Family sessions in Chicago are some of the most fun sessions I get to photograph and are easily some of my favorites! Between the belly laughs from the kiddos, the way you all interact with one another, and the magic of this moment of life your family finds itself in, there are just so many things to LOVE about these sessions!😍 If you’ve never had a family session done before you may be wondering what all goes into them, and how you should prep for the session itself. Lucky for you that’s exactly what we’re here to go over today! Let’s take a look at everything that goes into a family session so that you and the fam can be ready for yours!!

An infant in green overalls lays on a blanket and smiles at the camera during a family session in Chicago

An infant smiles while a mother and father hold them as they sit on a couch together during their family session in Chicago

The Importance of a Family Session

One thing I want to cover really quickly is why family sessions are as important as they are. As a family, you are constantly growing and changing together as time goes on. This is especially true as soon as little ones are brought into the picture! With that in mind, it makes perfect sense why you’d want a way to capture exactly what your family is like at this moment!! “This is the oldest you’ve ever been, and the youngest you’ll ever be again”, as cliché as this saying is, it is SO true. That’s why it’s so important to capture this moment in time.

You’ll want to be able to look back and reminisce in these moments as the years go by, and a family session lets you do just that! With that in mind, let’s take a look at what it takes to prepare for your session, as there’s more to it than you might think!

2 photos side by side of a family, in the left is the mother and her two children, in the right photo the dad is now with them as they all smile at the camera

6 Ways to Prep for Your Chicago Family Session

1. Choose a Location

First up we have to decide on the location and setting for your family session! Lucky for you, Chicago is filled to the BRIM with locations perfect for any feel you envision for your family session. Looking for something with the skyline in the background? Let’s take a trip to North Avenue Beach! Want something with a bit more of a natural feel to it? Lincoln Park has a ton of variety to choose from! As a photographer who’s based in Chicago I could literally spend this entire blog going over all the different options to choose from, so know that when booking with me if you’re not set on a spot yet we can discuss your vision and I’ll be able to recommend some spaces that fit it perfectly! I also have access to a studio in Chicago which can make for a gorgeous backdrop option as well!

One final option I’d like to mention, and honestly one of my favorites, is having your family session in the comfort of your own home like the DuFours did!✨ This is a great option as it is the space that you and your family are the most comfortable in, so getting loose in front of the camera will be a lot easier. You’ll also have everything you need close on hand so there’s no need to pack anything. Lastly, your home is a big part of your family itself, so capturing these photos in your own space can really add a personal and emotional touch to your album!

2. When to Have Your Family Session

Once you have your location picked out for your family session, you’ll need to decide on when to have it! The good news is for outdoor family sessions in Chicago, each season has its own appeal. From the magic of a fresh snowfall in winter, the fresh and energizing bloom of spring, the warm airiness of summer, and the beautiful fall leaves, there’s benefits to each season. The important thing to keep in mind is what you envision for your photos themselves. If you’re a summer loving family that loves to spend time playing outside together, a winter session is probably not going to be the best fit for you as a fam!

3 children sit next to one another during a family session in Chicago, the middle child looks at the camera, the left child looks at the middle child, and the right child is an infant held by the mother from behind

2 photos side by side, the left is of a young girl smiling at the camera with flowers in front of her, the right is of a different young girl standing in the same room with a confused look on her face

3. Decide on What to Wear

Our next piece of the puzzle is deciding on what you and your family should wear for your session! There are quite a few things you’ll want to consider which can be a little overwhelming, but also pretty fun since there are so many options to choose from! First up you’ll want to take into consideration our last two points, where is your session taking place and when. You’ll want your outfits to match both the season and the setting of your session. This is SO important as you not only want to look good for your family session in Chicago, but you also want to FEEL good!!

When deciding on your outfits you’ll want to plan well in advance and try on your outfits so there’s no panic the morning of when someone’s new shirt doesn’t fit. Choose a color scheme for the whole family and build around that. I believe neutral colors and earthy tones photograph best, from there you can add in accent colors if you’d like. I also strongly suggest that you compliment one another and don’t match, as matching outfits will often blend together in an often unflattering way! Lastly as a pro tip, think about wearing colors that go well with your home. You’ll likely be displaying these photos, so going the extra mile and having them compliment your home’s colors can add to the experience! If you’re looking for a little inspiration on your outfit itself, check out my Pinterest board for family sessions!!

