What to Expect: A Shoot With Hannah, Step by Step

Short answer: first contact, a relaxed get-to-know-you chat, working out ideas together, agreeing on a date and location, the shoot itself, and at the end your own photo selection in an online gallery. Six steps, no form-filling stress in between. Here's a bit more detail on how that actually plays out, step by step, exactly as I do it with every couple and every individual.

1. First contact

Most people write to me via Instagram DM, TikTok, email, or the contact form on the website. I usually reply the same day — it matters to me that you're not waiting days for a response while the excitement is already building.

You don't need to know all the details yet — even a vague message like "I'm thinking about a shoot but not sure what kind" is a completely normal, good place to start.

2. A relaxed hello, no form stress

Instead of a dry questionnaire, there's just an easy back and forth. We figure out what kind of shoot you have in mind, for what occasion, and what matters most to you about it. It feels more like chatting with someone you know than filling out a commission form.

This is also where I clarify practical things like the deposit, so there are no surprises later — more on that in my frequently asked questions.

3. Inspiration, poses, and — if you'd like — a shared board

I'm happy to send you a few example photos and pose ideas that match what you're picturing. If it helps, we set up a small Pinterest board together, so we're both genuinely picturing the same look before we even start.

Outfits belong in this step too — I've written a separate outfit guide, which is usually what I link at this point.

4. Setting the date and location

We agree on the date, time and place together — the time is usually chosen with golden hour in mind, more on that in my article about golden hour. If you don't have a location in mind yet, I'm happy to suggest one of my favourite spots.

If the weather doesn't cooperate on the day, that's no problem at all: dates can be rescheduled free of charge if the weather is bad, so there's nothing to worry about.

5. The shoot itself

Totally relaxed, no pressure. You don't need any experience — I'll tell you where to go and what to do, and I mostly photograph what happens in between: the real moments, not the posed ones.

For the easiest way to relax during this part, I've gathered five concrete tips in a separate article on having a relaxed shoot.

6. Selection and editing

After the shoot you get every single photo in a simple online gallery, where you can take your time picking your favourites. The images in there are only base-optimised at first; the final, careful edit in my warm, natural style then goes to exactly the photos you selected. What happens after that — editing time, delivery, reordering — I explain in detail in my article "What Happens After the Shoot?".

One thread running through all six steps

What matters to me at every single step: you should never feel rushed or left on your own, from the first message right through to the finished gallery. That's exactly why I build in buffer time and personal touches wherever I can, instead of pushing you through rigid forms and fixed procedures.

Related: What happens after the shoot? · Outfit guide for your photo shoot · 5 tips for a relaxed couple shoot

– Hannah