What does a typical Grand Little Adventure shoot look like?
A basic shoot is roughly an hour, and is structured like this:
A handful of “posed” family portraits
While I take on a strong documentary style in my work, I do think there's a time and place for a beautiful family portrait! I normally start with these just to know we have these shots covered, and we can then relax a bit more for the rest of the shoot.
Sometimes not everyone will willingly look at the camera and smile, and this is not something I force. I quite like that these photos are sometimes less than perfect.
Unposed activities that encourage honest connection
This will be the bulk of your shoot. I truly believe that photographs will hold so much more value over time if they capture honest moments rather than following the photographer’s pre-planned script. I encourage you to get close - The more physical connection between you, the better. The extra attention from parents will also mean that your kids will be that much happier during the shoot!
You may even want to think up an activity that you could enjoy doing together.
Here are some ideas:
- Take your dogs for a walk in the forest
- Let your kids enjoy a bubble bath
- Run down the dunes at the beach, or have a splash in the ocean together
- Go for milkshakes at a quirky coffee shop
- Bake cupcakes together
- Let your kids play dress up
Of course all of this is tricky if your child is a baby, but even then it would be nice to capture a glimpse of your everyday lives as part of the shoot- perhaps we can include a bath, a change and/or a feed.
Where will the shoot take place?
This is entirely up to you! We could either shoot in the comfort of your own home, or choose a location that you love! Perhaps somewhere you regularly go as a family, or a place that holds special memories for you? Or we can go on an adventure to somewhere new! I'm always happy to suggest locations that I think will work well.
Please note that there is a travel charge for locations further than 25km from Tokai, Cape Town.
What Time of the day will the shoot take place?
From Spring to Autumn my outdoor shoots take place in the late afternoon/early evening, within the last few hours before sunset (Location depending). Light is a huge part of my work, so this is not something I like to compromise on. In summer, this may mean shooting at around 7pm in the evening, which is often not ideal for small children. I would recommend letting them have a later nap and feeding them before the shoot. In the wintry months (May to August) we can also do a morning shoot closer to sunrise. If the shoot is taking place at your home, the timing is flexible depending on your schedule.
Do we need to bring Anything to the shoot?
Besides keeping a spare change of clothes for your child in the car for emergencies (and some snacks and water for after the shoot!) you don’t need to bring anything! The less “stuff” you have to carry, the better. I love to take photos as we walk and explore and find that often additional belongings and bags get in the way. Leave the snacks for after the shoot! I find that once the kids are given a treat they will keep asking and it just doesn’t look good on pictures.
I can keep your valuables like keys, phones and watches in my camera bag for you.
For beach shoots, I would even recommend leaving your shoes in the car :)
Can we Bring other members of the family (such as grandparents) to the shoot?
Yes absolutely! It’s so lovely to include other special family members in the shoot. Please note that there’s a surplus charge of R250pp if there are more than 6 members of the family attending the shoot, so I will need to know up front if you intend to have other family members join you.
What is the best age for a NEWBORN SHOOT?
There is no right and wrong answer, as there are pros and cons to both a tiny sleepy baby and a slightly older baby.
They are so sweet when they are just a few days old, and it’s so precious capturing that tinyness that marks such a short time in their lives.
There’s also something so lovely about capturing their first smiles and expressions, which only develop later. A slightly older baby is far more likely to open their eyes.
It also depends on how you are feeling after the birth! Not everyone feels ready to be in front of the camera within the first few weeks.
It is also worth noting that newborn shoots might have a slightly more "posed" feeling to them compared to other types of family shoots as babies aren’t mobile. I will thus be giving a little bit more guidance and direction, making the best of the space and light. I will still strive for photos that look and feel natural, and will not be providing props or putting the babies into Anne Geddes style positions ;)
What should we wEAR for the shoot?
What you choose to wear plays a big role in how the pictures turn out, so it’s worth putting a bit of thought into! However, I don't want to be too prescriptive with this, as your clothes need to be true to who you are and feel timeless to you 20 years later. So here are just a few small things to keep in mind.
- Consider how the clothes all look together. While I don't recommend that you all wear matching outfits, it might be a good idea to keep things somewhat cohesive.
- I would recommend staying away from clothes with loud prints or clashing colours. This will distract and detract. If some of you wear something striped or subtly patterned it can work really well, but be sure to balance it out with some more plain things.
- Natural fabrics generally photograph better than synthetic ones. (Please leave that bright blue puffer jacket at home! ;))
- If your skin naturally has a red undertone, I would recommend staying away from colours like coral, cherise, orange or bright red as these can bring out the redness in your skin. Darker red or softer pinks are usually not a problem.
- Consider what kind of look you would like for your images. If you like dramatic pictures that showcase the beautiful scenery, then wearing a flowy dress will lend itself well to that. If you would prefer a casual more homey look, then chunky knits might be your preferred wardrobe choice.
- Bare skin photographs beautifully. If you are comfortable, you may want to consider having a few pictures taken where you or/and your kids are a little less fully dressed ;)
- For newborn shoots I highly recommend clothes that don’t cover the baby’s feet. Some pictures in just a nappy are also so sweet. The more skin is visible the better :)
I have compiled a Pinterest board of families who I think nailed it. Feel free to have a little look for some inspiration:
https://za.pinterest.com/sunshine80six/wardrobe/
Please feel free to Whatsapp me your clothing choices if you need an opinion and/or some guidance!
How long do i have to wait for the pictures?
This can take up to 4 weeks in the busy season (Oct-Apr) but depending on my workload I will try to get the images to you within 3 weeks of the shoot. I always send a few sneak peeks within a week after the shoot :)
A rush fee of R1250 is applicable if you wish to reduce the turn-around time to 72 hours after the shoot.
How Does picture selection work?
If you have not purchased the full gallery, you will still be able to view the full gallery of (watermarked) images. You will need to select your favourite images as per your chosen package, by clicking on the little heart on the corner of the images. Please inform me once you have done so and I’ll send you the high-res images. You may still upgrade to the full gallery, if you wish to do this after viewing your images.