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Family
session
PLANNING YOUR San Luis Obispo
choosing the perfect time, location, outfit & More!
Welcome
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
I'm so excited to be working with you, and I can't wait for our time together during your family session! Welcome to photography where dads feel at ease in front of the camera, moms look their best, and kids have genuine, bubbly smiles. (Yes, really!)
Below, you’ll find my guide for a smooth flowing session. From locations to outfits and everything in between, I’m here for you in every step of the planning process.
- Tayler enerle
Family session galleries are delivered within 3 weeks from your session date.
You’ll receive an online gallery with edited, high resolution photographs ready to print. You can print anywhere you’d like and share away on social media! I also offer fade resistant, professional grade prints and albums if you’d like to invest in heirloom quality products that will last for generations.
Gallery delivery
When it comes to the time of day, the time just after sunrise or just before sunset provides soft, glowing light for portraits, and I recommend that we schedule around that so you can experience the beauty of golden hour!
Depending on your location, my suggested timing will change for ideal lighting. Here’s a helpful rule of thumb—If it’s an area without a lot of shade, we may only start an hour before sunset. If it’s an area with ample shade, we will start two hours before sunset.
The other factor in timing is little kids and their naps. Prioritizing well rested little ones will make for the most comfortable and sweet photos, I promise! If you have kids who are still napping or have early bedtimes, let me know the time they’re the most rested and I can suggest locations that have great lighting around that time. (Trust me, it’s worth it!)
Timing your family session with your desired window for holiday cards is something to consider if you’d like to include your photos! Plan to contact me in late summer for your ideal
fall date as they book up quite quickly. I recommend a session in September or October so you can take advantage of any Black Friday or Cyber Monday sales.
Keeping that in mind, I recommend scheduling your family session no later than two months before your ideal mailing date. You’ll receive your photos within two weeks but you’ll want to account for ordering, printing, and mailing them out, too.
Time of day
Holiday cards
TIME & LIGHT
Family sessions can be planned at any time! The Central Coast gives us such beautiful weather year round, here’s the setting you can expect with each season.
Time of Year
Winter
Winter sessions are the perfect reason to dress in cozy layers and bring along hot cocoa! For winter sessions, keep in mind that sunset happens much earlier and we may be beginning our session as early as 2:30 pm. Depending on how much rain we’ve received, we may have lush green hills or golden grass. While the weather is mostly mild, it can be windy and a bit chilly at the beach or in areas of the county like Paso Robles.
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Crisp Air with Hints of Greenery
Spring
Rolling green hills and wildflowers
Spring is such a lovely season on the Central Coast. Expect greenery in your background if you choose a location other than the beach! Spring is an excellent time of year to take photos but it can also be quite windy.
Summer
Long Evenings and Warm Weather
Summer gives us late sunsets and balmy weather! Most of the vineyards are green and beautiful in the summer, too. Keep in mind that in the northern part of the county it can be quite hot. At times, when it is crazy hot in Paso, it can be a lot cooler or even foggy at the beach. It’s quite a mix! Because of the later sunset, sessions sometimes begin as late as 6 pm.
Fall
Golden Fields and Long Sunsets
Fall is one of the prettiest times of the year on the Central Coast, and because of the perfect weather, my schedule typically books up quickly! The heat of summer leaves us with golden fields and tall grass, which look really romantic in photos.
what's included?
A full (single-family) session includes:
For you, your partner, children, and even pets!
Sessions are typically 25 - 45 minutes long with 40+ photographs delivered 2 weeks later.
You can print anywhere you’d like and share away on social media! I also offer fade resistant, professional grade prints and albums if you’d like to invest in heirloom quality products that will last for generations. These sessions are also perfect for maternity photos!
All of the above but with even more loved ones. Bring your grandparents, siblings and cousins, the more, the merrier! We’ll capture everyone’s photo requests and desired groupings.
Sessions are typically 90 minutes long with 120 + photographs delivered 2 weeks later. You can print anywhere you’d like and share away on social media! I also offer fade resistant, professional grade prints and albums if you’d like to invest in heirloom quality products that will last for generations.
