Florida weather can be finicky, beautiful one minute, pouring the next. It can be tricky to anticipate, you can't always rely on the app because 100% may mean it will rain down the street but not where you are. 

Our best bet is always to schedule early in the vacation. If the weather does not cooperate we will try to reschedule. 

Our biggest weather concern actually isn't rain. Our biggest concerns are lightening and wind. There are not many lightening rods near an open beach and we do not want to be responsible for anyone getting hurt, nor do we want to end up on the front page of Yahoo as 'the photographer who let their clients get struck by lightening'. 
Wind is not just annoying to deal with (check out our blog about beach blown hair) . Once it gets around 15mph the wind will pick up the sand and sandblast you. And by sandblast I mean blast, in the movies you see the annoyance of sand storms with sand in their eyes and mouths but what they don't tell you is how much it hurts! Each piece feels like a little ant bites and yes, it does get in your eyes, your hair, your clothes, and our equipment. We will not shoot in wind above 12mph. Anything above 10mph will blow your hair and clothing, making editing extremely long and hard.
Other weather concern we look at are fog and high humidity. I have had to cancel shoots in the past after showing up and attempting to shoot but not be able to see the clients 3 feet away or my inner lens fog up and not work properly.

If your goal is not to have just a picture on the beach but to capture a special moment or finally have everyone in one place, we WILL find a way. I can come to your home, rent a conference room at a hotel, I have been known to wait inside my car next to my clients and rush out when there is a break in the rain to at least grab that one group shot. 

Weather apps are constantly updating. It can help give us an idea of what to expect on the day but we do not depend on them. We like to wait until the day of to make a decision. We will wait until just before the clients begins getting ready for the session. We don't want you to spend a long time getting all dressed up, bribing the kids and hubby, only to do it all over again the next day. We will get in touch a few hours before we are to meet and make a judgement call. We take in account the weather radar, the percentage at the time, the presence of thunder. While we do keep an eye on several weather apps the most reliable information can be found with the radar a few hours before the session. We may just need to move it up a few minutes to avoid early sunset or we may need to reschedule to a later mutual date.
We are not opposed to shooting in light rain, at the request of the client. Pouring rain will effect our equipment and hinder the shot.   

The retainer fee is non refundable however it is transferable. If we cannot find a mutual date to reschedule during the current vacation we can transfer it to a future date. 
If Amy or Caitie find the conditions not favorable and the client wants to try anyway we will drive out and wait for the rain recede up to 15 minutes. Any longer than that and we lose the light. In this instance the retainer fee is utilized that day and is no longer transferable. 

​Weather at the beach is famously unpredictable. With no trees to provide shade or block the wind, you're at the mercy of the elements. The water can be crystal clear or teeming with seaweed, calm as a lake or wild with waves. The sky might be brilliantly sunny, hazy with intense fog, or painted with vibrant colors. We've learned to adapt to any situation—embracing the unpredictability is key. After all, you can't control Mother Nature, so the best approach is to go with the flow.

Read below to find out how we handle sessions when excessive wind is present.

Our Classic Session is our most requested. We have found that 45 minutes is the perfect amount of time to capture the essential shots and a few fun shots!​

WEATHER
First let's talk a little about the weather. It can be frustrating when your job depends on the weather! I have five weather apps that I refer to constantly. In a traditional Florida summer it is raining somewhere, it could be a mile down the street and sunny where you are!  The short version is we try to wait until the session day and just before everyone begins the process of getting ready to decide. You can read more about the weather policy HERE. For more information on what to expect during windy conditions, you can read HERE.  
TIMING
​All beach sessions are held just before sunset. We do account for time walking to the location when setting the meeting time so we aim to meet at the agreed upon time. Traffic here is unreliable however so you may want to leave early. We have a lot of bikes and golf carts that like to ride on back beach roads and in most areas there is just 98 so if there is an accident there is no way around it. However arriving early does not necessarily mean we will begin early,  light is everything in portraits. 
We will typically meet in the parking lot and from there we will walk down to the beach while discussing final details. I will ask if there is anything you especially want to get or if there is something you are wanting printed large. We will prioritize getting those shots first to capture optimal lighting suitable for large prints. ​

We have a general list of standard shots to include with every session. I try to work in this order so I don't forget anything: family close up and full, couple, individual shots of the children, siblings together close up and full body. We will end the traditional shots with another family shot as the light will have changed by then, providing you with more options. These are the standard traditional shots that are usually printed for walls or wallet size for sharing. By this time we're all somewhat familiar with each other, everyone is a little more relaxed and we're ready for some cozy, fun lifestyle shots that more reflect your personality than traditional posed shots. These are great for albums and social media. We will end the session when the sun gets below the water and we start losing the light. ​

WHAT IF MY TODDLER DOESN'T WANT TO COOPORATE? 
Leave it to us. We both, Amy and Caitie, have worked with little ones for 15 years in addition to having 4 and 5 of our own and we love working with little ones! If you are especially worried let us know and we will be prepared. Amy has worked with toddlers for over 20 years teaching general education, special education and has trained as a Registered Behavior Therapist. 
You can read more about preparing your toddler and how we can help HERE.

