My favorite time of year for outdoor portraits is coming!

In Saratoga Springs, New York we begin shooting portrait sessions outdoors again at the beginning of May, and it is my absolute favorite time of year for portraits! Everything is starting to bloom, the colors are soft and beautiful, the trees are fluffy, and it’s not too hot out yet (so no one is sweating or red-faced in their portraits!). Plus, we can finally break out the gorgeous summer dresses and the cute little rompers and shorts for the kiddos. It is literally a dream and the spring provides the perfect backdrop for portraits - milestones and family sessions alike. 

I love this season for family portraits so much that I have already scheduled my own family’s portrait session for May! I can’t wait to capture some sweet portraits of the four of us just as the seasons are beginning to change. To be honest, I will always, always opt for spring and summer portraits over fall portraits for my own family because the colors are so much softer and they are more year-round for displaying in my home. 

Our home is filled with neutrals and blue accents, and the red and orange leaves of fall just don’t look quite right on our walls. But the muted greens, soft pinks, and whites of spring fit right in (and then of course the blues of the ocean during our time on Cape Cod every summer are perfect for our decor, too!). There’s absolutely nothing wrong with fall colors and for many families, the palette works better for their home and life! But if you’re someone who loves neutrals and pastels, springtime portraits are going to look beautiful in your home! 

If you’re like me and lean towards spring colors for your portrait session, reach out today! I have limited available dates in May and June, when the colors are soft and the weather is warm. I can’t wait to see some of my favorite faces and many new families this spring - I hope you’ll be among them.

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Beautiful & playful family portrait session in Saratoga Springs

Spring is coming - and it happens to be one of my favorite times of year for family portraits in Saratoga Springs. The light is beautiful, the grass is green, and flowers are blooming everywhere you look. In upstate New York, our outdoor portraits begin in May so that we have the most gorgeous natural backdrops. You might notice more outdoor sessions on the blog over the next few weeks, because I just love capturing family portraits outside under the sunlight and in the fresh air! 

Today, I’m sharing the beautiful Evans family. I’ve created portraits with them for many years now - since their first daughter’s first birthday, actually. It’s been so amazing to watch them grow and come into their personalities over the years. I can’t believe how big Wesley, Julia, and David are. This session took place in the fall, but it’s definitely one of my favorites in this spot. The light is always so gorgeous and the open fields give the kids plenty of places to run and play throughout our session together. I just want to say a huge thank you to Kat and her family for trusting me with another beautiful portrait session together! 

Like I said, this path is one of my favorite locations in Saratoga Springs, and it’s perfect in the hour or so before sunset! I can’t wait to bring more families here this spring when the trees start to blossom. It’s going to be so beautiful in the springtime. I can’t wait to see everything in bloom! 

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Fall family portraits with a toddler in Saratoga Springs

Daniel, Shannon, and Isla are adorable! We captured a fall family portrait session for them in Saratoga Springs. It was actually the first family portrait session with the three of them, which made it all even more exciting for me. From the start, Daniel and Shannon shared that they were thrilled to put some beautiful new canvases up on the walls of their home and to send some gifts home with Isla’s grandmother who was coming to visit from South Africa.

For their portrait session, Isla wore the most adorable pigtails and inspired me to go home and try pigtails on our daughter for the first time the very next day! She was so cute! I even loved the cute little fall dress she had on. It was adorable, and the perfect little nod to the season. As a girl mom, I have to admit I get extra excited seeing such cute outfit options! Isla was just full of pure joy, which made her so fun to photograph. She loved playing with her parents and was always excited about each of the games I played during our session, which meant we captured so many neutral moments between them all. 

Isla was full of personality and really playful. She especially enjoyed the little squeaky toys I’ve started to use to help with the toddlers… so much so that she hid one under her foot to stomp on it. That resulted in the most adorable expressions! Daniel and Shannon, thank you so much for trusting me with these beautiful family portraits. I hope that your family will treasure them forever! 

