As we are located outside of Chicago, there are several things to know about indoor and outdoor sessions and when is the perfect time for each? We have several drastic seasons, sometimes within a week of each other and with shooting outdoors; there are perfect times to schedule and not so perfect times. This is what we recommend….

SPRING

Let us start with outside sessions, as most people pick this option. The time of year depends on what you want your surroundings to look like. If you want blooming trees and lots of white and pink flowers, spring time is for you. These should be taken around the second to third week of May and can be scheduled till the first week of June. Blooming trees are a beautiful match with long flowing dresses and light/organic tones. The weather is usually pretty nice, but you can add jean jackets or cardigans for layered texture if there is a chill. Being cold can put a damper on your session especially for little ones. We find that if a child is cold, they are not comfortable, they have red-runny noses and the crying is inevitable. Don’t set the session up for a failure before we even start. Always be cautious of the temps later in the evening and dress accordingly.

SUMMER

If you are more interested in warm weather with lots of greens, summer time at the end of August going through till the end of September is the best time! Andrea personally loves pictures in September, the tall grass is starting to bloom some yellow, the temperature is perfect and you are guaranteed to still have leaves on the trees. Our summers are pretty hot and sticky with lots of bugs… so somethings think about - location! When the mosquitos and ticks are so bad, urban sessions are amazing. The perfect second choice when it has just rained and the ground is mushy. Urban sessions work well with trendier clothes. Patterns, bolder colors, lots of layers and textures. There is less sitting for urban sessions too so you can get away with outfits that you wouldn’t want to sit in. Tall grass areas and simple outfits work well. Jumpsuits, dresses, pants; it all works. Sessions in a field or forest preserve will have some sitting, so wear something that you are comfortable sitting in. We will have bug spray with us, but we are bringing the heavy stuff, if your family doesn’t use that, then please bring your own.

FALL

Everyones favorite, but the most unpredictable… and the worst part is, once its over, so is outdoor photography season. Around the middle of October the trees turn very quickly from green to yellow/orange/red and then every year we have a huge storm and the leaves are all gone… don’t wait till it is too late to have your session. This happens to us every year… if you are waiting for the perfect tree colors, you can’t time that. And more often than not, you don’t get the look you wanted. However, lucky you, there are now three of us! So you get more time availabilities, but please don’t wait to book. It also rains a lot in October and gets cold quickly and rescheduling is pushed later and later. Fall is great for layers! Always be aware of the layers on children, collars seem to always cover little faces and vests only stand up at the top near the face, even though they are adorable, they are not the most practical when taking photos of your littles. And book your fall sessions as early as possible; those fill up quickly and chances are pretty big that you will have to reschedule at least once.

WINTER

Obviously the best choice for winter is in the studio. One of the several reasons we love having our studio. Studio sessions can be from 9am—3pm in the winter months. The studio has two walls of windows that let in dreamy light all day even when its overcast outside. Studio session wardrobes can consist of light colors for a casual and organic look or you can wear burnt oranges and yellows, denims and play with patterns for one person for a dramatic look. We have recently added more plants and a black rolling wall for those powerful images and to give your gallery more range all while staying consistent to our brand of natural tones and a relaxed atmosphere.

NOW WHAT?

Now that you have a better feeling about when to schedule your family sessions based on the look are you going for, lets get started in the booking process! Remember that fall session go quickly and you can schedule those any time of the year to secure your spot. Photographing families makes our hearts happy. Let us show you what you look like in love. What are you waiting for?!

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The Best Time of Year For Family Photos