What to expect from your Family Photo Shoot

Getting comfortable

While most children are used to having their pictures taken, having a family photo shoot is usually a new experience for them. All of a sudden, there is a stranger standing in front of them with a big camera and an even bigger lens which can be super exciting and daunting at once. It is therefore important that in the first few minutes everyone becomes comfortable with one another. In the past, Andy has achieved this by telling children that he “needed help” setting up the camera or finding a good spot as most kids will love the attention and the opportunity to explore a little. If a child is particularly shy, it can sometimes help to show them the camera and ask them if they can see it “wink” when the shutter clicks.

First poses

Once everyone is settled and feeling comfortable around the camera, we try to get the images and poses we want done straight away as children in particular become easily bored or frustrated. If there are any particular poses you must have or images you have seen which inspired you, please share them with us as soon as possible before the actual shoot as that way these will be done first. Early on, kids won't mind sitting on laps or smiling, however, this cooperation seldom lasts for long.

Do not stress!

Even with the best intentions,  sometimes a child won’t cooperate even for the first posed photo and although it’s understandable that a parent might feel stressed when this happens, it’s important that you continue to look at the camera and not down at your child who may be pouting. Having a professional camera allows a photographer to take a large number of clicks within a short amount of time and more often than not, Andy is able to elicit a cheeky grin from a child while taking pictures. It would be a shame that if during that brief moment where the child smiling, his or her parents are staring down in distress instead of looking at the camera. And if your child is really not cooperating at all, Andy will just get up and say, “We’ll get one in a few minutes. Let's explore” which will lighten the mood and allow everyone to relax before trying again.

Keep moving

When doing a family photo shoot, it’s important to keep moving as little kids won’t let you stop moving anyway. We don't expect to be able to sit and adjust a pose for more than 20 seconds but instead will tell children (and their parents) to hug or tickle or kiss on the cheek and click away. After that, we will get up and walk to another spot where we have the kids picking flowers or throwing leaves or climbing a tree It is important that we let the children interact with the location and the more the adults join in the better. While moving along will provide a variety of photos, it also allows everyone to release some energy making it possible to try for posed pictures again.  

Take a break

While family photo shoots should be short and sweet, there may be times when breaks are needed and if snacks are on hand, even better. Small snacks that don't make crumbs are the best for these occasions such as pieces of fruit, fruit snacks or trail mix as they can be eaten quickly and won't smear all over faces. Cookies or crisps on the other hand can make a big mess as crumbs will be everywhere – on faces, fingers and cloths.

Booking Family photoshoots – How it works

When considering booking a family photo shoot, we are often asked how it works and what the process is. Well to make it easy we have created a 50 second video which explains the process in 7 simple steps: Family photo shoots – How it works video

Of course we will always be on hand if there are any questions which may well pop up and do review our blog page as this may well provide you with some great insights; the blog on What to Wear in Family Photoshoots is particularly popular.

Tips for families before their Family Photo Shoot

Choose your clothing carefully

Ensure you choose your clothes in advance and make sure that your chosen outfit is comfortable and attractive.  Would you prefer for you family photos to look soft and elegant?  If so, chose neutral colours such as creams and pastels with soft, flowing fabrics.  Want to showcase the fun side of your family?  Choose coordinating colors with bold accent colours. If you are still unsure of what to wear, read our What to wear in Family Photo Shoots blog post.

Be well rested and fed

Don’t show up to a photo shoot on an empty stomach. It’s difficult to have fun when you can’t think about anything else but food and children especially struggle if they haven’t had anything to eat. So if you are planning on eating after the shoot, make sure you have some snacks handy.

Leave plenty of time to get ready

It can be stressful getting everyone ready for a shoot, even more so if young children are involved so make sure you leave plenty of time. There is nothing worse than trying to get pictures representing happy family times when only a few minutes before, there were arguments because one family members wasn’t getting ready quickly enough.

Cheese is for crackers

“Cheese” causes very unnatural smiles and results in strained and often unflattering photographs. Instead of saying “cheese” step back and allow the photographer to naturally interact with your family. This will result in natural, gorgeous smiles. 

Have fun with your family

Don’t be afraid to pick up your children and toss them in the air.  Give your spouse a sweet kiss on the check.  Have fun.  Laugh. Joke.  Doing these things will allow the photographer to capture the emotion and true beauty of your family.  Show your photographer who you really are so that they have the opportunity to capture your love through their lens.

What to wear in Family Photo Shoots

Deciding what to wear in family photos can be just as challenging as finding the perfect photographer. These are photos you are going to hang on your walls and cherish for years to come so it can seem overwhelming when considering what to wear.

The most important thing when considering what to wear for a family photo shoot is that every family member should dress in a way that that makes them feel confident and comfortable. This will help achieve relaxed and natural photos that reflect true personalities.

Colour matters

While some degree of colour coordination is great, families should not worry too much about matching their outfits. Long gone are the days of everyone wearing a white shirt and matching trousers. Instead, keeping the number of colours between 1 and 3 works well. Bright pastel colours seem to work particularly well for children, bringing a sense of fun to the occasion and final images.

When considering what to wear, it might also be worth thinking about your home décor. Do you like bright colours? Neutrals? Since you will be hanging these photos in your house you want to make sure the colours of your clothes go with the colour scheme of your home.

If possible, try to stick to solid colours, attention should be drawn to faces and personalities and not compete with logos or bold illustrations for our attention. In the same vein, jewellery is great but you wouldn’t want it dominating the imagery.