I get it. Seirously, I really do. I absolutely get what it’s like preparing for family photo sessions. We’ve been lucky enough to get some amazing family photos in the past from some incredible humans and talented photographers but it’s still not easy. There are the outfits, the scheduling, the weather-watching, the self-confidence issues… it’s all there. I can’t change or predict the weather and I definitely can’t take away all the stress from planning a photo session, but I have a few things that might help. Here are three tips for preparing your kids for photo sessions:

Timing, timing, timing!

If your kiddo is better in the morning, I would choose an AM session rather than opt for a late afternoon or early evening session time. Also, if you’re going to be out late Friday evening and their bedtimes will be a little off, maybe opt for a Sunday session instead of the Saturday times. And definitely keep in mind meal times (hangry kids aren’t always the most photogenic!) and naptimes.

Let them have a say!

Children will be much more excited about a photo session if they have a say in some parts of it. That could be choosing a location you know they love. It could be letting them pick out a part of their outfit or a new accessory to showcase during our session. During our sessions, I love to ask kiddos for ideas on where they want to stand or something fun they want to do for a pose.

Talk about it ahead of time!

I’m a big believer in prepping kiddos as much as possible for anything that’s popping up in their world. For your session, you could let them know that you’ll be meeting Miss Wendy at the beach. She’s going to have a black camera and she’ll be needing their help for photos. You can show them a photo of me from my website. Another great idea is to drive them by the photo location if it’s close to you. Talk about it for a few days and they might be more excited than me for your session!

I can’t wait to see you in front of my camera! Never hesitate to reach out as you’re planning your session for other tips. I hope that you’re feeling more comfortable and ready to start preparing your kids for photo sessions this spring!