Family portraits will be heirlooms you treasure as your family grows up, and everyone has tips and tricks for how to make sure your family photos are the best they can be. You’ll hear advice from posing tips to strategies for helping your kids smile and follow instructions during the session. But there’s one piece of advice that I’ve found is particularly effective: when you find a photographer whose work you like, hire that same photographer for each year or each photo session. Here’s why.

Spring is such a beautiful time for outdoor photo shoots! The landscape is coming alive all around you and all the spring colors in the flowers and trees create a stunning backdrop for portraits. If you’re planning to take advantage of this gorgeous season for family portraits, maternity photos, or other custom photography, I’m here to plan your dream photo session with you. To give you a head start, here are a few tips for what to wear for spring photo shoots.

Family photos serve so many great purposes. They create an opportunity for a fun family outing, give you a lifelong reminder of this chapter in your family’s story, and give you a way to get stunning custom decor for your home. There’s another handy perk too: they make fantastic gifts. As much as your loved ones might enjoy seeing your family portraits on social media, they’ll be thrilled to be able to enjoy them in their own home too. During this season when you’re looking for special gifts for your loved ones, check out these popular ideas for premium photo gifts.