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A Generational Family Portrait Session in Saratoga Springs

I’ve photographed this family many times since Elliana was born, and we’ve now done generational portraits for both the mom’s side of the family & the dad’s side of the family, too! It is beyond special to document a family over and over, but also to be able to capture portraits of three generations together. This year’s session with Nicole’s dad and his wife took place in Saratoga Springs. We had the dreamiest light and I couldn’t be more pleased with how their generational family portrait session went. 

I absolutely loved capturing this session. Elliana and Colton’s grandparents are SO much fun and absolutely wonderful to be around. It’s clear they all have a good time when they’re together. We had lots of laughs together and the sweet and playful bond they share with their grandchildren is very apparent. Elliana and Colton loved the chance to show off their grandparents to me - and I loved capturing new portraits of the two of them, too. They’re growing so quickly! 

I am confident that everyone is going to love the heirloom album that we created from their session, and I hope they spend many hours flipping through the pages on the couch with Elli and Colton! It makes me happy to know that these portraits will be enjoyed for many years. I truly believe generational portraits are simply the best!!

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Light and airy fall family portraits with Saratoga Springs family photographer

I absolutely adored working with Lauren, Will, Charlotte, and Harrison! This was such a fun session, because it took place in one of my favorite new spots in Saratoga Springs. This little spot is just perfect with gorgeous golden light streaming through the trees before sunset. It resulted in the most glowing light for this sweet family - and how amazing do their outfits look?! 

With family sessions, you never quite know what’s going to happen with the little ones. But Lauren and Will’s kids are so sweet. Harrison loved the camera and he gave us so many adorable smiles. Charlotte enjoyed the great open field to run around and loved playing games and snuggling with her little brother. We captured some truly beautiful portraits of them and their growing personalities. 

My secret weapon for getting toddlers excited this fall has been using little squeakers like the kind that go inside of dog toys. I buy them these clear plastic squeakers in bulk, and they fit perfectly in little hands without being seen in photographs. Plus, kids have fun squeaking them and tucking them into their shoes to make them squeak while walking. This was a hit with Charlotte and really got her engaged in the session! It was so fun - and I love the natural smiles we got.

Lauren, Will, Charlotte, and Harrison: thank you so much for a beautiful session. I adored working with you all and had a great time making you laugh! You’re all so sweet and this was definitely the perfect fall portrait session! 

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Spring family portraits with Saratoga Springs Photographer

Katie and Zach are the sweetest parents. I’ve loved getting to know them over the last few years as their boys Carter and Bennett have grown up. I’ve had the joy of photographing these brothers for their milestones in my studio over the last two years and each session is better than the last. There’s some real magic that happens when a family trusts you as much as Katie and Zach trust me. 

All of my cake smash sessions include time for updating family portraits. We were all so excited about the blossoms on the stress in my favorite spot in Saratoga Springs. It’s such a short-lived season here in Saratoga, and it’s my absolute favorite time of year to photograph families.These pink blossoms just lend themselves so well to soft pastel colors in the spring! 

Katie and Zach dressed the boys in super cute blue, green and pink colors. They worked perfectly in the park! You can never go wrong with blue and white, and chambray is one of my favorite fabrics for spring and summer. You always want to aim for a mix of patterns and solids, but keep in mind not to have too many people in patterns or the outfits will be visually competing for your eye, and you won’t be able to focus on the happy subjects. Katie and Zach did a wonderful job of balancing out the patterns and solid colors for their portraits. I’m just in love with the final images! 

Katie and Zach, thank you for trusting me to capture your sweet boys again! I absolutely adore working with all of you. 

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Boho Family Portraits in a Field | Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

I've been photographing this family every year since Johnathan was a newborn. We've done portraits in every season and every stage so far, and I always look forward to our sessions together. Johnny is now 3 years old, and he’s just a joy! This year, we planned fall family portraits at one of my favorite hidden gems in Saratoga Springs.

This little spot is just beautiful this time of year. With tall grass and lots of trees, it’s a lovely quiet location for family photos with a boho vibe. The grass grows tall in this spot during the late summer/early fall, and I drive by constantly in the final weeks of summer to be sure the town hasn't mowed it yet. It's perfect for early morning sessions, especially with toddlers who are early to rise! Here, we can walk and play - even bring a small stool or box for your little ones to sit on. I seriously can’t get enough of this little gem!

