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 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-guess yourself. Ask yourself, is this even a good idea? You're feeling super unprepared. As a photographer and mom, I'm here to help you feel 

at ease and more prepared for your family's 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 recommendations, please always remember the keyword comfort. The more comfortable you are, the better the atmosphere and setting, the better I'll come for the photos. 

Tip#1 Decide on location 

So you feel brave enough to do an outdoor photoshoot during the summer. I agree with you that getting the kids out of the house and into the outdoors seems like a great idea, and it is. Now you must 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 into play when picking out a location. For example, does distance matter to you? Would you rather select a location closer to your home, or do you not mind if you're open to a long drive? I recommend a location to my clients based on their needs, so you must 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 a 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. Other clients like to have a simple background. So all they tell me is they want a timeless location with more of an open field and no distractions in the background. Since the session will take place outdoors, consider the environment you and your family will feel comfortable in. For example, eople often often tend to be shy around other people, especially when they're taking their photo, so maybe aprivate environment will bemayeficial for you in the scenario. Working with your photographer will help narrow down a perfect location for your family, primarily when all these factors are implemented. So now that you got the location down, what do you do next? 

Tip#2 Decide the time to book the session 

Deciding the best time to book a session during the summer season can be tricky. That's why selecting the location first is so important. It makes narrowing down the best time for us to conduct the session easier. Some places provide shade while others do not. This means specific locations with shade allow us to have more open windows for ideal lighting and comfort. During the summer season, we have super long days. The sunset is about 8:30 PM. It gives us a lot of wiggle room when selecting a time. My ideal time for a session will always be a 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 to constantly squint their eyes, especially the little ones. Being directly under the sunlight tends to be more painful. Of course, if these hours are the only time you have available, we can always make it work. We 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 grumpy, sweaty, hungry, and tired. So trying to snag the golden hour spots in the later afternoon would be ideal. I always recommend that 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 when you'll have the session, and 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 a bit fun and exciting, then switches to a ball of stress for me. If you're like me, 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 can 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 me, 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 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, and more beach attire. Your wardrobe must match your area. That's something significant. Also, now that you know the time of day you will have your session. It's super important to consider incorporating that into your outfits. This is important because later on in the afternoon, you can 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 create an outfit without necessarily buying a new one? Remember that all family members don't have to match and be precisely coordinated. Just try to stick to a similar color scheme. For example, if you choose 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. I love seeing more of a blend than the exact color match or the 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 than finding something that looks good and comfortable on you that also blends in with the rest of the family. 

Tip #4 Check the weather during the week of the session 

It seems common sense to check the weather before planning anything but trust me. Sometimes this is quickly forgotten. It is essential 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, unanticipated high temperatures may force you to reconsider dressing the kiddos in jeans and switching them to shorts or dresses. Or maybe you were planning on wearing pants and found it more convenient to bring a flowy skirt. Checking the weather ahead of time can also be helpful when deciding if the weather might make you and your family uncomfortable. Depending on your contract with your photographer, you can reschedule for a different date. This tip can make or break your session.

Tip#5 What to bring to your session 

So when you book a session, you might think 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. You might not want to ruin their outfits or get them dirty, so you probably want to keep them away from food or drinks. But let me tell you. You want to avoid hungry kids at all costs. They will get grumpy and uncomfortable during the session, and it won't be fun for anyone. You can always give them the snacks immediately after the session, so having them on hand is good. Bring some umbrellas! Depending on your selected location, there might be a short walk to the ideal spot your photographer wants to place you. So the heat can get unbarring during the summer, 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.

You usually tend to dress up for a photo session. If you want to avoid the kiddos getting their nice clothes dirty, bringing an extra change can be helpful. I recommend an extra pair of shoes, especially for Mom. If you're trying to get heels, please bring 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 the shade. It's always good to have sunscreen to avoid the sun's harsh rays. Bringing towels can be helpful if you're in 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 makeup, or hairspray can be very convenient, especially during the heat. Your makeup might want to be 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 getting it and then have to beat yourself up about it for not having it. 

Tip#6Map out the dive to the location. 

The more prepared you are, the less stress you'll have on the date of your session. This means mapping out the location and the drive ahead of time. That way, you'll know precisely how long the industry is and when you must 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 doing this and planning will almost guarantee your session flow can be less stressful for you and the entire family. 

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Tip7Coach the family 

I think this tip is super important because it goes unnoticed. It's important to explain to your family what the session flow will look like. For example, the time you must leave the house, the time you must 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 my husband and the kids constantly ask me what time we are leaving, what time it will end, and what we are 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 everyone else. Also, this step is super important if you have 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 can be beneficial during the session. This can also apply to older kids, including your husband; I know husbands can be a little shy sometimes. Maybe even have your husband photograph you. 

I hope all the steps help you feel less stressed on 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 must 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. The photos tend to be better because everyone's in a better mood.