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toddler playing with truck in Washington DC

The Family Portrait Experience Welcome Guide

Hello!  

Thank you for your interest in my photography. 

 

Back in 1998, my passion for natural light portrait photography began when I first became a mother.  By 2002, we were blessed with three children under the age of five.  A film camera, a gift from my own mother, became my go-to creative way to step outside of motherhood's chaos and just observe the moments and details that were disappearing before I was ready to let them go. 

 

Challenging myself to capture the essence of our children’s personalities in photographs, especially using black & white film,  eventually evolved into me doing the same for other families.   

 

As you can probably tell from my portfolio, I’m not the type of photographer who rigidly poses people or uses props.  Honestly, no two sessions are ever alike. Your images should authentically capture your family’s unique connections and personalities which involves me getting to know you combined with some gentle guidance.  Those ‘in-between moments’ that organically happen (with a little coaching if necessary) always end up being my absolute favorite images from every session.  

 

We all have a unique story.  Thanks for trusting me to help tell yours. 

Donna Owens Headshot
Bride and Groom with their two dogs in Arlington Virginia
Two brothers in their family Photos Arlington Virginia
three brothers in Arlington Virginia

The Process: 

#1

GET THE PROCESS STARTED

  • Get in touch to let me know about your interests.

  • Mutually agree on the Session Date & timeframe to temporarily reserve your Session. All Sessions are booked as a "morning' or 'afternoon' Session. Morning sessions can begin between sunrise and 10am, afternoon sessions can begin between 2pm and 3 hours before sunset. 

  • Schedule a Pre-Session Consultation phone call to plan the details (location options, exact starting time, what to wear, what to expect, etc).

#2

OFFICIALLY BOOK YOUR SESSION

 

  • No advanced deposit is required - only your signature on my Photography Agreement which you can sign BEFORE or AFTER your Pre-Session Consolation.  The Photography Agreement details the process, prices, timelines, copyrights, model releases, and rescheduling options.

#3

ADVANCED PREPARATIONS

  • Review this Family Portrait Experience Welcome Guide for ideas and details.

  • Finalize your session location. 

  • Finalize what you will wear for the session (option: text pictures if you'd like feedback).

  • Touch base the day before the session to double-confirm our exact meeting location and time.

  • Discuss a contingency plan if the weather forecast looks questionable.

Mom Dad and two young sons in McLean Virginia
Engaged couple in Arlington Virginia
Mom Dad and son in Arlington Virginia

#4

SESSION DAY

 

  • Relax....it's going to be fun!

  • Just FYI - there's no need to coach your children on 'smiling'......my advice is always to just let them be themselves so that I can capture those authentic facial expressions without them feeling the added pressure to please their parents with a forced-grin. 

#6

FINALIZING YOUR ORDER 

 

  • Schedule your Post-Session Consultation to finalize your order before your Gallery link expires (4 weeks from the date the link is sent).

  • Pay for your Digital Image Collection (Collection A is the minimum required purchase) and for any Optional Fine Art Prints.

#7

ORDER DELIVERY

 

  • Approximately two weeks after your order is paid, your digital images will be mailed to your street address on a flash drive. 

  • Any optional Fine Art Prints ordered will be arranged for pick-up in Arlington, VA

  • Upon request, if you need your digital images before the flash drive will arrive in the mail, I can send them electronically through a Dropbox Folder for downloading.

#5

IMAGE PREVIEWING GALLERY

 

  • Pay your Portrait Experience Session Fee $200.

  • Approximately two weeks after your session, receive access to your online, private Previewing Gallery link. Every client’s gallery is unique, but most 60-90 minute sessions yield 200+ custom-edited images.

  • Spend the next four weeks deciding which images are your favorites! 

Family of four in Old Town Alexandria Virginia
Mom and young son portrait in Arlington Virginia
Three Sisters in dresses McLean Virginia
Two sisters in Arlington Virginia

Location Decisions: 

Urban, Iconic DC, Parks & Nature, Rustic, Botanical Gardens…..the Washington DC Metro area has so MANY great location options for portrait photography session.  

 

Please keep in mind that the primary focus of your session will be YOU!  

 

Locations certainly play a role in your overall experience, but wherever we decide to have your session, my priority will be on capturing you and your family’s connections with each other and your unique expressions in a creative and authentic way.  The location and background scenery will be our secondary focus to enhance the images and your session experience.  

 

Do you already have a special place in mind for the session?  Do you need suggestions?  I’d be happy to discuss the places that I frequented for portrait sessions or we can brainstorm together about a new place for your session.   

