As a lifelong artist and a portrait photographer for over 25 years, I frequently get inquiries and questions about photo sessions. With a busy family of seven and an art studio, I have extremely limited availability for photo sessions and often have a waitlist for them.
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To help families better plan for a streamlined and stress-free session, I’m happy to offer a few favorite tips that I use for clients and when I take my own family’s photos. Some of our recent family photos are displayed above and below, to provide some ideas for you.
#1 – Plan with the end in mind
First, I believe that everyone deserves to have beautifully printed photos of their loved ones in their home, in albums, and on their walls!
Decide what you want to do with your photos before your session. Where do you envision displaying your photos? Plan your photo session based on how you’d like to display them. Do you love the look of a large, traditional portrait, framed on the wall in your hallway? Or perhaps you’d like a canvas gallery wrap with a photo collection surrounding it. What is the design and color scheme of the room where they will be hanging? Choosing a color palette and style based on where the final images will be displayed will ensure that you will have a stunning custom wall art collection.
Make sure to communicate your thoughts and ask for help from your photographer. Designing wall art can be tricky, but professional photographers have access to software to design the space, prepare your files for printing, and use ultra-premium photographic printers to ensure that your images are optimally printed for longevity and the best possible results.
#2 – Choose your attire early
I always recommend that families base their attire around what the family matriarch is wearing. Choose your outfits based on the style and color scheme chosen by the matriarch with influences of the seasonal color palette, time of day, and the weather outside. I recommend choosing timeless styles that will continue to look good through the years. Begin with a base color that the matriarch loves and looks great in, then add additional complementary colors for accent tones for other family members. The colors should be harmonious and work well for the display space(s). Your photographer should be able to offer customized ideas and color schemes to help you, if needed.
I recommend that all clients plan early and order attire ahead of time, if necessary. Have your clothes laid out, pressed, and ready to go to make the day of your session as seamless as possible. Choose your makeup and hair style beforehand and give yourself plenty of time to get ready. You deserve to feel your best and not be rushed to get ready on your photo session day!
#3 – Pick an optimal session time for your family’s schedule
Another important point to consider is the schedule and routine of your family. Especially with young children and older adults, you will want to plan a time where they are well-rested and well-fed. You do not want to book a photo session with a tired, hungry, cranky child! Make sure the time you select will work well according to your family’s schedule and routine so that everyone has the best possible experience.
#4 – Relax and enjoy your time as a family
This is one of the most important aspects of your photo session — capturing the precious memories of this time in your family’s life! At every stage, we deserve to exist in photos. Many families stop booking family photo sessions after their kids are middle or high school — but these are precious, fleeting years too. Older childhood, teen years, and young adulthood are special times in life too. You deserve to have beautiful photos that celebrate your life, where you are enjoying your time as a family, and you are as relaxed as possible.
Try to let go of a specific image of perfection that you think you must attain before you have your photos taken. You deserve to have beautiful photos of yourself and your family, just as you are, and your loved ones deserve them, too.
#5 – Print your photos!
Your family deserves to be proudly displayed on your walls! In fact, I’ve heard it said that we can’t truly appreciate our photos until they’re printed and I believe this is true. Children delight in seeing themselves on the walls of their home and in photo albums — this is a source of pride and reinforces the idea that they are loved and we are proud of them. Make sure you are working with a professional photographer who offers premium print products. It is truly a tragedy that so many families have nothing but digital images of all their family photos — photos are meant to be enjoyed and cherished, not locked away and forgotten about in digital storage. Also, be sure to backup your digital images in more than one place, just in case!
I believe that families should have BOTH digital images and print products, and every photo session I offer includes both. Custom photography is a valuable, important service that your family deserves, and it’s worthy investment to ensure that your memories are captured by a highly capable, experienced professional photographer.
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Which of these tips did you find most helpful? Please comment below. I’d love to hear from you.
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