Extended family sessions
Our pet is a huge part of our family which is why I love when families choose to incorporate pets into their session! Keep in mind that bringing a pet along often means that we’ll need to choose a pet-friendly location, there are some state parks and reserves in the area that do not allow pets.
I recommend planning for your pet to be at the first part of your session and then either dropping them off or having a friend take them home. We won’t use your pet in every single photo, so it’s also nice to have a friend available to hold them in between shots.
If you’re going to bring a pet, I recommend exercising your pet before the session and bringing your pet's favorite toy or treats! Depending on your pet’s fur type, it might also be a good idea to groom them before the shoot. We want everyone looking their best!
Pets
Outfits
TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST
Overall, you can’t go wrong wearing attire that makes you feel good and flatters your body type and skin tone. When picking outfits, aim to complement one another, not match! The best way to do this is pick a few complimentary colors and keep your clothing options within that range. Some examples of color groupings are neutrals, earth tones or jewel tones. I truly recommend avoiding bright colors in photos, as they can distract from your face and occasionally reflect onto your skin which isn’t flattering. I also recommend steering away from any clothing with bold wording, logos or large patterns because it draws attention away from your personalities!
Finally, accessories can also be a nice element in photos, adding to the look and feel. Hats, jackets, jewelry, scarves, and classic watches are accessories to consider. (Although I generally recommend avoiding removing Apple Watches or similar items, they tend to be visually distracting in photos.)
As you select outfits, if you ever want a second opinion, feel free to email me a few iPhone snapshots! I’m happy to weigh in and guide your decision.
DRESSING FOR THE WEATHER
Along with deciding what to wear, please be sure to consider the weather for your children! Layers like sweaters and tights go a long way in making sure that everyone is comfortable and happy. (And if you’re worried that adding layers won’t look good, I guarantee that a happy, warm child will always look wonderful in photos!)
For little ones:
I generally recommend bringing along a non-messy snack that feels special to your children! Sessions before dinner can often provoke hungry bellies and nothing brings a smile out like the promise of a snack break mid session. If you need some non-messy snack ideas, I recommend grapes, apple slices, gummy bears, popcorn, crackers and anything bite-sized that can be easily popped into a mouth. (Anything that can melt or drip should be avoided!)
An important note—subtly let me know if you bring snacks, and let me surprise the kids. This can help build connection and allows me to mention the snacks when I can sense it’ll help with how the session is going.
For adults, I recommend bringing a little extra makeup, a comb or brush and tissues to your session so you can easily touch up on the go.
What to bring?
It's normal to be a little nervous about your session; we all get jitters in front of the camera at first! I tell people that I still get nervous before having my photo taken — and I do this for a living.
When it comes to posing for your family session, you don’t need to worry about a thing! I’ll guide you through the entire process, giving you plenty of direction on what looks natural and feels good. I know how to help you feel at ease and laugh together, too. Rest assured, you’re in great hands. Throughout your session, I’ll keep an eye on your hair, makeup and outfits to make sure things stay in place. I want you to feel as relaxed as possible and enjoy your time together!
how our session will feel
"What do I do
with my hands"?
Posing
Inclement Weather
what to do if it rains
While the weather here on the Central Coast is typically mild, we occasionally experience rain, strong wind, or dense fog. I'll check in the week of your session to confirm the time, our meeting spot, and the weather. I know it takes a lot of time to get ready for a family session and it's the worst to get dressed up and drive out to your session only to have it rain! If the weather looks like it won't work well for photos, I typically try to make the call at least 8 hours in advance and offer my indoor studio as a substitute.
I am always willing to reschedule because the weather is truly out of our hands and I never want you to feel stuck with a less than ideal situation for photos.
Destination family Sessions
While most of my family sessions are taken in SLO county, I've photographed sessions everywhere from Monterey to Manhattan. If you have a location in mind that is significant for your family, let me know and we may be able to schedule a destination session.
Travel fees may apply depending on location and availability.
