San Diego Family Photography | Alison Hatch Photo

Every family photographer in San Diego runs their session differently which makes total sense because we are all different people! Personalities, styles, motivation, influence, and more all go into what makes us artists. I am no different. My desire is to create timeless art-fill images that have a thread of romance through them all while having a stress-free experience for my clients and be I even say it, a fun time. So what is a family photo session like with me? Let me give you the run down from start to finish.

1. Pre-Session Preparation:

3-2-1 Contact: So you’ve reached out to me via my contact form online, through Instagram DM’s, text, or email. Yay! This is our first time meeting and I want you to know that I am here to make your family picture experience as easy as possible. So to let you know that I am accessible, I will respond with a custom-made video just for you explaining the process, pricing, products, and how to book.

Make it Official: Speaking of booking, to make this relationship official we need to set a date. Booking your session date is done online. You can see my availability a few months out, that way you can book a date and time that is just right for you. Family’s usually have crazy busy schedules and playing back and forth email tag with me trying to find a date that works for both of us is not only a time suck, but just ridiculous. Remember my goal of making getting your family pictures taken in San Diego easy? Well, booking your session this way can’t get any easier!

The Fine Print: Immediately after you’ve picked your date and paid the session fee through the online calendar, you will get an email with the contract and welcome guide. Can I ask you a question? Who the heck likes reading the fine print of contracts? Ummm, not me thank you very much. With your client contract, I have had it written up so it’s straightforward and easy to read. I’m also not asking you to sign your life away. Also, the contract is all done online adding to the ease of the whole process.

Making Dreams Come True: To make things extra, extra easy, I have included in the contract your very short questionnaire. This is where you tell me all your hopes, dreams, and visions for your family photo session. Being specific in your ideals will be so helpful for me to be able to create the images you envision. I also suggest that you send me 5-10 images of mine that you love. This way I won’t misunderstand your needs in any way. Think of it like going to the stylist to get a whole new haircut but don’t have a picture for them to reference. It might turn out but it might not. I don’t want to take that chance, do you?

But, What Will I Wear?: Within that email will be a link to view your Welcome Guide. It is a PDF you can view online. It is a quick rundown of how to prepare for your session. Whether that is getting your family pictures taken in your San Diego home or at one of the many stunning beaches lining the beach city’s shoreline. This includes what to wear suggestions including store recommendations for every family member. If after reading the guide you are still at a loss for what to wear, no biggie my friend. One other thing that I do to make your photo session experience easy and stress-free, is offer wardrobe help. I can help you shop, put outfits together, and choose a color palette. I’ll be your own personal stylist!

This Is The Place: Now I will email you and we will start deciding on the perfect location for your family photos. If you are wanting outdoors is it a garden, beach, urban, etc? I will suggest locations based on your preferences. Then, based on your chosen session date, I will let you know the time of day that is best for taking those yummy, snuggly, artful photos. If you want an in-home session, I’ll have you send me a video of your home via text message. Then based on which way the majority of the windows in your home face, we will decide on a time to start your photo session.

2. Day of the Session

The Big Day Has Arrived: It’s time for fun to be had and memories to be made! When I meet you at the session location I will say hello to all, but I will really focus in on the kiddos. Kids are preseptive and spot a phoney. Getting kids to engage instead of resist getting their pictures taken starts with me winning them over. This goes for teenagers to not just toddlers! Asking about their favorite show or toy and then letting the conversation go where the child wants helps the kiddo to warm up to me.

Pose and Play: Finally its time for pictures! The secret sauce to getting yummy, snuggly pictures is this thing I made up called Pose and Play. I will find beautiful light, pose you and your family so ya’ll look amazing, and then I’ll give you a prompt that gets the family to engage with each other. These photo prompts depend on the age of the children. For toddlers, we might sing a song or play a game. For elementary school or older I’ll ask silly questions that make everyone laugh or one that will start the emotions flowing.

What’s a Hybrid Photographer, Anyway? While you and your family are connecting and making new memories together, I will be snapping away capturing the moment with photographs. The cameras I use for a San Diego family photographer session are both digital and analog film. Digital cameras are great for fast-moving littles and a setting that doesn’t have much light. Analog film cameras create images with a soul, are amazing with bright light locations, and just make everyone look AMAZING! Film slows the session down and allows me to really feel the moment being made. The images made with it are timeless. I mainly use film cameras for my sessions. Shooting with both types of cameras makes me a hybrid photographer.

3. Post-Session

Your Gallery is Ready, Yay! Two weeks after the photo session you will receive your gallery of pictures. From there you can view all the images before you choose a package. My suggestion is to gather your family around you before opening the gallery. This will allow for the feelings and connections for each other you felt at the family photo session to keep flowing. We all have a standard for photographs to be beautiful, but I want more for you than that. I want you to feel something when you look at a picture from your gallery. Leveling up your gallery from photographs to art.

So, How Much Will This Cost Me? I have three differently priced packages. Each package varies in price and amount of images that can be downloaded. Each family session has different needs. Some want just a few images and others want them all. Having different packages lets you tailor your experience to just what you want. Also, in your online gallery, you can purchase products. Framed prints, albums, canvases, and more can be purchased online and will be delivered to your house. Another one of those easy-peasy things I like to do for my clients.

 4. Follow-Up

Is This Goodbye? A few days after you have been able to enjoy your family pictures, I’ll reach out to see if you need any help with anything. I am here to help you choose the right products for your house or help you download the high-resolution files. I’ll also ask for a Google review. Reviews are the best present in the world to a small business owner and I read and respond to each and every one.

Now you know what it is like to work with me as your North County San Diego Family Photographer. Easy booking, contract, and questionnaire are all done online. Help with wardrobe and location choices. Fun and memorable photo session. Quick turnaround time. Ease of online gallery and purchasing products. Then follow up help. But that isn’t quite the end. I hope that your experience with Alison Hatch Photo is so lovely that you hire me to take your family pictures again, every year. Capturing your family as they grow and become the best versions of themselves.