top 5 tips to prepare for your family lifestyle photo session | priscilla baierlein photography {central KY family lifestyle photographer}

It’s that time of year where things start to warm up, the sun decides it wants to see KY again, and we start to imagine life on the other side of winter. Yay! I mean…I’m thankful for all types of weather…but a whole lot extra thankful for warm weather. Give me poolside or beach side or days in my garden and I’m a happy girl. Spring time also means…time to book your family’s spring session! Y’all, I am SO excited for 2019. I’m fighting to get through all these changes and prep work on the back end so it can be the best year yet. I just know it’s going to be. Bookings are all well under way. A couple things to keep in mind…

* We are booking 8 full signature sessions a month and mini sessions are only scheduled a few days out of the year, with the exception of special mini days here and there (like the mini branding & headshot sessions coming up at the end of this month). Which means…contact me as soon as you think you may be wanting to book a session so we are sure to have your spot held. Help me make this the best year yet for our little love filled business!

* The email list is the FIRST place everything is announced. You can subscribe to receive these blog posts right in your email as well as the monthlyish email (which is where everything is first announced). There are so many goodies I have in store this year for this list! I’d love for you to subscribe HERE.

I just can’t wait to see you all this year! Yay!

5 tips to prepare for your family lifestyle photo session

1. Make sure everyone is fed and rested. Trust me, I know how hard that can be with little ones. It seems like it’s the days we need them to nap that they fight it. Trust me, they know something special is happening. Try to make the day as easy going as possible. Try to pick a day that is not full of activities (which I know can be a tall feat in and of itself). Don’t go swimming all day or do anything you know will wear them out. If your session is later in the evening when the light is ideal, be sure to give little ones a later nap or rest. Make sure everyone is fed so we have no “hangry” littles or bigs. Bring along “clean” snacks (you know…not too messy) and water or even a picnic. I always love this portion of sessions too!

2. Check expectations & wrap yourselves in grace. Kids will be kids. The beauty of a lifestyle family session is that we want them to be just that…themselves. Let them be little and have fun with them. Let go of the “pressure to behave”. I know that sounds crazy, but if we are fussing at them the whole time, then this session won’t be fun for any of you. They may not sit still at any point and that’s okay. I have worked with all sorts of kiddos and have lots of tricks up my sleeves to get good images through the chaos. I’ll tell you a little secret…I love it when kids have fun during sessions…I embrace the chaos. It’s often these times that we get some of the most real and fun pictures. Our goal is to capture your wiggly, silly, fun, kiddos exactly as they are right now. Because with all of that is also love. This too shall pass.

3. Let the littles know you will be having a play date with your friend, Miss Cilla. Make it sound as fun and exciting as it is without putting a lot of pressure on them. Even better, show them my picture so they know what to expect.

4. Plan a special treat for after the photo shoot. Ice cream, a special dinner, a dance party, something your family loves. Not as a bribe, but as part of the experience. Something else to look forward to. In fact, I discourage bribes and encourage you to just play and breathe, and have fun with your little ones.

5. See this as a celebration of your family and a chance to just love on and appreciate each person you hold so dear. Take the pressure off for this to be anything but that. This isn’t a time for you all to be perfect. It’s just a time to be. To be together. To love each other and have fun. Just take a deep deep breath and play. Or, for your older kiddos, just hang out with them. I love for client friends to think about a few things they love about each other ahead of time and whisper these as they are snuggled in for pictures. Or you could write a little love note to each of your kiddos just before so they know this is all about love and there is no pressure to be anything else but themselves.

Bonus Tip: What to wear…Wear what makes you feel like yourself…what makes you feel beautiful…and what you are comfortable in. That’s it. That’s the key. If you want to go further and coordinate, I suggest picking a color and weaving it throughout your family and make sure each person is wearing something that is their style and personality. My only request is that you don’t all wear the same thing. Try not to be too matchy as this takes away a lot of the personality of things. I’ve also put together a couple what to wear pinterest boards for families and maternity. You can see those HERE.

The main thing to remember is just to simply breathe, love your family, and have fun. That’s all it takes. Please don’t wait for “just the right moment” because before you know it all the moments have passed and in 20 years you’ll realize that every moment was just about the right one.

So much love,

Cilla

PS…Wanna know my top 5 secrets for photographing your love filled life? Sign up for the mailing list and receive your free download.

PSS…Have you booked your family session for 2019 yet? I would absolutely love to see you and your sweet little family. This little business is all of ours and I’d love if you’d consider helping me make this the best year yet! Click HERE to book your session for this year!