Tips for timing, choosing a location, outfits, managing kids and more!
Portrait
Session
Central Florida Family Photo Guide
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Planning family photos during your Orlando or Central Florida stay doesn’t have to be stressful. Whether you’re visiting on vacation or you’re a local family looking for updated portraits, this guide is designed to make the entire experience easy, relaxed, and enjoyable — from choosing a location to knowing what to wear.
As a Central Florida family photographer, I help families create timeless images in beautiful, non-theme-park locations that allow kids to be kids and parents to actually enjoy the process.
- Kim
Sessions are designed to be relaxed and kid-friendly.
You can expect:
- Gentle posing and natural movement
- Time for kids to explore and play
- A calm, unhurried pace
- Guidance every step of the way
My goal is to create images that feel authentic to your family — not stiff or overly posed.
Vacations are one of the few times families are fully present together — no work, no school schedules, no daily distractions. That’s what makes them the perfect opportunity for family photos.
Why Book Family
While You’re in Central Florida?
Photos
- Capture genuine moments while everyone is relaxed
- Create meaningful images beyond phone snapshots
- Document a special season of life together
- Walk away with professional photos you’ll treasure long after your trip ends
Family sessions during your stay allow you to:
Whether you’re here for a week or live locally, these sessions are designed to feel natural, fun, and unrushed.
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Florida’s heat and humidity play a big role in outfit planning. The goal is to stay comfortable while still looking polished and timeless.
When picking outfits I recommend keeping in mind the word “complement” rather than “match.” For example, if Dad is wearing a blue and pink pastel plaid shirt, the Mom may want to choose a long, soft blue dress. It can also be a great idea to choose “color-families,” such as pastels or jewel tones.
A good rule of thumb: pick 3 or so colors and spread them throughout the family. Don't be afraid to mix a few subtle patterns or textures (such as linen).
And always keep the location in mind. If we're shooting in a green field, light green dresses might blend in too much with the surroundings.
Choosing Outfits
What to Wear for Family Photos in Florida
Heels lengthen legs but if your heels aren’t comfortable for walking or we'll be in grass, bring an extra pair of shoes to slip into in between shots.
I love the way larger patterns and textures (like linen) photograph - just be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin. I love bright, neon dresses, but we don’t love the neon reflection they add to your complexion.
Wardrobe Tips
for the ladies
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Statement jewelry is a great way to add color or pattern to a simple dress.
Lace and tulle look amazing in photographs.
And dresses with sleeves are a great way to help slim arms.
Depending on your location, you might want to consider a fit and flare or a flowy dress.
They look great in walking and photos with movement.
Choose an outfit you feel comfortable in, but don’t be afraid to dress up!
Accessories
for the ladies
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I think it’s so important that you look and feel your best for your photos. Investing in professional hair and makeup can go a long way towards creating photos you love for years.
Professionally done hair & makeup last longer than typical hair & makeup. They also tend to hold up better in humidity and wind.
If you are in the Orlando area, I LOVE & highly recommend Stacie Otto - https://www.stacieotto.com/ She comes to you for your hair and make up needs. She also has a ton of associates that do amazing!!!
But you can certainly do your own make up. Just make sure you blend blend blend.
If you’re planning to do any spray tans or waxing, schedule those for a few days before the session to give your skin time to recover.
Hair & Makeup
for the ladies
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You can’t go wrong with crisp button up. Or consider layering a blazer or sweater with jeans with this look.
Bowties are always a good idea.
Be careful not to choose a pattern that is too small - it may accidentally make your photo look a little too busy.
Softer, pastel colors tend to photograph better than bright colors - especially since bright colors could reflect on your skin.
Cozy sweaters layered over button ups are a great way to stay warm and stylish during the cooler months.
Wardrobe
for the gents
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I’m Kimberly, a Central Florida family photographer with years of experience photographing local families and visitors alike. I specialize in creating warm, natural images that reflect real connection and emotion.
Many of the families I photograph return year after year, and I love watching their stories unfold over time. Whether this is your first professional session or you’ve done this before, I’ll help make the experience comfortable and enjoyable.
About Kim
the Photographer
The best times for family sessions are:
- Early morning: Cooler temperatures and soft, even light
- Golden hour (before sunset): Warm, flattering light and beautiful skies
Midday sessions are generally avoided due to harsh sun and heat, especially with young children. I’ll always help you choose a time that works best for your family and the season.
