What to bring to your family portrait session | Margate family photographer

So you’ve scheduled your family portraits and you’ve been online shopping like crazy getting your outfits together for your session. Now what? If you have small children, it’s probably best to pack a few things that will help your session go more smoothly.

• Snacks- A hungry child is a cranky child. As a mother of two, I know this from experience. Pack a few of your child’s favorite snacks. If you’re worried about them messing up their clothes, pack dry snacks. Something that won’t make too much of a mess or ruin their outfit before the session is over. A handful of cherrios or grapes can make all the difference.

• Water- The majority of my family sessions are outdoors. Being in sunny South Florida, it can get warm and it’s important to stay hydrated during the time we spend together.

• Toys- Some of the best candid shots I’ve gotten of children are when they are playing and enjoying themselves without the pressure of having to “say cheese” every few minutes. If they are playing with their favorite toy and they’re having a blast, let them! As parents, we often get so caught up in the idea of what we think something should look like that we often forget to let kids be who they are. My clients are always surprised at how much they love the candid shots of their kids more than the posed one.

• Memorable props- I’m all for a good prop! I often bring my own props to my portrait sessions but, sometimes you may have something that’s special to you that you want to include. Maybe you have a special pocket watch of a family member that is no longer with you or a blanket that your nana quilted and you want to include it as tribute to that special loved one. I’m all for it!

• An open mind- While I will absolutely capture all of the posed shots your heart desires, I will also succumb to my creative whims and ask you to try different things. Never anything dangerous! But as I am struck by inspiration, I may excitedly ask you to do something you may think is totally crazy. I might say something like, what about if you run through that open field and randomly do a cartwheel along the way. Trust the process, some of the best images come are produced from my wacky ideas. And if you have a spark of inspiration, don’t be afraid to voice it. I’m open to your ideas as well. ;)

Hidden Gem in Coconut Creek, FL

While on my never ending quest to find new locations for my portrait sessions, I stumbled upon a hidden gem right in my back yard! Fern Forest nature center is a beautiful location for anyone that loves nature. It’s also a gorgeous spot for portraits sessions. Acres upon acres of forest, trails and wildlife. It is just spectacular. As you drive into the entrance of the park, you can’t help but feel like you’re about to enter a different world, like Pandora in the movie Avatar.

They have a welcome center along the trail that is surrounded by trees. There’s also a room that can be rented out for events and an area where an intimate ceremony can be performed outdoors. You simply have to check it out! And then, come back here and tell me all about it!