Speaking of boho vibes, Kristen and Matt planned the most perfect outfits! Kristen’s dress was on point and I LOVED her hat with the this gorgeous long dress and jean jacket. Everything was perfect!! Johnny even looked adorable in his little overalls during our session too! After working with this family for the last few years, I can say I still adore watching them interact and now, seeing even more of Johnny’s personality come out in our session. Enjoy a little peek into their perfect fall family photos!

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Family portrait inspiration for spring family photos

Spring is one of my favorite time to photograph families. Everything is blooming, there’s pastel and soft colors everywhere and the weather is always so lovely. No matter what season we’re in, I’m asked about what colors or outfits families should wear to their sessions. I LOVE helping my families determine their outfits because I want them to truly love their final portraits. Here’s a few things to consider when planning your outfits for spring family photos.

What colors do you have in your home?

If your home leans towards darker and richer colors, then the fall might be better for your artwork. But if your home is filled with light neutrals and soft colors, the spring is a better fit. The softer colors outside will be the perfect complement to the decor in your home. Those are also some of the colors you should consider when planning outfits, so that when you display your portraits, they fit in naturally!

How to choose colors and patterns:

No matter when we photograph your family, the principles of outfits remain the same. You want to try to avoid matching completely with each other. Instead, lean for complimentary colors, like a pastel palette. I recommend starting with one family member’s outfits (usually mom’s) and then choosing the rest around that piece. Pull the colors to compliment for everyone else’s outfits. Try to avoid large or loud patterns.

Plan age appropriate outfits and outfits you can move in.

Remember, kids will be kids during our sessions. And we want that! So, make sure whatever you choose, they’re comfortable in. If they’re not, it will show. I’m all for special outfits for your photos, but I recommend making sure your little ones wear them at least a little bit of time before our portraits. Otherwise, choose something you know they’ll be happy in and will smile for us wearing. In fact, that goes for everyone. Make sure your entire family is comfortable and can move during our portraits. I like to have my families move, walk, and play during our time together!

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Making Memories with Grandparents & Grandkids: Extended Family Portrait Session in our Saratoga Springs Studio

Nicole and Chris are longtime clients and I've photographed their two babies and all of their milestones ever since they were born. It’s such a special gift to be able to see my clients year after year and watch their kids grow up. I absolutely adore Elli and Colton. So, when Nicole and Chris reached out about surprising his mom with a portrait session for Christmas, I was absolutely on board! Together, we planned an extended family session with Chris’s brother and his family.

The day of their session was so much fun. I loved watching Elli and Colton with their cousin, Easton. Easton and Colton are only a few days apart, so their bond is incredibly special. Extended family portraits are SO important to me because I love photographing all the relationships, especially grandparents and their grandkids. It’s so sweet. I loved watching Nicole, Chris, and their family just be together in the studio.

I also absolutely loved the colors of the outfits they chose! When planning extended family portraits, coordinating outfits can be a bit tricky. Obviously the images will wind up in multiple homes, so try to consider where they’ll be displayed as you choose your palette. Stick to a color palette of 3 or 4 total colors for everyone’s outfits. This family did a great job with that - definitely use it for inspiration! When you’re thinking about studio portraits, too, the lighter colors will photograph so beautifully!!!

Psst!! A quick update about 2022’s outdoor portrait season! This year we’re only scheduling outdoor family portraits this for May, September & October. With limited availability, I expect the calendar to fill up even faster than ever. Be sure to reach out early to reserve your spot! If you’re thinking of an outdoor session in 2022, NOW IS THE TIME TO SCHEDULE.

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Studio Family Portraits in Saratoga Springs

I truly believe that there’s no special “season” for family portraits. While it’s easy to think there might be, especially in the fall and around the holidays, there’s no magical date you have to update your family photos by. After all, aren’t your family portraits for more than just a Christmas card that will hang on your friend’s wall until January 1?

