Planning for Family Photos | Houston Family and Senior Photographer

Tara Flannery is a Certified Professional Photographer (CPP) based in The Woodlands and Conroe, TX.  Tara Flannery Photography specializes in family and senior portraits.  We will help with planning for family photos.  See more family photos and senior photos  in the gallery.  Contact me to book your family portrait today!

Planning for Family Photos

You’ve decided that it’s time to have updated family portraits!  Yay!  Whether your family includes adults, children, fur babies, grandparents, or friends, be sure to have family portraits made regularly.  Family portraits are so important.  For children, seeing family portraits on the walls makes them feel valued, loved, and part of a strong support system in the home.  As the kids get older, we tend to get busy and forget to make time for family portraits.  Make family portraits a priority and you’ll have them forever to treasure.

Planning for family photos can sometimes be the most daunting part of the process.  At Tara Flannery Photography, we help you through the entire process.  We start with an in-home consultation to discuss things like location and wardrobe.  I’ll even go through your closet and help you pick out outfits if that will help!  Since wardrobe is the most stressful part for most moms (who are usually doing the organizing), I’ll help with ideas for color, style, and individual pieces that will make a beautiful cohesive look for the family.

Family and Senior Portraits for The Rollos

When Bina contacted me about family and senior portraits, I was really excited.  The family needed updated portraits and then her son is also a senior and so we discussed taking a few of him alone during the family session.  During the consultation, we talked about location and wardrobe.  She already had some ideas of shirts for the boys that she showed me and we built the outfits from there.  We also discussed the family’s style and personalities.  After the consultation, I felt like I had known them for a long time and could easily give them family portraits that they would love!  And at the reveal appointment, they loved all of them!  I’m so excited that the family now has beautiful updated family portraits.  And they have senior portraits for their son too!

Planning for Family PhotosPlanning for Family and Senior PhotosPlanning for Family PhotosHouston Family and Senior PhotographerPlanning for Family PhotosPlanning for Family PhotosThe Woodlands Family PhotographerThe Woodlands Senior Photographer

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

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@taraflanneryphotography

Oh, just a few… 😉📸

Senior portraits are easily one of my favorite things to photograph! There's something so fun about working with seniors at such an exciting time in their lives.

And one thing I always want my seniors to know? Your senior portraits should look and feel like YOU.

Whether that means dressing up, keeping things casual, incorporating your favorite hobby or sport, bringing along your car or even your pet, I'm all for making your session personal.

We'll choose locations, plan outfits, and create a variety of images that show off your personality. And don't worry if you have absolutely no idea how to pose. That's my job!

From the classic portraits your parents will want hanging on the wall to the fun, personality-filled shots you'll want to share with all your friends, we'll make sure you get a little bit of everything.

🎓 Class of 2027, it's your turn! Senior year is already flying by, and now is the time to get your session on the calendar.

Head to the link in my bio to book your senior portrait consultation! 🤍
That beautiful sunlight filtering through the trees? It can actually make your job a little harder. 😂📸

When I'm photographing families or seniors in wooded locations, one of the first things I'm looking for is consistent, even lighting.

Those little patches of sunlight coming through the trees (also called dappled light) might look pretty in person, but they can create distracting bright spots across your subject's face, skin, and clothing.

Here are a few things I keep in mind when shooting in wooded areas:

🌳 Look for solid shade. I want my subjects evenly lit rather than having random patches of harsh sunlight hitting different parts of their bodies.

☀️ Use backlighting to your advantage. When the light is right, I love positioning the sun behind my subjects to create that beautiful, soft glow around their hair and shoulders.

📸 Don't forget your lens hood! Shooting toward the sun can introduce unwanted lens flare and reduce contrast. A lens hood can help control some of that stray light while still allowing you to create beautiful backlit portraits.

And remember, just because a location is beautiful doesn't mean every spot within it has great lighting!

Learning to recognize good light is just as important as knowing your camera settings.

📸 Just getting started in photography? I've put together a collection of FREE resources to help newer photographers build their skills and confidence behind the camera!

From lighting and posing to camera gear and more, there's plenty to help you along the way.

Head to the link in my bio to explore all the free resources available!

And don't forget to save this tip for your next outdoor session! 🌳
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.
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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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.