These are the tried-and-true tips I’ve gathered over the last 20 years of photographing families!
Choose your outfit(s) early on in the planning process and set them aside.
You don’t want to spend the night before your photo session trying on outfits in a panic or scrambling to wash the clothes you plan to wear.
When you feel good, you look good - so allow yourself plenty of time to (calmly) put together coordinating outfits, and then set them aside a few days before the shoot so they don’t get worn.
Outfits should coordinate, not match!
Coordinating does not equal matching. Your outfits can have a common element (for example, everyone incorporates denim in different ways - some wear jeans, some wear jean jackets with a dress, etc.)
A lot of clients also choose a color scheme, like “neutrals” or “pastels.” Remember, a consistent color palette does not mean the exact same color - just in the same color family.
Long story short, your outfits should complement each other. So don’t put too much pressure on yourself to be matchy-matchy!
Here’s a great example of outfits that coordinate instead of match.
The above example (click to view in fullscreen) is from a holiday card shoot for one of my “regulars!”
- The red from the little girl’s dress and the little guy’s sweater give a pop of color.
- Mom and Dad take a more subtle approach with black, but the buffalo plaid dresses tie the red and black together.
- The peep of white from the girls’ socks coordinates with Dad’s checkered undershirt and the girl’s black-and-white patterned dress.
- Last but not least, Dad’s jeans tie in with the jean jacket on the left.
Avoid tight, intricate patterns.
Some clothes (especially men’s dress shirts) come in tight patterns that show up wavy and distorted on camera. (It’s called the Moiré effect if you want to Google it to see for yourself!).
When in doubt, snap a photo of your outfit(s) and send it my way! I’ll let you know if it’s at risk of showing up funny in photos.
If possible, don’t schedule your shoot first thing in the morning or after a long day of work or school.
It’s tempting to think, “We’ll do our photos right away in the morning so we can do XYZ later that day!”
But I’ve found that parents (and kids) are more likely to arrive tired and flustered to early morning sessions. Getting yourself camera-ready is hard enough; getting kids ready is even more time-consuming.
On the flip side, don’t schedule your shoot after a full day of work or school. Little ones (and even not-so-little ones) tend to be starving and tired after school - not a great combination for tear-free photos. And the last thing you want is to hop in front of a camera after an 8+ hour day at the office.
Consider nap and feeding times when scheduling.
Scheduling photos during nap time or feeding time is a recipe for over-tired tears or hungry tantrums.
Nap time is definitely a bigger concern than feeding time. While we can’t halt a photo session for a full-on toddler nap, we can take a quick break for a bottle or some snacks!
Be patient with your kids. (I will be, too!)
I know telling parents to be patient is like preaching to the choir, but patience is extra important on shoot day. Disciplining or scolding them for misbehaving during the shoot can cause red, teary eyes in photos.
One of the words I always use to describe my photography approach is “realistic.” I’m a mom of three - I know kids will be kids and meltdowns will happen! I always budget a little extra time for family shoots with young kids so we can wait out the tears and get that great shot.
Create a plan for your pets!
Even the best-behaved pets need a little prep for a photo session!
Make sure to bring your pet’s essentials to the shoot: leashes and harnesses, treats, poop bags, a water dish, and even toys for distraction. (Treats and toys are great tools for me to get their attention from behind the camera)!
Also think about what to do with your pets when they’re off-camera. If you’re taking photos without them, will they hang out calmly, or will they need a crate? It’s not a bad idea to bring a friend to keep them entertained or hold leashes so you can focus on having your photo taken.
Get a good night’s sleep before shoot day.
It’s a cliché for a reason! I can work a little magic with retouching, but nothing beats a true restorative rest. When you feel good, you look good!
The same goes for the kiddos. I know you can’t control whether or not they sleep well, but making sure they get their nap at their usual time that day can work wonders.
Don’t be afraid to reach out to me!
I’m here to be a resource and a guide throughout this process! Send me your questions and thoughts as they come up. I respond to text, phone, or email - but the fastest way to reach me will always be text.
Phone: 319-366-8689