Family Photos 101: How Often, When, and Where (10-Year Plan)

I am frequently asked – “How often should we take our family pictures?” My answer is usually – “as often as you can.”

I understand this may mean different things to different people, but the sweet spot for many of my clients is to photograph their families once or twice per year.

I may be slightly biased, but you can never have too many photographs of your children. Childhood is fleeting, and children change quickly, so photograph your family as often as possible.

Then, print your photos and decorate your walls, desks, and mantles, make albums, or save them for later use as precious keepsakes.

My house is covered with many framed images of my family, and I love to look at them frequently.

So if you want to have a beautiful collection of family photos, you’ll love this post. Let’s dive in.

Sample 10-Year Plan for Family Photos

To help you get started, I’ve created a sample ten-year plan with a variety of locations and seasons that will give you a collection of family photos you’ll be proud of.

I promise you that having a plan for your family photos is so worth it.

You can take this plan as is or customize it based on your family’s needs, but I promise you that having a plan for your family photos is so worth it. I have yet to find someone who regrets having too many beautiful photos of their family.

• Maternity: You don’t want to miss documenting this special time in your journey. I offer several packages, as well as studio and outdoor options. See my maternity portfolio for samples and more info.
• Newborn: This is another once-in-a-lifetime event that you can’t afford to miss. I offer several options for newborn sessions. See my newborn portfolio for samples and more info.
• 1-Year: Studio cake smash session to celebrate the big milestone. (Alternatively, outside family sessions, especially during warmer months, work well as well.)
• 18-Month: First “official” family session. The location will largely depend on the season, and I have many convenient options available.
• 2nd Year: Pick a location with a good amount of play factor to keep the toddler engaged. I recommend a beach location for this age. Aim for summer or early fall.
• 3rd Year: A family session at a sunflower field or pumpkin farm works well for this age.
• 4th Year: Go for lake and mountain views like a session at Rattlesnake Lake.
• 5th Year: I recommend fields with tall grass and views of the PNW. Seattle Discovery Park during summer and early fall is a great choice. Whidbey Island is another option. I also have several of my favorite locations in Redmond (see sample photos below).
• 6th Year: Go for the beautiful Cherry Blossom session in early spring.
• 7th Year: Keep building your portfolio by photographing your family at a charming lavender farm.
• 8th Year: A family session at the beach is a good, fun option at this age.
• 9th Year: Take a longer drive to get some mountain views. I’ve got a couple of family-friendly options. See my family portfolio for ideas.
• 10th Year: Catch the vibrant colors of fall at Seattle Discovery Park or Washington Park Arboretum. Plus, older kids love fall foilage and will be engaged.

Customization ideas:

• Holidays: A lot of my clients make it a family tradition to get the annual holiday photos at the Christmas tree farm.
• Mini-Sessions: Life happens, and during some years, it may feel like pulling off a longer photo session is too much of a hassle. In these cases, I suggest substituting any of the sessions from the list above for a shorter and more convenient Family Mini-Session.

“I wish I had realized that family history is a perishable commodity. It disappears with time as memories fade and loved ones pass on. I wish I had known that the most important aspect of family history is preserving a record of the present for the future.” –Guy Black

Family Photography Inspo Gallery

I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to photograph thousands of families through the years. The photos below are a compilation of the many sessions to showcase some of the ideas and locations that I mentioned above.