If you’re wondering how to prepare for a family portrait session, the good news is that it doesn’t require overplanning or perfection. A little intention goes a long way. The goal isn’t perfect behavior or forced smiles. It’s connection. When families feel comfortable and confident, the photos feel natural, connected, and real.

Embrace Color (Yes, Really)

I love color, and I encourage families to lean into it. Bold, rich tones photograph beautifully and bring energy and personality into your images. Jewel tones, saturated blues, greens, reds, mustard, and even playful patterns can all work incredibly well.

Instead of matching exactly, think about how colors work together. Choose a few complementary tones and mix them across outfits. Texture and layers still matter, but color is absolutely welcome here. If you’re someone who feels happiest in color, your photos should reflect that.

Avoid clothing that feels stiff or overly precious. You should be able to move, sit on the ground, laugh, and hug comfortably. If something doesn’t feel like you, it won’t photograph like you. Some of my favorite family session photos have been from sessions where the parents let the kids dress themselves!

Plan Hair and Grooming Ahead

Schedule haircuts about a week before your session so everything looks natural and settled by shoot day. For makeup, aim for a polished version of your everyday look. Camera-friendly makeup should be just a touch heavier and, most importantly, intentional. A little extra definition around the eyes goes a long way. Avoid glitter as it will not read as ‘sparkly’ on camera.

Don’t forget your lint brush! Especially if wearing darker clothes. Even the smallest bits of fuzz on dark colors will show up extra defined in photos.

Kids don’t need anything fancy. Clean faces, brushed hair, and comfort are more than enough.

Don’t Let Kids Nap in the Car

This is one of the most important tips. If your child falls asleep in the car on the way to the session, they often arrive groggy, disoriented, and cranky. Even a short car nap can completely shift their mood.

If your session overlaps with normal nap time, try to plan for a full nap at home beforehand or arrive extra early to give your kid a chance to wake back up naturally. A well-rested child who arrives awake is much easier to photograph than one who just woke up strapped into a car seat.

Give Yourself Breathing Room

Rushing shows up in photos. Plan to arrive early so everyone has time to settle in. Kids do better when they’re not hurried and can take in their surroundings. A calm start sets the tone for the entire session.

It also helps to talk to kids ahead of time about what will happen. When they know what to expect, they tend to relax and engage more easily.

Skip Bribes and Trust the Process

I’m not a fan of bribery during sessions. Treats and rewards often shift kids into performance mode instead of connection mode. Rather than asking kids to “behave” for the camera, I let them be themselves. The kids with the most energy, who run around like crazy, and barely sit are usually the best sessions! If this happens, just smile and act engaged with them so the candid images look intentional and you don’t look annoyed with them!

Movement, curiosity, and interaction create the strongest images. Some of the best moments happen between posed shots. Your role is to be present. My role is to guide you and capture what unfolds naturally.

What About Rain?

If you’re planning to prepare for a family portrait session in the Pacific Northwest, rain is part of the deal. Light rain is something I will absolutely continue to shoot in. It’s natural here, it photographs beautifully, and it often adds mood and softness to images. If we’re in the slower season, there may be more flexibility to reschedule, but in general I don’t make a weather call until about an hour before your session start time. The weather here changes quickly, and it often clears up right around sunset. I always recommend coming prepared with a towel or two, a waterproof blanket if you want sitting shots, and leaning into it with cute rain boots or a fun raincoat. I also bring plenty of clear umbrellas for families to use. During busy season, if you prefer not to shoot in the rain, rescheduling may mean waiting a while for another opening. That’s part of the tradeoff. Choosing to embrace a little drizzle often means keeping your session on track and walking away with something uniquely Pacific Northwest.

Leave Your Stuff In Your Car

One of the best things you can do is leave as much as possible in your car or at home. Fewer bags and fewer decisions mean more freedom to move, play, and stay present. The less we’re juggling, the easier it is to create spontaneous moments and natural candids. Most families don’t need to bring much at all. If you’d like, an extra-large blanket or a waterproof blanket or towel if it’s raining can be helpful for sitting on the ground. For babies and toddlers, a simple burp or snot cloth is plenty. Beyond that, all you really need are your car keys and a small wallet & phone, which I’m happy to tuck safely into my camera bag during the session. If you do bring a blanket, an oversized tote you can keep it in and sling over your shoulder and drop at a moment’s notice works best. The goal is to keep your hands free and your attention on each other.

Bring A Blanket

I also always recommend bringing an extra-large colorful blanket for sitting shots (unless you’d rather sit on the grass)! Make sure your blanket is large enough for your whole family to lay down on (usually a queen-size quilt or larger is best).

Some Of My Favorite Items

Below are links to some of my favorite items that might help you prepare or give you some inspiration. Some of these are affiliate links, so I may earn a small commission if you shop through them (thank you for supporting my decaf coffee habit!)