I was reminded of this when Amy’s beautiful family came to the studio this winter. We weren’t trying to capture family portraits for a Christmas card or a gift, but we were slowing down time and freezing these moments with her adorable toddler and baby. We captured their cozy cuddles, their joy, their giggles, and their dimples. We played, we laughed, and I clicked the shutter the whole time to document this stage that their family was in. Honestly, it was pure magic and these are the portraits that I know this mama is going to look back on in 5 years when her kids are tossing their backpacks on the floor, and in 15 years when they’re getting ready to head to college. These will last longer than any Christmas card, and they truly are the pieces that make up this family’s LEGACY.

That’s why I’m so happy to offer family portraits year-round in our Saratoga Springs studio. You know the weather around here is only nice for a few months a year when we can head outdoors for sessions, but these studio sessions are so timeless and cozy, too. Your family’s story deserves to be told, no matter what time of year it is.

As you can see with Benjamin and Josie, kids still grow and your family still has a story - even when the leaves aren’t starting to change to orange and red, and when the holiday decorations are tucked away for another 11 months. If family portraits are still on your to-do list at the beginning of the year, that’s 100% okay! Let’s plan for a cozy studio session together so that you can update your family’s story for the year. Family portraits always matter.

Psst!! A quick update about 2022’s outdoor portrait season! This year we’re only scheduling outdoor family portraits this for May, September & October. With limited availability, I expect the calendar to fill up even faster than ever. Be sure to reach out early to reserve your spot! If you’re thinking of an outdoor session in 2022, NOW IS THE TIME TO SCHEDULE.

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Best of 2021 Sibling Portraits

Another year has come to an end! 2021 was full of so many family and newborn portraits with my families. I loved getting to see everyone again to update their portraits. As I was starting to go through my portraits for my end of year recaps, I realized I had captured some truly beautiful moments between siblings and I decided it was worth these moments in their own blog!

Sibling portraits are so special. These relationships are meaningful and I love knowing that so many of these moments are the ones their parents love when they come in the studio. I can’t tell you how many of these images wound up as beautiful wall art or in heirloom albums to be enjoyed for years to come. It makes my heart so happy!!

Have you updated your family portraits yet this year? I’m booking studio family portraits this winter and opening my outdoor calendar through May 2022, so make sure you hit the button below and get on the books! I can’t wait to see you. Until then, enjoy some of these sweet sibling moments from 2021!

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Fun Fall Family Portraits with Brothers - Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

I can’t believe that I had another chance to work with this sweet family! I’ve been working with them since their oldest, Miles, turned one (you can see his cake smash below!). Now he’s grown so much and he’s a ton of fun. Every time I see these four, I consider myself so lucky. Over the last 4 years, we’ve had many sessions together and they’re always a great time.

We captured their most recent fall family portraits at Pitney Meadows this year - which is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for portraits! I’m loving the fact that it’s close to the studio and has provided such beautiful fall foliage for me and my families. For this session, there were lots of laughs as we explored Pitney Meadows together. The boys were so excited to play games and follow my prompts and we captured their portraits.

Looking back over their session, the portraits of Miles and his brother Oscar are some of my favorites - and I know their mom couldn’t wait to get prints and gorgeous wall art with them to hang up. They were so sweet together and I hope their relationship continues to grow like that for years to come!

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Fall Family Portraits in Saratoga Springs

I am going to miss Henri and his sweet parents SO much. This family has been with me for a few years now and it has been an honor to capture their little boy as he grows. I’ve photographed milestone portraits and annual family portraits since Henri was born, and I cannot believe he’s growing up so quickly! When Jaimie reached out about a fall family portrait session at Pitney Meadows, I was thrilled. However, she told me that they’re moving out of the area and I was immediately a bit sadder. I really will miss these three and the chance to catch up with them every year.

This year, we met at Pitney Meadows in Saratoga Springs. This is such a beautiful spot - especially in the fall! There’s such gorgeous fall colors, so vibrant around us. They had just cut the tall meadow grass but it was still the perfect spot for this family of three. Henri was able to run around as his parents played with him and enjoyed the evening. We lucked out with some super vibrant yellow trees behind us during our session - and it worked perfectly with the outfits they chose. The yellow totally matched Henri’s shirt! It was so cute!

