New Client Welcome Packet

Welcome!

Hello, and thank you for choosing Violet Artichoke Visual Storytelling to capture your family’s magic! I’m thrilled that you’ve entrusted me with this important task, and I’m excited to dive into the beautiful journey we’ll embark on together.

I believe that every family has a unique story worth telling. My mission is to help you share that story through vibrant, candid photography that reflects the true essence of your family. Whether it’s full of laughter, quiet moments of connection, or the joyful chaos of everyday life, I am here to capture it all.

As we plan your session, we’ll work together to create a rewarding and memorable experience tailored to your family’s personality and style. Whether it’s selecting the perfect location or finding ways to encourage those genuine interactions, my priority is to ensure you feel comfortable and confident throughout the process.

I encourage you to explore the rest of this welcome guide, as it contains helpful tips and important information to ensure a smooth and enjoyable journey.

Thank you once again for choosing Violet Artichoke. I can’t wait to get to know you and your family better and to create lasting memories that you will cherish for years to come!

Wishing you magic,

About Me

Hi there! I’m Rachel Wager-Smith, the face of Violet Artichoke.

I am more than a family photographer. I’m a storyteller with a talent for finding magic in the ordinary and even mundane moments of family life and using that magic to infuse a sense of wonder and whimsy into my visual stories. I take photos that show real feelings, spontaneous moments, and the happiness that comes from being with loved ones. It is in these moments that families bloom like a wild artichoke transforming into an unexpected, violet flower.

My journey as a photographer began in 2020. My husband and I honeymooned in New York City weeks before the pandemic hit. During our travels, I took hundreds of street photos, and it was there that my love of photography first took off.

In May 2021, we welcomed our son, Amias, into our growing family, and the adventure of parenting began. Today, with our baby girl, Winifred, and our tripod kitty, Lady Bezequille, our family is even more wonderful — and more chaotic! This journey has fueled my love for documenting my family’s magical moments through photography, and I'm excited to capture your family’s unique magic, too.

In addition to my passion for family photography, I am a writer, editor, cinephile, and proud nerd. My love for storytelling began at a young age, and my stories, be they written or visual, capture the everyday adventures that await around every corner. While these adventures may not mirror the daring exploits of the U.S.S. Enterprise or the thrills of The Walking Dead, they each possess a unique beauty that I’m dedicated to preserving for my clients.

Preparing For Your Session

Events

If you hired me to photograph an event, then I have fantastic news for you! You don’t have to do a single thing to prepare for your shoot. Just tell me when and where to be, and I’ll document your event for you, capturing all the special moments. There’s absolutely no extra steps required on your part!

My Event photography is captured entirely in a documentary style, allowing for a natural and authentic experience. This means I aim to provide little direction, minimizing my influence on the shoot. I want to document candid moments, spontaneous joy, and scenes of comfort as they unfold naturally.

Portraits

If you’ve hired me for a portrait session, then I have a few helpful suggestions that you might consider. Take them or leave them — it’s entirely your photo shoot, and the end result is totally up to you and your vision!

For my portrait sessions, I aim to create posed portraits that feel as authentic and natural as possible. While I will provide some guidance to set the scene, I encourage organic interactions to unfold, allowing me to capture genuine moments. For instance, I might place a family on a tire swing at the park or have them stroll casually along the beach, all the while focusing on their interactions. If you're a sporty family, I may suggest bringing a football or soccer ball to play with for a few minutes, capturing the joyful moments that emerge. Likewise, if you have small children who need a quick snack or play break, I’ll continue to document those precious, fleeting moments that reveal your family's unique bond.

Picking a Location + Time

Select a location that reflects your desired aesthetic. Whether it’s a wide-open field, a serene beach, or an urban setting, each offers a unique vibe that complements different color schemes. If you need help finding the perfect spot or matching it to your colors, feel free to share your vision, and I'll be happy to suggest ideas!

Please note that I do ask for you to send me your location details at least one week before your scheduled shoot date.

What to Wear

Avoid matching outfits, like jeans and white shirts, as they can create a dated look. Instead, choose a unified color scheme like warm fall tones, soothing blues and neutrals, or bold colors. Coordinating within the same palette will help everyone look great together! (Rest assured, I will ensure you all shine in the final images, even if some variation occurs.)

What to Bring

For sessions with young children, I recommend bringing easy-to-eat snacks, favorite toys, and a change of clothes just in case. We can take as many breaks as needed to keep them happy and comfortable. I’ll continue capturing moments during these breaks unless asked not to.

Sample Standard Portrait Gallery: Mark and Melissa in Old Sac

Day in the Life

If you hired me for a Day in the Life session, I have only one incredibly important tip to share with you: choose some activities to engage in during your shoot! There’s only so many pictures that can realistically be taken of a family simply watching TV, but there are countless wonderful opportunities for creating fun and engaging pictures during a day spent enjoying the beautiful outdoors at the park, baking delicious cookies together in the kitchen, or joyously running and splashing through the sprinklers in the backyard.

The following page is a list of activity suggestions to get you started. Activities by no means need to be exclusive to this list, and you can choose several short activities that take 15-30 minutes each, or one long activity that will take the whole session — the sky is the limit! These are merely suggestions to inspire your creativity.

Please note that I do ask for a list of planned activities at least one week before your scheduled shoot, especially if the activities will be away from your home, so that I can plan accordingly.

What to Bring

If your Day in the Life shoot will be away from your home, I do suggest brining snacks and toys for any young kids, if that’s something you would normally do for such an outing. Otherwise, there’s nothing special you need to bring.

