Your Complete Guide to the
Perfect Family Session

Picking Your Location

The most important thing when picking a location is figuring out what kind of feel you want. Barefoot on the beach with the waves behind you? Golden hour in a wide open field? Relaxed and cozy at home? There's no wrong answer — it's just about knowing what speaks to you.

My best advice: pick somewhere your kids will actually enjoy being. A happy, interested kid is a photographable kid. If they love splashing around, let's find a beach or a creek. If they love running and open space, a park or field might be perfect. When the location feels like an adventure to them, it barely feels like a photo session at all.

Here in Northeast Florida and the First Coast, we are incredibly lucky to have so many stunning options. A few of my favorites depending on the vibe you're going for:

Once you've picked your spot, let me know and I'll help you dial in the best time of day for the light. I will work with just about any location — just keep in mind that darker spots will give you moodier, more intimate photos, while open beaches and fields tend to be bright and airy.

If you have no idea where to go, that's completely okay! Tell me the vibe you're after and I'll suggest a few spots that would be perfect for you.

What to Wear

Okay, this is usually the thing people stress about the most — and it honestly doesn't have to be complicated. Here's my golden rule: wear something you already feel great in. Comfort and confidence come through on camera in a big way, and there's no point in buying a whole new outfit if you're going to spend the whole session adjusting it.

The Basics That Always Work

• 1. Start with a neutral base — creams, whites, khakis, dusty blues, sage greens, warm tans. These photograph beautifully and don't compete with your surroundings.
• 2. Coordinate, don't match. You should all look like you're going to the same place, but nobody needs to be in the same shirt. Pick two or three neutrals and mix and match across the family.
• 3. Skip the loud prints. If you love a print, keep it to one person and make it subtle. Busy patterns can be really distracting in photos.
• 4. Avoid logos, graphics, and character tees on the kids. Even if it's their favorite shirt, it becomes the focal point of the photo — and that's usually not what we want.
• 5. Dress for movement. We're going to be running, twirling, chasing, and exploring — make sure everyone can actually move in what they're wearing.
• 6. Dress for the weather. This is Jacksonville — if it's summer, breathable fabrics are everything. If it's a cooler winter morning at the beach, layer up with cute jackets and blankets.
• 7. Check that the kids have matching socks. I know this seems small, but you'd be surprised!

What to Wear on the Beach

If we're shooting at the beach — whether that's Neptune Beach, Atlantic Beach, Ponte Vedra, Amelia Island, or St. Augustine — flowy fabrics look gorgeous in that setting. Linen, gauze, and lightweight cotton move beautifully in the breeze. Lighter colors photograph especially well against the sand and water. And please, please bring sandals or just plan on going barefoot — heels and sand are not friends.

Prepping the Kids

This is the part most parents are the most nervous about, and I just want you to breathe — it's going to be okay. I've photographed families with newborns, toddlers mid-meltdown, shy 7-year-olds, and eye-rolling teenagers, and we always come away with something beautiful. I genuinely love working with kids.

• 1. Give them a heads-up. Tell your kids about the session ahead of time — even little ones (age 2 and up) do better when it's not a surprise. You can frame it as: "A fun photographer is going to hang out with us and take some pictures. We might do silly stuff and there could be a treat afterward." (Bribery is 100% encouraged and I will back you up on this.)
• 2. Make sure they're fed, rested, and watered before the session. A hungry or tired kid is going to have a hard time, no matter how fun I am. Bring non-messy snacks — cheerios, raisins, mini marshmallows, or crackers. Skip the chocolate and gummies right before we shoot.
• 3. Bring a small bribe for tough moments. Whether that's a favorite snack, a sticker, or the promise of ice cream after — keep it in your back pocket and deploy when needed. No judgment here whatsoever.
• 4. If your child is shy or anxious, let me know ahead of time. I'll ease into things slowly and let them warm up to me on their own terms before we start shooting. We can spend the first few minutes just playing.
• 5. Let go of your idea of "perfect." I promise you, the shot of your toddler running away laughing is going to be one of your favorites. Don't stress if they're not cooperating — that IS the session.