8 Tips for a Meltdown-Free Session with Toddlers

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Family Portrait Session at Jackson's Garden in Schenectady

I’ve got another gorgeous fall session for you today! Jennifer and her beautiful family met me at Jackson’s Garden in Schenectady for their portraits this year. It was my first time set this location - another local photographer friend recommended it to me. I’m so glad we decided to go here! There were tons of gorgeous fall colors for us to play with.

Jennifer was ready to update her family portraits (and beautiful wall art) now that their little girl, Annabelle has turned 1. How cute is she with her little ponytail and first teeth coming in?! The Strange family also brought their sweet pup to our portraits and we had a lot of fun getting him to pose with the family. We captured some beautiful moments that will look perfect in an heirloom album for this family - or some stunning wall art. Picking out products with my families is almost as much fun was capturing their portraits!!

Thinking about bringing your dog to your session?

I’m all about bringing your furry family members to your session. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to make everything run a little more smoothly for all of us. Before your session, take your dog for a walk so they’re more tired during our portraits. Consider switching out your leash to a neutral color (like this family, who swapped a bright orange leash for a brown one).

Make sure you bring treats for your pet and ask a friend or family member to come be the designated dog wrangler/watcher. This ensures you can focus on your session and time together during the human portraits! ;o) I’ve worked with tons of dogs and one of my favorite ways to keep our portraits together stress-free is to work around the dog, much like I do with kids! We’ll plan to sit and stand around where your pup decides they want to be. It’s much easier that way!

Tips for a meltdown-free session with kids!

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Organic and Candid Family Portraits in a Field of Wildflowers

I love it when families come back to me year after year to capture their portraits.

This sweet family has trusted me to capture their portraits since late-2018 when Nora was 6 months old. Now she’s a big sister and three years old, and we have created so many beautiful portraits in the studio with her, her baby sister, and her big brother! This time was extra special because the whole family joined in (mom and dad, too!) for an outdoor family portrait session in Saratoga Springs.

The field close to the studio was filled with wildflowers, and we met there on a warm summer evening for a beautiful session together. In the summer we do our outdoor sessions in the evenings to capture that beautiful golden light. In the early summer the sun doesn’t set until late, so our sessions often begin around 7pm (and then they get earlier and earlier as the summer fades into fall, approaching 4:30pm in October!). Wondering how to avoid toddler meltdowns when your session is scheduled for sunset? I’ve got you covered! Check out this blog post below for tips!

This sister portrait just melts my heart! I loooooove the energy in this one, and their little sisterly bond is so joyful here. Definitely one to hang on the wall for many years to come!

Even the dog joined in their family portrait session!

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Beautiful Family Portraits in their own Backyard - Saratoga Springs Family Photographer

This was by far one of my favorite family sessions this spring! When the dad reached out to me to plan a portrait session as a Mother’s Day surprise for his wife, I knew that this was going to be an extra special session with his girls.

He told me that they “had a lot of land” and that he would love to do their session on their property to make it extra meaningful, but he was worried that they hadn’t landscaped much yet. No worries, I told him! Photographers have a knack for finding picturesque spots in the midst of something that the naked eye would think is just ordinary.

In order to make sure that we planned it for the perfect time of day when the light was most flattering, we chatted a bit about the yard, shared some cell phone pics to see how the sun sets behind the trees, and then walked around the property when I arrived to find the perfect spot. There was this one cluster of trees where the sun was setting directly behind them, and the sunlight was truly sparkling beautifully as it came through the leaves. Everything was golden, and I knew that it would be gorgeous in their photographs. Plus it had bright pops of color from a few flowering plants, and I love how it all came together as a backdrop for their portraits!

These sisters were ADORABLE and so, so good in front of the camera! We didn’t catch a single bad expression because they kept smiling and laughing the whole time! Read these tips for a meltdown-free portrait session with kids!

Don’t you just love how the light sparkles here?!?! Yeah, me too!

