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June 25, 2021

How to choose a family session | The Woodlands Family Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) and Craftsman based in Houston, TX. Tara Flannery Photography specializes in family portraits and can help with how to choose a family session. See more family photos in the gallery. Contact me to book your family portrait today!

How to choose a family session

At Tara Flannery Photography, we offer regular family sessions all year long. These sessions are about an hour long and provide plenty of time for kids who need to warm up to a photographer. They are also perfect for extended family sessions. First, we capture the entire extended family. Then, we photograph individual families and other breakouts with grandparents. In the end, these longer sessions can include different backgrounds and lots of variety as we meander around a park or other setting to explore.

Another option is the Limited Edition Session, offered only in October. These are 20-minute sessions for the family. They are great for older kids who can take direction. The Limited Edition is the perfect option for the annual family portrait update. We can get a lot of photos in 20 minutes!

So, first, plan on a family portrait. Next, call me to discuss options for your next family portrait session and I can help you decide what’s best for your family. Then, we will schedule your session and prepare to have fun! Finally, enjoy your new family portraits and admire them as you walk by them every day in your home!

A Session with the McClintock Family

What an adorable family! The McClintock family is going to be featured in their neighborhood magazine and they needed an updated family photo. Their last photo was taken when Bryce was only a year old! He did so well during our session that we had time to play in the dirt afterwards.

how to choose a family session little boy in the woods with sticks

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) and Craftsman based in Houston, TX. Tara Flannery Photography specializes in family portraits. See more family photos in the gallery. Contact me to book your family portrait today!

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@taraflanneryphotography

Be honest — when`s the last time you actually looked at your headshot? 👀

If it`s giving any of these, it might be time:

📌 It`s from a different job, title, or chapter of your life

📌 Your hair, glasses, or facial hair don`t match reality anymore

📌 It`s a cropped vacation pic, an old selfie, or a Zoom screenshot (we`ve all been there)

📌 You cringe a little every time it pops up on LinkedIn

📌 It`s been 2-3+ years since your last one

Your headshot is usually the first impression someone gets of you online — before they ever meet you in person. It should actually look like you today.

If you`re nodding along to any of these... let`s fix it. 📸

🔗 Click the link in my bio to book your consultation!

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17989959233867770

If you’re planning family photos around Houston or The Woodlands, I`ve got 8 beautiful locations to consider 👇🏻

📍 W.G. Jones State Forest — Woodsy, natural, and perfect for that classic outdoor family portrait look.

📍 Alden Bridge Park — Relaxed, timeless, and a great option for families who want plenty of greenery.

📍 Rob Fleming Park at Creekside — Scenic, family-friendly, and especially beautiful for those warm, natural portraits.

📍 The Woodlands Waterway — A great mix of greenery, architecture, and a slightly more urban feel.

📍 Hughes Landing — Modern and polished with plenty of variety for your gallery.

📍 Mercer Botanic Gardens — Lush, colorful, and perfect if you love a garden-inspired backdrop.

📍 Downtown Conroe — Lots of character and architecture for something a little different from the traditional park setting.

📍 Downtown Tomball — Charming, casual, and full of personality.

🔖 SAVE this list for when it’s time to plan your family photos!

Still need to get your fall family photos on the calendar? I have just a few weekend dates remaining this season:

October 10 & 17
November 8 & 15

If one of those dates works for your family, don’t wait too long to grab it! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your family session. 📸

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17875084842636849

If you’re planning family photos around Houston or The Woodlands, I've got 8 beautiful locations to consider 👇🏻

📍 W.G. Jones State Forest — Woodsy, natural, and perfect for that classic outdoor family portrait look.

📍 Alden Bridge Park — Relaxed, timeless, and a great option for families who want plenty of greenery.

📍 Rob Fleming Park at Creekside — Scenic, family-friendly, and especially beautiful for those warm, natural portraits.

📍 The Woodlands Waterway — A great mix of greenery, architecture, and a slightly more urban feel.