AFTER THE SESSION
I will then get to work on the after session; culling and editing. 
The images will be uploaded into an online gallery where you can download the full resolution digital files and place your order. Our job is not done until you are satisfied that you got what you came for. We are fully educated in the printing process and can help you decide what to print at what size. 
When you look good, we look good! 
Moreover, simply right-clicking, printing from a phone, or using a kiosk will not deliver the quality you are investing in. HERE is a blog you can check out with information about digitals and prints. 

We love photographing children! They are entertaining, honest and wear their emotions on their sleeves. We are well rehearsed in children, Caitie has four, Amy has five, and has taught at the elementary school level areas of preschool, special education and art for many years before turning to to photography full time. 
          Our ultimate goal is for your child feel safe and to make sure they are having a good experience. Working together with you we will help your child feel comfortable and truly happy so we may capture your child's true self and personality. We want you and your child to smile when looking back at these images!

                       We understand that some little ones with big emotions cannot always keep it contained (I'm sure we've all met a few adults who have trouble with this as well...). Amy has taught special education and has trained as a registered behavior technician under a behavior therapist so there's not much she hasn't seen or dealt with. We have never considered any child to be 'bad', no one wants to be in trouble, they simply lack the tools to convey what the problem is even if it is just 'I need attention' or 'I need some space'.  Some little ones may have not been diagnosed with a sensory disorder, ADHD or the autism spectrum or are simply especially sensitive to the feel of the sand or are very shy and cautious. We want your child to have real smiles and will never force a situation they are not comfortable with. There are always options. We have our tips and tricks, all we ask of you is to relax and assure your children that this is going to a short and fun time!  Be sure to let us know if there is anything that may trigger your child such as a certain song, topic or sensory or the adverse, if there is anything they especially like.    ​

        Let's look at it from your toddler's perspective for a minute. Toddlers are just realizing things may be going on outside their little circle and that caregivers are not always able to control every situation. This can cause new behaviors as they experience new emotions. Many times they have not visited a beach so it is a whole strange and new environment for them; all senses are on high alert and emotions are ramping up for all the fight/flight love it/hate it. This can be seen in many forms depending on the child. They can be shy, scared, nervous, anxious, or happy until they figure out what is going on in this new place. They will look to you to guide them, if you are stressed and anxious they can feel that.

  Once we are at the session we won't have a lot of time to coax out natural smiles for each shot. So how do we get the little ones to understand the concept of smiling on command when there's nothing in particular to smile about? We have a few tricks but there are things you can do to help as well. ​

Even as an adult if you put a time to anything you do not want to do it's so much easier to get through it. I save bribery for last. For one thing, it doesn't last long and I don't want to give away my secret weapon too soon. I keep a roll of Smarties on me because not only is there no saturated fat, very very little sugar (just 6 grams for a whole roll), they are also gluten, dairy, and peanut-free, according to the official website. It dissolves quickly enough for toddlers to not present a choking hazard, it does not leave candy trails on the face or hands and comes in rolls of 15 so it can be used more than once. I essentially buy their happiness and pay them to like me. "After every picture we get a Smartie!".  (We do permission beforehand).  ​

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​Start showing pictures and videos of the beach to get your child familiar with environment. A lot of children are amazed with the sand, they either love it and want to roll in it and eat it or they're scared it will stick to them and never come off. Try putting some dirt in a bowl for your child to play with and get used to the idea that it's ok. If you know your child has tactile sensory issues and will not get in the sand let us know and we can be prepared with something for him/her to stand/sit on during the session.

We meet at Grayton Beach State Park and George immediately showed us he was a beach loving boy. 

We love, love, love our gulf coast beaches all along 30a!  But, that's not all our area boasts, and that is why we offer multiple portrait locations for our clients. 

I think this was one of my favorite sessions to date, however, it almost feels unfair to make such a bold statement.  Each year, Amy and I book such wonderful clients, many of who become friends.  This group session was scheduled right after my emergency surgery last July and I almost didn't make it!

If you've made it to our blog, we're willing to bet you love color, too!  Check out this beautiful family and their fantastic fashion!

Sticking with a good thing is exactly why so many people vacation in the 30a and Destin areas year after year.  The beach. The people. The culture. The shopping. The food. The fishing. THE SUNSETS.  That's just a few things on the top of the list, but what we have to offer goes on and on and on.

There's something else we love; repeat clients.  These folks have been shooting with Amy for years!  When you find something good you just stick with it, right?