If I could sit down with every client a week before their session, there’s one thing I’d tell them first.
Take a deep breath. You’re probably more ready than you think.
Almost everyone who walks through my studio doors feels at least a little nervous. It doesn’t matter if they’re outgoing, shy, in incredible shape, or convinced they’re the least photogenic person on the planet. Those butterflies are completely normal. In fact, I’d be surprised if you didn’t have them.
The good news? You don’t have to know how to pose. You don’t have to feel completely confident. You don’t have to show up as anyone other than yourself.
My job is to take it from there.
Stop Waiting for the “Perfect” Time
This is probably the biggest piece of advice I can give. Don’t wait until you’ve lost ten more pounds. Don’t wait until life slows down. Don’t wait until you feel more confident. Don’t wait until everything feels perfect. Because if there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s that there will always be another reason to wait.
Your story deserves to be documented now. Not because you’re finished becoming who you’re meant to be, but because this chapter matters too.
Rest Is More Important Than Perfection
The night before your session, try to get a good night’s sleep. Not because tired eyes can’t be edited.
Because you’ll simply feel better. You’ll have more energy. You’ll laugh more. You’ll relax faster.
Those things make a much bigger difference than chasing perfection ever will.
Drink Water… But Don’t Overthink It
Yes, staying hydrated helps your skin look its best.
No, you don’t need to spend a week carrying around a gallon jug if that’s not your normal routine.
Drink water. Eat a good meal. Take care of yourself. Simple is enough.
Professional Hair and Makeup Are Part of the Experience
One of my favorite parts of every unButtoned session happens before we ever take a single photograph.
You get to slow down. Sit in the chair. Sip your favorite drink. Take a breath.
Professional hair and makeup aren’t about making you look like someone else. They’re about giving you permission to stop rushing for a little while and simply enjoy being taken care of.
By the time we begin photographing, you’ve already had time to settle in and feel comfortable.
That changes everything.
Trust the Process
If you’ve never been professionally photographed before, you’re probably wondering how you’re supposed to pose.
The answer is simple. You’re not. I guide you through every step of the session. Every pose. Every expression. Every hand placement. Every little adjustment that makes a photograph feel effortless.
You don’t need experience. You don’t need modeling skills. You just need to show up.
Don’t Stress About Your Body
Can I let you in on something? I’ve never had a client arrive and think, “I wish they looked different.”
That’s simply not where my mind goes. I’m thinking about light. Connection. Expression. Story. The things that make you uniquely you.
Your job isn’t to change your body before your session. My job is to photograph it beautifully.
Bring the Things That Feel Like You
You’ve already read my guide about what to wear, so you know you don’t need an entirely new wardrobe. Bring two or three outfits that make you feel amazing. Bring meaningful jewelry. A favorite jacket. A watch you’ve worn for years. A book. A guitar. Your partner’s button-down shirt.
Anything that feels like part of your story. The more personal your session becomes, the more meaningful your photographs will be.
Leave the Pressure at Home
This might be the hardest preparation tip of all.
Stop worrying about creating the “perfect” photographs. Perfection has never interested me. Connection does. Sometimes the image people love most isn’t the one where everything was perfectly posed. It’s the one where they laughed. Or looked away. Or took a deep breath.
Those little moments often become the photographs you’ll treasure most.
What Happens When You Arrive?
We’ll spend a little time talking before we ever begin.
We’ll look through your outfits together. Answer any last-minute questions.
Talk through the session.
There’s no rush. I want you to feel completely comfortable before I ever pick up the camera. By the time we’re ready to begin, it won’t feel like you’re stepping into a performance. It’ll feel like you’re simply spending time with someone who genuinely wants you to have an incredible experience.
After the Session
One of my favorite things to hear is this: “That was so much easier than I expected.” I hear it all the time. The nerves that felt so big before your session usually disappear within the first few minutes.
By the end, most people are already talking about the next time they’d like to do it again. That’s because something shifts. You stop focusing on how you look. You start focusing on how you feel. And that’s where the magic happens.
A Few Practical Tips
To make your session as enjoyable as possible, here are a few simple things to keep in mind:
- Moisturize your skin the day before your session.
- Steam or hang your outfits so they’re wrinkle-free.
- Avoid tight clothing immediately before arriving if possible, as it can leave temporary marks on your skin.
- Get your manicure or trim your nails if that’s something you enjoy.
- Eat before your session. You’ll feel much better with energy than on an empty stomach.
- Bring any accessories you’d like to include.
- Arrive a few minutes early so you don’t feel rushed.
That’s it. No complicated checklist. No unrealistic expectations.
One Last Thought
If you’ve made it this far, there’s a good chance you’re still wondering if you’re really ready. I hope you’ll believe me when I say this.
You don’t have to earn this experience. You don’t have to lose more weight. You don’t have to become more photogenic. You don’t have to wait until you feel fearless. You simply have to decide that this version of you is worth remembering.
Because she is. Because he is. Because you are.
Everything else? We’ll figure out together.
