How To Survive Summer Family Golden Hour Sessions With Small Kids
A Guide Of Tips to Keep Kids Happy
Summer family golden hour sessions are some of my most popular, and also fun sessions to do! Summer is a great time to plan a session for many reasons- beautiful weather, families gathering, and school is out. One thing that does need to be factored into your planning though is the timing! It is by far the most asked question- how am I supposed to survive an 8:30 pm sunset with small kids?! Don’t worry- I got you! And trust me, your kids will actually surprise you too!
I shoot outdoors exclusively at golden hour because of the beautiful light. I want to give you the best images I can, and lighting is such an important part of your imagery. If you are considering a summer session, keep these tips in mind if you have small kids, and I promise it will be great!
- Consider sunrise! Most families immediately think sunset. While sunset is much easier for adults, I would highly recommend considering sunrise as an option if you have small kids! Fair warning- this will be early. Like 6am early. But, your kids will have a full night sleep under their belt, and if they are anything like mine, they will already be awake.
- Plan to nap a little later. Even if it is just 30 minutes, this timeline will help extend the day for you.
- Bring all the snacks and drinks! When in doubt, just keep feeding!
- Bribery may go a long way. Popsicles after the session? A special treat for tomorrow if they can get through pictures? Giving a small incentive will help kids who may need a small extra push.
- Let go of too much expectation. If your toddler wants to hold their stuffed animal for pictures, let them. In 5-10-15 years, it will be the most endearing photo to see them with their old “stuffie.” Remember, I am here to take care of you, and what I see behind my camera and what you feel are often two very different things. You may feel chaos and stress. But I see magic. Golden light, being in a moment, and letting your kids run a little wild and free. Often, it’s the parent’s stress that will show through images. So I like to give a gentle reminder to parents: Stay calm, positive and patient. I promise it will turn out way better than you ever imagined!
Have more questions? Feel free to send me an email with any other comments!
