What To Do the Hour Before Your Family Photo Session
The hour before a family photo session can feel like a lot. Outfits that looked perfect earlier suddenly feel uncomfortable, someone cannot find their shoes, and if you have little ones, there is a good chance something gets spilled right when everyone is finally dressed. If this sounds familiar, please know you are in very good company. Almost every family experiences a little pre-session chaos, and it rarely has any impact on how beautiful your photos turn out.
One of the best things you can do for yourself is build in more time than you think you need. I always suggest trying to have everyone dressed and mostly ready about twenty minutes before you actually need to leave the house. That small cushion can take the pressure off when something unexpected pops up, which it almost always does with kids. When parents feel rushed, children tend to pick up on that energy right away, but when things feel calm at home, the whole experience starts on a much more relaxed note.
It can also make a big difference to offer a quick snack before heading out the door. Hungry kids are rarely in the mood to cooperate with anything, and photos are no exception. Something simple like crackers, apple slices, or a small granola bar works well and will not leave stains on clothing. A little water before leaving the house can help too, especially during warmer months when everyone is already a bit more active.
Another helpful thing is simply talking with your kids about what the session will be like. Let them know that we are not aiming for perfectly still smiles the entire time. When families arrive, my goal is to capture the way you naturally interact with each other. Kids can laugh, move, run around a little, and snuggle close to you. When they understand that they do not have to perform or behave perfectly, they usually relax and settle in much faster.
If you have younger children, bringing along a small comfort item can also be helpful. Sometimes that means a favorite stuffed animal or a small toy tucked into a bag or the car. It may not end up in the photos at all, but having something familiar nearby can help if someone needs a moment to regroup. Every now and then it even sneaks into a few photos, and those often become some of the sweetest memories from the session.
Right before you leave the house, I always encourage parents to pause for just a moment and take a deep breath. The goal of these photos is not perfection. Your kids do not have to behave flawlessly, and your hair does not have to stay exactly in place. What matters most is the way your family connects, the laughter that naturally shows up, and the little moments of closeness that happen when you simply spend time together.
If you have been meaning to schedule family photos but keep waiting for the perfect time, consider this your gentle reminder that these seasons do not stay the same for long. Your kids are growing and changing in ways you may not even notice day to day. Getting to document families during this chapter of life is one of my favorite parts of what I do, and I would be honored to help tell your family’s story too.