How to Prepare Your Young Children for an Evening Photo Session
When you imagine the perfect family photo session, you probably picture a beautiful setting, warm glowing light, and everyone laughing together in a way that feels natural and connected.
You start searching for a photographer and find images of families wrapped in golden sunlight—smiling, snuggling, running through fields or along the beach—and you think, “That’s what I want for my family too.”
You absolutely can have that, and when you choose an experienced family photographer, you can trust that they know how to make it happen.
Chances are, your favorite photos from their portfolio were likely taken at golden hour, the time before sunset when the light becomes soft and glowy.
Here in the Pacific Northwest we have some of the most incredible sunsets you can imagine, but as you likely know, they happen very late in the evening through the spring and summer months.
As a professional family photographer, perhaps the most frequent concern I hear from parents this time of year is: “that is past my child’s bedtime, and I’m worried that they’ll be unhappy during the session if they’re up that late.”
Totally fair—and totally understandable. But here’s the part that often surprises families: kids usually do amazing during evening photo sessions when we plan thoughtfully and keep things fun.
Ready for a family photo session with gorgeous golden light AND happy kiddos? Here’s my advice.
Adjust Nap Times
If your little one takes naps each day, try shifting their schedule back by however much time they’ll be staying up later than usual. Do they take a nap at 2pm and have a 7pm bed time? Try shifting their nap to 3 or 4pm that day so they will be well rested in preparation for the photo session.
Let Them Be Themselves
As with all of my sessions, regardless of what time of day, family photo sessions turn out best when you let kids be themselves. Whether that leads to a playful moment or a snuggly one, photos with your children will be most meaningful when you follow their lead and search for moments of connection.
Bring Snacks and/or toys
Keeping some of your child’s favorite items on hand can be a great way to lift their spirits if needed! Just try to choose items that are relatively discreet so it’s not the first thing you notice when looking at your photos. For snacks, be sure to choose something like cheese sticks or fruit gummies that won’t potentially create a mess!
Make Time to Relax
If possible, I also suggest that you plan in advance to not have any big activities scheduled for your family the day of session, such as birthday parties or family reunions. Try your best to spent most of your time leading up to the session at home, just snuggling or playing outside together.