Tips for Planning an Outdoor Family Session

Everyone who knows me, can attest to how much I love capturing in-home lifestyle photos of families and their special moments. Lifestyle photography is my passion, but sometimes families want to capture portraits outside or at a specific location, and that is completely okay too! I love exploring new areas and capturing families where they feel most comfortable. However, compared to an in-home lifestyle session, there are a few more things to consider for an outdoor session. Here are a few tips for planning an outdoor family session to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Tips for Planning An Outdoor Family Session

Outdoor Locations

For those wanting an outdoor session, I send out a location guide for the San Antonio and Texas hill country area for you to choose from. My guide highlights some of my favorite spots that I have personally been to and know are great settings for family photos. However, if you have a particular location in mind, we can scout that out as well and see if it will work!

This sweet family of four chose a grassy, hilly area in Canyon Lake that created a dreamy backdrop for their portraits.

Session Time

I always suggest outdoor sessions starting right before sunset, which varies depending on the season, but is usually around 6:30 – 7:00 pm during the long summer days. Scheduling later in the day close to sunset, not only gives us the best lighting, but also helps with the Texas heat! If you’re looking to beat the Texas heat, here are a few tips for planning summer family photos.

As we head into fall and the sun starts setting earlier, sessions times do get moved up depending on sunset time to ensure we have the best lighting!

Items to Bring

Outdoor sessions are a bit different from in-home sessions, since you don’t have easy access to everything, which is why I suggest bringing along a few essentials. Bring everyone’s water bottles, and maybe even a few extra water bottles, just in case. Having bug spray on hand is never a bad idea either, since bugs do tend to come out as the sun goes down! You could also bring a little fan to keep cool with if it is going to be particularly hot that day. Last but not least, bring snacks, especially for little kids! These simple items will help make the session much more enjoyable.

Make it Fun!

Outdoor sessions are so much fun! There is room to roam and kids can explore, creating the sweetest photos. You can also make the session more fun by bringing items like popsicles to your session! Popsicles will help your little ones cool off and make you the cool parent for your session! There is nothing better than the pure joy on children’s faces as they eat a popsicle! Don’t worry about juice dripping; it’s all part of the experience and will make your photos even more memorable. Whether you bring popsicles or not, I always encourage families to make the session their own and include items that make it fun or memorable!