Things to consider when making a location decision:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • Time of year, time of day, and lighting

  • Parking/ease of accessibility 

  • Other people in the background of public spaces 

  • Variety of scenery in walking distance 

  • Entertainment factors/distractions 

  • Commercial photograph restrictions and/or additional fees

  • Pet restrictions if applicable 

  • Safety

three brothers and one sister at the Kennedy Center Washington DC
toddler at a wedding in Maryland
Brother holding younger sister Arlington Virginia

What to Wear: 

While the focus of your images will be your face and expressions, I want you to feel relaxed and beautiful so it’s important to wear things that help you feel that way.  If it’s uncomfortable, doesn’t stay tucked-in, only looks good from one angle, keeps coming unbuttoned, or makes you feel self-conscious, it’s probably not the right outfit.  It’s hard to overcome those feelings and restrictions when you are in front of the lens, so making good decisions ahead of time will help get the session started on a good note.   

 

Some ideas to consider when choosing what to wear: 

 

  • Coordinate but don’t match: Start with one clothing piece that you love - a solid or subtle pattern.  Coordinate the rest of your family's outfits from that anchor point. You can focus on using one color but adding multiple shades of that same color.  Trying to match colors exactly sometimes leads to clashing or looking too matchy-matchy.  Add neutrals to create balance and textures to create interest.  If you are using 2 main colors, ensure they are complimentary in color and tone.  Add enough variety so that everyone looks like an individual and doesn’t look too similar together.  

  • Colors: Jewel tones in the fall and winter, pastels and light colors in the spring and summer, and neutrals anytime tend to be softer and more complimentary for most skin tones versus stark white, black, and bright red.  Neon colors can be very overwhelming. Navy blues also often look 'black' in photos.  Dark colors show lint, so be sure to check/clean for lint and stray hairs before the session.   

  • Layers and textures: Layers add interest and can provide extra warmth in cold temperatures and softer fabrics tend to look less stiff and wrinkled. 

  • What to avoid: Large brand names, graphics, and bold patterns.  

  • Tucking: It’s really hard for children to keep shirts tucked in!  A sweater or shirt that looks good when it’s not tucked usually works better and feels more natural for most children.  Rompers for toddlers are perfect!    

  • Comfortability: In most family portrait sessions, it's great to be able to vary the height of everyone's faces by sitting, squatting, and leaning - think about how this impacts what you choose to wear.  Most sessions are pretty active and incorporate lots of movement.  Think about whether it’s hard to sit or kneel on the ground, a bench, rock, or even climb a tree in what everyone will be wearing. Everyone should be able to comfortably move, sit, stand, and hug without worrying about what they are wearing for fear of exposing something you don't want exposed in the images.    

  • Pulling it all together: Once you think you have good plan, lay everyone’s clothes out in one space (on the bed or floor) and consider if anything clashes or doesn’t look right together.  At any point in the session, you don’t know who might be positioned together.  Does everyone’s outfit look coordinated?  Does anything need to be swapped out?  

  • Ironing: Does anything need to be ironed in advance?  It helps to minimize session day stress when the ironing or dry-cleaning are done ahead of time.  

  • Unload your pockets: Cell phones, keys, wallets, sunglasses, hair band on wrists...leave as much in your car as possible. 

  • Glasses: If you wear glasses, make sure they have clean lenses.  Blue light glasses will look discolored in the images, and progressive lenses that darken into sunglasses are hard to 'see' your eyes.  If you have plain lenses, they will photograph better.  

  • Check your hands....if your hands show in some of the images, are you OK with your nails polish and/or jewelry? 

  • Remember that these photographs are going to be images that are treasured for generations so it’s worth it to take the time to find something that you love and that captures your personal style. 

Mom Dad Son and Daughter in McLean Virginia
Family of five in Arlington Virginia

You can also text me photos of your outfits considerations if you are looking for feedback.  

Tips for Winter Sessions: Use layers, especially a base layers, toe warmers for inside shoes, blankets instead of coats for bundling younger children quickly as we walk around (a consideration if you won’t be wearing coats in the images). 

Session Day Checklist and Tips:

A family session is actually a beautiful time to stop and appreciate what you have created and celebrate your incredible family.

 

  • Let your family know that it’s going to be fun. No one needs to act a certain way or even smile at the camera.  Just relax and be affectionate with your family.  When you set the tone, it will let everyone’s personalities shine.  

