It’s that time again!

Whether you are a family who plans family photos every year or it’s been many years since your last family photography session, it’s time to get some updated family photos!

Here are a few tips to help you prepare for your Family photography session!

Finding a Family Photographer

It’s time to start looking for a reputable family photographer. How?

Here are some quick tips:

Do your research. Ask around. Talk to other families, friends, or coworkers about their experiences with family photographers. They should be able to give you some referrals and you can go from there.
Don’t let the price alone dictate your decision. Professional photos aren’t cheap. But, it’s a worthy investment! If you go with the cheapest photographer or just have your friend take them, are you sure you’ll get the quality images you want? You’re only going to do this once, so hiring a professional will definitely be worth the investment.
Look for the style you want. Look through the photographer’s website, socials, and portfolio’s to get a sense of what you can expect. Do you like true colors, light and airy, or a more moody, dramatic feel to the photos? Are you wanting to do in-studio, outdoor, or something completely different? Search for photographers who fit what you’re looking for.
Ask for their package options. This is crucial because photographers set up their packages very differently, so you want to make sure you’re getting what you want. Think about what’s important for you to walk away with. Digital images? Prints? Canvases? Oil portraits? A combination? Keep in mind, this is often where the pricing fluctuates the most! (Be cautious of photographers advertising low session fees, because most of the time the fine print is what you pay in all of the A La Carte picture packages — this can add up really fast.)
Bonus Tip: Communication is everything! Reach out to the photographer and ask for more details in booking with them. You want to make sure they are responsive and won’t leave you hanging. And as a Pro-Tip, you want to make sure they are going to give you more than just pictures — Family photos are a special time to capture, so you want the whole experience of the shoot to be fun! Make sure the photographer communicates with you as someone they are excited to work with and design a session around, instead of just another shoot — number on their books.

If you like my style, then book your Family photography session here! I work with my clients to fully design their senior session to fit them and all final digital images are always included in a flat fee. Great experience, simple pricing.

Preparing for Your Family Photography Session

Your photoshoot is booked! Now what?

Here are some of my best tips for preparing for your session.

Tips for Preparing for Your Family Photography Session

Choose a location that best reflects your family. Location is your choice. Do you have a favorite place in mind? Would you like a particular type of setting? I always have places to recommend, but if there is a place is special to you, your photos will be even more special!
The Day Before: Get a good-night’s sleep, steer clear from foods that cause bloating, and drink lots of water.
What to Wear. Usually, I recommend 1-2 outfits for your session. One more dressy outfit and one casual every-day outfit that shows off your style. When in doubt, keep it simple and just choose one outfit. Also, don’t feel pressured to try and match everyone’s outfits! If you want a harmonious look, you can try to keep a color scheme or theme.
- Bonus: It’s always inevitable that kiddos may get dirty or spill something on their clothes last minute. Just to be safe, you might throw in an extra outfit just in case!
Props & Activities. What are some of the things you enjoy doing together as a family? You might decide to incorporate props or activities in your photos as well. Some families have included books for story time, baked cookies together, brought a blanket to cuddle on, or even played together on a playground. The choice is yours! While we always work to get some of the traditional, everyone looking at the camera and smiling posed pictures, it is always great to capture your family having fun together and capturing the candid moments.
- Pets are also great to incorporate in some of your photos!
Hair: You probably know how you like to wear your hair — do that so it looks like you. Ladies, usually hair down will be better than pulled back. Hairspray can be helpful, but don’t over-do (Gentlemen, same with hair gel). It can be a great idea to bring a travel size one with you and a brush or comb just in case.
Make-Up: Again, you probably know how you like your make-up. Do that, then you may add a little more than you normally would. You will lose make-up in the lens. A little more make-up is actually good.
In general, I don’t recommend spray tans or tanning lotion — more times than not, you end up with an orange tone. Also, try to stay out of the direct sun and don’t forget your sunscreen to avoid tan lines.
Just be YOU. This is the best piece of advice I could give to any family. Having your family portraits taken is meant to be a fun and amazing experience – it shouldn’t be something you stress over! So, just focus on having fun together!
Let Us Do What We Do Best: Keep in mind that we will do our best to make you look your absolute best! I always will check your make-up, help you adjust hair, and will look for the best angle and pose to get it just right. I totally get picky with hair because that’s the one thing you can’t photoshop — it just never looks right. So I make sure to be picky! (You’ll thank me for that later!)