I love photographing families!
In fact, it’s 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.
But feeling great in photos is the best way to look great in photos, so here are my top 5 tips for natural feeling family portraits.
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.
Coordinate, but don’t 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 you want to look, or how casual, and then choose a color family that you like (warm neutrals, jewel tones, shades of blue, etc). Having different textures and patterns makes images feel more engaging.
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! A shorter session can still be totally successful, so focus on the quality of time spent together and be ready to call it a day when it stops being fun!
consider short sessions
I offer occasional SHORT sessions, 15 minute portrait sessions at a specific location and time. These can be perfect for getting up to date family photos without the commitment of a full session, or getting images in a fun new location.
Prepare, then expeirence
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!
Interested in portraits?
Lets find a portrait option that would suit your family!