Lifestyle photographer| Clovis| How to prepare for Summer outdoor family photoshoot
How to prepare for Summer outdoor family photoshoot
So the kids are out of school and you finally feel like you have more time to schedule a family photo shoot. You’re super excited but it’s been a while since you had photos done so you begin to overthink and second-guessing yourself. Asking yourself, is this even a good idea? You’re feeling super unprepared. Well as a photographer and mom I’m here to help you feel at ease and more prepared for your family outdoor photo session. I created a shortlist of tips that can be helpful for you. Something I do when I mention is that as you read the tips please always remember the key word comfort. I have a theory that the more comfortable you are, better atmosphere, and setting the better that I’ll come for the photos.
Tip#1 Decide on location
So you feel brave enough to do an outdoor photo shoot during the summer. I agree with you getting the kids out the house into the outdoors seems like a great idea and it is. Now it is very important for you to decide what location is more convenient for you and your family. Remembering the keyword comfort: What location will make you feel the most comfortable. A lot of factors do come in to play when picking out a location. For example, does distance matter to you? Would you rather select a location that is closer to your home or you do not mind and you’re open to a more longer drive. I like to recommend a location to my clients based on their needs so it is important for you to consider these factors first. Do you have a theme for this year’s photos. Do you want to do it in a beach setting? An open field with tall grass? Perhaps national park? Or even a cute park set up. I know clients like to switch it up from their previous setting so that will be all up to you of course. Other clients like to have a simple background. So all they tell me is that they want a timeless location that means more of an open field with no distractions in the background. Since the session will be taking place in the outdoors, consider the environment that you and your family will feel comfortable in. For example, I know that often some people tend to be shy around other people especially when they’re getting their photo taken, so maybe a more private environment will be beneficial for you in the scenario. Working together with your photographer will definitely help narrow down a perfect location for your family specially when all these factors are taken into place. So now that you got the location down, what do you do next?
Tip#2 Decide time to book session
Deciding the best time during the summer season to book a session can be a little tricky that’s why selecting the location first is so important. It makes it easier now to narrow down the best time for us to conduct the session. Some locations provide shade while others do not. This means certain locations with shade allow us to have more open windows for ideal lighting and comfort. During the summer season we have super long days. Sunset is about 8:30pm. It gives us a lot of wiggle room when selecting a time. My ideal time for a session will always be golden hour. This is when the best light is available for me as a photographer as well as for my clients. Hours I like to avoid specifically during the summertime are anywhere from 10 AM to 1:30 PM. The lighting is the harshest during these hours. It also makes it very uncomfortable for the clients having to constantly squint their eyes specially for the little ones. Being directly under the sunlight tends to be more uncomfortable. Of course if these hours are the only time you have available we can always make it work. We just have to prepare for it. Later in the day not only is the light better but the temperature drops down. This is more convenient and less stressful because heat can make everyone a little grumpy, sweaty, hungry and tired. So definitely trying to snag the golden hour spots in the later afternoon would be ideal. I always like to recommend my clients have a second option of a time-slot just in case your first option is taken. Think of a second Plan B time that will work for you and your family.
Tip#3 Plan family wardrobe
So you picked out the location, you know what time you’re gonna have the session, now it’s time for you to think about outfits. I know putting together outfits for your family can be fun or stressful for some moms. I know for myself it starts off a little fun and exciting then switches to a ball of stress for me. If you’re like myself I cannot afford to buy every single member of my family a brand new outfit for every session I do. Mainly because I like to book a photography session for every season of the year. Yeah I’m a little extra like that. So what I think is most important than buying a new outfit for every session is to remember these key factors when selecting outfits. Consider your location so now that you know where you’re going to have the photo session. Think about your surroundings. If you’re doing it in an open field you pretty much have the ability to select any outfit. Honestly because your background is more neutral. For sure since we’re doing it in the summer and if you are like myself I like to color coordinate according to the seasons. You can add pops of colors like yellows and oranges. But have them be more toned down not necessarily so bright. Because at the end of the day we want to showcase each individual member of our family. Not necessarily be the center of attention. Now if you’re doing a beach location you want to stick to more flowing dresses for mom, shorts for the kiddos, definitely more beach attire. Your wardrobe must match with your location that’s something very important. Also now that you know the time of day you’re gonna be having your session. It’s super important to consider incorporating that into your outfits. This is important because later on in the afternoon you can possibly get away with adding a cardigan or a long sleeve to an outfit, versus more in the middle of the day the temperature is higher and a long sleeve or light cardigan can be a little bit more uncomfortable. So how do you put together an outfit without having to necessarily buy a whole new one? Well, remember that all family members don’t have to match and be exactly coordinated. Just try to stick to a similar color scheme. For example, if you decide to go with yellow someone can wear a cream color, a beige color a yellow color, and brown color because these are all familiar shades. They blend well together. Honestly I love when I see more of a blend than the exact color match or same outfit for each family member. Also another fun tip, start with mom. I find it easier when I select my outfit first then I decide what everyone else is gonna wear. It’s probably easier that way than having to find something that looks good and comfortable on you that also blends in with the rest of the family.
