Prep Guide
Family Session
Capture the Moments
Welcome to your family session prep guide! Please review the guide before your family session to help you get prepared and have an amazing session. We're so excited for it!
Tips & Guidelines
What to Wear
Outfits
- Plan your outfits. Think about colors that go well together, outfits that make sense with the location, and outfits that will give your session continuity or a nice variety.
- Avoid noticeable logos or overly busy patterns.
- Plan 1 or 2 outfits for your session and bring an extra 1 or 2 if you’re unsure. If your session is on location, outfit changes may not be possible. Plan layers and accessories to change up your look.
Accessories
- Consider details and accessories. Wear or bring hats, headbands, hair clips, jewelry, scarves, gloves, mittens, booties, and shoes.
- Wear and bring layers such as jackets, sweaters, vests, and cardigans. Layers add interest and create variety.
Details
- Don’t forget the little details. Get fresh hair cuts for your session. If you color your hair, get it freshly colored but not right before your session to avoid visible color around your hairline and on your skin.
- Get a manicure, and pedicure if you’ll be wearing sandals. Or give yourself one so your nail polish is not chipped. Make sure everyone's nails are trimmed and nicely shaped.
- Shave a few hours before your session but not right before to avoid visible irritation.
- Have your family look their best! Style your hair your favorite way, wear your makeup your favorite way, pick outfits you love how you look in, and pick your favorite outfits for your children.
- If you're buying new pieces for your outfits, try them on a few times before your session so you get comfortable in them. Make sure outfits fit children and shoes fit as well, nothing too loose or big.
Props & Pets
- Bring any props you’d like to include in your session.
- Consider a blanket to sit on, a picnic, an activity, or nice looking toys or stuffies for your children. Look for ideas and pick things that reflect you as a family.
- If you are bringing a pet ask a friend to come along to walk them or sit with them when they are not being included in the photos.
First Outfit
- Have everyone in your family come to your session in their first outfits and come with your hair and makeup done.
- For babies and young children you can plan to change them when you arrive but avoid too much fussing right before the session begins.
Preparing
- Don’t show up to your session hungry, it won’t be fun to spend time being photographed if anyone is hungry. So if you're planning to go out for dinner after your session, make sure everyone eats something light before hand too. Bring light, easy, and non-messy snacks with you too just in case. And some water, especially on hot days.
- It can be fun to make your session part of a family outing. This can get children more excited for it too. Consider planning a family dinner, an ice cream outing, time at the playground, or a walk in the park for after your session. It can be something fun to look forward to and to help keep the session moving in a positive direction!
- Do your best to make sure babies and children are well rested for your session but also not too full of cooped up energy. If you think your child might fall asleep on your way to your session, plan to get there early so they have time to wake up get comfortable with their new location.
- Arrive to your session on time and give yourself some extra time for travel so you don’t feel rushed. Look into parking ahead of time. Sometimes on really nice days parks can be pretty busy and parking can be more scarce.
- Get excited for your session, we’re going to have fun!
Planning
- If you have specific ideas for your session, we’d love to hear them!
- We love to see Pinterest boards and reference photos of specific ideas you really like.
- Also, if you’d like more guidance and advice regarding outfits and props, we’re here to help! Simply send us an email.
Get Ideas
See our family portfolio, look through our blogs, or get in touch!