When is the best time to schedule a family photo session in Seattle? That depends! Some clients like to book photography around their children’s birthdays, some wait until a weekend when extended family is in town so grandparents can be involved, and others choose a date in their favorite season. Below are the pros and cons of each time of year to help you decide when the best time is for your family photography appointment.
JANUARY – FEBRUARY
The early part of the year a great time to do a cozy studio session or a mountain session in the snow. Photos can be a celebration of a baby’s milestone (i.e. 1 year), a child’s birthday, or candid engagement photos with a snowy mountain backdrop. This time of year sees shorter days (less light), and more inclement weather in Seattle, making outdoor photos in the city a little trickier (aka rain rain rain). However, since it’s my quieter season, appointments are easier to schedule and you should have your choice of dates.
MARCH THROUGH MAY
In March, the cherry blossoms bloom in the UW Quad and the Arboretum, and can be a fun backdrop for a little baby milestone shoot, engagement photos, or family portraits. I usually offer Spring minis so you can get a more affordable photo package. They make a wonderful gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day! In May there are more flowers and trees in bloom at the Bellevue Botanical Gardens and around the city. Sunset this time of year is around 5-6pm so you can get a golden hour shoot at a more reasonable hour. This is great if you want the prettiest light, while still honoring early bedtimes for babies and toddlers.
JUNE – AUGUST
Summer is a busy season and appointments book 2-3 months out. It’s popular for a reason! The weather is gorgeous, sunsets are spectacular, and the warmer temps mean we can do outdoor family photos in more places. I often shoot at Richmond Beach, Lincoln Park, Discovery Park (wildflowers in July!), and up in the mountains this time of year. Since the year is half over, any family photo shoot you do during Summer will be current enough to use for holiday cards come Christmas or Hanukkah. In order to get a golden hour shoot this time of year, photography sessions start around 7:30pm or 8pm. For grade school kids and older, I find they can usually push bedtime for one night (and we’re outside having fun anyway!). For infants that have a hard bedtime, later appointments can be challenging. I offer Summer afternoon time slots for that reason.
SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER
Fall is by far the busiest time of year for Seattle family photography. September is one of our prettiest months, with longer days, pretty sunsets, and Autumn colors sprinkled in so it’s no surprise why so many families choose this season. I typically shoot at the Arboretum, Discovery, Park, and offer specials at a local Christmas Tree Farm and PNW locations like North Bend, with river and mountain views. One big reason clients opt for this time of year is images will be current for their holiday cards. Fall photo sessions book out months in advance, so make sure to subscribe to my newsletter where I announce when dates go live.
In addition to regular fall appointments, I offer about 30-40 holiday minis in Fall as well. Holiday minis are 20 minute shoots on set dates in Fall, where I photograph a number of families back to back at locations of my choosing (Tree Farm, Arboretum, Greenlake, etc.). It’s a way for me to offer more appointments, and get clients who “just need a few good ones for the holiday card!” an efficient and simple Fall photo shoot. Minis sell out within an hour once announced via newsletter and social media. Another reason to sign up for my mailing list or follow me on instagram.
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER
Toward the end of October, the days get shorter, and the weather gets much windier, colder, and wetter in Seattle making outdoor photo shoots a little tricker. If you do opt for outside family photography this time of year, I recommend pretty wool coats and warm sweaters, nice boots for the wet ground, and some flexibility to reschedule around rain. It’s also a great time to consider an indoor photo session at home, or a studio family photography session. My studio is in downtown Seattle by the stadiums and is always dry, cozy, and full of light! I also offer some fun holiday props around Christmastime if you’d like a festive family session. Some families will wear more formal holiday portrait outfits, and change into Christmas/holiday pajamas for a few pictures at the end.
