Before the Session: 

I am super excited to photograph your family!   

Please fill out a questionnaire and agreement found here: Family Photography Questionnaire and Agreement

The studio is located at 2908 W Fullerton, Suite 203 at the corner of Milwaukee and Fullerton Avenues in Logan Square.  Mini-sessions are quick (20 minutes) so it is really important to be on time.  There is plenty of street parking, you can find more information here: 

http://www.jennifershafferphoto.com/For-Clients/StudioLocation

Please do reschedule the session if you or one of your family members is ill or contagious. I will do my best to accommodate your schedule.

Not sure what to wear?  My motto is to wear what you feel comfortable in, loosely coordinate colors and keep everyone in the family in the same type of style (if Dad is wearing jeans, Mom should not be wearing an evening gown...you get the idea!)             

You can check out additional suggestions here:  What to Wear

At the studio, I primarily capture photographs with natural light.  The backgrounds are neutral (white shiplap, exposed brick) and I will have a decorated wreath, some greenery with pine cones and a white washed wood fireplace mantel.  The backgrounds will work with any color scheme and if you are hoping for a great holiday themed photo, the backgrounds would be perfect for a color scheme of red or green!  Also, if this is not your first holiday session, let me know if you have a preference of backgrounds to keep your photos unique this year.

What to Expect During the Session: You arrive on time, the outfits are on, you did your part, now it is my job to make sure we capture great pictures. The first few minutes of the session, we will get to know each other a bit and talk about the goals for the photo shoot.  Are you hoping to capture a photo for a holiday card (probably!)?  Maybe you prefer only photos of the kiddos.  You are also looking for a non-holiday portrait, etc.  After we go over the goals, we start the photos! I typically start with a family photo first, just so the kiddos have their parents close and they can get comfortable.  Also, your kids will misbehave. I guarantee it.   Don't stress.  I only need 1/200th of a second to capture a smile before the crying begins. You will be surprised by how many great expressions we captured when you receive the photos!  As we get close to the end of the session, we will recap the goals to make sure we hit all of them and try to squeeze a few more smiles out of the little ones. 

When do I see the photos? You will receive a link to the photographs in about 5 days. The link will arrive by email to the email address listed on the questionnaire above. The link will take you to a gallery that will require a password. After you enter the password, you will see all of the final images in both color and black and white. You can share the link with anyone you like! 

After the Session

You will receive a link to the gallery of the final photographs from your session in color and black and white.  There are instructions below on how to start using your photographs!

Download Hi-Resolution jpeg files instructions

Order Holiday Cards!  My favorite place to order holiday cards is at Minted.com.  Check out my favorites below the photo examples with links to the cards at Minted.

Holiday Card Examples: