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:
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.
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
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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