Frequently Asked Questions
You do not need to have every detail figured out before you book.
These are the questions families ask me most often—from choosing the right session and planning what to wear to wondering how I work with children, newborns, weather, and everything else that can make a photography session feel like a lot to think about.
You can start with General Questions for helpful details about planning your session, payments, and what to expect after your session.
If you already have a particular type of session in mind, feel free to jump straight to that section. You can also explore the individual session pages for photographs, pricing, locations, what’s included, and how to book.
General Questions
Of course, plans can change. For most sessions, you can reschedule once as long as you let me know at least 72 hours before your appointment.
If you, your child, or anyone else attending becomes sick, please reach out as soon as you can, even if it’s within that 72-hour window. An illness is handled separately and won’t use up your one regular reschedule.
Some seasonal sessions have different rescheduling requirements, so please check the Terms for your specific session for the details.
I keep a close eye on the weather forecast and actual conditions as your session approaches. Seattle weather can be unpredictable, so sometimes the final decision needs to wait until the morning of your appointment.
Steady rain, strong winds, or unsafe conditions may mean we need to reschedule. But cloudy or overcast skies are usually not a problem, and normal seasonal changes alone aren’t a reason to move your session.
If the weather prevents us from going ahead, I’ll work with you to find another suitable date. Some seasonal sessions have their own weather and rescheduling policies, so be sure to review the Terms for your specific session.
When you book, you’ll pay the deposit listed for your chosen session to reserve your appointment. The remaining balance is due on the day of your session.
If you book a Maternity + Newborn package, payments are split between the two sessions. The remaining maternity balance is due on the day of your maternity session, and the newborn balance is due on the day of your newborn session.
Yes! All of my sessions include a detailed preparation guide and access to an online styling service to make choosing outfits easier, especially when you’re coordinating clothing for the whole family.
The goal isn’t to have everyone dress alike. It’s to choose clothing and colors that complement one another, work well with your session location, and still feel natural to your family. That helps the finished photographs feel cohesive without looking overly coordinated.
Absolutely. You are not expected to arrive knowing where to stand, where to look, or what to do with your hands.
I give clear direction throughout the session—how to stand, where to place your hands, how to hold your child, when to look at the camera, and when it makes more sense to walk, interact, or simply be together.
You will have enough structure to know what to do without every photograph feeling stiff or overly posed.
That is a very normal concern, and children do not need to behave perfectly for me to photograph your family.
I adjust to the child in front of me. Sometimes that means keeping things moving, sometimes giving them a little space, and sometimes changing the plan completely for a few minutes.
A particular smile, expression, or level of cooperation can never be guaranteed, but working with real personalities, moods, and energy is part of photographing families.
After your session, I’ll send you an online proof gallery where you can browse your photographs and choose your favorites. The number of hand-edited photographs included depends on the session you book.
If you fall in love with more photographs than your session includes, you can purchase additional hand-edited images for $20 each.
Most sessions also offer a $200 full-gallery upgrade.The photographs included in this option may vary depending on your session.
A few sessions have different options. You’ll find the details for your chosen session on its session page.
Standard color correction gives the photographs in your proof gallery a consistent, natural look, with adjustments to color and tone. This is also the level of editing included with eligible full-gallery upgrades.
The photographs you select for hand editing receive extra attention. I refine the colors further, gently smooth skin, remove blemishes or bruises, and tidy up flyaway hairs.
If you’d like more extensive retouching, we can discuss what’s possible and arrange that separately.
You can expect your online proof gallery within four days after your session, once your balance has been paid in full.
You’ll then have seven days to look through your gallery and choose your favorite photographs. Once you’ve submitted your selections, your final hand-edited photographs will normally be ready within another seven days.
If you need longer to make your selections, that’s okay! Just keep in mind that your finished photographs will move into my next available editing schedule, and I’ll provide an updated delivery estimate.
Scheduled blackout dates or unexpected delays may extend the delivery timelines, and I’ll keep you informed if anything changes.
I’m based in Kirkland, and I photograph families throughout Seattle, the Eastside, and the Greater Seattle area.
My private photography studio is located at:
720 Market St, Ste E
Kirkland, WA 98033
Depending on the session you choose, we may meet at my Kirkland studio, at one of my outdoor locations, or right in your own home for a Newborn In-Home Lifestyle Session.
