Family Session Tips

I love getting to photograph families. It truly brings me joy to see the unique relationships each family has and figure how to bring those relationships to life through images. No family is exactly the same, but with over 15 years of experience here are my tips for a successful session.

• 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 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, if you are doing a mini session, bribes work! 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.

• Pick a time that works for your family! When selecting a time for your session please think about the timing within your normal routine. If your kids go to bed at 7pm, a session a 7:30pm might not be the best. Or if you usually eat dinner at 6pm make sure to take that into consideration (refer to the bring snacks suggestion!).

• Be comfortable! This can be applicable to what you wear, the location of your session, as well as the type of photos we create together. When picking outfits make sure you are comfortable with the way you look. When selecting a location make sure it is somewhere that you connect with. This doesn’t mean it has to have a personal significance to you, but if you love the woods then pick a wooded location. If you are not a city person, don’t pick a downtown location. And please fill out the session questionnaire so I have an idea of your family’s personality and how I can make you comfortable during your session.

• Outfits! When picking outfits for your family I would suggest starting with one person’s outfit. Maybe you have a really cute outfit for one of your children, great! Now pick the rest of your family’s outfits to correspond with that outfit. 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. 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.

• 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.