Portrait of a happy family in autumn park with maple leaves
There’s nothing like the perfect family photo.
Capturing it, however, takes some doing. Big brother won’t stop making faces. Mom blinks every time she thinks the flash is about to go off.
Oh, great. Now the baby’s crying.
There’s got to be some way to take the headache out of capturing those special moments.
While there might not be any foolproof method, these are three of our top tips you can use to make those shoots easier.
- Keep Your Options Open
There’s only one thing you can predict about families: They’re unpredictable.
People of all ages can get tired, hungry, and irritable. Posing for long periods of time can be draining.
Clothes get messy. Moods change at a moment’s notice.
There’s nothing chaos hates more than a rigid plan. If you’re going to survive this family photo shoot, you need to be flexible.
Before the photo shoot, plan for several different locations. Set aside time in your studio, and make sure you have some outdoor spots ready in case little junior gets stir crazy.
Encourage your clients with small children to bring backup clothes for those unforeseen accidents. Having your own emergency stockpile of clothing options can come in handy too.
Bring chairs and umbrellas since grandparents, for example, might need to sit down and get some shade. Having bug spray and a sewing kit are useful to have on hand as well. Plus, have a cooler with water and snacks for everyone. You can always use these treats as a motivator ( i.e., “When we get done, I have some candy/snacks and drinks for kids and beer and wine for mom and dad.”) Make some of the snacks healthy to accommodate all needs. They don’t all need to be unhealthy snacks full of sugar or alcohol – though it might work better!
Prepare for the chaos and your family photo shoots will go that much smoother.
- Let Personality Shine Through
Have you ever tried to get a goofball child to take a serious photo?
We can already guess how frustrating that was.
Photography is a great way to capture a person’s essence. Even if that person is a rascally seven-year-old, whose essence is one of mischief.
While you don’t want to let an unruly child (or grumpy dad, let’s be honest) run the photo shoot, letting them be themselves can make for some truly memorable photos.
Give your clients the freedom to be free. Not only will you get a picture that exudes their personalities, but you’ll have a lot less stress.
- Got Props?
A bored child is the bane of the photo shoot. They wander off, they won’t sit still, they don’t listen (again, this can be true of the dads too).
One of the best ways to fight boredom and make a memorable family photo is to break out the props.
Whether it’s a costume, sign, balloons, bubbles or a kite – props can give a photo a touch of whimsy and provide your more distractible models something to do. They’re also a great way to add balance and a touch of personality to your photos.
Be sure to have a wide assortment available to appease a large variety of tastes.
Make Your Next Family Photo Shoot a Breeze
Whether you’re shooting a young family with twin toddlers or capturing all the joy of those temperamental teenage years, there are going to be some hiccups.
Use these tips to stay sane and get great photos while you’re doing it.
Remember, your two biggest goals for your customers are:
1) Getting great memories to share!
2) Having fun doing it!
Both are very important – do your best to make them happy!
Just make sure to put the best shots in your online portfolio to keep bringing in those bookings.
Need help with your photography website? Contact us today!
