Best Family Photography near Harrisburg

Harrisburg PA Family Photos: Why Moms Need Family Photos the Most

As a family photographer in southern central Pennsylvania, and as a mom myself, I know that family portraits are gifts that don’t just keep on giving but that give more and more with every passing year. The more your family changes and your children grow, the more you’ll cherish the memories you made with them and the Harrisburg PA family photos that transport you back to when they were little.

But for moms, family photos give you a little something extra that you don’t often get…photos of you with your kids.

Early Fall outdoor family photos with a family of 4 near Harrisburg PA

Moms Need Photos with Their Kids

We live in a time when we all have a camera with us at nearly all times (in the form of our phone), and it’s wonderful to be able to take snapshots of your day to day life with your little ones. But take a moment to look through the latest photos you have of your kids. How many of them actually show you with your kids? Maybe 1 in 10, at best?

Of course, that’s because you’re always the one taking your kids' photos, especially if you’re a single parent or co-parent. While it comes from a place of the best intentions, with you wanting to take photos of your kids’ daily antics and all the exciting new things they’re doing, you’re an important part of their life that’s missing from those photos. For so many families, professional photo shoots are one of the only times you’ll have photos with your children.

A mother holds and embraces her young daughter while posing for outdoor family photos in Harrisburg PAMother and Son photos with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Why You and Your Kids Will Treasure Harrisburg PA Family Photos Together

As much as you enjoy having home photos of your kids, there’s something so much more special that is captured when you’re in the photo with them: the interaction and love between the two of you.

For both you and your child as they grow older, those family photos of you and them together will be so much more than a reminder of what you looked like in these years. They’ll capture the way you look at your child and the way your child looks at you. They’ll capture your laughter as the two of you are having fun together. And they’ll bring you both back to this exciting day you shared and to so many other memories that are tied to it.

Being in photos with your kids will give you these more tangible, powerful reminders of the past, and it will give those reminders to your children too, who will one day treasure these portraits as they grow up too.

If you don’t have enough family photos with your kids, I’m here to help! Reach out to Karissa Zimmer Photography to book your own Harrisburg PA family photos.

A mother, father and their 2 young children share a moment and laugh together at their family photoshoot this fall A family of 4 embraces one another at a beautiful outdoor photoshoot location in Central PABest Harrisburg PA family photographer captures images of a A little girl as she plays in a garden of fall flowers

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What Age Should Your Kids Be for Harrisburg Fall Family Photography?

Fall family portraits are a favorite for so many families because of the beautiful autumn aesthetics. The colorful leaves make the perfect backdrop, so many families take advantage of the season. But are outdoor family photos an option when you have a baby? Is there a minimum age your kids should be for outdoor Harrisburg fall family photography?

A Mother,Father, and their two young daughters pose at a beautiful outdoor location during their outdoor photo session with Best fall family photographer near Harrisburg PA

The Best Ages for Outdoor Family Photos

There’s not a hard-and-fast rule about how old your kids should be before an outdoor family photo shoot, and I’ve worked with families whose kids are all ages, including infants! It’s really just a matter of your child’s development, your comfort level, and your expectations for the photo session. This is one of the many reasons why I have a personal consultation with my clients before their photo shoot - to plan the session and discuss any special considerations that we might have to think about.

Two young sisters laugh together on a little bench at their outdoor family photography session with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Considerations for Harrisburg Fall Family Photography with a Young Child

If you have a baby or toddler, there are several things you’ll want to consider when you’re thinking about whether they’re old enough for an outdoor fall family photo shoot:

  • Make sure your child is able to be outside in the fall weather for long enough to have your photo shoot. We can discuss how you can make sure they’re bundled up enough to be warm while still looking adorable for your portraits.
  • Your child doesn’t have to be able to stand or walk to be in a family photo shoot! But if they can’t, keep in mind that someone in the family will need to be holding them in most of the photos.
  • If your child can’t stand or walk without help, and you want some photos where no one is holding them, this is a perfect opportunity for us to lay down a cozy blanket and take some seat portraits of the family together.
  • During a family photo shoot, I love to have different combinations of family members - some of the whole family, some of the parents alone, some of the kids together, and so on. For a small or especially playful child, you might consider bringing along a grandparent or family friend who can care for them for a few minutes when I’m taking portraits of just you and your partner.

