So You’ve booked your photo session. NOW what?  Well, let’s talk location, location, location..

1 / WHERE are you going to display these pictures in Your home? Over the sofa in the living room, next to the window in the kitchen of maybe somewhere in your kids room? WHAT would look good on these walls? Earthy tones like the ones found on an open field?  Maybe some moody black and whites taken in the comfort of your home? How about some family picnic playfulness on the beach?

2 / OUTFITS matter. Do you pick outfits first or location first? Well, that’s all up to You. The outfits sets the mood for your location.. but the location also sets the mood for the outfits. They should complement each other. Let’s start with moms outfit.What  does she feel AMAZING in? A white flowy free-people dress? Awesome! That would look incredible by some gorgeous cliffs on the beach. Is she a denim and boots kind of girl? Yeay, how about a woodsy trail?

3 / TIME OF YEAR is the key. I’m in southern California. We have it crazy hot in the summer.. and well.. not so crazy hot in the winter 😉 If you want some gorgeous flowery fields.. SPRING is the time to have your pictures taken! This winter has brought some refreshing rain and the hills are green and alive, the flowers are in bloom and the streams have water. Heading down to the beach? The SUMMER brings the most AMAZING sunsets. The sky is seriously on fire in late July! It’s beyond gorgeous. If you are having your pictures taken in the FALL You’ll have the beautiful fall colors for a backdrop. Head out to your favorite park or trail or why not take a trip to an apple orchard? WINTER is the best time for urban locations. A parking garage or a loading dock make for some really cool and unique pictures! The cooler weather makes it comfortable to walk around and explore.

4 / SAFETY and CROWDS is something to keep in mind.  Do You have young kids or toddlers in Your family? Making sure Your location is safe is so so so important! Stay away from large roads and other places with dangerous traffic. Things to also take into consideration: risk of falling, things your kids might want to climb on, allergies (sitting down in a blooming field might be a bad idea if someone has bad allergies). And now.. crowds. You might have seen this beautiful beach/park/trail in pictures and want YOUR pictures taken there as well. What you might not realize is that You have hundres or thousands of people what ALSO want their picture taken in the exact same spot. Talk to Your photographer about crowds. A lot of parks, beaches and other public places can be crazy crowded throughout the year. Having tons and tons of people around is distracting and annoying. Also; Do you really want the exact same backdrop for Your pictures like Your neighbor? Pffft.. no way! Your photographer will know the best time of year for specific locations, and if they’re like me, they’ll have some  stunning secret locations to show You 😉

bonus tip 5 / Be OPEN MINDED. Having a lifestyle session in Your home might not have been something You’ve ever considered, but it might be a perfect fit for Your family. Don’t want Your kids to get wet on the beach? Forget about the wet clothes and think about their laughing faces instead! Being open to new ideas and stepping out of Your comfort box is an excellent idea to come up with a location that will make Your dream photography session come to life.