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Most Frequent Questions
You Have About Family Photos
Most Frequent Questions
You Have About Family Photos
LA CROSSE, WI BASED | INTERNATIONALLY AWARD WINNING DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHER
Even as a photographer, I find our own family photos intimidating
I feel like we’ve spent days in a frenzy trying to get everything perfect (actually my wife probably spent a lot more time than I did).
I imagine that we all have this sense that something will go wrong or that we’ll get our pictures back later and find something amiss. Maybe our worry is something like not everyone smiling at the same time or one of the kids not looking at the camera.
Good preparation, careful photographer selection, and a little faith can all go a long way towards getting family photos that you will treasure forever.
What to wear
Aim for timeless
Think classical elegance. Avoid anything with big logos that will obviously date the photo.
Sometimes a great accessory like a scarf can make all the difference.
Stay away from baggy clothes
If you have to decide between either too big or too small, I’d pick the slimmer article of clothing.
Baggy clothes feel nice but can be unflattering in photos.
Think bold
You want to separate yourselves from your surroundings rather than blend in. You’re the scene.
Layer outfits and accessories to account for temperature differences and can create different looks.
Coordinate your colors but stay away from the exact same outfits.
One strategy is to coordinate the same color shirt for one child with the pants of another.
Combining patterns and solids can also be appealing.
Grab Our FREE Style Guide
Pull down a layout and some pixel-perfect sections into your own Kadence site and watch the magic happen….
Best time of day?
A photograph needs two ingredients: light and time. Of the two, the element we can control the most is time.
Saying “cheese” is so out of style
What If The Kids Don’t Smile At The Camera?
No worries at all! We can definitely get the kids to smile but I bet the un-posed moments are the ones you’ll treasure the most.
I used to try everything to get the kids to smile at the camera, but the results seemed artificial. It’s easy for me to do family photos like that.
However, I prefer capturing the emotion–the cries, the ridiculous jokes, the pride they get from not doing what they’re told, all of it.
what are the
Keys To Success?
Planning ahead makes a huge difference
Because this can actually be fun!
01.
Sleepy and Hungry Kids
are generally unhappy
You probably already know this from the first day of parenting, but it’s easy to forget when planning and preparing for a photoshoot.
Definitely prioritize nap time when where trying to set up a session and plan for an early meal. Also, having candy & fruit snacks can be like a “get out of jail free” card.
We once drove 6 hours to see a realistic dinosaur event only to encounter an epic tantrum (maybe the most epic tantrum) because one of our kids refused to nap in the car. It was a rough day . . .
02.
Give yourself extra time to get ready
Don’t neglect you in the process
Dressing kids is a lot of work, especially when you’re also trying to look your best.
Make sure to leave a comfortable cushion so you can enjoy the experience rather than feeling flustered at getting somewhere on time.
Trying to do anything with kids takes 10x the time
Spend time on you first so you don’t have to worry
03.
Let’s show how you and your family really live
for the best photos
Staring at a camera lens isn’t a normal thing to do, especially for kids. Let’s let them be kids and run, jump, and go crazy.
Kids do some of the most incredible things. They do stuff that adults could never think of. Let’s embrace their sense of wonder.
01.
Sleepy and Hungry Kids
are generally unhappy
You probably already know this from the first day of parenting, but it’s easy to forget when planning and preparing for a photoshoot.
Definitely prioritize nap time when where trying to set up a session and plan for an early meal. Also, having candy & fruit snacks can be like a “get out of jail free” card.
We once drove 6 hours to see a realistic dinosaur event only to encounter an epic tantrum (maybe the most epic tantrum) because one of our kids refused to nap in the car. It was a rough day . . .
02.
Give yourself extra time to get ready
Don’t neglect you in the process
Dressing kids is a lot of work, especially when you’re also trying to look your best.
Make sure to leave a comfortable cushion so you can enjoy the experience rather than feeling flustered at getting somewhere on time.
Trying to do anything with kids takes 10x the time
Spend time on you first so you don’t have to worry
03.
Let’s show how you and your family really live
for the best photos
Staring at a camera lens isn’t a normal thing to do, especially for kids. Let’s let them be kids and run, jump, and go crazy.
Kids do some of the most incredible things. They do stuff that adults could never think of. Let’s embrace their sense of wonder.
