I’d be lying if I said family photos are never stressful…but with the right preparation, they won’t be! Here are a few tips that have worked well for my clients on family photo day, and I hope they help you as well. The key is to plan in advance and know what to expect, so that on the day of your session, you can be present and fully enjoy the time with your family!
Here are my top 10 tips for a meltdown-free family photo shoot:
FOCUS ON THE LOVE.
It may sound cliché, but after all, your love for your family is probably the reason you wanted family photos in the first place! In the end, it’s not about what clothes you wore, or what location you chose, or how much you weighed. It’s about capturing what life is like right now. It’s about snuggling, tickling, and playing. It’s about showing your children how much you love them so that they have these memories 20 years down the road.
DON’T OVER-PLAN. Nothing spoils a child’s good mood (or dad’s for that matter) faster than too many clothing changes, too many locations, and too many props. I know it’s tempting to get caught up in those perfect Pinterest photos, but the best images happen spontaneously as a result of your unique family relationships. When we’re not working off of a checklist, we’ll have more time to create organic images that you’ll love. Try to limit your top priorities to one or two things (ex: a family photo and a sibling photo).
ARRIVE AT THE LOCATION AT LEAST 30 MINUTES EARLY.
On the day of the session, plan to leave an hour earlier than you think you need to (especially if this is your first time having professional portraits taken). The time we’ve chosen for your session is very specific for lighting reasons, and arriving on time will set us up for a great session.
Plan to arrive at your session location at least 30 minutes beforehand to allow time to find parking, make any last-minute clothing adjustments, and find our meeting spot. If you know you tend to run late, I would even recommend getting there an hour ahead of time. Arriving early is the most helpful thing you can do for a smooth session!
KIDS WILL BE KIDS — JUST ROLL WITH IT! All professional family photographers have seen their fair share of meltdowns, and we work through them every time! Please don’t get mad at your kids if they’re “not behaving.” The best thing you can do is model positivity and let me interact with them naturally. A great image only takes a millisecond to capture, so we’re probably getting a lot more great material than you think! Kids (and even babies) pick up on their parents’ stress levels, so laugh it off and know that happier moments are soon to come. And sometimes, that temper tantrum ends up turning into a hilarious image that you’ll cherish for years to come!
PLAN YOUR OUTFITS AT LEAST SEVERAL DAYS IN ADVANCE. There’s nothing more stressful than trying to get out the door and realizing you have nothing to wear. Plan your outfits well in advance so that you’ll know if something doesn’t fit or needs ironing. And speaking of clothes, it’s a good idea to layer your outfits so that you have outerwear on hand if it’s chilly — and you can take off that coat if we end up with an unusually warm day! If you book with me, you'll be sent a Style Guide to help with outfit preparations, and I'm always here to help!
CLEAR YOUR SCHEDULE. If you can, take the day off of work and don’t schedule any super busy activities for the kids. Give yourselves a relaxing morning at home and save your energy for later!
FRAME IT AS FUN
Instead of telling your kids that we’re going to have photos taken, tell them that we’re going to have an adventure and go play with Miss Amanda (or whoever your photographer is). Show them my picture, and let them know we're going to play some fun games!
NAPS + SNACKS Speaking of juice boxes: well-rested, well-fed kiddos are a must! Make sure everyone gets a great nap (if they take them) and a good meal before the session. If your session is in the evening, try to push naps a little later than usual in the week leading up to the session.
BRING A BRIBE. A lollipop, favorite toy, bubbles or trip for ice cream can make a huge difference in attitude! Just make sure to save it until after the session — once the bribe comes out, it’s really hard to put it away without tears.
CHECK YO’ SELF
Here’s a simple checklist to make sure you’re ready with everything you need:
comfy walking shoes
something to sit on (blanket/quilt)
backup clothing (dirt/spit-up/food happens!)
lint roller if you have pets
your child’s favorite toy
food & water for snack breaks
keys/phones out of pockets
scrunchies/fitbit/sports watch removed from wrists
kids’ noses and eyes wiped
LET GO AND TRUST. On the day of the session, it’s normal to be nervous (it means you care!). But the best way to love your shots is to let go of those nerves and trust in the photographer you hired. Know that you’ve planned and prepared to the best of your ability, and now your photographer is here to take the reigns and create family portraits that you’ll love. For a couple of hours, you don’t have to be the one to make all the decisions…enjoy it while you can!
Wilmington, NC Family Photographer
Bits O' Bacon Photography
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