Thank you for choosing us to capture your family's special memories! This guide will help you prepare for a relaxed and enjoyable session, indoors or outdoors.

Our family sessions are suitable for couples, families with children, babies, and newborns. Children do not need to behave perfectly or smile in every photo — we'll give them time to settle in and capture a mix of natural interactions and gently posed portraits.

Before Your Session

Please arrive 5–10 minutes before your scheduled time. This gives you a chance to settle in, help the children get comfortable, and make any final outfit adjustments.

Sessions are scheduled back-to-back, so arriving late may reduce your available photography time. If you're bringing young children or a newborn, allow extra travel time so you don't feel rushed.

Try to keep your schedule relaxed before the session — well-rested and well-fed children are usually more comfortable in front of the camera.

What to Wear

The goal is to coordinate your family's outfits without making everyone look exactly the same.

Recommended colours

  • Cream / ivory #F5F0E6
  • Soft beige #E8DCC8
  • Warm light brown #B8967D
  • Dusty pink #D9A9A0
  • Sage green #A3B18A
  • Muted yellow #E3C567
  • Soft blue #A9C4D8
  • Denim / warm grey #6E7A8A

Start by choosing one person's outfit, then select coordinating colours for everyone else.

What to avoid

  • Large logos, brand names, or cartoon characters
  • Neon or extremely bright colours
  • Very busy patterns
  • Thin stripes, which can distort in photos
  • Everyone wearing the exact same colour
  • Wrinkled clothing

For parents: Flowing dresses, long skirts, jumpsuits, or a simple blouse with coordinated pants work beautifully for mothers. Textured fabric (lace, knit, linen) adds visual interest. Fathers can wear a solid-coloured shirt, sweater, polo, or button-up with neutral pants or dark jeans.

For children: Choose comfortable clothing that allows movement — avoid anything too tight, itchy, or unfamiliar. For babies, simple onesies or neutral-coloured rompers work well. Please bring one backup outfit in case of spills.

Please make sure pockets are empty, and bring clean shoes or plan for bare feet, which also photographs beautifully for relaxed family portraits.

Hair, Makeup and Grooming

Keep hair and makeup natural and close to your everyday style. Please schedule haircuts several days before the session rather than the same day.

Before arriving, check for clean fingernails, food around children's faces, marker or stain marks, hair ties around wrists, and jewellery you may not want photographed.

What to Bring

  • A backup outfit for babies and young children
  • Diapers, wipes, and a changing mat, if needed
  • Bottles, formula, or feeding supplies
  • A pacifier and burp cloths
  • Water and small, mess-free snacks (avoid anything sticky or brightly coloured)
  • A favourite small toy or comfort item
  • A brush or comb, and makeup for touch-ups
  • Any meaningful item you'd like included in your photos

Indoor Sessions

Indoor sessions are a wonderful choice for young children, babies, or newborns, and remove weather as a factor entirely. We'll use soft natural window light and a clutter-free space to keep the focus on your family — perfect for cozy, relaxed moments like reading together or piling onto the couch.

Outdoor Sessions

Outdoor sessions give your family room to move, play, and be yourselves. We'll aim for golden hour or a soft overcast day, and choose a location — a park, open field, or trail — with a bit of variety for a few different backdrops. If weather doesn't cooperate, we'll be happy to reschedule.

Preparing Young Children

Before the session, describe it as a fun family activity rather than telling children they must behave or smile. Avoid repeatedly asking them to "say cheese" — natural expressions are usually more meaningful than forced smiles. You might simply say: "We're going to take some fun family pictures, play together, and have a good time."

Please don't worry if your child is shy or energetic — we'll work at their pace using simple games and movement to bring out natural expressions. Staying calm and positive helps too, as children often mirror their parents' emotions.

Newborn & Baby Sessions

Newborns lead the pace of the session — feeding, soothing, and short breaks are completely normal. Try to feed your baby shortly before arriving, and dress them in something easy to remove without pulling over the head.

Please bring extra diapers, a backup outfit, feeding supplies, a pacifier, and a receiving blanket. Let us know beforehand if your baby was born prematurely or has any medical considerations we should be aware of.

During the Session

We'll capture a mix of traditional family portraits, individual and parent-child photographs, sibling moments, and candid interactions. Not everyone needs to be looking at the camera in every shot — some of the most meaningful images happen when families are simply laughing with or holding one another.

Please allow me to guide the posing and arrangement, and feel free to share any important shot requests before we begin.

Final Checklist

  • Outfits are clean, coordinated, and wrinkle-free
  • Backup clothing packed for babies or young children
  • Children have eaten and are well-rested
  • Faces and hands are clean
  • Phones, keys, and wallets removed from pockets
  • Diapers, wipes, snacks, and comfort items packed
  • You've reviewed the location and travel time
  • You're prepared to arrive 5–10 minutes early

Most importantly, come ready to enjoy time with your family — you don't need to know how to pose. We'll guide you through the whole session and create photographs that feel natural, warm, and meaningful.