Cue the confetti!
Welcome! I’m so thrilled to be working with you and your family. Planning for (and doing) family photos can feel both exciting and stressful, but I can help minimize stress now that you’re here! We’ll talk getting ready, what happens at the session itself, and some post-session housekeeping. I’m here for you every step of the way, so please never hesitate to reach out if you have any additional questions that aren’t covered in the guide!
TL;DR
SHORT ON TIME? I gotcha 👉
1. Setting expectations
Forget everything you think you know about family photo sessions—this one is going to feel different (and easier!) for everyone. I’m not here to stage fake smiles or convince your kids to do something they don’t want to do. Instead, think of me as an extra friend hanging out for an hour (or two, or four!) while I quietly document your real life. If you need a little direction, I’ll offer gentle suggestions, but I’ll never break up the natural rhythm of your day. Everything we do during your session is shaped by what you share with me in your questionnaire—so don’t hold back. Truly, no detail is too small for me to care about.
“We just lived out our authentic, family weekend. We didn’t ‘over-plan’ the session. We didn’t spend an hour getting ready. Daisy just came over, and we went about our Saturday. I’ll cherish these photos forever.” – Sarah M.
2. Getting ready for the session
Tidy…ish
Let’s talk about the house. Do you need to clean before I show up? Absolutely not. If you feel like doing something, just aim for “normal Tuesday tidy,” not “my mother-in-law is on her way” tidy. A quick sweep of clutter into a laundry basket and tucking it in a closet is more than enough. Honestly, a little lived-in mess makes your photos feel warmer and more real. That cereal box on the counter, the half-finished puzzle on the table, even the pile of laundry waiting to be folded—they’re all part of your story. And your story is what makes these photos so beautiful.
Preparing your family
Here’s the big thing I want your family to know: I’m not coming over to make anyone sit still, say “cheese,” or perform for the camera. This session is simply me hanging out with you for a while, documenting the real life you’ll want to remember forever.
The best prep you can do? Hype up your people. Generous compliments in the days (and hours) leading up to the session go a long way toward setting the mood. On the flip side, constant “don’t touch this / don’t do that” vibes make it hard for me to capture your kids as they really are.
Trust me—I won’t bat an eye if your kids are bouncing on the couch or rocking underwear hats. That’s gold. What’s not so photogenic? Parents looking stressed and grumpy in the background. So when in doubt, smile through the chaos. You’ll be glad you did when you see yourselves all in the frame, living life together.
Before I arrive, here’s your easy checklist:
☞Overhead lights OFF, curtains OPEN (natural light = best photos)
☞Bellies fed, snacks within reach
☞Compliments flowing freely. Hand out good vibes like free candy.
3. What to wear (and what not to stress about)
The #1 outfit mistake I see? Families putting way too much pressure on themselves to match perfectly or follow trends. Here’s the real deal: you only need to ask two questions—am I comfortable in this, and do I love it? That’s it.
Function matters. You’ll have a much better time in your favorite broken-in sweats than in stiff khakis you secretly hate. Casual, everyday clothes are perfect—T-shirts and jeans work beautifully, babies can hang out in just a diaper, and everyone will look more relaxed because they’ll feel more relaxed.
Outfits can even be part of the session itself. Want to let the kids pick between the two outfits you’ve laid out? Perfect. That’s a memory worth capturing too.
A quick word on clothes with logos, characters, or phrases: they will stand out in your photos. For some families, that’s part of the charm (“this is the Bluey shirt he refused to take off for six months”). If that’s your story, lean into it. But if you’d rather avoid the distraction, just skip the big graphics.
One last thing—try not to put neon colors on the top half of your body. Neon pink or slime green tends to reflect onto faces in photos, and it’s tough to edit. But if your kid is living their best Nickelodeon-slime-green-shirt era? Let ‘em. I promise I can roll with it.
Quick rules for easy dressing (that no one will whine about):
☞Comfort > coordination (if you love it and feel good in it, wear it)
☞Casual is best (T-shirts, jeans, bare feet, diapers—it all works)
☞Skip neon tops unless it’s the phase your kid is in right now
4. The session itself
The best photos tell the truth—and since you’re here, I know that matters to you too. The beauty of documentary photography is that you don’t have to plan anything… but having a loose idea of what you’d like to do together helps me make sure I’m capturing the moments you’ll love most. Think about activities the whole family can join in on. The more chances to get everyone in the frame, the better. Along the way, I’ll also look for the little tender in-betweens—siblings giggling together, a quiet hug, or your kiddo proudly showing off their latest Lego build. Those moments unfold naturally when we start broad and simply let life happen.
Sample session “plans”
Short story (1 hour): A walk around the block + hanging out on the porch or in the backyard.
Slice of life (2 hours): Pancake breakfast → morning playtime → getting dressed → backyard hangout.
Half day in the life (4 hours): Wake-up snuggles → breakfast → play/art time → bath or getting dressed → reading or outdoor hangout → wrapping up before lunch.
I promise that no matter what we do, the magic is in the ordinary. But here are some ideas you might love:
Baking cookies
A family fashion show
Reading together or flipping through old photos
Arts + crafts
Everyday chores (yes, laundry folding can actually be beautiful on camera)
Hanging photos or redecorating
Gardening or sidewalk chalk
Bikes, scooters, or lawn games
Popsicles, s’mores, or any outdoor snack ritual
Wake-up, bath time, or bedtime moments
Family dance party
Board games, video games, or Twister chaos
A walk to your favorite playground, creek, or park
For sessions OUTSIDE your home…
For the rare times we meet outside your home in a public place (returning clients needing a quick photo update, fall foliage photos, etc), here’s your easy checklist:
☞Plan for traffic + parking, and aim to arrive 10 minutes early.
