Parents in field at sunset

Advice for Parents at a Family Session

Family

We worked together to plan the outfits, chose a date, find the perfect location. Now the day of your session is here! Here are a few of my favorite pieces of advice for parents at a family session:

Advice for Parents At a Family Session: Let Me Take the Reins

Let’s be honest, photo shoots can be stressful. You’re worried about getting there on time, if everyone looks good, the list goes on and on. However, as soon as you get to your session, it’s time to pass the responsibility over to me. When parents take a deep breath and allow the family to follow my lead, everyone relaxes. From the moment we meet up in the parking lot, you can expect me to give directions and take the lead. Through teaching and motherhood, I have learned that children often respond more readily to adults that aren’t Mom and Dad. Your kiddos will quickly realize that I’m in charge of things and once we start playing, it’ll be a piece of cake!

Little girl in field at mini session in Burlington, Connecticut

Advice for Parents: Expectations

Being proactive is my favorite piece of advice for parents at a family session. Honestly, it’s actually probably my favorite parenting strategy, too. Whenever I am going somewhere new with my own children, my husband and I are always very clear on expectations. We share 1-2 behaviors we expect to see from our kiddos (keep it positive!). Then as a family, we agree to a reward if everyone meets expectations. Friends, this is SO important to do ahead of time! When parents don’t discuss this ahead of time, they find they are offering their kids a trip to Disney World in exchange for a smile. Don’t fall into the trap! And bonus points if you can actually bring the reward with you. For kids under the age of 5, the promise of going out for ice cream is too abstract. Having an actual item or treat in your hand can work wonders.

Advice for Parents: Positive Vibes Only!

“Wow, that was actually a lot of fun!” – literally the best feedback I can hear. And all the better if it comes from Dad! Family sessions don’t have to be stressful. As you know at this point, your kiddos pick up on your vibe. If you are excited and relaxed, the will be too. I am sure to always reassure everyone in your family with my own calm demeanor. The more you can cultivate that in the car on the way to your family session, the better!

Little girl playing with parents at CT family session

Advice for Parents: Get There Early-ish

One of the biggest stressors on parents can be arriving late. Whenever I get a panicked text “We’re running behind, be there in 10!”, I always remind parents to take a deep breath and slow down. Being stressed that you’re late puts your kiddos (and you!) on edge and it’s not the best way to kick things off. Instead, take a deep breath, slow down and get there when you get there. We will make it happen, mama!

Advice for Parents At a Family Session: Praise, Praise, Praise!

Finally, the most overlooked piece of advice. Be sure to give a lot of praise to your young family members throughout the session. Everyone likes to hear that they’re doing a great job. I will be sure to heap some love on myself, but your kids want to hear it from you. Actually, they probably want to hear it from you the most! Even if your child isn’t on their A-game, still find small things to praise. The positive reinforcement can go a long way. 

Family sessions are my absolute favorite sessions. I love making memories with families, playing and having fun together. These are just some pieces of advice for parents at a family session that I’ve picked up on over the years.  Remember, every family is unique and we will be sure to bring that out and celebrate it during your session. 

Sunset session with mother and daughter

Haven’t booked your family session for the year yet? What are you waiting for?! Check out some fun family sessions here or go ahead and click here to start planning yours today!

"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."  
 

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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

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