5 Sequoia Family Photo Tips

Sequoia Family Photo Tips to Ensure Your Session is Fun for the Whole Family

When planning a trip to Sequoia National Park with kiddos, planning can feel overwhelming. Windy roads, wildlife, and limited access to shops and restrooms can feel intimidating to anyone unfamiliar with the park.

As a mom of three ages toddler-teen and a photographer specializing in Sequoia photography, I'm here to help. Here are a few tips for Sequoia/Kings Canyon to help your trip run smoothly.

Tip 1: Download an offline map of the parks

• Cell service within Sequoia National Park is generally non-existent. Download an offline map of the area and drop pins in locations where you plan to visit.

• Use this guide (Android) or this guide (Apple) to download an offline map using Google Maps.

• You can also use the Apple Maps app to download offline maps, but in my experience Google Maps is more reliable.

Tip 2: Stay in or near the parks

• Campgrounds:

  • There are fourteen campgrounds in the parks, including two that are open during all four seasons. Campsites hold up to six people. Each has a picnic table, fire ring with grill, and a metal food-storage box. Nearly all campgrounds require advance reservations; sites fill quickly.

• Wuksachi Lodge - Sequoia National Park

• John Muir Lodge - Kings Canyon National Park

• Cedar Grove Lodge - Kings Canyon National Park

• Three Rivers

  • There are a variety of hotels, motels, and short term rental homes (think AirBnB or Vrbo)

  • Three Rivers is about 10-15 minutes from the Sequoia National Park main entrance, and about a 1 hour drive to the Giant Forest area of the park

• Fresno

  • Planning to visit Kings Canyon? Fresno is about a 1 hour drive to the Kings Canyon National Park main entrance.

  • Fresno is a large city with plenty of hotel, motel, and short term rental homes to choose from. Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks are connected via the intersection of California State Route 180 and California State Route 198. The connection between parks is typically closed between early-mid November through April or May.

Tip 3: Mind the bugs!

If you're visiting during the summer months when the snow has melted and waterways are full and flowing, mosquitoes in the parks are active. While I can't recommend any specific products as every family's needs are different, definitely keep this in mind if anyone in your party is sensitive to mosquito bites.

There are ticks in the parks, but they are more common at lower elevations. I haven't personally seen them in the Giant Forest area or higher elevations.

It's always smart to have a first aid kit on hand for any insect bites or other minor injuries little ones might incur while exploring the park.

Tip 4: Bring extra clothes

When choosing what to wear for your Sequoia family photo session, you'll want to give your fam a few options, for a few reasons.

1. Weather: the temperature within the parks varies wildly throughout the day. For example, in July the average high is 71F/22C and the average low is 46F/8C. If your session is at sunrise you'll want to bundle up, whereas if your sunset is at sunset you'll likely be comfortable in lightweight clothing, but you may need to bundle up toward the end or after your session.

2. Season: similarly, clothing choices will vary significantly depending on the season.

   • Winter: winter storms can hit suddenly at any time at higher elevations, dropping feet of snow that can linger for days or weeks. Family sessions in the winter call for warm socks, boots, thick jeans, jackets, and hats for the whole fam.

   • Summer: summer days can be quite warm even at higher elevations. Although the parks do not get as hot as the Central Valley below, high elevations + warm weather call for loose, flowy garments, or clothing that feels best in warm temperatures.

   • Spring/Fall: Milder weather and cooler call for layers! Light jackets, cardigans, anything that can be layered on once temperatures begin to dip toward evening time.

3. Water: Although I don't typically recommend locations where families might encounter water during their sessions, there may be snow, standing water, or a creek nearby. On the offchance your kiddos like water as much as mine, it's a good idea to have extra clothing on hand for them to change into.

Tip 5: Let the kids run the show

If ever there was a time to "let kids be kids" a Sequoia family photo session would be it. The most rigid parts of a family photo session are the date, time, and starting location. From there, I prefer to take a guided, child-led approach that allows kids to enjoy themselves without feeling "pictured out." We'll keep the "everybody say cheese!" smiles to a minimum and let the fun activities take priority. Exploring, reading, playing, and snuggling are my favorite kinds of moments to capture of families young and grown.

I hope these sequoia family photo tips help you have the best time! If you haven't already booked your Sequoia family photo session, give me a shout here or use the contact button below. I can't wait to adventure with your fam!