Minneapolis Family Portraits can happen in so many ways! It is a great honor in my life that, after meeting so many couples on their wedding day, I get to document their families as they grow.
Below is a gallery of my favorite family portraits around Minneapolis and my top tips to feel natural in your family photos.
Tips for natural feeling family portraits
Be comfortable
Comfort will mean different things to different folks, but it is hard to look relaxed when you are worried about your buttons gaping or your sweater hanging too loose. Choose clothes you can move in and feel great it.
Coordinate, not match
Matching outfits are perfect for themed shoots about roller skating, but otherwise you just want to make sure you have outfits that work together. Think about how fancy or casual you want to look, choose a color family that you like, and bring in textures and patterns.
Bring Less
Leave your extra keys, bulky wallet, sunglasses and everything you can in your car, or even leave them at home. We’ll take photos while you are walking around, and having pockets full of items or a bag in your hands means taking extra time and getting out of the moment. You won’t need anything but each other and a good attitude.
Find the right amount of time
Some kids (and, lets face it, even some adults) take a while to get comfortable and others are comfortable being photographed right away. Most portrait sessions last between 30-70 minutes depending on everyone’s endurance and enjoyment! I also offer short session (15 minutes) for a quick solution for squirmy families.
Prepare, then experience
Spend some time in the days before your session talking about what will happen! Little kids love to know what to expect. You can even plan a special family treat for after the session to keep the focus totally positive!
Choose places that matter
Choose places that matter to you and your family – a favorite park, your own backyard, an ice cream shop, a cherished view, the state fair – places that you love being together!
When I was little, we had 5 photos hanging together in our living room from a family photoshoot we had done with my extended family. We were posed formally, and all wearing coordinating pastels and cream-colored clothing. I had a small eyelet dress, my brother looked like an extra from Miami Vice. I looked at those photos every day for my entire childhood. I can picture it now, our smiles, our interaction. Even though the images were formal and the look is dated, that is how I picture my family all together.
That is what photos do – they capture a moment in your life and let you imbue it with the essence of that time. I don’t think I have ever worn another eyelet dress, and goodness knows I don’t own anything white, but there is something true about those images and what they captured, how the images themselves became a part of my life.
So, I know that family portraits are important. And I also know that they don’t have to be quite so formal to have that same sense of importance. Family portraits can be fun and silly and quirky and casual, and all of those things just give more life to the images.
Interested in portraits?
Lets find a portrait option that would suit your family!
