Family Photo Session Guide | Bree Hanan Photography

Hello and happy Friday y’all! I hope you survived Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday with at least few dollars left in your wallet. This holiday season I have committed to only gifting second hand or consumable items, so I did not participate in any of the big spending days last weekend. I know a lot of people think buying second hand is gross, but that’s why I keep my eyes open throughout the year for high quality, washable items that I can easily gift. And I am always on the lookout for baking dishes or plates that I love delivering homemade treats on year round (but especially during the holidays!).

Anyways, today’s blog post is all about family photo sessions. This type of session is nothing new; I would be willing to bet that most of you reading this post have participated in at least one family photo session before. So I am going to be breaking down my approach to family sessions and what you can expect while working with me! 

What is a family photo session? 

I remember the first time I photographed a family session. I was still a brand new photographer, so I asked some friends with three small boys if I could photograph them. That session was wild! Toddlers were running everywhere, I was extremely stressed, and I was not thrilled with how the photos turned out. I told myself I would never photograph a family again. 

But then I started photographing my nieces. And then I photographed another young family I am friends with. And then another. Until finally I started feeling more comfortable directing parents and children to get the shots I wanted. And I learned lots of tricks to help me out. Then one day, I stopped dreading family sessions. And now? They are some of my favorites! I love getting to photograph the same families year after year and watch the kids grow. And I know it is so special for parents to be able to have photos of their kids at each age that they will be able to look back on for years to come. 

Simply put, family sessions are a time to document growth, additions, and the different stages of life for your family. 

Why should I schedule a family photo session? 

There are many reasons a family might want updated family photos. It could simply be a yearly tradition, or perhaps to celebrate an addition to the family or a milestone reached. 

As a photographer, I am of the opinion that seasons and years need to be documented. You may be familiar with the phrase “The days are long but the years are short,” and clichés are clichés for a reason. It may seem to you that you and your family have not changed much … until you look back at last year’s photos and realize just how much has changed! Every moment spent with your family is precious, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to capture even just a few of them. To paraphrase from another cliché, the only photos you will regret are the ones you didn’t take. 

How do I prepare for my family photo session? 

Preparations for your family session will largely depend on the age(s) of your child(ren). For families with babies and toddlers, I recommend packing a bag with snacks, drinks, and some form of entertainment (P.S. photos of your kid with their favorite toy are *priceless*). For kids who are old enough to understand what is going on, I recommend creating some excitement around the session and involving them as much as possible (maybe they get to pick what’s for supper after or they get to go someplace they love afterwards like their favorite park or the library). And for teenagers, collaborate with them about their outfits (if there’s a differing of opinions, consider letting them pick their own outfit for a portion of the session, and then wearing something you have chosen for the rest of the session).

Another factor to consider is location. If your session will be in your home I would recommend straightening up beforehand (*please note, a full deep clean is not necessary, as I know this can be a deterrent for some from doing an in–home session. Also, your home does not need to be super aesthetic. You and your children will love looking back at photos taken there, because it’s where they grew up). Trust me, I can make your house look cute in photos!

Everyone who books a session with me receives a welcome guide, which contains a section on what to expect before, during, and after our session, a style guide with photo examples (which I have been told is really helpful!), and a section on how to get the most out of your session.

What can I expect during my family photo session? 

One of my favorite trends right now is taking a lifestyle approach to family photos. This can look like capturing bath time or mealtime for babies or toddlers, getting ready and going to a park or playground for school age children, and incorporating hobbies for children of all ages. 

No matter whether we are in your home, in a park, or in a studio, I always start my sessions with the more posed shots where everyone is smiling directly into the camera. I know that many times these are the photos that get used for Christmas cards or to print out for grandparents. Those types of photos definitely have their time and place. But my favorite photos to take are the messy ones, the in-between moments, the genuine laughter and connection between people who love each other endlessly. 

For families with small children, it is not uncommon for us to be searching for lions or elephants, listening for a wolf to howl, or finding the biggest rock for a splash contest in a creek. Older children might see who can skip a rock the farthest or show off their favorite hobby. 

When you submit an inquiry to me, one of the first things I have you do is fill out a questionnaire that tells me some background information as well as hobbies and interests, and I love incorporating things from the questionnaire into your session! 

Printing your photos

I am so passionate about printing your photos that I wrote a whole blog post about it! Long story short, in the contract that you receive is a print release so that you can print your photos from anywhere. But if you are wanting heirloom quality albums or prints, I work with an incredible print shop (that I use for my own personal prints as well!) that you can order from through me. Prices and other details are listed in the blog post linked above! 

Final thoughts …

I hope this blog post has been helpful to you and has inspired you to book your own family session! One last thing that I want to mention is my referral program. Because I know that expenses can add up (especially around the holidays!), I have a referral program for 15% off of your session for each referral who pays their deposit before you pay your final balance. This discount only applies to regular sessions (not weddings or elopements). Your referral has to mention you when they submit an inquiry, and you can accumulate multiple referral discounts up to 50% off a single session!

Below I have linked a few other related blog posts that may be helpful to you. 

Blog post: “How To: Create A Core Memory During Your Photo Session“
Blog post: “How To Find Your Perfect Photographer“

*All my blog posts contain a selection of images that I’ve taken. If you are interested in booking a wedding or session with me, I am more than happy to send you a full gallery upon request!

I’m a wife, a dog mom, a foodie, a wanderer, a registered nurse, and a couples/intimate wedding/elopement photographer … and this blog will cover it all! If you enjoyed this post, first of all thank you, and second of all please follow me on Instagram + Facebook and sign up for my monthly newsletter to get exclusive wedding planning advice and access to all of my new (and old) freebies! If you have any questions about elopement photography, my journey from nursing to photography, or my time spent as a full-time RVer, drop a comment and I just might write a blog post answering your question (but I definitely will)!

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