Some of the most relaxed, joyful photos in our portfolio came from the most chaotic families — toddlers mid-tantrum, dogs mid-zoomies, teenagers mid-eye-roll. The difference was never the family; it was the preparation. Work through this checklist in the week before your session and you will walk in calm, which is exactly how great portraits happen.
Coordinate Outfits — Don’t Match Them
Forget everyone in white shirts and jeans. Modern family portraits look best when outfits are coordinated, not identical. Start with a palette of three or four colours — soft neutrals with one or two accents photograph beautifully in Alberta’s landscapes. Think cream, sage, dusty blue, and warm tan rather than one shared shade. Add texture and layers: knits, denim, linen, a scarf. Avoid neon, large logos, busy graphics, and thin stripes, which pull attention from faces. Lay everything out together the night before — if one outfit screams while the rest whisper, swap it. And choose comfort: kids who itch in stiff clothes show it in every frame.
Schedule Around Your Kids, Not Just the Light
Photographers love golden hour — and rightly so. But the best light in the world will not save a session with an overtired toddler. Schedule around naps, meals, and moods first, then pick the best available light within that window. A well-rested child at 10:00 am photographs infinitely better than an exhausted one at 7:30 pm. Feed everyone beforehand (hangry is real, for adults too), and share nap schedules when you book — a good photographer will suggest the right slot rather than forcing golden hour. Morning sessions also mean emptier parks and soft, even light.
Choose a Location That Fits Your Family
The best location is one where your family already feels comfortable. Calgary and Chestermere are spoiled for choice: the Bow River pathways, Fish Creek Provincial Park’s meadows and bridges, the Chestermere Lake shoreline, or a quiet park near home. Match the spot to your family — a playground for young kids, a riverside walk for a quieter crew, your own backyard if that is where real life happens. Arrive a few minutes early so kids can explore and burn off energy. And always agree a weather backup with your photographer when you book — Alberta skies change fast.
Pack the Session Bag
Bring a small bag and you will use all of it: snacks and water (non-messy — crackers and apple slices, not chocolate), baby wipes for faces and runny noses, a change of clothes for little ones, a blanket for sitting poses and chilly grass, and a comfort item — the stuffed animal your child cannot live without can appear in a few frames, then disappear. Sentimental pieces — a grandparent’s quilt, a first-season jersey — become the photos you treasure most. Leave the bulky bag in the car and silence the phones.
What Actually Happens During the Session
A typical session runs 45 to 60 minutes. We start with the whole group while everyone is fresh, then break into smaller combinations — parents together, each parent with the kids, siblings, individuals. Expect gentle direction, not stiff posing: “walk toward me holding hands,” “whisper something silly in Dad’s ear,” “everybody tickle Mum on three.” Kids are encouraged to play and explore — the best frames happen between the poses. If a child needs a break, we take one; forcing smiles never works. Within seven days you receive your hand-edited gallery, ready to share, print, and frame.