Preparing for your family photo session
Tips for a stress free family photo session:
It’s time to capture the love, connection, and beautifully chaotic magic that makes your family yours. To keep things fun and stress-free, here are a few tips to help you prepare for your session.
What to Wear
What you wear sets the tone for your photos, so comfort and confidence are key. Choose outfits that feel like you and allow everyone to move, play, cuddle, and have fun comfortably. Coordinating colors and styles photographs much more naturally than matching outfits, so think complementary tones instead of identical looks. It’s best to avoid large logos, text, and busy graphics, while soft knits, linens, flowy dresses, cozy sweaters, collared shirts, and layered textures always photograph beautifully.
Letting kids be part of the process helps them feel valued, included, and excited for the session. Giving them a few parent-approved outfit choices can make getting dressed feel fun instead of a battle — and that’s a win for everyone!
Before session day, try everything on — especially for little ones. Let the kids run, jump, sit, and be picked up. If something pinches, rides up, or causes complaints at home, it will definitely make an appearance during the session too. Also keep your location in mind when choosing outfits. Beach sessions can get sandy and wet, while park or urban sessions may involve more movement and exploring.
If you’re planning hair trims I recommend scheduling those about two weeks before your session so everything looks natural and settled in. Nails are best done within the week before your appointment. And moms — this is your reminder that you deserve to feel amazing too.
Preparing Children
Kids do best when the session feels fun and pressure-free. A few days beforehand, talk about it like a special family adventure rather than an event where they need to “behave.” Let them know you’ll be playing, exploring, laughing, cuddling, and spending time together. When kids feel relaxed and know there’s no pressure to be perfect, the session becomes so much easier for everyone involved.
Choosing the Right Time & Location
Your session location helps tell your family’s story. Whether we’re shooting in my studio, your home, the beach, a favorite park, downtown, or even your swimming pool, the best location is one where your family feels comfortable and connected.
For outdoor sessions, early morning or late afternoon usually gives us the most beautiful light. That said, your family’s natural rhythm matters even more. Planning around naps, snack times, and the hours everyone tends to be happiest makes a huge difference. Happy kids and relaxed parents will always photograph better than forcing the “perfect” time.
A Relaxed Mindset = Beautiful Photos
The best photos rarely happen when everyone is staring perfectly at the camera. The real magic usually lives in the in-between moments — laughing together, fixing little curls, cuddling close, chasing your kids barefoot, or the way your child instinctively reaches for your hand.
Trust the process and let go of perfection. Your energy sets the tone more than any pose ever will. The more relaxed and present you are, the more genuine and meaningful your photos become.
The Day Before
The day before your session, drink plenty of water, eat well, avoid too much salt, and try to get a good night’s sleep. Have outfits steamed, pressed, and ready to go so you’re not scrambling at the last minute. A little preparation beforehand helps everyone feel calmer and more confident on session day.
Session Day Tips
On the day of your session, talk about it like it’s a fun outing or play date. Arriving with a little extra time — even just ten minutes — helps everyone settle in relaxed instead of rushed.
Bring water, non-messy snacks, wipes, and any quick touch-up items like a hairbrush or lipstick. For outdoor sessions, a small towel for shoes or sandy feet is always helpful. If your child has a favorite lovey or comfort item, absolutely bring it along. Sometimes those comfort items become part of the sweetest moments, and occasionally they even get promoted to be my assistant for the day.
Most importantly, let me take the lead. I’ll guide posing, groupings, and pacing so you can focus on simply being present with your family instead of worrying about the details.
My goal is for your session to feel easy and genuinely fun — with beautiful images and happy memories tied to the experience. Bonus points if you celebrate afterward with ice cream, pizza, or family movie night. It makes the experience even sweeter.
I can’t wait to create something beautiful with your family and capture all of your love, personality, and connection. If you’re ready to plan your session or have any questions at all, reach out anytime. Let’s make some memories you’ll treasure for years to come.