☞Dogs must be leashed. Bring a helper if possible, or plan for breaks when your pup isn’t in the photos.
☞Feed everyone first (hungry kids go downhill fast).
☞Pack the essentials: snacks, wipes, water, and a small first aid kit.
5. Newborns
Your spot is saved on my calendar for the month, but we’ll lock in an exact date once your baby makes their big debut. When the time comes, just add me to your “baby is here!” text so I know it’s go-time.
If you’d like to capture your baby at their tiniest, we can schedule as soon as 7–10 days after birth. Newborns that fresh are usually extra sleepy and may snooze through the entire session (which makes for some dreamy photos). But if you’d rather take a little more time to rest and settle in, or you prefer photos with a more awake/alert baby, I’ve done beautiful newborn sessions with babies up to three months old. There’s no “wrong” time—it’s whatever feels right for your family.
The session itself
This is all about documenting your new rhythm during the beautiful, bleary-eyed stage of early parenthood. We’ll capture as much as you’re comfortable with—feeding, comforting, changing, skin-to-skin, and of course, snuggles. I’ll always take some sweet photos of baby solo (I lovingly call these “Baby’s First Headshot”), along with all the tiny details like fingers, toes, eyelashes, and those scrumptious little rolls.
What to wear
Babies are perfect exactly as they are. A simple onesie is all you need, ideally with hands and feet free so I can capture every tiny detail. A soft muslin swaddle or baby blanket works beautifully too.
For parents and siblings, stick to the same “comfort first” rule from my general wardrobe advice. Earth tones and neutrals tend to flatter baby’s delicate skin best, but if you want to wear something bolder that feels like you, go for it. The only thing I recommend avoiding is neon tops, since bright colors can cast onto baby’s skin. Otherwise, just come as you are. The love you feel for your little one will shine brightest of all.
A gentle note…
If your birth involves a C-section, NICU stay, or anything unexpected, please know there’s zero pressure to rush into photos. We’ll work around recovery and health needs so your session feels calm and supportive. Your family’s well-being always comes first.
Quick checklist for newborn sessions:
☞Text me when baby arrives so we can set a date
☞Onesie or swaddle for baby (hands + feet free if possible)
☞Parents & siblings: comfy clothes in neutrals/earth tones work best
6. After the session
As soon as I get home from your session, I dive right into sorting through your photos and pulling out the very best ones. On average, you can expect about 30–50 images per hour of coverage—though the exact number varies because every family’s day looks different. My goal isn’t to overwhelm you with hundreds of near-duplicates, but to deliver a gallery full of intentional, storytelling images you’ll truly cherish (and actually want to print, share, and revisit for years).
Your fully edited gallery will be ready in about 3–4 weeks. At your session, I’ll give you a clearer estimate based on my current workload. I know it can feel hard to wait—so to tide you over, I’ll send along 1–2 sneak peeks while I work on the rest.
When your gallery is ready, you’ll first get to experience it as a slideshow set to music. My suggestion? Queue it up on the big screen, turn the volume up, and enjoy reliving your day… just through my lens this time. Inside your gallery, you’ll find a convenient link to complete your final payment, and once that’s done, you’ll be able to download every photo to keep forever.
Think of it as trading in digital clutter for a carefully curated time capsule of your family’s real life.
7. File downloading & storage
Your gallery will stay online for 2 months, but I highly encourage you to download and back up your photos right away so they’re safe for the long run. For the smoothest experience, download from a computer (not your phone)—the gallery software will walk you through the steps.
To protect your investment, please back up your images in multiple places:
One copy where you can access them easily (your computer or an external hard drive)…
One copy in the cloud (Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, etc…)
One copy on a flash drive or removable storage—bonus points if you hand this off to a family member who doesn’t live with you.
While I do make every effort to keep sessions archived for up to a year, I can’t guarantee I’ll always have your images on hand. Backing them up ensures you’ll have these memories safe no matter what. Think of it like baby-proofing your photos… just a little extra effort now saves a lot of heartache later.
8. Copyrights (and wrongs)
Once your digital files are in hand, you’ll receive a personal usage print release. This means you’re free to:
Print your photos whenever and wherever you like…
Share them on social media or a personal blog…
Use them in holiday cards, gifts, or albums.
The copyright itself—as in, the ownership of the images—always remains with Daisy Zimmer Photography LLC. So what you can’t do are things that involve reselling, contests, or business use.
A few examples to make it crystal clear:
Writing a book? You’d need a commercial license to put one of my images on the cover.
Running a business? You’d need a commercial license to use my images on your website or to promote your brand.
Entering a contest? You can’t use your gallery images to win prize money.
Basically: if money is being made or a brand is being promoted, that requires a separate license. Intellectual property law can be confusing, so when in doubt, just ask! I promise I’ll make it simple.
9. Printing your photos
Your gallery is linked up to my professional lab, giving you easy access to unique and stunning heirlooms that last for generations. While everything that I offer in my store is guaranteed to be beautiful, I also recognize that you may want to print your images yourself, and thanks to those digital files, you absolutely can!
Mpix.com: Be sure to de-select any color correction options, and upload the ORIGINAL files you downloaded (not copies).
Frame It Easy: great for build-your-own matted frames. Use my referral link to get 10% off (or enter code qkYK at checkout)
Questions? I’m here for you.
If anything in this guide leaves you wondering—or if you just want a little extra reassurance—please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to help make this process as easy and enjoyable as possible.
My usual office hours are Monday–Friday, 9 am–4 pm, and I’ll get back to you as quickly as I can during that time.
And most importantly: thank you for trusting me to tell your family’s story! It’s an honor I don’t take lightly, and I can’t wait to create something meaningful together.
Hugs,
Daisy