Best Times of Day for Family Photos in Central Florida
TIME & LIGHT
Sunset & Bedtimes
In the warmer months, sunset sessions often fall during the witching hour. They may even fall during or after bedtime.
As much as I love a consistent bedtime routine, in order to capture the best light during "golden hour", I'm like going to need to throw off your schedule a bit.
If our session takes place close to dinnertime, I recommend feeding kids (and yourselves!) before I begin shooting.
If your little one is going to be going to bed later, consider pushing their nap a bit that day, letting them sleep longer or packing pj's so that you can quickly tuck them into bed as soon as you get home.
I also happily offer sunrise sessions as well. Message me for more details.
Locations
Favorite Non-Disney Photo Locations Near Orlando
The best session locations are often meaningful to our individual families; however, I'm also happy to make recommendations. From local resorts to the best sunset beaches to bloom filled gardens and college campuses, the options for session locations are endless!
Four Seasons Resort Disney
Gaylord Palms Resort $
Ringling Museum of Art $
Bok Tower Gardens $
Rented Studio Space
University of Tampa
CLASSIC & ELEGANT
Rollins College
Kraft Azalea Gardens
John's Lake Conservation
Lake Louisa State Park $
Cypress Grove Estate House
Baldwin Park
Grahams U pick Farm $
Bass Park in Hamlin
Dickson Azalea Park
RUSTIC
Downtown Orlando
Lake Nona
Downtown Celebration FL
UT campus and DT Tampa
Hannibal Square Winter Park
Downtown Winderemere
Downtown Clermont
URBAN
Upham Beach $
Sand Key Park $
Fort De Soto State Park $
Anna Maria Island $
Clearwater Beach $
Coquina beach $
west Coast BEACH
Ponce Inlet $
Sebastian Inlet $
Washington Oaks State Park $
Disney's Vero Beach
Smyrna Dunes Park $
Lori Wilson Park
East Coast Beach
Kelly Rock Springs $
Underwater Sessions
Sailing / Boating
Kennedy Space Center $
Horseback Riding Sessions
Pickle Ball Family Shoot
ADVENTURE
The above locations are all beautiful but I also love exploring meaningful locations with our families! Your family's favorite park, home, etc.
$ Denotes an entrance or parking fee
- Knows the best local locations
- Helps with planning and timing
- Works beautifully with kids
- Creates timeless family images
I’d love to help you plan your session.
Contact me here to book your Central Florida family photos
Ready to Your Family Photos?
Book
Because Florida weather can change quickly, I typically schedule two session dates: a primary date and a backup rain date. This helps ensure your photos happen on time — especially for families visiting on vacation — and gives us flexibility to get the look you’re hoping for.
I’ll check in a few days before your session to confirm timing and location, and I usually monitor the weather closely the day before. Since I know how much effort goes into getting ready, I try to make weather-related decisions at least 12 hours in advance whenever possible.
If rain is in the forecast, we’ll decide together whether to move forward or use the backup date — whatever feels best for your family.
Inclement Weather
what to do if it rains
When it comes to posing for your session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I'll guide you through the entire process beginning with “poses” that are super easy and natural. If I tell you to do something that feels a little funny, it’s probably because we know it’s going to make everyone laugh - and that’s the photo I'm actually looking for.
Throughout your session, I'll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. If it is really windy we do like to go with it for the most part. We want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
"What do I do with
my hands"?
"What do I do
with my hands"?
POSING
FEEL FREE TO LAUGH AND KEEP MOVING
Lift your arm off your body
When sitted, sit on the edge of the chair
Let me know if you have a "side"
DON'T TUCK YOUR CHIN, PULL CHIN AND EARS FORWARD
Yes, you are welcome to print the images on your own. If you do this, I recommend making sure that the printer does not color correct the images (many automatically do this.) I also recommend looking for a high quality printer. While 10 cent prints sound great in theory, the cheaper printing quality often won’t do your images justice. Paper quality, color correction and a handful of other factors play a big role in the way your prints turn out. This is one of the reasons why we LOVE offering prints to our clients.
A:
Can I print the images on my own?
q:
While I don’t guarantee an exact number of images, I will make sure we capture your family thoroughly. Depending on your package most families should expect to receive at least 75 edited images following their session. If your images include a set number of images you get to choose your files from your gallery of edited images.
A:
How many images will I receive?
q:
I guarantee that your images will remain in an online gallery for at least 6 months. While your galleries may stay up longer than that, we cannot guarantee it. Once your galleries have been delivered, I highly recommend downloading all high resolution images to several devices. Consider investing in a portable, waterproof external hard drive.
A:
How long will I have access to the images?
q:
While turnaround times can vary by season, I aim to deliver all images within two and a half weeks of your session. (But sometimes I am quicker, especially when both kiddos are in school)
A:
When will I receive my images?
q:
You are absolutely welcome to share images on social media. To ensure that my work is properly represented, I ask that you refrain from any edits. We also appreciate image credits and tags as they help us to continue to grow as a business.
IG @heyportrayable
A:
Can I share the images on social media?
q:
By default, the creators of images always own the rights to the images. However I'll give you a release to use, print and share your images. The only thing you won’t be able to do is sell your image as a stock photo. I won’t do this either without your written permission.
A:
Do I own the rights to the images?
q:
Depending on your package I typically plan about 60-90 minutes for sessions. While we likely don’t need to be shooting this entire time, this does give us the flexibility for location changes, rowdy kids and time to warm up. But if you need a quicker session because you know your family might not last that long feel free to just let me know.
A:
How long should we plan for the session to take?
q:
I do light retouching on all of our images. This means that if there are any glaring objects that should be removed (such as a bump from the tumble your toddler took that morning,) I’ll remove it. Larger edits (such as removing tan lines,) require more time and would require us to add additional editing hours to your collection.
A:
Will you retouch our images?
q:
As soon as possible after your session is complete, I’ll back up your images and begin the editing process. Unless I have a holiday closure or family emergency, you can expect to receive your edited, digital images between 2-3 weeks after your session.
Your Images
When to Expect
“We didn’t realize we were making memories, we just knew we were having fun.”
If you have booked an extended family session (more than one household, grandparents, etc), I have a few tips to help make photographing this larger group a bit easier on everyone.
Extended Family Sessions
Tips for larger groups
Please send ME all family groupings ahead of time so that while I'm shooting, we understand who should be photographed together.
While you don’t need to draw Me a family tree (although bonus points if you do!) something like this would work well:
1
Grandma - Jean
Grandfather - Max
Sam (son of Jean + Max) and Tina.
Their Kids: Jason (10), Julianne (5) and Jack (2)
Elizabeth (son of Jean + Max) and Paul
Their Kids: Austin (9) and Claire (6)
When it comes to choosing outfits for larger families, I recommend coordinating with one another ahead of time. Photographs typically come out best when families choose a color palette or a few colors over wearing the exact same thing (think: the white polo and khaki photo uniform of the 90’s.)
Outfits that feel a bit special (your “Sunday best”) but that you still feel comfortable in generally result in the best images.
If you need any advice in this area, just let us know!
2
When it comes to choosing a location for larger groupings, there are a few extra elements to keep in mind. Locations should be easy to access, limit walking and be safe for young children.
While I can get away with shooting small families in a downtown setting, for larger families, we’ll need a bit of space to spread out. Family homes with larger yards (and open shade), parks and outdoor settings typically work best for extended families.
3
Following the session, I'll deliver a gallery with the edited images. Please let me know ahead of time who should have access to this gallery. If you send me a list of the email addresses, I can set those up at the time of delivery to give all necessary parties access.
4
Entire family
Grandparents + Their children
Grandparents + Their children + spouses
Child A + Child B
Grandparents + Child A + Child A’s Family
Grandparents + Child B + Child B’s Family
Child A + Child A’s Family
Child A + Spouse
Child A’s Kids
Child A + kids
Child A spouse + kids
Individual photos of all members of Child A’s Family
Child B + Child A’s Family
Child B + Spouse
Child B’s Kids
Child B + kids
Child B spouse + kids
Individual photos of all members of Child B’s Family
Example Extended Family Shot List
Please note that this list is just a starting point and that we're happy to take any requested family portraits as long as time allows!
I know that this guide is long and hopefully it covers everything you need to know to prep for your portrait session. However if there is something I missed, or you need a recommendation feel free to email me.
info@portrayablePhotography.com