  • Be yourselves.  I certainly appreciate that having your picture taken can be awkward and uncomfortable, but the best images will come more naturally when you are just being you. 

  • Don’t sweat the small stuff.  Remember that there are no hard and fast rules, no rights or wrongs - just have fun together and focus on each other.    

  • Bring the cuddles, snuggles, tickles, jokes, hugs and hand holding.  No matter how chaotic it may seem at times to you, just lean in, embrace the madness, and each other.  Leave the rest to me!  

Mom and two young daughters in a Family Photos Arlington Virginia
three sisters in Washington DC

Session, Digital Images, and Prints Pricing: 

Prices are subject to change and are locked at the time of signing your Photography Agreement.

Virginia Sales Tax of 6% will be added to Digital Image Collections and Print orders. 

The Family Portrait Experience

an experience custom-designed with and for families

Portrait Experience Session Fee: $200 

Includes up to 1.5 hours of on-location photography time as well as a private, online viewing gallery.  Most sessions result in at least 200 images for previewing.  The Portrait Experience Session Fee does not include Digital Images or Optional Fine Art Prints.  All Digital Image Collections and Optional Fine Art Prints are purchased separately. 

Digital Image Collections* (Collection A is the minimum required to be purchased):

Collection A: 20 of your favorite digital images $400

Collection B: 25 of your favorite digital images $500

Collection C: 30 of your favorite digital images $600

Collection D: 35 of your favorite digital images $700

Collection E: 40 of your favorite digital images $800

Option to add additional digital images to Collection E as follows: 45 images ($900), 50 images ($1,000), 55 images ($1,100), 60 images ($1,200)​

*Digital images include a Print Release and are appropriate for unlimited personal printing up to size 8x12

OPTIONAL FINE ART PRINTS 

Professionally printed on Fine Art paper and mounted for extra stability/thickness

Print delivery will be coordinated for client pick-up in Arlington, VA 

Tabletop Prints: 

4x6.....$50

5x7…..$50

8x10/8x12….$75

Medium Wall Art:

11x14…$100

12x18…$150

16x20…$175

16x24.....$200

Large Wall Art:

20x24…$250

24x30…$375

24x36…$475

Fine Art Prints displayed on easel

5x7 print examples on Fine Art Paper, mounted for extra stability 

example of Fine Art Prints
Donna Owens Photography Prints
Fine Art Print examples on easel

FAQ’s 

Mom and toddler son with young daughter in Arlington Virginia

What if it rains on our day of our session? 

 

I shoot outdoor session in any kind of weather except for the rain, so if the weather forecast is predicting rain, we can chat on the day before your session to reconfirm the session or discuss a contingency plan.  I book a limited number of appointments per day to provide for some last minute tweaking of session start times based on unexpected weather changes.  If it’s a total wash out, we can usually find another session time that works.    

Can you edit out blemishes? 

 

For every session, I spend hours in the postproduction stage editing your images to my creative and artistic standards.  I remove temporary blemishes, such as pimples, scratches or prominent bruises but I do not offer heavy photoshopping or image manipulation.  After viewing your images, please ask if you have additional editing concerns.      

Will I have both color and black & white images in my gallery? 

 

I’ve always loved Andri Cauldwell’s quote, “To see in color is a delight for the eye but to see in black and white is a delight for the soul.”  Most Portrait Sessions will have a combination of color and B&W images.  If you'd like only color or only B&W, please let me know!    

How do I choose which images from my gallery to purchase? 

 

In our post-session consultation, we can discuss your images in more detail.  I’m always available to help you decide which images you want to obtain digitally, in print, and display in your home.   

Can I purchase more images (digitals or printed products) at a later date? 

 

Your online gallery will be accessible to you for 4 weeks and is sharable with anyone you choose to provide the link.  It’s important to make all of your ordering decision during the time that your gallery is active. We can schedule your post-session consultation within the 4 weeks so that you are prepared to make your final decisions and I can efficiently process your complete order at one time.  I do have a digital storage system in place but I don’t guarantee that I will digitally store your images indefinitely.  If you discover that you would like to make any additional purchases after your gallery’s expiration, please inquire and hopefully I can help.     

Questions?  Please text, call, or email me anytime:
571.212.4258
donnaowens571@gmail.com

 A natural light senior, family, and professional's photographer capturing moments and authentic portraits since 2002

  © 2024 Donna Owens Photography  |   571 212-4258   |   Washington DC ~ Virginia ~ Maryland  |   donnaowens571@gmail.com

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