Evening Maternity Portraits at the Elizabeth Gamble Garden

Evening Maternity Portraits at the Elizabeth Gamble Garden: Five Tips To Keep Children Engaged For 60 Minutes

The best time to take outdoor portraits is definitely in the evening. This time of day is often referred to as “Golden Hour” because of the color of the light. But it is also a good time to schedule maternity portraits because the lighting is soft and flattering. Although this may be the perfect time to take maternity portraits because of the lighting, it may not be ideal for some kids. Here are some recent examples of evening maternity portraits at the Elizabeth Gamble Garden in Palo Alto. As well as five tips to help keep children engaged for 60 minutes 🙂

Set Realistic Expectations Before The Session

First and foremost, I recommend setting realistic expectations for your child. Every child is different, but having your child participate in about 50% of the session is a good place to start. Some children take a little while to “warm up,” while others are great at the beginning of the session and then start to lose interest after a while. Set a goal of a handful of really good images that include your child. And anything more than this is “icing on the cake.”

Practice A Few Poses Before The Session

Another tip for families with children, is to practice some of the poses before the session. If you have props that you plan to use during the session, you can practice using them a couple of days before the session. And if you plan on having your child hug or kiss your baby bump, practicing this for a few minutes in the days leading up to the session can go a long way. If your child sees that you are excited for the upcoming session, chances are they will be too.

Arrive Early To Get Kids Familiar With Their Surroundings

I ALWAYS recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to your maternity portraits. This allows plenty of time to park and get to the meeting point for the start of the session. But it also allows children to get familiar with their surroundings. Depending on your child, they may be a little shy at the beginning of the session. Arriving early allows for them to be comfortable and well adapted to their surroundings.

Take Breaks And Let Your Child Explore While They Are Not Taking Pictures

Another thing to consider, when taking pictures with your child, is that they may need a break or two during the session. During their breaks, you and your partner can take sets of pictures without them. If they need a small snack or a bathroom break, this can be accommodated as well. I would also consider bringing along a friend or family member to help tend to your child while they are not in pictures. Your friend or family member can also help grab their attention if they are easily distracted 😉

Keep The Session Fun And Candid

Lastly, I believe that the best images are fun, candid, and feel unposed. This is especially the case with children. I tend to capture children moving more than trying to force them to take stationary pictures. In my experience, getting kids walking, running, and jumping can bring out realistic smiles.

Hopefully these images of evening maternity portraits at the Elizabeth Gamble Garden have been helpful. Thanks!