In my last post, I shared a summer newborn session I photographed in a Near West End yard surrounded by hydrangeas, and I promised a deeper look at how I approach outdoor sessions during the warmest months of the year. If you’ve been wondering whether a summer session can really work with a newborn (or with a toddler, or with Virginia humidity) this one’s for you.
I’ll be honest: summer used to make me nervous as a photographer. The heat, the unpredictability, the sweat. But after years of shooting outdoor newborn and family sessions in and around Richmond, I’ve learned that summer mornings are not to be avoided. The light is extraordinary, the landscapes are lush and alive, and there’s an ease to a warm-weather session that you just can’t replicate in November.
It does take a little planning, though. So here’s everything I want my families to know before we step outside together.
It All Starts With the Morning
The single most important decision we make for a summer session is when we start. I schedule outdoor sessions to begin no later than 9:30 AM, and there are a few reasons for that beyond just beating the heat.
Early morning light in Richmond is soft and golden. It wraps around everything instead of casting harsh shadows, and it gives skin this warm, luminous quality that I genuinely cannot recreate closer to mid-day. By mid to late morning the sun climbs higher, the light becomes more direct and contrasty, and everyone starts squinting. That first hour or two, though? It’s pure magic.
There’s a practical side, too. Mornings in the summer tend to be a little less humid, a little more forgiving. Babies are typically calmer and sleepier earlier in the day, which means more peaceful moments. And if you’ve got a toddler, catching them before they’re tired and overstimulated makes a world of difference in how the session flows.
Preparing for a Relaxed Session
The best thing you can do for your outdoor session is arrive settled. For newborns, I always recommend a full feeding either just before leaving the house or once we’re on location. A content, full baby is a sleepy baby, and a sleepy baby photographs beautifully. If we’re shooting in your own backyard or a nearby park, this is especially easy. Feed at home, pack baby up, and walk over.
I also suggest bringing a small bag with the essentials: an extra bottle if you’re bottle-feeding, burp cloths, a backup outfit in case of any little accidents, and a pacifier if baby uses one. I also recommend bottles of water and maybe a few snacks for your family, too. I’ll bring a blanket, moses basket and swaddles, those are always in my kit, so you don’t need to worry about any of the session props.
For wardrobe, think light and flowy. Soft neutrals, creams, whites, and muted pastels photograph beautifully in summer light and won’t compete with the natural surroundings. They also don’t show sweat as easily. Heavy, dark fabrics tend to absorb heat and look visually dense against the greens and golds of a summer landscape. I offer dresses from my client wardrobe for moms, which takes the pressure off entirely. You don’t need to go shopping or agonize over whether something works. We’ll talk about it ahead of time, and I’ll have something ready for you that fits both the setting and your style.
Dad, if you’re reading this: a light linen button-down, a soft cotton henley, or even a simple neutral tee goes a long way. You don’t need to match Mom exactly, just coordinate in tone.
Making It Fun for the Whole Family
If you have older children, the key to a great session is making the morning feel like something fun rather than something they have to sit still for. I love the idea of building a little experience around the session, something that gets everyone engaged and creates genuine moments instead of forced smiles.
One of my favorite things to suggest is a breakfast picnic. Spread a blanket in the yard or at the park, bring some muffins and fruit, and let the morning unfold. Big brother gets to eat a muffin while we photograph the baby. Big sister brings her favorite stuffed animal and ends up in the sweetest candid portrait of the day because she was just being herself. These aren’t staged moments. They’re real life, just framed intentionally.
Little additions like fresh flowers, a woven picnic basket, or a vintage quilt add warmth and texture to the scene without feeling like props. I’m always looking for details that help tell the story of who your family is right now, in this season. A well-loved stuffed bunny says more about your toddler’s world than any posed portrait ever could.
Following the Light
During the session itself, we spend most of our time working in open shade, under the canopy of a tree, beside the house, and anywhere the light is soft and even. Open shade is incredibly flattering and forgiving. Everyone’s relaxed because nobody’s squinting into the sun, and the colors in the images stay rich and true.
That said, I do love stepping into direct sunlight for short moments when the conditions are right. A few minutes of backlit golden sun through the trees can give us some of the most breathtaking, ethereal images of the session, the kind where the light seems to wrap around you. We keep these moments brief so nobody overheats, but they’re often the images families end up printing for their walls.
The beauty of working outdoors is that we have endless variety within a single session. Your front porch, the shaded corner of the yard, the sunny patch by the garden, the nursery if we need to step inside and cool off, every setting brings something different, and the session moves at whatever pace feels right for your family.
Summer Is for Living… And Photographing
I know it might seem counterintuitive to book an outdoor session when it’s ninety degrees in Richmond. But here’s what I’ve found after photographing close to a thousand families: the sessions that feel the most alive, the most natural, the most like real life are the ones where the family is comfortable and the world around them is in full bloom. Summer gives us that.
The gardens are overflowing. The yards are green. The mornings are golden. And your baby is only this small for such a brief, fleeting window.
If you’ve been thinking about a summer session, whether it’s a newborn session in your backyard, a maternity session in one of Richmond’s beautiful parks, or a family session to capture everyone together before the kids start school in the fall, I’d love to talk about what we can create. I photograph outdoor sessions throughout the Richmond area, including the Near West End, Fan District, and surrounding neighborhoods, and I’m happy to help you find the perfect spot.
