Family Session Prep Guide

Congratulations on booking your session with Jen Polillo Photography!

I am thrilled to work with you and your family!

To ensure your session goes smoothly and everyone has a great time, I've put together this comprehensive prep guide.

Wardrobe: "What Should We Wear?"

Deciding on outfits can be overwhelming, but it’s essential for your session's success.

Here’s how to approach it:

Start with Mom: Begin by selecting an outfit for Mom. This could be a new purchase or a beloved piece you already own, but it must make her feel good and be comfortable. Be careful about undergarments. While I am experienced at Photoshop, editing out bra straps or panty lines is difficult and time-consuming. Choose clothes that properly fit and cover your undergarments, in all types of movement scenarios.

Once her outfit is decided, build the rest of the family's wardrobe around it.

Colors and Themes: Consider the colors in your home or your favorite hues. Choose muted tones, neutrals, or jewel tones that will photograph beautifully and complement each other. You can also try a free app like styledna to do your personal color chart to see what colors best suit your skin tone.
Comfort is Key: Ensure everyone is comfortable. We’ll be moving, playing, and having fun, and it’s crucial that you wear clothes that allow freedom of movement. Your favorite pair of jeans can make for a more casual vibe or long flowing skirts and dresses look great on all body types and encourage beautiful images with lots of fluid movement.
Accessorize / Props: Hats, scarves, jewelry, and even props like blankets, toys, or a favorite flower can add layers and unique character to your photos.
Mix Textures: Floral patterns, and various textures like denim, knits, and lace can create a visually interesting composition. Avoid matching outfits; instead, encourage diversity in colors and patterns.

Things to Avoid:

Logos: They can distract from your faces.
Neon Colors: Stick to softer shades for a cohesive look.
Over-Matching: Aim for variety rather than everyone wearing the exact same color.
Too-Tight or restrictive clothing: Aim for clothes you can have fun and feel your best in. Recommended Shops: Your own closet, Old Navy, Gap, Target, Macy's, TJ Maxx

What to Expect: "What Will Our Session Be Like?"

My goal is to capture your family's unique connection in this moment in time.

We’ll focus on fun activities rather than stiff poses.

Here’s what you can expect:

Timeline: Sessions typically start with 5 minutes of posed shots and then organically evolve into active prompts for candid photo opportunities.

Family Playdate: Think of activities you enjoy as a family—we’ll incorporate those for candid moments. A couple quick, posed “Grandmom’s Photos” will kick off our session and then we play!

The Week Before: Preparing Your Family

Prep the Kids: Talk about the upcoming session—make it sound exciting! Refer to me as Jen, Ms. Jen or, your friend who loves to take pictures, and let them know we’ll have a great time. Bribing them with a treat afterwards (like ice cream or screen time) can help too!
Prep Dad: Let him know he’s joining us on this play date! Emphasize that all he has to do is relax and enjoy family time. Perhaps bribe him with a date night😉
Prep Yourself: Do something special for yourself—get your nails or hair done and wear your favorite outfit. The more relaxed you are, the better the session will be.

Session Day: "It's Finally Here!"

Here are a few reminders to make the most of your day:

Pockets and wrists: Make sure you have empty pockets (phones, keys, wallets) and you’re not wearing hair ties on your wrists. I usually catch this after I take that great shot, so this is your reminder to remind me😊
Moments Over Poses: After our initial posed shots for grandmom, we’ll focus on capturing natural interactions. These are THEE shots! Let them happen.
Relax & Have Fun: Joy shows up in photos. Keep the mood light—if one family member isn’t feeling it, give them some space or some extra love and attention. Try to go with the flow and avoid over-correcting children during the session, as I get the best shots in those in-between moments. Usually its the parent’s stern face and gesture that throws off the photo, not the uncooperative child. If they are being safe, let the kids take the lead and do their thing.
Not everyone has to be looking at the camera: Actually, I usually encourage it and prefer you look at one another. I like to especially encourage dads to focus on their partners and their kids. When in doubt, just smile and look at your family lovingly.
Physical Connection: Maintain touching between family members—hugs, handholding, or snuggling create genuine warmth in images. Stand close together. Actually, as close as possible!
Relax, slow down, and don’t force anything. Don’t feel pressured to make everything perfect! Just be present with your family and I’ll do the rest. And don’t stress if any of the kids get fussy! As a former teacher and experienced photographer, I’ve seen it all before, trust me. Just snuggle your kiddos and we can still capture beautiful images.
Expect me to move you around to different spots to capture images. The more variety we get, the bigger your gallery and the more great shots we have the opportunity to create together!
Be Prepared: Pack snacks, water, blankets, and a change of clothes if needed.

After the Session: "When will we see our photos?"

Once our session wraps up, I’ll begin the editing process.

Back-Up: I will immediately back up all the images.
Sneak Peeks: I’ll post sneak peek images on my socials within the week.
Gallery: Expect your gallery within 2-3 weeks via your private user-friendly link to download, print, and share your memories.

Thank you for reading through this guide!

I'm here to answer any questions or help in any way with your session prep. Feel free to reach out via email, jenpolillophotography@gmail.com, or Facebook message.

I can’t wait to capture your family’s story!

Best,

Jen