Top 10 Tips to Rock your Photo Session!

Top 10 tips to rock your photo session.

Hi and welcome to the blog! Today I wanted to share my top ten tips to help you rock your family photo session!

1) Choose a time that works for your family. 

When it comes to scheduling a time, I usually offer two different options. A morning session or an evening session. Morning sessions are great for families with younger children. In my experience, children are usually happier in the morning hours and tend to handle a photo session at that time of the day better. Evening sessions generally occur between 1-2 hours before sunset and are great for families with older children, and teenagers. We call this golden hour and the light is gorgeous and super flattering! When choosing your time I always recommend that children are well rested and fed before the session, we also want to make sure we do not schedule the session during any normal nap times.

2) Think outside the box when choosing your location

The location for your photo session is completely up to you! A lot of my clients love to showcase the natural beauty of the PNW. My general recommendation for any location is that it is an open, outdoor space. There are so many wonderful spaces to choose from and if you’re unsure of where to go I have a lot of great options to recommend, but don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Brainstorm a few unique places that you have access to, like a private estate, or a family ranch. Is there a park you enjoy going to together? Or somewhere that is meaningful to your family? 

3) Coordinate outfits but don’t match them.

I generally recommend picking one parent’s outfit first and then coordinating the rest of the outfits around that. I always recommend avoiding any characters, large letters, or logos on clothing as those tend to date the photos. Bright, neon colors tend to color cast and can be super distracting. As a people-centered photographer, my main focus is highlighting you and your loved ones. I’ll be making an entire blog post about how to dress for photoshoot success soon. Stay tuned!

4) Skip the spray tan

I know that seems counterintuitive but spray tans tend to make the skin look orange on camera.

5) Bring an Activity

Photo sessions are a great time to document your family. Each family is unique so if there is an activity you all like doing together I recommend bringing it so we can incorporate it somehow. From reading a book, tea parties, or dance parties. It’ll help warm the kids up and create some genuine moments for me to capture. If you don’t have an activity planned, no worries! I have tons of tricks, small games, and prompts up my sleeve to help create genuine moments. 

6) Prepare your children

Let them know how important this photo session is to you. Give them the details in advance, involve them in picking out the outfits (if they’re interested), and let them know it will be fun! It helps if the kids have full bellies and are well rested before the session. I recommend bringing a few extra snacks, water, and a small favorite toy or book in case the need a short break during the session.

7) Give yourself (and them) some grace

I’ve never, ever, ever had a ‘perfect’ photo session. What’s perfect anyway? If the kids are in a mood, please rest assured that I’m not judging you or them. I’ve got a lot of experience working with children and have a few tricks up my sleeve to make sure we get great photos. 

8) Fill out the questionnaire 

I send out a questionnaire before each session. The questionnaire serves as an ice breaker and gives me some insight into your family so I can make a quick connection at the beginning of our photo session. It’s also a great place to put any special concerns or family dynamics I should be aware of before our session. 

9) Don’t forget the pets! 

I LOVE when my clients bring their pets. And definitely think they should be included in your family session. I do recommend that when bringing pets if it's possible, to bring an extra person along to hang out with your pet for parts of the session that they're not in.

10) Plan a special treat or activity for after your session

You’re all dressed up and looking gorgeous! I recommend going out for a special treat, dinner, or activity afterward to celebrate.

Are you interested in booking a family photo session with me? Feel free to fill out the contact sheet down below so we can get your session on the calendar!