The Complete Checklist for Family Photo Shoots

What to do before your photography session

Make hair, nail and or makeup appointments for before your photoshoot. Touch up your roots and check that your nail polish isn’t chipped.
Plan your outfits at least one week in advance- there is nothing worse than putting on your outfit or your kids outfit and something has a stain, tear, or just simply doesn’t fit! Also, you want to wake up feeling relaxed nd prepared, so plan these details out in advance. If you are having troubles deciding what outfits to put together, feel free to reach out to me via email with photos of your outfits.
Keep your kids updated by preparing them with laid-back, low-key references to let them know whats happening. Examples of this would be, “we will be hanging out with our friend Ashley on Saturday!” Keep it light hearted and fun. Moms with shy childs shared this tip with me and it seems to work really well for them!
Brainstorm any specific props, mementos, or special images you want captured and communicate that with me.
Review all the email and communicates I have sent you such as blog posts and the session guide. These are all very important and are full of tips and information that is useful!
Get a great night sleep and a good meal before the session!

Dress for the weather! There is nothing worse than being too cold or too hot or uncomfortable for your session!
Don’t wear matching clothes- we say coordinate- don’t match. Wear colors in a complimentary color palette such as earth tones and neutrals
Avoid t-shirts, tennis shoes, or shirts with writing on them
Be cautious of undergarments. Although I am very experienced with Photoshop, editing out bra straps or panty lines is difficult and time consuming and could cost extra. Choose clothes that properly cover your undergarments in any pose or angle.
Try a dress! When women wear medium or long dresses instead of pants it captures movement and generally photograph in a more flattering way. Be cautious of short dresses as they may be a challenge if we do any seated photos.
Wear comfortable shoes and clothes you can move easily in. Avoid short dresses that show too much when you bend over and jeans that are too tight when you sit down. Be prepared to move around!
Dress up with Accessories! Bowties, suspenders, flower headbands, hats, chunk scarves, these all create visual interest and movement in your photos.
Remind the guys to take bulky items like cell phones, wallets and car keys out of their pockets

Any touchup items such as lipstick or a hairbrush.
Snacks and treats to bribe kiddos with! With that said, try not to tell the kids about the treats before the session as sometimes they will hyperfocus on that. It’s best to wait until we need to pull out the snack card! Chose snacks and treats that aren’t too chewy and won’t stain fingers and lips.
Bring a pair of walkable shoes. We might be walking a short distance on unpaved trails possibly with some hills so walkable shoes are a most.
A change of clothes for the kids, just in case anyone gets dirty. I love when kids can interact with their surroundings but that means they may get a little dirty. Just in case you don’t want them getting in the care dirty it might be a great idea to bring a change of clothes for after the shoot! Maybe even a towel!
A beer! Just kidding, kind of. But seriously if a beer with loosen up the hubby and keep him happy, I totally support it!

There is no need to say cheese! I am loud and abnoxious and my goal is to get those real smiles and laughs out of your little ones. Older children around 5-10 will still try to say cheese because that is what they have been conditioned to do, so help me create more natural smiles by interacting playfully with your children.
Laugh, play, tickle and snuggle. This is how we capture those real, unfiltered moments!
I will get different poses such as everyone looking at the camera, but it is also ok if someone is not. Sometimes I will encourage dads to not look at the camera but rather focus on their spouse or children.
When in doubt, just smile and look at your family in a lovingly way!
Get close, and I mean super close! The closer the better!
Just relax and enjoy the moment. Don’t feel pressured to make everything perfect. Just enjoy the memory that is being made and be playful and loving!
Expect me to capture different angles by moving to different spots. The more variety we get the bigger your gallery is and the more memories we are capturing!

This is the part where you get to leave it all up to me! I will be working busy behind the scenes to cull the best photos (elimating duplicates, blurs, and blinky photos) Your gallery is typically ready within 2 weeks, but during busier seasons such as fall you can expect them within 3 weeks.
Depending on your package you will receive a watermarked proofing gallery so you can select your favorite images to keep, or upgrade your package to receive them all. If your package included the unlimited gallery, you will receive instructions on how to download them.
Gather inspiration online for ideas about wall gallery displays. There are a ton of beautiful ideas for every style and budget. If you choose, you can conveniently order high quality prints, framed photos and canvases from your proof gallery link!

And there you have it, my Complete Checklist for preparing for your family photo session!