Absolutely. If you’d prefer to keep your photographs private, just let me know before they’re published. I won’t share photographs from your session publicly or use them for marketing.
Your privacy choice covers everyone photographed during that session, including children and other family members. It applies only to that session, so you can make a different choice if we work together again.
Yes! I offer custom albums, custom framed prints, and canvases as optional purchases after your session.
If you’d love to have your favorite photographs in an album to look through or displayed in your home, I’d be happy to help you explore the available options.
Maternity Sessions
I usually recommend scheduling your maternity session around 28–32 weeks. By then, your baby bump is typically clearly visible, and you still have some time before the final weeks of pregnancy.
Of course, every pregnancy is different, and this is a guideline rather than a strict deadline. If you’re earlier or further along, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve missed your opportunity for maternity photographs. I’m happy to help you figure out what timing works best for you.
The easiest place to start is with the setting you’re drawn to. Do you picture your maternity photographs outdoors, or would you prefer a studio?
If you love the idea of outdoor photographs, Outdoor Maternity Deluxe Session gives us up to an hour together and lets you choose from my selection of Greater Seattle outdoor locations after booking. Outdoor Maternity Mini Sessions offer a shorter experience at set locations, including options in Redmond and at Rattlesnake Lake.
If you prefer a studio, Simply White offers both Mini and Deluxe sessions at my private Kirkland studio. For a different look and feel, Rustic Lifestyle Deluxe takes place in a natural-light studio in downtown Seattle.
Once you’ve found the setting you love, think about how much time and variety you’d like. Mini sessions are shorter and more focused, while Deluxe sessions give us more time and flexibility to create a wider variety of photographs.
Yes. All current maternity sessions can include your partner and children, so your gallery can include both individual maternity portraits and photographs with the people who are part of this stage with you.
If family photographs are especially important to you—or you want more variety—one of the Deluxe sessions may give us more room to work than a shorter Mini.
I don’t provide maternity dresses or a client wardrobe, but you won’t have to figure out what to wear on your own.
Every maternity session includes a detailed preparation guide and access to an online styling service to help you choose outfits that reflect your personal style and work beautifully with your session setting.
And if you’d like a second opinion or need a little extra help putting your outfits together, I’m always happy to offer personal guidance.
Yes! If you’re already thinking about both maternity and newborn photographs, I offer several packages that let you plan for both while you’re still pregnant.
Each package pairs a selected Deluxe maternity session with either Newborn Studio Deluxe or Newborn In-Home Lifestyle, depending on the package you choose.
And don’t worry about knowing exactly when your baby will arrive. We’ll confirm the actual date of your newborn session after your baby is born.
Still deciding between studio and outdoor photographs, Mini and Deluxe sessions, or whether to book maternity and newborn together?
Compare Maternity Sessions to explore sample galleries, pricing, locations, and package options, and find the experience that feels right for you.
Newborn Sessions
The best place to start is by thinking about the photographs you’d love to have most. Each newborn session offers something a little different.
Studio Deluxe Session is my most comprehensive styled newborn experience, combining beautifully posed and natural photographs of your baby across several setups with portraits of parents, siblings, and family.
Baby In Your Arms Studio Session focuses on the closeness between you and your baby. Your baby stays in your arms throughout the session, creating natural, intimate photographs without traditional posed newborn setups. It’s also a wonderful option for slightly older newborns.
Studio Mini Wrapped Session is all about your baby, with three coordinated wrapped setups designed to create a beautiful variety of solo portraits. This is a baby-only session, so parent, sibling, and family photographs aren’t included.
In-Home Lifestyle Session brings the experience into your own home, capturing your baby and family together in the familiar surroundings where your new chapter is unfolding.
You can book your newborn session while you’re still pregnant. Since babies have their own schedules, your booking reserves a place around your due date rather than a specific session date. Once your baby arrives, we’ll confirm the actual session date together.
The ideal timing depends on the type of newborn session you choose:
- Studio Deluxe and Mini Wrapped Sessions: Typically between 5–21 days after birth.
- Baby In Your Arms Studio Session: Typically between 5 days and 2 months.
- In-Home Lifestyle Session: Typically between 5 days and 3 months.
These are recommendations, not strict deadlines. Every baby is different, and I’m happy to help you find the timing that works best for your family.
Yes. If your baby has already arrived, you can request a preferred date and I will confirm availability.
