Planning for your
Outdoor Session
tips for prepping your family, outfits, managing the details and more!
I’m so excited to be working with you and can’t wait for our time together during your session. I am honored that you have chosen me to capture your special moments.
We will work with you on choosing a location beforehand if we have not done so already.
Please prep your partner on what is going to happen that day and why these photos are so important to you!! Surprised dads always throw a wrench into the session. haha
It’s normal to be a little anxious about your session. You’re a busy family with quite a few things on your plate. That’s actually one of the reasons why I put together this guide. It covers everything you need to know before your session. I know it’s a bit long, but not all of it pertains to every session! Please read through it! Hopefully it helps you feel fully prepared for our time together, but should you have any other questions or if you need advice, please feel free to reach out!
Managing little ones
Your child is in a new element and a stranger is holding a big camera in front of their face. They’re likely not going to entirely be themselves. They may show off more than usual or your extrovert may suddenly become shy.
Rest assured, it’s all okay.
The best thing you can do for your kids is to go with the flow and stay positive. The more you relax and have fun with things, the more likely your little one (or big one) is to get on board. During the session, DO NOT STRESS, do not yell at your kids, and do not get impatient. Set your own expectations. Kids will be kids. If you set the bar too high, you will almost certainly go home disappointed.
Bring a few snacks, toys, water and bribes for younger children. Favorite toys, special snacks and the promise of ice cream afterwards work wonders. If they are old enough to understand (3+), start talking to them about what is happening days in advance. A lot of parents promise something fun after the session in return for good behavior during the session. Make sure kids are full and well rested.
Bribing is A-OK! BUT…. do not mention it before the session. Because then all of a sudden the whole session turns into a performance from the kid. They are gunning for that bribe from minute one and that is not what we want!! We bring out the bribe if needed during the session.
And we have a few tricks up my sleeve to help get even the smallest ones to cooperate.
SEE THIS BLOG POST AND THIS BLOG POST FOR EVEN MORE TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL FAMILY PHOTO SESSION WITH KIDS!
TIME & LIGHT
Is there a "good" time to take photos?
Sessions typically last about an hour and are scheduled for 1-2 hours before sunset (usually 1 hour). We prefer to shoot when the sun is lower in the sky to avoid harsh shadows and bright sun patches.
I schedule sessions during what I believe will be the best light of the day – which means that it’s super important to be on time. If you’re late to an evening session, we could run out of light before we’ve finished shooting and if your session takes place in the morning, the sun gets more harsh as it rises.
Sunset & Bedtimes
In the warmer months, sunset sessions often fall during the witching hour. They may even fall during or after bedtime.
As much as we love a consistent bedtime routine, in order to capture the best light during “golden hour”, we’re like going to need to throw off your schedule a bit.
If our session takes place close to dinnertime, I recommend feeding kids (and yourselves!) before we begin shooting.
If your little one is going to be going to bed later, consider pushing their nap a bit that day, letting them sleep longer or packing pj’s so that you can quickly tuck them into bed as soon as you get home.
Wardobe
What should we wear?
When picking outfits I recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if Dad is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, the Mom may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.
A good rule of thumb: pick 3 or so colors and spread them throughout the family. Don’t be afraid to mix a few subtle patterns or textures (such as linen).
And always keep the location in mind. If we’re shooting in a green field, light green dresses might blend in too much with the surroundings.
It is best to avoid primary colors in your outfits meaning blue (royal), red, yellow, orange, green, purple. Instead think of the softer/pastel/jewel tone versions of all these colors: chambray blue, light blue, navy blue, burgundy/maroon, soft pink, mustard (my fave color for Fall), mauve, plum… and of course all the neutrals gray, cream, white and black (but avoid too much black.)
FALL COLORS: Bold colors such as navy blue, maroon/ruby, rust, mustard, and purple are great pops of color that photograph beautifully. Patterns, like plaids, stripes, and polka dots work well, especially when paired with matching solid colors on another family member. Do not be afraid to mix and match patterns! A big tip is to add LAYERS! Scarves, cardigans, vests, necklace, belts, hats…. all of these options add dimension and color variation to your photos.
SPRING/SUMMER COLORS: You can do fall colors, or go lighter pastels like pink, light green, teal, light yellow, dark/light blue, etc. Think soft light tones and neutrals including gray, white, cream.
MOMS: A long full length flowing maxi dress or skirt would be great to add some movement and prettiness to the images! These look amazing in photos and can cover up any area you are self-conscious of. GO LONG! Even if you have the most amazing legs, you will be sitting and crouching with your children a lot during the session so you can interact with them. If your dress is short, there is no way to avoid shooting right up your dress. Check out the shop links below and the Pinterest links below.
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors – especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. We love bright, neon dresses, but we don’t love the neon reflection they add to your complexion.
Not into dresses? Do skinny jeans with flats for summer, or higher brown boots for Fall sessions. A flowy top would also be a good option for summer sessions. A sweater with layers in fall colors would be perfect for the fall sessions.
NO stiletto heels as they get caught in the grass and just look silly in the middle of a park. Boots or ballet flats look great. Choosing an accessory like a scarf or large necklace would bring extra dimension to your photos.
MATERNITY: Baltic Born (my absolute 100% favorites and they are reasonable!), Asos, Nothing Fits But, and PinkBlush. They don’t necessarily need to be maternity dresses to work. Here are some other options also: Free People, Red Dress, Vici Collection, and Show Me Your Mumu.
AMAZON has amazing options for dresses. Looking for gorgeous boho options? Flutter dresses and ZeBuBe are good options!