These are just a few of the things that you and I will discuss when we’re planning your Harrisburg fall family photography session if you have a young child. Rest assured that I work with families of all ages, and even if there’s some extra planning involved, I’ll create a beautiful family photo shoot that you can all cherish for years to come. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning!

Harrisburg PA photographer captures a family of 4 as they laugh together in a beautiful outdoor fall setting

 

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My Child is Nervous for Our Harrisburg PA Outdoor Family Photos. What Can I Do?

As a photographer who has spent years capturing dozens of Harrisburg PA outdoor family photos, I’ve worked with families and kids of all ages, and some of the sweetest little kiddos are also very shy in front of a camera. I don’t blame them - plenty of adults are camera-shy too! But as a parent, you want to help your child feel more comfortable for the photo shoot, both because then their beautiful smile shines and because you want them to have fun. These tips can be a huge help.

A mother, father and 2 young children embrace one another during their family portrait session

 

Go Easy on the Behavior Talk

I know that your family photo shoot is important to you and you want your child to be on their best behavior. As well-meaning as you may be, it might backfire if you put too much pressure on your child to behave or make the session feel like a big deal. Instead, when you’re telling your child about the upcoming photo shoot, talk more about how much fun the photo session will be. It’s great to tell them that the photographer will be telling them what they should do and that the whole family will be following the photographer’s directions, just keep it light-hearted and present the photo shoot as something fun.

A brother and sister jokingly hug each other during their family's outdoor photo session

Introduce Them to Your Photographer Before Your Harrisburg PA Outdoor Family Photos

Whenever possible, I have a consultation in person with my clients before their photo shoot where I meet not only my client but their kids too. This way, your kids can get to know me a bit without the camera, and while they’re in their home where they feel safe and comfortable.

It also helps to use the same photographer each year if you can, so your child feels more comfortable each time. In fact, the family featured in this blog is a family I’ve been working with for many years - I’ve taken family portraits for them nearly every year since their 7-year-old was born! Because of that, every session feels like reconnecting with old friends, and the kids feel comfortable around me, which shines through in their easy smiles.

A young girl hugs her father at a beautiful outdoor location near Harrisburg PA during their family photoshoot with Karissa Zimmer Photography

Consider a Familiar Setting for Your Harrisburg PA Outdoor Family Photos

Your child might be more at ease if the photo shoot is a place where they go often, like your family’s favorite local park, or even your own backyard if it’s well-suited to a family photo shoot. Being in a familiar place means that there’s one less “new” thing that they have to adapt to, so it might be easier on their nerves.

A young girl poses to have her picture taken in Harrisburg PA during her family photoshoot

Planning a Family Photo Shoot Everyone Enjoys

I know how to make your next family photo shoot fun for everyone, including your kids! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s chat.

A young boy poses at his outdoor Harrisburg Family photography session

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Why Fall Is a Great Time for Harrisburg PA Family Photos

It’s that time of year again, folks – get ready to see your social media feeds overflowing with adorable fall family photos! As a photographer, I love to see families coming together for portraits during this time of year, like the beautiful young family featured in this blog, but have you ever wondered fall is so popular for Harrisburg PA family photos? There are several reasons, actually.

Parents admire their baby daughter while standing on a bridge during their family photoshoot near Harrisburg OPA

Fall Aesthetics

Especially in Pennsylvania, the outdoor landscape in the fall is absolutely stunning! With beautifully colorful trees and a cozy aesthetic, mother nature creates a backdrop for us that’s perfect for family photos

Best Family Photographer near Harrisburg PA

Getting Ahead for the Holidays

When it comes time for Christmas, Hanukkah, and other winter holidays, there are so many reasons you might want to have a recent family portrait on hand. Many of my clients use photos for Christmas cards, for example, and there are so many meaningful gifts you can give that involve family photos, from framed portraits to mugs to ornaments. While the main goal for a family photo session is to create custom artwork for your home, it’s always handy to have a recent portrait during the holidays.

