Your All-Inlcusive Family Portrait Session

So you booked your session. Yay! Let’s go over what comes next.

Make sure to fill out my “Family Portrait Session Pre-Session Questionnaire”

After you’ve completed your booking, I’ll send an email with a short pre-session questionnaire. Taking a few minutes to fill it out helps me get to know your family better and shape our session to reflect your vision. Your answers will guide me in capturing the moments that matter most to you.

Location

After you’ve filled out your pre-session questionnaire, I’ll send an email to start a conversation about choosing the perfect location. Based on your answers, I’ll suggest a few options that fit your vision.

Want to start getting inspired? I’ve put together a guide featuring some of my favorite Marin County locations—complete with sample images to help you visualize each setting. You can check it out here:
https://www.janetsanchezphotography.com/marincountylocations

I’m always up for shooting at spots I know and love, but if you have a special place in mind, I’d love to hear about it!

What to Wear

I believe your photos should celebrate you. Rather than aiming for anything overly polished or perfectly coordinated, I encourage families to choose outfits that feel comfortable, natural, and true to who they are.

Movement matters — especially with kids — so clothing that allows you to sit, walk, explore, and play freely always photographs best. When planning outfits, start with a simple color palette instead of trying to match exactly. Soft, complementary tones tend to create a relaxed, cohesive look without feeling forced.

I’ve put together a detailed styling guide to help you plan with ease. It includes outfit tips, color palettes, and examples for both outdoor and in-home sessions.
You can view the full styling guide here:
https://www.janetsanchezphotography.com/styling-guide

If you have questions beyond the guide or would like a second opinion, you’re always welcome to reach out — I’m happy to help.

What to expect during our session

My goal is to capture the real connections, emotions, and little moments that make your family you. While I’ll make sure to get a few classic shots of everyone looking at the camera, most of our time together will be spent moving, playing, and doing things that feel natural.

I have plenty of fun activities up my sleeve- from playing Red Light, Green Light to dancing, or searching for “treasures” together. But my number one tip for creating those beautiful, candid images you see in my portfolio? Treat this session as a time to be fully present and simply enjoy your kids.

The most magical moments I’ve captured often start with a child following their own curiosity and a parent responding with joy instead of stress. Embrace the unexpected, soak in the moment, and I promise to create something beautiful from your family, exactly as you are.

Length of the session

I do not place any hard time restrictions on family portrait sessions, but you can generally expect our session to last around 45 minutes to an hour.

Please do your best to arrive on time

I know how difficult it is to get everyone in the family loaded up and out the door! If you can, plan to be a little bit early so that we can start on time. This is especially important for evening sessions that are scheduled during that beautiful evening light. We want to make sure we have plenty of time with that gorgeous lighting before the sun dips below the horizon.

I can't wait to capture your family!  Do not hesitate to ask me any questions you have.  See you soon!