If you have scheduled your Castle Rock Family Photos you are probably so excited but as a mom, you know preparation and expectations are key to success. I have taken photos with children and a husband who has been less than enthusiastic about the upcoming scheduled session. Although I still achieved beautiful family photos the experience can be improved by a little preparation done on your part! Your family is the most important subject of this session. and though I can manipulate a little bit in Photoshop I cannot completely make your family 100% ready for your session like only you can. I’ve heard it said that mom sets the temperature for the family and the family unit is the thermostat. Mama, you can make a difference in how your family shows up to a photo session even when they are a little objection

My email list subscribers receive a pdf of 10 tips for preparing for your family photos but here is a spin-off of my 10 Tips. If you would like the whole list you can subscribe here!

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Here are my THREE P’s for Preparing for your family portraits:

Promote the excitement

When you are excited about something, they will become excited about that same something too. Positive reinforcement is powerful! Sing your praises and excitement about your upcoming session. Show them photos of when they were younger and remind them how much they have grown and you want to remember this time in their childhood.

Once we decide on the location, HYPE IT UP! Is it a wildflower field? Talk all about the different flowers you will see and smell. The animals that might be there too! Is your session at a park in the city? Let them get excited about the things you might see there. A firetruck driving by, a fountain, the ducks in the pond!

Emphasize the importance of these photographs and the joy of being together as a family. My kids almost always cheer up when we mention these photos are for their favorite family member! Grammy always gets the biggest cheeses from my kids!

I also love a good silly photo alongside the sweet, intimate ones. So if hyping up the silliness helps them get excited do it, then do it! They will be more willing to be snuggly when the prompting arises during the session.

Pick your outfits

This is the fun part (well, for me at least). I'll send you a style guide for guidelines so don't be stressed about what to wear for your Colorado family session. The process of putting together coordinated and stylish outfits for the whole family can be a fun and creative endeavor. It's an opportunity to showcase your style and create a visual story that complements the setting of the shoot.

For me, the anticipation of picking out the perfect attire is almost as thrilling as the photo session itself. It's a chance to express our personalities while also coordinating our looks to create a cohesive and visually appealing outcome. It's like curating a mini fashion show that reflects our family's vibe and style.

Selecting outfits that make us feel confident and comfortable contributes to our mindset going into the session. When we're dressed in outfits that we love and feel good in, it boosts our confidence and adds to the positive energy we bring to the photography session.

Not only will the Style Guide I send to you help you choose, but I also have a Client Closet for full-session clients to access. It's full of dresses for moms and outfits for young children. I'm always adding to it too! I've been photographing families for 9 years and I'll be your guiding light for outfit selection. I'll be holding your hand every step of the outfit-choosing way if you choose not to access my client closet.

Plan something fun afterward

If your schedule allows, plan something fun to do as a family after a photography session! It's not just a great idea, it’s also a wonderful way to create lasting memories and continue the positive energy from the photo session. After spending time in front of the camera, it’s important to unwind and celebrate the experience as a family.

Planning a fun activity after the session also serves as a reward for everyone's participation and patience during the photo shoot. It reinforces the idea that the session was not just about taking pictures but was also a shared experience that deserves to be celebrated and followed by something enjoyable.

Now, I’m not telling you to bribe your children or husband because I believe photos should happen regardless if there are tears or not. But it is something else to look forward to after your session! Go to a park, or a sporting event, get ice cream… treat yourselves to being vulnerable with your photographer! That is no small feat! Having something to look forward to after the session can help calm children and the nerves that can happen when they don't want to do the thing. And ice cream solves a multitude of problems!

Capturing this moment in your family's history can be a positive experience regardless of tears and objections. Remember mama, you set the tone and the temperature of your family portrait session. The three key components to preparing for your family session are promoting the excitement, picking your outfits, and planning something fun after the session. If you do those three things I can guarantee you will have an amazing session celebrating your family and you will have beautiful heirloom photos to cherish for years to come.

Welcome! I’m so honored you are here checking out my blog. I wanted to tell you a little more about me; I am a family lifestyle photographer and a Mama of two. If you would like to learn a little more about me click here. I serve clients as a Colorado Springs Family Photographer and a Denver Family Photographer.

If you love these photos and are looking for a milestone, family, maternity, or newborn lifestyle photographer in Colorado Springs or Denver I would love to learn more about you, your family, and the season of life you are in. I’m currently booking all of 2024 and into 2025 for my Baby-Bump clients. Fill out the contact form here and I will be in touch within 24 business hours!