Prepare for Your Family Photography Session
Family photos don’t need to feel stiff, stressful, or perfectly coordinated to be beautiful.
The goal is to create photographs that feel like your family — while making sure everyone arrives prepared enough that we can spend less time worrying about the little things and more time actually creating.
Whether your session is happening at Coastal Photo Studio or somewhere along the Oregon Coast, this guide will help you plan what to wear, what to bring, how to prepare children and pets, and what to expect when you arrive.
Start With a Color Story, Not Matching Outfits
You do not need everyone wearing the exact same color.
Instead, choose a small group of colors that work well together and build everyone’s outfits around that palette. Mixing complementary colors, textures, and layers creates dimension while still making the family look connected.
Start with one person’s outfit — usually the most patterned or distinctive piece — and build the rest of the family around it.
Easy combinations:
Cream + rust + denim
Tan + olive + black
Soft blue + cream + gray
Burgundy + camel + navy
If everyone owns the same white shirt and jeans, we can do it — but coordinating instead of matching usually photographs more naturally.
What to Wear
Choose clothing that fits comfortably, moves well, and still feels like you.
Helpful guidance:
- Avoid very small busy patterns.
- Avoid large logos, graphics, and distracting text.
- Layers photograph beautifully.
- Texture adds interest.
- Make sure clothing fits now — not the size you hope it fits someday.
- Check shoes, socks, and underlayers because they may appear in photographs.
- If something needs constant adjusting in the mirror, it will probably need constant adjusting during your session too.
Comfort matters — especially for children. An uncomfortable outfit usually becomes an unhappy kid very quickly.
Preparing Children
Kids are allowed to be kids.
Your child does not have to sit perfectly still, smile on command, or behave like a tiny professional model.
We’ll work with their personality rather than against it.
- Make sure they have eaten before the session.
- Avoid scheduling directly over naps whenever possible.
- Bring a favorite comfort item for younger children.
- Small, non-messy snacks can be helpful.
- Let me handle the posing and attention-getting once you arrive.
Preparing Adults
You do not need to practice posing before your session.
I’ll guide everyone through where to stand, what to do with your hands, where to look, and how to interact with each other.
If one member of the family is less enthusiastic about being photographed, that’s okay too. You do not need to convince them to become a model — just get them through the door.
Bringing Pets
Pets are welcome when your session and location allow it.
Bring a leash, favorite treats, doggie ‘business’ bags, and anything that helps your pet feel comfortable. If your pet is easily distracted, having an extra person available to help between photographs can be useful.
Pets count toward the participant total for Studio Portrait Sessions because they require posing, space, and setup time too.
What to Bring
- Outfit accessories
- Hairbrush or comb
- Makeup / touch-up items
- Water
- Small non-messy snacks for children
- Favorite comfort item
- Pet treats/leash if applicable
- Meaningful items you specifically want photographed
You do not need to bring an entire car full of props. A few meaningful pieces almost always photograph better than trying to incorporate everything.
Studio Family Sessions
Family sessions at Coastal Photo Studio offer a controlled environment with professional lighting and a variety of backdrop options.
If you booked a standard Studio Portrait Session, your appointment is up to 30 minutes. Arriving ready to photograph helps us make the most of that time.
Before you arrive:
- Have everyone dressed unless we’ve discussed changing at the studio.
- Know your preferred backdrop/setup.
- Bring only the items you actually expect to use.
- Arrive close to your appointment time rather than excessively early.
Outdoor & Oregon Coast Family Sessions
Outdoor family photography on the Oregon Coast comes with one thing we can always count on: conditions can change.
Wind, clouds, temperature, sand, and changing light are all part of photographing here.
What to consider
Layers
The beach can feel dramatically colder than town.
Shoes
Bring footwear appropriate for walking to the location, even if you plan to photograph barefoot.
Wind
Choose hairstyles and clothing that can move naturally instead of fighting the weather.
Backup clothing for children
Especially around sand, water, mud, or trails.
Towels
A surprisingly useful addition for beach sessions.
Cloudy weather is not bad weather
Overcast Oregon Coast skies can create beautiful, soft portrait light. A cloudy forecast does not automatically mean your session needs to be canceled.
Rain and severe weather
If conditions genuinely prevent us from photographing safely or comfortably, we’ll communicate about rescheduling or adjusting the plan.
During Your Family Session
We’ll photograph a combination of the whole family, smaller groupings, and individual moments when time allows.
Everyone together
Parents + children
Siblings
Each parent with the kids
Couple portrait of the parents
Individual children
Every family and every session is different, so specific combinations depend on the number of participants, children’s ages, session length, and how everyone is feeling that day.
What Happens After Your Session?
For Studio Portrait clients:
After your photographs are prepared, you’ll receive a private online gallery where you can view your images and choose the digitals and prints you want to purchase.
View Studio Digital Pricing →
Learn About Print Ordering →
Your specific gallery and delivery details depend on the session you booked. You’ll receive instructions when your gallery is ready.
Quick Family Session Checklist
Before You Leave Home
✓ Everyone has eaten
✓ Outfits coordinated
✓ Shoes checked
✓ Faces/hands clean
✓ Hairbrush + touch-up items packed
✓ Snacks/comfort items packed for little ones
✓ Pet supplies packed if applicable
✓ Phones, wallets, and bulky items removed from pockets
✓ Everyone knows we are here to have fun — not perform perfectly
Ready to go?
You’ve done the preparation. Now you can leave the posing, lighting, and photography to me.
Come ready to spend a little time together and let us document what your family looks like right now.
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