outdoor family pictures

The Benefits of Outdoor Family Photography in Harrisburg PA

We’re finally seeing those first few hints of spring after a long Pennsylvania winter! It’s enough to make anyone want to run outside and just bask in the sunlight we’ve all been missing this winter. One way you can take advantage of the beautiful spring is with outdoor family photography in Harrisburg PA. If you’re deciding between an in-studio or outdoor photo shoot, here are some special perks of outdoor portraits.

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Outdoor Family Photoshoot

Authentic Family Fun

The best family photos always come from genuine smiles. I want your family to have fun during your photo shoot! Outdoor environments are a perfect way to do this. For many people, photography studios can be intimidating, but when your photo shoot is in a park, you’re in an area that is meant for fun and recreation, so it’s easier for the whole family to let loose and have a great time.

toddler girl smiles big next to bright red flowers at her outdoor family photo session in downtown Harrisburg PA

Low-Stress Environments for Parents of Active Kids

When you have active and energetic little ones, a photo studio can be a stressful place. You’re worried about your child running into equipment that could be dangerous or expensive, or messing up a carefully constructed background, so you feel the need to govern every step your child takes.

Outdoors, that’s not a problem! There’s plenty of space for kids to run around and be themselves, showing off that fun spirit that we want to celebrate in your family portraits. We can even choose a photo shoot location that your family is familiar with, like a park that you often visit, where you know your kids can run and play without safety hazards.

little girl plays outside at her Harrisburg family photo session

Taking Advantage of Nature’s Beauty for Outdoor Family Photography in Harrisburg PA

An indoor photo studio can be designed to make for beautiful photo backgrounds, but why create a pretty background when nature has already done the work for us? We’re fortunate in the Harrisburg area to have plenty of gorgeous parks and outdoor settings that are perfect for family photos, and as a local family photographer, I know all the best spots! I’ll work with you to choose a photo shoot location based on the look and colors you want in your portraits.

Outdoor Family Photography session at The Peter Allen House near Harrisburg PA
Family Photography at The Peter Allen House

Creating Memories in the Moment

You want your family photos to be beautiful artwork for your home, of course, but they should be so much more than that too. A family portrait can transport you back in time to this amazing stage in your life, no matter how many years pass. It’s even better when the photo itself is linked to specific memories with your family. That’s my goal for family photo shoots: to allow your family to simply have fun and enjoy the day together while I turn that experience into gorgeous artwork. Outdoor photography is perfect for this - every time you see the portrait, you won’t just remember bringing the family to a studio, you’ll remember all the fun you had at that park spending quality time together.

Harrisburg PA Family of 4 smiles together at their Outdoor family photo session

Make the Most of This Spring! How to Book Your Outdoor Family Photography in Harrisburg PA

Outdoor family photography in Harrisburg PA is an investment you’ll thank yourself for in the years to come, and this spring is the perfect time to take advantage of our stunning local scenery! Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography to book your family photo session.

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Family Photography in Carlisle PA Tips: How to Choose a Photo Location

The portraits featured in this blog are all from a beautiful session I recently had for family photography in Carlisle PA. There’s something unique about this family (beyond, of course, how sweet and adorable they are)...my clients chose this photo location themselves!

Most of my clients ask for my location recommendations, and I’m happy to provide them. But if there’s a particular spot you think may be perfect for your next family photo session, these are the top qualities you should look for.

Outdoor family photography in flower field near Carlisle PA
Outdoor Family Photography near Carlisle PA

Low Foot Traffic for Quiet Family Photography in Carlisle PA

Your photo session needs to be in a place that is public (or a place you can get permission to take photos), but it shouldn’t be too busy. If there are other people around, this can be distracting for kids and it could make it difficult for us to get portraits without people in the background. Even a busy park usually has some quieter pockets that are picture-perfect, so look for those!

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Outdoor Family Photoshoot

Lighting

Natural light is so important for your portraits. While I always schedule these sessions for an hour of the day when the lighting is best, your location also needs to let that light in. Skip places like dense forests that block the surrounding light.

Baby photographed during outdoor family photo shoot
Outdoor Baby Photos Carlisle PA

Space and Safety for Your Family Photography in Carlisle PA

The best family portraits show genuine joy and family moments, and I capture these by encouraging your family to play a little in the environment and have fun together. Make sure your session location has enough space for your kids to run and play safely.

Mother and son outdoor family photos

Seasonal Colors

What colors are in the landscape at your photo location of choice? Are there lots of yellow flowers, for example, or pink ones? Make sure the colors and imagery will match the look you want for your family photos.

Family photography session photographed in a flower meadow

Creating Beautiful Family Photography in Carlisle PA

The session location is one of many factors that will work together to create stunning family portraits you’ll be proud to hang on your walls, and I can make sure everything aligns the way you want. Contact Karissa Zimmer Photography and let’s get started!

Flower meadow family photos by Carlisle PA Family Photographer Karissa Zimmer Photographyu
Baby boy outdoor family photography in Carlisle PA by Karissa Zimmer Photography

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Mechanicsburg Family Photo Tips: What to Bring for Outdoor Portraits

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Mechanicsburg PA Outdoor Family Photos

This is a popular time of year for Mechanicsburg family photo sessions in the outdoors. We have all the stunning colors of fall, families are getting new portraits to use on their Christmas cards, and the weather isn’t yet so cold that it’s too uncomfortable to get great portraits.

