Family photographer Castlebar

What to wear for a photoshoot?

4 February 2026 Baby Photos, Family Photography, Newborn Photography, On location Photoshoots

There can often be a lot of trends when it comes to styling a photo shoot. If a styled shoot is your thing then check out this page for some super recommendations on how to coordinate a whole families clothing for a photo shoot:

https://www.instagram.com/thearteofdressing_

If neutral or the pastel boho look isn’t for you, that is fine (it’s not for a lot of people).

Top Tip: Comfort is Key

I mean this in every sense. The clothes should be comfortable to wear, we don’t want kids fussing or pulling on clothes. However you should feel like yourself. If a beautiful flowy gown in just not you, then do not feel like this is what you should be wearing. Jeans and a nice top are perfect! 😉

Think about patterns and textures:

Again a lot of busy patterns can distract and seem very busy, especially if everyone is wearing them. It often works well to break up patterns with solid blocks of colour or texture (think knits, cashmere, denim etc) .

Don’t be afraid of colour!

If colour is your thing, this can be amazing but just requires a little thought. Do spend a little time making sure the colours you pick are somewhat coordinated and complimentary eg: blue and orange tones work beautifully together. You could decide on warm colours (reds, oranges, yellows) or cool colours (blue, green or purple). They don’t all need to be strong colours, a few lighter or neutral tones mixed with darker tones can avoid a very ‘samey’ feel.

Top Tip: Avoid text or logos.

They can be super distracting and tend to draw your attention away from expressions or faces –and they should always be the key focus.

Overall takeaway:

If possible, simply lay out your planned outfits on a bed and see how they look together. Is anything really grabbing your attention? Do you want it to? Sometimes parents do want the baby to stand out more and they might opt for something simple for themselves, while baby has something brighter or with a cute pattern.

Often a mix of textures and some time coordinating colour tones with some complimentary colours can work beautifully.

Finally, feel free to ignore all of the above!

Ultimately if you are happy with the outfit it will work! This is your family, your photoshoot and your images that will hopefully spend the rest of your life proudly displayed on your wall. Your outfits should above all else reflect you. You should be comfortable in them in every way!

Tips for a Stress Free Photoshoot

4 February 2026 Baby Photos, Family Photography, Newborn Photography

Tips for a Stress free Photoshoot

Lets make your shoot as stress free as possible.

A little bit of thought and preparation before any photoshoot can make a big difference to your gallery. My hope with this blog is that with a bit of guidance, choosing the right location and knowing what to expect will lead you to a stress free shoot that you can enjoy on the day. There is another blog on what to wear for your shoot, another key aspect to the overall look and feel of your images, but worthy of its own blog here.

What Location is best for my photoshoot?

The location you choose for your photoshoot has a huge influence on the overall look and feel of your images. A shoot at home will be so different to a shoot on a beach or forest. This choice really comes down to your preference and what kind of location you are most drawn too. For some the beach is the absolute best, others adore exploring the woods. Visually both are amazing options, so where you and your family feel most comfortable, is often the key for me. When you are in an environment where you feel comfortable to be yourselves & be your happiest, thats when I can capture true magic!

Sometimes for very young kids, this should be at home. Don’t worry if your home is not instagram ready, (who’s is really!?) Connections and expressions are far more important to me, and you will be surprised by the stories your home can tell too.

How do on location shoots work?

We meet at a location of your choice (see above). I generally spend 40 minutes to 1 hour, sometimes up to 1.5 hours if needed (a real possibility with very young babies). In this time I aim to capture a variety of shots in a very natural manner. I will pose and direct when needed but I am also looking to provide a comfortable enough setting that you all feel relaxed and can be yourselves. Sometimes with young kids that can mean chaos but that can often lead to the best shots!

Some of my favourite locations for a photoshoot in Co Mayo are:

Turlough House, Mount falcon, Westport House, Breaffy House Hotel, Bertra Strand, Old head beach, Mulranny Beach, Doolough Valley, Raheen Woods, Belleek Woods, Cong Woods.

In home sessions:

Please don’t stress about whether your home is nice enough for a session at home. It is. It is your home (even if it is temporary) and it will hold so many memories as your family grows. That being said, it’s helpful to know what I am looking for for any shoot.

With newborns it is really common for me to photograph in bedrooms, baby’s nursery (if they have one) and even in the living room. I am looking for a space with nice lighting, typically I will face you into the light so anywhere opposite a window is likely to be a backdrop. Couches and beds are used a lot. I want you to be able to sit and hold the baby comfortably. Babies will often be laid out on a bed for comfort. As the baby grows, we are still very likely to use the same spaces but they will often be playing on the floor, showing off their toys and if we are really lucky with weather (or at least prepared for the rain) I will happily photograph in the garden too.

For older families and big groups, I will be looking for where I have the most space to set you up. Ideally this will also have a nice big window across from it but I do have studio lighting I can bring with me if needs be.

