Photos are pieces of your history. I’m helping you tell a story with every click of my shutter. Every day you are living in is a stepping stone of your life. Today, tomorrow, next week- the building blocks of your legacy. You can’t put a price on having a tangible memento of the everyday joyful moments to the big events. Family photo sessions are a great way for you to document not just milestone moments, but the everyday moments that we so easily forget.

One of the best pieces of advice I can give you for preparing for a family photo session is to not put so much pressure on yourself for “perfect!” My favorite sessions always include a little bit of wonder because it’s a representation of real-life and helps me capture your family dynamic. But, I work with a lot of families that do want to maximize their investment and make the most of their family session. SO, if you find yourself thinking about how to prepare for a family photo session, I’m sharing several tips below.

How To Prepare for a Family Photo Session

Let’s chat about how to prepare for a family photo session! Most family sessions are booked 6-8 weeks out. I recommend Spring, Summer and Fall. I sometimes have mini-seasons during the winter season, but find that many families are much to busy around the holidays and it can add unnecessary stress to throw a session in the mix (there are exceptions to every recommendation here, such as maternity or newborn sessions, which can be taken in your home or in my in-home studio)! That said, the sooner you can secure a date, the more time you have to prepare - scouting the perfect location (I can do this for you too), sourcing “matching” attire.

Side note- If you’re thinking of an album, you may want to consider booking several sessions over the next 12-18 months! I refer to this as my milestone collection, and you can build your album over that time period.

During our vision planning time, we’ll discuss makeup timing (usually 1 hour prior)and wardrobe selections, so that you’ll have time to coordinate everything.

I will either create a custom Pinterest board for you with wardrobe recommendations or we can meet virtually to help you select from your existing selections. Here’s a blog post to provide inspo on what to wear.

If your session will take place at home, I’ll ask that you show me the space (virtually is fine!) so that I can be prepared to make the most of our time together.

Need some family session location inspiration? I shared my favorite South Florida Photography Locations and some unconventional family photo ideas here.

NOW, let’s talk about 2-3 weeks prior to your session. If the family needs haircuts, now is the time to get those in! If you have any last minute “props” to include, especially for little hands, this is a great time to order those or put them aside in a session ‘go bag’. Also throw in a back-up outfit or two, just in case.

Of course, I’ll be here to offer support along the way, so never hesitate to ask questions!

I want you to feel clear going into our session that this is more than just an hour of time that we spend together. You and your family are important to me and I want to be sure you’re well cared for. I believe in transparency, so want to share with you what you can expect before, during and after our session, so that you not only feel prepared, but understand what I am also doing to prepare for your session (this is a team effort!).

What you can expect before, during and after our session:

• Consultation

• Proposal /Contract /Non-refundable Creative Fee

• Set date -time -location

• Questionnaire

• In Person or Virtual Wardrobe Try-On & Session Vision Planning

• Session (Yay!)

• Schedule your appointment for your In Person Design and Ordering Appointment

• In Person Design and Ordering Appointment - See your images for the first time and create your beautiful albums or framed prints

• Receive heirloom artwork and/or albums

• Enjoy everlasting family art through your treasures for tomorrow

Once all the preparation is done and session day has arrived, the fun begins! Grab your bag of goodies (remember: snacks, back-up clothing, props) and let’s get to work!

When session day arrives:

• Be On Time

• Be Open Minded

• Let Your Photographer Guide You

• Have Fun

Did you find this post on how to prepare for a family photo session helpful? If so, be sure to check out my Seasonal Family Photos post, as well as Five Reasons to Print From Your Photographer!

PS- Interested in Newborn Photography? Check out my Preparing for a Newborn Session. | Interested in Maternity Photography? Check out How to Prepare for Your Maternity Session.