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FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY
Preparation Guide
Family Photography Experience
Welcome to Your
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Book Your Family Session
Capture these moments before they pass! Family sessions fill quickly, and the sooner you reserve, the sooner we can start planning a fun, memorable experience for your family.
What to expect
ON YOUR FAMILY SESSION DAY
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Expect a bit of nerves at the start — everyone does! After 10–15 minutes, we settle in and have fun.
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The best sessions happen when parents let go of control and relax. Rather than correcting your kids, just love on them and let me step in with gentle direction. That’s the secret to happy kids and photos you’ll love!
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Have fun, laugh, smile, and keep moving! Look at your kids, smile at your spouse, and don’t worry about looking at the camera. The best family photos happen when you interact naturally with each other.
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I’ll be offering prompts and gentle direction, but feel free to take liberties with the directions I give you — you know your kids best, and I’ll go with the flow to capture playful moments that will bring back memories years from now.
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Expect the unexpected. When we don’t expect that everything will go perfectly as planned, it takes a lot of pressure off. Sometimes the most meaningful images come from unplanned moments. Embrace the chaos if it arrives — it often does — and I’ll capture the perfectly imperfect authentic moments that will provide beautiful memories for you to cherish.
Who’s Included ?
Don’t leave out any cherished family members!
If your family has a special pet, then you know they hold a truly special place in your hearts. Including them in your family photo shoot is a wonderful way to celebrate their time with you. Since their lifespan is shorter than ours, these photographs will be treasured memories of the love you share with them.
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Tips for a Fun & Successful Session
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS RESTED AND WELL FED
I highly recommend having a well-rounded meal earlier in the day, but not too close to the session time, and avoiding late nights directly before your session day. This will help avoid anyone being cranky or hangry!
PREPARE YOUR FAMILY ON WHAT TO EXPECT
Talk with your kids about what the photo session will be like. Tell them it’s going to be fun — they’ll get to play, laugh, and just be themselves! When they see you’re excited about getting awesome pictures of the whole family together, their excitement will naturally follow. I have a knack for getting along with all ages, so even a sullen teenager will almost always come around when they recognize that I want to work with them and get pictures they love.
BRING SNACKS AND SUPPLIES
Offer snacks and water directly before your session and bring some along in case anyone gets hungry. Avoid sugary-sticky treats that might stain clothing and fingers. Bring a backup outfit for little ones — spills and grass stains happen! A brush or a comb is always good to have on hand, too. Don’t forget a sweater or jacket, as the day may get cool — after all, we are in North Idaho and the weather is always changing!
LETS THE KIDS BE THEMSELVES!
The best sessions happen when parents relax and have fun. Rather than correcting your kids, just love on them and let me step in with gentle direction.
What To Wear?
Deciding what to wear for your family photo session can be HARD, so I’ve put together a few helpful tips for you!
Think about location and season
Consider the location and time of year or the vibe you’re going for. Forests or fields? Neutral colors that complement the environment are always a good choice. Warm colors like rust, mustard, cream, tan, and burgundy are great for autumn. Spring or early summer? Try lighter pastels like cream, white, gray, muted greens, blues, pinks, and purples.
Think about your home
What color scheme is your home? Neutral colors are classic and can go with anything.
Dress a little nicer
While your outfits don’t need to be fancy, make sure you look a little nicer than everyday sweatpants or ripped jeans. Make sure everyone is dressed as if attending the same event. If everyone is headed to a barbecue except your daughter, who looks like she’s going to prom, the styles won’t look very cohesive.
Choose outfits that are comfortable
Wear what feels good and makes you confident. Avoid clothes that are too tight or too loose — tight clothes can highlight areas you don’t want highlighted, and loose clothes can make you appear heavier than you are. Don’t dress kids (or dad!) in scratchy, itchy clothes — they won’t be happy, and it will show in the pictures.
