Tips

How to prepare for the best session 🙂

Family sessions are such a special occasion, and I want to make sure everything goes as smoothly a possible.

When you are planning your family photo session, there are a few things you should know. First of all, I like to think of these sessions as a play date, with the difference that everyone is a little more dress up than they would be on a real play date. You can let you kids know that you will be meeting Danielly and going for a hike while she takes some pictures of the family – keeping things casual and lighthearted. 

You can always tell them we will do this and afterwards the family will have dinner and ice cream or something they like, but don’t promise too many things, otherwise they will think what they will be doing is really hard (since they will get so many rewards).  And the truth is, we will be walking around, exploring, looking for animals and most important, playing with the kids, so we can get real smiles from them. When they are happy, we parents, naturally smile as well. 

Of course, if the kids are older, that won’t work, but they understand better. For the older ones, I will need parents helping me on saying things that usually make them laugh at home, “inside jokes”, etc., so we can get some genuine smiles. They can be a little reluctant in the beginning, but as we go, they let their guard down and we can get beautiful images of them. 

What is the best time of the day for photos? 

Photography is all about lighting. Have you noticed when you are at the beach or out and about somewhere around noon, or 2pm and the place looks beautiful, the sky is blue, then you take a picture, but notice all the shadows over your face? Or your kid is wearing a hat and you see that harsh shadow from her hat right on her eyes? 

It is totally fine when you are documenting little moments here and there, but for professional photos, we want to get that beautiful, golden light. On a bright day we need the sun to be at a certain angle to avoid all those shadows on our faces. We do this by meeting early in the morning or near sunset. During the summer, sunset can be as late at 8pm, and we would be meeting around 6:30 – 7pm, that can be too late for a toddler or even an older child. During the fall, this is not a problem since days are shorter and we would be meeting between 3 and 4pm for sunset. 

But if we are meeting sometime in Spring or Summer, there are a few things we can do. One of them is to meet in the morning. Usually we meet at 8am at a park and we can get beautiful lighting before the sun is too high. Another option, if we have to meet towards the end of the day, is to pick a park with trees. We can use the shade of the trees and as the sun goes down towards the end of our session, we can use more areas of the park. I will give you some options based on your needs. What would be the best place, based on the time of the day, your kid’s nap time, their age, etc. I also would like to mention here that if the day we meet is overcast, don’t worry. The overcast weather makes for a beautiful soft and even lighting. I particularly like it. We may have to meet a little earlier since the daylight ends a little earlier on overcasts day.

How to choose the best location for a family session?

San Diego, our beautiful San Diego! I know we see so many images in social media, or sometimes we have an idea in mind of doing photos in a certain location like the beach for example, but here are few things you should consider before deciding where you want to have your session done.

Convenience

If you have young kids, like infants or even toddlers younger than 3yo, convenience is key. It is better to choose a place near home, where you won’t need to drive for long time. Easy for the little ones, so they are still full of energy when they get to the location. Pick a place that is near you and save the other location for the next years. We want them to be happy and well rested and also, we don’t want mom or dad all stressed out because of traffic, running late, etc.

Nature/Parks

Parks and neighborhood hikes are by far my favorite. I have some parks that are easy and beautiful for photos. Basically, you get out of your car and we start shooting. Others we have to walk a little. But I feel like the neighborhood hikes are the easiest and the most chill places to have the session done. Depending on the time of the year we have the place to ourselves. In the fall, depending on how popular the location is, we usually have other families doing photos too.

Some popular parks can get really busy on the weekends, with visitors or other photographers, especially in the fall. For example at Old Poway Park, I have seen families lining up to photograph in certain spots – that is not ideal. I know I will lose my toddlers right at that waiting. It is not worth it. At the Sweet Water bridge there’s only a few parking spots, so we avoid going there on the weekends. Balboa Park has many visitors on the weekends. We can still do photos there, but we would meet in the morning to avoid the crowds or on weekdays. You see, after all these years working with families and kids, I’ve learned how to avoid stressful scenarios. I know I can’t control everything, but if we can avoid possible stressors, we will be way better off and able to enjoy this experience much more.

Another important thing to keep in mind: We can be in the most beautiful location, in the most beautiful golden light, if the child – or children – are tired, or hungry, we won’t get good photos, we won’t have a good time. For that reason it is VERY IMPORTANT to book the session around the nap time. I try my best to combine the best lighting with the best time for the kiddos. I offer session early in the morning, sometime between 7:45am and 8am, and at sunset, which can be 6:30pm on a summer day – way too late for the young ones – or as early as 3pm on fall days – usually after the light saving time changes at the end of October, beginning of November. I always try my best to accommodate the family needs and still get the beautiful light.

The Beach

We live in San Diego and we all want the photos at the beach at certain point, except for a few clients I have met throughout the years who don’t like the beach much. 

