The Ashley Watkins Photography - Client Guide is an essential resource designed to help you navigate your photography experience with ease and confidence. This comprehensive guide covers everything from preparing for your session to understanding the final product. You will find valuable tips on attire, location selection, and how to communicate your vision effectively. Our goal is to ensure that you feel comfortable and excited throughout the process, resulting in stunning images that capture your unique story. Whether you are a first-time client or returning for another session, this guide provides the insights needed to create a memorable photography experience.

Now that you have hired me to take your photos, I will start guiding you on the process of our time together. Before we begin our journey together, I recommend reading through this guide. It will set you up for success when it comes to styling and dressing yourself (and your family). One thing to consider before we meet up is if you have any specific photos that you would like me to capture. If so, please be sure to mention it prior to the day of our shoot (I like to create a list in my phone to be sure I get everything desired). Feel free to reach out to me in regards to outfits and location changes (if you decided to do something different). I will respond within 48 hrs (I have a young son, who requires a lot of attention).
When selecting a location for you, my goal is to capture your desired outcome. I love to use lots of movement so choosing a place that allows for that is important. I also do some "posed" photos, but they aren't ideal for capturing the special moments. I love to have conversation to get to know you better. You are more than just a stranger, my goal is to make you feel comfortable in front of the camera. Being a natural light photographer, I tend to love doing sessions around sunset or the "golden hour." This is the hour immediately before sunset. This allows for the beautiful glowing images.
Sometimes the timing of your shoot can be determined by the location. Some locations have casting of shadows that fall perfectly during certain parts of the day, so we don't always have to shoot at sunset.
PRO TIP FOR FAMILIES WITH KIDS
You can set you photos up for success by planning your photoshoot around a time of day when your kiddos are happiest. Even if that time doesn’t perfectly occur at golden hour, it’s more important to me that your kids are in a good mood than that the light is perfect. If your kids are happiest in the middle of the day, we can either select a location that has some shade to shoot in, or maybe consider an at-home session that is softly lit by a bright window nearby.
Date: Most clients schedule their sessions on weekends (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) so my weekends sometimes book out several weeks in advance, but my weekdays are usually available too. If you have a flexible schedule and are able to shoot on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, I can usually fit you in right away.
Location: If you've never done a family photo session at home, you might want to consider doing one there. Home is a great place for photos because it's a source of endless picture-worthy activities and routines. Home is where your kids are most comfortable (i.e. happiest and silliest) and most likely to demonstrate their unique personalities. Home is also where the memories are made, so a home photo session is a great way to capture some of your favorite routines, moments, and spaces. Another hidden plus of a home session is that in the event of a wardrobe mishap, you can always change things up. Don't feel like you need to clean and decorate your whole house. Just tidy up one or two rooms (preferably the ones with the best light) and we'll have a great time! Besides your own home, we can discuss the locations that are ideal to you. If you are adventurous, I love to go into the woody areas and photograph there. If the woods aren't your thing, we can stick to the downtown area or local parks.
HOW TO PREP YOUR LITTLE ONES TIP#1: Practice smiling. I know this sounds silly, but try practicing with cues like, "Show me your teeth!" or "Say ice creeeeam!"
TIP #2: Find a song, dance, or video that captures their attention and brings out joy. I've learned that small kids can't fake it. They feel what they feel. And you can hack that! Prior to your photo session, practice singing some songs or learn some silly dances that make your child(ren) genuinely happy. Another genius method of doing this is to load up a YouTube video that your kids like watching or listening to. If I hold it next to my camera, they'll look my way!
TIP #3: Pack a toys and snacks bag. Before your session, pack a bag with snacks, water, and any small objects (like toys or treats) that might help us get their attention when it’s time for them to look at the camera.
TIP #4: Give a pep talk. If they are old enough to understand you, it’s a good idea to prepare them for what’s to come before the session starts. Explain how much the photos mean to you so they know to be on their best behavior.
TIP #5: Good old fashioned bribery. A lot of families discuss and pick a treat that the kids will receive after the session if they’re good listeners and smilers, like an ice cream cone, for example.

