5 Tips For Planning The Perfect Mother-Daughter Photoshoot

This is my favorite season for photos, when the warm glow of summer still hangs on and fall is just peaking through.

I had the opportunity of capturing this little moment in time with my two young daughters thanks to my friend and well-known Seattle photographer, Lindsey Clawson. Known for her moody, romantic style that always has that sun-kissed warmth, Lindsey has perfected the art of love in a photograph. She shares her magic by finding the sweet moments…the look, the glance, the little baby kisses….making time stand still and letting the light shine through…allowing the photograph to create a lifetime impression.

I thought it would be fitting to share how we got to this moment…how exactly I planned a mother-daughter photoshoot, because let’s be honest, photos with kids can be stressful (but it doesn’t have to be!), so follow along as I share 5 tips that will make the planning process much easier!

# 1 – Photographer

Well this makes sense, right? The very first thing in planning a mother-daughter photoshoot is finding a photographer that matches your vision. A few key aspects to consider: location, rate, duration of shoot, flexibility, styling available, editing timeline, etc. It’s also important to know if the photographer has actually worked with kids – because they can be a little (okay a lot!) unpredictable, you need someone that can roll with it and be helpful with direction.

If you’re in the Seattle area, I highly recommend Lindsey Clawson – she is currently offering 30 minute mini sessions at Discovery Park for only $250, which also includes an online digital gallery download for free.

#2 – Location

Work out a location with your photographer that again matches your vision. You want to shoot somewhere that you (and your daughters) feel comfortable with. Whether it be the beach, a park, a tall grass field…find a location that feels right and is accessible! I recommend someplace that is less (or not at all) crowded to avoid distractions and make sure the camera only captures your family.

#3 – Time

Ask any photographer what the perfect time to shoot is…and I’ll bet they’ll tell you ‘golden hour’ which is just before sunset. We took these photos at about 7pm and the light couldn’t have been better. Another option would be sunrise…but that might be a struggle with the littles. Comfort is key when photographing kids so don’t plan a time that feels forced (like 5am!).

#4 – Flexibility

This might be the most important tip on the list. You have to be flexible – these are kids, not 20-something models. They may not even understand why someone that is not mom or dad is taking their photo – so keep it light, fun and stay positive. Roll with the punches, handle potty breaks, be prepared with snacks and if your daughter is just not feeling it…sometimes the best method is to just take a step back for a minute. I might even walk away and let the photographer just chat with her, which of course is always fun convo like her favorite color, dog’s name, food she likes to eat, etc. And typically all is good again. It just takes a little patience.

#5 – Coordinating Outfits

Family photos used to stress me out…and it was all BEFORE the actual photos – it was the darn outfits! Creating a coordinated look seemed supremely overwhelming. Now that I do photos all the time (#bloglife), I think I have it down. Pick one outfit first…maybe since you’re the mom and we tend to be most critical – find something that you feel good in and then we’ll get to the kids. The mustard maxi dress I’m wearing was exactly what I envisioned for a bohemian-styled shoot and I didn’t feel overexposed or that I would have to be tugging, pulling up/down, sucking in, etc. instead of paying attention to my girls. Again, I repeat…find something that feels good.

Next step for the kiddos – if you’re wearing a solid color, maybe look for a print for them with a peep of the same color in it. Or vice versa. Another option would be to find all solid prints in color coordinating families – like jewel tones, pastels, bold, black/white, etc. Google ‘color palettes’ and you’ll find tons of inspo!

Forever 21 and Target have mastered the art of color coordination…check their collections first.

Okay – so now you’re ready to plan that perfect mother-daughter photoshoot, right? Here’s a peak at the rest of our shoot with Lindsey…