Mom, Dad and Baby daughter are photographed in a candid moment at their outdoor family photo session.

Comfort and Convenience for Harrisburg PA Family Photos

As beautiful as fall family photos are, the autumn also happens to be a convenient time to take family portraits. For one, it’s a wonderful middle temperature – not so hot that you get sweaty during your session but also not so cold that you’re shivering and uncomfortable. The middle temperatures of the fall can help your whole family look and feel great during the session (which means we get great smiles and great portraits!).

The other convenience in the fall is the timing. Everyone loves photos taken during what we call the “golden hour,” which is the hour before sunset when there’s a gorgeous glow in the air. During the summer, though, golden hour might not be until 8:30 or 9:00 which is tricky if you have little kids with early bedtimes, and during the winter, golden hour might be at 4:00 which is challenging for working parents. Golden hour during the fall is usually around 6:00 or 7:00 which is much more schedule-friendly.

Harrisburg PA best family Photographer

Creating Your Harrisburg PA Family Photos This Fall

Want to capitalize on the fall with your own family portrait session? Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s make it happen!

Baby girl is photographed in a patch of red fall flowers during her family photo session in Harrisburg
A mom is photographed in flowers with her baby girl by outdoor fall family photographer, Karissa Zimmer Photography

 

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Family in All Forms: Nontraditional Family Photos in Harrisburg PA

When you think of family portraits, you probably picture a conventional family, as most of us do: two parents and a few kids. While that’s what most of my family photos in Harrisburg PA look like, every so often I have the joy of photographing a nontraditional family or chosen family. Recently I had that joy in my family photo session with two wonderful best friends and their children and it reminded me of how truly special these types of nontraditional family portraits in Harrisburg PA are. 

Mom best friends share a fun moment with their kids during their non traditional family photo session near Harrisburg PA
Best Family Photographer near Harrisburg PA

What Do Nontraditional Family Portraits Look Like?

Nontraditional family portraits can look so many different ways! In this case, it was a mom and her child with her dear friend and her child. It could also be a co-parenting family – children with their parents and stepparents. Or, your photo session could be your traditional family along with someone else who plays a strong role in your family, like your kids’ nanny or an extended family member who lives with you.

Ultimately, your nontraditional family portraits can include anyone who feels like family to you (within reason of course, because a family photo shoot with 20 people is a whole different ball game!). And that’s what makes it so special: it’s the people who are your family in a truly authentic way.

Toddler best friends share a sweet moment during their outdoor photography session with Karissa Zimmer Photography
Best outdoor portrait Photography | Harrisburg PA

The Beauty of Nontraditional Family Photos in Harrisburg PA

Nontraditional family photo sessions hold a special place in my heart for so many reasons.

First, they honor the relationships in your life that go beyond the bounds of genetics and our typical ideas of family. There’s no reason that your best friends or your cousins, for example, should have the joy of a photography session together just because it’s not a societal tradition (yet).

Second, these sessions celebrate the amazing fact that as people we can form amazing bonds with each other regardless of details like genetics or marriage certificates. Sometimes the most important and meaningful relationships in our life aren’t with our birth family, and in fact, it can be even more special that you and these people found each other in the world and developed such a deep relationship.

Third, I believe that a family photo session is a joy that everyone deserves to have. There are so many people who don’t have close family members or who don’t have a relationship with their family for countless different reasons. A nontraditional family photo session opens the door for all of these people to have the same joy and memories of a family photo shoot that people with traditional families get to enjoy.

Best Harrisburg PA family photographer captures a special bond between best friends and their children.

Creating Your Own Nontraditional Family Photos in Harrisburg PA

Whoever those people are in your life who are family in your heart, even if they’re not family by blood or marriage, I’d be honored to create stunning portraits for you! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s start planning.

Two moms who are best friends and their toddlers have a outdoor family photoshoot together in a creek near Harrisburg
Best friend moms and their toddlers walk together in the woods at their outdoor family photoshoot

 

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