How to prepare for your family session | How do you get ready for a family session? | Missouri family photographer

One of the biggest questions I get from clients is, “How do we prepare for our session?” That’s a totally valid question! Between outfits, getting everybody prepared, and actually getting to your session, there can be a lot to think about. Does this sound like you? I’m here to help!! Below, I’m sharing how to prepare for your family session so that we can have the best time taking your photos. Don’t forget to snag my free guide, tips for how to prepare for your family session! 

What kinds of outfits should we wear? How do we plan that?

There are two main ways I help my clients with their outfits for their session. The first is that I send a guide that goes over what you should keep in mind when selecting your wardrobe. The second is Style & Select. Style & Select is a great tool to help you see what your outfits will look like together before buying anything! I have a blog post + YouTube video all about how to use Style & Select here. 

If you’re looking for some suggestions to keep in mind when selecting your pieces, neutrals such as blush, tans, light pinks, faint blues and teals, creams, grays and whites will always result in more of a light and airy look to your images. These colors photograph softer and more romantically! Dresses are a great option if you’re looking for a more feminine look, especially long flowing maxi dresses. It is best to avoid patterns that are smaller than a dime because they cause strange visual effects in a digital camera. For guys, close-toed shoes photograph well, and I’d avoid graphic tees and tennis shoes. 

Remember, the ultimate goal is to coordinate, not match. Mom, select your outfit first, and then work on helping your family with their choices. 🙂 

What about the kids? 

If they are younger than 2, I recommend arriving a little early and changing them in the car to avoid any spills/stains and wrinkles from the car seat. Talk to them about what we are going to be doing beforehand and give them as much prep as you can. I am a stranger and that can take some getting used to for the little ones. I have a dinosaur that goes around my camera lens to try to get them interested in looking. And, if you’re okay with it, I bring fruit snacks and smarties to bribe them (for lack of a better term) into liking me for a bit. 

But mostly, kids like to have fun, and that’s what I want your session to be. I work with the little ones to get their cooperation. So if they need a break for a bit, we do some of just mom and dad, or if there is more than one child, a few individuals of the others. There’s always a list of photos I want to capture in my head, but never in any certain order. It all depends on building that trust with them when you all first arrive for your session. 

A couple extra tips on how to prepare for your family session:

1. If we have to walk a bit to get to the location, and you’ve selected heels for your outfit, I suggest bringing another pair of shoes that are more comfortable to walk in while we get to the location. Or if we are moving between a couple locations. 
2. Don’t be afraid to splurge on hair and makeup if that is your thing! Getting your photos taken is not always an everyday experience, and we should make it fun! 
3. And lastly, take a deep breath and enjoy the experience. Your family takes their cues from you, so if you’re relaxed and having fun, they will be too! 

I hope this was helpful for you! If you’d like for me to capture your family memories, I’d love for you to contact me HERE! 

Want to get in touch?

I hope this helps you with how to prepare for your family session. I am so excited you found me! Just so you to know your email is going to make my day, and I’ll probably do a little happy dance when it hits my inbox. I love email because it helps me keep all our important conversations in one place versus spreading the conversation out over email, text, Instagram DMs, Facebook Messenger, Snapchat, etc. You can expect to hear from me within 24 hours. You can contact me here, or just shoot me an email at kelsey@kelseyalumbaugh.com

 

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