📍 Hughes Landing — Modern and polished with plenty of variety for your gallery.

📍 Mercer Botanic Gardens — Lush, colorful, and perfect if you love a garden-inspired backdrop.

📍 Downtown Conroe — Lots of character and architecture for something a little different from the traditional park setting.

📍 Downtown Tomball — Charming, casual, and full of personality.

🔖 SAVE this list for when it’s time to plan your family photos!

Still need to get your fall family photos on the calendar? I have just a few weekend dates remaining this season:

October 10 & 17
November 8 & 15

If one of those dates works for your family, don’t wait too long to grab it! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your family session. 📸

A little bit of flash can go a LONG way outdoors. 📸

When I’m photographing families or seniors outside, I’m not trying to overpower the natural light or make the photo look like it was taken with flash.

I just want a little extra light to soften those shadows, even out skin tones, and give me a more polished final image.

The key? Keep it subtle.

Your flash should work with the natural light—not fight against it. When you get that balance right, you still get the beautiful look of an outdoor session, just with a little more control over your subject’s lighting.

If you’re a newer photographer, start experimenting with adding a small amount of off-camera flash to your outdoor sessions. You might be surprised by how much of a difference it makes!

📸 And if you’re building your photography skills, I have free resources on lighting, gear, posing, and more available through the link in my bio.

58 2

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 18130059538764645

A little bit of flash can go a LONG way outdoors. 📸

When I’m photographing families or seniors outside, I’m not trying to overpower the natural light or make the photo look like it was taken with flash.

I just want a little extra light to soften those shadows, even out skin tones, and give me a more polished final image.

The key? Keep it subtle.

Your flash should work with the natural light—not fight against it. When you get that balance right, you still get the beautiful look of an outdoor session, just with a little more control over your subject’s lighting.

If you’re a newer photographer, start experimenting with adding a small amount of off-camera flash to your outdoor sessions. You might be surprised by how much of a difference it makes!

📸 And if you’re building your photography skills, I have free resources on lighting, gear, posing, and more available through the link in my bio.

The goal is to coordinate—not match. 👏🏻

Planning outfits for the whole family can easily become the most stressful part of family photos, so here’s my favorite way to simplify it:

Start with one person’s outfit (Mom, I’m looking at you 😉) and build everyone else around it.

Choose a color palette that works well with your location. For an outdoor session, earthy greens, browns, blues, creams, and other natural tones photograph beautifully.

Then add some variety! Mix different shades of denim, layer jackets or sweaters, and incorporate different fabrics and textures. Everyone should look like they belong together without looking like you bought the same outfit in five different sizes. 😂

And most importantly, choose clothes that actually feel like your family. You’ll be much more comfortable in front of the camera—and it’ll show in your photos.

And don`t forget, my weekend family session dates are filling up fast! 👇🏻

October 10th & 17th
November 8th & 15th

📸 Need a little more help planning your session? My free Family Session Welcome Guide covers wardrobe, locations, preparing for your session, and more. Grab it through the link in my bio!

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Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17954187546289592

The goal is to coordinate—not match. 👏🏻

Planning outfits for the whole family can easily become the most stressful part of family photos, so here’s my favorite way to simplify it:

Start with one person’s outfit (Mom, I’m looking at you 😉) and build everyone else around it.

Choose a color palette that works well with your location. For an outdoor session, earthy greens, browns, blues, creams, and other natural tones photograph beautifully.

Then add some variety! Mix different shades of denim, layer jackets or sweaters, and incorporate different fabrics and textures. Everyone should look like they belong together without looking like you bought the same outfit in five different sizes. 😂

And most importantly, choose clothes that actually feel like your family. You’ll be much more comfortable in front of the camera—and it’ll show in your photos.

And don't forget, my weekend family session dates are filling up fast! 👇🏻

October 10th & 17th
November 8th & 15th

📸 Need a little more help planning your session? My free Family Session Welcome Guide covers wardrobe, locations, preparing for your session, and more. Grab it through the link in my bio!

