It’s family photo time! Depending on your personality, you’re feeling a mix of emotions, ranging from total excitement (you LIVE for this moment) to complete dread. This guide will walk you through how to make the most out of your session, so you and I can get some tangible memories of a period in you and your family’s lives.
The beautiful thing about working with kids is…
You never know what to expect. You can have a knock out session where your child does every single thing I ask him/her to do. They’ll smile at the right times. Laugh. Give their siblings the biggest hug in the world. Hold your hand and say, “thank you, mom and dad, for the BEST DAY EVER.”
…And then you’ll realize you brought a unicorn to the session 😉 Let’s go to our first tip.
Tip #1: Keep your expectations realistic
Listen, the bottom line is this: Kids don’t know the expectations you have for this session. They don’t understand that they’ll only be 3 years old for only ONE YEAR in their entire lives. They don’t get that all you want is ONE, beautiful photo of the child you stare at in pure awe every single day, wondering how on God’s Earth you are the one who gets to raise such a gift. They don’t get that you spent the last 2-3 hours of your day getting ready for these photos, and the exhaustion that it is coordinating outfits, dressing kids, and making sure everyone’s hair is in place.
And like anyone else, sometimes kids have “bad” days. Sometimes they don’t want to sit still, or be where you are, or get to know someone new. Sometimes they need to run around in a circle, cover their eyes, stick out their tongue. My suggestion: Roll with it. There are battles worth fighting, and the photography session isn’t one of them. If your child wants to run around, we’ll play tag (and I’ll get images of the joy on his/her face that comes from the thrill play). If you’re child wants to bury his/her head into your chest, that’s ok. Put your hand over their hand and hold them close – I’ll photograph the love you share.
Tip #2: Be thoughtful with your location
Whenever discussing locations with a client, I really like to encourage them to think about locations that they may have special access to, like a family cabin, private road/trail, or even their own backyard. Not only does this contribute in making your session more “unique”, but having a little privacy can help kids (and adults!) relax and get the most out of their time with me.
If you don’t have any special places in mind, I am more than happy to give you a list of awesome places! Let me know your criteria (if you have small children, proximity to home and ensuring that the session happens after nap times are two really important factors to take into consideration) and we’ll pick a spot that will be best suited for your family.
Tip #3: Wear comfortable clothing
I know, I know. That sweater you got from Old Navy for this specific occasion is the most adorable thing you ever put on your three year old. Your outfit coordination is at its peak level, with the addition of this exact sweater going on your kid. And then… one hour before the session, your child is having a meltdown because this sweater is way too itchy!!!
Breathe, friends. It’s okay. I know this is not what you want to hear, but this is a battle not worth having.
When it comes to outfit selections, simple is best. I recommend solid, earth-tone colors for a majority of my sessions (whites, browns, earthy greens, etc) and layering when you can. If trendy doesn’t work for your (or on that particular day), a simple shirt/blouse with jeans (and even barefeet if the shoes aren’t working out) is always a solid plan. If you’re ever stuck on your outfit selection or need more help with it, please reach out to me. This is one of my favorite parts of the photography process, and I’m always happy to help!
If you have kids, I also recommend keeping a change of clothes just in case.
Tip #4: Communicate with me
- My kid hate when someone sings Baby Shark (especially my husband)
- My child will NOT pose like that
- My kid needs a quick snack break
- I don’t feel comfortable in this pose
- Could we schedule our shoot a little later/earlier? My kid naps until 4
- Is it okay if I bring my child’s favorite toy? It always makes her smile
Literally, whatever you feel is important for me to know, please let me know. I thrive on communication. I LOVE to talk to people. I want you to love your photos and the experience you had with me. While I try my best to pick up on cues before and during our shoot, I can’t read anyone’s minds. There are things I miss. Let me know the important things so I can accommodate you; yours and your family’s needs are never a bother.
Tip #5: Snacks!
This is particularly true for small children, but also if you are an adult like me who can’t seem to stop eating all day long 🙂
Bring. the. snacks. As you can see by my darling children above, snacks make everything better. Snacks were the only thing that would allow my rambunctious one year old daughter sit snugly next to her brother. Snacks also work as a great bribery tool on the three year old.
If you do bring snacks to your session, also bring a pack of wipes so we can get your kiddos cleaned up afterward as well. I suggest bring snacks that are:
- Non staining (so typically, no fruit or dyed foods).
- Have a minimal crumb (this takes crackers/pretzels/chips out of the equation for the most part)
- Are easy and fairly quick to eat
Some good snack options include: cheese sticks/slices, deli meats, sandwich bread, pouch vanilla yogurt, animal crackers, etc.
In general, I also recommend that you come to your session with at least a light meal in you. This will help keep everyone’s moods generally happy and satiated so we can focus on getting the best family photos we can possibly get.
Ready to book your session? Send me a message here and let’s get talking ♥
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