Valmistautuminen lapsi- ja perhekuvaukseen

When is the best time for a family or children’s photo session?

For outdoor sessions, we almost always recommend shooting around golden hour — approximately one hour before sunset. The light at this time of day is soft, warm and genuinely magical. It flatters everyone and gives photographs that luminous, timeless quality.

That said, with young children the most important thing is timing around their energy levels, not the light. A tired or hungry child will not enjoy the session — and that shows in the images. We always recommend scheduling the shoot shortly after a nap or a meal, when your child is at their best.

The most beautiful photographs happen when children are well-rested, fed, and free to simply be themselves.

What to wear for a family or children’s photo session?

Comfort comes first. Everyone should be able to move freely, sit on the ground, run and play without worrying about their clothes.

 For colours, we recommend earthy and muted tones: cream, beige, rust, mustard, forest green, dusty blue. These sit beautifully against natural backgrounds and never distract from the faces and connection that should be the focus of every image.

Avoid large logos, busy prints and neon colours. They draw the eye away from the people and can make photographs feel dated very quickly.

For a family session, aim to coordinate rather than match, similar tones and a consistent mood work far better than identical outfits. We recommend a maximum of 3–4 different colours across the whole family. And always bring a spare outfit, just in case.

Shoes matter more than people think. Make sure everyone’s footwear suits both the location and the outfit — and bring an extra pair if you are shooting outdoors.

→ We are happy to help with outfit choices before the session — just ask.

Hair and make-up — is it worth the effort?

For children, a quick wash on the morning of the session is all that’s needed. Keep it simple and familiar — children feel most comfortable when they look like themselves.

For parents, especially if the session feels a little nerve-wracking, booking a make-up artist for the morning can make a real difference. A professional make-up artist will also even out skin tone and minimise any shine, which makes retouching easier and gives you more confidence in front of the camera.

If you colour your hair, we recommend doing it at least a week before the session a fresh colour that has had time to settle always looks better than one done the day before.

Hair and make-up — is it worth the effort?

For children, a quick wash on the morning of the session is all that’s needed. Keep it simple and familiar — children feel most comfortable when they look like themselves.

For parents, especially if the session feels a little nerve-wracking, booking a make-up artist for the morning can make a real difference. A professional make-up artist will also even out skin tone and minimise any shine, which makes retouching easier and gives you more confidence in front of the camera.

If you colour your hair, we recommend doing it at least a week before the session a fresh colour that has had time to settle always looks better than one done the day before.

How to prepare your child for the session? 

How you talk about the session before the day matters a great deal. Children pick up on parental energy — if you are relaxed and excited, they will be too.

For babies and toddlers under two, it is best not to try to bribe or prepare them in advance. Simply bring their favourite snacks and toys, and let us take care of the rest. Small children are easiest to photograph when they have something to do and somewhere to explore.

For children aged three and up, a brief, positive mention works well: “We are going on a little adventure with a photographer — it will be fun!” You can show them a photo of us beforehand so we are a familiar face when we meet.

Think together about what might make the session feel exciting for your child. Would they like to bring a favourite toy? Would a picnic in the park feel like an adventure? Would exploring a new playground work well? The best sessions happen when the child feels like they are the one leading.

Genuine childhood cannot be staged. It can only be captured.

Tell us what makes your child laugh

  Do we need to know how to pose?  

Before the session, think about what genuinely makes your child laugh — their favourite games, the silly sounds that always get a reaction, the things they are obsessed with right now. Share these with us. The more we know, the better we can connect with your child naturally and create the conditions for real, unguarded moments.

And one more thing: be ready to be in the photographs yourself. Children relax most completely when their parents are relaxed and present with them — not anxiously watching from the side. If you feel a little uncertain in front of the camera, that is completely normal. We will guide you gently throughout. The camera is simply a fly on the wall.

Not at all — and honestly, the less you think about posing, the better your photographs will be.

If posing feels uncomfortable, a lifestyle session might be the perfect fit. Instead of posed portraits, we focus entirely on what you are doing together — playing, reading, having a snack, exploring. The result is a set of photographs that feel alive and genuinely yours.

For family sessions, we always include a mix of spontaneous documentary moments and a few more classic, composed portraits. You will have both.