Bellevue Family Photographer | Tips to prepare your family session
What are some useful tips for your Bellevue family photographer? You’ve paid your session fee, yay! You’ve done the hard part. But what’s next?
Below I’ll walk you over with tons of tips on how to prepare your bellevue family photo session.
Prepare your bellevue family session by planning Ahead
Choose a date and time that works for everyone, considering factors like work schedules and children’s routines. Weekend dates might feel like a great choice and they are. However, there are definitely advantages of having your session done on a weekday if you have young children and if you want your session in summer.
Pick a location
A locationLocation plays a crucial role in a family photo session, influencing the overall atmosphere, aesthetics, and the storytelling aspect of the images. We are so lucky that in Bellevue we have tons of beautiful backdrops not far from our town. After you book your session, I will send you a list of recommended locations that my clients have loved over the years.
Prepare your coordinated outfits
Plan coordinated outfits without being too matchy-matchy. Choose a color palette that complements each other and the chosen location.
Avoid busy patterns and logos, as they can be distracting in photographs. If you are buying outfits online, please plan for the shipping time and have everything ready to go one week before our scheduled session date.
Communicate Expectations
Feel free to discuss the goals and expectations of the photo session with your photographer. Let me know any trait that your children have. Most photographers know that while some children are quick to chat a lot, some take a long time to warm up. As a mom who has a shy kid, I completely understand that!
Timing is Key
Schedule the session during a time when everyone is typically well-rested and in good spirits. For outdoor sessions, the golden hours (early morning or late afternoon) often provide the best natural light. As a bellevue area natural light family photographer, I am inspired by beautiful light and the golden hour is usually when I shoot. The only thing is that in PNW the golden hour is so late in summer at 8pm, it can definitely be a hurdle for families with young kids. If this is the case, I highly recommend you booking your session in spring or fall so we will start roughly at 6pm and be done by 7!
Prepare snacks and embrace the breaks
If you have young children, bring snacks and plan for short breaks. This can help keep everyone energized and cooperative throughout the session. Towards the end of the session, I usually grab a few photos of the parents while the children can happily take a break or have a snack.
Prepare to be Flexible
Be open to spontaneity and candid moments. I feel that the favorite photos of my clients are usually the ones that showcase their authentic moments. Remember that you being together is perfect. Embrace imperfections and enjoy the process. Taking family photos together is not just about the photos – it is a fun experience that everyone will remember and look back on. Often I find that if the parents are relaxed and chill, the photos will turn out beautiful.
Last fall I had the pleasure of photographing a client’s family at Bellevue Botanical Garden. This place is so close to the city and it is gorgeous in the fall. What I also love about this location is that you don’t need to walk a ton. I had two pairs of grandparents with me for this particular session and one of them even broken his foot and was on crutches! Nevertheless, we got beautiful photos of for this extended family session.
My client families are well prepared for their sessions because I give them tons of tips. When they come to their session, they are ready for play time with their kids! Click here to see more of my authentic and emotive family portfolio.
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