Arizona Family Photographer: How to Prep For Your Family Photo Shoot

You’ve booked the date, paid the deposit and picked out the outfits. Congrats! Now, it’s time for the ULTIMATE guide for prepping for your family photo session. I promise you, it’s all here! We all know that things don’t always go as planned and stress makes it all worse. So, prep for your family photo session using all the tips below and if you remember nothing else from this post…chill out and have fun!

Remember, I will be with you every step of the portrait process way to help you feel confident and prepared for your session. If you have any additional questions please send me a note! I’m so here for you. Now…let’s get to it!

Things To Do BEFORE Your Session

Plan your outfits at least a week in advance — don’t wait until the last day, trust me! You want to wake up feeling relaxed and prepared, so plan these details out early. Hopefully we’ve already discussed your wardrobe and I have answered any and all questions before now. However, text, email, or call if you need help! Then the night before your session, lay out all of your outfits to be sure they are clean and wrinkle free. (steam or iron if needed)

Make hair, nail, wax, and/or makeup appointments for before your session. Makeup, my recommendation is to keep your make-up natural in look and avoid trends that may date your photos.  If you don’t normally wear make-up don’t feel pressured to start now. Nails, no matter how you like to keep your nails be sure the day of the shoot they look great. Clean, clipped and if you want fresh paint, just avoid the chipped and worn look. Hair. Ladies if you wax, shave, or pluck, do it in advance, day of may not work out well for your skin. We want to avoid any red bumpy looking rashes. Men, likewise, if you have facial hair make sure your mustache and/or beard is trimmed and combed for the shoot.

Brainstorm about specific props or special types of images you want captured. Some families want to include special items like, quilts or family jewelry. Some families know they want a very specific type of photograph taken. If this pertains to you be sure to brainstorm them in advance and let me know as well! We can also “share” a Pinterest board if you find some poses you’d like to try specifically as well.

Prepare your hubby & kiddos. If your kids are young, it may be helpful to walk them through what your family photo session may look like. Let them know you need them to help you out and at times, be super silly. Tell them we may play the tickle game or maybe even dance on daddy’s toes…this will hopefully create excitement and pique their attention. Let the hubby or partner know what you will need his help with. He may be in charge of certain kiddos while you’re in charge of another. He may be the one running back and forth to get props for the photographer, or distracting one kid while you’re taking pics with another. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, period!

Tell your kids what your expectations are. Kids typically want to make their parents happy. If you’re clear about your expectations with your kids, then the entire experience can be (not will be because we all know nothing is a guarantee) more smooth and enjoyable. Use phrases like, “We’re getting ready to meet with Miss Shannon to take pictures of our family. We will be there for 1 hour and I expect you to be a great listener, have a good attitude, and follow directions. If you do these things then it will be a fun and easy time! If you’re having a hard time, just let me know and I can take a break to snuggle with you. These pictures mean a lot to Mommy and Daddy because we want to take as many pictures of you as we can before you’re all grown up.”

Send me important information. If you have a child with special needs, a sensory processing disorder, developmental or cognitive delays, please let me know several days before your session. Be as specific as needed to help me feel prepared to meet your child. For example, if your child takes instruction very literally (like my son) then that will change the way that I direct them. Or if your child gets easily overwhelmed, it would be best for me to be as calm and gentle as possible. Or if they prefer to not do certain things, for instance my son doesn’t like smiling with his teeth showing, that’s ok to tell me. I don’t want to make anyone feel uncomfortable.

Also, if you are a blended family that would be helpful for me to know as well. I don’t want to direct one child to snuggle up with “Mom” and have there be any misunderstanding. I want to try my best to avoid uncomfortable situations for everyone.

Plan for something special after. Maybe everyone goes out to dinner or dessert after the session. Maybe it means a trip to the movies or bowling or a trampoline park the next day. It might even mean gift cards to Target or Barnes & Noble. Whatever it is, I always encourage bribery for family photos. Moms you may not agree but I also know if these photos don’t go well you’re going to be the most disappointed one, not them. So think of it as motivation and craft your perfect treat!

Plan to arrive at your session location at least 15 minutes beforehand to allow time to find parking, make any last-minute clothing adjustments, touch up the lipstick and find our meeting spot. If you know you tend to run late, I would even recommend getting there 30 minutes ahead of time. The time we’ve chosen for your session is very specific for lighting reasons and if you’re late it will eat into your session time.

What to bring to your photo session

Personal appearance items like lipstick, a hairbrush/comb, chapstick or maybe some bobby pins or baretts.

Snacks + Water .. and if necessary, treats to bribe kiddos with! Bring a water bottle and stay hydrated! Keeping yourself refreshed during your session provides energy and can help you relax as well. We all know that Arizona is crazy hot (most any time of the year) so keep water handy. I also typically pull around a wagon during my sessions so you won’t have to carry anything personally.

Here are some GOOD Snack Ideas: goldfish, mini marshmallows, trail mix, fruit snacks, applesauce pouches, popcorn.

Here are some BAD Snack Ideas: chocolate, sticky candy, lollipops, fruit, cupcakes, anything drippy or sticky.

Comfortable shoes or sandals. We will probably be walking short/moderate distances, often on unpaved trails or gravel, possibly with hills. Comfortable shoes are a must! If you just love your heels, bring them to change into before we start shooting.

A spare bag (for electronics , accessories, wallets & keys). Should I NOT have my wagon with me (sometimes terrain prohibits me), then it’s nice for my clients to be able to remove any phones, wallets, keys, watches, hair ties, etc. from their pockets and wrists and place them in a small bag to consolidate and carry those items. You’ll know where everything is and keep it all clean during your portrait session.

A towel, depending on the location you’ve picked it’s possible that we’ll get a little wet…or more likely sweaty. It’s always nice to have a towel on hand for drying off.

And my last piece of advice to help you prep for your photo session is to have realistic expectations.

This won’t go perfectly.  Give your family grace and yourself grace.  Meet your kids where they are that day.  You’re not in a great mood every single day. Neither are they.  Love your kids for who they are in that moment. Even if they don’t want to smile or be held.  Kid’s know when something is afoot.  If you’re feeling stressed and anxious, your kids will pick that up faster than a fallen fruit snack.  Relax and enjoy and let me take care of the rest.  

Now, let’s do this!!

Arizona Family Photographer | Shannon Ly Photography

to see more images of well prepared families click here!