The loveliest family photographs rarely begin with everyone standing perfectly still. They begin with a child leaning into a parent, a shared laugh after someone has said something daft, or a quiet moment that feels completely like your family. Knowing how to prepare for family portraits can help you arrive feeling calm, but the goal is never perfection. It is to make space for genuine connection.
A family portrait session is a small pause in a season that often moves far too quickly. The babies who will not sit still, the school-age children with muddy knees, the teenagers who are suddenly taller than you – these are all part of your story. A little preparation helps the session run smoothly, leaving you free to enjoy being together.
How to prepare for family portraits with the right mindset
The best preparation is giving yourselves permission not to perform. You do not need to know how to pose, make every child smile on cue, or arrive with a picture-perfect plan. An experienced family photographer will guide you into flattering light, offer gentle direction when it helps, and leave room for the unscripted moments that make an image feel real.
Talk to children about the session beforehand, but keep it light. Tell them you are going for a family walk, playing together, or having some photographs taken with the people who love them most. Avoid making smiles or good behaviour feel like a test. If they sense pressure, they may become wary of the camera. If they expect a relaxed outing and a bit of play, they are much more likely to settle naturally.
It also helps to release the idea that every frame must include everybody looking at the lens. A photograph of your little one holding your hand, siblings whispering together, or the whole family walking through a favourite spot often says far more than a formal line-up ever could.
Choose outfits that feel like you
Clothes matter because they shape how the finished photographs feel, but they should never make anyone uncomfortable. Start with one outfit you love and build the rest of the family around it. Choose a soft, complementary palette rather than dressing everyone in identical colours. Think gentle neutrals, earthy greens, warm rusts, muted blues, cream, oatmeal, denim and soft pinks.
Different textures photograph beautifully and add depth without becoming distracting. Knitwear, linen, cotton, corduroy and a well-loved wool coat can all work wonderfully, especially for outdoor sessions in the Scottish Borders or Northumberland. Layers are practical too, particularly when the weather changes its mind halfway through the day.
Try to avoid large logos, bold slogans, fluorescent colours and tightly matching outfits. They can draw attention away from faces and date more quickly than classic, simple clothing. That said, there is no need to dress in beige if that is not your family. A bright favourite jumper or a child’s much-loved dress can belong in the photographs if it feels true to them.
Before the session, ask everyone to try their clothes on. Check that children can run, sit, cuddle and climb without feeling restricted. New shoes can cause tears, scratchy labels can spoil a mood, and a coat that looked lovely on a hanger may be far too warm for an energetic toddler. Comfort is always worth more than formality.
Think about footwear and the weather
For an outdoor shoot, choose footwear that suits the location. Clean trainers, boots or wellies can look great and allow children to move freely. Sensible shoes are particularly useful on woodland paths, beaches and fields, where wet grass and uneven ground are part of the adventure.
Bring coats, a blanket and spare layers even if the forecast looks promising. Scottish light can be beautiful beneath cloud cover, and a little drizzle need not end a session. Often, it creates an intimate, cosy feel. We can work around the weather, but being warm and dry enough to enjoy yourselves makes all the difference.
Plan the session around your children, not against them
The most successful session time depends on your family. For young children, choose a point in the day when they are usually well-rested and fed. There is no benefit in chasing beautiful evening light if it clashes with bedtime and everyone is running on empty. Morning can be brilliant for little ones, while older children may be happier later in the day.
Keep the hours before the session simple. Avoid packing in swimming lessons, shopping trips or a rushed meal if you can help it. Give yourselves enough time to get ready without turning the house upside down. A calm start often carries through to the photographs.
Bring a few quiet essentials: water, wipes, spare nappies if needed, and a non-messy snack. Small treats can be helpful, but it is best not to bring anything likely to leave chocolate all over faces or brightly coloured crumbs on clothes. If your child has a comforter, favourite soft toy or blanket, bring that too. It may be just what they need to feel secure, and it can become a meaningful detail in the images.
Do not worry if a child is shy, energetic or determined to do their own thing. These are not obstacles to good photographs. A shy child may need time to observe before joining in. An energetic one may need permission to run first. Both can lead to beautifully honest pictures when the session follows their pace.
Let the location mean something
The best setting is usually one where your family can relax. This might be your home, a favourite local walk, a woodland trail, a beach, or a garden with room for children to explore. Home sessions can be especially meaningful during the early years, when the ordinary details of family life are often the ones you miss most later on.
Outdoor locations offer space, movement and changing scenery. They suit families who feel more comfortable walking, chatting and playing than sitting still. The trade-off is that weather, mud and crowds can be less predictable. A quieter location or a weekday session can help if your children are easily distracted.
If you are unsure, share what your family enjoys. Graeme Webb Photography can help you choose a setting that feels natural and photographs beautifully, whether that is close to Hawick or somewhere further across the Borders.
Keep expectations gentle on the day
Aim to arrive a little early, particularly if you have not visited the location before. A few unhurried minutes lets children explore, use the loo, have a drink and become comfortable before photographs begin. It is a small detail that prevents the session feeling like another appointment to rush through.
Once we start, resist the urge to correct every small thing. If a child pulls a funny face, runs off for a moment, or refuses to stand where you expected, take a breath. Your calm reassurance is more powerful than repeated instructions. Often, the best response is to hold hands, have a cuddle, play a game or simply carry on talking to one another.
Parents sometimes worry that they must keep looking at the camera. You will certainly have a few timeless portraits together, but much of the magic comes from looking at each other. Notice your children. Tuck hair behind their ear. Tell them something that makes them giggle. Those gestures are the things they will recognise years from now.
Prepare for photographs after the session, too
Your family portraits deserve more than a brief moment on a phone screen. Before your session, consider where you might like to enjoy the finished images. A framed piece in the hallway, a collection of smaller prints, or an album to bring out on quiet evenings each tells the story differently.
You do not need to decide every detail in advance, but thinking about your home can make choosing easier later. A large wall portrait may suit a light-filled living room, while an album can hold a wider chapter of the session: the laughter, the in-between moments and the portraits you want to pass on.
The children will not remember whether every hair was in place. They will remember being close to you, being silly, being held, and seeing that those moments mattered enough to keep. Bring yourselves as you are, allow a little room for the unexpected, and let your photographs hold the warmth of this particular chapter.