KIDS: Make sure clothes fit snugly to avoid sloppy-looking outfits. Little dresses for girls, jeans or khakis for the boys. NO character clothing for the kids – leave Elsa and the Superheroes at home. Avoid sneakers and hit Target or Old Navy for something a bit cuter! No need to break the bank – or even step into a store. Items can be found on Amazon, Target or similar websites. Zara is also a fantastic website.
DADS: Solid bold shirts, henleys or sweaters and plaids are nice options. Choose a nice tight-fitted thinner sweater. Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months. Fitted dress pants and nice shoes – no bagginess, no shorts, no sneakers and no sandals. Colored chino pants that coordinate with mom’s dress will really bring it up a notch. Layers are good for men too – blazers, vests, coats.
Try not to overthink and have fun with it! Chances are you have everything in your closet already! We want a relaxed look, as if you are hanging out with your family at a park for the day! 😉
Feel free to reach out to me for ideas or help! Wardrobe can make or break a session!
Clothing
my favorite clothing shops
Here are some of my favorite places to buy outfits for photo shoots
for the ladies
Hair & Makeup
We think it’s so important that you look and feel your best for your photos. Investing in professional hair and makeup can go a long way towards creating photos you love for years.
If you go this route, we recommend staying a bit “classic”.
Let me know if you’d like a recommendation!
Bug Spray
If we are shooting at a park, I highly recommend applying bug spray at least to your feet and legs to help repel insects, especially ticks. Unfortunately we have a tick problem in NJ, both dog and deer ticks (which can carry Lyme’s), so I encourage you to plan on showering and giving the kids a bath as soon as you can after your session to be on the safe side. I will most likely be wearing jeans and boots that are sprayed with bug spray since I am constantly in the grass at these parks for photo sessions so I err on the side of caution!
Inclement Weather
I’ll check in the week of your session to confirm the time & location we’re meeting and the weather. I know it takes a lot of time to get ready for session and it’s the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain. Let me know what works best for your family, but if the weather looks like it won’t be great, I typically try to make the call the morning of the shoot.
IF YOU ARE SIGNED UP FOR A MINI SESSION, THERE WILL BE A PRE-SPECIFIED RAIN DATE AT THE TIME OF BOOKING!
POSING
"What do I do with my hands"?
When it comes to posing for your session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I’ll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because I know it’s going to make everyone laugh – and that’s the photo I’m actually looking for.
Throughout your session, I’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together.
Managing Furry Ones
can i bring my dog
We know that some family members just happen to be furry. However, unless your dog is extremely well behaved and can sit and stay for extended periods of time, they tend to distract from the session. And even add to the chaos if you have kids.
If you’re going to bring a pet, we recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pets favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot. Then plan on having a family member not in the shoot take the dog when not being photographed.
Extended Family Sessions
1
Please send us all family groupings ahead of time so that while we’re shooting, we understand who should be photographed together.
While you don’t need to draw us a family tree (although bonus points if you do!) something like this would work well:
Grandma – Jean
Grandfather – Max
Sam (son of Jean + Max) and Tina.
Their Kids: Jason (10), Julianne (5) and Jack (2)
Elizabeth (son of Jean + Max) and Paul
Their Kids: Austin (9) and Claire (6)
2
When it comes to choosing outfits for larger families, we recommend coordinating with one another ahead of time. Photographs typically come out best when families choose a color palette or a few colors over wearing the exact same thing (think: the white polo and khaki photo uniform of the 90’s.)
Outfits that feel a bit special (your “Sunday best”) but that you still feel comfortable in generally result in the best images.
If you need any advice in this area, just let us know!
3
When it comes to choosing a location for larger groupings, there are a few extra elements to keep in mind. Locations should be easy to access, limit walking and be safe for young children.
While we can get away with shooting small families in a downtown setting, for larger families, we’ll need a bit of space to spread out. Family homes with larger yards (and open shade), parks and outdoor settings typically work best for extended families.
4
Following the session, we’ll deliver a gallery with the edited images. Please let us know ahead of time who should have access to this gallery. If you send us a list of the email addresses, we can set those up at the time of delivery to give all necessary parties access.
- Entire Family
- Grandparents + Their Children
- Grandparents + Their Children + Spouses
- Child A + Child B
- Child A + Child A's Family
- Child A Kids
- Child A Spouse + Kids
- Child A + Kids
- Child A + Spouse
- Individual photos of all members of Child A’s Family
- Child B + Child B's Family
- Child B + Spouse
- Child B + Kids
- Child B Spouse + Kids
- Child B's
- Individual photos of all members of Child B’s Family
When to expect
Your Images
As soon as possible after your session is complete, I’ll back up your images and begin the editing process. You will receive the full gallery from me within two weeks.
Bring Your Images to Life with prints
We’re big believers that images aren’t meant to solely exist in a digital space. One day, most likely, Instagram will be gone, your phone will be replaced and images that you can physically hold in your hand will be the best way to remember those precious moments we captured.
Think about this fact: fifteen years ago, if we had delivered you digital images, they would have been on a floppy disk. With the fast updates to technology, you would have no way to access those images today. Even the online galleries we deliver will eventually fade away.
But prints? Those last. I bet your family still has images from your grandparents (maybe even great grandparents.) And that was likely from a time period when cameras were expensive and prints were harder to come by.
Albums
Prints & Wall Art
Tabletop Displays
Easy way to display your memories and one of my favorite ways to decorate a space.
Thank You!
We know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your portrait session. However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email me.
megan@megancurrenphotography.com
