Let’s be real here: You want beautiful photos but the thought of a photo shoot can sound stressful. Have no fear: I am confident working with children of every age and families of every size. However, there are some ways you can prepare yourself and your family for the day of your photo shoot. Here are 5 tips to get the most out of your session!
1. Choose your clothing carefully.
Make sure to have your outfits selected in advance and ensure that they blend well with everyone that will be participating in the photo shoot. Ensure they are attractive and comfortable, especially for your children. Ask yourself the following questions: What do your dream family photos look like? Are they are soft and elegant? Are they vibrant? The best colors for photos are neutral with warm, flowing fabrics. This include cream, white, soft pastels, gray and slate blues. If you want to add some fun colors to your photo shoot because it better reflects who are, that’s great too! You can choose coordinating colors (however not completely matching) with bold accent colors, such as grays with red accents. You can also add hats, scarves or other accessories to add personality to your photos.
2. Be well rested and well fed.
Avoid scheduling your photo session around your child’s nap or bedtime. Choose a time where everyone will be well rested. The best time for lighting is two hours before sunset and after sunrise and called “the golden hour”. Photos look best at this time of day. However, if this is a bad time for your children, we can talk to discuss what works best for your family. If this time doesn't work for your family, we can use open shade that will make your skin look lovely.
Also, don’t show up to a photo shoot on an empty stomach. It might be fun to go out for a celebratory dinner afterward but this could mean hungry children and less smiles. If you cannot avoid this, bring plenty of snacks!
3. Leave plenty of time to get ready.
As a mom, I know how difficult it can be to get the children ready and out of the house. The solution: leave plenty of time to get ready. If it helps, have appointments for hair and makeup before the photo shoot. A hair appointment for mom can help her feel confident. Leave enough time for showers, dressing, and getting the shoes on. I want you to enjoy your full photo session, so ensuring enough time to get ready will allow you to participate fully and have fun!
“We are completely in love with all the photos. I cannot put into words how thankful we are. Lisa captured our love at its best.”
4. Trust Your Photographer.
Allow me to naturally interact and talk with your children. This will result in natural, gorgeous smiles. Help me capture the true essence of your child’s personality by talking with them as you normally would (and avoiding "say cheese!")
so that those smiles come naturally and easily. I have plenty of silly faces up my sleeve for the hard to coax ones!
5. Have fun with your family.
Don’t be afraid to give your children a big hug. Dance in a circle. Pick up your children and give them a piggy back ride. Give your wife a hug and kiss on the check. Whisper to your husband how much you appreciate him. Play. Snuggle. Lay down on the blanket. Bring a game everyone loves (bring a soccer ball, monopoly, books, a bike etc.) Ask yourself, what do we love doing as a family? What do my children have fun with? Doing this will allow the me to capture the emotion and true beauty of your family. By showing me who you really are, I can capture your true emotion and essence as a family.
