The process is simple! Please submit an inquiry using the contact page on my website indicating you are interested in booking a shoot. I will send you a link to my calendar, where you will select your date/time, fill out a short questionnaire and sign your contract. I will confirm your booking within 24 hours by countersigning your contract and issuing your invoice, which is due on the date of your session. *You have only reserved your date/time after you've completed this process and your contract is signed.*

There's no hard and fast rule, but generally 4-6 weeks ahead of your desired date is adequate. I do recommend booking fall sessions as early as possible, as there is limited availability and dates book quickly!

Things happen. Please contact me as soon as you are able and we will reschedule your session! There is no additional cost associated with rescheduling.

Your invoice was sent to you using the e-mail you listed in your booking paperwork. Please access this document at your convenience, and pay your session fee prior to your shoot. You can pay via credit card or PayPal or you can bring cash or a check to your session. If you have not received the invoice, please let me know and I will resend it to you.

In-Home and Welcome Home Baby sessions are done in the client's home. All other photography sessions are scheduled outdoors at sunset. When you book your session, you'll complete a short questionnaire that includes questions regarding your desired aesthetic. I will contact you with several options based on your feedback, and we will decide together.

If it's raining, snowing, extremely hot or cold, or uncomfortably gusty, we will reschedule. St. Louis area weather is unpredictable, so I usually wait to make this call until we are 24 hours before our session start time. We do not reschedule for cloudy weather - in fact, it often photographs very well!

I will arrive to your shoot a few minutes early, and if your contract permits me to text you, I will send you a location pin to let you know where to park. I will guide your family through our entire session, which will last approximately 45-60 minutes.

Anything you are comfortable with! Pinterest is a great resource for outfit coordination. My secret rule of thumb is: when in doubt, go with navy. It looks good on everyone. And I mean everyone.

Extra tips: avoid matching outfits (even kids/twins), bright colors, busy patterns and logos. Incorporate texture and accessories, and try to mix plain and pattern when planning outfits. If it's not Christmas, avoid bright red.

Please have your family ready to shoot as soon as you arrive, especially for sunset sessions. You are not required to bring anything, however, if there is a prop you'd like to incorporate (ie. sentimental object, blanket, chair, wagon) please let me know ahead of time.

You may opt to bring insect repellant, a lint roller, hair spray, a hair brush, a warm jacket or small portable fan (weather depending) if you wish.

Kids are so much fun to work with, but every parent knows that there are no guarantees when it comes to their children's whims and moods. Please, do not worry! We will try to inspire your children to participate on set, and make it an enjoyable experience for them. More often than not the kids who come to their session unwilling to shoot end up being the star of the show!

A few suggestions: make sure the kids are fed (either a meal or a filling snack will), rested and, if necessary, bribed (but no chocolate or colorful candy on set please).

If it is allowed at the location- absolutely! But let’s make sure we discuss this ahead of time. I recommend bringing a friend to see to the pet when we are working through our pet-free poses. *It is your responsibility to check park rules and bylaws regarding pets prior to the shoot.

Please do not bring additional friends or family with you, unless they are your designated dog handler for sessions including pets.

If you would like to include multiple branches of family members (sisters, aunts, grandparents), please book an Extended Family Portrait Session.

Please make every effort to be on time for our session, especially if we are outdoors and are depending on the sun for natural lighting. If you are a few minutes late, it's okay! But if you will be more than 20 minutes late, we will mostly likely need to reschedule your session.

Your gallery will be available for download approximately three weeks after the date of your shoot. This will be sent to you via e-mail, and you will have one year to download your images before the link expires. Due to file storage limitations, I cannot store galleries indefinitely.

No. Your full gallery is included in the price of your session fee. All of the images are yours to download, print and share. You may print your files wherever you wish.

Yes! Order prints, canvases, holiday cards and other items directly from your digital gallery.

Yes! Your print release permits you to post your images to your social media accounts, but please do not apply any filters or alter your images in any way. I would love it if you'd credit me as your photographer on your post, but doing so is up to you. Follow me on Instagram at @heathersmallwoodcreative

I would absolutely love your feedback. Please visit www.heathersmallwoodcreative/reviews and share your thoughts! Reviews are not posted to third-party websites (ie. Google, Yelp) but reviews and portions thereof may be used as testimonials in my marketing efforts.

Yay! Thank you! 100% of my business is referral based. I welcome them to text, e-mail, call or submit an inquiry through my website- whatever is easiest for you and your friend. Referrals are always entitled to any promotional pricing that is offered at booking.

Yes, please! I send out e-mails to my prospective clients, past clients & friends and family a few times a year. Sign up to join my mailing list so you're the first to know when fall/spring/event dates are posted.

Also, I am on Instagram! Feel free to follow me at @heathersmallwoodcreative

I may offer occasional mini-session events to my mailing list subscribers. Want to be on the list? Submit a contact form and let me know if you'd like to be on my mailing list for mini-session events, promotions, special events & first dibs at popular dates.

Not at this time.