Family Session Prep Guide

Professional headshot of a woman with long dark hair, smiling warmly while seated on a blush pink chair in natural light.

Hello!

I’m Jess, your family photographer. I’m here to capture the beauty of your family just as you are—playful moments, quiet connections, and everything in between. Kids grow and life shifts so quickly, and my goal is to preserve the heart of this season so you can relive it for years to come.

During each session, I create a relaxed and comfortable space where your family can simply be yourselves—whether that’s laughter, snuggles, or a little bit of both.

Thank you for trusting me to tell your family’s story. I can’t wait to create images that will become keepsakes for generations.

A black and white handwritten style quote that says, 'Gratefully, Jess'.

Let’s Get Ready!

6-8 weeks before your Family Session

If you’d like to get some personalized styling help for your photoshoot make sure to get this started early! Two stylists that I have personally worked with both personally and professionally are @vivienreed_ (local to Rochester, NY) and @styledbywi.

2-4 weeks before your Family Session

This is a great time to order and try-on outfits for your shoot. More information about choosing outfits can be found in this blog post if you plan on styling your family yourself: What to Wear

This is also a good time to loop in kids and spouses about the photoshoot! Letting them help with planning their outfits or an after-shoot treat are fun ways to get them excited about the shoot. This blog post goes into more detail about Preparing Your Kids (and Spouses!) for Stress-Free Photos.

Happy family of four lying on green grass outdoors, smiling and playing together.
A family of five, including two young children, a mother, father, and a girl, happily playing outdoors on a farm or countryside, with a barn in the background.

2-4 days out

1) Make sure all outfits & undergarments are washed.

2) Pack up backup outfit(s) for babies and toddlers. Don’t forget accessories!

3) Check email and complete invoice for final payment. Cash or check can be brought to the session.

Session Day!

You bring:

  • Yourselves!

  • Back up outfits for for babies and/or toddlers

  • Final payment in cash or check if balance wasn’t paid online.

Items to remove:

  • Smart watches and hair ties from wrists.

  • Sunglasses from on top of head.

  • Cell phones, wallets, and keys from pockets.

A family of four standing outdoors on a dirt path with tall grasses and trees in the background during sunset. The father and mother are smiling, with the mother wearing a long-sleeved cream top and the father in a white shirt. Two young girls, one holding a watch and the other with a leopard print skirt and cowboy boots, are embracing their parents and smiling.

After your session

All the best images will be edited in a private online gallery, and sent to you in no more than 3 weeks in a private online gallery.

Through your gallery you may download the high resolution files of your images and order products including but not limited to albums, canvas, and cards.

A woman with dark hair and rings on her fingers holding a Nikon camera, taking a photo directly at the viewer, with blurry warm lights in the background.

Contact Information

I hope that together we can make your Family Session exactly how you envision it. If there is anything I can help you with or if you have any questions, please do no hesitate to contact me.

Phone: (315) 436-9085

Email: jess@jesspalmerphotography.com