Welcome!

Hey there! I am SO excited to spend time with you and your family at your upcoming shoot! Read on for tips and tricks to make sure that your shoot is stress-free (even FUN! What?!) and that your shots turn out awesome.

IMPORTANT SERVICE CHANGES FOR 2020-2021: Due to high rates of Covid-19 cases in Marion county and surrounding areas, I have implemented additional safety procedures for each session. Clients that are ill (including fever), have had known contact with a person/persons that have tested positive for Covid-19 in the last two weeks or have tested positive for Covid-19 themselves are required to notify me and reschedule. Rescheduling will occur at no additional fee, we want to make sure that everyone is safe and healthy!

• Until further notice, all sessions will be held outdoors, in spaces with plenty of fresh air/ventilation.

• I will be minimizing any physical contact with clients (moving hair, etc.). When possible, I will just verbally help guide you to make any necessary changes to hair/clothing/etc.

• Clients that have had known exposure to someone who has a confirmed Covid diagnosis within 10 days of their session are required to reschedule. I will also follow this protocol, and notify you if your session needs to be rescheduled due to illness on my end.

• In any outdoor space that necessitates me being closer than 6 feet, I will be wearing a facemask that is compliant with CDC guidelines for face-coverings. If your family would feel more comfortable with me wearing my mask the entire session, I would be very happy to do so.

• I will follow CDC guidelines and Oregon & Federal mandates and guidelines set to improve public health outcomes related to Covid-19.

• I am fully vaccinated as of April 22, 2021, and am happy to share my vaccine passport with you prior to or at your session.

Your health and safety is of critical importance to me! If you have any questions or concerned in any way about safety protocols taken during your session, please let me know by emailing me at carli@perfectsaltdesign.com.

It's all in the timing (seriously!)

Scheduling Your Shoot Time & What You Can Expect

As a natural light photographer, I love to shoot outdoors (when available) and use the available light to get great shots. The best times for this are typically early morning or the two hours before sunset (we call those the "golden" hours).

Sessions typically take 1-2 hours depending on how many locations we choose, so please make sure to plan enough time for you to enjoy your session!

When you arrive, I’ll be ready to help you carry any gear you have, and help you feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Leave Enough Time to Get Ready

When you are rushed getting ready, or feel rushed getting to your shoot location, it shows in your photos (and who wants that?). I recommend planning a little extra time to get ready than what you would think your typical getting ready time takes (for example: If it usually takes you 30 minutes, plan 45+).

Hair & Makeup Scheduling

If you have awesome hair/makeup skills, wonderful! I recommend going with a look that makes you feel the most confident. What I do not recommend: Trying out a new look for the day of your senior photos. Stick with something that you know 1) speaks to your true style, and 2) you love.

If it works for your family, I recommend having adults get hair/makeup professionally done (you'll look killer, be more relaxed and that confidence shows through in your photos!!). If you need a stylist referral, let me know during our chat. I recommend scheduling these appointments (as well as any other hair or beauty appointments needed before your shoot) at the time you schedule your shoot, to avoid scrambling last minute. Try to avoid scheduling haircuts for the same day, in case you run out of time or need additional touch-ups to make it perfect before your shoot!

Not in the budget to get hair/makeup done? No worries! Many clients do their own makeup/hair (or have a talented friend lend a hand!), and look awesome at their shoots. Do what makes you most comfortable, and what works best for your family's budget.

Make sure that you are fed and ready to go!

No one looks their best when they are hangry! Make sure to have a healthy snack before your session if it falls between or close to meal times. I’ll trust you to know what is best for you and your body!

GETTING READY: the outfits

Investing some pre-planning in your outfits can make a HUGE difference in your shoot! Have your clothing chosen way in advance, and make sure that your outfit choices are comfortable and attractive.  What do your dream photos look like?  Are they are soft and elegant?  Chose neutral colors with soft, flowing fabrics…. think creams, very soft pastels, oatmeals, light browns, tans, grays, and slate blues.  Want to showcase your fun side? Pair those neutral colors mentioned above with a couple of fun accent colors (yellow, coral, green...the possibilities are endless!).  Don't be afraid to add accessories likes hats, sweet headbands, bow-ties...I want to see your unique style!

What to avoid: Wrinkly clothes (I can’t edit out more than one or two wrinkles!), big logos, busy stripes (I LOVE stripes…if your outfit has them, send me a pic before your session and we can make sure it works on camera), or clothes that make you feel uncomfortable.

Feeling unsure about what to wear? Text me photos of your current options! You can reach me at 503.434.0140. I do my best to answer all texts between 9am-7pm.

Still have questions? Drop me a note!

What to expect

Most importantly: Get ready to have some fun!

I want this experience to be FUN for you! I will do my absolute best to make your photo session relaxed, fun, and make you look your absolute best. I believe that EVERYONE can take good photos, and encourage you to bring a friend or family member that puts you at ease! Have favorite music artists? Let me know and I’ll cue them up so that we can have fun music while we hang. Leave the stiff “cheese” faces for Aunt Marge at the next family reunion: we will pose, and I’ll also give you a bunch of cues to help make your pictures look authentic and great (and hopefully, perfect for your ‘gram). Show me who you really are, so that I have the opportunity to capture your awesomeness through my lens.

This won't be your typical studio experience of posing and looking at the camera.

Parent Pro tip: Sometimes it can be hard not to try and "coach" your Seniors during the shoot ("Smile! Look at the camera! Show your teeth! Look this way!"). Often, I find that having all the adults yell cues to has the opposite effect: Stressed faces, unnatural/forced smiles, and worst case scenario: tears. I will make your senior feel at ease using some of my tried and true tricks to get their true personalities to come out (promise: I'm super patient AND a parent, so nothing your kid does will stress me out!). And if that doesn't work? I'll use you as backup !). So leave the coaching to me, and feel welcome to relax and enjoy the shoot!

After your session

• Photo editing usually takes 2-4 weeks, depending on the length of your session.

• IMPORTANT NOTE ON MY EDITING STYLE: I use a very natural editing style, and try to stay as true to the real “you” as possible.. What does this mean? I will take away fly-away/stray hairs, adjust clothing (like removing a random wrinkle, a spec of grass that got on you during our adventures, etc.). and remove blemishes when necessary, and make sure that the lighting of your image looks great. I really do believe that each person I work with is beautiful and unique!

• What it doesn’t mean: I will not alter your body to look differently than it does in real life. For example: I won’t make you smaller/bigger, adjust your facial features (no Facetuning here!), or change your skin tone. If you are worried about what this means for your photos, give me a call and we can chat about it!

• When your gallery is ready, I will email you and the person who signed your contract (if you are under the age of 18) a link to your online gallery.

• Once you receive your gallery, you can also buy prints and other gifts a-la-carte. Check out my seasonal offerings on products here!