How to Prepare for a Family Photo Session

Prepare for a family photo session in three steps. First, agree on the details with your photographer in writing. Then plan the time, place and clothes around the youngest person in the family. Finally, pack a small bag with snacks, wipes and a spare outfit. After that, show up a little early and let the photographer lead.

What should you agree with the photographer before the session?

Settle the practical details when you book, and get them in writing, in a contract or at least a message you can find later. To compare photographers who photograph families, start at portrait and family photography. For other kinds of shoots, browse photography and videography.

Ask each photographer:

• What's included: how long the session runs, how many locations or outfit changes fit in it, and how many edited photos you'll receive.
• Their family work: ask to see a full gallery from one family session, not just a handful of favorites, so you can see what a whole set looks like. If you have toddlers or a dog, ask how they work with them.
• Editing: what they adjust (color, light, a stray hair) and what they don't retouch.
• Delivery: how you'll receive the photos, and by when.
• Weather and illness: what happens if it rains, or a child is sick on the day, and how rescheduling works.
• Deposit and cancellation terms: what you pay up front, and what happens to it if you cancel.
• Insurance: whether they carry liability insurance, and whether they can show a certificate if the location asks for one.

Share a few photos whose style you like, and a short list of the shots you can't do without: each child alone, the siblings together, the grandparents with the grandkids, the two of you.

What's the best time of day for family photos?

For an outdoor session, ask about the hour after sunrise or the hour before sunset. The light is soft and warm, nobody squints, and the shadows are gentle. The midday sun is harsher: it makes people squint and puts dark shadows under eyes. A bright, overcast day gives soft, even light too.

But the best time is also when your children are at their best. A cheerful toddler at 10 a.m. beats an exhausted one at sunset. Plan around naps and meals, and let the photographer find open shade if the light is strong.

In late fall the sun sets earlier and the evenings cool off quickly, so an evening session starts earlier than it would in summer. Bring a layer for everyone.

Where should you hold the session?

Parks, gardens and historic sites can have their own rules for professional photo sessions. Check the site's website or call ahead, and ask the photographer whether they've shot there before.

Fall color comes and goes with the weather, so ask the photographer which spots nearby still have it. And agree on a rain plan, such as a covered porch or an indoor room with big windows.

What should the family wear?

• Coordinate, don't match. Pick two or three colors that go together and dress everyone within them. Identical white shirts and jeans tend to look like a uniform.
• Keep patterns to one or two people. Large logos, words on shirts, neon colors and very small stripes or checks pull the eye away from faces, and fine patterns can look strange on camera.
• Choose colors that suit the setting. Deep greens, rust, navy, cream and mustard sit well against fall leaves.
• Plan layers. Sweaters, jackets and scarves in your colors keep people warm, and they can come off for a few shots.
• Try everything on a few days before. Check that it fits, that kids can sit and move in it, and that it's washed and ironed.
• Mind the shoes. They show in full-length shots, so clean them or pick ones that go with the outfits.
• Bring backups: a spare outfit for each small child, a lint roller, hair ties and tissues.

If anyone wears glasses, tell the photographer, who can angle the shots to avoid glare.

How do you get young children ready?

• Explain the plan simply: "We're going to the park to play, and someone is going to take pictures of us."
• Feed them first, and schedule around naps.
• Pack a small bag: snacks that won't stain (plain crackers rather than red juice), water, wipes, a spare outfit and a small favorite toy.
• Save a treat for the end, as a reward for everyone.
• Skip "say cheese". Asking a child to smile over and over tends to produce the stiff grin you don't want. Let the photographer play games with them instead.
• Expect some chaos. The shot where a toddler wriggles out of your arms, laughing, may become the one you frame.

Can the family dog be in the photos?

Yes, if the photographer is comfortable working with pets, so ask first. Then:

• Bring a helper, another adult who can hold the leash between shots and take the dog away for the family-only photos.
• Pack for the dog: a leash, treats, water, waste bags and a squeaky toy to get its attention.
• Get the coat camera-ready. Brush the dog, or book pet grooming shortly before the session.
• Check the location's rules on dogs and leashes if you're shooting in a park.
• Take the dog for a long walk first, so it's calmer when it's time to sit.

What happens on the day?

Arrive a little early to park, fix hair and let the kids use the restroom. The first few minutes are usually loose: the photographer is getting to know you and your children are getting used to the camera.

Ask for the whole-family shot early, while everyone is fresh and clean. Then move on to smaller groups, and finish with play: walking, spinning, piggyback rides, a race across the grass. Hold hands, whisper a joke to a partner, or tickle a child, rather than holding one pose.

Put phones away, and let the photographer direct. Two people giving instructions at once only confuses the children.

What happens after the session?

The photographer edits the images and sends you a gallery, often online, from which you choose or download your photos, depending on what you agreed. Look through it soon, and ask about any changes within the time the photographer allows. Once you have the files, save them in at least two places, such as your computer and a cloud account.

Who decides where the photos are shared?

Photographing people needs their consent, and that includes deciding where the pictures go afterward.

• Make sure everyone is on board. Older children and relatives who join should know about the session and be comfortable with it.
• Decide about the photographer's portfolio. Photographers may want to show your session on their website or social media. If you'd rather they didn't, or want to approve which images they use, especially of your children, say so before the session and get it in writing.
• Ask what you may do with the images, such as printing them, posting them or using them on cards.
• Check backgrounds before you post. At home, a house number, a street sign or a car's license plate can end up in the frame.
• Ask the other adults in a photo before you post it publicly.

Book your family photographer early

A good family session is mostly preparation: clear terms, the right light and a well-fed toddler. Once you know your dates, book portrait and family photography with an independent local Pro.

Last updated September 2026.