Spring Family Photoshoot: Why Spring Photography is the BEST season for your Family Session

There are, of course, pro’s and con’s to all seasons for family photography. Summer can be a busy but warm, Autumn is gorgeous but rainy and let’s face it, trying to do anything extra with little ones in the build up to Christmas is just stressful! But, for me, Spring is King! Especially when it comes to family photography and here is why.

Here’s why I believe Spring Photography should be high priority for those looking for amazing outdoor images.

Capturing Seasonal Beauty

Lets start with the obvious – Nature coming back to life after the hibernation of Winter is a fantastic excuse to get your family out and about exploring the great outdoors. Whether it’s the beautiful delicate blossoms of the fruit trees, the happy yellow trumpets of the daffodils or the vivid carpets of bluebells there is colour and texture popping up all over the place in Spring.

So if outside in the fresh air is your families happy place, if you little ones prefer exploring

These blooming backdrops can create timelessness that infuse your images with colour and add a little something unique that just can’t be created in a studio.

Weather

The other wonderful thing about Spring is that the weather is often cool but bright. Perfect weather for family photography! As the days get longer and the sun is warmer we can begin to enjoy getting outside without being caked in mud and having to bring the brollies incase of showers. Although Spring in Somerset can still present with changeable weather it does give a greater chance of sunshine and less need to reschedule because of a deluge.

Lighter Clothing

The change in weather also means we can begin to shed our heavy winter coats in favour lighter layers. In my opinion this is an absolute win for family photography for two reasons. Firstly it means that little ones can run and play without the constraints of bulky clothing and clunky wellies. Secondly it’s a chance for floaty materials to make an re-emergence from the wardrobe. Dresses and skirts with a lighter fabrics photograph really well during family sessions because of the way that they show movement. During my family sessions I always encourage lots of silliness and play to prompt genuine smiles and moments of connection. Games like spinning, twirling and chasing can be brought to life in an image by the movement and motion of the material. Simple but oh so effective.

Spring Colours

Not only does the texture of our wardrobes change in Spring but also the colours. The tones and hues that emulate the natural world such as pastels, neutrals and denims all work to give images a light brighter feel. If this is a style that you prefer I definitely recommend booking your family a Spring Family Photoshoot as appose to an Autumn or Winter session where darker earthy or jewels tones feel a bit more at home.

Bedtimes

Most outdoor photographers prefer to shoot either in the early morning or late evening when the sun is lower in the sky. This creates a much softer light which is much more flattering for those being photographed. Depending on your location when shooting in the Summer because of the longer days, in order to shoot in that soft light before sunset, photographers may have to schedule sessions well into the evening.

In the Spring because the days are that little bit shorter it means that the Golden Hour before sunset is much earlier. As a result family shoots can take place in the late afternoon and it doesn’t keep any little people up past their bed time.

Find out more

If you want to find out more about Spring Photography why not check out my blog post Bloomin’ Beautiful: Everything you Need to Know About Bluebell Mini Sessions or head to my Instagram to see some behind the scenes videos, styling advice and location scouting.