I am an over thinker extraordinaire, which is mostly a curse but sometimes also a blessing. What do I mean? I tend to think through each way a situation could go so that I can be prepared for each scenario. What does that have to do with you? Between photographing lots of families and having my own photos done a few times recently (the second photo below is me and my daughter at a session we had while in Galway, Ireland), I’ve thought through pretty much every step involved in getting ready for your Washington, DC Family Photos. All of that is going into a quick reference guide for you here that you can use as you get ready for your own photos with me! Read on for my tried and true tips.
Getting Ready for your Washington, DC Family Photos
Book your session
First step, lock in your session date. There are two ways that you can do this:
First step, lock in your session date. There are two ways that you can do this:
Book Directly: Go straight to my booking site and
- Select your session type
- Choose a date and time that works for you
- Complete the booking forms and submit a deposit to secure your session
Submit an Inquiry: Inquire through my contact page
On the form you’ll tell me:
- What kind of session you are looking for
- The date range when you are interested in scheduling
- Anything else you want me to know
- From there, I will email you to discuss next steps
Choose a location
After you book your session, we’ll choose a location together. If you have a specific spot in mind, let me know on your booking or inquiry form. If you want some help deciding, I have loads of ideas to share! This blog post I wrote on my three favorite family photo locations in Washington, DC is a good place to start. In home family photos are always a great option too – check out this post for examples.
Decide what to wear
This is what clients often think will be the hardest part, but you know what? It doesn’t have to be.
I don’t style my clients for their family photo sessions, because I want your pictures to look and feel like YOU. I will however, share simple guidance on how to choose an outfit that will make you look and feel great, and authentic at the same time. This post has all of the guidelines I use most often. The key takeaways are:
- Comfort and fit
- Coordinate, but don’t match with your family
- Patterns are great, bright colors and logos are not
The Weather
If your session is at an outdoor location, I will keep an eye on the weather. Should inclement weather look likely, I will reach out to you so that we can discuss rescheduling if necessary.
What to bring with you on session day
All of my clients get access to a pre session prep page that has loads of detail here! Here is a rundown on what I recommend having on hand during your family photos:
- Comb or brush
- Tissues
- Wipes (if you have very little ones)
- A snack and drink for the kids
- Makeup if you use it so you can have it on hand for touch ups
- Entertainment in case the kids need a quick break (whatever they might enjoy for a few minutes)
What to expect after your session
After your session is over, I will get to work on choosing the best photos from your set and editing them. I’ll deliver an online gallery to you within three weeks. You’ll be able to see and download all of your photos from there, and even order prints through your gallery if you would like. AND, I design an album for each session – that will be delivered to you at home within six weeks of your session.
And that, my friends, is it! Getting ready for your Washington, DC family photos in a few simple steps. Still wondering about anything? Leave a comment below or send me an email – jen@jenjosephphotography.com
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