest board to be exciting, and I won't photograph anything you don't feel great about. The details I include in your final gallery compliment & help shape the full story of you. I'm honoured when folks want to share any aspects of their creative process and would love to capture you painting, writing, meditating, celebrating, cooking- any form of self expression that feels natural.
Overall you'll receive usable portraits for a variety of online or print platforms, along with candids and curated details.
Lighting
While some natural light is ideal for in-home sessions, it's not imperative. I can make photo magic happen and enhance the light you've got or even emulate daylight where there is none. Alternatively, shadows and more dramatic lighting create a lot of character. Regardless, I'm happy to work with what you've got happening in your space.
Before your shoot you can help me prepare by uploading pictures of your space to our moodboard or google drive folder
Tips for taking pictures of your space
- stand with your back to the window
- turn off all lamps & overhead lights
- turn off any HDR settings in your phone cam
- take pictures in the morning and maybe again around sunset - whenever you think it's brightest.
STYLING
Before we shoot we make all the big tough decisions about what to wear. Here's an F.A.Q page full of very helpful tips. PLEASE read it!
Upload your outfits either as selfies or flat-lays to our moodboard or google drive folder before our styling consult and we can go over them together so that we don't have to think too much about it on our shoot day. I can also suggest a few really fabulous stylists in the city who can help you with a fresh look just for your session.
TIPS! ADVICE!
On the day of your shoot, try to be relatively camera-ready before I arrive. If you have hair or makeup scheduled I can coordinate arrival time with them. Have an alternative outfit picked out and ready to go. Changing outfits can change the vibe of your photos and give you a bit of down time during a session, but it's best if options are sorted out beforehand.
Tidy up if you have time (it'll feel good!) and maybe even have a little fun styling your space, but this is where my expertise with framing and composition comes in handy. Together we'll sort out which areas will make the best backdrop, spaces that give you some context but don't detract from the main event.
Once I arrive I like to do a quick tour of your space or the places you might like to be photographed. We can chat and get acquainted - don't worry we're not wasting time if we're not actively taking photos, this is just part of how I work and helps if you feel even the faintest bit awkward or nervous.
TIMING note: I never rush & I like to chat and visually explore the space. Expect to spend up to 2- 3 hours hanging out & having a nice time. Avoid scheduling work right before or directly after your shoot and thank me later.
If your home space isn't quite right for your photos, but you still want that creative, editorial look, no sweat. I'm open to meeting you in a space you love. Cafe, local bookstore, park, or I can plan a short walk around a neighbourhood.
Afterwards
After your session you'll receive a set of lightly edited proofs from which you'll choose your favorite photos, usually with a couple weeks of our shoot. Those selections will then be fine-tuned, and you'll receive ready to share high and web resolution edited photos within 2-3 weeks.
For environmental/ editorial style sessions you'll receive edited high resolution with full sharing and printing rights for personal use. I'll also include a curated selection of detail photos of your space or the day that reflect you and your space.
You can find answers to any other process questions here.
