You’ve booked and paid for the photographer and are hoping for amazing results from your professional family photos. You are counting on the person behind the lens capturing those beautiful, memorable images of happiness – playing in the sand, bubbles in the air, curly locks in the wind.
You need to make sure there are no sudden meltdowns, no family members showing up wearing something totally mismatched from the others, and no expectations that can’t be met by your chosen photographer. Here are some tips for making the anticipated photo shoot a pleasant and fun event for everyone involved.
Tip 1: Start talking to your child a week or so before the shoot. Get them curious and excited about having their photograph taken by a professional. If you are worried that they might be difficult on the day of the shoot, it is also a good idea to have a little heart -to-heart with them a night or two beforehand. Take this time to explain why having photographs taken is important to you.
Tip 2: Not sure about clothing? The same color in different hues always works great! Contrasting colors, for example, bright orange and bright purple can work great together, especially when the color suits your child’s personality. I highly recommend letting your child wear their favorite outfit for a couple of reasons. First of all, whenever you look back at those photographs, you will remember that tutu or t-shirt they wore every day until you had to pry it off them so that you could finally wash it. Plus, it makes them feel good and that will translate over to the photos. This works for adults too!
Tip 3: If you or your spouse is being photographed and you find yourself getting frustrated or anxious, just take a deep breathe and focus on your kids. Find the joy in the silliness or the squirming. The photographs of parents lovingly admiring or breathing into the craziness of their little ones are often some of my favorites and more importantly, some of my client’s favorites.
Tip 4: Lastly, each photographer is different. I highly recommend asking your photographer if they have any suggestions or advice on how to make your shoot go smoother.