How to Prepare for a Photoshoot with Jennifer Parrello Photography

Can you believe it’s November already? This year has been flying by for me, and in just a few short weeks it will be 2024. And yes—I’m already booking into the new year! Which is why I thought I’d drop a line on the blog with a few general tips about how to prepare for a photoshoot with Jennifer Parrello Photography, so you can start planning for your session now!

Prepping for Your Photo Session: General Tips

Plan ahead. My schedule usually fills up several months in advance—and for newborns and cake smashes in particular, I like to get you on the calendar nice and early!

Choose your outfits. You can read my recommendations on what to wear for your session right here, but the big takeaways are: 1. Wear something that will stand out against your chosen backdrop. (Blacks and neutrals are great for the studio, and you can totally go bright and bold for an outdoor session). And 2. Choose outfits that makes you feel like a million bucks!

Do your hair and nails. Little details like these can make a big difference, especially with newborn or maternity photos where you might want closeups of your hands. I know some great salons if you need recommendations!

Send me inspiration photos! I love when clients spend some time thinking about their vision for their session. Feel free to explore my Instagram to get a feel for my style, and then send me any favorites for poses, colors, vibe, etc. I love to customize each and every session. The more detail I get from you, the better I can make your vision a reality.

Last but not least, come in relaxed and ready to have fun! I treat my clients like family and do everything I can to ensure that our time together is a blast!

If you have any questions or if you already know that you want to do a session and are itching to get on the schedule, get in touch now. I am so hoping I’ll be seeing you in my New Jersey studio next year!

Announcing: Maternity Studio Sessions | New Jersey Photo Studio

Earlier this year I posted about all the different types of photoshoots I offer, and I’m so excited to expand my list to include maternity studio sessions!

Pregnancy is such a beautiful and exciting time, and I want to offer moms the chance to celebrate their bodies and the new life they’re carrying inside. Which is why I’m thrilled to tell you all about what you can expect when you book studio maternity photos with Jennifer Parrello Photography.

What is Included in a Maternity Studio Session

There is so much to do to get ready for a new baby, which is why—as fun as it is—you don’t want your maternity shoot to take forever. These sessions are simple and focused on YOU. My maternity studio sessions are up to an hour, and you can choose between an all-black backdrop or a light and airy window backdrop (featured in these photos).

What to Wear

I have a few select pieces such as body suits (like the one in these photos) and black fitted dresses available in my New Jersey photo studio. I encourage you to wear what you love and feel beautiful and comfortable in. We’ll typically do two outfits per session, so feel free to bring your own outfits or mix and match with what’s in the studio so you can get a couple of different styles for your maternity photos.

Who Can Participate?

My studio maternity sessions are designed especially for mom—to capture that pregnancy glow and beautiful baby bump! My studio is small and perfect for intimate portraits, so if you want to include a close family member, such as your spouse, we can absolutely do that! If baby has an older sibling, they are welcome to join too. If you have multiple children or extended family you’d like to include, I recommend an outdoor session simply so we can accommodate everyone comfortably. (Yes, I do offer outdoor maternity sessions as well. Bear in mind that New Jersey weather can be unpredictable!)

Book Your Maternity Studio Session

I want you to have memories of this irreplaceable time in your life. If you have questions or are ready to schedule your session, please get in touch! And a quick note: While you can book a maternity session only, you’ll get a discount when you bundle your maternity session with your newborn session--just something to consider as you get ready to welcome that little one! I hope to see you in the studio soon, and congratulations on this exciting time!

What to Wear for Your Photography Session

What to wear for your photography session? As a New Jersey photographer, this is something I get asked a lot! I’ll start off by saying that outfits are mostly a matter of personal preference. Remember, taking pictures is about capturing memories of your family—and you’re unique! So as you’re thinking about what to wear, think about what you’re comfortable in and what styles and colors reflect your family’s personality.

That said, here are a few tips to keep in mind that will help you love both your photography experience and your pictures.

Make Sure You’re Comfortable in What You Wear

My goal is to make your photoshoot a memorable experience. And I want you to remember that it was so much fun, not that your shoes were too tight! Choose clothes you like, that feel comfortable, and that are easy to move and pose in.

Take Location into Consideration

Photos or no photos, it never hurts to dress in layers! This is especially important if your photography session is going to take place outdoors. Keep an eye on the weather and wear clothing that will work with whatever Mother Nature decides to do. And think about the vibe you want. An elegant, flowing dress and leggings, boots, and a sweater both work beautifully for an outdoor autumn photoshoot—it just depends on the style you’re going for.

Focus on Coordination Instead of Matching

If you’re doing a family photography session, it can be tempting to dress everybody in matching outfits. While you absolutely can do this, it isn’t necessary to wear the same thing—or even the same color—for everyone to look good. Think of coordinating multiple outfits in a similar way to coordinating a single outfit. Choose complementary colors and patterns rather than a monotone look for the best results.

I hope these ideas on what to wear for your photography session help! If you need more ideas or have any other questions, feel free to reach out—that’s what I’m here for!

Outdoor Maternity Photos | Passaic County, New Jersey

Outdoor Maternity Photos | Passaic County, New Jersey

Springtime and babies go together! Just ask Mother Nature—or this sweet couple! I had the pleasure of doing their outdoor maternity photos last month, and I love the way our images turned out. Enjoy!

Time for Maternity Pics!

If you’re opting for outdoor maternity photos, I always recommend just after sunrise or just before sunset as the optimal time. Maternity photography, like any other type of photography, is all about lighting, and there’s a reason the time around sunrise or sunset is referred to as “the golden hour” by a lot of photographers. The sunlight is really soft and warm at this time, giving the perfect glow to portraits—as you can see from these shots.

Passaic County NJ Maternity Photographer

What to Wear

We wanted to keep things pretty simple for this maternity photography session. Since it was outdoors, we didn’t want to be messing around with outfit changes. Mom wore a classic black dress with boots, and Dad chose blue jeans and a black button-up shirt. It was a great mix of stylish and casual, and went great with the rustic backgrounds we chose at our outdoor location in Passaic County, New Jersey. The wood, stone, and hills made for a perfect setting.

Outdoor Maternity Photo Session Passaic County NJ

Maternity and Newborn Pictures

Most photographers who offer maternity photos do newborn as well. Most of the time it just makes sense to have the same photographer take care of both sessions for you, which is what this couple decided to do. A few weeks after we did these outdoor maternity photos, I welcomed them and their new little one to my NJ photography studio for a newborn session. So much fun! Keep an eye out on the blog for those pictures as well. Trust me, you won’t want to miss them!