Arrival & Settling In
We say hello properly, get a feel for the location together, and let the children explore a little before a camera even comes out. This isn't wasted time — it's where the nerves disappear.
It's one of the first questions almost every parent asks when they get in touch — and it's a fair one. Nobody wants to block out an entire afternoon, and nobody wants to feel rushed through something that's meant to be enjoyable. So here's the honest, practical answer, along with everything that actually determines it.
The Short Answer
Most family photography sessions with Eddy Calvin Photography run 60–90 minutes. That's long enough to properly settle in, capture a full range of images, and let children set their own pace — without tipping into the territory where everyone's patience (yours included) starts to wear thin.
What Actually Affects How Long Your Session Takes
Sixty to ninety minutes is the range I work within for almost every family, but where you land inside that range — and occasionally outside it — depends on a few genuine factors:
- ✦The number of people involved. A family of three moves through a session much faster than a group with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. More people means more groupings, and each deserves a relaxed few minutes of its own.
- ✦The ages of your children. Toddlers often need more settling time but tire faster; older children and teenagers warm up more slowly but hold focus for longer once they do. Babies run on their own clock entirely.
- ✦The location. A single, well-chosen spot keeps things efficient. Sessions that move between two or three different areas of a location naturally take longer, simply from the walking and resettling involved.
- ✦Light and weather. On a bright, changeable day I might adjust timing or position more than on a calm, evenly-lit evening — this is normal and rarely adds more than a few minutes.
- ✦How many combinations you want. Full family, parents alone, each child individually, siblings together, the family dog — the more combinations on your wish list, the more time it's worth allowing.
A Realistic Timeline — What Happens Minute by Minute
Rather than just quoting a number, it's more useful to show you what actually fills that hour to ninety minutes. Here's how a typical session unfolds:
1
10–15 minutes
2
15–20 minutes
Warm-Up & Connection
Gentle prompts, a bit of movement, some daft games if that's what it takes — this is where I start photographing, but the aim is comfort first and composition second.
3
20–25 minutes
Family Groupings
The full family together, then parents alone, then any other combinations you'd like — grandparents, siblings, the family dog. We work through these at an easy pace, no forced smiles.
4
15–20 minutes
Solo & Sibling Moments
Individual portraits of each child and any sibling pairings — often where the most beautiful, characterful images of the whole session come from.
5
10–15 minutes
Free Play & Candids
The last stretch is deliberately unstructured. Children run, explore, and simply be themselves — and I photograph quietly from the edges. Genuinely, this is where some of my favourite images of every session happen.
Total session time: 60–90 minutes
Why I Don't Rush (and Don't Overrun Either)
Over 15 years of photographing families across Northern Ireland, I've learned that the sweet spot is narrower than people expect. Too short, and there's no time for anyone to relax — the images end up looking exactly like what they were: a rushed ten minutes in front of a camera. Too long, and children lose patience, parents lose energy, and the last twenty minutes of a session almost never produce anything worth keeping.
Sixty to ninety minutes gives us enough time to properly settle in and capture a genuine range of images, without asking more of your family's patience than is fair. It's a pace I've refined over hundreds of sessions, not a number chosen at random.
Tips to Make the Most of Your Session Time
- ✦Feed everyone beforehand. A hungry toddler is a short-tempered toddler. A snack immediately before or during the session works well too.
- ✦Arrive unhurried. If you're racing from somewhere else, that stress shows in the first ten minutes of images. Build in a buffer if you can.
- ✦Don't schedule anything straight after. A session that feels like it has to end by a certain time never feels relaxed, however good the intentions.
- ✦Bring a comfort item. A favourite toy, a snack, even the family dog — anything that helps a child feel like themselves rather than "on show."
- ✦Trust the process. The quiet, unstructured minutes often produce the images families treasure most. Let them happen.
Areas Covered Across Northern Ireland
Wherever your session takes place, the same relaxed timeline applies. I regularly photograph families in and around:
BallymoneyColerainePortrushBallymena
PortstewartBallycastleBushmillsCauseway Coast
North Antrim
For location-specific guides, see my posts on Ballymoney, Coleraine, Portrush and Ballymena family photography.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a newborn or baby photoshoot take?
Newborn and baby sessions tend to run a little longer than family sessions — usually 90 minutes to two hours — because babies set the pace entirely. Feeding breaks, settling time and nappy changes are all built in, with no rushing.
Will 60 minutes be enough for a large or extended family?
For larger groups — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins — I'd usually recommend closer to 90 minutes. More people means more combinations of groupings, and everyone deserves a relaxed, unhurried few minutes of their own.
Do longer sessions cost more?
Session length is built into each package, so there are no surprise hourly charges. If your family is larger or you'd like additional time, I'll always talk this through with you before you book so there are no surprises. Full details are on the services page.
What if my child needs a break during the session?
That's completely normal, and it's factored into the time we have. A snack break, a wander, or five minutes of just being a kid rather than being photographed is never wasted time — some of the best images happen right after.
Can we cover multiple locations in one session?
It's possible, but I generally don't recommend it. Moving between locations eats into the relaxed, unhurried time that makes the images work, and children often need a few minutes to settle again after a change of scene. One well-chosen location almost always outperforms two rushed ones.
