What to Expect – Family Photography The Woodlands

I thought I would go into a little of what a session is like with me, no matter if you book a Petite, Full or Storyteller session, and most of the time even 15 minute mini sessions 🙂 I get lots of questions of what to expect during photo sessions and how many images come with a package or even what to wear! Here is a little breakdown for you!

How do I book my session? Booking Sessions are EASY peasy!! I have an online booking system that you can go in, chose your session type and the day/time from my available days on a calendar and get you all setup! No need for back and forth or waiting for me to reply. You sign the contract, answer a short questionnaire and pay your retainer all in one step!

What should I wear? This is a question I get a lot! I can do a customized styling board for your family or answer any questions at all prior to your session! I am always happy to help! My most recommended tips are; no matchy matchy. Don’t wear all white tops and jeans, or all blue etc, coordinate your colors, add a few patterns (not everyone) and go with it. If you are more comfortable in jeans or leggings, WEAR THEM! If you want to deck out in the nines, DO IT!, or you just want to wear a flowly dress for this time, YES! Its all about comfort, especially for Mom. I always recommend, planning Moms and girls outfits, then coordinate the boys around them. I am attaching a few great combos of family style outfits on this post. Mustard yellows and deep purples are my fave during fall! If you are on FB I have a VIP group where I upload style guides as well!

What should we expect during our session? You should expect fun 😉 Depending on the session type you booked, depends on our time together, but no matter if its a mini session or storyteller, you get 100% of my attention on your sweet family. We don’t just do posed photos, we do a combo of lifestyle and posed. That way I can get the personalities of your family mixed in with those cheese smiles 😉 I get feed back all the time of “my kids had so much fun during your session!!” or ” even my husband liked our session” and in my book, husband and kiddos liking their session is a huge win!! I normally try and start with your family photos as I know most of the time that is the most important ones the client is wanting.

How many images do we get and how do we chose? The way my process works, is within 1-2 days of your session you get a soft proof gallery, this gallery for minis typically gives you 20 images to chose from for a 5-10 image package session or 40-60 images to chose from a 25-35 image package. Most of my images are not 10 of the same image just slightly different smile, most of the time we get a good combo of images in that period 🙂 So those who book my minis and are worried about getting enough images, WE DO! Trust me 🙂 I am a firm believer in not needing 100 plus photos of a family session, I give you enough images you can easily decide from and you ALWAYS have the option to purchase more or your full gallery at a discount price! My turn around time most of the year is 1 week from when you chose your images. During fall season, its about 2 weeks (sometimes faster).

If I book a Petite session for my child’s milestone photos, can we do a few family photos too? Absolutely!!! Just remember these are 30 min sessions, so we do a few family style then focus the rest on your sweet child! You still get 10 images in your package as well.

What if my child won’t cooperate? Don’t worry!! If we have a moody/cranky child, we go to lifestyle photos! We have fun with them, let them run around, play ring around the rosy, throw leaves in the air, we get those smiles!! My biggest advice, especially on children ages 18 months to age 3, is to remember these are the toddler years. They are UNPREDICTABLE. So go with the flow, don’t be stressed, if you are stressed the child stresses as well. So we get a family photo of not a perfect smile, its ok!! You will look back on these with memories and laugh at how your child made the cutest pouty face. Although it doesn’t seem like it at the time, you will want to remember this moments! We may have a pouty posed family photo, but then you get 10 smiling photos of them playing in the leaves, and that smile will be forever etched in your memories! Oh and definitely bring candy/crackers as a bribe!

Where will my session be? 99% of the time I shoot in the Woodlands area. I have about 6 spots I LOVE and use at different times of year. I know these spots like the back of my hand and know the light situation both during sun and overcast. They make for amazing memories and beautiful backdrops. Minis and Petite sessions are always done in the Woodlands. If you book a Full or Storyteller session I will travel within a 20 mile radius of the Woodlands, upon approving the location.

Can grandparents/cousins be included in the photo session? All Mini Sessions, Petite Sessions and Full photo sessions are for immediate families only (meaning parents/kids). If you want to add in grandparents/cousins/aunts/friends outside the nuclear family unit, there is a fee per person added, just message me for pricing! Extended family sessions are some of my favorite sessions to photograph! I love capturing the love of entire generations of family.