Tip #4 Check the weather week of session
I know it seems like common sense to check the weather before planning anything but trust me sometimes this is easily forgotten. It is important to check the weather the week of your session because you want to avoid being unprepared. You might have unexpected weather changes that can influence possible wardrobe changes. For example, unexpected high temperatures may force you to reconsider dressing the kiddos in jeans and switching them over into shorts or dresses. Or maybe you were planning on wearing pants yourself, and find it more convenient for you to bring a flowy dress. Checking the weather ahead of time can also be helpful when deciding if the weather might make you and your family uncomfortable. Depending on the contract you have with your photographer you might be able to reschedule for a different date. This tip can definitely make or break your session.
Tip#5 What to bring to your session
So when you book a session you might think that all you have to put together are some outfits for the family. In reality to have the most amazing stress-free session. You should bring a few extra things. If you have kiddos make sure to bring some snacks for them. Water is a must and also make some juices. I know that you might not want to ruin their outfits or get them dirty so you probably want to keep them away from any food or drinks. But let me tell you. You want to avoid hungry kids at all cost. They will get grumpy and be uncomfortable during the session and it won’t be fun for anyone. You can always give them the snacks immediately after session so it’s good to have them on hand. Bring some umbrellas! Depending on the location you selected there might be a short walk to get to the ideal spot your photographer wants to place you. So during the summer the heat can get unbarring and the sun can be uncomfortable. Bringing an umbrella to shield you and your family can help you feel less sweaty and uncomfortable. Bring a pair of extra clothes, something more comfortable to change in after. Normally you tend to dress up for a photo session. If you want to avoid the kiddos getting their nice clothes dirty bring an extra change of clothes can be super helpful. For sure I recommend an extra pair of shoes specially for mom. If you’re trying to bring heels please bring in an extra pair of shoes this is super super important. You do not want to mess up your nice shoes. Bring some sunscreen, you will be out in the sun regardless if you’re under shade it’s always good to have sunscreen to avoid the harsh rays of the sun. Bringing towels can be helpful if you’re on a beach location. Sometimes you might have to walk through the water or step on the sand and having an extra towel to wipe off any excess water or sand before getting back in your car can be a lifesaver. Also bringing a hairbrush or comb, extra make up, or hairspray of choice can be very convenient specially during the heat. Your make up might want to be a little refreshed and so will your hair so it’s super convenient if you have them on hand. I always like to say it’s better to have it than not. So even though it might seem like you’re bringing a lot or packing for a trip let me tell you that you’ll thank yourself for bringing it then having to beat yourself up about it for not having it.
Tip#6Map out the dive to location
The more prepared you are the less stress you’ll have the date of your session. This means mapping out the location and the drive ahead of time. That way you’ll know exactly how long the drive is and what time you need to leave to arrive on time. Being in a hurry is no fun and if your photographer has a late policy, you want to ensure you arrive on time. This will allow you to plan for parking ahead of time and if there’s a short walk to the exact location it will give you a better sense of an idea of how far out you need to leave your house. I can promise you that by doing this and planning ahead will almost guarantee your session flow can be less stressful for not just you but the entire family.
Tip7Coach the family
I think this tip is super important because it goes unnoticed. It’s pretty important to explain to your family how the session flow will look like. For example, the time you have to leave the house, the time you need to arrive at the location, and the time it will end. That way the entire family has an idea of what’s going to happen. Trust me as a mom it can be super annoying when I have my husband and the kids constantly asking me what time are we leaving, what time is it going to end, and what are we doing next. Explain to them what they are going to wear as well. So to have the time run smoother letting them know ahead of time of the timeline will make it less stressful for you and for everyone else. Also this step is super important if you have little kids under three years old. Toddlers love to run around and explore. Most toddlers I know don’t like to be photographed. So you can practice with them at home by just taking simple pictures with your phone getting them used to the idea and concept of it can be super beneficial during session. This can also apply to older kids to including your husband, trust me I know husbands can be a little shy sometimes. Maybe even yourself have your husband photograph you.
I hope all the steps truly help you feel less stressful the day of your session. I know this might all seem like a lot and maybe I scared you a little with all the planning you have to do. But trust me it’s all for the good and you will not regret taking the extra time to prepare for a family session. As a photographer the outcome of a better prepared family means my sessions are less stressful for myself as well. The photos tend to be better because everyone’s in a better mood.