4. Go Over the Session With Your Littles

A family session is likely new and pretty foreign to you, so you can imagine how strange it can feel for your little ones! Talking with them prior to the session and preparing them for it is SO important for both your photos and more importantly their comfort with the whole experience. For younger kids I recommend practicing some smiling faces in the mirror together and holding poses for a 3 count.😁 With older children you can let them know that they don’t have to look at the camera the entire time (the little ones are already good enough at doing this on their own!) Capturing the natural moments and interactions of your family is just as important as those posed photos where you smile at the camera.

Be sure that when you talk about your session it’s always in a positive manner. Talk about how excited you are for your family session and how much fun you’re all going to have! Let your kids know where in Chicago your family session will take place and how cool that spot is if they’ve never been before! Getting these positive thoughts in their mind early on is crucial in getting them in the right frame of mind for their session. They’ll be able to get comfortable and open up in front of the camera SO much quicker and have a much better time doing so!!

One last member of your family that you can’t quite explain your session to, but will need some prep help none the less is your pupper! Our pets are family too, so if you plan on bringing them to your session be sure to check out this blog I have covering the topic!🐶

Close up photo of an infant being held by the mother during a family session in Chicago

2 photos side by side, the left is of a couple hugging in a room with flowers as children run in front of them, the right is of a mother with three children sitting behind an assortment of flowers

5. Bring Along Some Snacks

Staying fueled and energized is a must for your session! Everyone gets hangry from time to time, and that can lead to a less than ideal scenario for your family session. Make sure everyone eats prior to your session, and be sure to pack some snacks along to keep your littles fueled for the experience! You know your kids the best, so bring things that you know for a fact will keep them excited to hang out together for photos! Be sure to also stay hydrated and bring some water along to drink, especially during the warmer months of the year. Chicago can get PRETTY toasty in the summer, and the last thing we want is for anyone to be dehydrated during your family session!!

6. Trust Your Photographer

The last point on my list is arguably one of the most important, and that is to trust your photographer. It can be stressful thinking of getting you and your family in front of the camera. How do we get the kids to pose? What if they don’t listen? What if someone has a meltdown? These thoughts are totally normal, but believe me when I say that they shouldn’t be your concern! If you put your trust in me, your photographer, during your family session in Chicago you can count on the session running smoothly and you ending up with photos that you’ll love to look back on for years to come!🤩

I will pose you and guide you and your family through the entire session. We’ll have a good mixture of posed photos, smiling at the camera photos, and candid moments of you all hanging out together. Like I mentioned earlier, some of the BEST photos to come out of family sessions are those natural, non posed moments where you all are just existing and being yourselves. It’s what makes your family special and that is why these sessions are so wonderful.

2 photos side by side of a mother and father with their newborn, in the left photo they're smiling at the newborn while they look at the camera, in the right the parents smile at the camera while standing in front of the crib

A mother and father smile at their newborn while holding them in front of their crib during their Chicago family session

Why Preparing for a Family Session is a Must

The answer to “why do we need to prepare for a family session?” might seem pretty obvious after reading through this article, but it’s worth covering anyway in the case of any doubts! Like your wedding day, you only get one shot at a family session, at least in the state that your family is in now. Especially with kids, a lot can change year to year and even month to month, which is why getting your session right and capturing this moment is so important!

If you go into your session prepared and excited to have a wonderful family session, guess what? You’re going to have a wonderful family session!! Whereas if you decide to just wing it, the chances of something going south are much higher. Maybe you forget to pack someone’s second outfit, maybe you forget the snacks and everyone is cranky now, maybe this is the first time your littles are hearing about this and they’re upset before the session even starts. All these reasons and more are why it’s SO important to prepare!!

2 photos side by side, the left is of a couple smiling at the camera while sitting on the couch holding their infant, the right is of the same couple smiling while the infant smiles at the camera

2 photos side by side, the left is of 2 children smiling at the camera one on a stool and one on a woven seat, the right photo is a close up of the girl from the first photo sitting on the woven chair

And there you have it, 6 ways for you to prep and make sure you’re ready for your family session in Chicago! If you’ve finished reading this and you’re feeling amped and ready to book your own family session with me then head over to my contact page. Send me an inquiry so that we can start planning your session together and get you and the fam ready!!