style guide-bri costello photography
DESCRIPTION
For portrait and engagement sessionsTRANSCRIPT
S E S S I O N G U I D E For Portraits and Engagements
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i. when to book
ii. about the session
iii. location, location, location
iv. what to wear
v. faq
W H E N T O B O O K
Many factors play a role in the look ,
feel and general aesthetic of your
photos, but one of the most
mitigating factors will be the time of
year you decide to shoot. In the park
pictured to the left, for example, in
the top photo we shot in fall—which
created rich, amber and neutral
tones. I went back in the spring to
shoot the photo on the bottom, and
just look at the difference! If you
have the luxury of shooting
anytime of the year, consider your
aesthetic and what environment you
feel most comfortable in.
For a city, you may want to book in
spring where you can rock a summer
dress or dapper draps for the boys. If
you are going for a session with
layers, color, and coziness, cooler
weather and a winter session will
allow you to achieve this vibe without
toasting in the summer heat. For a
light, fun feel—summer may be your
season. Or perhaps a campfire
session on the beach during the fall
where you can bundle in cool
colored, oversized sweaters speaks to
you.
The best light to shoot in is definitely
30 minutes after the sun comes up (I
know—I am not a morning person,
either!) or 1-2 hrs before the sun goes
down, depending on how long your
session will be. Light is the softest at
these hours and adds that gorgeous
golden tone to photos that we all
love. I am available to book evening
sessions on weekends, and I can do
morning sessions any morning
throughout the week or on the
weekend. The best thing about a
weekday morning session is that
streets tend to be less filled with
clutter and noise, parks have less
people, and sometimes—just
sometimes—you catch that
mysterious morning haze that adds
an undeniably zip to your images!
A note on booking. Photos tend to
take 2-4 weeks for processing, so if
you are wanting images for a Save
the Date, or engagement
announcement, senior picture
announcements, etc., be sure to
work back from the date you need
you images to ensure you book your
session with enough time to get
images back and still make your
deadlines. Any questions on this, or
last minute issues, always feel free to
contact me directly at
A B O U T THE
S E S S I O N
The goal of our session is always to
capture you: where you are in life,
how you are, and what excites you.
Portrait sessions are a rare opportunity
to really capture your creativity,
expression, and individuality.
We aim to have a natural, yet stylish
and curated session that evokes the
beauty in each of us by creating a
comfortable and free environment.
For the most part, I will prompt you, or
you and yours, to act naturally. I may
position you here and there, or have
you try certain techniques and tricks,
but the goal is that when you strike
that golden laugh, that it is 100%
genuine.
If we are shooting outside, the goal
will be to use the natural light from
our surroundings. If shooting indoors,
we will be working with the window
light, and perhaps some lighting tricks
I bring along,
Depending on the portrait package
you book, I tend to like to plan for a
few different “looks” or feels. Think
about the different aspects of your
life or your relationship and develop
shoots that embody those moods.
Pick a spunky outfit and location that
helps you to show your playful side.
Another look could be soft colors in a
field to show the sweet or tender side
of you or your relationship. But you
get the point—create “looks” that
match your environment and fit your
personality. If we are changing
locations, be sure you have thought
through how and when you will
change. Travel time and setup is also
included in your session time, so try
not to get too intense with your
moves.
For wedding couples, an
engagement shoot is the perfect way
for you and I to get to know each
other! We can “practice” before the
wedding and figure out your style of
shooting before the big day. If there
is any feedback you have for me
after our shoot, always feel free to let
me know.
L O C A The best location will most certainly be
the spot that makes you feel most
comfortable and most in your element.
A good location will also be a clean
backdrop, not overly distinguishable.
You want to be the center of your
photos, not the statue of Sam Houston.
Also, consider the colors and texture of
your environment. Be on the lookout
for hidden roads, farm field, cool
hallways. You can even typically coax
a coffee shop in to letting us shoot in
their shop. Make a list of the things you
like to do, and think of places that
speak to that. If you love to play the
guitar, where do you play? If you go to
the same Farmer’s Market every
Saturday, set up your shoot then. Or if
you collect stamps or records, perhaps
hitting up a collectors shop or record
store could be up your alley. Speaking
of allies—they can also be great little
hidden spots to set up a shoot. If you
tend to have a more modern vibe, find
a clean city street that has modern
storefronts. Ask a furniture store or art
gallery if you could shoot in their space.
T I O N Industrial spaces or old buildings can
sometimes have a lot of red tape to
shooting on site, but they are also
sometimes the most hidden gems.
Bookstores, libraries, or a study could be
a great location for a bookworm. Or
hit the pavement on your bikes and
let’s find some magical trails. Love
riding in your vintage convertible?
Well hey—so would I. Let’s make it
happen!
I am pretty much always on the lookout
for the next great place to shoot, so if
you are needing some help
brainstorming, definitely just let me
know and we can start the brewing of
some ideas that you love and represent
you!
A final note to consider with your
location would be the accessibility and
liability of a space. Some locations
may require entrance fees, or may not
allow any professional shoots at all, so if
anyone owns the property you have in
mind, it may be a good idea just to
check with the owners and get a
confirmation that we will be okay to
shoot there in advance.
