Choosing a studio
When selecting a studio to photograph your child or family, it is essential to find one that understands children and is willing to spend the time it takes to capture you child's personality. At Party Crashers Photography, we set aside plenty of time to insure that our staff will be able to make your experience one that is memorable and fun for you and your child.We found  most children, no matter what their ages, have their own quirks, cute behaviors, talents and character traits that make them the wonderful little individuals you cherish. Our job is to seize those moments when they're just being themselves.

Scheduling a session
Scheduling a session is easy. Simply call us (952-368-1941) and our experienced staff will answer all your questions and set up the perfect session for you and your family. Our goal is to make your experience as fun and effortless as possible.

Times of your child's life
One commonly asked question is "when is a good time to have a portrait created?". Some parents want to capture children at certain times in their lives. Typically, these are newborn, three-month, six-month, nine-month, one year, 18 month, two-years, three years... This schedule documents your child's changes as he or she grows. A newborn portrait shows how small and delicate your baby is within the first two weeks of life. (Many times this session is done at the client's home.) From the stage of crawling to walking and all those milestones in between, time is relatively short. Those brief and precious days when changes occur are so important to document.

Studio hours
Tuesday through Thursday 8:00am - 4:00pm                                                        Friday 8:00am - 2:00pm                                                                                Saturday 8:00am - Noon                                                                               Sunday and Monday the studio is closed.

Best time of day for your session
Bright little faces and cooperative attitudes usually occur most often in the morning. You, of course, know your child's personality and nap schedule best so it is helpful to schedule accordingly. Things to keep in mind: Does your child sleep through the night? What time does she wake-up in the morning? Does she take a nap? Try to schedule your session as early in the day as possible.  Also, it is best not to schedule a session within two days after a doctor or dental appointments.  Sessions after 5:00pm are not recommended for children.  They are usually tired and not at their best. The only exception to this is outdoor location sessions where the child's full cooperation is usually not necessary.  Our staff will gladly help you in selecting a time and day that works best for you and your child.

Type of session
You may select a session photographed in color or black and white or you may choose a session in both color and black and white. If you know that your child's attention span is short, or that she is easily distracted, it is probably best to choose either color or black and white so that the time factor will not be a concern. We have many special sessions available, one or more of which may suit your child' interests perfectly. If he love animals, a bunny or puppy session would bring natural smiles and marvelous interactions. For children who love nature, the Kelley Farm, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum or a winter outdoor session is highly recommended. For more great ideas and suggestions, see our Calendar, Portfolio or Calling Plan sections.

Who should be included
There are several factors to consider when deciding whom to include in your session. Most of the time when your children's portraits are created, the session will be comprised of both group and individual shots. Sometimes it makes each child feel special to do a session with them alone - brothers or sisters not allowed. Other times, a group portrait can include your immediate family, or add grandmas and grandpas for added fun and special memories. Photographing extended family groups can be a meaningful way to document the way families grow in size and happiness. As you add people, the focus of your session will change so you must consider the "dynamics". Contemplate your "list" of photos and then consider whether or not certain family members will be able to last through all the different groupings you think you would like. Children particularly may not have the staying power necessary to complete the session on a happy note. Good planning between you and the studio on a large group achieves the best results.

Getting ready for your session
O.K. you've booked your session time and date. You have decided who is going to be there. Now what? Obviously, you want everyone to look his or her best. The following hints will be helpful to consider.

Selecting clothing
Select clothing that you like. Choose colors that go in your home. Solid colors or clothing with simple patterns usually work best. Avoid clothing that has large logos or do not fit properly. We like bare feet, especially with children. However, if you prefer to have your child wearing shoes, make sure they are new and unscuffed. Most children's sessions almost always allow time for a change of clothing during the session. Feel free to discuss your ideas with us. When doing several children, colors and patterns should coordinate.

Hair
If hair needs trimming, it is best to have it done one week before the session. Experimenting with new hairstyles just before your session is not recommended.

Make-up
Sometimes make-up may be desired to hide a small scratch on a face, or light bruise that may show. Because children's complexions usually do not require touching up, the rule of thumb is use make-up sparingly. The natural look is best.

