You’ve booked your session! What now?

Whether this is your first photography session or you’ve been in front of the camera a dozen times, it’s completely normal to feel a little nervous beforehand. You might be wondering if the kids will cooperate, whether everyone’s outfits will work together, or if you’ll actually know what to do once the camera comes out.

The good news? You don’t have to know what you’re doing. That’s my job!

But there are a few simple things you can do before your session that can make the experience smoother, more relaxed, and ultimately help us create the kind of photographs you’ll love.

1. Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute to Figure Out Your Outfits

I know it can be tempting to throw everything together a day or two before your session, but trust me—give yourself some time.

Try everything on before session day. Make sure everyone is comfortable, check that nothing needs to be steamed or altered, and make sure your little ones can actually move around in what they’re wearing.

Your family photos don’t need to look perfectly the same. In fact, I usually prefer outfits that complement one another rather than matching exactly.

Think about colors, textures, and the overall feeling you want your photographs to have.

And most importantly, choose something you feel good in.

If you’re uncomfortable in your clothes, there’s a good chance you’ll feel uncomfortable in your photographs. When you feel confident and comfortable, that comes through in the images.

2. Feed the Kids Before You Leave

This one sounds obvious, but it is surprisingly easy to forget when you’re trying to get everyone dressed and out the door.

A hungry toddler is not going to care that we have a beautiful sunset waiting for us.

Give everyone a snack or meal before the session, and if possible, bring a few easy snacks and some water with you. I’m also not above taking a snack break during a session if we need one!

Your session doesn’t have to be a perfectly uninterrupted hour of smiling at the camera. Sometimes we need to pause, reset, have a snack, and try again.

And that’s okay.

3. Don’t Stress About Posing

This is probably one of the biggest things I want my clients to know before their session:

You do not need to know how to pose.

You don’t need to practice in the mirror. You don’t need to memorize Pinterest poses. And you definitely don’t need to show up knowing what to do with your hands.

I’ll guide you through it.

I’ll give you prompts, movement, and direction throughout the session so you aren’t left standing there wondering what you’re supposed to do.

But I’ll also leave room for the moments that happen naturally.

Some of my favorite photographs aren’t the perfectly posed ones. They’re the photographs of a parent laughing with their child, a couple walking hand-in-hand, siblings being silly together, or everyone cuddling a little closer between poses.

So instead of worrying about looking perfect, focus on being present with the people you’re there with.

I’ll take care of the rest.

4. Give Yourself More Time Than You Think You Need

If your session starts at 6:30, I don’t recommend pulling into the parking lot at 6:29.

Give yourself some breathing room.

Getting everyone dressed, loading the car, finding the location, dealing with traffic, and getting everyone settled can take longer than expected—especially with little ones.

Arriving rushed can make everyone feel stressed before we even take the first picture.

And outdoor sessions are often planned around very specific lighting, especially during golden hour. We don’t want to lose valuable shooting time because everyone was scrambling to get there.

So give yourself an extra 15–20 minutes if you can.

Arrive, take a breath, let the kids run around for a minute, and get comfortable. We’ll have a much better starting point if everyone walks in feeling relaxed instead of frazzled.

5. Come Ready to Have Fun

This might be my favorite tip of all.

You don’t have to spend your entire session smiling at a camera.

Actually, I don’t want you to.

I want you to interact.

Walk together. Pick up your kids. Dance. Laugh. Tell your partner something ridiculous. Let your toddler explore. Snuggle your baby. Hold hands.

Be yourselves.

Some of the best photographs happen in the moments when you forget I’m even there.

And yes, there will absolutely be times when I ask everyone to look at me and give me that classic family portrait. Those photographs are important, too!

But I also want to capture the little things—the way your daughter reaches for your hand, the way your son laughs when Dad says something silly, the way you look at your partner when you think nobody is watching.

Those are the photographs that become more meaningful as the years go by.

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If you take nothing else away from this post, let it be this:

Your session doesn’t have to be perfect.

Your toddler might refuse to smile.

Someone might get grass on their clothes.

Your toddler may need a snack break halfway through.

Your husband might insist he “doesn’t know how to pose.”

And you might spend half the session laughing because everyone is being ridiculous.

That’s okay.

Those things don’t ruin your photographs. Sometimes they’re exactly what makes them yours.

My job isn’t to create a perfectly posed version of your family that doesn’t exist.

My job is to create photographs that feel like you—the connection, the laughter, the little moments, and all of the things that make your family yours.

So come prepared, wear something you feel good in, give yourself plenty of time, and most importantly…

Come ready to have fun!

I’ll take care of the rest.

Still Choosing Your Session Location?

If you’re not sure where your session should take place, I’ve got you covered! I recently updated my Central Texas Photography Location Guide with some of my favorite types of locations and tips for finding a spot that feels right for your session.

Read the Updated Central Texas Photography Location Guide → here!

And when you’re ready to plan your own session, I’d love to capture what matters most to you.

Book Your Session → (https://capturedbyrileymarie.com/inquire)