How Our Portrait Experiences Work
What to Expect, From First Conversation to Final Images
Whether you’re here for a professional headshot, a Red Carpet portrait experience, or dance portraits, the process is intentionally the same at its core.
Because great portraits don’t start with a camera. They start with clarity.
My role is to guide you — calmly, confidently, and without pressure — so you never have to wonder what to do, how to pose, or whether you’re doing this “right.”
Glam and Fine Art Portraits
Dance Portraits
Some clients know exactly what they want when they reach out.Others know how they want to feel, but not how to get there yet.
Both are welcome.
Many people begin by:
- browsing the Portrait Experiences pages
- downloading the Style Guide to the Red Carpet to get a sense of styling and mood
- Or visit Get Started to see the different ways we can talk things through
- You don’t need to have it all figured out before reaching out.
Once you’re booked, we design the session around who the portraits are for and what they need to express.
That might be:
- connection and warmth (family portraits)
- confidence and presence (Red Carpet portraits)
- strength, grace, and movement (dance portraits)
Consultation
Wardrobe Styling
We talk through:
- wardrobe and styling direction
- how the portraits will be used
- what kind of finished pieces you’re drawn to
Everything is planned with clarity — so when you arrive, you can simply enjoy the experience.
Hair & Makeup
Photoshoot
Sessions are calm, guided, and unhurried.
Professional hair and makeup is part of the experience where applicable, and I guide you (or your child) throughout the shoot — from posture and movement to expression and flow.
You don’t need to know how to pose.
You don’t need to be “photogenic.”
Most people are surprised by how natural it feels once we begin.
Photo Selection
Retouching
Your Legacy
After the session, you’ll review your images and choose the ones that truly resonate.
Only the images you love move forward.
Each selected portrait is professionally retouched — polished, but still very much you.
In addition to digital files, many clients choose finished pieces:
- artwork for their walls
- folio or album pieces for their home
- portraits meant to be kept, not forgotten on a hard drive
This is where portraits quietly become part of your family’s story.
Timing & Investment
Portrait sessions are designed to be unhurried and fully guided.
Most sessions last approximately 4 hours from start to finish.
A $400 session fee is required to reserve your studio time and creative team. This includes:
- your consultation
- professional hair and makeup
- wardrobe styling and access to our studio wardrobe
- the fully guided photoshoot
Images are purchased separately.
Individual portraits begin at $400, and curated collections start at $2,100.
This approach allows you to choose only the images you truly love — whether that’s one statement portrait or a complete collection designed to be enjoyed for years.
If you’d like help deciding which experience is right for you, visit Get Started to book a call — I’m happy to guide you.
Still have questions?
Look for answers below
The Q&A page below is divided into 7 sections.
The Photography Experience
What actually happens in the studio
Will you tell me how to pose?
Yes. From posture to hands to expression — you are fully guided.
What kind of lighting do you use?
Professional studio lighting customized to flatter your features and the mood of your session. Lighting is one of the biggest reasons clients love their images.
What backgrounds and environments can you create?
The studio is intimate but versatile. Options include:
- clean seamless backgrounds in multiple colours
- sculptural elements (tall grasses, large vases, gold mesh ribbons)
- furniture (chairs, armchairs, leather bench)
Each session is designed intentionally — nothing is random.
“I Have Nothing to Wear”
(This comes up all the time)
Do I need to buy new clothes?
No. Sometimes we shop your closet. Sometimes we borrow from friends. Often it’s a mix. If you think there is nothing in your closet, get my Style Guide To The Red Carpet to give you ideas on how to re-style your existing wardrobe into new things.
Do you have a studio wardrobe?
We have a few choice gowns and business dresses and jackets. The studio wardrobe ranges from size 000 to XXXL and includes structured, flowing, classic, and statement pieces.
How do we decide what to wear?
At your consultation. We talk through wardrobe, styling, colours, textures, and what you want your images to communicate.
Family & Legacy Portraits
Why these matter more than we realize
Why invest in a family portrait?
A family portrait is one of the true must-haves. Years from now, it becomes priceless.
Why is a photo with mom so important?
You leave with more than images. You leave with:
- tangible heirloom artwork
- a shared experience
- and the memory of creating it together
Creating memories is what makes life sweet.
What makes this a legacy portrait?
A legacy portrait is more than a beautiful photograph. It captures who you were, who you loved, and the life you shared at a particular moment in time — then preserves it as artwork to be enjoyed by generations to come.
Years from now, the people in the portrait may look different, the children may have grown, and some of the people we love may no longer be with us.
But the portrait remains.
That is what makes it a legacy.
Dance Portraits
Capturing movement, strength & artistry
How are dance portraits different from school or recital photos?
Dance portraits are designed, lit, and coached to honour movement and form — like something from a magazine or film.
Do you coach dancers during the session?
Yes. While dancers bring the technique, I guide angles, timing, and expression so movement translates beautifully into still images.
Do you provide dance wardrobe?
Dancers bring their own dancewear, costumes, shoes, or tutus. The studio wardrobe includes flowing garments that can be layered creatively.
Is hair and makeup required for dance portraits?
No. Hair and makeup are optional for dance sessions.
The Process
From consultation to finished portraits
How long does a session take?
Full sessions are designed to feel unrushed and intentional, allowing time for styling, shooting, and image selection.
Do I see my photos right away?
Yes. You view your images shortly after the session and choose only what you truly love.
What kind of retouching do you do?
Natural, magazine-quality refinement — without losing your personality.
Your Images & Heirlooms
Legacy Goes Beyond Digital Files
Your Images & Heirlooms Beyond Digital Files
Yes, for legacy portraits, you get the best of both worlds. Printed and digital. No one knows for how long the digital files will get passed down. You can share them now but keep a tangible as your true legacy. Every purchased image includes its digital file, with the option for matted prints, albums, and wall art.
Why do you emphasize printed portraits?
Keeping track of digital files can be daunting with the volume of photos we all take. Digital files can get lost. We do keep them safe for you, so you can access them for a year. But years later, it's up to you to find them. Printed portraits live on walls, coffee tables, and in family stories. They can be passed down. That’s legacy.
Still have questions?
A gentle next step
What if I want clarity before committing?
That’s exactly why consultations, guides, and educational experiences exist. You don’t have to rush — clarity comes first. Get in touch by phone or via video call! Or send us questions by email.
Do I see my photos right away?
Yes. You view your images shortly after the session and choose only what you truly love.