When I was pregnant for my son, Sarah was pregnant with her twins, and I had the honor of taking their maternity photos while she and Brian were on vacation in northern Michigan. They come north every summer, and now that the twins were nearly four and had a little sister added to the mix, we decided it was time for another portrait session.

We met at the beach in the morning, which is my favorite time to do a family portrait session. The beaches are empty, everyone is fresh, and the sun hasn’t yet heated up the day. Family sessions with three children under four may feel a little wild, but bring the kids to the beach and let them run around next to Lake Michigan, who is wild in her own right, and everything feels as it should.

Some of my best recommendations when planning a family session? Bring snacks, bring a few toys, be prepared for the session to take some time. We are in no rush, we are here to be together, to make memories, and to acknowledge that this season won’t last forever.

I am opening bookings for family sessions for 2024 this month. I have new portrait session packages that I cannot wait to announce. Every portrait session will include educational information on how to prepare for your session. And while yes, there will be insight on what to wear (I know that this feels so difficult when planning for a session!), it will mostly offer insight on how to set the tone for a fun, carefree, memorable session.

Parents, there will be an entire guide just for you, to help prepare your little ones for the session and reduce everyone's stress leading up to the photoshoot. With just a bit of intentional planning, we will create an experience that isn't solely about the end result, but takes care to make sure everyone feels seen and heard in the process.