One of my favorite things about photography is creating life long friendships with my clients and seeing their families grow. I love to meet families in their homes or at outdoor locations. I also offer mini sessions every spring and fall. Mini sessions are perfect for Dads and kiddos that only have short attention spans. I start with formal family poses and then encourage fun and playful moments. My goal is to make you comfortable so we get formal and candid photos like the ones below. Since this is likely your first professional photo shoot, these tips will help you prepare for family photos.
Family Photo Locations
To personalize your session and tell your story I recommend photos in your home, in an Airbnb or at an outdoor location of your choosing. I encourage you to pick a location special to you like your favorite family activity, or you can choose from a variety of locations I have listed in the blogs below:
What to wear in family photos
- Plan your outfits around the most difficult person and then coordinate the colors and patterns of the other outfits.
- Don’t try to match, try to pick outfits and accessories that coordinate instead. Don’t wear the exact same color.
- Do wear the same color family, like a dark and a light of the same color. Try pastels or light colors contrasted with bold color.
- Accessorize and make your outfits your own! Try bold jewellery or shoes with solid colors.
- Avoid graphics and overwhelming patterns. Avoid bright Red and Neon colors becasue they can cast color shadows on your faces that is difficult to edit out.
- Fitted clothing photographs better than loose clothing but a flowy dress is more fun and carefree than a mini skirt.
- Relax! You don’t have to be a pro at this! I am going to help you along the way and it’s going to be a blast. Enjoy this time together and make a night out of it. Plan dinner afterwards and celebrate!!
Family Photo Tips
- NO ALCOHOL: Don’t drink the night before you have photos taken. Drinking dehydrates your skin and makes your eyes puffy.
- BE ON TIME: We typically plan your start time based on sunset time. If you are late, it cuts into the sunlight we have available! No one wants dark photos, so arriving on time will ensure we have gorgeous light to work with.
- BRINGING THE DOG: The best way to include pups is to have a friend come along to leash and watch the dogs during your session.
- EMPTY YOUR POCKETS: Especially for guys, make sure you don’t have anything in your pockets!
- GET YOUR NAILS DONE: Make sure your nails are freshly painted! Chipped nails will be noticeable in your photos. Neutral colors and pastels photograph beautifully and will match any outfit!
- BRING COMFY SHOES: If you’re wearing heels, bring a pair of flip flops or comfortable shoes to walk from spot to spot. Your feet will thank me later!
- WHAT TO WEAR: View family outfit inspiration on pinterest.
Weather & Session Time
I want to give you the best possible photos and the best experience and a large part of this will depend on the lighting and weather: On a sunny day we generally begin shooting 2 hours before sunset. On a cloudy day, do not fear! Lighting is actually soft and beautiful, but we do need to start earlier (appx 3 hours before sunset).
On Rainy Days we will have to reschedule. If your location is a popular beach or an urban space we might consider an early morning session. That way we will have better access to the area and fewer people to work around.
Holiday cards
If you’re hoping to use your family photos for holiday cards, I recommend scheduling your session at one to two months before you plan to send out your holiday cards. Between inclement weather rescheduling, editing, designing your cards and printing, two months is generally a safe amount of time to make sure your images and cards are ready.
Beach Photo Tips
- If you are thinking about getting in the water, bring a change of clothes so you do not drive home wet.
- Bring baby powder and a towel to remove sand before getting in the car.
- Bring comfy shoes even if you are going barefoot. Many beaches in Laguna have rocky areas we may need to navigate.
Props for Family Photos
Choose props that have meaning! They should accessorize you and not distract from you. Your location and props should all come together as one cohesive story of you. Not sure what to bring, consider these:
- A Pet (Tip: Bring a friend to help handle them when you are shooting, unless they are very well behaved)
- A Last Name Sign on a banner or letter board for personalized holiday cards.
- A clear umbrella or parasol
- Matching onesies
- Blanket and picnic supplies
- Anything else that makes your family unique or that is special to you
Looking for more inspiration for fall family photos? View my Pinterest outfit ideas and my contributions on Mums Invited blog. The post shares over 21 adorable ideas to capture cozy and joyful moments in the crisp autumn air. Whether it’s matching outfits or playful shots in nature, these ideas will help you get the perfect fall family photos!
LOVE WHAT YOU SEE? Let’s connect!
I hope you enjoyed my tips on how to prepare for your family photos. I am so thankful for the wonderful people that hire me and support my passion! If you’re thinking about taking family photos, I’d love to be your photographer. Fill out the contact form on my website, and let’s make memories!
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