which is better for young children-- a studio or location session
which is best for my family—portraits in the studio or on location?
Having family portraits made can be a big deal and the younger your child/ren are, and the more children you have, the bigger a deal it is. There’s no right answer to where to do your session but here’s some things to consider as you decide if the studio or another location is best for your young family.
familiar places makes portraits super fun for young children
Tried and true locations like your child’s favorite park or playground are great for photographs because your child is familiar and will feel comfortable. Most parks have plenty of green space for making more traditional portraits between races down the slide or a turn in the swing. For older babies and young toddlers playgrounds give loads of opportunities for photographs with parents interacting with children in a very natural and candid way.
will the distractions of a park or playground be a problem?
Something to consider when choosing a playground or park for your session is how well your child can manage the various distractions that happen in public spaces—noises, other people, pets, etc. For some children these things only add to the fun but for others it can become overwhelming.
studio sessions are easy and never dependent on the weather
Making portraits in the studio is a completely different experience than working on location. The studios are much quieter with few distractions and weather never causes a studio session to be canceled or rescheduled. I have a variety of age-appropriate chairs, benches and rockers, and even a little staircase that little ones love to play and pose with. I have a restroom available, and because I have two studios there’s plenty of opportunities for a variety of looks in your portraits.
an at-home session can mix the best of both worlds—inside and out
If you want location portraits but feel your child/ren are too young for a park or playground consider a session at your home where it’s easy to mix the best of both worlds—some portraits outside in your yard or garden and some portraits inside with your child playing with their favorite toys, reading a beloved book, or even helping prepare their favorite snack.
a studio session one year, a location session the next might be your family’s best bet
Many of my yearly clients like to mix it up—they’ll do a studio session one year, a location session the next, then back to the studio, and so on. As your children grow you’ll likely discover that one type of session works best for your family but having the option for making portraits in the studio or on location is the perfect way to be sure you have a variety of gorgeous family portraits through the years.