A lot of people walk into their photography session feeling a little unsure.
"What do I wear?"
"What should I do with my hands?"
"Am I going to look awkward?"
"What if the kids don't behave?"
"What if my husband doesn't behave?!"
No need to fuss, babe.
Welcome to your Portrait Photography Crash Course with DAY | STUDIO.
I’m Hannah Day — your self-proclaimed professor in the field.
Table of contents
Lesson 1
How Do I Avoid Looking Awkward?
Posing 101; Why Movement Matters
Lesson 2
What Should I Wear for My Shoot?
Photoshoot Fit Essentials
Lesson 3
Nobody Has to Be Perfect
Embracing Chaos
Lesson 4
The Magic of In-Between Moments
Why They Photograph So Well
Lesson 1:
Posing 101; Why Movement Matters
One of the most common things people say before a portrait session is:
"I’m so awkward in photos."
Truthfully, most people feel that way at first.
That’s why I like to start every session with what I jokingly call the “Grandma’s Fridge Photo.”
You know the one — everyone standing together, smiling at the camera. The kind of picture that proudly lives on a refrigerator door somewhere.
It’s simple, it’s classic, and it helps break the ice.
But after that first photo, we shift away from stiff posing and lean into something much more natural: movement.
Because movement creates emotion.
Running through a field with your kids.
Swinging them in the air.
Walking hand-in-hand with the love of your life.
Spinning, laughing, dancing.
Those are the moments where people stop thinking about the camera and start simply being present with each other.
Of course we’ll still capture some beautifully posed images along the way. But the photographs people tend to cherish most are the ones where something real was happening — a laugh, a glance, a moment of joy in motion.
Movement brings photographs to life.
And that’s where the magic usually happens.
Lesson 2:
Photoshoot Fit Essentials
One of the first questions people ask before a session is:
"What should I wear?"
The good news is that choosing outfits doesn’t have to be complicated.
The goal is simple: wear something that feels comfortable, natural, and like yourself.
A few guidelines tend to photograph beautifully:
Earthy tones and soft neutrals always work well in natural light. Creamy beiges, ivories, soft browns, and muted colors photograph especially nicely.
I usually recommend avoiding stark white, because it can wash out skin tones and pull attention away from bright smiles and expressive eyes. Softer whites and creams are much friendlier to the camera.
It’s also best to stay away from neon colors. Bright neons tend to reflect onto skin and hair, which can affect the way faces photograph.
Movement is a big part of my sessions, so clothing that allows you to move freely and comfortably always photographs best. Flowy fabrics, layered textures, and relaxed fits can add beautiful motion to photos when you’re walking, playing with your kids, or dancing with your partner.
There are also a couple small details I’ll usually mention during a session.
Hair ties on wrists and sport watches can sneak into photos more than people realize, so I’ll often suggest taking them off unless you want them in the photo.
No judgment from me. The only time my own Garmin has left my wrist in the past few years was on my wedding day.
And, husbands: if we are wearing a baseball cap, I'll be checking with the wife or fiancé about whether it stays on. ;)
If you're ever unsure about outfits, you’re always welcome to send ideas my way. I’m happy to help you choose something that photographs beautifully and feels true to you.
Because the best outfit for a portrait session isn’t the trendiest one.
It’s the one that still feels like you.
Lesson 3: Embracing Chaos
One of the biggest worries people bring to a portrait session has nothing to do with themselves.
It’s the kids.
Or the husband.
Or the idea that everyone needs to behave perfectly for the photos to turn out well.
Let me gently put that concern to rest.
Nobody has to be perfect.
Like I mentioned earlier, I love starting a session with what I jokingly call the “Grandma’s fridge photo.” Everyone standing together, smiling at the camera. It’s simple, classic, and honestly the perfect way to break the ice.
At that point, everyone is usually a little nervous and maybe a little too locked in on being “picture perfect.” We’ll take a few of those smiles until the jitters start to crack and someone inevitably laughs.
After that, things loosen up.
I’ll guide where needed, but we mostly lean into natural movement and a few fun prompts. Walking, spinning, tossing kids in the air, whispering something ridiculous to make someone laugh — whatever keeps the energy moving.
It tends to keep the kids entertained, and sometimes even the husbands. 😉
By the end of a session, your kiddos might even fall asleep on the way home.
And in the middle of all that movement and laughter, something really beautiful happens.
The chaos turns into real moments.
Because the truth is, all forms of art are a little chaotic.
And the most meaningful photographs often come from those perfectly imperfect moments in between.
Lesson 4: The Magic of the In-Between Moments
By the time we reach the end of a session, something interesting usually happens.
The nerves are gone.
The kids are a little tired.
Everyone has forgotten about the camera.
And that’s when the best photos tend to appear.
Not when everyone is perfectly posed.
Not when everyone is looking straight at the lens.
But in the quiet seconds in between.
A laugh that wasn’t planned.
A parent brushing hair from their child’s face.
A couple leaning into each other without being asked.
These are the moments where emotion quietly shows up.
The truth is, portrait sessions aren’t really about perfect smiles or flawless poses. They’re about capturing a small slice of life exactly as it is right now.
Because life moves quickly.
Kids grow.
People change.
Seasons of life come and go before we even realize it.
Photographs give us a way to hold onto those moments just a little longer.
And the ones that feel the most meaningful are usually the ones that happened naturally, somewhere between the prompts, the laughter, and the beautiful chaos of simply being together.
final thoughts
Class Dismissed!
And that concludes your Portrait Photography Crash Course with DAY | STUDIO.
The biggest takeaway?
Portrait sessions aren’t about perfect poses or getting everyone to sit still and smile at the camera.
They’re about movement.
Emotion.
And the beautiful chaos of real life.
Years from now, these photos will feel less like images and more like little time capsules. Tiny glimpses of what life looked like in this exact season.
The laughter.
The wind in your hair.
The kids running through the field.
The quiet glance between people who love each other.
And if you're ready to press pause on life for just a moment and capture it exactly as it is right now, DAY | STUDIO would love to help tell that story.
Your Homework:
Submit an inquiry to get on the books and make a few memories together.