What to Do

Outside Activities

• Backyard Play Day

• Day at the Park or Beach

• Running Through Sprinklers

• Making Smores

• Water Balloon or Water Gun Fights

• Playing Fetch with the Dog

• A Game of Soccer or Basketball

• Sidewalk Chalk

• Blowing Bubbles or a Bubble Machine

• Family Walk

• Flying Kites

• Making Sandcastles

• Hiking

• Apple or Berry Picking

• Ice Skating

• Roller Skating, Skateboarding, or Bike Riding

• Tree Climbing

• Easter Egg Hunt

• Swimming

• A Trip to the Zoo

• Camping

• Gardening

• Go on a Picnic or Barbeque

• Wash the Car

• Get Messy! Play in the dirt, make mud pies, stomp in puddles, etc.

Sample Mini Backyard Activity: Bug Catching

Sample Day in the Life Activity: Jessica and Amias at the Zinnia Patch

Timeline of the Client Experience

Booking Confirmation

If you’re reading this, then you should have already received your booking confirmation. Congratulations! This signifies the exciting first step toward capturing your beautiful moments.

Pre-Session Consultation

The next step is to schedule a pre-session consultation as soon as possible. This meeting will help us align our visions for your upcoming session. During our consultation, we’ll review this packet and discuss important details, including the time, date, and location of your shoot. We’ll confirm which package you’ve chosen, the number of people (and any pets) involved, and whether the session will take place indoors or outdoors. This conversation gives me the opportunity to ask any questions I may have and allows you to voice any inquiries or ideas you have in mind. By the end of our discussion, we’ll both have a clear and comprehensive understanding of what your session will entail, whether it's an Event, Day in the Life, or Portrait session. I look forward to collaborating with you to create an amazing experience!

Payment

To secure your desired date, I require a small deposit at the time of booking. If you're reading this, it likely means you've already submitted your deposit with your session reservation—thank you for that! Please note that the remaining balance is due no later than one week before your scheduled shoot. For your convenience, I accept payments via Venmo and PayPal with the username @violetartichoke. If you have any questions about payment methods or anything else, feel free to reach out!

Photoshoot Day

Now it’s time for the big day! I’m excited to meet you at the time and location we've arranged, where the fun will truly begin.

For portrait sessions, we’ll work together to create beautiful images that reflect your family's unique personality. I’ll guide you into relaxed poses that allow for natural interactions, helping you feel comfortable and authentic in front of the camera. Whether it's on a favorite playground, a scenic beach, or in your own home, I’ll capture both posed moments and candid interactions that showcase the connection you share. This approach ensures that while we have some structure, the resulting photographs feel genuine and vibrant.

If you're opting for a Day in the Life shoot, expect a more spontaneous experience with little to no direction from me. My goal is to document the beauty of your everyday life as it unfolds naturally. This means capturing everything from morning routines to playtime and snack breaks, embracing the joyful chaos that comes with family life. All you need to do is plan a couple of activities, and I’ll blend into the background, capturing those candid moments that truly tell your family's story.

For event photography, whether it's a birthday celebration, baby shower, or family gathering, I will be there to document every special moment. My focus will be on capturing the joy, laughter, and meaningful interactions among your loved ones as the day progresses. I aim to preserve the essence of your celebration, allowing you to relive those cherished memories for years to come.

Throughout the session, don’t hesitate to share any ideas or special moments you want me to capture. This day is all about your family, and I’m here to showcase what makes you unique. I can’t wait to create lasting memories together, and I’m looking forward to an amazing photoshoot!

Editing & Delivery of Photos

I am committed to providing you with a beautiful selection of edited photos from your shoot. As outlined in the section below, each package includes a minimum number of fully edited images. However, I always strive to go above and beyond. If I come across additional outstanding photos from your session that truly capture the moment, I will also fully edit those images at no extra cost to you. I will also provide black and white versions of each photo upon request at no extra charge.

It’s important to note that each photography session is unique, and the final number of photos delivered may vary. My goal is to ensure you receive a beautiful collection that tells your story perfectly.

Two to three weeks after your session, I will deliver your fully edited photos to you via a Dropbox link. There will be two folders – one with high res versions of the photos, great for making large prints, and one with compressed versions of the photos great for storing on your phone, uploading to social media, and sharing with friends and family digitally.

Pricing

Copyright vs. Print Release

Copyright and print rights are essential concepts to understand regarding your photographs. Copyright refers to the legal ownership of the images, which I retain as the photographer. This means I have the exclusive right to control how the images are used, including their display or publication.

In contrast, print rights grant you, the client, permission to reproduce the images for personal use, such as printing and sharing with family and friends. You are also permitted, as stated in your contract, to post photos on social media, provided that you do not edit them and give credit to Violet Artichoke Visual Storytelling.

While you have the freedom to enjoy and display your photos, it’s important to recognize that the copyright remains with me. This ensures that I can continue to protect my creative work while you create cherished memories with your images.

Additionally, as outlined in your contract, I may use the photographs in my portfolio, on social media, and in marketing campaigns unless you request otherwise.

Contacting Me

The best way to reach me is via email at rachel@violetartichoke.com. I typically respond within 24 hours. You can also contact me through the form below.

Conclusion

Thank you for taking the time to review this welcome packet! I hope it has provided you with valuable information and insights as we prepare for our photography journey together. Your family’s story is unique and deserving of stunning visuals, and I am truly honored to be a part of it.

After our session, if you enjoy the experience and love the photos, I would greatly appreciate it if you could take a moment to leave a review on my Google Business page. You can access the page via this QR code. Your feedback not only helps my business grow but also assists other families in finding the right storyteller for their own precious moments.

I can’t wait to create beautiful memories with you!

Wishing you magic,

Rachel Wager-Smith
Family Photographer & Storyteller

rachel@violetartichoke.com