Get the Most out of Your Family Session

We’ve all spent our hard-earned dollars on a photo session with our favorite photographer, only to show up with mismatched outfits on a hot day, and spend the entire hour fighting with your kids and yelling at your partner to smile.  Trust me, I’ve been in this situation both in front of and behind the lens. It’s not a good look for anyone. Don’t worry, your pal Lyss has you covered. Here are 5 tried and true ways to keep everyone sane, and get the most out of your family session.

Pick a Color Scheme

Finding a color scheme can seem daunting and overwhelming.  You might be asking yourself, “What colors should we wear?” or “What colors go well together?”  I myself have looked in my closet and thought “I literally have nothing to wear.” My advice is to not over complicate things!  Pick items that you normally wear all of the time, that you think you look good in and are comfortable. You’re not going to enjoy your session that you have invested time and money into if you spend the whole time tugging at that shirt or pulling up your pants!  The same goes for your children. If your sweet little Adeline is going to be screaming about that itchy, poofy dress… just leave it at home. You will be doing the photographer and yourself a huge favor. Now on the side of color, you don’t have to be all matchy-matchy.  Pick colors that complement each other, and work well with the scenery. Complimentary colors are going to work best in any photo-op. This is, of course, a basic example, but you get the gist. As a side note, don’t forget to mind the aesthetic of your location. If you are getting photographed against a white surface, such as a family barn, and you all wear white – it might end up looking like a floating head situation….  Unless that is what you’re going for, then, by all means, float on. If you need a little inspiration, head on over to Pinterest. Pinterest is such a great search engine for all things lifestyle.

Location, Location, Location!

Location is one of the most important aspects of the session.  It determines the entire vibe of the shoot. Me personally, I prefer the outdoors.  Here in Asheville, we have a huge advantage with all of the beautiful outdoors.  Lucky me, I know.  Natural light is the best light, and if your photographer is good, you can work with that light any time of day.  Indoors can be a little more challenging, but of course doable as well. I also recommend taking into account the time of year.  If you live in South Florida and want to do a beach session in August at noon, you will be sweating with a red face, and your kids will be screaming from exhaustion.  Maybe save that one for early April or October. The same goes for the wintertime. I wouldn’t suggest dragging the kids into a foot of snow with their puffer jackets on.  That being said, I love a good snowy engagement shoot… *swoon* Just be sure you are comfortable and dressed appropriately. It will make for a smooth and beautiful session.

So you want props?

I absolutely love the look of a forest green crushed velvet sofa in the middle of a field.  Hello, Vogue! The use of props such as furniture or chalkboards has become a staple in modern photography.  If you have a specific look in mind or inspiration pictures on Pinterest, we as photographers love to make that happen!  However, we have all to often run into situations where the day of the session, our client calls about wanting the aforementioned velvet sofa for their shoot.  Now, we may look like magicians, but I promise you we cannot pull antique furniture out of a hat (although, that would be amazing). Most of us use third-party rental services for these such items.  And to rent said items, we need at least 2 weeks to make that happen. I would highly recommend discussing any needed props or add-ons with your photographer at the inquiry stage, just to ensure that you are all on the same page and that your photog is prepped and ready to make this the session of your dreams!

Managing the Kids

Easier said than done, amirite!?!  But nothing is more frustrating than trying to take beautiful family photos with screaming toddlers.  There are a couple of things that can help alleviate this and ensure smooth sailing for everyone involved.  

Number one – feed them.  If they have full little tummies, they are less likely to have a breakdown mid-session.  If they tend to fall asleep after they eat, there will be some super cute sleeping baby photos!

Number two – put them in their clothes early.  Maybe not right before you feed them, but give it at least thirty minutes before your session so that they can acclimate.  Especially if it’s a headband they hate or an itchy shirt, they will be less likely to notice if they have been wearing it a while.  

Number three – bring some toys.  I’m not saying bring the whole toy chest out to your shoot, but a couple of their favorites or their beloved blankie will be a lifesaver if the session runs long.  

Number four – let. it. go.  Listen, you could be the most well prepped and quaffed family to ever get in front of a lens.  But sometimes, things go wrong – and that’s OK. If Timmy is crying in every photo, treat it as the memory it is and appreciate that it is real.  Everyday life doesn’t look like a magazine, so if your pictures don’t either that is perfectly fine.  If you have hired a professional, they will handle the situation with grace and understanding.

Pick a Spokesperson

This one is short but extremely helpful.  Pick a family spokesperson. If there are a set of poses you want or need to communicate something to the photographer, pick one member of the family to relay those messages.  Most often, you have booked your photographer for a limited amount of time and that time would be best spent taking photos. So instead of subjecting your photog to a barrage of comments, questions, and concerns from every angle, designating one person to relay the messages will make for an organized and productive session.

Bonus Tip!

Have fun.  I mean come on, how often do you get the whole family together?  Or talk your partner into putting on a button-down and getting a fresh haircut?  Treat the session as what it is, a time to capture moments between you and your loved ones.  So the moral of the story? Take a deep breath, have a moment of gratitude, and enjoy.

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Related: Poss Famliy Session