Top 5 Considerations

1. Deadlines

When will everyone in your family be together? When do the children go off to college or back to school? When do you want to send out holiday cards? Is the portrait a gift and when does it need to be ready for an anniversary, a birthday or a special occasion?

2. Location

Do you have a special location in mind for your portrait? What time of year is that location most picturesque? Since we often photograph at our clients homes, think about the landscaping and what time of year you love the most. Spring, Summer, Fall? We also have over an acre of beautifully landscaped gardens at our Lindbergh Studio which provide a great backdrop.

3. Family Schedules

This is the hard one because everyone is super busy. To have a beautiful family portrait for your home you have to choose to find the time. Is there a time of year when your kids are not playing a sport or the sport is less demanding? Is there a time of year where you travel less for business? We also find that planning in advance for the sitting and getting it on everyone's calendar early works best. And, the sitting takes less than one hour which is not a huge time commitment.

4. Weather

The spring and summer months have beautiful flowers and foliage and the sun sets later allowing us to schedule appointments later in the evening. Rain and heat can be an issue during the summer, however, we plan accordingly. Fall is a beautiful time of year in Missouri with the autumn colors. During the fall the mornings can be a little crisp and we schedule sittings earlier in the day before the sun sets. We only have a window of about 3 weeks for peak fall colors so you will need to plan ahead for fall.

5. Clothing Preferences

What is your favorite type of clothing to wear? Do you prefer summer sundresses, shorts, sandals, white jeans and pretty summer colors? Pinks, purples, blues, white/cream, coral, and mint green are great spring and summer colors for portraits. You can wear pastels or bright vibrant colors. Do you prefer jeans, boots, long sleeves, sweaters, jackets and darker jewel tones? Navy, grey, brown, red, cranberry, emerald green, burgundy and deep purple are great colors to include in your clothing for fall.