Things to know
How to make the most of your mini family photo session?
Show up about 10 minutes BEFORE the start time of you session. Kids (and adults) need a little time of transition. You don’t want to hop out of the car and right into your session. If you give yourself a few minutes before your session to let the kids see and get acquainted with the photo location then everyone will do better during the shoot itself. Also, taking a few minutes allows everyone to take some deep breaths and relax. Getting your photos taken can be such a fun experience, but you need to be calm and ready to enjoy it.
We all know getting a child ready to go can take time, sometimes a good amount. (Why does it sometimes take 10 minutes to put a shoe on?!?) So please have your kids picture ready upon arrival! Since these are shorter sessions, make sure your kid’s outfits are on, faces are clean, and everyone has gone to the bathroom beforehand. That way you can spend the time interacting and enjoying each other while I take photos, instead of trying to get that pesky shoe on…
Did you really want a picture of just the kids or another special request? Please tell me at the start of the session. I want to prioritize what you want from the photo shoot and make sure we don’t run out of time, so just let me know! Need one of just the mom and kids? Let’s do it!
What to Wear to your Family Photo Session?
This seems to be one of the more stressful things to figure out when getting your photo taken. What in the world do you wear?
First of all, let’s start with a few basic guidelines.
Pick out and wear weather appropriate clothing. If a child is cold, then you are much more likely to get someone who isn’t happy, won’t smile, and is generally not having a good time. Cute sweaters and layers can keep a small body warm and still look adorable when the weather is chillier.
Also, make sure you have had everyone try their clothes on before the day of the session. Last minute growth spurt and pants too short? Shoes now too tight? Dress WAY bigger than expected? All these things can make last minute changes stressful, so try on clothes ahead of time to prevent needing to switch things up when it is too late.
Here are some tips to help you pick your outfits:
The name of the game is COORDINATION, not matching! So what does that even mean?
Pick a color or two (at most three) that YOU like to wear and that you look good in. You will then dress all the family members in these colors AND/OR in neutrals. Does a green dress bring out your eyes? A bright color contrast perfectly with your beautiful, dark skin tone? Whatever you feel like you look good in—wear it!
Combine the pops of colors that you choose with neutrals (tan, gray, white). Not every one needs (or should) be in colorful outfits. Gray shirts and khakis or a tan sweater and jeans is a great option for one of the family members.
Limit patterns. One patterned shirt or dress looks great, but if you have too many patterns it gets distracting. So if one family member has a floral, checkered, or striped clothing item, then consider solids for the rest of the family.
Accessories can be a great addition. Think about throwing on a cute bow or fun suspenders for your child. Or add some jewelry, a stylish hat, or even a scarf for yourself. These can be fun ways to bring in your personality and some fun to the outfits.
Please avoid wearing clothes with large logos, words or big graphics. The focus then becomes what is on the shirt/jacket/sweater rather than the person wearing it.
Still stumped? Lay out all the clothes you chose on the bed or floor and take a look at them. Do the colors/patterns go together? Does it look cohesive?
If you are still unsure, take a quick picture of the clothes laid out and send it to me via text. I am happy to give you my opinion and some suggestions, because I am here to help make your family photo experience the best it can be!
Want to achieve the best wedding day pictures but don't know where to start?
Prepare your details in advance.
Let’s start by thinking about all the little things a bride & groom would like photographed:
Wedding rings
special jewelry
dress/suit
shoes
something borrowed and something blue
wedding stationary and invites
bouquet and boutonnieres
hand written notes for each other
This is a lot of stuff – and every couple is different in what they bring to the table.
To help the wedding photographer get all the shots you want, we suggest keeping all of these things in one location. This way, when the photographer arrives, they can say “hello” and quickly start getting to work without having to track down all of these items.
Keep your getting ready spaces clean.
The first time your wedding photographer will see you will be for your prep photos. You want your photographer to see you, and not a room filled with a mess one would think was created by a 4 year old.
This happens surprisingly often – and tends to be the result of packing a lot of people into one room. A bride, her mom, 7 bridesmaids – all getting ready in one location. Finding space for all the unnecessary things around will help you to have cleaner getting ready photos.
Brides – have sneakers/flats available if you plan any portrait shots in rougher locations.
High heels are great, but can make it challenging if you plan to have portraits done in a forest or at the top of a mountain.
While not a necessity, we always suggest that brides bring along a pair of more comfortable shoes to change into while they walk to a photo shoot location. You can always put the heels back on when you get there!
Be natural with each other in front of the camera.
Of all the wedding photography tips and advice we can give to brides & grooms it would be summarized here: be authentic with each other when you’re having your pictures taken.
If you’re a serious couple, being serious is totally cool. If you’re super romantic and into some PDA, then kiss away. And if you like to laugh, keep laughing!
Wedding photographers live for the ability to take portraits of you.
It’s often the part of the day that goes by the fastest, but we enjoy it the most. While they should bring their approach to posing to the table and plenty of ideas, sometimes it’s the candid little moments you share together naturally that make for the best shots.
Bring your own ideas to the table.
If you have any special shots you’d like (whether a pose or at a particular location), let your photographer know. This happens a lot (even on the spot), and it’s great to be able to incorporate our couple’s ideas into their photos.
Know that rain/snow doesn’t = bad photos.
If you have a wedding planned to be outdoors, you are always taking a risk with the weather. You could get beautiful sunny skies, or it could downpour all day.
We have seen our share of rain and snow, and want to reassure you that this doesn’t mean your photos will turn out badly. Sometimes, a little bad weather adds a touch of magic you might not have been expecting! A great option for is to come prepared with some clear umbrellas (at least two for the bride and groom)
Keep your ceremony phone free.
Hands down, an unplugged wedding ceremony is the way to go. Many weddings these days include a sign asking guests to put away their cell phones, and plenty of them include an introduction from the officiant asking that everyone puts them away, too.
From a wedding photography perspective, phones are very distracting and take away from images. This is especially true when people are taking pictures in the center aisle or all we can focus on is phones.
Take a longer first kiss and get rid of the officiant.
On our list of “must get” photos is the first kiss. Every wedding gallery needs this!
So with this in mind, don’t be the couple who does a little peck on the lips and calls it a day. If you don’t want to evolve into a full on makeout session (which has totally happened), at least aim to hold your kiss for a couple of seconds. This gives your photographer enough time to take a variety of different shots in this sweet moment. Also speak with your officiant before the wedding. Ask that he/she move out of the way before the first kiss. This allows your photographer to get the perfect shots of the newly weds alone!
Don’t rush during the grand exit.
Finally, as the night comes to a close and you head out for your grand exit, don’t rush. This might work well in the movies, but in practice, capturing great images of you exiting the wedding is best done at a slower pace.
So, don’t just sprint for the exit.
And maybe consider running through your sparkler line a couple of times for good measure. How often do you get to that in your life?