Congrats on snapping up one of our Spring Mini blossom sessions! Can’t wait to see you and capture some beautiful memories.

This session guide will tell you everything you need to know about what to expect, how to prepare and where to meet me once it’s time! So make sure to have a good read though and let us know if you have any questions.

You can text me on 021 277 1987 if you are running late on the day.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Make sure to plan warm outfits, especially for the kids at can be be really cold at sunrise/sunset when we do the session. Sometimes it can be quite warm, and if it is we can take the top layers off, but more often that not it is a bit chilly. So make sure to include a nice warm top layer in your outfit plans.

• With outdoor family sessions I’ll pretty much just position you in the best lighting at the time, give you a few instructions about how to pose yourselves, then step back and capture a mix of looking at the camera and interacting with each other.

• I’ll call out instructions as we go (such as lean your heads closer together, tickle the kids, turn your body a bit more towards me etc.) to make sure we are getting a good variety of shots. We will aim for some of you all together, then just roll with whatever different combos and individuals the kids are up for.

• These session will be taking place in the botanic gardens near the playground. Do not let the kids on the playground before the session as it may be impossible to get them off.

WHAT TO WEAR

Dress yourselves and the kids in lighter tones as anything too dark or contrasting will clash the soft pink of the blossoms. White and pink look best, but other pale tones and denim also look nice!

Also remember to keep it casual – office wear or dress shirts will look oddly formal in the natural setting. Flowy dresses are really lovely, but jeans and a nice top/sweater look good too if that’s is more your style.

Make sure to dress the kids warm. It will likely be cold! especially at sunset and sunrise, jerseys and merino layers under dressevs are a good idea.

STUDIO CLOTHES
We can arrange the use of our studio wardrobe for an extra $30 per booking
We have a few kids and mums’ outfits here at the studio if you would like to borrow something, as long as you can get dressed and undressed at the park. Flick me an email if you would like to see what options we have for your little one cassandra@hazelandcass.co.nza.

WHEN & WHERE

These sessions take place in the Christchurch botanic gardens, nearby the playground. See the map below to see the carpark I recommend as it is just a short walk from the blossom tree. You can put ‘Christchurch Botanic Gardens Carpark’ into google maps to find the carpark in the images below.

If you arrive very early, we suggest waiting in the car so that the kids don’t run around and get cold/tired before we start the session. Do not take them to the playground before the session as it can be a struggle to get them off. It’s best to just keep them nice and warm in the car and then only get out just before your session time so you can walk straight over.

If you can’t keep the kids in the car, ideally wait around the big tree with the bench seat. If we are running ahead of time we might wave you over early.

Otherwise just walk up to the blossom tree at your session time - please do not come play in the blossom tree before your session time, and it may distract the kids I’m trying to photograph before you, and also make your kids lose their excitement for the tree before their own session.

See some maps and photos below detailing where to go.

A week or two after your session, we will send through an email with a link to a gallery of about 5-10 of the best photos from your session. These photos will be unedited, so keep this in mind when looking at them!

From here you will be able to choose your favourite photos to be edited. If you’d like to buy an extras they are $50 each.

Once you’ve confirmed your selection, we will edit them up! Each photos is edited individually by hand in a fine-art painterly style. This includes tidying, skin edits, colour corrections and some other wee details to make each portrait perfectly magical.

About 2 weeks after confirming your selection, we will email though the final gallery of your fully edited photos to download in full resolution.

If you’d prefer to skip the unedited gallery and selection process, please let us know via email before the session and we will make a note to choose the images for you.

Once your have your digital photos, we can check out our range of product below if you are interested in having your images beautifully printed.