How to make the most out of your family session

I am so excited about our family session coming up

Please make sure you read through this guide — it has some helpful information about your session

what to expect

family sessions are normally around 45-60 minutes depending on how everyone is doing (extended family sessions can take up to 90 minutes)

i’ll generally give you ideas on posing or prompts to follow but I like to take a step back and observe / capture your family dynamic as natural and unique as possible

I promise I won’t leave you without any direction, but you also won’t spend the whole time smiling at my camera

My style is very authentic and natural and focuses on all the in-between moments of your connection together

To make the most out of your session I truly recommend just enjoying time with your family, interacting, loving on each other, just being together

how to prepare

if you have little kids — make sure you bring toys, snacks or distractions that might help them look at the camera better / keep the vibe upbeat. make sure they are fed and changed before our session to ensure the best experience and outcome

its also a good idea to explain to them what is going to happen and maybe what you will do after the session to celebrate the good behavior they had :)

as parents, a good reminder is just to ‘go with the flow’ as much as possible — think dancing with your kids, playing with them, loving each other. I promise those natural photos will be some of your favorites. instead of trying to control our children’s behavior — we will work with it

what to wear

I often suggest muted and neutral tones, earthy colors and minimal patterns

wearing outfits that compliment each other without being too matchy matchy is key. For an extended family session I recommend picking 1 or 2 colors and incorporating different shades of those colors (paired with neutral colors)

making sure you are all comfortable and can sit and move around is very important -my style of photography involves a lot of movement so this is key to achieve these natural type of photos

textures always photograph well — think linens, waffled materials or lace, chunky knits or anything that flows

Most of my clients prefer to be barefoot, but this is up to you!

I recommend avoiding

  • slogan or branded clothing

  • matchy matchy outfits (like all of you in jeans and matching white t-shirts

  • clothing patterns or colors that clash

  • clothing you (or your kids) feel uncomfortable in

at the end of the day, this session is yours — wear something that reflects you and your family’s personality :) these photos are going to be images treasured for generations so take time to find something that you love and that captures your personal style

Kona Hawaii Mood Board Inspo HERE

if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out via email: nicolelewienphotography@gmail.com — i’m always available if you want outfit guidance otherwise you will hear from me about one week prior to our session with specific meeting details :)

so excited!

Warmly, Nicole