It’s hard to believe, but our calendar is already filling up for fall portrait sessions. If you’re planning on capturing beautiful memories like these of your family this year, now is the time to reach out and set a date for your session! I have plenty of locations in mind, and if you have a spot you’d like to try (like your own back yard!), let’s chat!

Check out these excuses to stop making for putting off your family portrait session!

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Outdoor Portraits for Adorable Sisters in Saratoga Springs

The start of spring welcomed so many beautiful family portrait sessions at some of my favorite photo shoot locations around Saratoga Springs! I truly loved seeing this sweet family again for their family portrait session in Saratoga Spa State Park. We captured so many beautiful images of their girls, and the most adorable sister portraits of the two of them together.

Now they are going to have so many gorgeous portraits to enjoy in their home, and their hallway will look amazing with their new artwork hung in frames of their two little girls!

If you’ve been putting off your family portrait session, check out these 10 excuses to stop making and schedule your portrait session this year!

Clara was all smiles, and she loved getting her turn to sit and be the star of the show! The last time I saw her was for her milestone session at the studio, and she wasn’t quite sitting up yet! Now she is an adorable toddler with so much personality, and she brought so much joy to the session!

Big sister Hannah brought all of the smiles to their sibling portraits, and some adorable sass to her individual portraits, too! She loved looking for caterpillars on the sidewalk and finding curiosities in nature at the park, and we had so much fun watching the little insects cross the path in between clicks of the camera.

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5 Tips for an Easy Sunset Portrait Session with Young Kids

As a family photographer, summertime means one thing: SUNSET SESSIONS GALORE!

I absolutely love capturing family portraits in the golden hour when the last rays of sunlight make the whole world glow. This is usually in the hour or so before sunset, and as you know, the sun goes down awfully late in the summer time! This can be so tricky with little ones, and I completely understand. My 3 year old has had a firm 7pm bedtime since he was an infant, and I know what those meltdowns look like when he gets overtired, and how quickly those meltdowns can come on, too! So I get it. I’ve been there with planning my own family portraits, and I absolutely understand your hesitation when it comes to booking a family portrait session at that coincides with your normal dinner & bedtime routine.

But I’m also here to share a few tips with you that will make it soooooo much easier for everyone, and I can promise you we’ll still capture so many smiles, laughs, and adorable moments shared between everyone in your family. Read on for more tips for an easy sunset portrait session with young children!

1. Plan on a late nap.

For the longest time, my son was religious about napping. We couldn’t skip a nap because he needed that time midday to rest and recharge. When you know you’re going to be going to bed a little later than normal, plan to bump your nap a little later in the afternoon, or if your baby is young enough, do an early nap and then a catnap later in the day, too. If you know your child will inevitably fall asleep in the car, leave a little earlier than necessary for your session and drive around while your little one sleeps in the backseat. They’ll wake up and be refreshed and ready to play!

2. Pack snacks.

Have snacks handy, because hungry kids are grumpy kids and we want to avoid that. ;o) I recommend everyone eat dinner before the session, and bring a little snack for the car in case they need it. Avoid messy foods like chocolate and juice, and opt for cheese, crackers, dry cereal, fruit, a pouch, etc. Be sure it’s a food that won’t stain their teeth and tongue. Basically, gummies and oreos are a bad idea because they will be stuck in their teeth in every. single. photo.

3. Bring their PJs and change into them when we’re all done.

This will make bedtime even easier when you get back home. Toss those pajamas in the car and they’ll be ready when we finish photographing your family.

4. Don’t underestimate the power of a bribe.

And don’t feel like you need to apologize for it, either! I know from photographing my own son just how well a bribe can work to get him to listen and smile for a short period of time, and I fully support whatever you choose and I will help get the kids excited about it during their session, too! I can’t even begin to count how many sessions we’ve talked about “So, what kind of ice cream will you have when you’re all done?” to get a little one to smile and excitedly tell me their favorite flavors, and it makes them happy to chat, smile, and interact when they have something to look forward to afterwards.

