Joseph and I were so excited to hear that Kenzie and Erick had their baby and were ready to take family pictures! I was thrilled that Kenzie requested that we hold their session at the Utah State Capitol.
The Capitol is a fantastic location for family portrait sessions, especially for families with little kids!
Indoors
Here in Utah, the temperature can climb over 100 degrees in the summer and plummet below zero degrees in the winter. We also have unpredictable weather. The forecast could show sunny skies all week and then we get rain from out of nowhere. Joseph and I don’t mind crazy weather for the most part. Our kids, however, are a different story. We know that, just like our kids, your kids may not be happy to smile for the camera when it’s really hot or cold. That’s why the Utah State Capitol is so great! It has lots of fantastic places inside to take family portraits and it’s free!
Bathrooms
If you have young children I’m sure you’ve experienced the panic of seeing your kid do the potty dance and you aren’t anywhere near a bathroom. When Joseph and I had young kids, we based a lot of our outing location choices on how easy it was to find a bathroom. Come to think of it, that’s how it was when I was pregnant too. LOL The Utah State Capitol has bathrooms on every level!
Stroller Access
This was another really important feature to me when I had little kids. While the grand staircases at the Capitol are perfect spots for family portraits, they aren’t much fun to climb up while holding a baby and possibly a toddler or two. Fortunately, there are elevators on the north and south side of the building. There is also a ramp on the east entrance, perfect for strollers. I recommend parking on the east side of the building so that it’s easier to access the east entrance ramp.
Outfit Colors
This is one of my favorite benefits of taking portraits at the Capitol. Pretty much any outfit color looks great here!
Before you book a family portrait session at the Utah State Capitol, there are a few things you should know.
Crowds
This is a very popular spot for portraits so Friday and Saturday nights can get really crowded. Weekdays are usually better for portrait sessions.
Events
The Capitol holds various events throughout the year. Portrait sessions are not permitted during events so make sure you call ahead before you book your family portrait session.
Congress in Session
When the Utah Congress is in session, it’s really busy. Saturdays are really your only option for portraits during this time.
Weather/ Time of Day
Weather/ Time of Day
It may seem weird that I’m listing weather at an indoor location. One of the things that makes the Utah State Capitol such a great place to take portraits is the natural light inside. If the sky is dark whether it’s from a storm or the sun going down, it will be dark inside too. This is important to remember in the winter when the sun goes down a lot earlier.
Kenzie and Erick- it was so great to see you and the kids again and congratulations on your new baby girl! Your family is beautiful!