Spring Family Portraits in Spokane: Locations, Styling, and Photography Tips

Spring is a magical time for family portraits, with nature’s vibrant palette providing the perfect backdrop. At Kelly Tareski Photography, we love capturing the essence of this season in our clients’ photos.

Our photography education has taught us that spring offers unique opportunities for creating stunning family memories. In this post, we’ll share tips on locations, styling, and techniques to make your spring family portraits truly unforgettable.

Where to Find Spring’s Best Backdrops in Spokane

Spring in Spokane transforms the city into a photographer’s paradise. The vibrant colors and blooming landscapes offer stunning backdrops for family portraits. Let’s explore some of the top locations to capture spring’s beauty in your family photos.

Manito Park: A Floral Wonderland

Manito Park stands out as a prime spot for spring portraits. Its diverse landscapes provide a variety of settings:

• Duncan Garden: This formal garden bursts with meticulously manicured flowerbeds, creating a colorful and elegant backdrop.
• Japanese Garden: For a more serene atmosphere, this area offers tranquil ponds and delicate cherry blossoms (perfect for those seeking a touch of zen in their photos).

Riverside State Park: Nature’s Canvas

Families who love the outdoors will find Riverside State Park irresistible. The park’s features include:

• Vast wildflower meadows: These create a breathtaking sea of color, ideal for candid shots of children playing or family picnics.
• Spokane River: The flowing water adds another dimension to your photos, offering opportunities for reflections and dynamic compositions.

Green Bluff: Orchard Blossoms

Just north of Spokane, Green Bluff presents a unique backdrop of blooming fruit orchards:

• Rows of apple, cherry, and peach trees create leading lines that draw the eye to your family.
• Soft pink and white blossoms provide a delicate, romantic atmosphere (particularly suited for maternity or engagement photos).

When selecting your location, consider your family’s personality and interests. A nature-loving family might prefer the rugged beauty of Riverside State Park, while those seeking a classic portrait backdrop might lean towards Manito Park.

It’s important to check bloom times for specific flowers or trees you want to include in your photos. Spring weather can be unpredictable, so having a backup indoor location is always wise.

As we move from location selection to styling tips, you’ll discover how to make the most of these beautiful spring backdrops with the right clothing choices and accessories.

How to Style Your Family for Spring Portraits

Spring family portraits capture the vibrant energy of the season. The right styling elevates your photos from good to unforgettable. This guide will help you dress your family for spring portrait success.

Embrace the Spring Palette

Choose outfits that reflect the colors of spring. Soft pastels like blush pink, mint green, and sky blue complement the season’s natural hues. For a bolder look, incorporate brighter shades like coral or sunny yellow as accents.

A effective strategy starts with a neutral base – cream, beige, or light gray – and adds pops of color through accessories or statement pieces. This approach ensures your family looks coordinated without appearing overly matched.

Play with Patterns and Textures

Spring invites the use of light, airy fabrics and subtle patterns in your wardrobe. Floral prints are a classic choice, but don’t overlook other spring-appropriate patterns like gingham or polka dots.

When mixing patterns, maintain a consistent color palette and vary the scale of the prints. For example, if mom wears a large floral print dress, dad could wear a shirt with a smaller, complementary pattern.

Textures add depth to your photos. Include elements like lace, eyelet, or light knits. These details catch the light beautifully and add visual interest to your portraits.

Accessorize Thoughtfully

The right accessories take your spring family portraits to the next level. Consider these ideas:

• Floral crowns for little girls
• Straw hats for a picnic-in-the-park vibe
• Colorful scarves or statement necklaces for mom
• Suspenders or bow ties for boys

Props can also enhance your spring theme. A vintage bicycle, a picnic basket, or bubbles for the kids to play with add a playful touch to your photos.

Keep accessories subtle. They should enhance, not overpower, your family’s natural beauty.