5. The most important one: relax and have fun.

This is key. If you’re stressed, the kids will sense it and they will feed off of the vibes and be unwilling to cooperate and enjoy themselves. Relax. Take a deep breath. Maybe have a glass of wine before heading out the door. Let me coax the smiles out of your children, and you just worry about loving on them and making some memories together. And you can guarantee that those cuddles and memories will be oh-so-beautifully documented for you to enjoy for many, many years!

Check out more tips for a meltdown-free session with young children!

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Springtime Motherhood Portraits with Florals and a Boho Egg Chair

I have been doing a springtime Celebrating Motherhood portrait event for as long as I can remember. It’s one of my favorite times of year to create something beautiful with lots and lots of flowers and photograph mamas just loving on their babies.

This year I went with a boho floral setup incorporating our wicker egg chair, and I absolutely loved how it photographed. It’s the perfect size for some cuddles, and it looks stunning with the white walls and giant white window in the studio. Plus, with the new (bigger!) studio, I was able to keep our egg chair setup all spring and we even incorporated it into a few other families’ portrait sessions for a shot or two here and there.

As always, neutrals are my go-to outfit recommendation in the studio. A few families did a gorgeous pop of color combined with those light neutrals, and it all came together beautifully. Scroll down for a peek at some of my favorite portraits in our boho floral egg chair prop this spring!

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9 Tips to Look your Best in your Upcoming Family Portrait Session

Your family portrait session is coming up, and you want to look your very best in portraits that will be hanging in your home for years. While it’s true that your family portrait session is really about the kids, you still want to look & feel good in photos, too! You and your kids are going to be looking back on these photos for literally decades, and I completely understand the desire to capture your very best self in portraits.

First of all, you might be feeling a little self-conscious in front of the camera. I can assure you that nearly every adult I have ever photographed is at least a little bit self-conscious when the camera comes out, but once we start your session it all melts away. We keep things light and fun with games, laughs, conversation, and plenty of tickles for the kids. By making the session all about the kids having fun, the adults are automatically more focused on the kids and less focused on what their chin looks like on camera.

But still, a few tips go a long way! Read on for tips to look and feel your best at your next family portrait session.

1. Be comfortable in your clothing.

Choose clothing that is appropriate for the weather. You don’t want to be too cold OR too hot because that discomfort will show in your smile. Opt for fabrics that feel nice against your skin. In the summertime I love flowy, lightweight fabrics on moms. Dresses and long skirts photograph especially beautifully in the warmer months. In the fall, lightweight sweaters and layers are beautiful — avoid chunky knits that add bulk to your frame. For pants, tops, and dresses, choose a cut that is flattering and comfortable to move around in, and one that doesn’t keep slipping down so that you have to adjust it every 30 seconds.

PRO TIP: Try your entire outfit on (including shoes!) at least a week before the session and wear it for an hour around the house to make sure you can sit, stand, pick up the kids, and move freely without being too restrictive or too revealing.

2. Hydrate!

Drink lots and lots of water in the week leading up to your session. Also, be sure to pay extra attention to your skin and exfoliate & moisturize. All of this together will give you a beautiful glow that radiates from within, and you are going to love your portraits!

3. Take care of yourself before you take care of the others.

I know, I know. As a mom this is such a hard thing for us to do! But I promise you that a little extra self-care the day of your session will help you be and appear more relaxed in your portraits. Consider having the kids sleep at grandma & grandpa’s the night before so that you can get yourself ready in peace. Sneak away for a blowout at your favorite salon. Leave work a little early if it’s a sunset session so you have some time to listen to your favorite music or an audiobook or podcast, and just be intentional about taking a little extra time for yourself.

THEN get everyone dressed and out the door. Plan to arrive early so you don’t feel rushed in case something causes a slight delay — potty breaks, traffic, a wrong turn. With the right mindset ahead of time, all of those are tiny little speed bumps and they won’t throw you off even a little bit.

4. Consider getting your hair & makeup done professionally.

A hair & makeup artist knows just what to accentuate and which makeups look best on camera. They know how to apply a little more for emphasis without going overboard. Every time you step out of their salon you’re going to feel amazing. If you can, set aside 1.5 hrs before the session and treat yourself!

