How to Prepare For Your Family Photoshoot
Your Family Photoshoot Should be FUN!
The thought of getting everyone together to take pictures may sound like a stressful endeavor. Whether you have young ones who are uncontrollable balls of energy or a family that doesn’t seem too thrilled about having to go to a photoshoot, these tips should help you get prepared to have a great day, and get photos that the whole family will love!
Selecting a Photographer
The first step is selecting your photographer. Look for a photographer who has family photos showcased in their portfolio. This will tell you they have experience working with large groups and handling kiddos. During the shoot, your photographer should be able to take charge and tell people where to go and what to do. The last thing you want is someone who is too shy to say anything and doesn’t know how to handle the chaos. Ask your photographer if they have experience doing family portraits and working with kids. You of course want a photographer who takes beautiful photos, but also ensuring they are a person who has the confidence to take charge of the situation and lead the photo session will result in a much smoother and enjoyable experience. Also make sure they fit the energy of your family and will be someone who is enjoyable to work with. In my experience, photographers are incredibly fun people to be around, but just take this into consideration.
Selecting the Location
The location you pick will set the overall mood of the photoshoot. I’m including the time of the photoshoot into this because they go hand in hand. Your photographer should have a list of locations they know work well for family photos so ask what they recommend. If you already know the spot you want to do the shoot, tell them and they should be able to accommodate and give recommendations on time of day. Think about how crowded the location will be during the proposed time. Photoshop can remove people from the background of your photos, but you don’t want to be constantly waiting for people to walk by or waiting to have access to a spot during the shoot. Also, if members of your family would be uncomfortable posing for pictures with strangers around, think about finding a more secluded location that won’t have as much foot traffic. There may be other considerations like if there is a grandparent who has trouble walking. Make sure you communicate this to your photographer before the shoot so they can select a location that is easily accessible. Other than finding a great backdrop that fits your vision for the photos, the position of the sun during the shoot is very important. I will not go into detail on lighting in this blog, your photographer should be able to tell you what time of day will work best for your location. Here in Denver, keep in mind that, in general, the closer to the mountains you are, the less of a “golden hour” sunset you’ll get since you’ll be in the shadow of the mountains. Not the case for every location, but just something to consider.
What to Wear
This won’t be a detailed guide on selecting colors, patterns, etc. but there are some general things you should follow when selecting outfits for the family. You don’t need to have matching outfits. This will give a sort of classic vintage ironic family photo vibe, which maybe you’re going for! That style is popular right now. Instead, try to match the color pallet of the outfits. Not necessarily all the same color, but colors that all go well together. A great starting point is to either have everyone wearing monochromatic outfits (blacks, greys, whites) or a mix of similar earthy tones (tans, browns, dark greens, dark reds even). You don’t all have to get super dressed up, but make sure everyone looks like they are dressed for a similar occasion. If we’re wearing solid color t-shirts, consider having everyone in solid color t-shirts with complimentary colors like mentioned above. your photographer can give you advice and recommendations on what outfits/colors to use that will look good! Also make sure the outfits you chose will be comfortable for the shoot. If it’s going to be cold during the photoshoot, a light jackets/sweaters are a great call. Just don’t do anything that looks too much like hiking or skiing gear or anything that is obviously branded. Also make sure the outfit is appropriate for the amount of walking you’ll be doing. Some locations are just a casual stroll through the park, others might require some hiking to get to. Last thing, don’t forget the footwear! Make sure it fits with the outfits you’re wearing and you don't have one kiddo in bright yellow crocs while the adults are wearing boots (unless that is intentional, could be funny).
What to Bring to the Photoshoot
Most importantly, bring the whole family ready to take some amazing pictures! Most family photo sessions are between 30 minutes to an hour, so you won’t need to bring much, but depending on your shoot, there are some things to consider (other than the obvious). If the shoes you’re wearing in the photos aren’t great for walking, bring an extra pair of comfortable shoes. Family photo sessions aren’t just pictures of the entire family. You’ll probably do different combinations of people. Each person will likely have a bit of downtime during the shoot when others are having their pictures taken, so make sure they have whatever they need to stay comfortable during those times. Bringing snacks for the kids can be invaluable to help them cooperate and stay happy. I’ll speak more on that in the next section.
What If the Kids Are Being Uncooperative?
Look, it happens. Photoshoots are often a new and overwhelming experience and sometimes result in some unhappy kiddos. There are some great ways to help keep them happy and engaged that have worked great for me on my photoshoots. The first on is an age old classic: bribery. This looks different for every family. Sometimes they bring the kids’ favorite snacks that are given out throughout the shoot when they do a good job. Before the shoot, you could get the kids excited for a potential trip to get ice cream that they can earn by taking some photos. For the really young ones, bring their favorite toy. The photographer can hold the toy right next to their camera lens to keep attention on them. The next method is way more fun and my preferred one. It is to make the photoshoot fun for the kids! If they keep making goofy faces, let them take the goofiest picture they can imagine if and only if they give a nice smile first. I like to stage little fun activities like races or fun themed photos for the kids. For example, I’ll draw a starting line in the dirt and walk a ways down the path. Then give a “3, 2 ,1…. GO!” and have the kids all race each other to see who can pass my spot first. Having little activities like this during the photoshoot will make the shoot fun for them, and will often get some amazing pictures at the same time! This goes back to the importance of having a photographer who has experience working with kids. If the photographer is the one allowing them to be silly and have fun during the shoot, they will be much more likely to follow instructions when we’re trying to get the nice, normal photos. For teenagers not cooperating, beats me, let me know if you figure that one out.
Final Thoughts
All this being said, the most important thing is that the photoshoot is a fun and enjoyable experience for everyone involved. Regardless of how the photos turn out, if the shoot was painful and tedious, those memories will come back to you when you look at the photos. So let’s make sure to have fun during the photoshoot! After all, we are here to celebrate your beautiful family!
Family Photography in Colorado
I am a Denver-based photographer who has years of experiencing photographing families. I always create a fun atmosphere during my photoshoots so that the whole experience is amazing for everyone involved not to mention, I’ll get some great photos for you! I can help with any of the topics mentioned above an more. Let’s have some fun and get you that next Christmas card or beautiful wall decoration!