W H A T TO W E A R
To begin, as with every other aspect of
photography and planning your shoot,
you want to maintain a style that is true
to you. Now, that isn’t to say that you
can’t have some fun and push the
boundaries a bit to create images that
will pop and highlight you in a way that
may not include the baseball cap that
you wear every day! My most basic
advice is to coordinate, and NOT
match. Coordinating means colors that
are in the same tonal pattern; however,
this can be a bit deceptive, as the right
orange and green really can work
together! On the opposite page, the
couple is wearing bright blue and pink.
Given the playful backdrop of the Ferris
Wheel and fair, their colors pop and
mesh with the environment, while still
highlighting them. In a green, wooded
forest, creams, oranges and reds come
across beautifully. Caution colors are
shades of teal and coral. They
definitely can work, but it will likely be
with contrasting deep, bold or cool
crème colors.
Additionally, adding a fun accessory to
your wardrobe can also add that extra
ZING! Fun colored sunglasses, a special
lacey blouse, bright patent-leather
shoes, or suspenders all add to your
outfit and transform your look from daily
wear to magazine-ready.
When plotting your outfit choices, keep
in mind the weather and shooting
conditions. If there is a chance of rain,
bring along your mud boots and a cute
umbrella. If you are wearing those killer
heels, but we are walking from location-
to-location, pack and extra pair of flats
to get around.
For the boys, a standard shirt that you
like is a good start, but think of a way to
make it a little more than everyday.
Add a hat or suspenders. Maybe a
vest, or a tie with some pop. Roll up
your sleeves for a more casual look, or
add some colorful socks!
When putting multiple outfits together,
you will want to look like you are both
going to the same party. Try to avoid
one being in a long, formal dress and
the other like they are going for a
casual Saturday stroll. If you are going
for a modern look, pick outfits for you
both that match the aesthetic. If you
are harbor side at a coffee shop, aim
for that comfy, seaside look.
Patterns can work great, but be sure not
to combine too many! Also, if you have
a strong-patterned shirt, make sure your
environment is more simple and subtle
and would work well with your choices.
And finally, wear what you feel
excellent in! Day-of, it can be a good
idea to bring an extra option or two in
case we have time for wardrobe
changes, or in the event of wardrobe
malfunction. And should you want a
second opinion, you can always shoot
me your looks before-hand at
Do we get every image you shoot?
Short answer: No. Long answer: Because
you don’t want every image. I try to
shoot economically, but sometimes you
are just too adorable and the light is too
good, and so I simply take a lot of photos.
I will curate an album of images for you
so that the images you receive
encapsulate the very best of each of the
moments from our shoot!
How will we get our photos?
I have a client proofing webpage hosted
by Instaproofs where you will be able to
download all of your images. Within 2-3
weeks of our shoot, I will send you an
email detailing how to access the
website and your photos. You can also
order prints directly from the website, and
there are a number of print proof
packages to check out, as well.
What if we go over our time, but want to
keep shooting?
I am typically pretty generous with my
package time and images. That stated,
in the event that we are severely off-
schedule and have to make decisions —
pending my availability—we can discuss
the extra time and you can authorize an
extra hour, which I will bill after our session.
And hey—an extra hour means extra
images, too! So that’s cool.
Can we bring other people or animals to
our session?
Of course you can! Furry friends can
always be a great compliment to any
session. Keep in mind that this session is
still about you, so if you bring family
members, my suggestion would be to be
clear about your expectations, where
they should be and when. As for furry
friends, you may want them in a few
shots, but if you don’t have them in
throughout the entire session, be sure to
consider who will be taking care of them.
F A Q
What if it rains or there is really bad
weather the day of our shoot?
If your shoot is rained or “weathered” out,
we can reschedule. However, if it isn’t an
all-out downpour, and just light rain, I
have the equipment to keep my camera
and lenses safe. Sometimes the most
dramatic sessions come after a light
drizzle, or when massive grey clouds are
brewing in the distance. We will avoid
natural phenomenon, such as: severe
lightning, hurricanes, tornados, and hail
storms.
When do we pay for our session?
In order to hold your booking, we must
receive full payment; therefore, payment
is due upon booking, unless otherwise
arranged. If you have booked a
wedding package, and you are applying
your discount to a session, simply let me
know and I can adjust the pricing invoice
for you.
What if we have to cancel our session?
For viable reasons, sessions can be
cancelled for no charge up to 14 days
before the shoot. After the 14 days, you
will be charged 30% of the package rate.
If you need to cancel 24 hours before the
shoot, you will not be refunded your
package fee. Should we be able to
reschedule your session, the amount paid
will be applied to your portrait package.
What if we can’t reschedule?
If you book a session and then have to
cancel and are unable to reschedule, the
above charges would apply. However, if
we have to cancel as a result of weather
or any issues on the photographer’s
behalf, you will be refunded in full for your
session.
And at the end of it all, remem-
ber—this little tool is just a
guide to help you plan out your
session. It is in no way meant
to be a hard and fast rule book.
This is your session, about who
you are. So, be YOU!
...Have fun, and celebrate what
is going on in your life.