The number one rule for dressing a family for their photo session is "coordinating, not matching."
Use the tips below to make sure everyone's outfit looks amazing individually and as a group.
1) START WITH A "THREE CORE COLOR" PALETTE OF NEUTRALS & NEARLY-NEUTRALS
2) ADD ONE OR TWO ACCENT COLORS
3) ADD IN JEWELRY OR OTHER PIECES THAT TIE YOUR FAMILY TOGETHER. (shawls are sooo fun, and can be used to snuggle in close).
Women:
- Wear something flowy in order to help the photos move more.
- Maxi dresses or long skirts are ideal. They add lots of movement
- Wear hair down, which also helps with the movement of the photos.
- Using layers and accessories are ideal but need to be lowkey.
- Wear comfortable shoes, we will be doing some walking.
- Hats can be worn but should coordinate with the outfit.
Men:
- No shorts, baseball caps, or tshirts with prints on them
- Polos look good
- Button down shirts
- Neutral bottoms (black, khaki, sometimes jeans as long as they're clean of stains and holes).
Kids:
- Cardigans
- long socks for girls with short dresses or rompers
- bloomers if the infant is in diapers (hides them).
- suspenders for boys and a cute driving cap (not necessary)
- Avoid clothes that are too big (this goes for everyone)
Women:
- Vici
- Bohme
- Lulu's
- Asos
- Free People
- Jen's Pirate Booty
- One Loved Babe
- Forever 21
- Tobi
- Planet Blue
- Bella Ella Boutique
- Three Birds Nest
- Joyfolie
- Modcloth
- Shein
Men:
- H&M
- American Eagle
- Target
- Shein
- Banana Republic
- Mens Wearhouse
- Jos A. Bank
- Macy's
- JC Penny's
- Dillards
- Express
- Nordstrom
Kids: some of these may not apply to you depending on your child's age/gender
- Shop James
- Roolee
- Ivy City Co
- Knotted Farm
- Jamie Kay
- Hayden Girls
- Go Gently Nation
- Little Baberman
- Shein
- Lenny Lemons
- Tea Collections
- Nordstrom
- Joyfolie
- Bailey's Blossoms
- Zara
- H&M
- Target
- Scotch & Soda
- BoboChoses
- Maisonette
- Fin & Vince

During our session together, you will experience conversation, corny jokes, and cheesiness. This is all to make the session feel as natural as possible which in turn makes for better photos. I am not the type that says 'stand here and do this' most of the time. I try to incorporate movement and use prompts to capture the images. If it feels silly, bet that it looks great on camera and later on in a portrait.
Don't worry about how kids are acting (I used to be a teacher, nanny, babysitter, camp counselor and now am a mom). Don’t be embarrassed if things don’t go as planned. They’re little, and their unfiltered, unpredictable emotions and outbursts are part of the reason you want to remember this season in life. It's my aim to help you embrace these moments with them instead of trying to make them act a certain way for an hour or more. We will make sure to get a few shots of everyonensmiling and looking at the camera, but for the most part I want you to just have a great time and be yourselves. This is part of the reason why I don't pose families and instead use prompts.
Imperfect situations lead to the best photos in my mind.
Now you are probably wondering what happens next.
Once we are done with our photo session, I will send you a sneak peak within 48 hrs of your session in a grid-like manner. They will not be large images that can be screenshot.
Your gallery will take between 2-3 weeks depending on how busy I am. Typically I deliver galleries way before that but want to give myself time to work on each gallery. Once your images are done being edited, I will send you an email with a link to view. You always have the option to purchase more images or the entire gallery (which is cheaper thanbuying just images).
Once you have chosen your images, they will be available to download within 24 hours. I recommend downloading the web version to post on social media, and then the high resolution ones in order to create prints. You can purchase prints through my shop. The prints come from high quality print shops and will display the image in its best form. Printing at places like Walgreens, Sam's Club, Walmart, Target and etc is not recommended and I will not be responsible on how the images look when printed from those locations.
After some time has passed, I will send another email asking for feedback on our session. Your thoughts are valuable to me and will help me continue to grow as a photographer. I want everyone to enjoy their time that is spent with me, as I am not only providing images for you to keep, but I want to provide a rememberable experience as well.