The beach is a beautiful place for photos, but it can be a little difficult and let me tell you why. The beach is a noisy place. On a hot day, there will be a lot of people – that give us less areas to photograph, more distraction for the little ones, etc. It is windy most of the times, and that means, babies don’t get very comfortable and also it will mess the girls hair – and the boys too. I think this is part of being at the beach, but sometimes we ended up with some crazy messy hair. The same for moms. Again, this is easier to manage when we have older kids.  Sometimes the beach is cold. We get the marine layer plus some wind and the little ones get cold. Not all moms plan for that and if the kiddos are not 100% comfortable, they won’t be happy. For toddlers is hard to understand that we are at the beach and they can’t play with sand or just run around like they usually do. Different than being at a park – with the wave noises, wind and all that – it is hard for them to hear me from far calling their names or trying to get their attention to get those photos where everyone is looking at me. I don’t want to discourage you, but I’m pointing out all the things that can happen. You know your kids better than me. If you think they are not ready for a beach session, you can always try photos for the next year – especially if you have a baby and a toddler or even more than two. We can get much more on a park which is more calm and quiet place for the little ones.

But now, if the kids are a little older and you think they are ready for photos at the beach, let’s do it! We meet about 40 minutes before sunset. At the beach there’s no shade and the light gets better as the sun is setting. My favorite photos are always the last ones right when the sun is setting. Sometimes we get the most amazing sunset, especially on the fall. I like to use Windansea Beach, Pacific Beach, La Jolla Shores and Coronado. Again, it all depends on the time of the year and the tide as well. We will figure out the best one as we get closer to the day.

Sometimes clients who usually go to the beach ask if we can meet at some beach near them. I’m always open to a new locations, but there are some things I look for when picking a place. For instance, at Windansea, all the beautiful rocks add interest to the images and I use them and some angles to “hide” all the beachgoers. At Pacific Beach, I use the pier for the same reason. Some beaches are very crowded, dogs running around, no point of interest, making it very difficult to give the impression that you were the only ones there. And that’s the reason why sometimes I may not do the session at your neighborhood beach.

The beach is beautiful for a maternity session and for families. I love to get all the candid images of the kids playing and at the end of the session, I let them play and run while getting these shots. For the ladies a “flowy” dress works great, not too short because of the wind. Also, sometimes the wind is a little crazy, so it may be a good idea to plan a hairstyle where part of the hair is not on the child’s face. It is a good idea to bring a hair tie in case we need to put their hair up. It is nature, we never know what’s going to happen, but we don’t want to loose a bunch of beautiful images because of a crazy hair. Better to be prepared. Also, for the beach, we go barefoot, so no need to worry about shoes 🙂

Every year I update my list of locations. I try to find places throughout the city and I’m always adding new spots to my list. Usually I update my list near the Fall, that’s when most of my clients want pictures. The places change too, depending on how much rain we got on the winter. Sometimes a place that looks good this year, won’t look its best on the next. I’m always out and about and I can help you to chose the best location for you.

Big Groups – Extended Family Sessions

I love extended family sessions, they are a little crazy, hard to organize, but they are totally worth it. I have families that meet once a year in San Diego, they make it a tradition and they photograph every time. I love to watch the kids to grow and some years they add a new member. They became even more special after 2020 when we learn we can’t take these moments for granted. For big families sessions, I always try my best to accommodate everyone’s needs. Usually we have many little ones, infants, toddlers, all ages. Many times clients suggest to have the session at the beach, again, since we are here in San Diego. And of course, we always try, but being realistic, our best bet is a more calm and quiet place, especially with all the little ones.

You will never regret booking your session and having your photos taken. I get super busy in the Fall and I know many of you are doing these photos thinking about your holiday cards, but since my kids are now older, all on their 20’s, these photos become more and more precious. You are not only taking pictures for the annual cards, but these are beautiful memories you will have forever.

What should we wear?

I hear this question all the time. While I think your wardrobe is something very personal, there are certain things that look best in pictures. Sometimes I watch videos about how to match the clothes, how to look stylish, how to look thinner and all of that, and it amazes me how many tricks there are to help us to look our best in front of the camera. For example, if you are short and you use above knees boots, that will make you look shorter on the pictures. Or, if you use a turtle neck, that can make your neck look shorter. To me you should wear what makes you feel confident. For instance, I love jeans and that’s how I feel like myself, but sometimes I like to put on a dress. I think dresses make me more feminine. Dresses, especially the “flowy” ones, look great in pictures, as they add a little movement. They can be paired with a denim jacket or a cute sweater for variety, but you have to find a dress that makes you feel great in it, otherwise you won’t like your pictures. However, if you found those great jeans and you are loving it, go for it.

Now let’s say you have a daughter and she got this special Etsy hand made dress from grandma and you know, for sure, you want to use that dress for the session. You can start building everyone’s wardrobe based on that dress. It is like a puzzle. First her dress, then your awesome new jeans, now you will start getting into your husband clothes to find what he has that will go with the colors you are putting together. Maybe you will need to shop for a top or some pants to compliment the family outfit. I’ve been noticing these beautiful neutral colors that are so trendy right now. I love them. Not only they are very easy to put together, but many of them look timeless. My go-to for anything “fashion” related is of course Pinterest. If I have a black leather jacket I want to style, I will go to Pinterest and search: “black leather jacket outfits fall” and there they come. The other day I bought a long green skirt, totally out of my comfort zone, but it was beautiful and I thought I would be able to put a few outfits together using things I already had. So I went on Pinterest and searched: “long green skirt outfit” and I got so many ideas, super fun.

