Getting ready for your family Photos session…
Family sessions! I absolutely LOVE these. One of my most popular questions I get…What should we wear?? After a lot of trial and error and research, I’ve come to the conclusion that every family is different and needs to dress accordingly. I have found a lot of really good advice online and have seen what looks good and what can break a great photo. I suggest either Mom or Dad pick their outfit and have everyone else coordinate with THEM. Not match, but coordinate. pick a color palette and go off of that. I think earth tones look great for spring and summer, and staying in the royal color family for fall & winter. Not every family is the same, like I said, so you have to do what your family prefers. Pinterest has a ton of great suggestions for “Family Photos”. That’s always where I have my clients start on their hunt for the perfect outfits. I’ve heard of people dressing in the colors coordinating with the interior of their home as well, which is a very cool idea. That way when you print and hang your photos, they match with your aesthetic!
Earlier I mentioned that certain things can break a great photo. Here are some of them. Shoes. Everyone looks their best in slacks and button down shirts & nice sweaters. But on their feet they’re wearing athletic running shoes. Don’t do that. Pick out matching shoes that are appropriate for your outfit. If you need suggestions, ask me or ask Pinterest :)
Dressing too casual in hoodies or graphic tees can also throw off the vibe of your photos. Aim for clothing free of words & logos that distract your eye. I will always keep an eye out for things in your pockets that do not photograph well. Phones, wallets, keys hanging off of your jeans. Sunglasses, baseball caps.
Once you know where your family photos will be taken, you can coordinate with the location as well.
Once everyone knows what they want to wear, have everyone try on their clothing. Make sure everything is free of rips and stains. Check to see that the clothing fits well. It will be distracting when clothing doesn’t fit correctly or is wrinkled. Press or steam the clothes and hang in your closet until the day of the shoot. If you keep wearing the things you plan to wear on the day of the photo shoot, you may damage or stain the clothes you picked out and run the risk of not being prepared. Give yourself adequate time to plan everyones outfits and buy something before hand if needed.
Families with littles:
Now that we know what to wear, lets talk about how to manage a shoot with little ones! If you’re scheduling with me, I normally do all of my family sessions for an hour. if that sounds like an eternity, ask me about a shorter session! :) You know your kids best and you’ll know what works for them and what won’t. Golden hour for families is best of course, so we’ll always aim for that. It’s a good idea to let the kids have a little play time before hand to get some energy out, and it also helps to make them feel more relaxed in front of the camera. Managing naps is a little harder to do, so I always keep that in mind. I suggest parents bring some incentive to keep kiddo happy if possible. Some families bring treats or candy for good smiles. Reminding them there will be a special meal or treat after also helps. Parents also like to stand behind me and play peek-a-boo or tell jokes or make silly sounds to get kiddo’s to smile and laugh. I like to get the posed photos done really quickly first. In my experience, i have about 10 minutes to do this before attention spans are expired, so I work quickly! After that, we do movement prompts for a movement based photos. Ring around the rosie, giggling group hug, piggy back rides, jumping, running and other cute poses.
Consider bringing a grandparent or family friend to watch the kids if you would like to get photos of you and your spouse/life parter. Sometimes older siblings work just as well, but it’s definitely necessary for littles.
I hope this helps you be ready for the big day. Always reach out to me with questions you may have, I’m happy to help!
