We’ve all done it... scrolling Pinterest or Instagram, saving beautiful photos that make us feel something. And I love that. I want you to be excited and inspired when planning your session. But here’s the thing: inspiration should be just that... inspiration. Not a checklist.
When clients send me a few photos they’re drawn to, it gives me a sense of what they love. That’s helpful. Whether it’s a certain mood, a color palette, or a candid feeling. Those references can guide me toward creating something unique for you. But when we try to recreate exact photos, pausing to look at our phone to see what the photographer did and how exactly those clients stood... that’s when we lose the magic.
Every session is different because every person, couple, or family is different. Trying to replicate a photo taken by another photographer, in a different location, guessing what lens they may have used, with different lighting and different people, can interrupt the natural flow of your session. It pulls us out of the moment. Instead of capturing you, we end up chasing someone else’s story.
I want your photos to reflect who you are, not who someone else was during their shoot. The best sessions happen when you can just be present, trust the process, and let the moments unfold naturally. That’s when we get something real. Something that’s yours.
So yes, bring me a few inspo pics if you want. Let’s chat about what you’re drawn to and what makes you feel excited. But let’s also leave room for the unexpected, for the laughter that bubbles up, the wind that moves your hair, or the way your partner looks at you when you’re not paying attention. Those can’t be planned. And they’re always the best part.
All that said, I usually will ask at the end of a session or at the end of the day "was there anything you had in mind?" incase there was something you had your heart set on.
