10 Things to Plan Before Your Tallahassee Family Photo Session

A little planning makes family photos feel easier for everyone. Use this checklist before your Craft Creek session so you book the right date, pick a spot that fits your crew, and show up ready and relaxed.

1. Book in advance

Fall evenings and late-winter garden dates fill first in Tallahassee, especially weekends. Reach out with a few preferred dates when you can. Email cole@craftcreekphotography.com, or call or text 850.544.3336. A $50 deposit holds your date once we agree on the plan, and it is deducted from your total.

2. Choose the right location

Your home, our studio, or an outdoor spot can all work. Rose Hill and Dorothy B. Oven Park are easy for little ones because everything is a short walk. Maclay Gardens, Goodwood, Lichgate, Tom Brown Park, and Millers Landing each have a different feel. Some parks and gardens have entry fees or rules set by the venue. We help you choose and check current details with you. Browse our Tallahassee photo locations, then tell us your top picks when you book.

3. Pick a season and a time that fit your kids

Late winter through spring brings camellias, azaleas, and Maclay Gardens at their peak in late February. Fall has softer light and cooler evenings, which many families like for holiday cards. Summer works best in shade or in the hour before sunset. Happy kids matter more than perfect light. Book the time of day when your children are usually at their best, even if that means missing golden hour. We will work with the light you have.

4. Coordinate colors, do not match

Pick two or three colors that work together and start with mom’s outfit. Soft or earthy tones photograph well and stay timeless. Think about the room where the portraits will hang so the colors feel at home on your wall. Matching outfits look dated. Coordinated colors keep the focus on faces.

5. Keep patterns and logos minimal

Solids, knits, lace, and linen photograph cleanly. Skip neon, big logos, and busy graphics so nothing pulls the eye away from your family.

6. Plan around naps and meals

Schedule after naps and near a normal mealtime when you can. A well-rested, fed kid is worth more than chasing the clock. Tell us about ages and routines when you book so we can pace the hour with you.

7. Pack clean snacks and a secret helper

Bring mess-free snacks like puffs, marshmallows, or clear fruit snacks, plus a small toy or noisemaker tucked away. Use them for a quick reset between setups, then put them away for the posed frames.

8. Get everyone excited without pressure

Talk about the photographer as a new friend and the session as time together outdoors or in the studio. Skip “behave” and “just smile.” Let kids help pick an outfit or bring one favorite thing. Low pressure shows up as real expressions.

9. Prep the night before

Lay outfits out, steam what needs it, and transport clothes on hangers. Choose shoes for the location: flats or block heels for grass, slip-ons if you will move between spots. A calm morning starts the night before.

10. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early

Give everyone a minute to settle. Empty pockets of keys, wallets, and phones, and take hair ties off wrists so nothing peeks into the frame. Being a little early keeps the hour calm from the first photo.