Coordinate, Don’t Match

Gone are the days of identical outfits for the whole family. Instead, try to coordinate colors and styles that complement each other. This approach creates a cohesive look while allowing each family member’s personality to shine through.

A good rule of thumb: select 2-3 main colors and use them throughout your family’s outfits in different ways. This method ensures a harmonious look without appearing too uniform.

Consider the Location

Your chosen location plays a crucial role in your outfit selection. If you’ve picked a lush green park, avoid green clothing that might blend into the background. Instead, opt for colors that will pop against the natural backdrop.

For beach or water-adjacent locations, consider light, breezy fabrics that move well in the wind. These fabrics photograph beautifully and add a sense of movement to your images.

As we move from styling to capturing techniques, you’ll discover how to make the most of these beautiful spring outfits with the right photography methods and compositions.

How to Capture Spring’s Magic in Your Family Photos

Spring’s vibrant colors and soft light create the perfect canvas for family portraits. We’ll share techniques to capture the essence of this beautiful season, ensuring your spring family photos truly shine.

Harness the Power of Golden Hour

The optimal time for spring portraits is during the golden hour. This magical time bathes everything in a warm, soft light that enhances skin tones and creates a dreamy atmosphere. Choose locations with flattering natural lighting during this time, and ensure accessibility for all family members.

To maximize this light, position your family with the sun behind them. This creates a beautiful backlit effect, adding an ethereal glow to your photos. If you shoot earlier in the day, look for open shade to avoid harsh shadows on faces.

Incorporate Spring Elements

Spring offers a wealth of natural props to enhance your family portraits. Blooming flowers, budding trees, and lush green grass all add visual interest and a sense of the season to your photos.

Encourage your family to interact with these elements. Let kids pick wildflowers or blow dandelion seeds. These activities not only create natural, candid moments but also tell the story of spring through your images.

For a unique perspective, get low to the ground. Shoot through flowers or grass in the foreground to create a beautiful, soft frame around your subjects.

Capture Authentic Family Moments

The key to memorable family portraits is to capture genuine interactions. Instead of posed, static shots, encourage your family to play and interact naturally. This approach, known as lifestyle photography, results in images that truly reflect your family’s personality and tell a story.

Try activities like having a picnic, flying kites, or simply walking hand-in-hand through a blooming orchard. These scenarios create opportunities for candid smiles, laughter, and tender moments between family members.

The goal is to capture the love and connection within your family. Don’t hesitate to get close and focus on the small details – a child’s hand holding a flower, or a loving glance between parents.

Use the Right Camera Settings

To truly capture the essence of spring, adjust your camera settings accordingly. Use a wide aperture (f/2.8 to f/4) to create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and making your subjects stand out. (This technique is particularly effective when shooting in flower fields or orchards.)

Increase your shutter speed to freeze motion, especially when photographing children playing or flowers swaying in the breeze. A speed of 1/250 or faster usually works well.

Set your ISO as low as possible (100-400) to minimize noise and maximize image quality. However, be prepared to increase it if you’re shooting in shadier areas or as the sun sets.

Final Thoughts

Spring family portraits capture the essence of your loved ones against nature’s renewal. The vibrant colors, soft light, and blooming landscapes create an unparalleled setting for preserving precious memories. These portraits serve as tangible reminders of your family’s growth, love, and connection, documenting fleeting moments as children change rapidly.

At Kelly Tareski Photography, we understand the importance of these moments and the art of capturing them beautifully. Our personalized approach ensures that your spring family session is not just a photoshoot, but an enjoyable experience that results in stunning, high-quality images. We offer flexible packages, on-location or studio sessions, and even hair and makeup services to enhance your experience (our five-acre property provides a picturesque setting for those seeking a natural backdrop).

Don’t let this season pass without preserving your family’s special moments. Spring’s fleeting beauty offers a perfect opportunity to create lasting memories. Let us help you capture the magic of your family against the canvas of spring’s vibrant palette, while also providing valuable photography education throughout the process.