Day-Of Prep

You're almost ready! A few last-minute things to make sure the day runs smoothly:

• 1. Lay out everyone's outfits the night before. You do not want to be scrambling to find matching socks at 7am before a sunrise beach session.
• 2. Try your outfit on a couple days before — just to make sure it still feels great and fits how you remembered. If something feels off, there's still time to swap it out.
• 3. Skip the big, heavy meals the day of. We're going to be moving around, and feeling light and energized is always better than full and sluggish.
• 4. Hold off on haircuts right before the session. The sweet spot for a fresh cut is 1–2 weeks out so it has a little time to settle in.
• 5. Plan to arrive 5–10 minutes early. We time your session around the light, especially for golden hour sessions at the beach, so starting on time really does matter.
• 6. Bring a small touch-up bag — a brush, some hairspray, and a little powder for shine. You'll thank yourself later.
• 7. Bring water, especially for summer sessions in Jacksonville. It gets hot and we'll be outside for a while.

What to Bring

• ✓ Water! Florida heat is no joke — bring more than you think you need.
• ✓ Non-messy snacks for the kids
• ✓ Small bribe or special treat — held in reserve for clutch moments
• ✓ Brush, hairspray, or hair ties
• ✓ Small makeup bag for touch-ups
• ✓ A change of clothes for the kids for after the session — especially if we're near water or sand (and we probably will be!)
• ✓ Towels if we're heading to the beach — sandy kids are happy kids, but you'll want a way to clean up after
• ✓ Comfortable shoes for getting to the location
• ✓ A blanket or wrap (great for photos and practical for chilly mornings on the beach)
• ✓ Any special props or meaningful items you'd like to include (a favorite toy, a letter board, etc.)

The Rain Backup Plan

Let's talk about something every family needs to hear: rain is incredibly common here in Florida, especially in the afternoons and evenings. It can go from sunshine to a full-on thunderstorm in about 20 minutes flat. It's just part of life in Northeast Florida, and it's something we plan for ahead of time so nobody panics when it happens.

Here's how I handle rain reschedules:

• 1. I have the final say on whether a session happens or gets rescheduled. If there's lightning, thunderstorms, heavy rain, or dangerous wind in the forecast, I will make the call to move it. Your safety and the quality of your photos both matter, and I will never push through conditions that compromise either one.
• 2. Morning sessions are almost always safe. It rarely rains in the mornings here — the afternoon pop-up storms are what typically cause issues. If you're flexible on timing, a morning session is almost always a safer bet in the summer months.
• 3. If you're visiting from out of town — staying at an Airbnb, a vacation rental, or a hotel — please make sure the morning after your scheduled session time is kept open. That window is your built-in reschedule time. Afternoon sessions are the most likely to get bumped due to weather, so having that next morning free means we can almost always still make it happen during your trip.
• 4. I will never charge you a reschedule fee for something that is out of your control. Ever. Weather happens, and the last thing I want you worrying about is money when the skies had other plans. Please don't stress about that — not even for a second.
• 5. Reschedules are part of the process and I handle them all the time — please don't stress if it happens to you. We'll get it figured out and get you those photos.

After Your Session

Once we've wrapped, here's what to expect from me:

• ✓ Full sessions are delivered within one month. Mini sessions are delivered within one week.
• ✓ Your gallery will be delivered through an online gallery where you can download your favorite images, share with family, and order prints.

When it comes to printing, I have two recommendations I stand behind completely:

For large prints and wall art, I personally use and recommend SmallwoodHome.com. As a photographer, this is the only place I order my own large prints from — the quality is incredible and they're worth every penny.

For standard photo prints, I recommend ordering directly from your gallery's print shop. It's powered by Miller's — one of the best professional photo printing labs in the world. Your images are color-calibrated specifically for their printers, which means what you receive will look exactly the way it's meant to.

If you ever have questions about printing, framing, sharing your gallery, or anything else — please reach out! I'm always happy to help.