Your baby’s age may also help determine which session is the best fit. Baby In Your Arms and Newborn In-Home Lifestyle both have broader typical age ranges than the more traditionally styled newborn sessions.
If you love posed newborn photographs and your baby is already older than the typical Studio Deluxe range, that session may still be possible. I work with what your baby comfortably allows rather than forcing a pose simply because it was part of the original plan.
Your baby does not need to sleep through the entire session.
I pace newborn sessions around your baby’s comfort and natural cues, with time for feeding, soothing, changing, or simply being held when needed.
If your baby is awake, I can photograph those awake moments instead of treating wakefulness as something that has gone wrong.
Every newborn is different. Sleep, calmness, and a particular pose can never be guaranteed, so I adjust the session to the baby in front of me.
Your baby’s comfort and safety come first.
I pay attention to your baby’s cues throughout the session and adjust the pace, sequence, and posing accordingly.
Some babies settle comfortably into certain poses and others do not. I do not force a baby into a pose simply because it appears in a sample photograph or was part of the original plan.
The session works around what your baby safely and comfortably allows that day.
It depends on the newborn experience you choose.
Newborn Studio Deluxe can include parents, siblings, family photographs, and grandparents.
Baby In Your Arms Studio includes parents and may include siblings.
Newborn In-Home Lifestyle can include parents, siblings, and grandparents.
Newborn Studio Mini Wrapped is intentionally baby-only. Parent, sibling, and full-family photographs are not included and cannot be added to that session.
Yes! I photograph twins, and I’d be happy to help you choose the newborn session that works best for your family.
Studio Deluxe Session can accommodate twins with a $500 add-on, which covers having an additional photographer assist during the session.
In-Home Lifestyle Session is another lovely option for twins, with no additional twin fee.
If you’re interested in one of my other newborn sessions, please reach out before booking so we can make sure it’s the right fit for your babies and the photographs you have in mind.
Yes, with several of the newborn options.
Pets can be included in Newborn Studio Deluxe, Baby In Your Arms Studio, and Newborn In-Home Lifestyle Sessions.
Newborn Studio Mini Wrapped is a baby-only session, so pets are not included.
Still deciding which newborn session is right for your family? Explore Newborn Sessions to compare all four options, see photographs from each, and find the experience that feels right for you.
Family Sessions
The best place to start is by thinking about where you’d love to have your photographs taken and how much time you’d like together.
Outdoor Family Deluxe Session is my most flexible outdoor option, especially if you’d like more time, a choice of locations, or photographs with a larger family group. We’ll have up to an hour together, and after booking, you can choose from my current selection of Greater Seattle outdoor locations. Extended-family photographs are also available with an add-on.
Outdoor Family Mini Sessions are a great fit if you’re looking for a shorter, more focused experience. These sessions take place at selected locations, with options in the Redmond area and at Rattlesnake Lake.
If you prefer an indoor setting, Studio Family Mini takes place at my private Kirkland studio. It’s a shorter session, with an option to include extended family when the group size fits the studio format.
Yes! I’d be happy to include grandparents or extended family in your photographs. The best session depends on how many people you’d like to bring.
Outdoor Family Deluxe includes grandparents along with your immediate family. If you’re planning a larger gathering, an extended-family add-on is available for groups of up to 14 people.
Outdoor Family Mini Sessions are designed primarily for immediate family, but grandparents can join for an additional fee per grandparent.
Studio Family Mini also welcomes grandparents as an add-on. For larger gatherings, there’s an extended-family option for up to 12 people, with an additional 20 minutes of photography time.
If you’re planning photographs with several generations of your family, I’m happy to help you choose the session that will work best for everyone.
Yes! I love including dogs in family photographs, and they’re welcome at many of my sessions.
For outdoor sessions, dogs are allowed at most of my locations, as long as the location’s current rules permit them.
If you prefer a studio session, small and medium-sized dogs are welcome at my Kirkland studio for Studio Family Mini Sessions.
If including your dog is important to you, I’m happy to help you choose a session and location that will work for your family.
Yes! If you book an Outdoor Family Deluxe session, you’ll be able to choose from my selection of beautiful outdoor locations throughout the Greater Seattle area.
After booking, I’ll share the available locations, and I’m happy to help you find one that fits the look you love and works well for your family. Options may vary depending on the season, location access, and current conditions.
