Preparation Guide
family session
family portrait session
— With love, keely
Deciding what to wear for your photoshoot can seem like a hard task!
But I'm here for you to make it fun and easier!
In this guide you'll find examples for outfits and tips on how to prepare for your session. With these tips, I'm sure you'll get the best out of your photoshoot.
I'd also love to help you personally, so please let me know if I can help!
I'm Keely
Welcome
My family sessions are all about connection! I will guide your family every step of the way to achieve not only beautiful portraits but beautiful moments for you to cherish forever.
In this guide you will find helpful tips. After your session I will cull and edit your photos. Your gallery is typical ready within 4 weeks of your session. You will receive a link to your private gallery, then it's time to enjoy them!
preparation
preparing for your family session
I know you want to tell your children that when we have the session, they should look into the camera, smile, and do exactly as the photographer asks them to.
Well, I’m going to ask you not to do that.
Because children never do as we say, right?
And this is not how I want it to be during our session, a moment full of exhortations.
It should be a moment of laughter and joy.
And this is also how I’m working.
To take your photos, I will play with your children. I will make funny sounds, do ugly dances, play peek-a-boo, and everything in between.
I want you to tell your children that you are going away to have fun.
I know all children are different. Some are shy, some are very enthusiastic, and some don’t want their photos taken at all. Some children need more time to warm up, while others don’t.
You know your children the best, and please let me know before our session if there is anything you feel I need to know about your children.
Feel free to use bribes (a great gift to all mothers). Often, smaller rewards throughout the session work better than a big reward at the end. Like a mess-free snack that won't stain their teeth.
As I said, you know your children the best and if you feel that a reward after the session can work on them, go for it.
But most important is that you try to excite the children as much as possible before the session and not give any exhortations.
How to Prep the Kids
"Light turns the ordinary into the magical."
No matter the season, in our experience we have found that timing your session for when the sun is the least harsh throughout the day creates the best lighting for photos, which is why it is extremely important to be on time to our session.
My favorite time to begin sessions is about an hour before sunset. Golden hour makes for the dreamiest photos.
Timing and Lighting
THE BEST TIME TO TAKE PHOTOS
Don't tell your children how to behave. The most important thing is that the children have a good and fun time. The smiles will then come naturally.
Forcing the Children
Easier said and done. But stressing over details or time will not put you in a good mood before your session.
Don't Stress
Your family is lovely, and your session is going to be great. Let those thoughts about perfection go. Instead, be present with your family and enjoy the moment you have with them. Leave all the worries about children running away to me.
Set High Expectations on Yourself
preparing dont's
I know this isn't easy because babies never sleep when we want them to. But try to come to the session with children that have eaten and are rested.
Feed and Sleep the Babies
Plan your clothes in advance. And make sure that both you and your family are comfortable with what you will wear. Everyone has a hard time being in the moment when their clothes aren't fitting right. If you have any questions about how to match the family, feel free to email me.
Plan the Outfits
Forget all your worries and focus on the memorable moment you will have with your family.
Be Excited!
preparing do's
Prints and cartoon characters steal unnecessary attention and will also make the photos less timeless.
Ditch the Prints and Cartoon Characters
Using soft colors removes distractions, and the feelings between you and your family members will be the central part of the pictures.
Soft Colors
Just like the reason about choosing soft colors, for the same reason, it's a good idea to avoid very eye-catching patterns since they will steal attention
Patterns
Something worth mentioning is that long, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera as they add movement to your clothing and tends to be very flattering and natural-looking.
Fabrics and Layers
No one wants to freeze or look too warm. Or if the location is the beach, barefoot works better than stilettos.
Dress for the Season and Location
This is mainly for the dads. Cellphones, keys, and other items are nothing we want to see through the pockets.
Empty Your Pockets
When it comes to colors, the goal is to complement each other instead of match. As it can be challenging to know what colors work well together and create harmony in the pictures, you can see a couple of color palettes here.
