WHAT TO EXPECT
2022 PORTRAIT SESSION details
welcome
GET TO KNOW your PHOTOGRAPHER
I'm Laurel Smith - wife, mother, and photographer!
Five years ago I took a leap into photography and I'm so glad that I did. We need people who are passionate about what they do each day and I'm happy to say I find joy in creating timeless memories of the tender love found in Motherhood and watching your precious child and family grow.
As a mom myself, I am very sentimental about these moments - the ones that we will miss years from now. I believe in expertly preserving your greatest life moments for longevity. You will see this in the quality of your finished artwork. All of my printed products are archival and will keep the way you hold your babies and kiss their little faces preserved forever for you to cherish now and in the future.
LOVE, laurel
let's connect
After photographing hundreds of portrait sessions over the years, I have found that I'm not the perfect fit for every family. That's why this process begins with a conversation. I want to hear everything - how your family began, what makes you tick, and what you love most about each other.
We'll get to know each other, talk about what you are hoping to take away from your portrait experience, answer any questions you might have about working with me and figure out if we're the best fit for each other.
Contract & Booking
A session fee of $290 is due at the time of the booking. Once you have signed the contract agreement and paid the session fee, the date is officially reserved.
Once your date is reserved I will send you a questionnaire which will give me a bit of insight into who you are and what you are hoping to get out of your custom portrait experience.
Pre-Consultation
When you decide to book a session with me, we will schedule a pre-consultation phone or video call to discuss your portrait session. I will want to learn your goals for the portrait session so that we can best choose a time and place. Which room in your home do you plan to hang your portrait art? What should everyone wear? During this first call I will guide you through the process and answer all of your questions so that you can enjoy the experience knowing that everything has been covered.
The SEssion
From start to finish, sessions generally take less than an hour. I do my best to work quickly and efficiently to get a beautiful variety of images while working within the attention span of babies, kids, and husbands alike! During your session, I will direct and guide you through posing that will create genuine connection. My goal is always to get loving, timeless and joyful images of your family connecting with one another!
DELIVERY
After the session your images will be culled to the absolute best of the best, a minimum of 20 images. All images will be hand edited.
Within 2 weeks, we will meet for your reveal and ordering session where you will make your portrait selections. You will get to select your favorite images and create a custom print and/or digital collection that works for you.
After you place your portrait order, you will receive a link to your online gallery with your purchased digital image. You will be able to view and share this gallery while you wait for your beautiful products to arrive. Your order will be processed and completed within three weeks (slightly longer for albums and specialty products).
Your images will be archived for reorder for one year. I mail or set up a time for delivery of your art as soon as it arrives.
KEEPSAKES
When I’m creating an image, I always try to think about how the image is going to be used. My pre-visualization process incorporates the image in print form, whether it be hanging on a wall or printed on a beautiful archival paper. Knowing this helps me consider the ideal color scheme, the crop of the image, what type of details will be visible at the print size, or viewing distance. After all, it was the final print that got me hooked on photography a few years ago. Products include heirloom albums, framed fine art prints, birth announcements, and digital images.
Cherished Memories
I'm passionate about turning real life into fine art. I love to create simple, yet classic, emotive portraits and capture the essence of a person's character in just one frame. With your needs in mind I make it my priority to offer you an experience that: Shows you how incredibly beautiful you are in these days that are consumed with Motherhood. Captures the essence of the relationships that you share with your growing family. And creates heirloom artwork that your family will cherish for years to come.
SESSION FEE
Includes:
Welcome box & planning guide, pre-session styling consultation by phone or video call, access to client closet, portrait session lasting up to 60 minutes on-location or in-studio, professional retouching and hand-editing of your images, a design & ordering time to walk you through choosing artwork for your home
Digital files, heirloom albums, and framed fine art prints are purchased separately via the a la carte menu
Session FEe
SEe full product pricing here
290
Folio Boxes
starting at 1900
handcrafted box using premium linens, silks, and vegan suedes. Includes museum-grade archival matted prints that can be removed and framed for the wall
Heirloom albums
starting at 1900
museum etched fine art prints
8-ply museum mat-board
museum glass & your choice of frame from curated frame collection
fine art framed prints
starting at 400
custom engraved album cover
linen, leather or vintage velvet
THE Luxury MEMBERSHIP
3 sessions | 900
Includes:
welcome box & planning guide
pre-session style consultation by phone or zoom for each session
access to the client closet
sessions in the studio, your home or outdoor location
preparation of your proofs
ordering sessions to view your proofs & place your order
TESTIMONIALS
Read what past clients have had to say
madison conlin
Laurel is SO talented and the best to work with. She knows how to find the best angles and gives you great guidance. She's also so great with every member of the family, bringing out our best qualities. She's patient and has a wonderful eye for what she does. Can't wait to use her in the future
Declan smith
We loved our shoot with Laurel! She comes prepared - scouting out the perfect location for our shoot and working with us on what kind of look we wanted to go with. For those of us who are naturally a little less photogenic, she helps frame us with some flattering poses and shots that made my wife feel like a model but didn't feel rigid or anything like that. Our pictures are beautiful!
Stacy redd
We had such a wonderful experience working with Laurel! She took beautiful photos and made it such a fun yet professional experience. Her vision as an artist made for the most perfect photos I could've ever hoped for! My family will treasure these for many generations to come!
are digital files included?
All artwork and digital images are purchased AFTER seeing your final gallery. I think that it only makes sense that you choose images that you love before making your purchase decision. You absolutely can choose digital files, albums, and framed fine art prints, or a combination of those three!
How many files are included?
A minimum of 20 images will be available for purchase during your design and ordering appointment. While I frequently deliver more than 20 many factors determine the number of images delivered including weather, available light, and the temperament of little ones involved.
WHAT IF IT RAINS?
No one wants to look like a wet dog in their photos so if it looks like it's going to rain, snow, hail or some other weather catastrophe, I'll be in touch via email or phone to reschedule.
we're awkward and my kids don't sit still.
Not to worry. Directing families with littles ones is my specialty, actually I love encouraging children through prompts and games into the most heartwarming poses that are flattering for Mom and Dad while bringing out your families personalities at the same time.
how far in advance should we book?
The sooner the better! My session dates tend to fill up pretty quickly - especially during the spring and fall, so the sooner you reach out to me, the more likely you are to get your desired date! I do take a limited number of sessions each month so that I am able to serve my clients well with reschedules due to weather, illness, etc.
When should I have my maternity and newborn session?
I recommend scheduling maternity sessions between 28-32 weeks while you can show off your bump and can still be comfortable throughout the session, but I have photographed women days before going into labor as well! Newborn sessions are held anywhere between 2 and 14 days old but I do focus on baby-led posing which allows flexibility for beautiful sessions up to 4, 6 and even 8 weeks old.
do your sessions include wardrobe?
As a matter of fact they do! I know how much effort it can take to find a dress that you love (and fits beautifully) in those pregnant and postpartum months and I love to offer my client closet to help make your experience better! I offer dresses for Mamas, children's clothing for boys and girls up to size 5, as well as shirts for Dad!
where do sessions take place?
I love to learn about your family, style, home decor, and preferences before recommending the perfect location for your session. I hold sessions in studio, in home, at the beach, in the field, and even downtown dependent on which option is the best fit for you!
I feel so honored that you're considering working with me to capture your family.
A session fee of $290
is due to reserve your session date and time in my calendar. Once you have signed the session agreement and paid the session fee, the date is officially reserved!
All documents are sent and completed via email. Payment is completed via my online invoicing system which accepts debit/credit or Paypal.
READY TO BEGIN?
reserving your session
CONACT laurel