Do I need props?

Some people ask do I need props. My simple answer is no. However if there is something you would like to include it can add another dynamic to the shots. Some kids might be really into sport, dance or music and might like to have this documented. For young babies, there is often something sentimental that has been passed on. Teddy from a favourite aunt, nanny knitted a blanket or cardigan. These can easily be incorporated into a few shots. Equally if a loved one has passed on but you would like to honour them somehow we can work together to include them. A baby holding a piece of jewellery or wrapped in a favourite scarf can be a simple but effective nod to a loved one.

What to tell the kids?

Don’t make a big fuss. There should be no pressure to perform.

You are having some family time and Caroline, who is a photographer, is going to come along. She is very silly and is really looking forward to meeting you all. She has a cool camera and loves to take photos of everyone. You can show her your favourite teddies/toys/dance/games. Tell her all about your favourite song/cartoons/books/jokes.

For any reluctant adults, well they will be so surprised by just how horrible it isn’t! Honestly 😂

It’s a bit of fun, it is important, kids (& grown ups) love it and just as importantly, they love seeing, not just images of themselves, but photos of them with their family. It has been proven to promote a sense of belonging and confidence.

What to expect for your portrait shoot?

7 November 2023 Baby Photos, Family Photography

Beforehand…

Once you get in touch we will figure out a time, date and location for your shoot. We will have a chat about what you need, priority shots or any ideas you might have. I will send a contract to sign and a link to pay a deposit. These must be completed to confirm your booking. I will then send you a questionnaire that I ask you to complete. It can spark ideas for you but for me it provides invaluable information about who is in the shoot and helps me create a shoot unique to you.

During the shoot..

Once we have all arrived at the chosen location we will get started. We will move through the location to capture a variety of shots. Some will be set up, lots will be captured as you move, play and interact with each other. I aim to keep every session fun, relaxed and as natural as possible. Most clients find an hour flys by and kids have had a good run around!

After the session..

I will curate a selection of the best shots – that basically means I get rid of any awkward poses/faces, anything that doesn’t work and narrow it down to only the best shots. I then edit each image to create the best version of it. This does take time. While I do my absolute best to get fully edited galleries out within 3 to 4 weeks at busy times and for bigger galleries this can sometimes take longer. I will give you an indication at the time of shoot.

In the gallery..

A complete gallery is usually a minimum of 40 images but can be anything up to 100 shots for an hour’s shoot. Depending on your package you may have to choose a selection of shots or you may prefer to upgrade to download the whole gallery.

When all your images are ready to go I will share your private online gallery with you. You can then download & share this gallery with as many people as you like. The galleries have a whole heap of features that allows you to mark favourites, hide any images you may not want to share and allows you to purchase prints, albums and framed pieces. I highly recommend you save your images in a number of locations, cloud storage, eternal hard drives, USB keys etc. Of course I honestly believe there is no back up quite like prints, so print print print!

What is the best age to have my baby photographed?

24 June 2019 Baby Photos, Family Photography

Newborn photography has exploded in popularity in recent years and for very good reason. Those days are so fleeting. They are still so small and squished up, it all leads to incredibly beautiful, emotive photographs. I do love doing newborn lifestyle sessions in clients home. I believe it leads to a really relaxed atmosphere and my hope is that is is easier for more clients to manage. If this stage is when you really want to have documented I highly recommend getting in touch well in advance of your due date as this needs to be done by 7 – 14 days, maybe 21 days old if baby is born a little early.

However I really believe there is no right or wrong age to have your baby photographed. I hear lots of people say they never had their kids photographed when they were newborns & felt they had missed out. Either did I and I’m obsessed with photographing my kids, but it is a crazy time so whats the next best option? Now! Honestly I have photographed babies at every stage and there is always something precious to capture.

When they are a few weeks/months old you are more likely to have them awake and therefore more likely to get eye contact which is incredible. As they become more expressive you might catch any range of emotions from curiosity, confusion, or of course their amazing first smiles.

Throughout the first year or two there is milestone after milestone to capture, from when they can first lift their heads, eat their toes, sit up, crawling and even those first tentative steps, first birthdays. Then we head into the crazy toddler years and that is just an explosion of energy and fun. Not to mention all the adorable rolls and squidgy features!! It is all incredibly exciting and they always look adorable – honestly always!!!

Of course, some of my favourite images to capture are babies with their parents and loved ones, be it siblings or grandparents. I honestly believe this is incredibly important. Your connection and relationship is precious. You are their world. You may not feel quite yourself, but they will grow up loving any images you are in more than anything. Take it from a mum photographer. My kids are always asking ‘where was I’ why wasn’t I there’ because I am always the one taking the photograph! I can see their eyes light up when I can show them one with me. It means everything to them.

So whenever you choose to have your family photographed be sure to have the whole family involved. Yes we will capture their important milestones and personalities but we will also capture what is incredibly important to them – your relationships and connections as a family.