What to Expect Before Your Family Session (And How to Actually Enjoy It)

I want to tell you something before we get into any of this: you don’t need to be a “photogenic family.” You don’t need matching outfits that belong on a Pinterest board, or kids who will stand still and smile on command. You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to show up. I’ll take care of the rest.

That said — a little preparation goes a long way toward a session that feels easy instead of chaotic. Not because I need perfection from you, but because I want you to be able to actually *be there*, in those moments, instead of running through a mental checklist while I’m trying to catch your kid mid-laugh.

Here’s what I’ve learned, after years of sessions with real families — the wiggly ones, the shy ones, the ones who are convinced they look terrible in photos — about what actually makes a difference.

Give Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need

The families who arrive a little frazzled — racing from the car, hair still damp, one kid crying because they didn’t want to leave the house — spend the first fifteen minutes of their session settling down instead of being present. I’ve seen it enough times that I build in a little breathing room on my end, but I can’t give you back time you’ve already spent.

A few things worth planning for, starting three days out:

• Settle on your outfits. Lay them out, try them on, make sure everything still fits. Do this now, not the morning of.
• Check whether anything needs washing or steaming. (This one sounds obvious. It is not always obvious when it’s 6pm the night before.)
• On the day of, leave time for hair, for last-minute outfit changes, for the inevitable moment when someone can’t find their shoes.
• Mamas, please don’t forget about yourself in the scramble. You matter in these pictures too. If a salon visit the day before helps you feel like yourself, book it.

Arriving even ten minutes early makes a world of difference. It gives the kids a chance to explore the space, burn off some nervous energy, and get comfortable with me before I’m pointing a camera at them.

Tell Your Kids What’s Coming

Kids do better when they know what to expect. It’s not about scripting the day — it’s about taking away the unknown so they can actually relax and have fun.

Talk to them beforehand. Tell them we’re going to go play outside (or wherever our session is), that there’ll be a photographer there who is really silly and likes to chase people and do piggyback races. Tell them it might take a little while but there will be snacks, and maybe something special to look forward to after.

If you want to build in a little incentive — ice cream after, a movie night, their choice of dinner — go for it. There is no shame in a good-natured bribe. I’ve made friends with more than one reluctant four-year-old over the promise of animal crackers.

And set the tone yourself. Kids feel what you feel. If you’re dreading it, they’ll dread it. If you’re genuinely excited, curious, maybe even a little playful about it — that’s contagious.

Fed and Rested Is a Non-Negotiable

I say this with full love and no judgment: a hungry, tired child is not a photographable child. Neither is a hungry, tired parent.

Try to time naps so your little ones wake with enough time to shake off the grogginess before we meet. Make sure everyone has eaten. Bring snacks — I genuinely encourage this. Goldfish crackers, fruit pouches, a little bag of something they love. Snacks can reset a moment faster than anything else I’ve seen.

A word on snack choices: avoid anything that stains (looking at you, fruit punch and chocolate). Suckers work great as a bribe but not so great when I’m trying to photograph a smile and someone is clutching one like a lifeline. Save those for after.

Bring the Things That Make You *You*

One of my favorite things about a session is when a family brings a piece of their real life into it. Not props in the staged sense — more like, the things you actually do together.

Do you read together at bedtime? Bring a book. Is there a favorite ball, a kite, a beloved stuffed animal your daughter takes everywhere? Bring it. Do you love blowing bubbles? Bring bubbles. Do you have a dog who is basically a member of the family? Bring them — pets are always welcome at my sessions, just let me know ahead of time.

When your hands are busy doing something you actually love, the camera disappears. And that’s when I get the pictures you’ll want to frame.

Check the Weather and Dress for It

We shoot outdoors, which means weather is part of the equation. I’ll always be in touch before your session if something looks uncertain, but here’s how to set yourself up regardless:

In cooler weather: layers are your friend. A cardigan over a dress, a denim jacket, a cozy knit — these add visual interest and keep everyone warm without the bulk of a heavy coat. Scarves and hats can be beautiful. Throw some hand warmers in your pockets. I will not judge you.

In warmer weather: think light, breathable fabrics with a little movement. Linen, gauzy cotton, flowy skirts — they look beautiful in summer light. Sunscreen matters more than you think when we’re in a field at golden hour. Apply before you leave home.

My goal, always, is for everyone to be comfortable enough to forget where they are. Comfort makes for honest pictures.

Just Be With Each Other

This is the part that matters most.

I don’t need you to perform for me. I’m not looking for posed smiles or perfect stillness or anyone looking directly into the lens on cue. What I’m looking for is *you* — the way you hold your daughter’s hand, the way your husband looks at you when you laugh at something, the way your son still reaches for you even when he’s trying to seem too old for it.

Toss your kid in the air. Whisper something silly in your partner’s ear. Chase someone. Let yourself be chased. Sit in the grass and just *be there* for a minute.

I’ll be watching. And I’ll catch it.

Catch Me Up Before We Meet

A day or two before your session, I’ll send you a quick check-in. Nothing complicated — just a chance for you to fill me in on what’s been happening in your world right now. Not the permanent stuff (I already have that from your booking questionnaire), but the this-week stuff. The things that only you would know.

Things like: your daughter just lost her first tooth and can’t stop showing everyone. Your son has been obsessed with dinosaurs for the past three weeks and will talk to anyone who asks about them. Someone is going through a phase of being very serious around new people and needs a few minutes before they’ll crack a smile. The baby just learned to wave. Dad had a rough week at work and could use a reason to laugh.

These little details change everything. They’re how I walk into your session already knowing how to meet your people — how to get a real laugh out of your five-year-old, what to ask about to make your teenager forget they’re being photographed, what to steer around so nobody’s session starts on a sour note.

This is also a good moment to flag anything practical — a sprained ankle, a fresh haircut someone is still getting used to, a nap schedule that means we really shouldn’t run late. Nothing is too small to mention. I’d rather know.

One Last Thing

A family session with me is not about getting a perfect photograph. It’s about spending an hour in a beautiful place, actually being together — and then having something real to show for it.

These pictures are going to matter. Not because everyone was perfectly still, or because the light hit just right, or because no one cried (someone always cries, and I mean that in the best possible way). They’re going to matter because they’re true. Because they’re yours.

I can’t wait to meet your family.

With warmth,

Martina

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As a family photographer serving Bloomington-Normal and communities throughout Central Illinois, I’ve photographed enough toddlers, teenagers, and everything in between to know that the best sessions aren’t about perfect behavior—they’re about connection.