Can we bring our pet? YESSSS. I love pets!! I do recommend bringing a handler if you want a few family photos without your sweet pup.

Want to book a family session? Lets chat! 

Laci Leigh Photography is a photographer in the Woodlands area specializing in children and family portraiture. She is now booking for 2021 sessions and servicing The Woodlands, Houston, Spring, Conroe, Tomball, Cypress, Kingwood, Humble and Katy Texas areas.

What to look for in a photographer – Woodlands TX

Finding a photographer can be a pretty daunting task, especially when there are so many of them in one particular geographical area. In the Woodlands, TX alone there are 100’s of photographers, so how do you know which one to chose to capture your families memories? Here I break down four steps in helping you narrow down your choices to find the best family photographer for you!

1. Start by a portfolio review. Do they have website and is it presented nicely and easy to navigate? An easy to navigate and well presented website is one of the main things photographers who do this as their business and photograph legally focus and spend their time or their money developing. Also review their portfolio galleries and review their social media pages on Facebook and/or Instagram. Make sure what they have on their websites and social media pages match up the style you want. Do you want a lifestyle focused photographer who captures your family in the raw or do you want one that has everyone looking at the camera and posed? Do you want indoor or outdoor?
2. Review their Investment/Pricing pages. One thing you should decide as a potential client is do you want digital images only or do you want prints/albums/canvas? This will help you to narrow down photographers between those who offer digital images and those who do In Person Sales only. Most photographers are upfront on their pricing pages, stating their packages and if they come with digital images or if the pricing on their page is just a session fee and products/packages must be purchased after the session. My package pricing digital image information is easily broken down on both my investment and booking page.
3. This one is most important once you decide the style and price point you want, Is your Photographer legal? This is extremely important. Photographers who run legal businesses have liability insurance and pay taxes (as applicable in their state). One easy way in Texas to determine this is does the pricing mention sales tax? If so, they are most likely legal. You can always look them up on the Texas Comptrollers website or the easy way just ask them! Its important to have a legal and insured photographer, specifically if you are looking for a studio, newborn, or wedding photographer, but also just a family or children photographer in general. The liability insurance of these photographers protects both you and them. Also the chances of you being stood up at a photo session or not given images that match their portfolio are slim. Another thing to add to this portion is make sure they have a contract. This may seem a little overkill to someone just wanting their photos taken, but the amount of money and time you are investing in your memories is worth being protected 🙂
4. Now that you have narrowed down your choices to style, price point, and found a legal operating photographer, you can narrow down more on communication. How involved is the photographer in your inquiry? Do you like how they communicate? That can help you decide if they are going to be easy to work with and comfortable for you. I have had so many times a new client tell me how nervous they were for their session because they didn’t know how to pose or what to do and they were SO THANKFUL I directed them on what to do and how to stand and just how to have fun! That makes my heart soar <3

I’d love to capture your families memories. My website is up to date with the most recent breathtaking sessions, along with completely transparent digital package pricing, and hey hey, I’m legal and insured 😉 My main focus is to make your family feel comfortable and have fun. I mix a little of lifestyle with a little posed portraits and we have so much fun! Also, contrary to most expectations, my sessions are typically fast! I don’t put many “time limits” mainly on larger package pricing, but most of the time my families feel so comfortable we can be done with their photo session anywhere from 15-30 minutes and we never feel rushed! I want each of you to have the best experience with me and I hope to be the Best Photographer for your family in the Woodlands, TX area 🙂

Merry Christmas – Woodlands Family Photography

2020 has been quit the year! However take time to enjoy your family, reach out to extended family and friends for virtual happy hour and just enjoy the season.

This is my sweet family, minus our pup Odie 😉 Its a little too much stress to add in a dog when doing your own photos ha!

Its been such a joy and pleasure to see all my old clients and meeting some new ones this year! I have enjoyed every minute of capturing your families memories this year!

“May you never be too grown up to search the skies on Christmas Eve.”

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! XOXO, Laci, Jared, and Adalee.

Merry Christmas – Woodlands Family Photography

Want to book a family session? Lets chat! 

Laci Leigh Photography is a photographer in the Woodlands area specializing in children and family portraiture. She is now booking for 2021 sessions and servicing The Woodlands, Houston, Spring, Conroe, Tomball, Cypress, Kingwood, Magnolia, Montgomery, Huntsville, New Waverly, Humble and Katy Texas areas.