5. Know your most flattering angles.

I will guide you during the session, but sometimes when juggling a few kids and trying to get them to stay in one spot and smile, we don’t always notice every little thing about mom or dad’s pose. It just happens! So, here are a few tips to keep in mind.

• Angle your body so that one side is slightly towards the camera, and then put your weight on the back leg. Avoid being straight on with your shoulders squared to the camera.

• Tilt your top half slightly towards the camera.

• Be sure to turn your face to the camera. If you feel like your face is hidden behind a family member’s, it probably is. Bring it out so I can see your whole beautiful face!

• Remember that I am going to ask you to get extra close to your family members, so don’t be afraid to lean in and squish those faces together.

• If it bends, bend it! Keep your arms slightly bend and away from the waist to define your waist. If you have pockets (dads!), a great way to do this is to place a hand in a pocket — I prefer just a few fingers in the pocket so your hand doesn’t look like it’s been cut off. Bend your front knee just a little for a relaxed and flattering look.

• Bring your chin out and slightly down to avoid that dreaded double chin.

6. Choose everyone’s clothing carefully.

I have sooooo many blog posts on choosing the right clothing, and every family receives a welcome packet with tips, too. Neutrals with a few pops of color are wonderful, and coordinating colors (but not matchy-matchy) is definitely the way to go. Plus, make sure every single person is comfortable in their outfit ahead of time, and don’t forget about shoes. The last thing you want is neon green light-up sneakers to stick out like a sore thumb in your classic family portrait!

7. Focus on the kids (instead of you!)

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Portrait sessions are so much easier with kids! When you’re busy making them smile and laugh, your natural smiles will come through, too. Focus on them and any worries about how you look on camera will melt away. And trust that your photographer (me!) has plenty of experience with where to stand in relation to you, where to place the kids in a way that’s flattering to you, and how to use light for the very best effect to give you absolutely stunning images.

8. Understand how Photoshop can help (and how it can’t!).

We’ve all heard that Photoshop can do amazing things. And when it comes to family portraits, I let every family know that most things that stand out to parents in their portraits can usually be clicked with just a click or two in Photoshop. Honestly, it’s usually a little more than just a click, but there are so many little things that might bother you in a photo that if they just disappeared you would love it, and oftentimes a photographer will edit those before you ever see the finished images, and it will still look perfectly natural and just like you so that you’ll never even know it was corrected.

Here are just a few. Some of these I do automatically, and others I only do if a client specifically requests it. My goal is to only remove temporary blemishes and leave any features that are more permanent unless a client requests it (i.e. scrapes and pimples are removed, but birthmarks or scars stay unless requested otherwise).

• Removing blemishes, cuts, scrapes, bug bites, nose boogies from toddler noses.

• Slimming arms and legs

• Filling in a sparse hair line

• Adjusting a neckline that may have slipped or revealed more skin than you would like.

• Removing bra straps, bra lines, panty lines.

• Fixing flyaway hairs

• Removing a stain on a shirt or piece of clothing

However, Photoshop is not a cure-all. You still need to do a little work before the session to arrive put-together. Here are things I suggest you do that will not be easily fixed in Photoshop.

• Iron your clothes and remove wrinkles ahead of time. If your child’s outfit will get wrinkled in the car seat, wait to get them dressed until you arrive at the session location.

• Remove any stains in your clothing before getting dressed that day.

• Clean your glasses lenses so they do not have any marks on them.

• Remove chipped nail polish. Have bare or freshly polished nails for your session.

• Choose your clothing and undergarments carefully and be sure they fit. We cannot fix something that is too tight or too low-cut.

• Be sure you love your clothing. Colors will not be changed in Photoshop.

Psst! I recently published a blog post with tips to look your best in your maternity portrait session! Check it out here.

9. Remember to HAVE FUN!

This is the most important part. We’re only together for about an hour, and I want these memories to be ones that you look back on and LOVE. Not ones that you look back on that stress you out. Stay calm, let me worry about getting the kids to show their personalities, and trust that I will capture their very best smiles and the most amazing cuddles that you want to remember forever.

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