When You Arrive:

When you arrive for your child portrait session you can expect a very warm welcome. There’s lots of space inside to sit back and relax, along with bathroom facilities, a changing room, and refreshments on hand. Some of our children and teen clients come in really excited and enthusiastic. Others might be more cautious, nervous or feeling a bit apprehensive and reluctant. We totally get this and don’t put any pressure or expectations on them. If your kids are happy and raring to go, then we do just that. If they need a bit more time to get used to their surroundings and and gain their confidence, then that’s just fine too.

Sessions usually take an hour but please allow for up to two, especially if you have 2-3 children with you. For families with more than 3 children, you’re absolutely more than welcome but please let us know in advance so we can schedule a longer session time if needed. 

What To Bring For Your Child Portraits:

Whilst we do have refreshments available at the studio, it’s a good idea to bring along your child’s favourite snack, preferably of the less messy variety 😉 

If your child has a favourite hobby, interest or sport consider whether you would like to bring something as a prop for their portraits. Maybe they are an avid reader or play a musical instrument. Maybe they play for their school rugby or hockey team and a ball or a hockey stick could be featured in a portrait or two. Equally if you want to keep your portraits more minimalistic then that’s fine too. 

What Should Your Children Wear:

That’s the million dollar question! For fine art sessions, the choice of clothing make a huge impact to the final portraits and we’re more than happy to help review your choices and thoughts prior to the session. You can either message us, ask for a zoom, or come for a chat at the studio. 

We generally encourage 2-3 different outfits changes. Starting out with jeans or chinos and a long sleeved t-shirt or knit jumper can create an intimate feeling portraits, and then switching to something more formal/dressy can produce a more vanity fair look. 

Here Our Are Top Pointers For You:

• Colours and tones – a helpful starting point can be to think about the colours and tones you would to have on your wall. Have you thought about which room you would like to hang your portraits in, and what colours might work best with that colour scheme? Or maybe you have a favourite colour and you’d like one of your set-ups to be planned around that. If you have more than one child, it’s generally best to have them in similar colours and tones so they compliment each other and look like they belong together.
• Patterns – Please avoid logos and busy patterns as they can be distracting and can also date a portrait.
• Cut & Style – It’s often best to wear long sleeved tops and long trousers as covering the skin keeps the focus on your child/s face. Fitted clothing tends to work better than baggy and loose clothing. Dresses can look beautiful, especially if they fit well around the torso, but again simple colours and patterns work best.
• Accessories – jackets, waistcoats, braces, hats and scarves can all help create a dynamic feel, as can bows, headbands and hair ribbons. 

*This should go without saying, but if it reassures any clients and children we have a gender neutral policy and don’t mind who wears what style of clothing, all are welcome*

We do have a range of outfits at the studio that you are welcome to use too, the studio wardrobe is growing all the time, and you are welcome to come and browse it prior to your session. Alternatively you can let us know your children’s sizes and we can let you know what we have available. 

Photographing Siblings:

Portraits of our children together are often high on every parent’s wish-list and we’re more than happy to accommodate that.  For child portrait sessions we photograph each child both separately and together with their siblings. They are all individual and deserve to be celebrated and photographed as such, and we also love to record the connections and bonds between them. Don’t worry if they are going through a phase where they don’t want to hug and touch each other, we can still create connections and beautiful portraits without physical contact. As parents to teenagers we totally get that 😉

Viewing & Ordering Your Portraits:

A few weeks after your session, you’ll come for a beautiful cinematic viewing of your photographs. Together we’ll look through your portraits and help you choose the perfect products for your home. You can take a look at the wonderful products we offer here.

Directions:

The studio is on google maps, so most SatNavs can find us https://www.google.com/maps/place/Elli+Cassidy+Portraits/

Otherwise our address is:

Elli Cassidy Portraits

The Old Rectory Studios

Church Lane

Swaby

LN13 0BQ

07908 248532

When you get to the driveway, follow the drive all the way up to the very top. You will see the studio entrance in the right corner up the curved path. There is lots of free parking available on site. 

If you have any questions, however small they may seem, please don’t hesitate to ask, we’re happy to help 🙂