Does the idea of taking family photographs sound stressful? Do you worry that you will do all the prep work and then the pictures won’t turn out that great?
One thing I have come to learn is that longer photoshoots can be more successful.
I hear it all the time “My child won’t last longer than 15 minutes”. But what if it wasn’t about lasting but more about a family experience? More about time together in a beautiful place while I capture the memories. The laughter, fun and the milestones of your family…all while occasionally capturing some “traditional” everyone looks at the camera images too!
This session is a perfect example of that. The children in this family are a 5 year old boy and a 1 year old girl. One might easily say they wouldn’t last very long. But when you’re laughing with your parents, playing games and also taking some time to have some snacks…kids can last a long time and be happy.
Now that my child is 13 and past the age of wanting to hold hands and swing in the park- its those interacting images that mean the most to me. The images that act like a time machine and bring me right back to that day.
Scroll down to the bottom to see some of my other photographer tips make a family photoshoot a fabulous experience!
Some of my tips to make your family photoshoot extra fun and successful!
- Time: Choose a time of day good for your kids. While certain times of day might be famous for great lighting such as “golden hour”, it doesn’t matter how pretty the light is if your kid is exhausted and not happy! Also, make sure there is enough time to really relax and play!
- Location: Choose a location that is comfortable for your family. For example, if your kid is sensitive to sound make sure its not near a busy street or park. If they are terrified of bees and insects make sure its not in a place with a ton of flowers. If they use a wheelchair or equipment to help them be mobile make sure the ground is appropriate for their ability.
- Clothing: Wear outfits you feel confident in but you can also move in! It doesn’t matter how cute those shoes are if your worried about spraining an ankle! You should wear clothes that you can be yourself in but also something that is flattering and makes you feel great! Make sure everyone is temperature appropriate. Being too cold or too hot on a photoshoot is not fun!
- Coordinating: Don’t worry about matching, think about clothes that coordinate. When you look at a family image printed on your wall- your eye should be able to flow from person to person easily. If everyone is wearing green, blue and brown and then one person is wearing red that person will stick out more than the others. Same with a bold patterns.
- Remember: Bring those snacks and water, nobody likes being hangry!
- Attitude: Go into your photoshoot feeling excited about some family time. Happy parents usually mean happy kids! What they really want is your attention and affection, a recipe for great images!
My name is Susannah Gill and I look forward to capturing memories for you and your family! I have been a photographer for over 15 years and I was also a special education teacher for 10. I am passionate about inclusion for all. Race, gender, ability, choice of love-Im here to document your stories filled with love and fun!
I work on location in El Dorado Hills, Folsom, Tahoe, Sacramento and surrounding areas.
I also have a photo studio in the El Dorado Hills business park where I photograph families, newborn babies, headshots and branding images.
I can be reached at 1-916-936-7363 by phone or text and my email is: susannah@susannahgill.com
I’d love to help you create the perfect photoshoot experience!
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