If you have an outdoor family photo session on the schedule, what should you bring to make the experience and the portraits even better? I help every family strategize and create their packing list so they know what to bring. From a seasoned Mechanicsburg family photographer, add these items to your packing list:

  • A change of clothes for each person (kids have a knack for getting messy at inconvenient times!)
  • Layers like scarves, jackets, wraps, and blankets that coordinate with your wardrobe color scheme
  • Snacks and drinks to keep your kids comfortable (be sure to choose items that aren’t messy or won’t stain, like water, pretzels, and goldfish crackers
  • Tissues and wet wipes
  • A favorite toy, book, or other item for each child in case we need to cheer them up or use it to coax them to smile
  • Makeup in case you need a mid-session touch-up
  • Items to enjoy the outdoors! We often take outdoor portraits at parks, so you may want to stick around after the session to enjoy the park for a while with the kids
  • Accessory options – if you’re not sure what jewelry or accessories to wear, bring them along and I’m happy to help you choose the ones that photograph best or work best with the color scheme

All the items above can help you enjoy a more relaxed portrait session and get photos you’ll treasure even more. If you don’t have a Mechanicsburg family photo session on the books yet and you’re due for new portraits, contact Karissa Zimmer Photography today and let’s chat.

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Outdoor Fall Children’s Portrait
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Outdoor Family Portraits | Karissa Zimmer Photography
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Mechanicsburg Family Photographer
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Mechanicsburg Child Photography

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How Photography Can Boost Your Child’s Confidence & Self-Esteem

Having regular professional portraits taken of your child or your family can seem like it’s not really a big deal. Who cares if you don’t send out a holiday card or update your Facebook profile picture? But in reality, photography can have a huge impact on your children’s self-esteem and how they view their place in the world and your family unit.

A Tulane University study found that children who see photos of themselves have higher self-esteem than children who aren’t exposed to portraits. Having your family photos hanging up in your home can help your children grow into more confident adults.

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Show off what you love
Your home tends to reflect what you value most in life. After all, if we get a new outfit or the latest tech gadget, we can’t wait to show it off. Having the same attitude toward your family photos can reassure your children of how much they’re loved and valued. Let your children know just how important they are by having photos of them displayed prominently throughout your home.

Family photos can show your children that they are an important part of your family and can serve as a reminder that your home is a safe space, no matter what life throws at them. By seeing their place in portraits, they can better understand how they fit into your lives and into the family as a whole.

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Strengthen your family bond
In addition to boosting your children’s self-esteem, family portraits can also strengthen the bond of your entire family. It’s the perfect way to demonstrate that you are a unit, a group of people who love and support each other and walk together through life.

Seeing family photos hanging on your wall lets your children know where they come from and who they are. It can help them establish and understand their identity at an early age and move through life with more confidence.

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Print vs. Digital
If you’re like most parents, you probably take cell phone photos of your kids constantly. You may even post them on your social media. But your child doesn’t follow you on Instagram, so they don’t get to see your captions about how much you love them. They have no way of knowing how frequently you share their photos.

Having physical printed portraits hanging on the walls of your home lets your child know every day that they are loved and valued. A photo on the wall is a more sensory experience for your child than images on a phone screen or tablet. Displaying photos in your home lets your child—and everyone—know that you value your family and celebrate everything you have experienced together. It’s a way of demonstrating how important your family memories are to you, which can be comforting to your child.

As parents, we want our children to grow up with self-confidence and self-esteem. We want them to know that they are loved and cared for, no matter what. Photography is one way you can help your children see how important they are to you and your family and help boost their self-esteem as they grow.

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What to Wear to a Family Photo Session (And What to Avoid)

One of the most common questions I get is what to wear to a photo session. Family sessions are especially challenging because you want every member of your family to look good together, but you don’t want everyone to wear the same outfit. Choosing a wardrobe for each person that’s comfortable and complementary can definitely take some work, but it’s not impossible!

To help you out, I’ve put together this handy guide on all the dos and don’ts of dressing your family for a portrait session.

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Opt for neutral colors
While bright colors may be your thing, they don’t work for everyone. If you want your family to match, go for subtle neutral tones that work well together. The neutral look is also more timeless, meaning your photos will still look great years in the future.

Have fun with patterns and layers
Florals, stripes and even plaids are all fun options for mixing and matching with denim and solid colors. You can even add layers to easily give everyone a couple of different looks without worrying about having enough time to change. Trust me, getting multiple kids into different outfits can be a challenge, so having fun jackets or cardigans that everyone can put on or take off is a much simpler way to add variety to your images.

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Make sure your clothes fit
A fitted outfit also looks better than a loose or oversized one. Try your chosen outfits on before your session and make sure everything fits and looks good together, and be sure to choose a style that looks good on each member of your family. Everyone can wear a different cut or fit as long as it’s flattering to their body type.

Keep comfort and movement in mind
While it can be tempting to choose the cutest possible outfits for your kids, be sure to keep their comfort in mind. An uncomfortable child is quicker to throw a fit during your session! An outfit like jeans and a nice shirt or a longer dress is perfect because it allows your child to move comfortably and have fun during the photo session.

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Avoid graphics and logos
When choosing what to wear, stay away from graphic t-shirts or other clothing with logos or brand names on them. You don’t want anything on your outfits to draw attention away from your smiling faces!

Pay attention to dress length
You want your children to be comfortable, but you should be comfortable too! A dress or skirt that’s too short can inhibit your ability to pose comfortably and limit what sort of poses you can do. If you plan to wear a dress for your family photo session, be sure to try it on beforehand and make sure the length allows you to move comfortably and easily.

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It takes a little planning, but you can choose outfits that make your whole family look amazing, ensuring you get photos you’ll love and cherish for years to come!

Karissa Zimmer is an experienced professional Harrisburg photographer based in Camp Hill and serving the surrounding areas, including Mechanicsburg, Hershey and Carlisle.

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