How I Prepared for a Sunset Photoshoot with 2 Year-Old

Thank you to Cass from Expose Photography for these beautiful photos.

As a mum myself, I know that the idea of booking a family photoshoot with young kids (especially at sunset) can feel really overwhelming. Worrying about what you’re going to wear and how the kids are going to behave - I completely get it.

Recently, I organised a sunset family photoshoot to celebrate my daughter turning two. But because it was on a weekday and my partner was at work, all of the preparation fell to me - naps, snacks, outfits, getting myself ready, packing the car and somehow getting us out the door on time.

And honestly? It ended up being such a lovely evening.

Not because everything went perfectly, but because I prepared in a way that made the session feel calm, manageable and realistic for this season of life.

So I thought I’d share a few things that genuinely helped, especially if you’re thinking about booking family photos with little ones of your own.

I booked our session in autumn

This is probably my biggest tip for families with young kids.

One of the reasons I often recommend autumn and winter sessions for toddlers is because sunset happens so much earlier. Instead of keeping little ones awake well past bedtime during summer, sessions feel far more manageable and relaxed.

The softer light is beautiful, and you’re much less likely to arrive already exhausted before the session even starts. Plus, little ones look extra adorable all bundled up in knits.

We’re lucky my daughter was born in May, so it naturally worked for us - but even if she wasn’t, I would always try to schedule our session in the cooler months while she’s still little.

I organised outfits well ahead of time

I pulled our outfits together about one to two weeks before the session and made sure everything was washed, dried and ready a few days beforehand. I borrowed a dress from a friend for myself, and used pieces from my client wardrobe for my partner and daughter, which made things so much easier.

As a mum, I know how quickly the mental load builds before family photos. Leaving outfits until the last minute almost always creates unnecessary stress.

Having everything ready early meant I could spend the actual day focusing on my daughter instead of running around trying to wash clothes or second-guess what everyone was wearing.

I prepared as much as I could the day before

Anything I can do ahead of time, I will - especially when I’m getting us ready alone.

Doing my hair the night before meant one less thing to think about on the day, which made everything feel calmer and less rushed.

Because my partner was meeting us there after work, I also made sure his outfit, plus all toddler supplies (including dry, non-messy snacks), were packed and ready to go in the car.

We kept the day slow and relaxed

I intentionally avoided overplanning the day of our session.

Normally we’d head out for kindergym, a café, or a park in the afternoon, but instead we stayed home. We kept things slow - playing outside, spending time on the trampoline, and just easing into the day.

Toddlers really do feed off our energy, and I knew that if the day felt frantic, the session probably would too.

I also planned for a slightly longer nap… but we’ll get to that.

I used nap time wisely

My plan was to do my makeup and finish getting ready while my daughter napped.

Of course, she woke up early…

But because everything else was already organised (outfits ready, bags packed, snacks sorted) I was still able to stay calm. I popped on a couple of episodes of Bluey and finished getting myself ready without the usual chaos.

And honestly, that preparation made all the difference.

If she had slept through, I would’ve been completely ready to go the moment she woke up, and all that would’ve been left was getting us dressed and out the door.

I managed my expectations

This one mattered the most.

Family photos with a two-year-old were never going to be perfectly posed or polished, and I didn’t want them to be.

I wanted photos that reflected us honestly in this season.

The cuddles.
The movement.
The snack breaks.
The chaos.
The connection.

And because I let go of the pressure for everything to be “perfect”, I was actually able to enjoy it.

Looking back now, that’s exactly what I see.

Not perfection.
Just memories that feel real.

READY TO START PLANNING YOUR FAMILY SESSION?
If you’re looking for a family photographer in Hobart who will guide you through every step, from choosing a location to styling and preparing, I’d love to help you capture this season.

You can view family session details and book your session here.

If you’re expecting, you can also explore my maternity sessions and newborn sessions.