Do you still have grandma on your case because the last time you sent her family portraits, your 8-year-old was still in diapers?
It’s OK, we understand. Family portraits are tough!
You have to choose between the studio and on-site photos. You have to find a photographer, a location, select a date and pick outfits for everyone to wear. Then you must get there with everyone still clean, and hope that little Susie will smile for these pictures.
It can be incredibly stressful, so we can understand why you’ve been avoiding it even if Grandma can’t!
Hopefully, the following family portrait photography ideas will make it easier on you the next time you’re ready to capture a moment in the lives of your family.
Relax
First, relax. Grandma probably doesn’t care if your clothes are all from a specific color palette or that your little ones’ hair is perfect. Most likely she just wants to be able to hang a picture of the people she loves, so that she can be filled with joy each time she passes by.
We’re not saying to sit down with holey jeans and greasy hair, but you certainly shouldn’t try to be anything you aren’t either. Be natural and focus on what counts, which is capturing a precious moment in time.
Location or On-Site
This is purely down to personal preference.
Some people like perfectly staged photos carried out in a studio, others prefer to have a photographer simply wander around with them and capture candid photos of them just living life.
Most people don’t do photos in their homes because they don’t want to spend time dusting the bookshelves and cleaning the floors beforehand. Decide which option will work best for your family and find a photographer or studio that can accommodate your wishes.
Clothing
The clothing you choose to wear for your photos doesn’t have to be anything special. Try to make sure it is something you would normally wear. You don’t want to look at these photos for the rest of your life and wish you had been more yourselves in them.
It can be fun to color coordinate the family’s outfits, but if you’ve got picky kids it might be best to let them have a say in what they wear for this. Stay away from anything that is too matchy. Remember, being natural is more important than creating an artificial look.
To keep the clothing clean on picture day, perhaps don’t dress the kids until you are at the location where the photos are being done. Spend a minute checking and cleaning the kids’ faces before your photos begin.
Other Tips for good family portraits
Make sure you schedule photos around naptime. No way you are getting a smile from your cranky 2-year-old if she’s 30 minutes past her sleeping window.
Trust your photographer when they choose a time. If you are doing location photos, the lighting is vital, and your photographer knows how to use it to your advantage.
Again, relax.
Try to have fun.
Some of the best family pictures are ones that haven’t been posed or staged.
Photo booths at events
An easy way to have photos of the family is to take advantage of photo booths or photographers at parties or events. At events like weddings, graduations, or even quinceañeras, your family is likely to be already dressed and ready for great pictures. And likely, this will be cheaper than going to a professional studio!
Recent Comments