you got this!


It can be intimidating and overwhelming to get ready for your big photo session. It seems fun and easy at first, then you start stressing about what to wear, if the kids are going to cooperate and if your photographer is even going to be able to get everyone looking at the camera. I'm here to tell you it's all going to be alright. I'll help you prepare and get ready to have the best photoshoot ever.


How to Dress


Choosing your attire is one of the biggest decisions of the photoshoot. The outfits can make or break our final result. To begin, you'll want to choose your color scheme. Choose a color that looks great on you. We all know that black is slenderizing and that whites and neutrals are timeless. I like to begin with those to see if the family has anything already purchased and in good shape. Fresh jeans, new khakis, something recently purchased for picture day at school or a celebration. That will help with the budget. From there, I recommend choosing one or two bold colors that you like and are in season. I'm talking deep greens, rich blues, vibrant reds, and darker yellows (gold or mustard). I'm a huge fan of jewel tones. Patterns make things more visually interesting - but one or two is plenty. For texture, think lace maxi dress, a flowy kimono, ruffles on your baby girls' dress or socks, or corduroy overalls on junior. Fuzzy sweater, leather jackets, so many options here. For family photos, make sure the colors complement one another. I recommend you go with a few solid colors, one or two patterns, and lots of texture garments to keep things visually interesting.


I have many ideas when it comes to the best outfit for each type of photo shoot. Please feel free to ask me, and I'll give you lots of tips for what to wear. I even have some tips about wear to shop to achieve certain looks.


Pro Tip : When outfit planning - start with the most important person - YOU! Let's be honest, you care about this session the most so make sure you feel great about your look.


Pinterest to the rescue! Take a look at my Pinterest boards for Family Session Outfit Inspiration:






Getting the Kids Ready


Kids are a gamble when it comes time for their photos. Young or older, doesn't matter. There's always pre-planning necessary. It's always something: they're fussy, bored, or mad about the new shoes they're wearing that make their feet hurt or an uncomfortable itchy sweater you made them wear because they look sooooo cute in it. (Just ask my kids, they always despise what I ask them to wear.) It may be tricky to get them to cooperate in their photos and we may have a tough time at first but don't despair. As a mom of four and my experience as a family photographer, I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve to diffuse tension and distract kids from whatever they thought was terrible a moment ago. That being said, there's a lot you can do ahead of time to make sure they arrive in the best mood possible.


Make sure everyone (and I mean everyone - you included) have a meal or snack ahead of session time. Hangry is real and it can be ugly. I know it's hard to eat in pretty clothes that you want to keep protected before pictures so plan for an easy to eat snack. Littles should get in a good nap before the session if possible. It' also best to keep them awake on the way to the photo session. If you're wrestling them around waking them up when they get to the location, it might take a lot of time to get them lively. You don't want a zombie in your photos. You know what it takes to make your child happy. If you have to bribe them with a promise of ice cream after the shoot, go for it! I certainly won't judge you. (At this point, I sometimes pay my kids for their cooperation in "marketing" photos since we do it so often.) If you decide to go the bribery route, I just ask that you don't threaten to take it away from them in the middle of our session if they start to lose interest and motivation. This will inevitably lead to a colossal meltdown that I'm sure you don't want documented, ha!


Even though you do all you can to get the kids ready and in a good mood, I understand that sometimes they just aren't in the mood for pictures. I'll work my magic to ensure you have great photos of the kids smiling. I know how to get them to smile and have fun even when they're having a rough day or if they're at a tricky age to sit still and follow posing directions. I promise that I have seen a lot of tantrums, melt downs, false smiles, nose picking, tongues sticking out instead of pretty smiles, and much more! I am an over shooter by nature and we will get more than enough posed, pretty shots as well as a few that show more "personality" and many of those often end up being the favorites in the years to come anyway. It's all good!


Arrive On Time


Crucial!! One of the most important parts of any photo session is arriving on time. I typically shoot at "golden hour". This is the hour after sunrise or after sunset and it has the most magical light of the day. If you're even 15 minutes late, we've wasted valuable light that we can't get back. If you arrive on time, we have plenty of time to get all the combinations, poses, and photos that we need for a great selection of pictures. This also gives us breathing time fi we need to work with the entire family to get everyone to look their best. Sometimes we need to take breaks if one of the kids is fussy or needs a quick snack or diaper change. I promise if you arrive on time, we'll capture that magical lighting that creates the perfect photos.


Occasionally I have back to back sessions. In that case, I will have to end our session at our scheduled time, even if we got a late start. Of course, I understand things happen and it's not always in our control. That's why I always recommend mapping the location ahead of time, checking for traffic issues, and arriving to the location early if possible.


Communication is Key


Communication leading up to your photo shoot is one of the most important things to maintain. If there's a specific look you're going for, whether it be posing-wise or in terms of location, tell me! Obviously I'll suggest locations I love and what will be the most flattering poses, but if you're a fan of Pinterest and want to show me screenshots or examples of poses and things you want to incorporate, please feel free to include me! I love it when my clients come prepared. It also sometimes helps me be a little more creative and think outside of the box, which can lead to some really great photos! Don't be afraid to ask questions, no matter how ridiculous they may seem. It's what I'm here for. Anything I can do to ease your mind and help you feel more comfortable and relaxed is worth it in my book!


Now here's an important tid bit : In the age of social media, some people don't want their photos posted or tagged on the internet. That's totally fine with me, just please tell me ahead of time so I know not to post a sneak peek or use your photos for marketing. I respect my client's privacy and want you to feel 100% comfortable with choosing me as your photographer.


What to Bring to Your Family Photo Session


  • Snacks and water for kids
  • Wipes for yucky faces
  • A favorite toy or rattle to get attention
  • Optional : Accessories easy to pop on or off for a variation in looks - hats, jewelry, scarves, jackets, etc.
  • Sentimental items are wonderful to incorporate in your photos. Special blankets, pictures of loved ones who have passed on, favorite lovies, anything else you may think of.


Most Importantly - DON'T STRESS


Let's face it : Family photos can be very stressful. I do my best to make the whole experience as stress-free as possible. Keep in mind, if you are stressed and rushing through things, your family is going to feed on that energy and get stressed out and grumpy too. So it's very important to go with the flow and just let the session go the way it's going to go. I adore a more natural lifestyle session anyway and I love to bring that imagery to life. Playing with your kids, tickling them, tender moments of tucking hair behind an ear, walking around the photo shoot location hand-in-hand, etc. Getting a few of the perfectly posed shots is wonderful but I also go for the in-between moments that are truer to real life. That's where the magic happens. Ultimately, we are going to get some beautiful shots of you and the people you love the most in the world that you and your family will treasure for many years to come and that's what it's all about.