You can pick the one that feels most like you and use it when planning your outfit.
Color palettes
A perfect way to spoil yourself is to get your hair and make-up done professionally.
It also removes the stress of getting ready when you are probably already nervous before your session.
It's also great as it will give you an incredible feeling of being absolutely gorgeous, boosting your confidence and making you relax.
But the most important thing is that you feel comfortable. If that is letting your hair down, you should come to the session with your hair down.
This is all important for the rest of your family as well. It can always be a good idea to have everyone get a fresh haircut the month of their session.
Feeling Comfortable is Key
hair & makeup
Zara
Altar'd State
Shopworth
Children's Place
Marlow + Mae
H&M
Janie & Jack
Golden Honey(local)
7 & James(local)
TJ Maxx
Nordstrom
Rylee & Cru
Old Navy
My favorite shopping resources to look your best during your session.
shopping Guide
places to shop for the family
To get extra inspiration for your outfits, I have put together a Pinterest Board full of inspiration so that you can quickly see how colors and different types of clothes work together.
You can access the Pinterest Board via the link below.
Inspiration
visuals are always helpful
"When we have each other, we have everything."
I will make sure you're looking your best at all times—keeping an eye on your hair and makeup and the layers of your clothing—I've got you covered!
If you're worried about not knowing what to do with your hands or how to pose—don't be! I will guide you through everything.
posing
Keely is an otherworldly, photography wizard who makes chaos look beautiful!!
kind words from our clients
Virginia weather can be rainy one hour and sunny the next. Due to this, I typically won't advise a reschedule until the evening before or the morning of your session. I will reach out to you immediately and choose another date that works for both myself and your family. Reschedules must be within three months of the original session date. This applies to sickness as well!
Scheduling and Weather
what if the weather is bad and it rains?
- Extra clothes. When children are involved you never know what can happen. I highly recommend getting the littles dressed on location!
- Wet wipes. Because anything can happen...
- Favorite toy/stuffed animal. If extra comfort is needed. If possible, avoid anything with bright colors in case they will be shown in some photos. I cannot edit out toys.
- A small snack. If the energy drops and preferably something dryer that doesn't leave spots and stains easily. But avoid raisins and similar as it sticks to the teeth.
- Touch-up makeup. For mama if needed.
Packing List
a checklist of things to remember
Online gallery delivered
four weeks
when to expect your family session photos
upon gallery delivery, you will have the ability to upgrade your gallery and purchase high quality prints/albums
FAQs
frequently asked questions
As a parent of a special needs child, I deeply understand sensory sensitivities and how overwhelming interactions, especially with strangers, can feel. This perspective shapes my approach, allowing me to be patient, flexible, and guided by each child’s comfort level. I also have experience photographing children with medical conditions and autism, and I adapt every session to meet their individual needs. Whenever possible, I incorporate what your child loves into the session—do they enjoy video games? An indoor arcade family session could be perfect; do they love the water? A relaxed summer creek session may be ideal. My goal is always to create a safe, enjoyable experience where your child feels respected and genuinely themselves.
My standard turnaround time for delivering your completed gallery is up to four weeks, allowing me to carefully edit each image with the attention it deserves. I understand that sometimes you may need your photos sooner, and I’m happy to offer an expedited gallery delivery option. For an additional $100, your gallery can be moved to the front of my editing queue for faster turnaround. This ensures you receive the same high-quality, thoughtfully edited images. Just sooner.
You are welcome to bring a support person to your session, and they may even be included in a few photos if desired. My goal is for your session to feel relaxed and run smoothly, so having an extra set of hands to help with a baby or young children is completely fine. If a visiting family member is in town and you’d like a few updated photos together, I’m happy to accommodate that as well. Once the session includes multiple additional people beyond your immediate family, it will be considered an extended family session, and pricing will adjust based on the size of the group.
— Keely
Whenever you are unsure or have a question, let me know.
No question is too small. If you can't decide if you are picking the pink or beige headband for your baby girl, I'm here for you!