The Best Season for 2023 Family Portraits

Preparing for Your Session

Yay, you’ve decided to schedule your family portrait session early in 2022 and lock in your month. We’re making this happen! But, which month would be best? Here are a few things to think about when deciding the best season to book your family portrait session in Connecticut:

Family sitting under flowering tree in West Hartford, Connecticut

Spring

Ah, spring. After a cold, dark winter, spring pops up in April and May, the sun comes out again. All of us New Englanders finally come out of hibernation. The perks of spring definitely include the colors. The flowers are blooming, nature is bright (think super green grass, vibrant flowers) and pastel colors look amazing. It also doesn’t hurt to have family portraits as gifts for Mother’s and Father’s Day! The downside to booking a spring session include the unpredictability of weather in the spring. Also, if you live in Connecticut, you know it can get cold unexpectedly. Here are some pictures from last spring to get an idea of what to expect from your spring session.

Summer

As a former classroom teacher, summer will always have a special place in my heart. My favorite thing about summer sessions in Connecticut is the glorious sunsets. It doesn’t hurt that it’s warm, the weather is more predictable and it’s fun to be outside in New England. One of the most fun places to be is the beach. Beach sessions during summer months are my most requested location. One of the cons to consider for summer sessions is that it can be HOT (hello, humidity). Also, if you have little ones with a strict bedtime schedule, be sure to note that your session time would be later because the sun sets later. Here are some pictures from last summer to get an idea of what to expect from your summer session.

Sharon Leger Photography || Canton, CT Family and Newborn Photographer | Family portraits in Simsbury, Connecticut

Fall

The last week of June every year, I think to myself “I guess no one is booking family sessions this fall.” Then literally, two days later, I have more inquiries than I can handle. I had to turn 11 families away this year (don’t worry, I hooked them up with some awesome photographer friends). Fall is so popular for family sessions for a few reasons. First, the photos can be used for holiday cards. Second, the foliage is AMAZING (if you book on a peak weekend). And finally, the weather is usually comfortable without a jacket and the sun set is earlier if you have kiddos with earlier bedtimes.

Probably the biggest negative to booking a family session in the fall is that it is hard to get a slot. As I mentioned, fall is usually fully booked by July, so if you already know you want a fall weekend spot, reach out soon! Here are some pictures from last fall to get an idea of what to expect from your fall session.

Fall family session 2022

Winter

Winter family sessions in the snow are always some of my favorites in New England. Snow does great things for your skin tones and it’s just a  fun backdrop that looks amazing on your holiday cards. But as you may have guessed, the downsides are it is COLD. Snow can be unpredictable, trees and grass are very brown and a lot of times, kiddos (and adults!) can’t hang for a long session outdoors. Winter sessions are definitely do-able, but you want to consider the ages of your children and their cold tolerance before committing to a winter session. Here are some pictures from last winter to get an idea of what to expect from your winter session.

Canton CT Family Photographer | Sharon Leger Photography | Winter Family Portraits

The Verdict: The Best Season

When choosing what season to book your session, remember that your holiday cards can have portraits from any time of year, it doesn’t have to by fall/winter (I book my own family portraits for the summer every year because that’s when my family and I are most available). I have families that change seasons every year which I LOVE so that they have a variety of seasons represented in their homes. Finally, if you commit to a month now and change your mind, know that I can be flexible as long as the five spots aren’t filled up on the month you want to change to. I’m here to help make your family portraits as successful as possible and I can’t wait to work together this year! 

What would you say is the best season to do family portraits?

"I am so happy to have had Sharon capture photos of my family. She was so easy to work with, from scheduling to planning and coordinating, she could not have made the process more simple. She showed up on the day-of super prepared, with a whole wagon full of stuff just in case, including snacks for my kids! 

Kim

4 / 15

She worked so well with my children: she truly understands that children are going to get bored fast and she worked around their moods perfectly.

I love that she captured my kids' candid smiles, and not just the posed ones. To top it off, the final product was beyond my expectations and delivered in under a week! You can tell that she loves what she's doing and it shows in her work. She is truly a gem and I can't wait to work with her again as my children grow up!"

"We loved how simple and stress-free our son’s cake smash session was—we didn't need to worry about props or set-up. 

Alexis

When we showed up, Sharon had everything ready for us and we got to just be present in the moment. 

The portraits captured all the sweet little details we want to remember from his first birthday, and we were so happy to share them with our family. It was the perfect way to celebrate this milestone!" 

2 / 15

"Sharon was absolutely lovely to work with. I'm not the type of person who particularly enjoys photoshoots, but she is exceptionally adept at putting her clients at ease. Her studio is equal parts tranquil, tasteful and casual so that my wife and I were not in the least bit overwhelmed.

Kevin

Sharon anticipates every possible need and plans accordingly so that you don't have to. 

She is able to maintain the pace of her shoots, moving them forward judiciously without making the client feel rushed or unappreciated. She was completely down-to-earth and personable. It sounds cliché, but talking with her felt like catching up with an old friend – exactly we needed after the hectic experience of bringing our first child into the world. Sharon was more than worth the cost."

3 / 15

"Sharon was amazing to work with during our recent newborn session! She was very responsive with any questions I had before the session, and even offered advice on outfits for my older children. I borrowed a gorgeous dress from her client closet, which helped me feel more confident and comfortable for photos. 