The best family photos aren’t always the perfectly posed ones. 🤍

Of course, we’re going to get that classic photo where everyone is together, looking at the camera, and smiling. But that’s only one small part of a family session.

We’ll get the whole family together. Just the kids. Mom and Dad. Each parent with the kids. And plenty of different combinations along the way.

But we’ll also make room for the in-between moments.

The silly faces. The big laughs. The cuddles. The kids being kids. The moments when everyone forgets about the camera for a second and is simply enjoying being together.

I’ll guide you into poses and give you direction throughout your session, but we’re not chasing perfection. Sometimes a pose is just the starting point—and what happens immediately after it ends up being the photo you love most.

Because years from now, you won’t only want to remember what everyone looked like.

You’ll want to remember what being together felt like. 🤍

📸 Ready to update your family portraits? I still have a few fall weekend dates available! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.

12 0

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17965858836213735

The best family photos aren’t always the perfectly posed ones. 🤍

Of course, we’re going to get that classic photo where everyone is together, looking at the camera, and smiling. But that’s only one small part of a family session.

We’ll get the whole family together. Just the kids. Mom and Dad. Each parent with the kids. And plenty of different combinations along the way.

But we’ll also make room for the in-between moments.

The silly faces. The big laughs. The cuddles. The kids being kids. The moments when everyone forgets about the camera for a second and is simply enjoying being together.

I’ll guide you into poses and give you direction throughout your session, but we’re not chasing perfection. Sometimes a pose is just the starting point—and what happens immediately after it ends up being the photo you love most.

Because years from now, you won’t only want to remember what everyone looked like.

You’ll want to remember what being together felt like. 🤍

📸 Ready to update your family portraits? I still have a few fall weekend dates available! Head to the link in my bio to reserve your session.

Photographers: the secret to family sessions with little kids? Stop expecting them to follow the plan. 😂📸

Young kids are going to move. They’re going to get distracted. They may decide halfway through that they’re completely DONE with your ideas—and that’s okay.

Instead of fighting it, work with it.

Keep them moving and engaged. Give them something to do instead of constantly asking them to smile. And don’t forget to coach Mom and Dad, too! Encourage them to interact with their kids, keep looking at you when you need the classic family shot, and trust you to get the moment.

Because some of the best images happen in between the poses—the laughs, cuddles, movement, and little expressions you couldn’t have planned if you tried.

You don’t need perfectly behaved kids to create beautiful family portraits. You need patience, flexibility, and a few tricks ready when your original plan goes out the window. 😉

📸 If you’re growing your photography business, I have free resources covering everything from gear and lighting to posing and more. Check them out through the link in my bio!

5 0

Open post by taraflanneryphotography with ID 17908907229552968

Photographers: the secret to family sessions with little kids? Stop expecting them to follow the plan. 😂📸

Young kids are going to move. They’re going to get distracted. They may decide halfway through that they’re completely DONE with your ideas—and that’s okay.

Instead of fighting it, work with it.

Keep them moving and engaged. Give them something to do instead of constantly asking them to smile. And don’t forget to coach Mom and Dad, too! Encourage them to interact with their kids, keep looking at you when you need the classic family shot, and trust you to get the moment.

Because some of the best images happen in between the poses—the laughs, cuddles, movement, and little expressions you couldn’t have planned if you tried.

You don’t need perfectly behaved kids to create beautiful family portraits. You need patience, flexibility, and a few tricks ready when your original plan goes out the window. 😉

📸 If you’re growing your photography business, I have free resources covering everything from gear and lighting to posing and more. Check them out through the link in my bio!

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Serving the Greater Houston, Texas Area

tara@taraflannery.com

713-412-5437

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Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers of America PPA.

Tara is a Certified Professional Photographer.

Tara is a member of TPPA Texas Professional Photographer's Association.

Tara has earned her Master of Photography degree.

Tara has earned her Photographic Craftsman certification.

Tara is a member of the Professional Photographers Guild of Houston PPGH.