Planning a family session with kids can feel overwhelming. My goal is to create a stress-free experience for my clients when capturing family photos. As a North Alabama photographer I have some tips on preparing your kids for your session, locations, and more.

Choosing the Perfect North Alabama Location and Time

There are numerous beautiful North Alabama locations to choose from when booking a family portrait session. I am a North Alabama photographer primarily based in Huntsville, AL. Some of my favorite locations around Huntsville include Big Springs Park, Hays Preserve, and Belvins Gap. All of these locations are beautiful and offer different backdrops depending on the family’s preference. Big Springs Park in Downtown Huntsville offers a fun city feel while also enjoying the green all around. Hays Preserve is probably my favorite spot with young children. It offers a lot of big open fields allowing little ones room to explore. Belvins Gap is absolutely breath taking overlooking the city, but might not be the most suitable location for young toddlers wanting to run around. When picking a location and time for your session it is best to work with your photographer, who will guide you along the way.

What to Wear: Coordinating without Matching

When it comes to planning outfits for the family I recommend coordinating without matching. I suggest for my families to pick a color scheme for everyone to follow without wearing the exact same thing. Some great ways to coordinate while still mixing things up are to include different shades, pick outfits with texture, subtle patterns, and including pants and dresses. The families in the photos above did a wonderful job with planning their outfits. They all coordinate perfectly without completely matching. When planning your outfits be sure to also consider how different combinations look together. For example, how do just the kids outfits look together and just mom and dad’s outfits. You certainly want to consider the whole family for family portraits, but you’ll likely get some photos of just the kids and just mom and dad too. For more tips on outfits for family portrait sessions read this blog post.

Preparing Your Kids (And Yourself) for the Session

My biggest tip with preparing for your session is to try not to stress about the session. Some things that can help for a smooth experience are to plan your outfits in advance to avoid rushing right before the session. Pack water and snacks for young children. Snacks that are not messy and won’t stain outfits are best. Some great options are cheese sticks, crackers, or apples. Depending on the location of your session consider bringing sandals and heels if you plan to wear heels. Some locations may require some walking to get to or you may walk to a few different locations during your session. Overall try to have fun and enjoy your session. It’s a great opportunity for your family to have fun and create lasting memories. If you are interested in booking a photography session in Huntsville please reach out to me here. I offer family portraits, graduation, maternity, couples, and milestone sessions. Also, be sure to follow along on Instagram to stay up to date on mini sessions and more.

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Kelsea Adams Photography is a Huntsville based family and senior lifestyle photographer that strives to capture natural moments. The biggest goal is to create a stress-free experience that results in natural, authentic, timeless moments between you and your family. Lifestyle sessions are available for seniors, families, motherhood, and milestones in Huntsville, AL.