Amanda

I was nervous about how the session would go with two young children and a newborn, but Sharon had everything so organized and prepared, that everything went flawlessly.

She was so calming and kind, and her studio felt so welcoming! The finished photos are all so beautiful, that I can't even come close to picking a favorite!"

4 / 15

"I was first introduced to Sharon in 2024 when I did a session of personality portraits, and I was instantly impressed. A few friends had used her before and raved about her work, and now I completely understand why! Sharon truly works magic behind the camera. She is incredibly organized, answering all questions and planning every detail ahead of time. 

Merissa

There’s never a need to stress about locations, directions, or even bad weather—she has a backup plan for everything!

One of my favorite parts of working with her is the dress consult to help plan outfits. She has such a great eye for style and helps put together looks that photograph beautifully."

5 / 15

"Sharon and Amy were fabulous! Right from the initial booking they made me feel special. I wore three beautiful dresses that Sharon already had available for me to wear from her client closet (I LOVE this feature!). We tried on several dresses until I found one that fit comfortably and I felt fabulous in.

Nicole

Amy & Sharon were great at communicating with me every step of the process.

Amy didn’t go overboard with the makeup, she made me look like myself but a little extra glam. An elevated version of myself. They were so fabulous and I would absolutely book them again. I 10/10 recommend Sharon and Amy for maternity or family photo sessions."

6 / 15

"Scheduling was super easy through her website and Sharon is very communicative. Sharon offers a dress consultation so you can go to her studio and try on multiple dresses that fit whatever theme you choose for your photo day.

Nicole

I've never seen a photographer offer a whole closet of dresses to choose from and this takes out ALL the stress of picking an outfit for pictures.

Another priceless offering when it comes to taking the stress out of family photos is hair and makeup (additional fee). I scheduled with Amy for a few hours before my shoot. Amy was so easy to talk to and did a fantastic job with the look I wanted. I'm already looking forward to another booking and have referred her to my friends and family. I cannot recommend Sharon and her team more."  
 

Kind Words

7 / 15

"We recently had our second family session with Sharon and 

Jenna

we were yet again blown away by the entire experience. 

From her expert outfit planning, to making the journey to join us at our beach for photos, Sharon created a relaxed, fun environment from beginning to end. The photos we received were beyond what I could have imagined! She captured our family perfectly!!"

8 / 15

"I recently had the pleasure of working with Sharon for a family beach session, and she was amazing from start to finish! Sharon's attention to detail and professionalism made the entire process seamless. Her empathetic and supportive nature made a world of difference, and the photos turned out beautifully. 

Alexis

I highly recommend Sharon to any mom looking for a talented and compassionate photographer, who takes the stress out of planning.

Her work is exceptional, and she truly cares about her clients. Thank you, Sharon, for capturing these moments for us!"

9 / 15

"Sharon is the absolute best! We worked with her for our maternity photos, newborn photos, and our cake smash one-year-old photos. Each time, Sharon is so professional and friendly, makes us feel right at home, and take the most beautiful photos. We are blown away every time! The client closet is awesome and Sharon really went the extra mile to find gowns that complimented me. 

Jen

We had so much fun taking all of these photos and can’t wait to work with her again!

We will cherish these photos forever."

10 / 15

"We did personality portraits for the second time with Sharon and they came out so well! 

Kelsey

The kids had such a blast and she really captured their unique personalities!"

11 / 15

"We did both our maternity and newborn photos with Sharon and she made each experience beyond amazing. I met Sharon first at our dress consultation and knew we were going to work well together. It’s incredible that she gives you access to some many dresses and really knows how to make a pregnant lady feel beautiful.

She made my husband (who admittedly did not want to take the pictures) feel so comfortable, got him laughing and even looking forward to the newborn shoot.

Then, at the newborn shoot Sharon was so patient with us (it was our first trip out) she again made me feel so beautiful in her huge selection of dresses and was so good and rocking out baby boy to sleep."

Alexa

12 / 15

"Stop reading reviews and just book your session with Sharon Leger Photography right now. Sharon has been there for my family even before we were an official family. She poetically captured our engagement, maternity and our newborn’s first photos.

I couldn’t imagine trusting anyone else with these precious moments.

I am not an easy client. I am nervous, unsure of myself and overly aware of every physical flaw (especially postpartum). Sharon made me feel comfortable and beautiful every step of the way. We love Sharon Leger Photography, especially the woman behind the lens! Thank you for everything, Sharon!"

Dawn

13 / 15

"Sharon is an absolute gem! It has been 3.5 years since I found her and since then she has captured the most adorable and perfect pictures of my two sons and our family.

From newborn sessions, cake smashes and family photos, not one detail has ever been overlooked. Her process is seamless and she makes everything so accessible and easy.

She offers so many options for photo opportunities and has perfected a style that really is timeless! She was so wonderful with each of my children when they were newborns, that it made the experience so worth it! Couldn’t recommend enough!"

Melissa

14 / 15

"It’s hard for me to find the perfect words to describe what Sharon has given me.

I reached out to her when I was thinking about doing maternity photos, and she quickly convinced me that I would not regret it. She was right. Not only do I not regret my maternity photos but I actually love everything about them. Every time I look at them, all of those amazing feelings I felt while I was pregnant come right back as if I’m still in the moment. They are something I will cherish forever."

Kimberly

15 / 15

Kind Words

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