Tip no. 1

When planning a session with me, think about when your little ones are at their most happiest. If waking up from their morning nap is when they are likely to be the most chilled, then that’s a great time to schedule the shoot for.

Tip No. 2

Make sure everyone has eaten before the shoot. If your children are anything like mine (or ahem, me), then making sure everyone has had breakfast/ lunch before the shoot will make such a difference to everyone’s moods. If you need to, have a stash of snacks to hand (make sure they are dry and non-messy). Snacks go along way in keeping children interested!

Tip No. 3

If your child has a favourite toy or book that they can’t live without, please feel free to have it with you. It doesn’t take long for children to feel relaxed in front of the camera, but having something they are familiar with just helps them relax that little bit more.

Tip No. 4

Put some effort into your outfits! Careful planning and styling makes a huge difference to your images - making a good photo, a GREAT photo. Obviously you don’t want to all be matching - that can look a little cheesy! But taking some time to make sure your outfits compliment each other, is definitely worth the effort. Don’t worry, I’ll send out a few more helpful tips if you need more advice on what to wear/ what to avoid.

TIP NO. 5

My final tip for a stress-free session is simple: Just don’t stress! It may have taken you a while to plan in this shoot, and you have high expectations. It’s an investment and requires a bit of planning and effort. I get it. But really, I keep things pretty relaxed, so there is no need to feel stressed on the day of the shoot. Your children feed off your emotions too, so the calmer you are, the calmer they’ll be. I really want everyone to just enjoy spending some time together. It’s an hour without distractions - and you’ll have some gorgeous memories to last a life-time.