family photoshoot information

hi and thanks for booking your family photography package with me

my name is dave gleeson, I'll be your photographer and I'm looking forward to meeting you soon!

if you are not already familiar with my photography style, feel free to have a look around this website or view my sample family gallery my style is very candid, casual, natural and unstaged, so hopefully that's the style you want!

what happens now?

now that I have received your booking, you will receive a link to your online client portal which contains all the important documents and links relating to your family photography booking. the first document you will see is a copy of my terms and conditions which outlines what I will do for you, and also what I need from you to ensure that everything runs smoothly. please read through, sign and return this online form asap to finalise the legal part of our agreement.

you will also receive your invoices via my accounting software. prompt payment is appreciated and ensures that I can reserve your requested dates, and deliver your gallery of images asap after the shoot.

between now and your shoot I will also send regular check-in emails and will provide updates and a few days out I will be in touch with a weather update and to ensure that you are still on track. at that stage we can go over all your final details, timings and questions.

what does your package include?

your photography package includes a huge amount of my time with planning and preparations, the photoshoot itself, uploading, culling, editing, gallery creation, photo delivery and arranging print products. so, even though the shoot only takes an hour or so, there are many more hours involved in delivering an amazing experience for you.

your pre-booked package includes all my time at your photoshoot along with a specific number of digital photos included. this information would have been provided when you booked your package and also in the first email that I sent you, however if you are unsure, or want to add any extra time or photos to your package, just let me know.

a few days after your photoshoot I will provide you with your own online photo gallery which will contain all the best photos that I have captured for you. this gallery is where you can view, choose and download all your photos. your gallery can also be shared with friends and family so that they can see your photos too (if required).

your photo gallery will remain live for 3 months and your images are archived on my server for 6 months

online photo gallery samples - cover and shop pages

preparing younger kids for your photoshoot

I'm a parent, I've been a sports coach, have spent lots of time around children and have done hundreds of family shoots over the years where kids were involved, so I know that, as much as you love them, sometimes your beautiful little cherubs can be absolute nightmares!!

rest assured, I've seen it all..... toddler meltdowns, screaming 3 year olds, lots of tears, shy kids that won't look at the camera, those who want to run away and much much more! it happens and I understand that parents can often get stressed about their kids 'acting up' or 'not behaving', and unfortunately this is one of the things that stops a huge number of people from having a professional family photoshoot!

my suggestion is just to relax!!! i'm not going to be offended and generally those 'meltdown moments' pass pretty quickly and Mum and Dad are the ones who end up stressed, whereas the kids are quick to move on. I'll be keeping the shoot fun and engaging for everyone to ensure a great experience, so, if you have young ones around there will be lots of games, chasing, running, jumping and basically fun stuff that keeps the little ones active, and not worrying about the big guy with the camera.

attitude is also contagious, so let the kids know in advance that the shoot is going to be a lot of fun! kids bring lots of energy and fun the shoot and I always encourage parents to simply 'let them be kids' as this is where the most genuine images happen. I'll also have a chat to you all before the shoot, and the kids can make some of the decisions so that they feel like they are part of the process

if younger kids have a special toy, ball, doll or other item that you think will help them relax while they are there feel free to let them bring it along. and perhaps plan a surprise or a special reward after the session, like an ice cream or a swim so that they look forward to the entire experience.

get your partner (or older kids) invested in the process too!

the youngsters aren't always the only ones that can drag their feet for family photos. ensure that your partner, spouse, or teenage kids are all aware of the upcoming shoot and have enough time to prepare as nobody wants to be surprised by something they don't feel comfortable with. if your partner or kids are reluctant or 'just not into it', tell them why these photos are important to you. they're more likely to cherish it and go with the flow if they realise it's about creating and preserving memories for all of you for the future..

good planning leads to good outcomes

you're potentially spending a lot of money for these photos, so make a little effort! you don't have to look like you're going to a formal or wedding, but by wearing nice clothes and being well groomed the results will be so much better! even though that pair of old, ripped footy shorts are probably super-comfy, this is not the time or place for them!

your choice of outfits is entirely up to you, however when everyone is wearing complimentary natural colours it tends to work best. think tan or navy coloured shorts and white or light coloured shirts for the men and lightweight beach dresses or a skirt/ lightweight pants and light top combo for the girls. if your shoot is on the beach, shoes are not required as we will probably end up at the waters edge at some stage. although if bare feet aren't your vibe, that's perfectly fine too.

don’t be afraid to reach out for advice as far as clothing selection based on your photoshoot location, time of day etc as different backdrops and lighting will impact the outcome.

plan your day so that your family arrives fresh and feeling good. work around your kids nap times, and ensure that everyone has enough energy for at least an hour on location. finally please try to all arrive on time so that your photographer has sufficient time to capture a good range of photos and isn't spending the first half hour waiting around for someone.

weather

as most of my family photoshoots are outdoors, and we are based in sub tropical queensland, weather is always a factor. summers can be hot and humid and rain can happen at any time of year.

in the lead up to your family shoot I will be keeping an eye on weather conditions and if things look like they're going to be particularly ugly, we can revise the times if required. however I have no control over mother nature, and no formal weatherman training, so can't predict everything. sometimes, if your time is limited, we may just have to do our best with whatever the weather throws at us. please note that I can't / won't shoot in heavy rain as I don't want my $25K in camera gear getting trashed, so if it is raining heavily we will need to re-shoot at an alternative time.

time of day will also impact the look of your final photos with early morning and late afternoons being the prime time for softer flattering or golden light and more pastel tones whereas from mid morning till mid afternooon, the light is bright, and harsh - which pops the colours but can also affect kids and those with sensitive eyes finding it hard not to squint.

again, have a think about what sort of look you want before booking your time and if you need advice, in order to get the result you want, just let me know

print your memories!

even though we live in a digital age, that doesn't mean that you need to settle for viewing your photos on a tiny phone screen or on a computer (where, let's face it, they'll soon get forgotten). professional print is unique, timeless and still the best way to truly appreciate your favourite family memories.

quality prints will soon become talking points in your home, and with our lifetime guarantee, will still be proudly hanging on your walls well into the future. so, if budget permits please consider ordering a print or 2.

your gallery includes a built in print shop, where you can view all options and order your favourite prints at your leisure. more information on our full range of printed products, can be found on this page