Reagan and I had such a good day yesterday. We fed the geese, played at the park, and went to the public library for some cool down time. She is a trooper in the heat, but it sure does wear us both down quickly!

You wouldn't know it from these photos, but it was HOT outside when we shot these. Like, 90 degrees. And while both girls weren't too sure about putting on their grandma's wedding dress, they both were good sports in the end, and dare I say, I think they both enjoyed it a little bit.

Their grandmother is probably one of the sweetest women I have ever met. I don't say that lightly. She really is. She is a nurse, a volunteer paramedic, and just a generally good woman. She is strong and sassy and has a huge heart. So naturally, these little ladies are in a good blood line.

And beautiful. That's obvious.

For Aubrey, we had to add a little makeup action to make her part of the session happen, but it fell right in with our theme. And it worked. I'll have to keep that trick up my sleeve for next time!

For some people, the thought of scheduling a portrait session for their family is a big deal, and it should be. Professional portrait sessions aren’t cheap. Professional products that are going to go on your walls for years and years aren’t cheap. They are valuable, not cheap.

It makes sense that people would want to look their best and feel their best. After all, how you feel directly impacts one’s confidence. And believe me when I say that confidence can been seen in a photo.

One way to ensure that you are feeling your best is to get enough sleep for a few days before. Sleep can really be a deal-breaker for some people (especially guys, it seems) because being tired is just, well, tiring. Tempers are shorter, and small irritations turn into BIG DEALS. It can be no fun for everybody so be well-rested!

Get your hair/makeup done.

Like I mentioned above, confidence can make such a difference in how portraits turn out. Some people just budget in a hair and makeup person (and depending on the photographer and type of session, it may be included in the fees). If you are looking beautiful, you will be feeling better and showing that to the camera. And then when you look back years later, it is so easy to call that feeling back up. Don’t underestimate the power of confidence. Aline, above, did her own hair and makeup, but you can tell that it boosted her confidence. It matters more than some realize.

Consult your photographer about outfits.

Even if you have a really good idea of what will look good, it never hurts to get tips from the one who has seen it all! check for great colors and how they might compliment your location.

Get to know your photographer.

You are going to want to be comfortable with your photographer, even if portraits feel like the most UNcomfortable thing for you. Being able to laugh or joke or have great conversation about real things in each other’s lives will make this so much more enjoyable for everyone. And it will make your expressions and smiles so much more REAL.

Introduce kids prior to session.

Again, they’ll be more comfortable. Even the shyest kiddos will come out of their shell eventually!

Be early.

This is similar to the be well-rested tip. Running late is going to throw everyone off and take stress to a higher level than it needs to be. If you can’t be early, at least be on time.