You found a dreamy outdoor location. You booked your photo session. Now what? Below are 8 helpful ways to make your next photo session stress-free. These tips work for every type of session, from an engagement photo session to family photo session to a maternity photo session.

1. Check the Weather

Particularly in Spring and Fall when weather can change each day, the weather plays a huge role in your session, from wardrobe to scheduling. Rain in the forecast? Bring your favorite umbrella to use as a prop.

2. Know How Long it Takes to Get There and Add 15 Minutes

Be sure to check traffic patterns, local events, weather, and anything that might impact travel time. Sometimes a destination that looks like it’s only 5 miles away can take 25 minutes if you live in a densely populated city, or if you’re traveling during rush hour. And it’s a good idea to arrive 10-15 minutes early to get situated.

3. Have Your Outfit(s) & Back-Up Outfit(s) Ready the Day Before

As a Girl Scout who is (over) prepared, I always recommend having your primary and back-up outfit ready. If your session includes several outfits, you may not need a back-up, but if you’re just doing one, and something spills or you notice a rip that wasn’t there before, you’ll want to have a back-up that you know you feel great and comfortable in. For a session with little ones, this is especially true if they are snacking in the car and wearing their session outfit. For this reason, I sometimes recommend waiting until you get to the session to change little ones into their outfits.

4. Time Snacks for Kiddos

If you have little ones, try to time a little snack about 15-20 minutes before the session. They’ll have some pep in their step, but not necessarily bouncing off the walls. It’s also a nice treat to save for the end, if you need to use that as motivation for little ones.

5. Plan Bug Repellant in Advance

Depending on where you live and the season, this is essential! The last thing you want is to spend your session swatting flies or mosquitoes. For those who live where ticks are present, it’s a good idea to spray your clothes with Permethrin a few days before the session, and even run them through the wash once (the spray lasts up to 6 washes or so). In Sonoma, peak tick season is May-June and they typically live in tall grass (as a bug-o-phobe, I don’t offer sessions in golden fields for this reason!).

6. Use a Large Blanket for any Sitting Poses

If you are taking photos in a large open field, you will definitely want to sit on a blanket or mat. One, for comfort. Two, it provides a nice prop for the photo. Three, it will help protect your clothes and prevent critters from ending up on your clothes (although step 5 above will help the most with that).

7. Tip for Families with Littles: Have a Favorite Lovey, Song, or Word on Hand to Guarantee Little Smiles

This applies to any location, indoor or outdoor. For families with little ones who want to capture that genuine smile, it’s extremely helpful to bring a favorite lovey, have their word-of-the-week that makes them giggle, or a song that makes them smile top of mind. This may sound silly to new parents who spend all day singing the same song with their little one, but sometimes when you are in a new environment, you can completely draw a blank. Share the song, word, or phrase with the photographer before the session so they can remember it and you can focus on feeling relaxed.

8. Check Your Clothes & Body Before Leaving the Location

It’s always a good idea to do a quick body and clothes scan to make sure you didn’t bring any “friends” with you from your outdoor setting. And if you want to be extra sure, you can bring comfy clothes for after the session and put your session clothes in a large bag to be washed right when you get home.

Follow these tips and you’ll be on your way to getting dreamy photos from your next outdoor photo session.

Ready to book your outdoor session? My 2026 Holiday Mini Sessions are live. Book here!