Congratulations! You’ve been dreaming of beautiful outdoor photography for your family and now is the time to book your photographer! Or, maybe you have already booked your family photography session with me and wonder what to expect. Either way outdoor family portraits can be so gorgeous especially when it comes to getting natural, candid, and beautiful family photos to last for years to come! Similar to wedding photos these photos are often up on your wall for years to come! Want to learn more about capturing memories the importance of family photos- check it out here!

Image of a family during their outdoor family photography session.

How is outdoor photography different?

The first question you might be is what are family outdoor photos? Well, the focus is on photographs being taken outside that displays the natural elements as your backdrop. This could be a beautiful mountain background, fall foliage at a local park, exploring beautiful sunny beaches or just in your backyard while soaking in the sun!

Now, outdoor photos does mean that mother nature and the weather can be factors to consider. Time of year is an important factors for most families when booking a family photography session and I work 1:1 with families to help them with planning for gorgeous outdoor photos!

Image of a little girl running towards the camera with the family walking behind her in her outdoor family photo session!

What do I focus on as a photographer?

Real interaction between family members! I want to show the beauty in every one of your family members. My job is to focus on the light, landscape, and the camera settings that will best capture the real beauty that is your family. I want to see real family moments of laughter, goofing around, and exploring the outdoors together. Some of my favourite sessions focus on the family just being themselves while I’m in the background snapping my camera away without interrupting precious moments.

Ideas for family pictures outside

You might have a session booked and feel like what am I supposed to be doing? How should I prepare? All great questions! Let’s dive into some helpful outdoor family picture ideas for your family. I want you to have fun and let the magic flow! Here are some of my top tips for a stress free family photoshoot with kids!

Image of a family laughing during their outdoor family photography!

What to bring with you!

If your family has a favourite toy, or game or item feel free to bring those and they can be incorporated into the photo. Some families enjoy bringing family name signs to use as a prop for your photo session. I also recommend brining water and snacks as no one likes hangry folks in photos! This helps keep kids happy and overall will lead to a beautiful family session. I also recommend packing any necessary weather-related items, so if it’s sunny pack sunscreen for your family photo session. If you session is in the winter then ensuring you have appropriate clothing for the temperatures and conditions.

Photo ideas!

Here are some super cute suggestions for your outdoor family photoshoot! You can also reach out to me before your session if you want any additional outdoor family photo ideas special to your family! The main point for me is show genuine emotion, these make for the best family photos!

· Snuggle

· Hug each other / Kiss each other

· Sit down

· Lay in a line

· Go for a walk together

· Do an activity together

· Reading books

· Jumping / Running

Image of father and daughter snuggled for family photography.

Locations for Outdoor Family Pictures

If you’re looking for places to take pictures in Milton let me know! I love finding new spots and making recommendations to families for local Milton outdoor photography locations. You really can’t go wrong with someone that is special to your family, and someone that provides a lot of beautiful natural light. Have fun with it, spend a day scouting locations as a family and maybe you’ll even find a new favorite spot!

· Local Park

· Beach

· Hiking Trail

· Botanical Gardens / Conservatory

· Orchard

· City Streets

· Forest

· Backyard/Front Porch

A travel fee of $50 applies to locations 80 km outside of Mississauga, Ontario.

Image of a mother and daughter smiling at each other in a beautiful outdoor photography field.

What types of photos will I get after my session?

Once your outdoor family photography session finishes, I will speak to you about your gallery turn around time. I focus on providing you with a gallery full of unique family photos that are a true reflection of who you are. You will get shots of every family member looking at the camera. Most of my galleries focus on family photos outdoors as a group to really capture those special moments of you interacting and looking at each other! I work hard to provide clients with a minimum of 50 digital files in both colour and black and white within three weeks of your family photos outside session concluding.

How long will my outdoor family photography session be?

For family sessions they are typically around 45 minutes to 1 hour in length. If you have a request for a longer time period let me know and we can chat about what options, I have available at that time! It’s important to be on time for your photo shoot and to be prepared ahead of time for your family portrait so we can make the most of our time together!

Looking for some inspiration? Check out my Family Photos Gallery that includes some amazing family outdoor photoshoot ideas! Click here to see my family gallery!