Family Session Tips

Here are some helpful tips to make your session the best experience for everyone that I have picked up through my 15+ years of photographing families.

• Come to your session without expectations! I don’t mean you should not expect quality images. What I mean is please don’t come expecting your children to always behave, look directly at the camera (at the same time) with perfect smiles, and to only receive Pinterest worthy images. You will get better, truer images by giving your children (and yourself) more flexibility. Let them be silly, let them have their little moments, and let me do my job to get the best images I can out of everyone.

• Bring a blanket - Standing photos are beautiful and possibly the majority of the images we will create, but having a quilt or picnic blanket that we can do some sitting/laying images as well as possibly wrap up in or play with. So if you have a blanket or quilt that you think will work with your outfits please bring it.

• Bring snacks! If you have young children, bring snacks. Even if your session is short… no one wants their photo taken when they are hangry. You are allowed to take little breaks if needed… or bribes work too! Make sure kids are fed before the session time and give them something to work towards for after the session.

• If you have a baby - Bring something that they will respond to (a shaker toy, squeaker toy, their favorite stuffy, etc.). I will either hold that special item while taking group photos or have one of the parents hold it next to my camera to help get your baby’s attention during photos.

• Outfits - When picking outfits for your family I would suggest starting with one person’s outfit (usually the mother). Picking outfits with variations in texture, layers, and colors within a gereral color palette will give you the results of looking put together without looking to matchy-matchy or flat. Make sure to take your session location into consideration too. If you are struggling on where to start I would suggest searching for family photos on Pinterest and seeing what color/style combinations you are drawn to and then going from there. If you are still at a loss, email me! Let’s talk it out and find the right look for what your family. If you have a little girl and want to put her in a dress please make sure to put shorts/tights on underneath to avoid very cute images that need to be deleted because they show undies. Trust me!

• Hair - If you have kids with long hair I would suggest trying to do something to hold their hair back out of their faces to avoid it hanging in their face during photos.

• Don’t be late - Make sure to arrive at least 5 minutes early and read the location specific instructions for your session so you know where to park/meet.

• Let’s have fun! Taking family photos can sometimes feel like a burden, but it doesn’t have to. Please, let me do the hard work. Your job is to have fun with your family. Play with your kids, tickle them, giggle, give lots of cuddles, and let them run around and maybe even play in the dirt. I cannot say this enough… Happy kids are the best kids to photograph!

There are lots of other things to consider before your family session, but in my opinion the above are the most important components that can take a session from good to great.