Family photo session tips how to#

If anyone needs a haircut, a week beforehand gives plenty of time for their hair to grow into the cut and look more natural. Reserve the week before your session for any appointments for you, your husband, or your kids. While our photos were stunning, I saw that little detail and was kicking myself! The one thing I forgot about? Was telling Jonathan to make an appointment for a haircut. I was so excited for these photos to mark a milestone in our lives together. Make Any Necessary Appointments Beforehandįor Jonathan and my engagement session, we had a photographer fly into Oklahoma all the way from Virginia. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying you should tell everyone to be on their “best behavior.” Actually, don’t say that at all because that might remind them that they won’t like the session.ģ. That being said, you probably do want to set a few expectations ahead of time. That might include booking appointments (more on that in a minute), planning a day or two to choose your outfits, and then keeping the day of your photo session as open as possible so you don’t feel like you’re rushing.Īnd that’s it! Let everything else fall naturally into place - and I’ll help make sure everything goes smoothly, too.

When you first book your family portrait session, one of the best things you can do in the weeks leading up to it is to keep everything simple.īy that, I mean just put the date on your calendar and make your to-do list. So keep reading to discover my top 16 tips for a fun (and easy!) family portrait session.Ĥ Tips for Preparing Your Family Members for Your Photo Session: 1.

Family photo session tips how to#

And that’s exactly why I’ve created this guide on how to prepare for a family photo session. So making the time to plan for a family photo session can feel like a major challenge.ĭon’t worry! You’re not the only one.

Not to mention, you’re a busy wife and mom. Or maybe some of your family members, like your husband or your kids, aren’t looking forward to it. They commemorate your beautiful lives together, no matter what season you’re in.īut I understand that getting in front of the camera can feel intimidating. That’s why I love family photo sessions so much. But you and I both know they’re no less significant! Sometimes, though, those milestones might be small in comparison. Maybe it’s celebrating your high school graduate through a senior portrait session. Sometimes those are major milestones, like welcoming a newborn into your lives. This allowed me to test the lighting (I wanted the golden hour) and to get through our session pretty easily.If you’re anything like me, you love capturing as many milestones for your family as possible. 🙂 A few weeks before the photographer showed up I went outside around the time she would be taking photos to come up with a few spots that I wanted her to shoot. Having a familiar spot makes everyone feel more at ease…and at home. I love that we were able to take photos on the property. Now it’s whatever works as long as it’s in the color family. Having the kids be in clothes they are comfortable in, is half the battle.

Let kids pick out what they want to wearĪfter I picked out the color scheme, I let the kids pick out what they wanted to wear.

No complaining, no whining, just smiles for an hour. Besides the kids no longer wanted to see their 5 and 3- year old selves front and center over the fireplace. My hubby and kids knew how important getting an updated family photo was to me.

Set expectations upfront with the family.

The photographer I chose checked all the boxes. I needed someone who would be in and out and be able to make teenagers smile. I explained exactly what I was looking for in addition to reviewing their portfolio and specific sessions they have done with families.

Find a photographer that specializes in families or large groupsĪfter asking around I interviewed a few photographers before I made a decision to book.

I realize that these tips may not be earth-shattering ….but they may work for your next family photo.

I wanted to share a few tips for a successful family photo session.