Alright parents, I have some advice for your family pictures…book a sunset session. You don’t be afraid of sunset sessions if you have small children.
Golden hour is the time of day about an hour before sunset that would probably infringe on bedtime. In the summer, sunset doesn’t happen until around 9:00pm in northern New York. So late, right!?!
I get it! I have children who also have bedtimes, and those last few hours of the day (witching hour is what I have called them) can be really tough some…maybe most days. The idea of having a family session start when you typically have your kids in bed sounds disastrous.
But light is such an important part of picture making. It’s worth It to schedule your session just before sunset.
I have a few ideas to help when scheduling a golden hour family session with young children.
Let Perfection Go.
Accept that your day will not be the ideal routine that you normally do, and try to let it go. Any anxiety you may have will be felt by your family. I know you have an expectation for your family portraits. It’s a lot of time, work, and money for the session. You want it to be worth it. I assure you, if you give yourself permission to relax your family will become a little more relaxed too.
Push Naptime.
If your child typically falls asleep around 11:30am for their nap see if you can keep them busy for an hour or two before having their nap. Extend a fun activity at home like coloring or playing with blocks and start your nap routine later than normal. The goal is to have them wake up later than normal from their nap.
Keep the Day Free of Other Events.
Make picture day the event everyone is waiting for! Taking the kids to a birthday party or to swimming at the lake earlier in the day will wear them out and if they are being asked to stay awake when they are exhausted could lead to meltdowns.
Feed Them.
Make sure everyone is fed or has a solid snack before the session. Hanger is a real thing that many have (myself included). A content belly can really change a mood. Have some tidy snacks on hand for the session too.
Plan to Arrive Early.
If you’re like me, getting everyone ready and out the door can feel like a heavy lift so early might seem difficult, but if you have littles that fall asleep on the way you will want to have time to gently wake them and let them get acclimated. Even if they don’t sleep diapers might need to be changed, that final snack given, etc. You can also wait to put their outfit on at the location to prevent last minute stains or wrinkles. If things become a little frantic before leaving arriving early gives everyone the chance to decompress and ease into the session.
Remember.
Kids are naturally wonder filled. Being outside and exploring the locations will distract most kids from the fact they are getting tired. As they get tired, you can snuggle them and enjoy the fresh air. Those snuggles make for great pictures too.
Plan a Recovery Day.
I’ll admit you may not need this. You’ve put in the work to build your family’s routine. That hard work will pay off when you slip back to it the next day. But in the event the sessions throws everyone off that night and the next morning, keep the next day light as you return to your routine.
Ultimately you know your people best! If you really think that it isn’t something your people can do this summer, then maybe fall will be a better since sunset would be earlier.
Warm summer evenings have become one of my favorite times to shoot. There is something so magical watching a family having a wonderful time in bathed in golden light. I think you will be surprised by how well your kids handle family pictures at sunset.
P.S. I’m not the only photographer handing out tips. My friend Jenny agrees! Check out her post HERE!
