The Kogan Prep Guide: Getting Ready for Your Shoot
The Kogan Prep Guide: Getting Ready for Your Shoot
A great photograph is made before the camera even clicks. Here is everything you need to know to arrive relaxed, confident, and ready for your session.
Finalizing Your Look
- Review the Style Guide: Make sure you have reviewed our Wardrobe Style Guide. Lay everyone’s outfits out on a bed together to ensure the colors complement each other (remember: earthy tones, neutrals, no large logos).
- Hair & Makeup: If you are booking professional hair and makeup, schedule your finish time for at least 90 minutes before your park arrival time to ensure you aren’t rushing.
- The “Walking Shoes” Trick: Park sessions involve walking on grass, trails, and uneven ground. If you are wearing heels or dress shoes for the photos, bring a pair of comfortable sneakers or flip-flops to wear while we walk between shooting locations.
What to Bring to the Park
We recommend packing a small tote bag (which we can easily set down out of frame) with a few essentials:
- For Couples/Maternity: Touch-up powder (to reduce shine), lipstick, a small hairbrush, hairspray for flyaways, and bottled water.
- For Families: Non-messy snacks (think gummies or crackers, avoid chocolate or colorful candies that stain teeth), baby wipes, and a favorite small toy to grab a toddler’s attention behind the camera.
Timing is Everything
Because we shoot using natural sunlight combined with our professional off-camera lighting, our start times are very specific.
- Arrive 15 Minutes Early: Parks are large, and parking lots can be busy on weekends. Plan to arrive early so you have time to park, touch up your hair, and take a breath before we begin.
- Outfit Changes: Many of our parks have limited restroom facilities. If you are bringing a second outfit, we recommend wearing a base layer that makes car-changes easy, or we can plan our route to circle back to the park’s main facilities halfway through the shoot.
Trust the Process
If you are bringing young children, expect chaos—and embrace it! Do not stress if your toddler won’t sit perfectly still. Our associate photographers and Jean Marcotte, our master photographer, have years of experience redirecting energy.
The Golden Rule for Parents: Just keep smiling at the camera or at your kids. Let the photographer do the work of getting the kids’ attention. The best photos happen when you let go of perfection and just enjoy playing with your family.
Can we bring our dog to the session?
Yes! We love including furry family members. However, because we are in public parks, dogs must remain on a leash. We strictly require that you bring a “handler” (a friend or extended family member who is not in the photos) to hold the dog while we take shots of just the humans.
What if we are incredibly awkward in front of a camera?
You are in good company; 95% of our clients tell us this before we start! You do not need to know how to pose. We will direct you down to where to put your hands and where to look. It will feel like a fun, active walk in the park, not a rigid modeling test.
How much walking is actually involved?
We generally cover about 1 to 2 kilometers at a very leisurely pace over the two hours. We stop frequently at different scenic pockets. Let us know in advance if anyone in your party has mobility restrictions so we can select the most accessible park paths!
Should we bring our own props?
For maternity sessions, bringing a sonogram photo or a pair of baby shoes is a wonderful touch. For engagement and family sessions, we prefer to keep the focus on your connection rather than props. However, if a prop is deeply meaningful to you, let us know!