How To Be Prepared For Your Photo Session| A Complete Guide

A great photo session is a team effort. A little preparation beforehand can make the day less stressful, help everyone feel more comfortable, and ultimately give you better photos.

I've put together a list of things you can do to prepare, what you may want to bring along, and a few things that are better left at home.

KEEP AN EYE ON THE WEATHER

Weather is unpredictable, especially when you're planning an outdoor session. I'll be keeping an eye on the forecast leading up to your session, but if the weather looks questionable, we'll communicate and decide what makes the most sense.

Sometimes that means rescheduling. Sometimes we change locations. And sometimes we embrace it, grab an umbrella, and make the rain part of the session!

Don't stress about the forecast too early. Weather changes, and we'll figure it out together.

HAVE YOUR OUTFITS READY

Try to have everyone's outfits picked out and ready at least a day before your session. It eliminates one more thing to worry about while you're trying to get everyone out the door.

Most importantly, make sure everyone is comfortable in what they're wearing, especially the kiddos. Comfortable kids make fantastic photos!

Need help coordinating everyone? Check out my complete Family Style Guide: What To Wear To Your Family Photo Session.

EAT & SLEEP BEFORE YOUR SESSION

I can't stress this enough.

If possible, avoid scheduling your session during your child's normal nap time. A quick nap in the car on the way isn't quite the same as their normal routine. Being woken up, taken somewhere unfamiliar, and immediately introduced to a stranger holding a giant black eye (my camera) can be a recipe for overstimulation. Also, please don't show up with empty stomachs. It is nearly impossible to get genuine smiles from hangry people, especially children and dads. Everyone will be more focused and energized if they've had a chance to eat and rest beforehand.

PRO TIP: Eat before putting on your session outfits. Because somehow that's exactly when someone spills something.

BATHROOM BEFORE YOU LEAVE

Make sure the whole family uses the restroom before heading to your session. Depending on

the location of your session, a bathroom may not be available. If you have little ones in diapers, give them a fresh diaper before you leave AND when you arrive.

PRO TIP: If your child is wearing a dress, consider a diaper cover underneath. For shirts and bottoms, a onesie tucked underneath can help keep their diaper covered while we're sitting, playing, being tossed in the air, or hanging upside down. It may seem like a tiny detail, but it's much easier to cover the diaper beforehand than TRY to edit it out of a whole gallery later.

PLEASE, PLEASE BE ON TIME

I know this probably seems like a given, but your session start time matters more than you might realize.

Outdoor sessions are scheduled around the best available light. If we're planning for that

beautiful golden hour glow and you arrive late, we may lose the light we were counting on. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to make the sun wait for us yet. This is especially important for Mini Sessions, when several families may be scheduled back to back. Arriving late can cut into your own session time, and I can't extend your session into the next family's time slot.

Believe me, I was born late. I get it. Life happens. Kids have meltdowns, somebody can't find a shoe, and somehow that's always the day traffic decides to be terrible. If you're running late, the best thing you can do is communicate with me as soon as possible. Depending on the light, how late we're running, and the type of session you've booked, we may need to adjust our plans or reschedule. I promise it's not personal. I want your photos to be beautiful too, and sometimes continuing when we've lost the light or your scheduled time simply isn't the best option.

WHAT TO BRING TO YOUR PHOTO SESSION

You don't need to pack your entire house, but a tote or backpack with a few essentials can save the day, especially when kids are involved.

1. Snacks, snacks, and more snacks. And, if necessary, a few treats to bribe the kiddos with.

PRO TIP: Don't tell the kids about the treats beforehand. Otherwise, that's all you'll hear about for the entire session. Welcome to meltdown city. Wait until they're getting tired and over the session before you pull the treat card. They usually perk right up! Just make sure whatever you bring won't stain fingers, clothes, lips, or teeth.

2. Your child's favorite toy or comfort item. Having something familiar can help your child feel safe and comfortable with a new person. It also gives me something to bond with them over and can help grab their attention when needed. This one is completely up to you because there is a very good chance your child will want their favorite item in the photos once it comes out.

PRO TIP: Don't bring too many toys. Too many choices can quickly become distracting or overwhelming. One or two favorites are plenty.

3. Any props or special items you want to include. This could be a blanket, sign, photo, sentimental item, or something related to your family's interests. For a Senior Session, maybe it's a baseball glove, instrument, uniform, or something connected to a hobby. Just be sure to run any planned props by me beforehand so we can work them into the session.

4. Comfortable walking shoes. If your photo shoes aren't exactly made for exploring, bring comfortable shoes to get from point A to point B. You can swap into the cute ones when we're ready to shoot.

5. Wet wipes. If you have kids of almost any age, just bring them. Trust me.

6. Extra clothes. Depending on your session type, consider bringing an extra outfit for the kids and possibly yourselves. Spills, dirt, mud and water happen.

7. Bug spray. For outdoor sessions, I recommend bringing bug spray and applying it when you arrive. No need to let the mosquitoes enjoy your session too.

8. Water, formula or milk. Bring water for everyone and whatever your little ones may need during or immediately after the session.

9. Touch up makeup and a small mirror. If you're wearing makeup, it doesn't hurt to have a few things available for touch ups. This is California. It gets HOT! PRO TIP: Dab, dab, dab. Don't rub.

10. Towels and a plastic bag if we're near water. If there's water at your location, throw a couple of towels and a plastic bag into the car just in case. Hopefully we don't need them. If we do, you'll be glad they're there.

11. Grab that diaper bag! If you're still in the diaper bag stage, bring it. Diapers, wipes, changing supplies, extra clothes, snacks, bottles...basically half this list is probably already hiding in there anyway.

WHAT TO DITCH DURING YOUR PHOTO SESSION

A few things are better left at home, in the car, or tucked safely into the bag you brought with you. Empty those pockets.

1. Gum. Just ditch it before we start. Nobody wants to discover halfway through the gallery that someone was chewing gum in every photo.

2. Hair ties around your wrist. They're incredibly easy to forget about and incredibly noticeable once you see them in photos. Toss them in your bag or pocket before we start.

3. Forward facing ball caps. Ball caps can create harsh shadows across the face and eyes and limit our posing options. That doesn't mean all hats are off limits! Cowboy hats, sunhats, wide brim hats, and other hats that are intentionally part of your outfit can look great.

4. Cell phones in ANY pocket. Do you want a square butt? Because this is how you get a square butt.

And yes, Dads, I'm looking at those front pockets too. Phones are surprisingly obvious through clothing, so toss them in your bag while we're shooting.

5. Keys and bulky wallets. Take keys out of pockets and off waistbands, and remove bulky wallets or anything else creating weird lumps under your clothes. Put them in the bag you brought along and forget about them until we're done.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Once your session is over, you get to relax and let me take it from there!

Want to know what happens after your session, when you'll receive your images, and what to expect along the way? Visit The Experience for a look at the full process from booking through gallery delivery.

YOU'RE READY!

That's it! A little preparation goes a long way, but don't put too much pressure on making everything perfect. Just be present with your family, have fun, and trust the process.