First Timer? | Here's What To Expect — Quesenberry Photography

I’m so glad you’re here, friend! This means you’re thinking seriously about hiring a professional photographer. Chyyeeeah! Can you hear me clapping? In addition to making sure you have beautiful images you will cherish, I’m all about making this process a breeze for you. So sit back, grab a mug of tea (or bier) and enjoy the ride!

The booking process

Selecting a photographer is where the magic all starts. You’ll want to find someone you vibe with. Cuz you don’t wanna hang out with someone you don’t like, right? Didn’t think so! You gotta find a photographer who is a natural match for your personality.

You also want to make sure they offer the style of photography you need. Look for words like “lifestyle” and “natural light,” vs. things like “studio newborn” on a website, as these will mean different things and drastically impact the look and feel of the images. Even when you think you know, just keep scrolling & clicking through their work. Try to imagine how they might capture your family through their lens. Can you see it? Aiiiight, we’re off to a good start!

What is lifestyle photography exactly?

I don’t think there is any one answer, but that’s why it’s da bomb dot com! Lifestyle photography is my jam. It’s a relaxed, candid style of capturing families of all walks of life. It’s a collection of seemingly ordinary moments, that when added together, create something extraordinary.

Sessions can take place outdoors, in your home, or in my home-inspired natural light studio.

Ultimately, lifestyle sessions are designed to give you and your family the space to let loose and be yourselves. The weirder the better. Our time together is about having fun, becoming friends, and capturing the real you in the process.

Where I come in

The booking form is where it all happens, fam. This is what gives me enough information to check my calendar and make sure we’re good to go! Once we decide on our session date, you will get a link to your nifty online client portal. This is where you can digitally sign your agreement and pay your invoice, and answer a fun questionnaire so I can get to know you a little better!

Unless you’ve hired a professional lifestyle photographer before, you might have that feeling of, “we have no idea what to do,” and that’s totally normal! You can think of me as more than just your photographer. Think of me as your unlimited resource. I’m gonna be your biggest cheerleader and your guiding light through each step of the way. And hopefully, your lifelong friend after all this is over!

My client experience is tailored to give you as much helpful information as possible. Seriously, I want you OOZING with great ideas after reading this stuff! Your client experience guide to help you plan your outfits, AND an exclusive location guide with recommendations of shoot locations by season.

Grab your client experience guide here! (location guides are reserved for booked clients)

How locations & times are decided

We can’t have a great session without a location that also provides great light. I’ve already put in that footwork to scout dozens of locations that look great on camera, and tracked the light at different times of year. Simply put, I know what looks uhh-MAZing and what precise time we need to be there! Most of the locations are tucked away in hard-to-find spots, so we’ll meet up beforehand so you can follow me there.

At the session

If we’re outdoors, we’ll walk to the shooting location together and chat to break the ice. For kiddos, this is a fun time for them to explore and burn off some extra energy! In-home sessions start with me greeting your family and chatting with your kids for a few minutes. I might move around some furniture, and open some curtains to make sure we have plenty of beautiful light.

No matter where we’re shooting, we’re gonna keep it natural. The only equipment I bring with me fits in one camera bag. This means no artificial lighting, no backdrops, and no props like beanbags. I promise, we don’t need ‘em!

When it’s time to shoot, I’ll give you some ideas of fun activities to do together as a family.

The Leo in me has no issue making myself look silly, turning everything into a game, and finding ways to keep the kids engaged. And of course my Enneagram Type 6 makes me a natural troubleshooter… so if your children don’t want to cooperate, we’re gonna roll with it! I never go into a session thinking the kids are going to sit still for hours on end, and you shouldn’t either!

The result of lifestyle photography is a gallery of images which uniquely represents you. While you might not have a billion perfectly posed smiling-at-the-camera shots, what you WILL have are genuine moments which capture all of your family’s unique quirks.

Lifestyle Studio Sessions

You may see the word “studio” and think about those tacky JC Penny portrait studios from the 90s. Luckily I hate that just as much as you do! My natural light lifestyle studio is a cozy, home-like space that is a great option for certain types of sessions. The design elements are a combination of natural textures and tones with pops of color, all bathed in beautiful window light. You won’t find any tacky plastic backdrops or distracting strobe lighting here.