How to Prepare for Family Photos: A Simple Guide for Parents

After 17 years of photographing people, one thing I've learned is that family photo day goes much smoother when the important stuff is handled before the session.

Preparing for family photos does not need to be complicated.

Have your outfits ready, get everything together the night before, arrive a little early, and once the session starts, let your photographer take the lead.

If you're wondering what happens once you get there, here's what to expect during a family photo shoot from start to finish.

The goal is simple: remove as much stress as possible before you ever step in front of the camera.

Here is how I recommend families prepare.

How to Prepare for Family Photos 1–2 Weeks Before Your Session

Start with the outfits.

I recommend having everyone's clothing purchased at least one to two weeks before the session. If you're ordering something online, this gives it time to arrive and gives you time to fix the problem if something does not fit or look the way you expected.

Don't wait until a couple of days before your session to start putting everything together.

For larger families especially, there may be several outfits, shoes, and accessories that all need to work together.

Before you start preparing, it helps to know when to book family photos, especially if you have a specific date, setup, or holiday deadline in mind.

You don't have to put everyone in exactly the same thing. Coordinating colors and styles can work just as well.

If you need more help specifically with clothing, read my guide on what to wear for family photos.

Send Me Your Outfits So I Can Start Planning

Once you have your outfits picked out, send me pictures of them.

This helps me start game-planning your session before you arrive.

What you're wearing can influence things like:

• Backgrounds

• Outdoor locations

• The overall theme

• Posing ideas

• The visual direction of the session

A family wearing formal black outfits may call for a completely different setup than a family wearing military uniforms or matching themed clothing.

That is why I like seeing the clothing beforehand. It gives me more information to work with instead of trying to figure everything out after you arrive.

Prepare Your Kids, But Don't Practice Their Smiles

If you have younger children, talk to them about the session before photo day.

Keep it positive. Let them know you're taking family pictures and that you're going to spend some time together.

Make sure they are rested and have snacks and water ready if needed.

What I don't recommend is practicing smiles.

You don't need to stand your child in front of a mirror and teach them what their “picture smile”

should look like. I would rather let those expressions happen naturally during the session.

Kids do not have to perform perfectly for me.

And you don't need to teach your family how to pose before you arrive either. That's my job.

During family sessions, I guide where people stand, what to do with their hands, where to look, and when to move. If you want to understand more about that process, read my guide on how to pose for family pictures.

Get Everything Ready the Night Before

If I could get families to do one thing before every session, it would be this:

Get everything together the night before.

One of the biggest mistakes families make is waiting until photo day to start preparing. That is when somebody realizes something is missing, an outfit is wrinkled, or something important to the shoot gets left at home.

The night before, I recommend:

• Lay out clothes, shoes, and accessories

• Steam or iron anything wrinkled

• Pack snacks, water, and wipes

• Confirm the session time and location

• Put anything important to the shoot by the door

The goal is to have as few decisions as possible left for photo day.

When you wake up, everything should already be ready.

Take Care of the Small Grooming Details

There are also a few small things worth checking before you leave home.

Look over:

• Hair and makeup

• Nails and shaving if needed

• Lotion for dry skin

• Clean glasses and check teeth

• Make sure clothing is wrinkle-free

These may seem like little things, but little details show up in portraits.

It is much easier to clean a pair of glasses, fix a wrinkle, or check someone's teeth at home than after the session has already started.

You do not need to obsess over every detail. Just give everyone a quick look before leaving.

Arrive About 15 Minutes Early

Try to arrive about 15 minutes before your family photo session.

That gives you a little breathing room instead of pulling up right when the session is supposed to start.

I also recommend arriving already dressed and ready.

Last-minute outfit changes are a no-go.

Changing the plan right before the session can create unnecessary stress, especially when several people are involved.

Get dressed, check everyone over, grab your snacks, water, and wipes, and leave yourself enough time to get there without rushing.

Once the Session Starts, Let Me Take Charge

Once we start taking pictures, you can stop worrying about being the photographer.

Let me take charge of the posing and direction.

Parents should still keep an eye on their children, of course, but you don't need to constantly tell them:

“Smile.”

“Stand still.”

“Look at the camera.”

“Put your hands down.”

That can turn the session into work for everybody.

I would rather direct everyone, adjust what needs to be adjusted, and let real expressions happen between the posed moments.

The biggest thing I want families to understand is this:

Relax.

There is no sense in spending the entire session stressed out trying to make everything perfect.

The pictures are not the only memory.

Taking them together is part of the memory too.

Family Photo Preparation FAQs

What should I bring to a family photo session?

For most family sessions, I recommend bringing snacks, water, and wipes, especially when younger children are coming.

How early should we arrive for family photos?

Plan to arrive about 15 minutes early. That gives you time to settle in without starting the

session rushed.

Should we practice poses or smiles before family photos?

No. You do not need to practice posing or smiling before your session. I guide the posing, and I prefer to let smiles and expressions happen naturally.

Planning Family Photos in Killeen, TX?

Good preparation makes photo day easier.

Get your outfits handled early, prepare everything the night before, arrive about 15 minutes ahead of time, and once you're there, let me handle the photography.

If you're ready to plan your own session, see my Family Photographer in Killeen, TX page to view the experience, portfolio, pricing, and booking information.