Props from home
A favorite stuffed toy, grandma's heirloom quilt, a little rocking chair handcrafted by great-grandpa, or even your little one grinning gleefully wearing dadıs old basketball jersey are among the items you could bring from home that add a more meaningful dimension to your session.

What/Who to bring to the session
We suggest that you bring an extra outfit just in case. Also, grooming items such as brushes, combs, hair spray, and make-up will come in handy. Snacks, (bottles for the little ones) and anything that may make your child happy such as a favorite toy or doll help keep a good attitude going.

If you are bringing several children, you may find that it is beneficial to bring a helper or two who can assist with clothing and hair. In most cases, our staff will supervise the children once the session starts. If a child is apprehensive around strangers, bring a person who works well with the child that the child will not cling to. Introducing extra people into a session can sometimes distract children, so select accordingly.

The day before your session
Everyone is usually filled with anticipation the day prior to being photographed. If a child is old enough to understand what is going to take place, one of two things may occur: excitement at the possibility of a new place and a fun thing to do, or a nervousness due to not knowing what to expect. Talking about what will occur and answering your child's questions will help to encourage participation and allay fears.  Ensure that everyone gets a proper nights sleep. When a child or parent has slept poorly, it will usually show in the photographs.

Talking to your child about the session
An upbeat attitude when imparting information about the photo session will infuse a child with a very positive feeling that this is something she will enjoy and can look forward to. Bribes of food or toys to encourage a child to come to a session are not recommended Likewise "putting your foot down" will not yield good results if a child feels he is being dragged against his will to a place or activity.

Illness
If your child is ill, please notify the studio as soon as you can. A sick child will not enjoy herself and it will show in your photographs. We prefer that the experience be a happy, healthy one for all concerned. Rescheduling your session is not a problem. Please see our Policy section for details.

When should we arrive?
The recommended time of arrival is at the time your session was scheduled. It is not usually necessary to arrive early because we allow enough time between sessions not only to take the photographs, but also to get "settled in" before the session starts and gather up everything after your session is completed. Our primary concern is that the experience be as relaxed, comfortable and fun for everyone as possible. However, if you know that there is a problem of some type that will cause you to be late, a phone call to the studio to indicate your approximate time of arrival is requested.

How much time should I plan for?
We will spend as much time as is needed to create a variety of images that you select from. We allow time for everyone to come into the studio and relax, talk to the photographer, and change clothing before beginning your session. Once the the photographer feels your children are comfortable and ready to be photographed, our staff works very quickly moving from one shot to the next. Children can become tired and bored if the session takes too long. Studio sessions generally last under 30 minutes, but plan on spending one hour from the time you arrive until the time you leave.

Meeting with your photographer
As everyone is preparing for the session, your photographer will sit down with you and discuss what you are looking for, look at the type of clothing you brought and make a recommendation if necessary, confirm the type of session, get to know your children and other family members who will be participating and answer any questions you may have regarding your session.

Proofs ready
Your proofs will be ready for pick-up within two weeks after your session. (Note: Your proofs may take longer if a major holiday is within the two weeks following your session.) You will be notified by phone when they are available for pick-up.

Picking up proofs
After you have been notified that your proofs are ready for pick-up, please stop by the studio during regular businesses hours. The helpful information we need to impart to you only takes about 5 minutes so please allow for a little time when you come by. You will be required to leave a security deposit for the value of the proofs.

Taking my proofs home
After you leave the studio with your proofs, you will have two weeks to look at them at home and decide which of them you would like to have printed. Most sessions require a minimum order of $200.00. If additional families were added to your session, or it was a large group family session, your minimum order will be higher. You will have received this information prior to your session, but if you are unsure of what your minimum order is, check the last few lines at the bottom of your session confirmation form for the correct amount.

Selecting finished prints
When you are ready to place your order, simply call the studio to make an appointment with one of our helpful staff. They can aid you in your decisions regarding size of prints, explain the different black and white printing processes or help you order prints to be framed, among other things. It is also helpful to see framed examples that we display on the walls in our studio, to give you ideas of which size to order for wall portraits and what your finished product might look like. If you do not require any help or do not have any questions regarding how your proofs will be cropped, you may mail in or fax your order along with your credit card number or check so that a deposit or payment may be made to start the print process. We can not take any orders over the phone.