Outdoor Family Mini Sessions take place at set locations, with options in the Redmond area and at Rattlesnake Lake. The location is already part of the session you choose when booking.
Yes! I offer a variety of seasonal family sessions throughout the year, each with its own beautiful setting and atmosphere.
Depending on the season, options include Cherry Blossom Sessions, Spring Sessions, Wildflower Field Sessions, Lavender Farm Sessions, Sunflower Field Sessions, Fall Foliage Sessions, Christmas Tree Sessions, and Studio Holiday Sessions.
Dates, locations, and availability can change from year to year, so the individual session pages are the best place to find the most up-to-date details.
Wondering whether to choose a studio or outdoor session, or which option works best for your family’s size? Compare Family Sessions to explore the different settings, session lengths, and options for including everyone you’d like photographed.
Birthday & Milestone Sessions
Yes.
In addition to first-birthday sessions, I offer Classic Birthday Milestone Mini Sessions for children ages 2–5 and ages 6–12.
I also offer a Classic Sitter Mini-Session for babies who have reached the sitting milestone.
The Simply White 1st Birthday Cake Smash Mini Session includes the cake-smash experience and is for families who want cake to be part of the first-birthday photographs.
The Classic 1st Birthday Milestone Mini Session focuses on first-birthday portraits without cake. If you already know cake is not important to you—or you simply prefer a classic portrait session—the Classic option keeps the focus on the milestone itself.
Yes! My Simply White 1st Birthday Cake Smash Mini Session includes a 6-inch naked cake, along with a cake stand, a number “1” topper, and a party hat.
If your child has a known food allergy or specific dietary need, you’ll bring your own 6-inch naked cake so you can choose the ingredients that are right for them. You’ll also receive a $30 cake credit.
Your little one should already be safely eating solid foods before participating in a cake smash. As their parent, you’ll decide whether they’re ready and stay close to supervise them while they enjoy their cake.
Yes! While my birthday and milestone sessions focus on your child, you can also include photographs with parents and siblings.
For $200, you can add 20 minutes to your session and receive five photographs of your child together with family.
It’s a lovely way to celebrate your child’s milestone while capturing a few special moments together, too.
That is completely okay. Some babies dig in immediately. Some carefully investigate. Some decide everything around them is more interesting than the cake.
I follow your baby’s reaction rather than trying to force a particular response for the camera.
If you already know you would rather skip cake altogether, the Classic 1st Birthday Milestone Mini Session will probably be the better fit.
Baby outfits are provided for both first-birthday options. You are also welcome to bring your own outfit if you have something meaningful or something you especially want your baby to wear.
Not sure whether a cake smash or classic birthday portraits are the better fit for your little one? Explore Birthday & Milestone Sessions to compare the options, see sample photographs, and learn how you can include a few family photographs, too.
Gift Certificates
I offer two types of Gift Certificates, depending on whether you’d like to give someone a specific photography session or let them choose.
Session Gift Certificates let you purchase an eligible photography session as a gift. The certificate covers the session’s base price and applicable sales tax. Optional extras, such as additional photographs or upgrades, are not included.
General-Value Gift Certificates are available in $250 and $500 amounts. They give the recipient more flexibility and can be applied toward a photography session, a Maternity + Newborn package, or available add-ons and photo products.
No. Purchased LSP Gift Certificates do not expire.
Your Gift Certificate comes with a unique redemption code and instructions for using it.
If you received a Session Gift Certificate, you can choose an available date for the session that was gifted to you and use your code when booking.
If you have a $250 or $500 General-Value Gift Certificate, you can apply its value toward an available photography session, a Maternity + Newborn package, or eligible add-ons and photo products.
Gift Certificates don’t reserve a particular date or guarantee availability, so sessions are booked from the dates currently offered.
If you’re unsure how to use your certificate or need a little help, just reach out. I’m happy to guide you through the process.
Thinking about giving someone the gift of photographs? Explore Gift Certificates to compare the options.
Still Have a Question?
If you haven’t found the answer you’re looking for, send me a message and tell me a little about what you have in mind. I’m happy to help!
You don’t need to know exactly which session to choose before reaching out. Just tell me who you’d like photographed, the kinds of photographs you’re drawn to, and anything that’s especially important to you. I’ll help you find the session that feels right for you.