lake tahoe family photographer

Preparing for a family portrait session can seem like a daunting task, but with a little bit of planning and preparation, you can ensure that your photos turn out beautifully. Here are some tips on how to prepare for your family portrait session:

1) Schedule Your Lake Tahoe Family Session in Advance

Don’t wait until the last minute to schedule your family portrait session. Plan ahead and schedule your session well in advance, so that you can secure a date and time that works best for your family’s schedule. Be sure to communicate any scheduling conflicts or concerns, so that we can work with you to find a time that works best.

2) Choose a Location in Lake Tahoe

Think about the type of setting you want for your photos, whether it be an outdoor location like a forest with mountains or a beach, or an indoor location like a lodge. Consider the time of day that will work best for your family, and make sure that the location is easily accessible for all ages, including kids and grandparents. If you’re unsure of where to have your photos taken, we can offer suggestions based on your preferences and distance to where you and your family are staying in Lake Tahoe.

3) Choose Your Outfits Ahead of Time

One of the most important parts of preparing for a family portrait session is choosing your outfits. It’s a good idea to choose your outfits ahead of time and try them on to make sure that they fit well and look great together. Avoid wearing clothing with logos, busy patterns or overly bright colors, as they can be distracting in the final images. Choose clothing that reflects your family’s style and personality, while also being comfortable to wear. Below are a list of outfit suggestions for any season.

4) Prepare Your Family for the Portrait Session

If you have young children, it’s a good idea to prepare them for the photo session by letting them know what to expect and try to make it fun and exciting for them. Encourage them to be themselves and have fun, as this will result in more natural and candid photos.

For planning your outfits, we have compiled this guide:

Coordinating Family Outfits

When it comes to taking family portraits, choosing the right outfits can make all the difference. The right colors, textures, and styles can complement each other and create a cohesive look for your family photos. Here are some family photo outfit ideas.

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Neutral Family Photo Outfits

If you want your family photos to have a timeless and classic look, neutral colors are a great choice. For example, you could have everyone wear shades of white, cream, beige, or gray. This creates a simple and elegant look that will never go out of style. To add some depth and texture to the outfits, consider using different fabrics or patterns. You could have one family member wear a sweater, another wear a scarf, and another wear a plaid shirt.

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Fall Family Photo Outfits

Fall is a popular season for family portraits, as the changing Aspen leaves provide a beautiful backdrop for your Lake Tahoe family photos. For fall family photo outfits, consider using warm colors like beige, burgundy, mustard, or olive green. These colors complement the fall foliage and create a cozy feel. You could also incorporate fall textures like tweed, wool, or corduroy. For example, you could have the dad wear a tweed jacket, the mom wear a wool scarf, and the kids wear corduroy pants. Jeans work well during fall family photos also since they complement the oranges.

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Beach Family Portraits

If you’re taking family photos at the beach, you’ll want to choose outfits that are comfortable and casual. For beach family portraits, consider using light and airy fabrics like linen or cotton. You could have everyone wear white or light-colored clothing to create a beachy and fresh look. You could also incorporate beachy accessories like hats, sunglasses, or sandals. For example, the dad could wear a Hawaiian shirt, mom could wear oversized sunglasses, and the kids could wear polka dots, yellows and light blues.

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Family Outfit Ideas for All Seasons

If you want to create a cohesive look for your family photos, consider using a color scheme that works for all seasons. For example, you could use shades of blue and green, which work well for all seasons. This creates a consistent look across all of your family photos, no matter what season they were taken in.

Lake Tahoe Family Photographer

As a local family portrait photographer in South Lake Tahoe, I believe that taking family photos should be a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. That’s why I always strive to create a relaxed and playful environment during our photo sessions.

One of the ways I achieve this is by incorporating games and activities into the session. For example, I might ask the kids to play a game of “Simon Says” or “Red Light, Green Light” to capture their natural and genuine smiles. These games make it easier for the children to relax and be themselves in front of the camera, as well as prevent any meltdowns during the session. But it’s not just about the kids – I also want to make sure that parents feel comfortable and at ease during the session. I provide gentle guidance on posing and offer suggestions on how to interact with one another to create natural and candid moments that showcase everyone’s unique personalities.