A Guide to Family Photos
First off, THANK YOU for trusting me with your family photos. I absolutely love what I do, and I love making memories that you will love to look back on. I'm so grateful for your trust, and hope we can create beautiful images together of your sweet family. This whole process can be stressful and overwhelming at times, but I know as we both prepare, everything will fall into place. Just relax and let me do all the work. Remember that kids will be kids and trust in my experience as a family photographer. Everything will work out brilliantly in the end.
Tips & Tricks
This may be the most obvious thing you read today, but a good night's sleep the night before our session is really important. And a lot easier said than done. Just try to make the night before as normal as possible. The less that changes in their day, the better. For some reason I'm convinced that kids (whether you mention it or not) always know when it's family photo day. It's crazy! And they typically don't want any part of it. So I want everything to be as typical as possible for them leading up to the session. Then super fun once it starts.
Meals
Another Captain Obvious note from me. Make sure they eat a really big meal right before the session. This is also easier said than done sometimes. Believe me, I know from experience! But full tummies are a lot more cooperative than empty ones. I promise it will go smoother!
Getting Ready
Getting everyone ready can be really stressful and overwhelming. I can definitely empathize with that whole process. Be as calm and lighthearted as you can.The more normal you make it seem, the better. And when you do talk about it, talk about it being fun!
Treats
Feel free to bring mess free treats to the shoot. I will try and bring some too! I like to use treats as a last resort at the end of our time together. But mostly for brownie points on my end. The kids will do great! Don't even worry.
Vaccines
Parents of babies on a vaccination schedule. Please don't schedule any vaccines 2-3 days prior to our session. They can be kind of grumpy those few days following, and I would love them to be their happy, sweet self when we meet.
During the Shoot
Just go with the flow if anything happens. If children cry, whine, don't want to do what's asked, shy away from me, get crazy, or run and hide, just know it's OK. I've seen all of these things when my family has taken family pictures, and when I've taken them of other families. Just know all these things are NORMAL. All kids have different reactions to strangers coming and photographing them, but don't stress or get embarrassed. It happens to everyone! I promise. A stress free "no worries" response is the best reaction. While we are together all I want you to do is relax and let me talk to and direct the kids. You just sit back and smile. I'll do everything I can to make them happy and look at me if I need them to. But you don't worry about them one bit. I know it's hard to just sit back sometimes, but trust me... it will be all good in the end.
Dads
This is just for the dads! I know photos might be the last thing you want to do on family photo day, but you are an important part in the success of the shoot. I just want you to have fun and play with the kids, and interact in a loving way with your wife. If you ever have any doubts on what you should be doing, smile at your wife, or tickle one of the kids. You can never go wrong with either of those!
What to Wear
Honestly, whatever is comfortable. If you have a style that is you, totally rock it. Most of the families I work with have a really hard time deciding what to wear, so I've put a couple ideas together to help you out.
- Try to stick to a color pallette that has 3-5 complimentary colors in it, without trying to be too matchy. So switch up the colors of tops, but if kids/parents are wearing pants stay with the same fabric of pants. So if dad is in jeans don't put one of the kids in khakis...try to stick to the jean you got going on.
- Families that have all girls or all boys (really if you have more than one child), definitely try to mix and match colors, patterns and types of clothes. I have all girls so typically I try to do a dress with one, pants and a top with another, and a skirt and a top with the third. This doesn't always go according to this plan, but I try to get it really close.
- Plaids, patterns, polka dots, and floral prints are great! Logos on t-shirst, not so much. They date the images and distract from the photo.
- Pay attention to shoes. Especially the guys in the family. You don't want them to be too dressy but also not too dressed down in athletic shoes either. Boat shoes, Vans, Converse, leather sandals... all work great.
- Layers are always a good idea on kids. And look super cute all the time.
- Neutrals with pops of color. (lace and textures always photograph beautifully as well)
- Avoid wearing the same outfit. Mix up the types of things you are all wearing. And stay away from large amounts of lime green, black, bright blue, and true red.
- Stay seasonal with the colors that you choose. Save those really deep, bold colors for fall and winter.
- Along with being seasonal, please dress for the location. If we are outside in a field or in the mountains, open toed shoes are not the best option, no matter the time of year. Sandy areas I will have you all be barefoot, and if we are in a place with nicely groomed trails or sidewalks, anything will be great!
