Let's make the most of your family photo session by going over some tips to make it as easy as possible for you, your kids, and your spouse. After over 15 years photographing families large and small of all ages, we know a thing or two about making this an easy and enjoyable day for everyone! Check out our top 6 tips below for a successful family photography session!
1. Hire the Right Photographer for an Easy Family Picture Experience
This is the single most important decision when planning your annual family pictures. A reliable and experienced family photographer is going to have a process worked out for the entire experience beginning to end. You will have an easier time solidifying a date, time, location, and plan with someone who does this full time or on a regular basis. When the booking process is easy, you start your entire experience on a calm note.
Hiring an experienced photographer means that you will be prepared for your session with tips, outfit ideas, and the right location. And all of that makes for easy family pictures! WIth a good photographer, you have someone to direct you and your family through the most flattering poses seamlessly without leaving you wondering where to put your hands or where to stand.
Most importantly, they will be good and patient with your kids. They have seen it all and are not going to become flustered or thrown off by a little toddler meltdown or a baby crying. They will be ready to engage the kids, young and old, to get those smiles you are looking for. Ensuring the kids have a good time goes a long way toward creating beautiful family photos without the stress!
2. Choose a Date That Actually Works for Family Pictures
Its a busy family schedule, we know how hard it can be to make time for family pictures. But they are SO important and worth prioritizing each year. If you are really tight on time, consider a mini session for your family pictures. But above all, choose a time that you are actually available to focus on this experience without distraction.
It should go without saying, but if your family is big into watching sports you should schedule your session around your favorite team's games. Having a member of the family on their phone during our session to get the latest scores or watch live game play takes away from your family's experience and makes it harder for everyone. Forcing them to put their phone away can result in some unhappy moments not perfect for pictures. Having one family member disengaged can make it easier for other family members to disengage. The session will be much easier if everyone is simply available. If your kids are in weekend tournaments that may have game times shift or run late, that is not an optimal time for family pictures. When families have to run from an event to pictures, it tends to be stressful. Not only do you risk being late, but you also risk forgetting things or not being able to look as "ready" as you hoped.
Consider using an hour of vacation time from work on a Friday afternoon to get ready and head to your family session before evening or weekend obligations begin. Another great option is scheduling photos during a less busy time of year for your family. If your kids play football, soccer, and baseball in the Fall, a Winter or Summer session might suit you better. There is no rule that family pictures have to be in the Fall.
3. Feed Everyone First
I cannot stress enough the importance of making sure everyone has eaten before the session. For a morning session with little kids, it is always obvious to me if the kids have eaten or not. While it is a popular bribe/reward for kids to get to go to breakfast after an early morning photo shoot, I still recommend they eat something before pictures. Chances are they are still going to want some pancakes : ) but this way they are at least not hungry during the session which is very helpful.
For older kids who may or may not be super into doing family photos, they are more likely to cooperate if they are not hungry also. When food is the reward after the session and they haven't eaten a good snack ahead of time, they are more likely to have the approach of "Are we done yet? I want to go eat".
Removing the hunger barrier can make for an easier photo session.
4. Choose the Right Location
The right location can make your family photo session easier! If it is Winter (or late Fall) and you have kids that don't like the cold or won't do well in the cold, an indoor location might be right for you! Thankfully we have a beautiful studio in Westerville ready to host you for indoor family pictures! There are other indoor locations in the Columbus area that also may work depending on your individual needs. In contrast, if you have littles that are into exploring the world around them and they need room to run, you are going to want to choose an outdoor space so you don't need to worry about them breaking anything or injuring themselves on studio equipment.
If you have a lot of people in your group, a tight urban space wouldn't be a good fit (quite literally!) and wouldn't be easy to pose large groups. Little kids may not do as well in locations with ponds and bridges if you are going to feel worried that they may run off or fall into the water. An urban park isn't a great fit if you don't want homes and cars in the background. It's all about finding a space that suits your needs so that the location itself isn't a hurdle to a great photo experience.
We have a ton of ideas for locations including our own studio and are happy to make recommendations for your specific group as we plan the perfect family session for you.
5. Wear Comfortable Outfits that Fit
If the kids are comfortable, they are more likely to relax and enjoy themselves during the session, which makes it easier for you and more enjoyable for everyone! Stiff and uncomfortable clothing can cause kids to mess with their clothing and complain about how it doesn't feel right or doesn't fit. It can be hard to compete for their attention when something they are wearing hurts or is bothersome to them.
If you find yourself having to fix their headband constantly or a shoe keeps falling off, that can become difficult and stressful. We may get the perfect shot that you absolutely love, but one shoe had fallen off. Another big clothing issue I've seen numerous times is kids wearing pants that are too big. This makes it difficult for them to walk, and again causes the need to adjust them constantly thus taking away from the easy & stress-free experience you are seeking.
6. Relax & Embrace the Chaos
Ahhh here comes the hard part... let go and just enjoy your family. The connections you have will be best showcased if you are all present together and free of distractions. Allow yourself to simply enjoy the moment no matter what form that takes. And while it may feel like your kid is the only one refusing to stand where you want them to or the only one running around when you want them to be still, I can assure you they are not. Kids are kids : ) We can capture some of the sweetest candid moments when the adults embrace the play and follow the lead of the children. This doesn't mean we won't get some smiling and looking at the camera moments, only that in this moment we are creating something else first. When you live in the moment, the time will go quick and you will walk away with some truly genuine smiles from your kids. The entire experience becomes so easy when you are simply being you!
We are ready to create a great experience for your family! Get in touch to tell us what you envision!