The biggest tip I have for all adults is to take a step back and let me guide the session! Kids can often get overwhelmed if multiple people are trying to get them to smile or act natural. I have SO many tips and tricks up my sleeves for even the most reluctant of little ones, you can just sit back and focus on being present.
Lastly,
A SUCCESSFUL SESSION
Locations
San Luis Obispo County
From beaches to vineyards and everything in between, we have so much to choose from. Here are some location recommendations below, click to explore!
View session on blog
Oaks Reserve and Montana De Oro
Sierra + Jacob
View session on blog
Oaks Reserve, Los Osos
Strong family
VIEW SESSION ON BLOG
Oaks Reserve and Morro Rock
Matt + Kathryn
Trees
Due to the shade from trees, the Oaks reserve is best about 1.5-2 hours before sunset
Los Osos Oaks Reserve
view session on blog
view session on blog
Sweet springs and Cayucos bluffs
Sweet Springs Nature Preserve
Nic + Kathleene
debruijn's
Trees
DUE TO THE SHADE FROM TREES, this location IS BEST ABOUT
1.5-2.5 HOURS BEFORE SUNSET
Sweet springs is also a great location for morning sessions (within 3 hours of sunrise is ideal)
Sweet Springs, Los Osos
VEW SESSION ON BLOG
Morro Rock
E Maternity
vew session on blog
Morro Rock
Samar + reza
beach
FOR BEACH LOCATIONS, I USUALLY SUGGEST MEETING ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES BEFORE THE SUNSETS
Morro Rock
vew session on blog
Spooners Cove/ Montana De Oro
Spooners Cove Family session
beach
For beach locations, I USUALLY SUGGEST MEETING ABOUT 30-60 MINUTES BEFORE THE SUNSETS
Montana De Oro State Beach,
(Spooners Cove) Los Osos
vew session on blog
Terrace hill, SLO
Terrace Hill
Maternity session
overlook
NOTE: this location is not suitable for people with mobility issues as it is a decent walk up a compacted dirt hill to get to this spot.
For overlook, open spaces, I USUALLY SUGGEST MEETING ABOUT 30-60 MINUTES BEFORE THE SUNSETS
Terrace Hill
San Luis Obispo
vew session on blog
Oaks Reserve + Montana De Oro
Sierra + Jacob
view session on blog
Montana De Oro, Los Osos California
Kelly + Chad
beach
For beach locations, I USUALLY SUGGEST MEETING ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES BEFORE THE SUNSETS
Montana De Oro State Beach,
(the bluff trail) Los Osos
VEW SESSION ON BLOG
Edna + Avila Beach
LIndsey + Nick
vew session on blog
Oaks Reserve + Avila Beach
Samantha + Tyler
view session on blog
Avila Beach, California
Ashley + Matt
beach
Avila is best planned for about 1-1.5 hours before sunset.
This location is also very pretty right before and at sunrise
Avila Beach
view session on blog
view session on blog
Bishop's Peak and Avila Beach
Bishops Peak, San Luis Obispo
Courtney + Zane
The Eades Family
Trees
Due to the shade from trees, Bishop's is best about 1.5-2 hours before sunset
Bishop's Peak, San Luis Obispo
view session on blog
view session on blog
Cuesta Inlet Los Osos, California
Cuesta Inlet Los Osos, California
Family portrait
Maternity session
Bay
This location is best around sunset
The pampas grass is usually thriving between late summer/fall
Cuesta Inlet, Los Osos
VIEW SESSION ON BLOG
Sweet springs and Cayucos bluffs
Nic + Kathleene
Beach
FOR BEACH LOCATIONS, I USUALLY SUGGEST MEETING ABOUT 30-40 MINUTES BEFORE THE SUNSETS
Cayucos Bluffs
VIEW SESSION ON BLOG
The Bay in Los Osos, California
Fay Family
Bay
This spot is best in the winter at sunset
Los Osos Bay
If you have any questions or I can help with any part of the planning process, just send me an email at tayler@taylerenerle.com.
I’m always available for planning advice and I truly can’t wait to work together.