Once you have the clothes all together, place them on the floor and take a picture of them to have an idea of how they look all together.

Another example, I searched for: “family photos wardrobe idea fall”

They even have suggestions of where to buy the clothes. Another great source is Instagram. On my page @daniellyprestes you can find a highlight called “Session Styling” where I share a few tips here and there. Those are usually tips from someone I follow and I think it will help on choosing the outfit, but there are endless accounts that you can follow that will inspire you. Just don’t make it stressful. If you do it ahead of time, it will be fun, because those are clothes everyone can use afterwards. Like everything, don’t wait until the last minute. Don’t wait to try the clothes and the shoes on your kids the night before, just to find out things don’t fit like it should. Then things get stressful. Having to run to the store and have to find some specific within a few hours is a challenge. Just plan ahead and have fun with it.

** Super important **

If you have a baby or a toddler, it is better to dress them as you get to the location. I swear, on the way to the park, they always end up spitting up, or dropping something on their outfit or even drooling on it. It happens every time. Just bring them in something easy to pull off and dress them in the car. Also, don’t offer them a snack that is colorful, like those lollipops that stain their tongues or mouth. I always ask parents to bring their favorite snacks, something light, like those dry yogurts, or even gummy bears (again, not too colorful).

Another important tip, which I mentioned before, but it is so important that I will mention again. Bring a sweater that can be incorporated in the photos. Don’t think your child will “sacrifice” for the photos. If they are cold, they won’t smile, they will fuss, they will give you “the attitude”. It is not worth it. Believe me. I’ve seen this happen millions of times.

Can we talk about Apple watches? When many newer models come out in the future, they will age the photos, so it’s better to avoid unless it is something you don’t mind to show. If you decide not to wear it, I would suggest switching it from one arm to the other about one week before the session to avoid tan lines. You can also cover these tan lines with a bracelet or long sleeves.

For Family/Group shots:

• The best is to choose the same tonal range, so no single member of the family stands out too much.
• Avoid busy prints. Some lighted color prints can add interest, but not too flashy.
• Solid colors are always good.
• Coordinate the colors, but do not use the same exactly colors.
• Choose clothes that you feel comfortable with. If you really want to use those high heels, it might be a good idea to bring a pair of flats, just in case.
• Think about the weather, you don’t want to freeze if temperatures drop.
• It’s a good idea if everyone in the group is wearing the same style of clothes (casual, formal, etc.) and try to avoid anything too trendy (unless you are going for a particular style). In the future, you don’t want to look at the pictures and wonder why you were wearing that…

Final thoughts

• Accessories are always welcome and very helpful in getting different looks with the same outfit. Purses, scarves, shoes, hats, favorite toys, ties for boys, etc. Anything that you would like to show.
• I like to take photos of details like family hand-holding, a child holding something, baby’s feet, etc., so remember to clean and trim nails for these type of shots. For the grown up girls, nail polish makes a lot of difference! Clean, clean, clean… clean hair, clean nails, wipe eyes, clean nose, feet, and brushed teeth.
• It’s very important to be on time, especially if you session is scheduled before sunset. We rely 100% on the sun light, a little before sun is down is already too dark for photos and we have to stop for lack of light. I know it can be challenging with little children, but try your best. We don’t want to lose any of your shooting time when the light is the prettiest.
• If we need, we can always take a little break for snuggles or a little snack.
• Bring your kids favorite snacks, but make sure they are not messy. Also, this is very important. Don’t bring big bags because sometimes they want to hold the whole bag and they won’t let it go. When we try to get the bag from them, they will cry, they’ll want to hold it. We don’t want the bag on the photos. So, offer one by one, small little package in case we encounter one of those “difficult times” – I have seen it all my friends!
• Have fun! Having someone taking your pictures can be intimidating at first, but after a few minutes you will start to loosen up. The photo shoot is all about you and believe me, 100% of the people – even dads!! – tell me how much fun they had!

Remember this… let the kids be kids. They will be silly, they won’t cooperate, sometimes they will throw a big tantrum, it is ok. We all have been there. The session is not a time to discipline your child, but to “distract” them. We will play, we will make fun for them, we will jump and run and dance and make funny noises and just relax. We don’t expect perfection, because we want reality. Life with the little ones is not easy and it is far from being perfect, but the beauty is within these moments. I have had all sorts of families and all sorts of tantrums and even on the most difficult sessions I was able to capture some sweet images, either in the beginning, in the middle or at the end. Every time I had moms telling me they don’t understand when I got those pictures because the whole thing has been so chaotic. But again, trust the process. The name of the game is patience and persistence. I have been doing this for a very long time and I had dealt with all sorts of situations. Just hold and love your children and partner and we will get beautiful images to keep and remember forever. I know this is a lot. I hope you took the time to read and got some good ideas of how to prepare for the photos. I always say that a photo session is a team effort, and it is SO worth it.

If you have questions, please email me: dpfuntography@gmail.com